Golf Club Head with Interior Weight Adjustable in Multiple Directions
20210370148 · 2021-12-02
Inventors
- Michael J. Kline (Huntington Beach, CA, US)
- John Rae (Huntington Beach, CA, US)
- Pat Ripp (Huntington Beach, CA, US)
Cpc classification
A63B53/08
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63B2225/50
HUMAN NECESSITIES
A63B2053/0491
HUMAN NECESSITIES
International classification
Abstract
A golf club head includes a striking face, and a body coupled to the striking face. The body includes a crown, a sole disposed in generally opposed relation to the crown, and a back extending away from the striking face. The striking face and body collectively define a hollow interior chamber. A weight is disposed entirely within the interior chamber. An adjustment mechanism is coupled to the body and the weight to enable external adjustment of the weight along three axes.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. Performing a golf club fitting operation for a user via a fitting club, the fitting operation comprising the steps of: a.) establishing a first center of gravity (CG) location of the fitting club; b.) monitoring one or more swings of the fitting club by the user to determine a preferred CG location for the user comprising a second CG location; c.) externally adjusting the first CG location via an internally-disposed adjustable weight of the fitting club, the weight being adjustable in a sole-to-crown direction, a face-to-back direction, and a heel-to-toe direction entirely within a hollow interior chamber of the fitting club, and in spaced relation an interior wall of the fitting club defining the interior chamber, to approximate the second CG location; d.) monitoring one or more additional swings of the fitting club by the user to determine if at least one of the additional swings establishes that the second CG location comprises the preferred CG location for the user; and e.) if at least one of the additional swings establishes that the second CG location comprises the preferred CG location for the user in step (d): i. communicating the second CG location to a golf club manufacturer, and ii. fabricating a golf club including a customized golf club head having a CG location approximating the second CG location.
22. The fitting operation of claim 21 wherein step (e)(ii) comprises securing a weight within the customized golf club head in a predefined position corresponding to the second CG location.
23. The fitting operation of claim 22 wherein step (e)(ii) comprises securing the weight within an interior chamber defined by the customized golf club head.
24. The fitting operation of claim 23 wherein step (e)(ii) comprises permanently securing the weight to an interior wall of the customized golf club head which at least partially defines the interior chamber.
25. The fitting operation of claim 23 wherein step (e)(ii) comprises providing the weight to be of predetermined mass which is previously determined via at least one of steps (c) and (d).
26. The fitting operation of claim 21 wherein step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using a sensor positioned within the adjustable weight.
27. The fitting operation of claim 21 wherein step (a) comprises monitoring one or more swings of the fitting club by the user.
28. The fitting operation of claim 21 wherein the fitting club includes a fitting club head, and step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using an adjustment mechanism within the fitting club head comprising an arm connected to the adjustable weight, the arm being adjustably disposed within a sleeve connected to a pivot to enable the adjustable weight to be adjusted axially along an axis of the sleeve and pivotally via the pivot.
29. The fitting operation claim 28 wherein step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using an adjustment mechanism wherein the sleeve is connected to a ball and socket joint.
30. Performing a golf club fitting operation for a user via a fitting club, the fitting operation comprising the steps of: a.) establishing a first center of gravity (CG) location of the fitting club; b.) monitoring one or more swings of the fitting club by the user to determine a preferred CG location for the user comprising a second CG location; c.) externally adjusting the first CG location via an internally-disposed adjustable weight of the fitting club, the weight being adjustable in a sole-to-crown direction, a face-to-back direction, and a heel-to-toe direction entirely within a hollow interior chamber of the fitting club, and in spaced relation an interior wall of the fitting club defining the interior chamber, to approximate the second CG location; d.) monitoring one or more additional swings of the fitting club by the user to determine if at least one of the additional swings establishes that the second CG location comprises the preferred CG location for the user; and e.) if at least one of the additional swings establishes that the second CG location comprises the preferred CG location for the user in step (d), communicating the second CG location to a golf club manufacturer.
31. The fitting operation of claim 30 wherein step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using a sensor positioned within the adjustable weight.
32. The fitting operation of claim 30 wherein step (a) comprises monitoring one or more swings of the fitting club by the user.
33. The fitting operation of claim 30 wherein the fitting club includes a fitting club head, and step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using an adjustment mechanism within the fitting club head comprising an arm connected to the adjustable weight, the arm being adjustably disposed within a sleeve connected to a pivot to enable the adjustable weight to be adjusted axially along an axis of the sleeve and pivotally via the pivot.
34. The fitting operation claim 33 wherein step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using an adjustment mechanism wherein the sleeve is connected to a ball and socket joint.
