Abstract:
A screw comprising a drive part, a threaded part, and a retaining ring is disclosed herein. Each of the drive part and the threaded part comprises a plurality of interface surfaces that transmit torque from the drive part to the threaded part and prevent the parts from disengaging from one another during use. Each plurality of interface surfaces forms one or more geometric shapes that create additional friction between the drive and threaded parts, and may further include mating pins and holes to prevent the parts from detaching from one another. The retaining ring, which removably connects the screw to a wrench during assembly of the screw with a receptacle, is disposed within a cavity formed when the drive part is assembled with the threaded part.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/705,498 filed Sep. 25, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to a multi-piece weight screw with a retaining feature and a unidirectional torque transferring feature. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    In recent years, golf consumers have become more interested in customizing their golf equipment. As such, n any manufacturers have begun incorporating adjustable features into their golf clubs. One such feature is weighting, which can be adjusted through the use of removable or movable weights, including weight screws, affixed to various regions of a golf club head or shaft. While there are several different kinds of golf club weight screws currently available on the market, many of these screws have structural weaknesses that can lead to breakage and thus require consumers to spend additional money replacing them. Furthermore, once a weight is removed there is die potential for the consumer to lose it, which is inconvenient for the golfer. As such, there is a need for a weight screw with an improved structure that prevents breakage and loss. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    One aspect of the present invention is a two piece weight screw that may be used to adjust the weight of a golf club head. The two part screw of the present invention separates the first, drive part, which may be Torx™, hex, Phillips, etc., from the second, threaded part. This screw further includes a mechanism for removably attaching the screw to an adjustment wrench, which may be a retaining ring that engages a specific geometry of the wrench. The retaining ring is disposed on the second part of the screw assembly, and preferably sits within a cavity in the second part where it cannot move in a vertical direction and has space to expand horizontally around its diameter. This cavity becomes an enclosed space when the first part of the screw assembly is assembled with the second part of the screw assembly. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the present invention is a torque transfer method. An interface surface is provided between the first and second parts of the screw assembly, and the interface of the present invention transfers the torque applied at the drive side in the first part of the screw to the threads of the second part of the screw without slipping. 
         [0009]    Yet another aspect of the present invention is a screw comprising a drive part comprising a receiving cavity, a threaded part comprising a projecting portion and a pocket, and a retaining ring, wherein the drive part is formed separately from the threaded part, wherein the retaining ring is disposed in the pocket, and wherein the projecting portion is sized to mate with the receiving cavity. In some embodiments, the retaining ring is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of elastomeric material, metal material, and composite material, and in a further embodiment may be composed of steel. In other embodiments, the receiving cavity comprises a shape, which may be selected from the group consisting of circular, triangular, square, rectangular, oval, and hexalobular. In some embodiments, the receiving cavity may comprise a plurality of pins, the projecting portion may comprise a plurality of holes, and the plurality of pins may mate with the plurality of holes. In an alternative embodiment, the receiving cavity may comprise the plurality of holes and the projecting portion may comprise the plurality of pins. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the pocket may have a first diameter, the retaining ring may have a second diameter, and the second diameter may be smaller than the first diameter. In another embodiment, the pocket may be sized to permit the retaining ring to expand in a horizontal direction and not a vertical direction. In some embodiments, the drive part may comprise a through bore, which may have hexatobular geometry. In some embodiments, torque applied to the drive part may be transmitted to the threaded part via the receiving cavity and the projecting portion. In another embodiment, the drive part may be composed of a first material, the threaded part may be composed of a second material, and the first material may be different from the second material. In some embodiments, the drive part may be composed of a material having a density of no less than 1 g/cc to and no more than 16 g/cc, and in other embodiments, the threaded part may be composed of a material having a density of no less than 2.5 g/cc and no more than 12 g/cc. In still other embodiments, the drive part may be composed of thixomolded magnesium material, and the threaded part may be composed of a different metal material. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention is a weight screw comprising a drive part composed of a material having a density of no less than 1 g/cc to and no more than 16 g/cc, a threaded part formed separately from the threaded part composed of a material having a density of no less than 2.5 g/cc and no more than 12 g/cc, a receiving cavity, a projecting portion, a pocket, and a retaining ring composed of a metal alloy, wherein the retaining ring is disposed in the pocket, wherein the pocket is sized to permit the retaining ring to expand in a horizontal direction and not a vertical direction, and wherein the projecting portion is sized to mate with the receiving cavity. In some embodiments, the receiving cavity may be disposed on the drive part, the projecting portion and the pocket may be disposed on the threaded part, and the receiving cavity may have a hexalobular shape. Another embodiment may further comprise a plurality of holes and a plurality of pins that mate with the plurality of holes. In a further embodiment, the plurality of holes may be disposed on the receiving cavity and the plurality of pins may be disposed on the projecting portion. 
         [0012]    Another aspect of the present invention is a set of weight screws or a kit comprising one or more of the weight screws described herein. 
         [0013]    Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A  along lines  2 - 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a top perspective view of the drive part of the first embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  is a bottom perspective view of the drive part of the first embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a top perspective view of the threaded part of the first embodiment with a retaining ring. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  is a top perspective view of the threaded part of the first embodiment without a retaining ring. 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  along tines  6 - 6 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the threaded part of the second embodiment without a retaining ring. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the drive part of the second embodiment. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]    FIG,  10  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  along lines  10 - 10 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a top perspective view of the threaded part of the third embodiment without a retaining ring. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a bottom perspective view of the drive part of the third embodiment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a side perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13  along lines  14 - 14 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a top perspective view of the threaded part of the fourth embodiment without a retaining ring. 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a bottom perspective view of the drive part of the fourth embodiment. 
           [0033]      FIG. 17  is a side perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 17  along lines  18 - 18 . 
           [0035]      FIG. 19  is a top perspective view of the threaded part of the fifth embodiment without a retaining ring. 
           [0036]      FIG. 20  is a bottom perspective view of the drive part of the fifth embodiment. 
           [0037]      FIG. 21  is a side perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 21  along lines  22 - 22 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 23  is a top perspective view of the threaded part of the sixth embodiment without a retaining ring. 
           [0040]      FIG. 24  is a bottom perspective view of the drive part of the sixth embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0041]    The weight screws of the present invention are designed to help a golfer achieve discrete weighting goals in golf club heads without sacrificing structural integrity, but do not have to be limited to use with golf clubs, or even sporting equipment, as they can be used with any structure or device that requires or could benefit from adjustable weight technology. The weight screws of the present invention are also designed to be retained on a wrench during adjustment and thus be less susceptible to loss. The weight screws of the present invention may include one or more features of the weight screws disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/410,127, filed on Mar. 1, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. The weight screws of the present invention may also include any of the features of the embodiments disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/412,395, filed on Mar. 5, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. In particular, the weight screws of the present invention may include the interrupted thread pattern disclosed in that application. 
         [0042]    As shown in the Figures, each screw  10  of the present invention has a first, drive part  20  and a second, threaded part  30 , which combine to create an internal pocket or cavity  40  that houses the retaining ring  50  and prevents it from moving in a vertical direction inside the screw  10  while allowing it to expand horizontally. A (preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1A through 4B . As shown in these Figures, the drive part  20  has a hexalobular through-bore  21  and a receiving cavity  22  with a plurality of interface surfaces  25 . The threaded part  30  has a threaded region  31  and a head  34  having a projecting portion  32 , which also comprises a plurality of interface surfaces  35 . In order to assemble the screw  10 , the projecting portion  32  mates with the receiving cavity  22  to connect the drive part  20  and the threaded part  30  together, and friction between the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  prevents these two parts  20 ,  30  from disengaging from one another during use. The interface surfaces  25  of the drive part  20  also bear against the interface surfaces  35  of the threaded part  30 , and transmit torque from the drive part  20  to the threaded part  30  when the screw is being threaded into a receptacle, (such as one of the weight ports shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/629,391, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein) using a wrench or other tool. 
         [0043]    The retaining ring  50 , shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4A , preferably has a shape similar to the letter C, with an inner opening  52  and a side opening  54 , and is composed of a metal material, but may in alternative embodiments be composed of an elastomeric material. The retaining ring  50  preferably has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the cavity  40 . When a torque wrench (not shown) is applied to the screw  10  of the present invention, the tip of the wrench extends through the inner opening  52  of the retaining ring  50 , pushing the two ends  56 ,  58  apart and causing the ring&#39;s  50  radius to expand in a horizontal direction, press against the wall  42  of the cavity  40 , and press against and grip the tip of the wrench. In this way, the retaining ring  50  causes the screw  10  to become removably affixed to the wrench during removal, and reduces the likelihood that the screw  10  will be lost during adjustment. It is important that the retaining ring  50  be composed of material with sufficient elasticity and structural integrity to ensure expansion and avoid breakage while allowing the retaining ring  50  to return to its original, unexpanded configuration, such as steel or other metal alloys. 
         [0044]    The interface surfaces  25 ,  35  are shaped to transmit torque from the drive part  20  to the threaded part  30 . As shown in the Figures, interface surfaced  25 ,  35  the screw  10  of the present invention may form structures having various shapes or geometries. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  of the drive and threaded parts  20 ,  30  include a circular configuration  26   a ,  36   a . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5-8 , the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  of the drive and threaded parts  20 ,  30  include a triangular configuration  26   b ,  36   b . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  of the drive and threaded parts  20 ,  30  include a hexalobular configuration  26   c ,  36   c.    
         [0045]    In other embodiments, the drive and threaded parts  20 ,  30  of the screw may include additional features to ensure that the parts  20 ,  30  do not disengage from each other during use. For example, the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 13 through 24  include projections or pins  61 ,  62 ,  63  extending from the receiving cavity  22  of the drive part  20  that mate with holes  71 ,  72 ,  73  extending into the projecting portion  32  of the threaded part  30 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13-16 , the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  of the drive and threaded parts  20 ,  30  include a triangular configuration  26   b ,  36   b  and the pins  61 ,  62 ,  63  and holes  71 ,  72 ,  73  described herein. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17-20 , the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  of the drive and threaded parts  20 ,  30  include a different triangular configuration  26   d ,  36   d  that incorporates the pins  61 ,  62 ,  63  and holes  71 ,  72 ,  73  into its structure. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 21-24 , the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  of the drive and threaded parts  20 ,  30  include a rounded triangular configuration  26   e ,  36   e  and the pins  61 ,  62 ,  63  and holes  71 ,  72 ,  73  described herein. 
         [0046]    Screws  10  with low torque requirements can use simple press tit diameters, such as those included in the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1A through 12 , to transmit the torque, and rely on the friction between the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  to resist torque applied to the drive part  20 . For higher torque requirements, the interface surfaces  25 ,  35  need to be connected by more than just friction. The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 13 through 24  transmit higher torque forces due to the inclusion of pins  61 ,  62 ,  63  and holes  71 ,  72 ,  73 , so are more suitable for higher torque requirements. 
         [0047]    The embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-24  are not intended to be limiting, however, because the screw  10  of the present invention may incorporate a structure of any shape, including those disclosed herein, in its interface surfaces  25 ,  35  to increase friction and transmit torque, and may also combine any of the shapes disclosed herein or known to a person skilled in the art with the pins  61 ,  62 ,  63  and holes  71 ,  72 ,  73  described herein. In one alternative embodiment, for example, the pins  61 ,  62 ,  63  may be disposed on the projecting portion  32  white the holes  71 ,  72 ,  73  may be disposed within the receiving cavity  22 . The embodiments disclosed herein may also be composed of any number of materials known to a person skilled in the art, and the drive part  20  of the screws  10  disclosed herein a have through-bores with any number of shapes other than hexalobular. 
         [0048]    Each of the pa s of the embodiments disclosed herein may be composed of any material known to a person skilled in the art, including metal alloys such as tungsten alloy, aluminum alloy, steel, titanium alloy, and magnesium alloy, polymeric materials such as plastic and rubber, and composite materials, and may be made by any process known in the art, including, but not limited to, metal injection molding, powder metallurgy, and thixomolding. The materials used to form the screws  10  disclosed herein can be selected based on the type of weighting required. For example, if a golf club head requires a heavy weight, one or more parts of the screw  10  can be composed of a high density material such as tungsten, whereas a golf club head requiring a lightweight weight could incorporate a screw  10  with one or more parts composed of composite, plastic, aluminum alloy, or magnesium alloy. The material of the drive part  20  can be adjusted, while maintaining, a consistent volume of the drive part  20 , to adjust the overall weight of the screw  10  of the present invention, and separating the drive part  20  from the threaded part  30  allows for cost savings if only the drive part  20  material needs to change to provide multiple weighting options. 
         [0049]    In one particular embodiment, each of the drive part  20 , threaded part  30 , and retaining ring  50  is formed from stainless steel. Weight screws  10  having this material composition and a length of approximately 0.600 inch were hit tested by engaging the screws  10  with weight ports in a golf club head and then hitting golf balls with the golf club head 10,000 times at a speed of 110 mph at various points on the golf club face. The screws  10  did not crack and their length did not change at any point during this test. 
         [0050]    In another particular embodiment, the drive part is  20  is formed from a thixomolded magnesium alloy, while the threaded part  30  is formed from a different, metal alloy. 
         [0051]    From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.