Golf club with cartridge

Abstract

A golf club comprising a head having a series of tracks within a cartridge that's removable from the inside of the club head, which forms a three-dimensional pattern; a plurality of weights for positioning along the channels of the cartridge, and a mechanism for securing the weights at arbitrary positions along the channels within the cartridge, so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia from the crown or sole of the club head. The channels can all interconnect with one another to allow a weight to be moved from one to another. The golf club can further have an articulating cover for at least a portion of the surface, the cover being for covering and concealing the cartridge situated within the club head and the weights therein, positioned along the channels thereof.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising: a head having a crown and a sole; an articulating cover, located on the crown and sole of the head to define an opening when the cover is in a opened position, and when in the opened position receiving a cartridge containing a moveable set of weights, the weights being positioned within one or more tracks that are interconnected in a 2D or 3D configuration; a spring member facilitating moving the cover to the opened position; and a hinge on which the cover is coupled to the head, the spring member acting on the hinge.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said tracks all interconnect with one another to allow a weight to be moved from one track to another track and thus from one channel to another channel within the cartridge, when the cover is in the opened position.

3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said tracks are within said cartridge, and said weights are secured within said cartridge.

4. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is formed of a material selected from the group of transparent, translucent and opaque material.

5. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said tracks extend to a rear portion of said cartridge when secured to the sole of the head.

6. The golf club of claim 1, configured in the form of a wood or driver.

7. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the weights are comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of a metal, lead, tungsten, and iron.

8. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising a powered LED light bulb for illumination of a logo or its internal structure.

9. The golf club of claim 8, further comprising an LCD screen situation on the crown or inside cavity of the club head, to view the trajectory and distance of a launched golf ball along with swing characteristics of the golfer.

10. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising sensors on the handle to detect the heart rate and rhythm of the user, to give a user feedback to determine degree of focus when addressing a golf ball.

11. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for securing the cover in a closed position.

12. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the mechanism is one of a screw and a clamp.

13. The golf club of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for securing the cover in a closed position.

14. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the mechanism is one of a screw and a clamp.

15. A golf club comprising: a head having a crown and a sole; an articulating cover, located on the crown and sole of the head to define an opening when the cover is in a opened position, and when in the opened position receiving a cartridge containing a moveable set of weights, the weights being positioned within one or more tracks that are interconnected in a 2D or 3D configuration; a spring member facilitating moving the cover to the opened position; wherein said weights comprise: a spherical member disposed in one of said tracks, within said cartridge, a fastening member having a portion external to a surface of said cartridge or track; and a coupling between said spherical member and said external portion, to, allow said spherical member and said external portion to securely capture between them a wall of said cartridge in which said track is formed.

16. A golf club comprising: a head having a crown and a sole; an articulating cover, located on the crown and sole of the head to define an opening when the cover is in a opened position, and when in the opened position receiving a cartridge containing a moveable set of weights, the weights being positioned within one or more tracks that are interconnected in a 2D or 3D configuration; a spring member facilitating moving the cover to the opened position; and markings on the sole, which show ideal position or orientation for each individual weight for at least one of low or high moment of inertia; high and low trajectory, and fade or draw via a transparent or translucent apertures or windows.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a golf club head in an opened configuration.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a golf club head in an opened configuration.

(4) FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a golf club head.

(5) FIG. 4 is a side view of a golf club head in a partially opened configuration.

(6) FIG. 5 is a partially cut away side view of a golf club head in an opened configuration.

(7) FIG. 6 is a partially cut away side view of another golf club head; specifically an iron.

(8) FIG. 7A is a side view of a golf club handle.

(9) FIGS. 7B and 7C are views of a rachet mechanism within the handle of FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) Although the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, the golf clubs described herein can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments, to include other sporting equipment such as a tennis rackets or baseball bat, whereby aspects of the invention may be incorporated therein. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used within different club types such as hybrid and fairway woods club types. Similarly, with reference to FIG. 6, the technology described can be used in irons and wedges club types.

(11) The category of golf club illustrated in FIG. 1 is generally referred to as a driver, and has a lower surface (sole) and a top surface (crown), in addition to a heel, toe and shaft connected to the club head via a hosel.

(12) As per USGA rule, the club head for a driver may have a maximum volume of 460 cc to which the invention adheres to stringently.

(13) Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a perspective view of a golf club having a head 400 and a shaft 404. A crown 401 is shown in the opened position, fixed by a hinge 401A to the club head at the forward section of the golf club.

(14) A cartridge 407 with adjustable weights is situated within the cavity of the club head, anchored by a base (not shown) which may be removable by the golfer and replaced with a cartridge having fixed weights, a set of similar weights or movable weights, arranged in a 3D contour, similar to the U.S. patent issued to Carter.

