Golf clubs and golf club heads having adjustable characteristics

• US 8,690,705 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Molinari, Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W
• Application Number:
  US13/184,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20130017898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 473/324, 473/330, 473/331, 473/340, 473/349, 473/219, 473/226, 473/231, 473/238, 473/245, 473/246
• US Class Current: 473/331
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/14 with form or shape memory materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing

Abstract

A golf club head which may include a golf club head body, a ball striking face and a piezoelectric member in the golf club head, wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to be selectively adjusted by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member. Further, the piezoelectric member may be capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and may also be capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller. Further, the second attribute may be different from the first attribute.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head,

wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to be selectively adjusted by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member,

wherein the piezoelectric member is capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller, the second attribute being different from the first attribute,

wherein the golf club head includes a plurality of grooves in the ball striking face,

wherein the first and second attributes are volumes of one or more of the plurality of grooves.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is positioned in a respective groove of the plurality of grooves in the ball striking face.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned in the plurality of grooves of the ball striking face each having a first size, and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned in the plurality of grooves of the ball striking face each having a second size.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head includes a plurality of slats in the ball striking face which define the grooves in the ball striking face.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is positioned behind a slat of the plurality of slats in the ball striking face.

6. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned behind the plurality of slats of the ball striking face each having a first size, and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned behind the plurality of slats of the ball striking face each having a second size.

7. The golf club head according to claim 5, wherein the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the slats of the ball striking face extending beyond a plane of the ball striking face of the first configuration.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is an iron-type golf club head.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a wood-type golf club head.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the golf club head is a putter head.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric member to alter the configuration of the piezoelectric member.

12. The golf club head according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to allow the voltage applied to the piezoelectric member to be selectively adjusted.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face;

a cavity located behind the ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head,

wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to be selectively adjusted by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member,

wherein the piezoelectric member is capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller, the second attribute being different from the first attribute,

wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plate configured to extend substantially behind the ball striking face of the golf club head, wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the piezoelectric member having a first size, and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the piezoelectric member having a second size,

wherein the piezoelectric member intrudes into and fills the cavity either in the first configuration or the second configuration.

14. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member provides a first internal stress behind the ball striking face of the golf club head and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member provides a second internal stress behind the ball striking face of the golf club head, which is different from the first internal stress.

15. A golf club comprising:

the golf club head of claim 14; and

a shaft configured to be engaged with the golf club head.

16. The golf club head according to claim 13, wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the piezoelectric member having a first thickness at a first end thereof and a second thickness at a second end thereof such that the piezoelectric member exhibits a first angle from the second end towards the first end and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the piezoelectric member exhibiting a second angle from the second end towards the first end, which is different from the first angle.

17. The golf club head according to claim 16, wherein the first and second attributes are loft angles of the golf club head.

18. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head,

wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to be selectively adjusted by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member,

wherein the piezoelectric member is capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller, the second attribute being different from the first attribute,

wherein the golf club head includes a plurality of grooves in the ball striking face and a plurality of slats in the ball striking face which define the grooves in the ball striking face

wherein the first and second attributes are angles of one or more of the plurality of grooves.

19. The golf club head according to claim 18, wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is positioned behind a slat of the plurality of slats of the ball striking face.

20. The golf club head according to claim 19, wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned behind the plurality of slats of the ball striking face each having a first size, and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned behind the plurality of slats of the ball striking face each having a second size.

21. The golf club head according to claim 20, wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes each of the piezoelectric members having a first thickness at a first end thereof and a second thickness at a second end thereof such that each of the piezoelectric members exhibits a first angle from the second end towards the first end and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes each of the piezoelectric members exhibiting a second angle from the second end towards the first end, which is different from the first angle.

22. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head which includes;

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head body;

a shaft configured to be engaged with the golf club head; and

a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member,

wherein the controller is configured to allow the user to selectively adjust a configuration of the piezoelectric member by providing an input through the controller,

wherein the piezoelectric member is capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller, the second attribute being different from the first attribute,

wherein the golf club head includes a plurality of grooves in the ball striking face,

wherein the first and second attributes are volumes of one or more of the plurality of grooves, wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is engaged in a groove of the plurality of grooves in the ball striking face,

wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned in the plurality of grooves of the ball striking face each having a first size, and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned in the plurality of grooves of the ball striking face each having a second size.

26. The golf club according to claim 22, wherein the golf club is an iron-type golf club.

27. The golf club according to claim 22, wherein the golf club is a wood-type golf club.

28. The golf club according to claim 22, wherein the golf club is a putter.

29. The golf club according to claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric member to alter the configuration of the piezoelectric member.

30. The golf club according to claim 29, wherein the controller is configured to allow the voltage applied to the piezoelectric member to be selectively adjusted.

31. The golf club according to claim 30, wherein the controller is engaged with the shaft of the golf club.

32. The golf club according to claim 31, wherein the controller is includes a knob engaged with the shaft of the golf club, wherein the knob is configured to be rotated to adjust the voltage applied to the piezoelectric member.

23. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head which includes;

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head body;

a shaft configured to be engaged with the golf club head; and

a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member,

wherein the controller is configured to allow the user to selectively adjust a configuration of the piezoelectric member by providing an input through the controller,

wherein the piezoelectric member is capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller, the second attribute being different from the first attribute,

wherein the first and second attributes are loft angles of the golf club head,

wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plate configured to extend substantially behind the ball striking face of the golf club head, wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the piezoelectric member having a first size, and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the piezoelectric member having a second size,

wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the piezoelectric member have a first thickness at a first end thereof and a second thickness at a second end thereof such that the piezoelectric member exhibits a first angle from the second end towards the first end and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the piezoelectric member exhibiting a second angle from the second end towards the first end, which is different from the first angle, thereby changing the loft angle of the golf club head.

24. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head which includes;

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head body;

a shaft configured to be engaged with the golf club head; and

a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member,

wherein the controller is configured to allow the user to selectively adjust a configuration of the piezoelectric member by providing an input through the controller,

wherein the piezoelectric member is capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller, the second attribute being different from the first attribute,

wherein the golf club head includes a plurality of grooves in the ball striking face and a plurality of slats in the ball striking face which define the grooves in the ball striking face,

wherein the first and second attributes are angles of one or more of the plurality of grooves,

wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is positioned behind a slat of the plurality of slats in the ball striking face,

wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned behind the plurality of slats of the ball striking face each having a first size, and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned behind the plurality of slats of the ball striking face each having a second size,

wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes each of the piezoelectric members having a first thickness at a first end thereof and a second thickness at a second end thereof such that each of the piezoelectric members exhibit a first angle from the second end towards the first end and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes each of the piezoelectric members exhibiting a second angle from the second end towards the first end, which is different from the first angle.

25. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head which includes;

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head body;

a shaft configured to be engaged with the golf club head; and

a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric member,

wherein the controller is configured to allow the user to selectively adjust a configuration of the piezoelectric member by providing an input through the controller,

wherein the piezoelectric member is capable of having a first configuration to provide the golf club head body with a first attribute and capable of having a second configuration to provide the body with a second attribute in response to the input provided by the controller, the second attribute being different from the first attribute,

wherein the golf club head includes a plurality of grooves in the ball striking face and a plurality of slats in the ball striking face which define the grooves in the ball striking face,

wherein the first and second attributes are volumes of one or more of the plurality of grooves,

wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is positioned behind a slat of the plurality of slats in the ball striking face,

wherein the first configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned behind the plurality of slats of the ball striking face each having a first size, and the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the plurality of piezoelectric members positioned behind the plurality of slats of the ball striking face each having a second size,

wherein the second configuration of the piezoelectric member includes the slats of the ball striking face extending beyond a plane of the ball striking face of the first configuration.

33. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face which includes a plurality of grooves in the ball striking face; and

a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is positioned in a groove of the plurality of grooves in the ball striking face,

wherein the piezoelectric members are configured to selectively adjust the volume in the grooves in the ball striking face, by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric members,

wherein the input is configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric members which alters the configuration of the piezoelectric members between at least a first size, when no voltage is applied, and a second size when a voltage is applied.

34. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face;

a cavity located behind the ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head body, wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plate configured to extend substantially behind the ball striking face of the golf club head,

wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to selectively adjust an internal stress behind the ball striking face, by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric members,

wherein the input is configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric member which alters the configuration of the piezoelectric member between at least a first size, when no voltage is applied, and a second size when a voltage is applied,

wherein the piezoelectric member intrudes into and fills the cavity either when the voltage is applied or when no voltage is applied.

35. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face; and

a piezoelectric member in the golf club head body, wherein the piezoelectric member includes a plate configured to extend substantially behind the ball striking face of the golf club head and has a first thickness at a first end thereof and a second thickness at a second end thereof such that the piezoelectric member exhibits an angle from the second end towards the first end,

wherein the piezoelectric member is configured to selectively adjust a loft angle of the golf club head, by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric members,

wherein the input is configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric member which alters the configuration of the piezoelectric member between at least a first size and a first angle, when no voltage is applied, and a second size, which is larger than the first size, and a second angle when a voltage is applied.

36. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face which includes a plurality of grooves in the ball striking face and a plurality of slats in the ball striking face which define the grooves in the ball striking face; and

a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is positioned behind a slat of the plurality of slats in the ball striking face,

wherein the piezoelectric members are configured to selectively adjust the angle of the grooves in the ball striking face, by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric members,

wherein the input is configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric members which alters the configuration of the piezoelectric members between at least a first size and a first angle, when no voltage is applied, and a second size, which is larger than the first size, and a second angle when a voltage is applied.

37. A golf club head comprising:

a golf club head body;

a ball striking face which includes a plurality of grooves in the ball striking face and a plurality of slats in the ball striking face which define the grooves in the ball striking face; and

a plurality of piezoelectric members each of which is positioned behind a slat of the plurality of slats in the ball striking face,

wherein the piezoelectric members are configured to selectively adjust the volume of the grooves in the ball striking face, by an input provided through a controller operably connected to the piezoelectric members,

wherein the input is configured to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric members which alters the configuration of the piezoelectric members between at least a first size, when no voltage is applied, and a second size when a voltage is applied.