U.S. patent application number 11/487975 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-24 for adjustable weight golf clubs.
This patent application is currently assigned to Huffy Sports Delaware, Inc.. Invention is credited to Mark Wayne Adams, Simon Chu.
Application Number | 20080020861 11/487975 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38972105 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080020861 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Adams; Mark Wayne ; et
al. |
January 24, 2008 |
Adjustable weight golf clubs
Abstract
The present invention relates to golf clubs having a movable
weight which may be used to adjust the center of gravity of the
golf club head. The golf club may include a slidable weight movable
to various positions along a slot between the heel and the toe of
the club. The head may include a cavity shaped to receive an
insert. In one embodiment, a slidable weight consisting of a screw
and a weight which may engage with each other may be configured to
move along the length of the insert. During assembly, the weight
may be inserted into an opening in the end of the insert and slid
along a close fitting channel running the length of the insert. The
weight's position along the channel may be secured by engaging the
screw and tightening down the screw with a portion of the insert
secured between the screw head and the weight. The assembled insert
and slidable weight may then be press fit into the cavity in the
head. By adjusting the position of the weight and screw within the
insert, the center of gravity of the golf club may be adjusted.
Inventors: |
Adams; Mark Wayne; (Dayton,
OH) ; Chu; Simon; (Shatin, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWREY LLP
C/O IP DOCKETING DEPARTMENT, 2941 FAIRVIEW PARK DR, SUITE 200
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22042-2924
US
|
Assignee: |
Huffy Sports Delaware, Inc.
Miamisburg
OH
|
Family ID: |
38972105 |
Appl. No.: |
11/487975 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/334 ;
473/336 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20130101;
A63B 60/00 20151001; A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 53/0416 20200801;
A63B 60/04 20151001; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 60/52 20151001;
A63B 53/0487 20130101; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 2053/0491
20130101; A63B 2209/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/334 ;
473/336 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. An adjustable weight golf club comprising: a shaft; a head; a
movable weight; and an insert for slidably receiving said movable
weight; wherein said insert is positionable within said head.
2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said insert is made of
non-metal material.
3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said insert is made of metal
material.
4. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said insert is held within
said head using a press fit.
5. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said insert includes means for
attaching said insert to said head.
6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said insert is held within
said head using an adhesive or epoxy.
7. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said insert includes a hole
for receiving said movable weight and wherein the hole is closed
upon positioning said insert in said head.
8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said insert is removably
positioned within said head.
9. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said insert includes an
opening providing access for a user to adjust the location of said
movable weight when said movable weight is slidably received by
said insert.
10. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said movable weight includes
a locking portion, the locking portion having at least a first and
a second position.
11. The golf club of claim 10, wherein when the locking portion is
in a first position, said movable weight is prevented from sliding
within said insert and when the locking portion is in a second
position, said movable weight is permitted to slide within said
insert.
12. The golf club of claim 10, wherein the locking portion is a
threaded screw.
13. The golf club of claim 10, wherein the locking portion is a
spring and pin combination configured to engage with holes within
said insert.
14. The golf club of claim 2, wherein said insert is made of blow
molded plastic or injection molded plastic.
15. The golf club of claim 1, wherein said head includes a top, a
sole, a heel and a toe and wherein said insert is positionable
between said top and said sole and between said heel and said
toe.
16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein said head further includes a
ball striking surface having a first and a second side, the first
side being configured to strike a golf ball and said insert being
positionable on the second side.
17. A method of manufacturing an adjustable weight golf club, the
method comprising: manufacturing a golf club head configured to
attach to a golf club shaft; manufacturing an insert configured to
slidably receive a movable weight; and positioning the insert
within the golf club head.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of
positioning includes holding the insert within the head using a
press fit.
19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step
of slidably inserting a movable weight into the insert prior to the
step of positioning the insert within the golf club head.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the movable weight is
inserted into the insert using a hole in the insert.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to golf clubs. More
specifically, the present invention relates to golf clubs having a
movable weight which may be used to adjust the center of gravity of
the golf club head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] When golf clubs are designed and manufactured, they are
typically given specific weight characteristics to achieve
performance standards that the manufacturer deems desirable for a
large number of golfers. Specifically, manufacturers may wish to
adjust the overall weight of the shaft of the club, the overall
weight of the head of the club, the weight distribution along the
shaft of the club and/or the weight distribution within the head of
the club. Each change in weight has different results for different
golfers depending on a golfers' height, weight, ability and swing
type.
