GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH REPOSITIONABLE WEIGHT

Abstract

A golf club head comprises a body, a track formed in or attached to the body and having a length and a weight and weight retainer. The weight is continuously repositionable such that it can be positioned at any selected point along the track between its ends. The weight has a major dimension, and the weight retainer comprises a fastening member having a diameter not greater than about one half of the major dimension of the weight.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A golf club head, comprising: a thin walled body including a crown portion, a sole portion, and a skirt portion extending between the crown and the sole portion, a face portion extending between the sole portion and the crown portion at a fore end of the body opposite an aft end of the body, and a rearmost edge at the aft end of the body; a curved channel in the body below the rearmost edge and located adjacent the aft end of the body, the channel extending from a toe side of the body to a heel side of the body; a weight portion located at least partially within the channel and adjustable to a plurality of points along the channel, the weight portion having a shape that prevents substantial rotation within the channel; and a fastening member having an exposed end portion configured to be driven by a tool to place the fastening member in tension and affix the weight portion against a portion of the channel; wherein the rearmost edge extends beyond the weight portion so that the weight portion is not visible in a top plan view looking vertically downward at the body.

22. The golf club head of claim 21, wherein the face portion has a thickness that varies.

23. The golf club head of claim 22, wherein the channel is at least partially located in the skirt portion of the body.

24. The golf club head of claim 23, wherein the channel follows a perimeter shape of the aft end of the body.

25. The golf club head of claim 24, wherein the weight portion is repositionable to multiple predetermined positions.

26. The golf club head of claim 24, wherein the weight portion is formed of a weight portion material, the fastening member is formed of a fastening member material different than the weight portion material.

27. The golf club head of claim 24, wherein the weight portion is formed of a weight portion material, the fastening member is formed of a fastening member material, and the face portion is formed of a face portion material different than at least one of the fastening member material and the weight portion material.

28. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein a portion of the body is formed of non-metallic material.

29. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the channel has closed ends to prevent the weight portion from exiting the ends of the channel.

30. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein the weight portion is removable from the channel.

31. The golf club head of claim 30, wherein the weight portion includes a bore, and the fastening member includes a head and a threaded shaft portion that extends through the bore to engage the body.

32. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein the channel having a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall by a channel width, and a base recessed a channel depth from an adjacent exterior surface of the body, wherein a portion of at least one sidewall is flush with the adjacent exterior surface of the body and the sidewall extends toward an interior of the club head to join the base.

33. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the channel depth is less than the channel width.

34. The golf club head of claim 33, wherein a portion of the weight portion is in contact with the base when the weight portion is secured.

35. A golf club head, comprising: a thin walled body including a crown portion, a sole portion, and a skirt portion extending between the crown and the sole portion, a face portion having a thickness that varies and extending between the sole portion and the crown portion at a fore end of the body opposite an aft end of the body, and a rearmost edge at the aft end of the body; a channel in the body below the rearmost edge and located adjacent the aft end of the body, the channel extending from a toe side of the body to a heel side of the body, the channel is at least partially located in the skirt portion of the body and following a perimeter shape of the aft end of the body; a weight portion located at least partially within the channel and repositionable to multiple predetermined positions along the channel, the weight portion having a shape that prevents substantial rotation within the channel; and a fastening member having an exposed end portion configured to be driven by a tool to place the fastening member in tension and affix the weight portion against a portion of the channel; wherein the rearmost edge extends beyond the weight portion so that the weight portion and the fastening member are not visible in a top plan view looking vertically downward at the body; wherein the weight portion is formed of a weight portion material, the fastening member is formed of a fastening member material, and the crown portion is formed of a crown portion material different than at least one of the fastening member material and the weight portion material.

36. The golf club head of claim 35, wherein the fastening member material is different than the weight portion material.

37. The golf club head of claim 35, wherein the channel has closed ends to prevent the weight portion from exiting the ends of the channel.

38. The golf club head of claim 35, wherein the weight portion includes a bore, and the fastening member includes a head and a threaded shaft portion that extends through the bore to engage the body.

