Golf club head

[0001] This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No. 10/290,817, filed Nov. 8, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,360 which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0002] The invention relates generally to a golf club head and, more particularly, to a wood-type golf club head having a volume of at least 150 cc.

[0003] Current driver and fairway wood golf club heads are typically formed of steel or titanium alloys. For example, oversize driver heads exceeding 300 cc in volume are usually formed of a lightweight titanium alloy such as Ti 6A1-4V. Unless modified, oversize heads can have a relatively high center of gravity, which can adversely affect launch angle and flight trajectory of a struck golf ball. Thus, many club heads have integral sole weight pads cast into the head at a predetermined location to lower the center of gravity of the club head. Also, epoxy may be later added to the club head through the hosel to obtain a final desired weight of the club head. Alternatively, club heads may have weights, usually of a higher density material than the titanium or steel alloy, externally attached to the sole. The weights may be welded in place or attached using a fastener such as a screw. Because of the repeated contact with the ground during the golfer's swings, use of an adhesive alone is not advised as a long term, external attachment method for a weight.

[0004] These weights are of a prescribed amount and are usually permanently attached to the club head prior to purchase. However, the club's weighting typically is set for a standard, or ideal, swing type. Thus, even though the weight may be too light or too heavy, or too far forward or too far rearward, a golfer with a less than ideal swing type cannot adjust or customize the club weighting to accommodate his or her particular needs.

[0005] It should, therefore, be appreciated that there is a need for a golf club head that allows a golfer to fine tune the weight of the club head for his or her swing. The present invention fulfills this need and others.

[0006] The invention provides a golf club head comprising a head body, a weight body, and a fastener. The head body has at least one recess that is partially delineated by a first recess wall, a recess bottom, and an opening formed in the recess bottom. The weight body is disposed in the recess, wherein the weight body has a first aperture with a first diameter. The fastener comprises a fastener head and a fastener body, wherein the fastener head has a second diameter. The fastener head is disposed between the first aperture and the opening formed in the recess bottom, wherein that the fastener body and the opening are adapted to be removably engaged to one another and the first diameter is less than the second diameter.

[0007] The invention also provides a golf club head comprising a head body having at least one recess that widens towards an outer surface of the head body. The recess is delineated by a first recess wall, a recess bottom, and an opening is formed in the recess bottom. A weight body is partially disposed in the recess, wherein a portion of the weight body widens towards an outer surface of the head body. A fastener having a fastener head and a fastener body is disposed in a hollow conduit formed through the weight body, wherein the fastener body and the opening in the recess bottom are adapted to be engaged to one another.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the weight assembly further includes a retaining element configured to retain the fastener the aperture in the mass element and to receive the tip of a tool for tightening or loosening the fastener. The retaining element also serves to aid in removing the mass element when the fastener is loosened, as the head of the fastener presses against the retaining element in an outward direction while the retaining element is secured to the mass element. Preferably there is a low friction element positioned between the head of the fastener and the retaining element. The mass and retaining elements move in concert as the fastener is loosened from the selected wall.

[0009] In a detailed aspect of a preferred embodiment, the mass element may be configured in various shapes and densities. For example, the weight assembly can have a triangular shape and one side portion could be different in density. Thus, the weight assembly could move the center of gravity slightly forward, slightly to the toe and rear or slightly to the rear and heel, depending upon the arrangement of the heavier side portion. Other shapes of the weight assembly can be employed for different weighting schemes as well as for cosmetic effect.

[0010] In another detailed aspect of a preferred embodiment, the body defines a plurality of recesses for receiving a weight assembly. Optionally, a combination of a weight assemblies and plugs can be secured in the plurality of recesses.

[0011] For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain advantages of the invention have been described herein above. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0012] All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.

[0028] Now with reference to the illustrative drawing, and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a club head 10 having a main body 16 and removable weight assembly 100 secured in one of a plurality of recesses 32. The weight assembly 100 includes a mass element 102, a screw 104 and a retaining element 110. The recesses 32 can interchangeably receive a weight assembly 100 or a plug 14. The plug 14 is preferably formed of a material having similar density of the main body 16. By having more than one recess 32, a golfer can fine tune the weighting of the club head 10 by locating weight assemblies 100 forward toward a front wall 20 or rearward away from the front wall 20.