[0003] Often, manufactures distribute the weight of the head of the
club by casting more mass into the toe of the club, the heel of the
club or both the toe and the heel. This creates a "sweet spot," the
ideal location to strike a golf ball, located in or near the center
of the club because of the weight distribution. However, because of
the inherent differences between each golfers' size, swing and
ability, this location for the sweet spot is not always ideal.
[0004] Ideally, a manufacturer would create a set of golf clubs
with the weight distributed such that the sweet spot is located at
each individual golfer's ideal location to strike the ball.
However, "custom" golf clubs are often not economically feasible
for most golfers due to the cost associated with tailoring clubs to
individual golfers. Additionally, manufacturers are not able to
pre-manufacture a large number of clubs for sale as the
manufacturing process must account for any changes required by each
individual golfer. Therefore, manufacturers often produce
adjustable weight golf clubs in order to provide each golfer with
clubs which may be at least partially tailored to their individual
swing characteristics.
[0005] One previous attempt at providing such an adjustable weight
golf club includes the insertion of different value weights into or
on to the club head. These weights are generally either perimeter
weight inserts, weighted plugs or weighted plates. They may be
inserted into different locations inside, or attached around the
outside, of the club head. For a golfer to adjust the weight of
these clubs, the weights must be removed and replaced with separate
weights each time a change is desired.
[0006] Another previous attempt at providing an adjustable weight
golf club has been to provide weighted screws located at specific
locations inside and/or around the outside of the club head. A
golfer may tighten or loosen the screws in order to alter the
distribution of weight along the threaded channel which receives
the screw in the head of the club.
[0007] One drawback of previous adjustable weight clubs is that
weight adjustment may be time-consuming because the weights may
need to be detached and reattached or adjusted using special tools.
Further, adjustment of the weight may include the removal of a
cover plate or similar device merely to obtain access to the
weights. As such, when a golfer wishes to make a quick change or an
alteration to the weight of the club (as may be desirable during
play), the golfer is unable to do so without engaging in the
laborious process of switching or adjusting the weights.
[0008] Another drawback of these clubs is that the potential
adjustability is limited. A golfer may only adjust weights in
certain specific locations and the location of the weights is
limited to those locations chosen by the manufacturer. Therefore,
each golfer's options for the distribution of weight in the club
head is limited to the adjustment of screws or weights placed at
specific locations around the club head. These locations may not
provide for the ideal weight adjustments for each golfer.
[0009] Finally, the previous adjustable weight golf clubs involve
many metal parts which must be manufactured separately and fit
together. As a result, the manufacture and assembly of the clubs is
costly and time-consuming. Where metal parts must be fit together,
there are specific tolerances which must be met in order to ensure
that each part will fit with the other parts and that the club as a
whole will function properly. Further, the assembly of these clubs
is difficult because of the number of parts which must be fit
together.
[0010] As such, there is a need for an easily manufactured
adjustable weight golf club which provides golfers with the ability
to easily adjust the center of gravity of the golf club at many
different locations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention relates to golf clubs. More
specifically, the present invention relates to golf clubs having a
movable weight which may be used to adjust the center of gravity of
the golf club head.
[0012] The present invention may include an adjustable weight golf
club. The golf club may comprise a shaft, a head a movable weight
and an insert for slidably receiving the movable weight. In one
embodiment, the insert may be positionable within the head of the
golf club.
[0013] The present invention may also include a method of
manufacturing an adjustable weight golf club. The method may
include the steps of manufacturing a golf club head configured to
attach to a golf club shaft and manufacturing an insert configured
to slidably receive a movable weight. Additionally, the method may
include the step of positioning the insert within the golf club
head.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the invention will
be apparent from the following description, the accompanying
drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] While the specification concludes with claims particularly
pointing out and distinctly claiming the present invention, it is
believed the same will be better understood from the following
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
which illustrate, in a non-limiting fashion, the best mode
presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention, and
in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout
the Figures, wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of an adjustable weight golf
club according to one embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 1B shows an adjustable weight insert for use with one
embodiment of the adjustable weight golf club of the present
invention.
[0018] FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show several locations of a slidable
weight in a golf club head according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The present disclosure will now be described more fully with
reference to the Figures in which various embodiments of the
present invention are shown. The subject matter of this disclosure
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
[0020] FIG. 1A shows an exploded view of an adjustable weight golf
club head 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The head 100 includes a main body having a heel 30, a toe 40, a top
90, a sole 50, a first cavity 70, a second cavity 60 and a hosel
20. The hosel 20 may be connected to any suitable golf club shaft
10 known in the art including, but not limited to, metal and carbon
fiber shafts. Additionally, the head 100 includes a ball striking
surface 80 which may include grooves (not shown) etched or machined
into the side of the surface 80 which makes contact with a golf
ball (not shown).
