U.S. patent application number 09/737695 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-12 for method of producing a metal-wood golf club with a weight cavity chamber recessed within the sole cavity for precise weight adjustment and relocation of the center of gravity within the head, covered and protected by a removable sole plate cover.
Invention is credited to Prospero, Domingo S., Sillers, Robert A..
Application Number | 20020128089 09/737695 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26866136 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020128089 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sillers, Robert A. ; et
al. |
September 12, 2002 |
Method of producing a metal-wood golf club with a weight cavity
chamber recessed within the sole cavity for precise weight
adjustment and relocation of the center of gravity within the head,
covered and protected by a removable sole plate cover
Abstract
A metal-wood golf club having a removable sole plate that
exposes a recessed cavity or multiple recessed cavities within the
sole, into which lead tape or another suitable weighting material
can be inserted to achieve precise weight distribution and
modifying the center of gravity within the head. All added weight
is in the sole, below the original center of gravity, making the
club easier to hit. This system allows the custom clubmaker, or the
individual golfer, to add weight in the center, toward the toe,
heel, face, rear, or any combination thereof within the clubhead in
order to adjust the club's center of gravity to the golfer's
particular swing characteristics. Once the weight or weights have
been added, the sole plate cover is reattached by means of a
locking screw that covers, protects, and secures the weights in
place within the recessed cavity.
Inventors: |
Sillers, Robert A.; (San
Diego, CA) ; Prospero, Domingo S.; (Carlsbad,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT SILLERS
3940 CAMINITO DEL MAR COVE
SAN DIEGO
CA
92130
US
|
Family ID: |
26866136 |
Appl. No.: |
09/737695 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60170488 |
Dec 13, 1999 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/335 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/02 20151001;
A63B 53/0433 20200801; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 2053/0491
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/335 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/04 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method of making a metalwood golf club head having a heel,
toe, upper surface, rear surface, ball-striking surface, having a
recessed cavity or multiple recessed cavities within the sole or
bottom surface that has a removable cover plate wherein the
improvement comprises: a precision weight adjustment system for
relocating the center of gravity within the club head, below the
original center of gravity and in a direction toward the toe, heel,
face, rear, or any combination thereof, said weighting system may
utilize lead tape or any other weighting material which, once
placed in accordance with preselected parameters, is covered,
protected, and held securely in place by the removable sole plate
cover which is then reattached by means of a locking screw
mechanism.
2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the recessed cavity or
multiple cavities of the sole plate may be designed in a variety of
shapes and configurations.
3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein the sole plate cover is
removable in order to expose said recessed cavity or multiple
cavities, and replaceable in order to close said recessed cavity
and to provide covering and protection for any added weight.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to golf clubs and in
particular to metal-wood type golf club heads having an improved
weight adjustment system. The metal-wood type can be a driver or
numbered fairway metal-wood. The golf club head body can be made of
aluminum, steel, titanium, graphite, or any other material or
combination of materials presently available or developed in the
future. The weighting material can be made of lead tape or any
other weighting material presently available or developed in the
future.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] It is common for golfers to add weight in the form of lead
tape to the outer perimeters of their golf club heads in order to
adjust the center of gravity of the head to accommodate their
particular swing characteristics. Some golfers require more weight
toward the toe of the head, while others require more weight toward
the heel of the head, and others may require more weight toward the
face or rear of the head, or some combination such as toward the
toe and rear, or heel and face. The possibility of combinations is
limitless.
[0003] Custom weighting of golf club heads is difficult for the
golf equipment manufacturer because of the multitude of different
combinations of shafts, heads, and golfers' individual swing
characteristics. Since golf club heads are mass-produced, they
typically will have the same weight characteristics.
[0004] There have been numerous attempts to custom weight golf club
heads as shown by prior patent art. For example, The Beat U.S. Pat.
No. 1,543,691 shows a golf club head with cylindrical aluminum
carriers to hold and position weights within the club head. The
Thompson U.S. Pat. No.
[0005] 4,775,156 shows a golf club head having a sole plate
defining a keel, connected to the head by means of a bolt. The
Gordos U.S. Pat. No. 4,008,896 shows an elongated tube disposed in
an elongated cavity in the club head designed for weight
adjustment. The Kobayashi U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,949 shows a hollow
space for receiving a specific weight adjustment member on the
outer surface of the sole of the head. The Elmer U.S. Pat. No.
