Abstract:
An adjustable golf club incorporates instructions into the golf club, and more particularly, in connection with the club head. More specifically, encoded information is visibly provided on the club head, the encoded information relating to the performance of the club head. In addition to the encoded information, a decoder or device for interpreting the encoded performance information is also provided on the club head. The encoded information, in conjunction with the decoder, allows the golfer to easily adjust his or her club head based on playing conditions or his or her swing. Typically, the encoded information relates to a weight of the club head, and may be used to vary the weight of the club head. A method of configuring a putter-type golf club head adaptable to a plurality of configurations is described, as well as a kit for selectively configuring components of a golf club head.

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/778,375, filed Mar. 3, 2006, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     For years, golf club manufacturers have placed limited information on the golf club head relating to golf club specifications. For example, most golf clubs generally indicate the loft of the club face or the size of the head. Due to advancements in technology, additional performance characteristics have become important to the golfer when purchasing or using golf clubs. However, due to the limited space on the club head, indicia corresponding to such additional performance characteristics could not be conveniently displayed for the golfer&#39;s reference. 
     To remedy this shortcoming, manufacturers began using encoded information, such as small colored dots, to embody particular performance characteristics. Such encoded information is explained in a manual or instruction book supplied with the club head. While this approach allows manufacturers to provide the user with detailed information about their golf club, several problems are associated therewith. 
     For example, golf clubs having adjustable features generally display specific encoded information, symbolized, e.g., by colored dots, that indicates particular performance characteristics associated with a club&#39;s given configuration. To decode this information, the user must consult the manual or instruction book provided with the club. If the manual or instruction book is lost or damaged or is unavailable at the golf course, the golfer could lose confidence in the club, ultimately affecting the quality of his or her game. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A need exists for a golf club that incorporates encoded information thereon and an information decoder on the golf club for the encoded information. The present invention in its various embodiments fulfills this need and others. 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a golf club head comprises a cipher or encoded information, wherein the cipher relates to performance characteristics of the club head. In addition to the cipher, means for interpreting the encoded performance characteristics of the cipher are also provided with the club head, e.g. a decoder. The cipher, in conjunction with the means for interpreting the encoded performance characteristics, allows the golfer to adjust his or her club head based on the playing conditions or his or her swing. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a kit for a golf club head having reconfigurable features is disclosed. The kit includes a club head having a plurality of reconfigurable elements with information encoded thereon and an information decoder associated with the club head. A tool is included that allows the golfer to adjust the reconfigurable features. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the various embodiments will become apparent after consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus do not limit the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a club head according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the club head of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed view of a portion of the club head of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the club head of  FIG. 2  taken from a bottom perspective; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of a blade type club head according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed view of a portion of the club head of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the club head of  FIG. 5  taken from a bottom perspective; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the element and tool housing with no cover; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the element and tool housing with cover. 
     
    
    
     For purposes of illustration, these figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Like components in the figures are designated by like reference numerals. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Throughout the following description, specific details are recited to provide a more thorough understanding of the various embodiments of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive sense. 
     At the outset, it should be appreciated that aspects of the present invention may be utilized in connection with a driver-type golf club, an iron-type golf club, or a putter-type golf club. For purposes of explanation, the following description will address characteristic features of a club head  10  as they may relate to certain putter-type golf clubs. More specifically, a mallet type putter head is described in connection with  FIGS. 1 through 4  and a blade type putter head is described in connection with  FIGS. 5 through 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one embodiment of the invention may include a golf club head  10  having encoded information or a cipher  12  thereon, the cipher  12  being associated with performance characteristics of the club head  10 . The cipher  12 , perceivable from the exterior of the club head  10 , may be any type of indicating medium such as a color, mark, or alphanumeric indicia. For example, the cipher  12  may be a color display, whereby each performance characteristic or set of performance characteristics of the club head  10  is associated with a particular color or color combination. In order to acquire the specific performance characteristic associated with the cipher  12 , means for interpreting the cipher, such as a decoder  14 , may be provided on the club head. In one embodiment of the invention, the decoder  14  may be more specifically characterized as decoding indicia on an exposed surface  38  of a cover or plate  34 . The decoding indicia allow the golfer to select from a plurality of available club head configuration options. 
     As apparent from  FIG. 2 , the golf club head  10  may be additionally characterized by a body  16 , having a striking face  46  thereon. At least one element  18 , with the cipher  12  thereon, may be coupled to the body  16  of the club head, as shown in  FIG. 4 . The cover  34  may retain the element  18  within the body  16  and may include means for observing the cipher on the element  18 , e.g., an aperture  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the body  16  of the club head  10  may be further characterized by a toe region  28  and an opposing heel region  30 , with at least one recess  22  formed in both the toe region  28  and the heel region  30 . At least one opening  32  may be disposed within the recess  22  for housing the element  18 , which may be at least partially press fit into the opening  32 . The body  16  may further include a sole  24  and an upper surface  26  ( FIG. 1 ) opposite the sole  24 , such that the element  18  may lie between the sole  24  and the upper surface  26  of the body  16 , when disposed in the opening  32 . 