(15) The weights 400A, 400B, 400C . . . 400N may also be designed in any manner, to be movable on a 2D or 3D plain, to adjust the COG of the club head once positioned into the club's cavity from the crown.

(16) The set of spherical weights 400A, 400B, 4000 . . . 400N are arranged in a 3D manner inside of the club head, secured within multiple interconnected tracks, 405,406 & 407 in FIG. 23.

(17) The tracks of FIG. 1 are situated in the removable cartridge embodiment, which is then secured inside of the club head by a screw or clamp.

(18) The burrow of the track may take the form of a 3D configuration to traverse the complex inner contour of the of the sole and perimeter of the club head.

(19) To access the spherical weights 400A, 400B, 400C . . . 400N and manipulate them in a manner similar to that in U.S. Pat. No. 9,700,764, crown 401 serves as an access port (door), capable of swinging on hinge 401A. Crown 401 may be transparent, translucent, opaque or contain a LCD color or holographic screen.

(20) Crown 401 may also fabricated from any number of lightweight materials such as carbon fiber, titanium or composite materials having low density and superior strength. Crown 401 may be securely affixed by hinge 401A or more than one hinge and secured by at least one screw or clamp member to the body of the club head 400, either from the front, back or sides of the club head structure.

(21) The weights can comprise a spherical member disposed in a channel; an external member to the cartridge having a portion external to a channels therein; and a coupling between the spherical member and the external member to allow the spherical member and the external member to securely capture between them a wall within the cartridge and track from within the cavity of the head of the club.

(22) With reference to FIG. 2 (page 2), the sole aspect of the club head is shown in the opened position, similar to the crown described above, to receive one or more weights/cartridges as before, to be secured onto the sole aspect of the club head, by a screw or clamp mechanism, onto a receiving base. With reference to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the access port may also have a spring member affixed to the hinge or separately, to facilitate opening at 101A and 101B.

(23) The replaceable cartridge may be an assortment of moveable weight components, which may traverse a 2D or 3D contoured (track) or be comprised of fixed, non-moveable weight. The golfer will exercise the option to choose the weight-cartridge that may best suit his/her need.

(24) Weights inside of the clubhead can be adjusted from within the golf club's head cavity, by opening the access port of the club head, allowing access to the tracks with weights thereupon, to then add or subtract one or more weights simultaneously or individually, or adjust the spherical weight's position onto any of the multiple interconnecting tracks.

(25) In other embodiments, a cartridge containing a predetermined configuration of fixed or moveable weights can be placed inside of the cavity of the club's head and clamped or screwed into position, onto the sole of the club, from the inside. The cartridge can have interconnecting tracks in a variety of configurations to place the COG of the club head to the periphery, sole and to the center as desired by the user.

(26) As before, weights can be moved from one track to another, using the interconnected system of tracks, allowing weights to move from the sole to the periphery, to the front, the back, and towards the face of the club to achieve variable playability.

(27) The tracks can also be included in the pivoting or articulated crown or cover, as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4.

(28) With reference to FIG. 3, transparent or translucent viewing windows: 200X, 200Y & 200Z are incorporated to observe the precise location of weighted spheres 48, to be gauged from the outside of the club head, i.e., from the sole. The viewing windows allow for the weights to be secured within the club head, from within the cavity, while visually observing their location from the outside once the access door is in a closed position.

(29) Once the sole of the club member is in a closed position it is protected from the elements. A single screw mechanism within the sole may secure the articulating sole member (crown or door) to the body of the club head when in a closed position, allowing the club to appear even more plain in design, with no gutted trough or appendages associated with the screws, projecting from the club head.

(30) In FIG. 3 the weight are secured into the cover of the club head, from the inside of the club while permitting the visualization of the weights via aperture-windows 200x, 200y and 200z. The aperture may also be used after a weight-cartridge is affixed to the sole of the club door embodiment, when in the opened position. Once in the closed position, the weight-cartridge installed component is only visible via the aperture from the outside. The weights are secured within the tracks in a similar manner as described in Carter's patent.

(31) In FIG. 4, the sole of the golf club in an opened position (side view). The weights 48 are illustrated to be located in a peripheral track, which may also be configured to have a center track or other tracks to interconnect (not shown in this figure).

(32) The cover may have slits or crevices within its tracks, to allow for the spheres to be further secured thereto by a frictional means along any given point of the track. In so doing, the weights are not secured into the recesses and restricted to finite locations as seen in Chen & Chao et al.; instead they are levitated closer to the sole of the club head and secured thereto onto the articulating cover/sole/port of the club head. Similar configuration can be provided for the crown, whereby the weights are secured to the crown of the club head.

(33) Other clubs within the golfer's array of approved (hybrids) or non-conforming clubs may be fashioned by design to incorporate the benefits of this invention.