[0021] In one embodiment, the body and the ball striking surface 80
of the head 100 according to the present invention are manufactured
entirely from metal. However, alternative materials such as carbon
fiber or any other suitable material with sufficient strength to
withstand the striking of a golf ball may be used. For example, in
one embodiment of the present invention, the main body and the
striking surface 80 are both manufactured from stainless steel. In
other embodiments, however, it is well known to manufacture the
body or the striking surface out of other metals, such as titanium,
aluminum, zinc, liquid metal, carbon steel, different grades of
stainless steel or other lightweight materials having sufficient
strength to withstand the forces associated with striking a golf
ball.
[0022] The ball striking surface 80 and the main body of the head
100 may be manufactured using any of a number of suitable
techniques known in the art of golf club manufacturing. In one
embodiment, a Stainless steel cast body and a Stainless steel ball
striking surface 80 are separately manufactured. Thereafter, the
ball striking surface 80 may be attached to the body using any
suitable means for attaching two pieces of metal including, but not
limited to, adhesive, epoxy, screws or welding. In an alternative
embodiment, the body and the ball striking surface 80 may be
machined as one single molded piece, thus eliminating the need to
attach two pieces of metal together.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 1A, and as mentioned briefly above,
the body of the head 100 may be manufactured with two openings 60
and 70. The head 100 may or may not include the first cavity 70
depending on the desired overall weight of the body of the club
head 100. In embodiments excluding the first cavity 70, the main
body in the area illustrated as the first cavity 70 (FIG. 1A) may
be either solid or hollow, depending on the desired overall weight
of the body of the club head 100.
[0024] The second cavity 60 may be formed by computer numerical
control ("CNC") machining, casting or another similar method for
manufacturing known in the art. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the
second cavity 60 may be elongated so that it runs substantially
parallel to the sole 50 from the heel 30 to the toe 40. The second
cavity 60 is shaped to receive an insert 150 which, as discussed in
greater detail below, may be used to alter the center of gravity of
the golf club head 100. As will be readily apparent to one of skill
in the art, the second cavity 60 (and the weighted insert 150) may
be manufactured to be located at any points within the club head
100 and may have any shape, depending on how the manufacturer
desires to allow the center of gravity to be altered. Further, one
or more additional cavities for receiving additional inserts may be
placed within the club head 100 to allow for greater flexibility in
altering the center of gravity of the club head 100.
[0025] FIG. 1B shows an adjustable weight insert 150 for use with
one embodiment of the adjustable weight golf club of the present
invention. As discussed above, the insert 150 is intended to be
inserted into the second cavity 60 of the golf club head 100 to
allow a user to adjust the center of gravity of the head 100. The
insert 150 may include an injection molded or blow molded plastic
body 110 of a suitable shape to be received by the second cavity
60. Alternatively, the body 110 may also be manufactured from metal
or other suitable materials known in the art. The body 110 may
include a hole 120 at one or both ends which may be configured to
receive a slidable weight, as discussed in detail below.
[0026] In one embodiment, the slidable weight consists of a screw
130 and a weight 140. The screw 130 and weight 140 may be
configured to engage with each other, as illustrated in the
figures. The screw 130 may be a conventional screw, which requires
a tool for adjustment as required by the United States Golf
Association ("USGA"). However, it may also be of the type which may
be tightened or loosened by hand, without the use of tools. During
assembly, the weight 140 may be inserted into the opening 120 at
one end of the body 110 and slid along a close fitting channel
running the length of the insert, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and
1B. The screw 130 may then be fit into a threaded hole in the
weight 140 so that the two are threadably engaged with one another.
The slidable weight's position along the channel may be secured by
engaging the screw 130 with the weight 140, with a portion of the
body 110 being secured between the head of the screw 130 and the
weight 140.
[0027] While the embodiment of the present invention shown in the
figures illustrates the use of a screw 130 and weight 140
combination for the slidable weight, it will be readily apparent to
one of skill in the art that alternative embodiments may be
utilized. For example, holes may be manufactured inside of the body
110 of the insert 150 and the slidable weight may include a pin and
spring apparatus which may engage with the holes to hold the weight
at a specific position.