35. Performing a golf club fitting operation for a user via a fitting club, the fitting operation comprising the steps of: a.) establishing a first center of gravity (CG) location of the fitting club; b.) monitoring one or more swings of the fitting club by the user to determine a preferred CG location for the user comprising a second CG location; c.) externally adjusting the first CG location via an internally-disposed adjustable weight of the fitting club, the weight being adjustable in a sole-to-crown direction, a face-to-back direction, and a heel-to-toe direction entirely within a hollow interior chamber of the fitting club, and in spaced relation an interior wall of the fitting club defining the interior chamber, to approximate the second CG location; d.) monitoring one or more additional swings of the fitting club by the user to determine if at least one of the additional swings establishes that the second CG location comprises the preferred CG location for the user; and e.) if at least one of the additional swings establishes that the second CG location comprises the preferred CG location for the user in step (d), fabricating a golf club including a customized golf club head having a CG location approximating the second CG location.
36. The fitting operation of claim 35 wherein step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using a sensor positioned within the adjustable weight.
37. The fitting operation of claim 35 wherein step (a) comprises monitoring one or more swings of the fitting club by the user.
38. The fitting operation of claim 35 wherein the fitting club includes a fitting club head, and step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using an adjustment mechanism within the fitting club head comprising an arm connected to the adjustable weight, the arm being adjustably disposed within a sleeve connected to a pivot to enable the adjustable weight to be adjusted axially along an axis of the sleeve and pivotally via the pivot.
39. The fitting operation claim 38 wherein step (c) comprises adjusting the adjustable weight into the second CG location using an adjustment mechanism wherein the sleeve is connected to a ball and socket joint.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The drawings described below are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Exemplary implementations will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025] Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating various aspects of the present disclosure only, and not for purposes of limiting the same, in
[0027] In the aspect of the disclosure illustrated in
[0028] As further illustrated in
[0029] As further illustrated in
[0030] As further illustrated in
[0031] As illustrated in
[0032] As further illustrated in
[0033] As also illustrated in
[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, a position sensor 80 is embedded within the weight 30 for determining the relative position of the weight 30 within the club head 10. In particular, the sensor 80 may emit a position signal which may be received by a remote receiver and analyzed to determine the precise position of the sensor 80 within the weight 30. The remote receiver may be any device capable of receiving the signal from the sensor 80 and analyzing the signal to determine the position information. It is contemplated that the remote receiver may include a personal computer (e.g., laptop or desktop), tablet computer (e.g., iPad™), smartphone, or other computing devices known by those skilled in the art. The information received by the remove receiver may be analyzed according to conventional position detection programs, software, algorithms and the like to determine the position of the weight 30 based on the signal received from the sensor 80. For instance, the analysis performed by the remote receiver may employ conventional triangulation techniques, such as those commonly used to identify the location of a cell phone. In this regard, the position sensor 80 may be employed to determine not only the relative position of the weight 30 within the golf club head 10, but may also comprise a sensor such as currently commercially available, for example, from Swingbyte, Inc., and others, and may be employed using software also available from such companies, to determine a golfer's swing speed, attack angle, swing plane, etc., for example during a fitting operation. Indeed, such sensors may be advantageously positioned and fixed within a fitting golf club head without employing the adjustment features described herein.
[0035] Referring now to
[0036] The golf club head 110 includes a striking face 12 and club head body 13, which collectively define the interior chamber 20, as described in more detail above. The weight 130 is disposed within the interior chamber 20 such that the weight 130 would not normally be visible or adjustable if positioned inside a conventional golf club head. The weight 130 may be fabricated of any golf club weighting material, including by way of example, titanium, steel, aluminum, lead and other metals and alloys thereof, ceramic, resin, stone, concrete, etc. Although the weight 130 as illustrated in
[0037] As further illustrated in
[0038] The elastomeric bands 134 may also extend between the club head body 13 and the internal weight 130, and are mounted to club head body 13 and internal weight via mounts 138. The elastomeric bands 134 are disposable in tension to apply a biasing force on the weight 130. In particular, as the length of the elastomeric bands 134 increases, the biasing force imparted on the weight 130 also increases. Conversely, as the length of the elastomeric bands 134 decreases, the biasing force imparted on the weight 130 also decreases. The inclusion of the elastomeric bands 134 is optional, and they may be omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0039] The golf club head 110 further includes an adjustment mechanism which may enable the weight 130 to be selectively adjustable in a sole-to-crown direction, “S-C,” a face-to-back direction, “F-B,” and in a direction generally along the face, for example, a heel-to-toe direction, “H-T.” According to one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes one or more screws 140 which are adapted to engage with a screwdriver or other adjustment tool in a mating fashion for rotating the screws 140. Each screw 140 is coupled to a shaft 142 in a manner such that the shaft 142 rotates with the screw 140. Depending on the length of the shaft 142 and placement of the shaft 142 within the club head 110, the shaft 142 may be supported by a journal 144. Each shaft 142 is coupled to a cable 146, which is also coupled to the weight 130.