39. A golf club head, comprising: a thin walled body including a crown portion, a sole portion, and a skirt portion extending between the crown and the sole portion, a face portion having a thickness that varies and extending between the sole portion and the crown portion at a fore end of the body opposite an aft end of the body, and a rearmost edge at the aft end of the body; a channel in the body below the rearmost edge and located adjacent the aft end of the body, the channel extending from a toe side of the body to a heel side of the body, the channel is at least partially located in the skirt portion of the body and following a perimeter shape of the aft end of the body; a weight portion located at least partially within the channel and repositionable to multiple predetermined positions along the channel, the weight portion having a shape that prevents substantial rotation within the channel; and a fastening member having an exposed end portion configured to be driven by a tool to place the fastening member in tension and affix the weight portion against a portion of the channel; wherein the rearmost edge extends beyond the weight portion so that the weight portion and the fastening member are not visible in a top plan view looking vertically downward at the body; wherein the weight portion is formed of a weight portion material, the fastening member is formed of a fastening member material, and the sole portion is formed of a sole portion material different than at least one of the fastening member material and the weight portion material.

40. The golf club head of claim 39, wherein the channel has closed ends to prevent the weight portion from exiting the ends of the channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a representative golf club head with a track and a continuously repositionable weight positionable at any desired point along the track.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 and showing a section of the head and the track in elevation.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a section view of a track and a weight secured in the track, according to one embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a section view of a track and a weight secured in the track, according to another embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a section view of a track and a weight secured in the track, according to another embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a section view of a track and a weight a track and a weight secured in the track, according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] A representative golf club 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The golf club 10 has a golf club head 20, which is attached to a shaft 42 (shown partially in FIG. 1), such as by a hosel 44. The golf club head 20 has a body 32 with a sole 34, a crown 36, a face 38 for striking the ball that extends between the crown 36 and the sole 34 at a fore end 48, and a ribbon 40 that comprises a portion of the body 32 between the crown 36 and the sole 34 at an aft end 46.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, the face 38 of the golf club head 20 is oriented toward the right, thus making a toe end 50 of the body 32 visible in the figure. A heel end of the body, although not shown in the figures, is generally opposite the toe end 50, and closer to the hosel 44.

[0032] The body 32 comprises a track 54, which can be described as being generally located in the ribbon 40 and closer to the aft end 46 than the fore end 48. Thus, if the aft end 46 and/or the ribbon 40 is curved, such as is shown for the representative head 20 of FIG. 1, the track 54 can extend along a curved path to follow its general shape.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a section view in elevation taken at the position shown in FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the track 54 is configured to allow at least one weight 60 to be secured in place at a selected location along the track 54 to allow the club's characteristics to be changed as desired. The weight 60 is releasably secured, so that it remains in the selected location even after the golf club is subjected to use, but it can be removed or replaced when desired, such as to replace the weight, to remove the weight or to change the weight's position. In the illustrated embodiments, the weight is continuously repositionable, i.e., the track 54 allows the position of the weight 60 to be infinitely adjustable (secured at any selected position) along the length of the track between its ends and is not limited to being positioned in one of a finite number of predefined positions.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the track 54 in some embodiments protrudes from the surrounding surface of the body 32. In other embodiments, the track may be formed flush with the surrounding surface, or it may be recessed. In the illustrated embodiments, the track 54 is configured to retain the weight 60 within the track even if the weight is not yet secured in a selected position or has become unsecured. In this way, the chances of loss of the weight 60 (and other components), possible injury to others, and/or damage to property are reduced.

[0035] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 2 showing details of one implementation of the track 54 and weight 60. As shown in FIG. 3, the track 54 may comprise a channel 56 attached to or formed in the body 32 of the head 20. The channel 56 is comprised of a pair of spaced apart channel members 57 that protrude from the outer surface of the body 32 that can have hooked ends as shown. In other words, the channel members 57 can be described as having an inverted “J” profile. The channel 56 and the weight 60 are relatively dimensioned with respect to each other to allow the weight 60 to be moved to different points along the channel, such as by sliding the weight 60.

[0036] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a weight retainer 62 retains the weight 60 in a selected position along the channel 56. The retainer 62 can be released to allow the weight 60 to be moved to a different position or removed from the channel (e.g., such as through an opened end of the channel). In the illustrated embodiments, the weight retainer 62 comprises a fastener, such as a threaded fastener or threaded section of a member, although other approaches are also possible.

[0037] For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the weight retainer 62 can comprise a fastener (such as, e.g., a set screw) or fastening member 66 that threadedly engages a bore 64 formed in the weight 60 to allow the weight 60 to be secured against an outer side of the channel (toward the aft direction) when the fastening member 66 is tightened against the inner side of the channel 56 (which may be the outer surface of the body). The fastening member 66 can have any suitable type of head (such as, e.g., a hex head or a TORX head) to allow use a tool for tightening or loosening the retainer 62.

[0038] The approach in FIG. 3 is suitable for many applications. A relatively large weight 60 may be suitably secured with the fastening member 66. For example, in some embodiments, the diameter of the fastening member 66 is not greater than one half of the major dimension of the weight 60. For additional security in some applications, the approach in FIG. 4, which allows the relatively heavy weight to be secured against a larger surface than in FIG. 3, can be followed.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 4, the weight 60 is secured by contact of its major surface with the base of the channel 56, rather than by contact between only the ends of the weight 60 and the channel 56 as shown in FIG. 3. Because of the greater surface area of the contact region, the weight 60 can be retained more securely. The head 20 experiences dramatic forces of about 10,000 G during impact with a golf ball. The effect of these forces in tending to loosen the weight retainer 62′ is lessened because the weight is pressed against the head rather than being spaced apart from the head. This direct load transfer from the weight to the head is more efficient than having the load transferred through a smaller member, such as the weight retainer 62 shown in FIG. 3.

[0040] In FIG. 4, the weight retainer 62′ comprises the fastener 66, configured to have its end free to turn and to bear against the weight 60, and a retainer plate 68 with the threaded bore 64 engaged with the fastener 66. When the fastener 66 is tightened, the weight 60 is pressed inwardly against the body 32, and the retainer plate 68, which is larger than the channel opening and not free to rotate, is pressed against the outer side of the channel 56. Because the weight 60 and retainer plate 68 are larger than the channel opening, these components will not separate from the head 20 if the weight 60 becomes unsecured.

[0041] Another alternative approach is shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, a weight 60′ is configured with a channel receiving opening 69 dimensioned to fit over the channel 56 as shown. The weight 60′ has legs 61a, 61b shaped to straddle the channel 56 and to bear against the outer surface of the body 32 in areas outside of the channel 56, and is secured by the fastening member 66 threadedly engaged in the bore 64 in the weight. In the weight retainer 62″, the fastening member 66 has an exposed or head end that can be driven by a tool and an opposite enlarged end 71 dimensioned larger than the channel opening. As the fastening member 66 is tightened, it tends to pull the weight 60′ inwardly with the legs 61a, 61b bearing against the body 32 as shown. Optionally, a washer 70 can be placed between the exposed end of the fastening member 66 and the outer side of the channel 56 as shown to prevent wear and allow for easy tightening of the assembly.

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates an approach similar to FIG. 5, except that the track 54 is formed as a rib or a rail 58 rather than the channel 56. In FIG. 6, there is a member 72, such as, e.g., a C-channel coupler as shown or another suitable construction, that couples the enlarged end of the fastener 66 (which is larger in size than the opening) to the rib 58. Similar to the FIG. 5 approach, when the fastener 66 is tightened, the weight 60′ is pulled inwardly with the legs 61a, 61b bearing against the body 32.

[0043] Although described above in connection with a single weight, it is of course possible to use multiple weights that are individually secured in selected positions. In the illustrated embodiments, the concepts are shown for a driver, but it is possible to implement the same concepts for virtually any other type of club, including fairway woods, hybrid clubs, irons, putters, wedges, etc.

[0044] The weight or weights may be made from one or more materials, such as, e.g., steel, tungsten, titanium, copper, brass, aluminum, depleted uranium, magnesium, etc. The track and weight retainer can also be made of any suitable material, such as, e.g., titanium, aluminum, magnesium, composites or plastics. The track can be configured to allow complete removal of the weight, such as, e.g., at an end of the track.

[0045] Having illustrated and described the principles of the disclosed embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. In view of the many possible embodiments, it will be recognized that the described embodiments include only examples and should not be taken as a limitation on the scope of the invention. Rather, the invention is defined by the following claims. We therefore claim as the invention all possible embodiments and their equivalents that come within the scope of these claims.