| Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity -> Monitor Keywords |
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Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravityRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Club Or Club Support, Head, Particular Material Composition Or Mass DistributionGolf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060100033, Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates, in general, to golf equipment and, more particularly, to a golf club head and a method for shifting the club head center of gravity. [0002] An important factor governing the distance and accuracy of a golfer's shot is the amount of energy transferred from the golf club head to a golf ball when it impacts the golf ball. Ideally, the point of impact on the face of the golf club head is below the center of gravity of the golf club head and the point of impact on the golf ball is below the center of gravity of the golf ball. In addition, a theoretical plane containing the impact point on the golf club head, the center of gravity of the golf club head, and the center of gravity of the golf ball should be in alignment with the intended path of travel of the golf ball. When these conditions are met, the golf club head is properly aligned. [0003] To help golfers achieve proper alignment, golf club manufacturers have concentrated a relatively large mass of the golf club head in its sole. Although this configuration has made it easier for a golfer to place the center of gravity of the golf club head below the center of gravity of the golf ball, it is still difficult for a golfer to achieve perfect alignment. For example, the club head may be square immediately prior to impact with a golf ball but, at impact, the golf club head may be moved so that the actual point of impact with the golf ball is toward either the toe end or the heel end of the club head. This results in improper alignment because the club head becomes "twisted" to an out-of-square position which results in less than the maximum amount of energy being transferred to the golf ball. [0004] It should be understood that the term "twisted" is used here to define a rotation of the club head at the point of impact with a golf ball about an axis which passes through the center of gravity of the club head and is parallel to the axis of the golf club shaft. To dampen or reduce the effects caused by twisting of the club head, golf club manufacturers have placed relatively large concentrations of mass in the heel and toe ends of the club head to increase the club head moment of inertia and thereby maximize energy transfer from the club head to the golf ball. These techniques have improved the ability of golfers to increase the consistency with which they properly align their golf club heads. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention provides a golf club head and a method for shifting the center of gravity of the golf club head. In accordance with one aspect, the present invention includes a club head comprising a body having a front face for impacting a golf ball, a back face, a heel end, a toe end, a sole, and a top rail. A cavity having a bottom surface extends from the back face into the body. The body is formed of a first material having a predetermined density. The cavity has a first wall adjacent the sole, a second wall adjacent the top rail, and a third wall adjacent the toe end. The first wall cooperates with the second wall to form a first intersection, and the first wall cooperates with the third wall to form a second intersection. The second wall and the third wall cooperate to form a third intersection. A first weighting element is attached to the body adjacent the first intersection, a second weighting element is attached to the body adjacent the second intersection, and a third weighting element is attached to the body adjacent the third intersection. The first, second and third weighting elements are each formed of a second material which has a predetermined density that is different than the predetermined density of the first material. [0006] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a golf club head comprising a body having a front face for impacting a golf ball, a back face disposed rearwardly of the front face, a heel end and a toe end. The body is formed of a first material having a predetermined density. A perimeter weighting element protrudes rearwardly away from the front face defining a primary cavity in the back face. The perimeter weighting element includes a top rail extending between the heel and toe ends along an upper portion of the body, and a sole extending between the heel and toe ends along a lower portion of the body. A means for shifting the club head center of gravity is coupled to the golf club head and includes a first weight attached to the body adjacent an intersection of the sole and the heel end of the body, a second weight attached to the body adjacent an intersection of the sole and toe end of the body, and a third weight attached to the body adjacent an intersection of the top rail and the toe end of the body. The first, second and third weights are each formed of a second material which has a predetermined density that is different than the predetermined density of the first material. [0007] In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for adjusting the center of gravity of a golf club head by providing a golf club head comprising a body having a front face for impacting a golf ball, a back face, a heel end, a toe end, a sole, and a top rail. The body is formed of a first material having a predetermined density. A cavity having a bottom surface and at least three walls is formed in the back face. The first wall and the second wall form a first intersection, the first wall and of the third wall form a second intersection, and the second wall and the third wall form a third intersection. The center of gravity of the golf club head is shifted by attaching first, second and third weighting elements to the body adjacent the first, second, and third intersections, respectively. The first, second and third weighting elements are each formed of a second material which has a predetermined density that is different than the predetermined density of the first material. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The present invention will be better understood from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, in which like reference numbers designate like elements and in which: [0009] FIG. 1 is a view of a golf club including an iron-type golf club head in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged back view of the iron-type golf club head shown in FIG. 1; [0011] FIG. 3 is an enlarged back view of an iron-type golf club head in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; [0012] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of an iron-type golf club head in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 5 is toe end view of the iron-type golf club head of FIG. 4; [0014] FIG. 6 is a heel end view of the iron-type golf club head of FIG. 4; [0015] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the iron-type golf club head of FIG. 4; and [0016] FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of an iron-type golf club head in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0017] FIG. 1 shows a golf club 10 having an iron-type golf club head 12 connected to one end of a golf club shaft 14 with a grip 16 mounted on an opposing end of golf club shaft 14. Suitable materials for golf club shaft 14 include steel and graphite. Club head 12 has a cavity back 18 in which center of gravity shifting means 20 is disposed. [0018] Referring now to FIG. 2, an enlarged back view of iron-type golf club head 12 is illustrated. Iron-type golf club head 12 includes a body 24 and a hosel 26, which has a cylindrical bore 28 for receiving one end of golf club shaft 14. The body 24 has a heel end 30 spaced apart from a toe end 32. A sole 34 extends from a lower portion of heel end 30 to a lower portion of toe end 32, and a top rail 36 extends from an upper portion of heel end 30 to an upper portion of toe end 32. Body 24 has a front face (not shown) for impacting a golf ball that extends between heel end 30 and toe end 32 along a frontal portion of body 24. Body 24 also has a back face 38 that extends between heel end 30 and toe end 32 along a back or rear portion of body 24. Hosel 26 includes a neck 40 connected to heel end 30 of body 24. Club head 12 may be formed by casting, machining from solid castings or the like. Body 24 and hosel 26 are formed of a first material which has a predetermined density. Suitable materials for body 24 and hosel 26 include, but are not limited to, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, nickel, alloys of titanium, alloys of aluminum, alloys of nickel, and the like. [0019] A cavity 42 extends from back face 38 into body 24. Cavity 42 has a bottom surface 44 and a plurality of walls 46, 48, and 50, in which wall 46 is adjacent sole 34, wall 48 is adjacent top rail 36, and wall 50 is adjacent an edge 52 of toe end 32. A portion of wall 46 near heel end 30 cooperates with a portion of wall 48 near heel end 30 to form an intersection 54. A portion of wall 46 near toe end 32 cooperates with a portion of wall 50 near a lower portion of toe end 32 to form an intersection 56. A portion of wall 48 near toe end 32 cooperates with a portion of wall 50 near a top portion of toe end 32 to form an intersection 58. Thus, in this embodiment, cavity 42 has a generally triangular shape. Cavity 42 may be formed during the process of casting club head 12. Golf club head 12 has an unshifted center of gravity located at a point indicated by reference number 59. [0020] Weighting elements 60, 62, and 64 comprise the center of gravity shifting means 20 and are attached to body 24 adjacent intersections 54, 56, and 58, respectively. The weighting elements 60, 62, 64 may also be referred to as weights. Suitable methods for fastening weighting elements 60, 62, and 64 to body 24 include welding, using screws, or using an adhesive material. The weighting elements 60, 62, 64 are formed of a second material which has a predetermined density that is different (i.e. greater or less) than the predetermined density of the material forming the body 24. Suitable materials for the weighting elements 60, 62, 64 include tungsten and polyurethane. Continue reading about Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity... Full patent description for Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Wood-type golf club head Next Patent Application: Ink for golf ball, transfer printing film for golf ball and marked golf ball Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Golf club head and method for shifting the club head center of gravity patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11584 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf 174 |
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