     The recess  22  in the sole  24  of the club head  10  may be delimited by a sidewall  40 , terminating in a floor surface  42 . This imparts a characteristic shape to the recess  22 , which may be varied according to the design details of the club head body  16 . In addition, the sole  24  of the club head  10  may include an intermediate portion  44 , substantially corresponding to a longitudinal axis of the club head  10  between the striking face  46  and a rear portion  48  opposing the striking face  46 . The intermediate portion  44  may physically separate the toe region  28  from the heel region  30 , and thus physically separate the recesses  22  in each region. Although the intermediate portion  44  is shown to include a grooved surface in an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it may alternatively comprise a smooth or otherwise non-grooved surface. 
     According to various design considerations, the recess  22  may encompass a substantial area of the sole  24  on each side of the intermediate portion  44  or may alternatively be minimized. For example, the recess  22  may or may not be shaped to correspond to that of the peripheral surface shape of the club head  10 . 
     The at least one opening  32  formed in the floor  42  of each recess  22  may thus provide a further depth to a selected portion of the recess  22 . Plural openings  32  may be positioned such that they align with a longitudinal axis of the putter head  10  or may be offset from each other. Additionally, openings  32  may be positioned immediately adjacent each other, evenly spaced within the recess  22 , or randomly positioned according to a particular configuration of club head  10 . The opening  32  may include a substantially smooth or rough inner sidewall surface  33  and may or may not terminate within the club head  10 . 
     The element  18  may fit into the opening  32  with a clearance or interference fit and may be readily interchangeable with other such elements of different mass. In addition, the element  18  may have a peripheral flange  54  and a shank member  56 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Although the element  18  is shown in the figures as generally cylindrical, it will be appreciated that element  18  may have virtually any shape. 
     The flange  54  may rest on the floor surface  42  of the recess  22 , thereby enabling the shank member  56  of the element  18  to be easily inserted into and withdrawn from the opening  32 . Further, the flange  54  may be of a size and thickness to be easily grasped for removal of the element  18  from the opening  32 . The cipher  12  may be formed e.g., at the flange end  54  of the element  18  and may consist of a color, mark, alphanumeric indicia, or the like, corresponding to a particular attribute, configuration, or feature of the club head. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, a plurality of interchangeable elements  18  having the same or different discrete masses may be provided as a set. The cipher  12  may identify the mass of the element  18 , wherein a different cipher  12  is used to represent each different discrete mass. Thus, by selectively coupling at least one element  18  to the club head  10 , a corresponding mass is added to the club head  10  to define a final desired weight thereof. 
     For example, the mass of element  18  may vary from about 1 gram to about 50 grams. The set of elements  18  may include at least three elements weighing 5 grams, 10 grams, and 15 grams each. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a set of elements  18  may comprise any number of elements and that the mass of any given element  18  within a set may or may not be unique. In use, one or more elements  18  selected from the set may be inserted into one or more predetermined openings  32  in order to provide a club head having a desired final weight and mass distribution. Once inserted into the appropriate opening  32 , the cover  34  may secure the element  18  in the opening  32 , while at the same time providing means for observing the cipher on the element  18 , e.g., via a window or aperture  20 . 
     The cover  34  may comprise a plate or other similar structure having an external sidewall  58 , an exposed outer surface  38 , and an inner surface  62  opposing the outer surface  38 . The height of the external sidewall  58  may be substantially similar to the height of an internal sidewall  40  of the recess  22  if appearance and/or functionality considerations so require. The recess  22  preferably receives the cover  34  with a clearance fit to facilitate removal and replacement of the cover. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , at least one fastening hole  52  may be formed in the floor  42  of the recess  22  such that the fastening hole  52  does not interfere with the shape or function of the openings  32 . For example, one fastening hole  52  (not shown) may be positioned within the recess  22  adjacent the striking face  46  of the putter head  10  and a second fastening hole  52  may be positioned within the recess  22  adjacent the rear portion  48  of the club head  10 . Typically, the fastening holes  52  may be in proximity to the side wall  40  of the recess  22 . It will be appreciated that the fastening holes  52  may be threaded or have other suitable structures for receiving a fastening element. 
     The cover  34  may include through-holes  64  aligned with the fastening holes  52  of the recess  22 , along with the aperture or window  20  for viewing the elements  18 . The window  20  may be formed in the cover  34  such that the window  20  may substantially align with the openings  32  formed in the recess  22 . Accordingly, the cover  34  may overlay the elements  18  inserted into the openings  32  such that the cipher or encoded information  12  on the elements  18  may be visible through the window  20  of the cover  34 . The window  20  may be any suitable shape for viewing the cipher  12  encoded on elements  18 . For example, the window  20  may be shaped as a longitudinal slot, a circle, an oval, a rectangle, or any other suitable geometric shape. 
     In order to secure the cover  34  to the club head  10 , fasteners  66  may be provided. The fasteners  66  engage with the fastening holes  52  of the recess  22  via the through-holes  64  of the cover  34 . The fasteners  66  may be press fit, threaded, or otherwise configured for fastening the cover  34  to the club head  10 . 
