Swing weight for golf club iron

• US 4,842,280 A
• Filed: 05/27/1988
• Issued: 06/27/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carol M. Hilton
• Original Assignee: Carol M. Hilton
• Inventors: Hilton, Carol M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PASSANITI, SEBASTIANO
• Application Number:
  US07/200,070
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 273/194 A, 273/194 B, 273/193 A, 273/186 A, 273/167 R, 273/72 R, 273/67 R, 273/67 A, 273/29 A, 273/167 F, 273/169-172 , 273/162 R, 273/77 R, 273/26 R, 273/26 B, 273/73 R, 273/DIG. 30, 272/96, 272/119, 272/67, 128/166, 128/25 B, 128/DIG. 15, 150/52 G
• US Class Current: 473/231
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3638 Normal golf clubs with directly attached weights
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/30 Hooked pile fabric fastener

Abstract

A fabric envelope has two flat weights arranged symmetrically with respect to a center line that lies on the top edge of the golf club head. The envelope folds on this center line to orient the weights adjacent the front and rear faces of the club head. Attachment straps at the heel and toe secure the device to the club head so that the sole of the club head is not covered.

Claims

1. A device for use with a golf club iron having a hosel and attached head with front and rear faces, and having top and bottom edges that extend from a toe to a heel of the iron'"'"'s head, said device comprising:

envelope means having opposed envelope edges spaced symmetrically from a center line located between said opposed envelope edges, said envelope means being foldable at least along said central line,

two metal weights provided inside said envelope means, each weight having one edge adjacent one of said opposed envelope edges, each weight having a second edge oriented generally parallel to and adjacent said envelope means central line,

attachment means for securing said envelope means to the iron'"'"'s head such that each weight is adjacent a face of the iron'"'"'s head and such that the envelope means center line lies on the top edge of the iron'"'"'s head,

said attachment means including at least one flexible strap secured to said envelope means and having a projecting portion extending away from said envelope means generally parallel to said central line whereby said strap is adapted to encircle the heel of the iron'"'"'s head, and means for securing said strap projecting portion of said envelope means.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said attachment means further includes a second strap secured to said envelope means and having a projecting portion extending away from said envelope means in a direction generally opposite that of said at least one strap projecting portion whereby said second strap is adapted to encircle the toe of the iron'"'"'s head, and means for securing said second strap projecting portion to said envelope means.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said strap and said means for securing said strap comprise interactive hook and eye fabric materials.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein said straps and means for securing said straps comprise interactive hook and eye fabric strap material.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein said envelope means comprises a sheet material.

6. The device according to claim 5 wherein said sheet material is non-woven.

7. The device according to claim 5 wherein said sheet material is thermoplastic.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said envelope means comprises inner and outer panels, said inner and outer panels marginally secured to one another to provide pockets for said weights.

9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said panels comprise sheet material.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein said sheet material is non-woven.

11. The device according to claim 9 wherein said sheet material is synthetic.

12. A swing weight for a golf iron having a head including front and rear faces, top and bottom surfaces, a toe and a heel, said swing weight comprising a unitary envelope made from flexible material and symmetrical about a central axis, said envelope having a pair or generally trapezoidal shaped sections integrally connected along said axis, each of said sections defining a closed compartment, a pair of generally trapezoidally shaped weights, each of said weights being received within an associated one of said compartments, at least one attaching strap, said strap being connected at one end of its ends to said envelope and having a free end, and means for attaching the free end of said strap to one of said envelope sections, said swing weight being attachable to an iron head with one of said envelope sections disposed adjacent the front face of the head and the other of said envelope sections adjacent the head rear face and with said axis generally overlying the head top surface, said strap encompassing a portion of the heel, said strap also overlying said one envelope section and said attaching means, said envelope sections in their attached positions having lower edges disposed above the lowermost edge of the bottom surface of the head whereby the lowermost edge of the bottom surface of the head is not covered either by the envelope or by the strap.

13. A swing weight as set forth in claim 12 wherein said attaching strap and attaching means comprises flexible strips of interactive hook and eye fabric material.

14. A swing weight as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a second strap connected at one of its ends to said envelope and having a free end, said second strap free end encompassing an associated portion of the toe of the head and said strap free end portion also attached to said one envelope section by said attachment means whereby said second strap is also free of the lowermost edge of the bottom edge of the club head.

15. The combination comprising a golf club iron having a hosel and attached head and swing weight envelope means, said head having a heel and a toe,said golf club head including front and rear faces, said golf club head including top and bottom edges, said edges extending from said toe to said heel of the head, said swing weight envelope means having opposed edges that are spaced from a center line located between said opposed edges, said swing weight being foldable along said center line and defining at least two pockets provided between the center line and the opposed edges, metal weights provided in said pockets, said weights each having one edge adjacent said opposed edges, and said weights further including second edges oriented in spaced relationship to one another and generally parallel said center line, and attachment means for securing said swing weight to said club head so that each weight is provided adjacent one of the said front and rear club faces, and so that said center line lies on the top edge of said club head whereby the said swing weight is provided with said opposed edges disposed above the bottom edge of said club head.

16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein said attachment means comprises at least one flexible strap secured to said swing weight and having a projecting portion extending generally parallel said center line, said strap encircling the heel of the club head, and means for securing said strap projecting portion to said swing weight.

17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein said attachment means further includes a second strap secured to said swing weight and having a projecting portion extending in a direction generally opposite that of said at least one strap projecting portion, said second strap encircling the toe of the club head, said means for securing said first strap projecting portion also securing said second strap projecting portion.

18. The combination according to claim 17 wherein said swing weight comprises an envelope fabricated from a thermoplastic non-woven material.

19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein said envelope comprises inner and outer panels, said inner and outer panels being marginally secured to one another to provide pockets for said weights.

20. The combination according to claim 19 wherein said inner and outer panels are secured to one another along at least a portion of said center line to restrain said weights in said pockets.