IP Library Granted Patent US 11,439,877
Granted Patent B2
US 11,439,877 · App. 17/143,779 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Golf club having an adjustable weight assembly

Inventors: Tyrone Northcutt (San Marcos, CA); Thomas Orrin Bennett (Carlsbad, CA); Takeshi Casey Funaki (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
A63B53/0466A63B2053/0491A63B2102/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,439,877
App. No.
17/143,779
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A golf club head includes a body having a recessed channel formed in the outer surface. A weight assembly that includes a weight disposed within the recessed channel and a cover extending over the recessed channel. A shelf is defined in the cover and slidably receives the weight. The weight assembly also includes a fastener coupling the cover to the body. The fastener is adapted to retain the weight in the recessed channel only indirectly by the cover. The cover is positionable in an unlocked configuration whereby the cover is raised at least partially out of the recessed channel and the weight is slidable within the shelf and the recessed channel, and a locked configuration whereby the cover is disposed within the recessed channel and the weight is secured within the recessed channel and the shelf. The weight moves with the cover between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.

Claims (39)

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body comprising:

a striking face comprising a lower edge and an opposite upper edge; a sole extending from the lower edge; and

a crown extending from the upper edge, wherein one or more of the striking face, the sole, and the crown, define an outer surface of the body;

a recessed channel formed in the outer surface; and

a weight assembly positionable in at least an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration, the weight assembly comprising:

a weight;

a cover extending at least partially over the recessed channel and comprising an exterior surface; and

a fastener coupling the cover to the body, wherein between 10% and 20% of the weight is exposed between the outer surface of the body and the exterior surface of the cover in the locked configuration,

wherein the weight comprises a position indicator and at least a portion of the position indicator is exposed between the outer surface of the body and the exterior surface of the cover in the locked configuration.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein approximately 16% of the weight is exposed between the outer surface of the body and the exterior surface of the cover in the locked configuration.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the exposure of the weight in the locked configuration is based on an outer surface area of the weight.

4. The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein approximately 16% of the outer surface area of the weight is exposed between the outer surface of the body and the exterior surface of the cover in the locked configuration.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the exposure of the weight in the locked configuration is based on a planar surface area of the weight.

6. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein approximately 16% of the planar surface area of the weight is exposed between the outer surface of the body and the exterior surface of the cover in the locked configuration.

7. A golf club head comprising:

a body having an outer surface;

a recessed channel formed in the outer surface;

a weight shaped and sized to be at least partially received within the recessed channel and selectively movable therein;

a cover configured to secure the weight to the body; and

a fastener configured to releasably couple the cover to the body, wherein the cover and the body conceals between 70% to 90% of the weight from exposure on the golf club head when the cover is securing a position of the weight within the recessed channel,

wherein the weight comprises a position indicator, and wherein when the cover is securing the position of the weight within the recessed channel, at least a portion of the position indicator is visible between the cover and the body.

8. The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the cover and the body conceals approximately 84% of the weight from exposure on the golf club head when the cover is securing the position of the weight within the recessed channel.

9. The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the concealment of the weight is based on an outer surface area of the weight.

10. The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the concealment of the weight is based on a planar surface area of the weight.

11. The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the weight is slidably engaged with the cover.

12. The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein when the cover is securing the position of the weight within the recessed channel, an exterior surface of the cover is substantially aligned with the outer surface of the body, and wherein the weight is disposed below the exterior surface of the cover and the outer surface of the body.

13. A golf club head comprising:

a body having an outer surface;

a recessed channel formed in the outer surface; and

a weight assembly disposed at the recessed channel and configured to adjust at least a center of gravity of the golf club head, wherein the weight assembly comprises:

a slidable weight at least partially received within the recessed channel;

a cover that selectively secures the weight to the body; and

a fastener that couples the cover to the body, wherein when the cover is securing the weight such that sliding movement is restricted, between 10% and 30% of the weight is exposed between the cover and the body,

wherein a surface area of the weight that is exposed comprises a single projection side of the weight.

14. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the surface area of the weight that is exposed comprises two or more projection sides of the weight.

15. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the weight is fully disposed within the recessed channel when being secured by the cover.

16. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the cover is formed from an at least partially transparent material.

17. The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the recessed channel comprises a plurality of dimples and the weight comprises a position indicator, and wherein the position indicator is received at least partially within one of the plurality of dimples when being secured by the cover.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2025
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073689/0441 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061099/0236 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 12, 2022
From: NORTHCUTT, TYRONE; BENNETT, THOMAS ORRIN; FUNAKI, TAKESHI CASEY
To: ACUSHNET COMPANY
Reel/Frame 058630/0840 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17122887 · Dec 15, 2020
Continuation In Part 16843640 · Apr 8, 2020
Continuation In Part 16708255 · Dec 9, 2019
Continuation In Part 16535844 · Aug 8, 2019
Continuation In Part 16387859 · Apr 18, 2019
Related Publication 20210138318A1 · May 13, 2021
Cited By (15)
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