Golf club head with accessible interior

• US 9,440,123 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Beno, Tim A., Clausen, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US14/455,483
• Publication Number:
  US 20140349777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 473287-292, 473324-350
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/045 Strengthening ribs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0475 with one or more enclosed cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

The invention provides a golf club head having a port for providing a view into the interior cavity of the club head. The club head further includes at least one rib positioned along an internal surface of the club head and adjacent to the port. The at least one rib is configured to provide sound tuning characteristics, increasing the frequency of the port, thereby improving acoustic properties of the club head, particularly the sound produced by the golf club head during ball impact.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a club head body comprising a heel, a toe, a sole, a crown, and a ball-striking face; and

at least one port that is configured to be removed from and re-attached to a mounting portion on the club head body, the at least one port comprising;

a body having an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall surrounding the inner annular wall, the outer annular wall has a threaded external surface configured to engage internal threading on the mounting portion of the club head body; and

a window portion;

wherein the at least one port is configured to provide a view from the exterior of the club head into an interior cavity of the club head body when attached to the mounting portion; and

wherein an interior surface of at least the sole, the crown, and the ball-striking face within the interior cavity of the club head body are accessible when the at least one port is removed from the mounting portion of the club head body.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising at least one rib positioned on an internal surface of the interior cavity of the club head and having at least a first end adjacent to the port.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein the at least one rib is configured to provide sound tuning characteristics for the golf club head.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein the at least one rib is configured to increase a vibration frequency value of an area adjacent the port to improve an acoustic property of the club head.

5. The golf club head of claim 4, wherein the acoustic property is a sound produced by the golf club head during impact between the ball-striking face and a ball.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is on the sole of the club head body.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the window portion lies within and is surrounded by the inner annular wall, the window portion comprising a transparent or translucent material configured to provide a view into the interior cavity of the club head body.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the interior cavity includes at least one feature selected from the group consisting of:

a mass adjustment mechanism configured for adjusting a mass distribution of the club head body;

a sound tuning member for adjusting sound properties of the club head;

informative data provided in the form of a painting, marking, indicia, engraving, embossing, and decal; and

one or more electronic devices positioned within the club head body for collecting information related to the club head body and/or club head performance.

9. A golf club head comprising:

a club head body comprising a heel, a toe, a sole, a crown, and a ball-striking face; and

at least one port that is configured to be removed from and re-attached to a mounting portion on the sole of the club head body, the at least one port comprising;

a body portion having an inner annular wall and an outer annular wall surrounding the inner annular wall, the outer annular wall has a threaded external surface configured to engage internal threading on the mounting portion; and

a window portion comprising a transparent or translucent material configured to provide a view from the exterior of the club head into an interior cavity of the club head body when the at least one port is attached to the mounting portion; and

at least a first rib positioned on an internal surface of the sole and extending from the port towards a perimeter of the club head body,

wherein an interior surface of at least the sole, the crown, and the ball-striking face within the interior cavity of the club head body are accessible when the at least one port is removed from the mounting portion on the sole of the club head body.

10. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the first rib extends from the port towards a portion of the face adjacent to the toe of the club head body and a second rib extends from the port towards a portion of the face adjacent to the heel of the club head body.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the first and second ribs radiate from the outer annular wall of the port, defining an angle there between.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein the angle between the first and second ribs is in the range of 10 degrees and 170 degrees.

13. The golf club head of claim 12, wherein the angle between the first and second ribs is in the range of 45 degrees and 135 degrees.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein the angle between the first and second ribs is 90 degrees.

15. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein the first and second ribs are aligned in a converging configuration.

16. The golf club head of claim 9, wherein the first rib is configured to provide sound tuning characteristics for the golf club head.

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein the first rib is configured to increase a vibration frequency value of an area adjacent the port to improve an acoustic property of the club head.