[0028] Once the insert 150 is assembled, it may be positioned in
the second cavity 60 of the golf club head 100, as illustrated in
FIG. 1A. The insertion of the insert 150 into the cavity 60 may
serve to effectively close hole 120, thus ensuring that the weight
140 remains within the body 110 of the insert 150 during use. In
one embodiment, the insert 150 is press fit into the cavity 60. In
alternative embodiments, epoxy or adhesive may be used to attach
and hold the insert 150 within the second cavity 60. In other
embodiments, mechanical notches may be formed on the outside of the
body 110 of the insert 150 which may engage with the interior walls
of the second cavity 60 to hold the insert 150 within the cavity 60
without the use of additional materials. Additionally, it is
contemplated that the insert 150 may be formed from metal, as
discussed above, and welded into the second cavity 60. Further, it
is contemplated that the insert 150 be removable by the user in the
event that the user wishes to interchange different amounts of
weight to further customize the weight of the golf club head
100.
[0029] In one embodiment, the slidable weight (including both the
screw 130 and the weight 140) has a total weight of approximately
25 grams. Of course, it will be readily apparent to one of skill in
the art that the combined weight of the slidable weight may be of
any weight depending on the amount by which a user wishes to alter
the center of gravity of the club head 100, as discussed below. The
total desired weight may be dependent on the size of the club, the
number of total slidable weights within the club head, the position
of the slidable weights on the club head and other factors.
[0030] Once the entire club head 100 is assembled, a user may
adjust the center of gravity of the head 100 by moving the slidable
weight along the length of the insert 150. FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show
several locations of a slidable weight in a golf club head 100
according to one embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2A,
the slidable weight (consisting of a screw 130 and weight 140) is
located at the center of the body 110 of the insert. Thus, the
center of gravity of the club head illustrated in FIG. 2A is at, or
close to, the center of the sole. By loosening the screw 130 and
moving the slidable weight toward the heel, as illustrated in FIG.
2B, a user may shift the center of gravity of the club head to be
closer to the heel. Conversely, by loosening the screw 130 and
moving the slidable weight towards the toe, as illustrated in FIG.
2C, a user may shift the center of gravity of the club head to be
closer to the toe.
[0031] Thus, dependent on a golfer's swing type and where on the
ball striking surface the golfer makes contact with the ball during
play, the golfer may manipulate the center of gravity of the club
head to a position that will perform best for that individual.
Therefore, a golfer who tends to hit golf shots off of the toe of
the club head can reposition the weight towards the toe for better
performance, increased distance and more solid feeling shots. The
same is true for a golfer who hits shots towards the heel of the
golf club head. As such, multiple golfers may be able to customize
and use the same golf club or clubs.
[0032] One advantage of the adjustable weight golf club of the
present invention is that the golf club head 100 may be easily
manufactured and produced by a manufacturer. Because the insert may
be formed of molded plastic and press fit into the club head, the
tolerances associated with manufacturing are not as strict as those
associated with the manufacture of all-metal parts. Additionally,
the simple construction of the club allows for a manufacturer to
cheaply produce a large number of clubs which may then be at least
partially customized by each consumer. This allows for the
manufacturer to market a user-customizable golf club at competitive
prices.
[0033] Further, because the golf club of the present invention
allows for the placement of the adjustable weight at multiple
locations on the head, each user may easily tailor the club's
performance to their swing type. Because the weight may be adjusted
with a simple screw or pin, each user may alter the center of
gravity with the use of minimal tools (if any) and in a minimal
amount of time. Additionally, if the insert were to fail or break,
or if a user wishes to alter the amount of movable weight, the
present invention allows for easy replacement of the weight and/or
insert rather than requiring a user to purchase an entirely new
adjustable weight golf club head. Further, different weights (i.e.
heavier or lighter) may be used by different users.
[0034] While the figures and above description describe an
adjustable weight golf iron, it should be realized that the present
invention is intended to incorporate any type of golf club,
including woods, iron-woods and putters. One of ordinary skill in
the art will realize that a cavity may be formed in the head of any
type of golf club which may receive an insert having a slidable
weight. Additionally, it should be realized that the present
invention may be incorporated on any type of golf iron and,
ideally, will be incorporated in each iron in a matching set of
irons. Thus, this disclosure is not intended to be limited in any
way only to golf irons or to any specific type of golf iron.
[0035] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the
present invention are presented for purposes of illustration and
description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the
invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many
modifications and variations are possible in view of the above
teachings. While the embodiments were chosen and described in order
to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical
applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best
utilize the invention, various embodiments with various
modifications as are suited to the particular use are also
possible. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the
claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.
* * * * *