[0040] In use, the screws 140 may be individually turned, which either winds or unwinds the corresponding cable 146, resulting in movement of the weight 130. The golf club head 130 may include cables 146 which adjust the weight 130 along three discrete axes to maximize adjustment of the weight 130 within the interior chamber 20. The struts 132 and elastomeric bands 134 also adjust their respective configurations in response to movement of the weight to collectively support the weight 130 in the desired position suspended within the interior chamber 20.
[0041] It should be noted that although the club head 110 depicted in
[0042] In another aspect of the disclosure, an adjustable weight as described herein may be used in a fitting operation to customize a golf club to a particular player. As is known, even professional golfers, the best in the world, have different and unique swing characteristics, including, for example, swing speed, attack angle, tendency to draw or fade, etc. Because of these unique swing characteristics experienced by all golfers, personalized fittings are frequently employed to match the golfer to the club in an effort to achieve the best possible “fit” for the particular golfer.
[0043] Various devices are known for determining swing and other characteristics of golfers, including “Trackman” monitors that measure club head speed, backspin, side spin, launch angle, etc., and “Swingbyte” sensors that measure attack angle, swing plane, swing speed, etc. It is now possible, using one or more of these characteristics obtained through a fitting operation, to adjust the center of gravity of a fitting club that comprises an adjustable weight disposed entirely within the hollow interior chamber of the fitting club and adjustable in a sole-to-crown direction, a face-to-back direction, and/or a direction along a face of the fitting club in order to determine a preferred position of the adjustable weight.
[0044] For example, during a fitting operation for a driver for golfer A, a fitting club comprising a golf club head 10 as described herein may initially position the adjustable weight 30 in a “neutral” position, in other words, with the point indicators 74, 76, substantially aligned with the CG point indicators 70, 71, respectively. It may then be determined, after a statistically significant number of swings using, for example, a Trackman launch monitor, and a golf club head 10 with an adjustable weight 30 thus neutrally positioned, that is, positioned in alignment with the club head 10's center of gravity CG (that is, a center of gravity for the club head 10 assuming no adjustable weight 30 was installed) that golfer A on average experiences 3,000 rpm of slicing side spin. The fitting professional may, in such a scenario, recommend adjusting the adjustable weight 30 toward the heel, in the toe-to-heal direction T-H, as illustrated in
[0045] This procedure (i.e., perform a number of swings, determine a pattern of ball flight based thereon, and adjust the adjustable weight in an effort to correct the resulting ball flight) may be repeated until an optimal position of the resulting CGR for golfer A using the fitting club is determined. Such optimal position may be recorded with reference to the various visual indicators 62, 64, or using a position sensor as previously described. This procedure may also include swapping out adjustable weights 30 of different mass, for example, by accessing the weight 30 through a removable port cover in the golf club 10 of the fitting club (not shown).
[0046] It is contemplated that, as a result of the fitting operation such as previously described, the golfer may walk out of the fitting studio with an adjustable club head substantially as described and customized. It is also an aspect of the disclosure that the customized position of the resulting center of gravity CGR may be communicated to a golf club manufacturer for purposes of manufacturing either an adjustable or non-adjustable golf club with that resulting center of gravity CGR. In the case of a non-adjustable golf club, the weight 30 may be positioned within the hollow interior chamber, for example, by permanently securing the weight 30 to an interior wall of the golf club head 10. Such permanent securing may be achieved, for example, using one or more struts attached to the interior walls of the golf club head 10, such that the struts may bridge the weight 30 at the predetermined position relative to the club's hollow interior chamber.
[0047] This disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited by these exemplary embodiments. Numerous variations, whether explicitly provided for by the specification or implied by the specification, such as variations in structure, dimension, type of material and manufacturing process may be implemented by one of skill in the art in view of this disclosure. For example, while the figures illustrate only one adjustable weight, it will now be appreciated that multiple adjustable weights may be placed within a golf club head according to the teachings herein. Similarly, while the figures illustrate only an internally disposed adjustable weight, it will now be appreciated that such an adjustable weight may be employed in conjunction with known external adjustable weights, including those that slide, are threaded, etc.