[0029] The main body 16 is formed of metal and a striking face 22 may be integrally formed or attached to the main body 16 using methods known to those skilled in the art. A sole 18 may be integrally formed with the main body 16 or separately formed then attached to the main body 16 (FIG. 4). The recess 32 is defined by a recess wall 30 and a recess bottom 38. The recess bottom 38 defines a threaded opening 12 for attachment of the weight assembly 100. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the recess wall 30 may be tapered and the threaded opening 12 may be further defined by a boss 35 extending either inward (FIG. 1) or outward (FIG. 4) relative to the recess 32. In this embodiment, the boss 35 has a length at least half the length of the body of the screw 104 and, more preferably, the boss 35 has a length at least 1.5 times a diameter of the body of the screw 104. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the threaded opening 12 may be formed without a boss 35.

[0030] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the recess 32 is defined on the sole 18 and the mass element 102 is secured in place using the screw 104. Another user removable fastener such as a bolt may alternatively be used. The pressure from the engagement of the screw 104 provides a press-fit of the mass element 102 into the recess 32 on the sole 18, as sides 106 of the mass element 102 slide tightly against the recess side wall 30. A bottom end surface 108 of the mass element 102 preferably contacts the recess bottom 38; however, retention of the weight assembly 100 derives substantially from the press-fit between the sides 106 of the mass element 102 and the recess side wall 30. The retaining element 110 allows for easy removal of the mass element 102. This feature allows the club head 10 to be modified by a golfer who seeks to configure the club head 10 with more than one weight assembly 100 at the one or more recesses 32 on the sole 18. Upon determination of the final desired weighting of the sole 18, the weight assembly 100 is left securely attached to the club head 10 for play. The recesses 32 may also be located more toward a toe or a heel of the club head 10, as desired. In alternative embodiments, the one or more recesses 32 may be provided on a top wall 21 or side wall 23 of the main body 16 to allow weighting at that portion of the club head 10.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 3A, the mass element 102 has a hexagonal shape and defines an aperture 112 sized to freely receive the screw 104. As shown in FIG. 2A, the aperture 112 has a first diameter at a first end 114 that is smaller than a second diameter at a recess 115 in a second end 116. The first diameter is sized to freely receive a body 118 (FIG. 2B) of the screw 104 and the second diameter is sized to receive the retaining element 110. The second end 116 of the mass element 102 having the second diameter has internal threads 117 for securing the retaining element 110 over a head 120 of the screw 104 (see FIG. 3B).

[0032] FIGS. 2C and 3C show the retaining element 110 having an outer diameter (Φ) and an outer surface 122 that includes threads to mate with the internal threads 117 of the mass element 102. Preferably, the retaining element 110 has an aperture 124 that has a first diameter at an inner end 126 that is greater than a second diameter at an outer end 128. The first diameter is sized to freely receive the head 120 of the screw 104. More preferably, a low-friction element 121 having low-friction surfaces is sized to be received in the retaining element aperture 124 at the inner end 126. The low-friction element 121 has an aperture 123 having substantially the same diameter as the second diameter at the outer end 128 of the retaining element aperture 124.

[0033] With reference now to FIG. 2D, an alternative retaining element 110′ may be provided having an aperture 124′ with a single diameter. The low-friction element 121 may then have an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the retaining element 110′. The apertures of the low-friction element 121 and the retaining element 110′ are both sized to receive a tip end of a screwdriver (not shown) for tightening and/or loosening the screw. When assembled, the screw head 120 is between the mass element 102 and retaining element 110′. For other types of fasteners, the apertures of the low-friction element 121 and the retaining element 110′ are preferably sized to receive the appropriate fastening tool. Also, instead of a separate low-friction element 121, appropriate surfaces of the retaining element 110′ adjacent to the screw head 120 may be treated to obtain similar low friction characteristics so that outward rotation of the screw 104 does not cause rotation of the retaining element 110′.

