IP Library Granted Patent US 9,694,261
Granted Patent B2
US 9,694,261 · App. 15/263,598 · Granted Jul 4, 2017

Golf club head with adjustable center of gravity

Inventors: Christopher A. G. Nunez (Escondido, CA); Larry Tang (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
A63B53/06A63B53/0466A63B60/04A63B60/52A63B2053/045A63B2053/0433A63B2053/0437A63B2053/0491A63B2053/0495
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,694,261
App. No.
15/263,598
Granted
Jul 4, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf club head comprising features for adjusting the location of the center of gravity along all three axes is disclosed herein. In particular, the head comprises a body with a channel in its sole, at least one slidable receptacle sized to engage the channel, and a slidable weight. The channel preferably comprises a first floor and a pair of rails, while the slidable receptacle comprises a first base portion, a first bolt, and a first upper portion with a slot having a second floor and another pair of rails. The first upper and base portions grip the channel's rails when the first bolt is tightened. Similarly, the slidable weight comprises a second upper portion, a second base portion, and a second bolt, and the second upper and base portions grip the slot's rails when the second bolt is tightened.

Claims (45)

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising a crown, a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, and a rear side opposite the face;

a first channel;

at least one slidable receptacle sized to fit within the first channel; and

a slidable weight,

wherein the sole comprises a rectangular recessed area,

wherein the first channel is disposed within the recessed area and comprises a first floor and first and second rails,

wherein the at least one slidable receptacle comprises a first upper portion having an elongated slot, a first base portion, and a first bolt,

wherein the elongated slot comprises a second floor and third and fourth rails,

wherein the slidable weight comprises a second upper portion, a second base portion, and a second bolt,

wherein the first upper portion and the first base portion reversibly grip the first and second rails when the first bolt is tightened, and

wherein the second upper portion and the second base portion reversibly grip the third and fourth rails when the second bolt is tightened.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slidable receptacle has a first length, wherein the recessed area has a second length, and wherein the first length is no more than 0.10 inch shorter than the second length.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slidable receptacle comprises an upper surface, and wherein the upper surface is approximately flush with the sole when the slidable receptacle is disposed within the first channel.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the sole is composed of a composite material.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first channel extends linearly in a direction approximately perpendicular to the face.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first channel extends linearly in a direction approximately parallel to the face.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the golf club head is a driver-type head.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein each of the slidable receptacle and the weight comprises one or more metal materials.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first upper portion is composed of a first material having a first density, wherein the first base portion is composed of a second material having a second density, and wherein the first density is greater than the second density.

10. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the second upper portion is composed of a third material having a third density, wherein the second base portion is composed of a fourth material having a fourth density, and wherein the third density is lower than the fourth density.

11. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rails extend from the first floor.

12. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rails extend parallel to the first floor from first and second sidewalls.

13. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth rails extend from the second floor.

14. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth rails extend parallel to the second floor from first and second sidewalls.

15. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first and second rails are integrally formed with the first channel.

16. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the second upper portion is composed of a polymer material, and wherein the second base portion is composed of a tungsten alloy.

17. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the golf club head is a driver-type head, wherein the crown is composed of a carbon composite material, and wherein each of the face and the sole is composed of a titanium alloy.

18. A driver-type golf club head comprising:

a titanium alloy body comprising a sole, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, a face, and a rear side opposite the face;

a carbon composite crown;

a first channel;

at least one slidable receptacle sized to fit within the first channel; and

a slidable weight,

wherein the sole comprises a rectangular recessed area,

wherein the first channel is disposed within the recessed area and comprises a first floor and first and second rails extending from the first floor,

wherein the at least one slidable receptacle comprises a first upper portion having an elongated slot, a first base portion, and a first bolt,

wherein the elongated slot comprises a second floor and third and fourth rails extending from the second floor,

wherein the slidable weight comprises a second upper portion, a second base portion, and a second bolt,

wherein the first upper portion and the first base portion reversibly grip the first and second rails when the first bolt is tightened,

wherein the second upper portion and the second base portion reversibly grip the third and fourth rails when the second bolt is tightened,

wherein the first upper portion is composed of a first material having a first density, and

wherein the first base portion is composed of a second material having a second density that is less than the first density.

19. The driver-type golf club head of claim 18 , wherein the second upper portion is composed of a third material having a third density, wherein the second base portion is composed of a fourth material having a fourth density, and wherein the third density is greater than the fourth density.

20. The driver-type golf club head of claim 19 , wherein each of the first upper portion and the second upper portion comprises a tungsten alloy, and wherein each of the first base portion and the second base portion is composed of a polymer material.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063692/0009 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (FORMERLY CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063665/0176 →
RELEASE (REEL 048172 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Mar 17, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (F/K/A CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 063622/0187 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048110/0352 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048172/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2018
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045350/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: NUNEZ, CHRISTOPHER A.G.; TANG, LARRY
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 039716/0654 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 14932171 · Nov 4, 2015
Continuation 14163946 · Jan 24, 2014
Provisional Application 62241360 · Oct 14, 2015
Provisional Application 61893728 · Oct 21, 2013
Related Publication 20160375326A1 · Dec 29, 2016