     A desired final weight of the club head  10  may be obtained by inserting at least one selected element  18  into the appropriate opening(s)  32  of the recess  22 . The cover  34  may assist in coupling elements  18  to head  10  while providing means for observing the cipher or encoded information via aperture  20 . 
     In order to visually determine the weight associated with selected elements  18  coupled to the head  10 , reference may be made to the decoder  14  provided on the outer surface  38  of the cover  34 . More specifically, the decoder  14  may be positioned in proximity to the window  20  or aperture of the cover  34 . In this manner, the cipher  12  encoded on the elements  18  may be immediately interpreted using the decoder  14 . 
     For example, the cipher  12  encoded on elements  18  may include color red for an element having a mass of 5 grams, color white for an element having a mass of 10 grams, and color blue for an element having a mass of 15 grams. Once elements  18  are configured within the club head, the weight and the mass distribution of the club head may readily be determined by reference to the decoder  14 , which specifies the relationship between the weights and the colors. For ease of reference, the decoder  14  may be positioned in close proximity to the window  20 . 
     While the cipher and means for interpreting said cipher are described in connection with the sole  24  of the club head  10 , it will be appreciated that these features may likewise be applied to other parts of the club head  10 . For example, such features may be implemented on the upper surface  26  of the club head  10  or any other suitable location. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , another implementation of the golf club head according to the present invention is described and illustrated as it may be applied to a blade type putter head  200 . Many aspects of this embodiment are similar to those described above, and the following description will assist in the understanding that the principles of the invention may be applied to putters of various shapes such as the blade type putter  200 . 
     Typically, the blade type putter head  200  may include a body  202  of a substantially rectangular shape. This characteristic head shape may have less volume than that of a mallet type putter head  10 . In the following description, relevant parts of the blade type putter  200  corresponding to those of the mallet type putter  10  will be identified with like reference numerals. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the blade type putter head  200  may include the striking face  46  and the rear portion  48  opposing the striking face  46 , the sole  24  and the upper surface (not shown) opposing the sole  24 . Further, the sole of the club head  200  may also include the plate or cover portion  34 , having windows or apertures  20  thereon for viewing the cipher  12  encoded on the elements  18  and fasteners  66  for demountably securing the cover or plate  34  to the club head. The decoder  36  may be formed on a surface of the cover  34  in the same manner as described above. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the blade type putter  200  may also include the recess  22 , the openings  32 , the fastening holes  52  formed in the floor surface  42  of the recess  22 , and the encoded elements  18 , which may be inserted into the openings  32 . The blade type putter head  200  may include at least one recess  22 , which may extend from the toe region  28  to the heel region  30  of the club head  200 . There may be two openings  32  in the recess  22 , one in the toe region  28  and one in the heel region  30  of the club head  200 . A single opening  32  may also be contemplated. 
     For the blade type club head  200 , the mass of each element  18  may vary from e.g. about 1 grams to about 50 grams, and a set of elements  18  having the same or different masses may be preferred. For example, a set of elements  18  may include at least three elements weighing 5 grams, 10 grams, and 15 grams each. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a set of elements  18  may comprise any number of elements and that two or more elements within a set may have the same mass. In use, elements may be interchangeable such that any one selected element  18  may be inserted into a predetermined one of the openings  32  in order to provide a club head of a desired final weight and mass distribution. Once the selected elements  18  are inserted into their respective openings  32 , the cover  34  may retain the elements  18  in place, while at the same time providing at least one window or aperture  20  for observing the cipher  12  encoded on the elements  18 . It should be appreciated that elements  18  may be configured in the club head such that at least one opening  32  remains unfilled. 
     As with the mallet-type putter-head, the cipher  12  encoded on the elements  18  may include color red for an element having a mass of 5 grams, color white for an element having a mass of 10 grams, and color blue for an element having a mass of 15 grams. Once elements  18  are configured within the club head, the weight and the mass distribution of the club head may readily be determined by reference to the decoder  36 , which specifies the relationship between the weights and the colors. For ease of reference, the decoder  36  may be positioned in close proximity to the window  20 . 
     Although the cipher  12  and the means for interpreting the cipher (i.e. decoder  14 ) have been addressed in connection with the mass properties of various club heads, it will be appreciated that the cipher  12  and decoding features could be implemented to indicate variation in any number of club characteristics, such as a lie angle, loft angle, alignment indicia and others. 
     A tool kit for reconfiguring the golf club head, as described above, may be provided. The tool kit may comprise a plurality of elements  18  with information encoded thereon, and a tool  92  for reconfiguring the elements  18  in the golf club head  10 . In one embodiment of the invention, a housing  98 , having a cover  102  and a base  104 , may be provided for storing the elements  18  and the tool  92 . Referring to  FIG. 8 , the housing  98  may include at least one vertical slot  116  to accommodate the plurality of elements  18  and a central bore  110  for receiving the tool  92 . Elements  18  may be retained in the housing by slideably engaging the vertical slot  116 . A protective cover  102  may enclose at least a portion of said housing  98  and may press fit onto the base  104 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     The above-described embodiments of the golf club head are given only as examples. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the illustrations given, but by the appended claims and their equivalents.