[0034] With reference again to FIG. 1, the weight assembly 100 comprises a conventional screw 104 and the material of the mass element 102 has a density different from the density of the material of the main body 16. The retaining element 110 may comprise any material and is preferably a metal. As shown in FIG. 3A, as well as FIGS. 5A–5C, the mass element 102 may have any outer shape, such as triangular, oval or rectangular. After the desired weight assembly configuration is determined and confirmed to meet the needs of a golfer, adhesive may be applied to the threaded body 118 of the screw 104 to further secure the weight assembly 100 to the club head 10. Of course, heating or other methods known to those skilled in the art may be used to allow removal of the weight assembly 100 if adhesive has been applied.

[0035] For installation of the weight assembly 100 of FIG. 1, the screw head 120 is preferably placed into the inner end 126 of the retaining element 110 and then the body 118 of the screw 104 is placed through the aperture 112 of the mass element 102. The head 120 is trapped between the retaining element 110 and the mass element 102 as the retaining element 110 is screwed into place. The threaded body 118 of the screw 104 is screwed into the threaded opening 12 of the recess 32. A screwdriver engages the head 120 of the screw 104 through the retaining element aperture 124, and as the screw 104 engages the threads of the threaded opening 12, the weight assembly 100 achieves a press-fit against the tapered recess wall 30. This embodiment also allows easier removal of the weight assembly 100, if desired, since as the screwdriver turns the head 120 of the screw 104, the screw 104 applies an outward force on the retaining element 110 and thus helps to decouple the mass element 102 from the tapered recess wall 30.

[0036] Advantages of the present invention may be obtained without the use of the retaining element 110, as illustrated in a preferred embodiment of FIG. 4. In this embodiment the weight assembly 100′ includes a mass element 102′ and a screw 104. The engagement of the screw 104 into the threaded opening 12 causes the sides 106 of the mass element 102′ to be compressed against the tapered recess wall 30, thereby achieving a secure press-fit.

[0037] With reference now to FIG. 6, another preferred embodiment of a club head 10 having a retaining element 110 with a mass element 102′ and screw 104 is shown. A recess bottom 138 is configured to have a taper steeper than the recess side wall 30. The mass element 102′ may have a complementary bottom end surface 108′ to contact the recess bottom 138. Alternatively, the mass element 102′ may have a substantially planar bottom end surface 108 that is tightly compressed against the tapered recess bottom 138 as the screw 104 is engaged.

[0038] With reference now to FIGS. 5A–5C, the mass element 102, 102′ may have at least one axis of symmetry 150 and a higher density region 140 that has a higher density than a lower density region 142 of the mass element 102, 102′. Thus, the moment of inertia and center of gravity of the club head 10 may be altered by changing the orientation of the mass element 102, 102′ in the recess 32. For example, the higher density region 140 may be aligned toward the front, toe, heel and/or rear direction of the club head 10. Examples of such a mass element 102, 102′ are a hexagonal-shaped mass element with a higher density region 140 (FIG. 5A), a triangular-shaped mass element with a higher density region 140 (FIG. 5B), and a triangular-shaped mass element 102, 102′ with a higher density region 140 (FIG. 5C). The different density regions 140, 142 of the mass element 102, 102′ may be achieved by methods known to those skilled in the art, such as using compression and sintering techniques, as in powder metallurgy, to achieve the desired density distribution in a metal product.

[0039] Yet another embodiment of the present invention is shown in the partial sectional view of FIG. 7. The recess 232 has substantially straight walls 230 formed toward the interior of the club head 10, and a boss 235 located in the recess 232. A recess bottom wall 234 that forms the boss 235 is tapered outwardly. The mass element 202 has substantially straight, parallel walls, and the pressure by the screw 104 is focused on the inner walls of the mass element 202 to press-fit the weight assembly in the recess 232. It is understood that a retaining element, comprising a low friction surface, may be used with the mass element 202 to form the removable weight assembly.

[0040] Although the invention has been disclosed in detail with reference only to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that additional golf club heads can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the claims set forth below.