IP Library Granted Patent US 10,258,839
Granted Patent B2
US 10,258,839 · App. 15/978,433 · Granted Apr 16, 2019

Method, apparatus, and system for golf product reconfiguration

Inventors: Christopher J. Beck (Costa Mesa, CA); Casey Casburn (Lakewood, CA); John J. Rae (Westminster, CA); Aram Salehi (Tustin, CA)
Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
A63B53/0466A63B53/00A63B53/02A63B53/06A63B60/00A63B60/42A63B71/0622A63B2053/0433A63B2053/0437A63B2053/0491A63B2071/068A63B2071/0694A63B2220/12A63B2220/70A63B2220/72A63B2220/75A63B2220/76A63B2225/20A63B2225/50G01S19/19
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,258,839
App. No.
15/978,433
Granted
Apr 16, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wood-type golf club head includes first and second ribs projecting from a bottom club head wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path. A weight element is translatable along the weight path and includes a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion. The second weight portion has a contact surface that includes a recessed region, and when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

Claims (35)

1. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a striking wall;

a top portion;

a bottom portion comprising a club head wall portion and first and second ribs projecting from the wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path; and

a weight element translatable along the weight path and comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion, and the fastener being configured to secure the weight element to the bottom portion by rotating independently of the first and second weight portions to compress the first and second weight portions against the first and second ribs,

wherein the second weight portion comprises a contact surface including a recessed region and, when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a threaded portion.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the striking wall, the top portion, and the bottom portion form a substantially hollow interior cavity.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib comprises a substantially constant thickness.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional weight path and an additional weight element in translatable communication with each additional weight path.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a removable cover plate for accessing interior elements of the club head and located proximate the top portion.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the weight path further comprises a longitudinal end, and a retaining insert is located proximate the longitudinal end, the retaining insert configured to confine the first weight element within the weight path.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the contact surface of the second weight portion is complementary to, and shaped to mate with, the bottom portion of the club head.

9. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a striking wall;

a top portion;

a bottom portion comprising a club head wall portion and first and second ribs projecting from the wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path that, when the club head is oriented in a reference position, follows a curvilinear path as projected into a horizontal plane; and

a weight element translatable along the weight path and comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion, and the fastener being configured to secure the weight element to the bottom portion by rotating independently of the first and second weight portions to compress the first and second weight portions against the first and second ribs,

wherein the second weight portion comprises a contact surface including a recessed region and, when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

10. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the fastener comprises a threaded portion.

11. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the striking wall, the top portion, and the bottom portion form a substantially hollow interior cavity.

12. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib comprises a substantially constant thickness.

13. The golf club head of claim 9 , further comprising at least one additional weight path and an additional weight element in translatable communication with each additional weight path.

14. The golf club head of claim 9 , further comprising a removable cover plate for accessing interior elements of the club head and located proximate the top portion.

15. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the weight path further comprises a longitudinal end, and a retaining insert is located proximate the longitudinal end, the retaining insert configured to confine the first weight element within the weight path.

16. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the contact surface of the second weight portion is complementary to, and shaped to mate with, the bottom portion of the club head.

17. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a striking wall;

a top portion;

a bottom portion comprising a club head wall portion and first and second ribs projecting from the wall portion, the wall portion, the first rib, and the second rib forming an elongate recess defining a weight path that, when the club head is oriented in a reference position, follows a curvilinear path as projected into a vertical plane; and

a weight element translatable along the weight path and comprising a first weight portion, a second weight portion, and a fastener, the first and second ribs each being interposed between the first weight portion and the second weight portion such that the first weight portion is located proximate the club head wall portion and the second weight portion is located distal the club head wall portion, and the fastener being configured to secure the weight element to the bottom portion by rotating independently of the first and second weight portions to compress the first and second weight portions against the first and second ribs,

wherein the second weight portion comprises a contact surface including a recessed region and, when the weight element is in a secured position, at least a portion of the first weight portion is located within the recessed region.

18. The golf club head of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first rib and the second rib comprises a substantially constant thickness.

19. The golf club head of claim 17 , further comprising at least one additional weight path and an additional weight element in translatable communication with each additional weight path.

20. The golf club head of claim 17 , wherein the contact surface of the second weight portion is complementary to, and shaped to mate with, the bottom portion of the club head.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Feb 27, 2019
From: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
To: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 048456/0708 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 27, 2019
From: SRI SPORTS LIMITED
To: DUNLOP SPORTS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 048456/0730 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15468701 · Mar 24, 2017
Continuation 14467592 · Aug 25, 2014
Division 13312455 · Dec 6, 2011
Provisional Application 61436715 · Jan 27, 2011
Related Publication 20180296889A1 · Oct 18, 2018
Cited By (11)
US 12,415,120 US 12,472,409 US 12,478,843 US 12,569,726 US 12,576,316 US 12,649,091 US 12,661,561 US 12,661,562 US 12,678,669 US 12,702,906 US 12,708,822