(34) In accordance with the embodiments described, golf club heads are provided with a scalable system of weights which allows for a precision and convenient adjustment of the COG without having to remove, switch or change weights from a golf club's head, or change the club's orientation to access the weights from within the club's head.

(35) The embodiments described are an advanced golf club technology, which allows the movement of weights in (3D) three dimensions, that is, across a three dimensional surface, having complex slopes or curves. Moreover, the tracks or recesses, which house the movable weights, can be accessed from the hood (crown) when the articulating member is in the opened position; the weights may also be accessed and adjusted from the sole when the articulating member of the sole in the open position.

(36) Preferably the weights are added as a collective set situated into a cartridge, having tracks therein, with an access point being the crown to affix the cartridge into the cavity of the club head onto the sole. The access point to inside of the club head may be the sole, when the port is in the open position, allowing weights to be secured to the crown; or both the crown and sole at the same time.

(37) To traverse the complex contours of a golf club's head, the weights can have the shape of a sphere or two segments of a sphere, designed in such a way as to expand and lock into position, along any segment of the interconnecting tracks.

(38) The weights can have a biasing knob member, which limits its ability to turn left, right, up or down to approximately 340 degrees in a 3D manner. The weights may have a screw member which cause the half spheres to push outwards and expand, creating a higher degree of friction and resistance to movement, locking a weight into a fixed position, when expanded.

(39) The embodiments described also feature replaceable cartridges having variable COG configuration from moveable weights therein to affect the club's playability and moment of inertia. The cartridges may be constructed of a homogenous material, such as a metal or a combination of metal alloys and or synthetic materials.

(40) FIG. 5 illustrate the club head in a side view profile, depicting a screw member 602A attached to the rear end of the crown, to lock the crown in place to a threaded opening 602B. The articulating crown member is attached to the club head by hinge at the forward crown section 17C. Moveable weights are depicted with middle section of the cavity of the club, within a visible track, thereby moving the COG along the path, between the crown and sole.

(41) Support for the tracks may be provided with buttresses 600 and 601, anchoring the track to the sole of the club from the inside cavity.

(42) LED Bulbs

(43) It is a further object of the embodiments described to incorporate decorative and functional lighting, in the form of LED bulb, connected to a replaceable battery and a switch.

(44) The switch may preferably be positioned inside of the handle of the club shaft, accessible from the top of the shaft. The switch may also be placed outside or inside of the club head, or hosel.

(45) The LED lighting can be used to illuminate a portion or all of the logo element, associated with a club head.

(46) The LED bulbs being lightweight and comprising of any available color add negligible weigh to the club head overall.

(47) An LED bulb of any color in the spectrum may be turned on or off, to illuminate the location of each weight or illuminate around the weights when the weights are made of opaque material.

(48) The LED bulb within the club head can be controlled to an on and off position to adjust the brightness, from the handle of the club embodiment. However the switch may be positioned at any position (point) along the length of the shaft or behind the club face.

(49) The battery to power the LED bulbs may be situated into the handle of the club shaft for easy access to install or replace; or inside of the club head. The LED bulbs may also be incorporated in the club head for decorative purpose other than to illuminate the logo.

(50) FIG. 6 depictions an iron or wedge club wherein the posterior aspect is shown having an adjustable weight 13, movable along a surface or surface or plane 157-158, on a track. The weight therein may be removable and replaced with a static (non-moveable) weight member or a moveable weight member having a different density that may be heavier or lighter than the replaced weight component.

(51) The entire apparatus comprising of a cogwheel 155 and 156 engaging with the grooves of the weight 162 & 13, may be replaceable as a complete component or replaceable block.

(52) As shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, the movable weight 13 is adjustable from the club handle, preferably by a ratcheted mechanism as depicted in FIG. 10, with biasing gear and lock mechanism 305B and 305 C.

(53) Biosensors

(54) In another embodiment, the club head of preferably a driver is equipped with a LCD screen on the crown and sensors attached thereto from the inner or rear portion of the face of the club head. A circuit board, battery and software are all built inside of the club head to determine the trajectory and distance of a golf ball, following impact. The strike location on the club face can also be determined and displayed visually on the LCD screen after impact. The technology is intended to give the user immediate feedback during training exercise.

(55) Further the golf club handle is equipped with one or more biosensors to detect a pulse rate and or electrocardiogram activity to determine the player's level of focus and concentration while addressing a golf ball. The data is processed using proprietary software to give the golfer feedback on his or her state of readiness and calmness when addressing a golf ball. The data and or instructions may be graphically displayed on the LCD or similar screen type situated on the crown, visible when the golfer is addressing the golf ball.

(56) In other embodiments, the LCD screen may be located inside of the club head and accessible when the port or (crown) is in the opened position.