5,509,660 shows a golf club head having a removable ball striking
face and sole portion. The Redman U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,243 shows a
golf club head having an array of apertures designed to receive
spherical weights. The Lu U.S. Pat. No. 5,938,540 shows a golf club
head having interchangeable sole plates of different weights and
shapes.
[0006] Prior art demonstrates multiple approaches to weight
adjustment in wood or metal-wood type club heads. These designs
often make adjustment difficult and less effective, as they allow
gross weight adjustment primarily in one axis only.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to a golf club head that may
be adjusted to alter the center of gravity within the head itself
to match each individual golfer's specific swing characteristics,
resulting in more consistently accurate golf shots. The present
invention contemplates using a recessed cavity or multiple cavities
within the sole of the club head, exposed by a removable sole plate
cover. The cavity or cavities are designed to accept the addition
of lead tape or other weighting material that may be cut and placed
in precise multiple locations toward the toe, heel, face, rear, or
any combination thereof, within the club head. The added weight is
then covered, protected, and held securely in place by the sole
plate cover that is replaced and held by means of a locking screw
mechanism.
[0008] Among the objectives of the present invention is the
provision of a golf club head that can be customized by adjusting
the center of gravity within the club head to the specific swing
characteristics of any individual golfer. Another object of the
present invention is the provision of a golf club head that can be
customized by a custom clubmaker or by the individual golfer.
Another object of the present invention is the provision that the
club head can be readjusted on multiple occasions to accommodate
changes in the golfer's individual swing characteristics.
[0009] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth
certain embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a bottom plan view of a golf club head in
a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the sole
plate cover in place, and removed, exposing the recessed cavity
chamber.
[0011] FIG. 2a illustrates a side elevational cut-away, or
cross-sectional view of the recessed cavity in a preferred
embodiment of the present invention
[0012] FIG. 2b illustrates a side elevational cut-away, or
cross-sectional view of the recessed cavity in an alternate
preferred embodiment of the present invention
[0013] FIG. 3 shows an exploded plan view of the removed sole plate
cover and the exposed cavity in a preferred embodiment of the
present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2a.
[0014] FIG. 4 shows various alternate embodiments of the recessed
cavity and sole plate cover configurations.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are
disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the
enclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed
herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis
for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the
invention.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a golf club head 4 is illustrated with
the sole plate cover 5 in place and held securely by the locking
screw mechanism 6, securing the sole plate cover by means of
threaded bosses 6a. The head 4 and the sole plate cover 5 may be
made of aluminum, steel, titanium, graphite, or any other material
or combination of materials presently available or developed in the
future. The head 4 and the sole plate cover 5 may be made of the
same or different materials. The locking screw mechanism 6 may be
made of steel or any other suitable material.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, a cut-away, or cross-sectional view or
the preferred embodiment illustrates the recessed cavity 7 within
the sole of the head with added weight material 8. The positioning
of the weight material 8 is for illustration only, as added weight
may be placed anywhere within the recessed cavity for the purpose
of modifying the center of gravity to match a golfers specific
swing characteristics. The locking screw mechanism 6 is shown
imbedded in the body of the recessed cavity 7, holding the sole
plate cover 5 securely in place.
[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the preferred
embodiment shows the removed sole plate cover 5 and the exposed
recessed cavity 7 wherein lead tape 8, or other suitable weighting
material, may be precisely located at any point within the recessed
cavity to adjust the center of gravity within the head body 4 to
match the specific swing characteristics of the golfer.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, various alternate configurations of the
recessed cavity 9, 10, 11 are illustrated. These illustrations are
intended to show only some of the infinite number of shapes or
configurations of the recessed cavity, and are not intended to
limit the number of possible configurations to those illustrated
herein.
[0020] Preferably, the weight material 8 is common lead tape with
an adhesive backing, but can be any suitable weighting material
that can be cut, molded, or shaped to a specific size and weight
and placed within the recessed cavity 7 to adjust the center of
gravity within the club head.
[0021] The locking screw 6 of the preferred embodiment is made of
stainless steel with a tapered head allowing it to fit flush with
the sole plate cover 5, and having a hex or Philips type drive
mechanism for securing it to the head body 4.
[0022] While various preferred embodiments have been shown and
described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit
the invention by such disclosure, but rather it is intended to
cover all modifications and alternate constructions or
configurations falling within the spirit and scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *