Abstract:
A golf club head comprising a means for adjusting the location of the center of gravity, and the bias of the golf club head, is disclosed herein. In particular, the golf dub head of the present invention comprises a channel that includes a track. A slidable weight is movable along the track and is reversibly affixed to various locations along the track with a mechanical fastener. The track has a narrow end by which the slidable weight is threaded onto the track, and the narrow end is covered with a stopper to prevent the weight from disengaging from the track, and thus the channel.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/902,036, filed on Nov. 8, 2013, and is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/163,946, filed on Jan. 24, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/893,728, filed on Oct. 21, 2013, and which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/033,218, filed on Sep. 20, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/923,571, filed on Jun. 21, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/778,958, filed on Feb. 27, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/727,608, filed on Nov. 16, 2012, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/163,946 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/766,658, filed on Feb. 13, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/746,348, filed on Dec. 27, 2012, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a weight for a golf club head that can be adjusted along one or more channels. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The ability to adjust center of gravity location and weight in the head of driving clubs is useful for controlling performance of the golf club. The prior art includes several different solutions for adjustable weighting, but these solutions do not optimize weight adjustment. There is a need for a weighting mechanism that allows for simple and flexible center of gravity (CG) and moment of inertia (MOI) adjustability. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a novel way of working with adjustable products. The present invention allows consumers to easily move and fix a weight at any location within one or more channels disposed in the golf club head in such a way to maximize aesthetic appearances while preserving the function of the movable weight. The objective of this invention is to provide an adjustable weight with minimal or no effect on appearance at address while maximizing the ability of the weight to adjust center of gravity height. Additional goals include minimizing the fixed component of the structure dedicated to the weighting system and also minimizing any potential effect on impact sound. Yet another object of the present invention is an adjustable weighting feature for lateral or vertical center of gravity control which is placed to maximize effectiveness and may be entirely concealed from view at address. 
     One aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a body comprising a face and a sole, a crown, a track, a mechanical fastener, and a first weight comprising a lower recess, wherein the sole comprises a channel having at least two walls and a floor, wherein the track is at least partially disposed within the channel, wherein the weight receives an upper portion of the track within the lower recess, and wherein the weight is reversibly affixed to the track with the mechanical fastener. The channel may comprise a floor and a track opening, the track may comprise a lower edge sized to fit within the track opening, and the track may be permanently affixed to the body within the channel. In some embodiments, the body may be integrally cast from a metal material, the track may be composed of a metal material, and the crown may be composed of a composite material. 
     In one embodiment, the weight may comprise an upper recess, a threaded bore that connects the upper recess with the lower recess, and two hooked lower edges, the mechanical fastener may comprise a threaded extension sized to fit within the threaded bore, and the track may comprise a I-shaped cross section. In some embodiments, the body may comprise a plurality of internal ribs, each of which may be affixed to the floor of the channel. In another embodiment, the golf club head may further comprise a stopper sized to it within the channel and over the track, which may prevent the weight from detaching from the track. In some embodiments, the stopper may be composed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, composite, and rubber, while in other embodiments the stopper may be composed of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, and tungsten alloy. 
     In one embodiment, the track may comprise a first end having a first width and a second end having a second width, and the first width may be smaller than the second width. In another embodiment, the golf club head may further comprise a second weight, which may comprise a lower recess sized to receive an upper portion of the track. In some embodiments, the track may be welded to the body. In yet another embodiment, the golf club head may comprise an adjustable hosel assembly, and may be selected from the group consisting of a driver-type head, a fairway wood-type head, an iron-type head, a hybrid-type head, and a putter-type head. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a wood-type golf club head comprising a metal body comprising a face, a hosel, a heel side, a toe side, and a sole, a composite crown, a metal track comprising a lower edge, a first end having a first width, a second end having a second width, and an upper portion having an upper surface, a screw comprising a head and a threaded extension, a weight comprising an upper recess, a lower recess sized to receive the upper portion of the track, and a threaded bore connecting the upper recess with the lower recess, and a stopper, wherein the sole comprises a channel having at least two walls, a floor, and a track opening, wherein the channel extends from the heel side to the toe side, wherein the lower edge of the track fits within the track opening, wherein the weight is reversibly fixed to the track with the screw, and wherein the stopper prevents the weight from disengaging from the track. In some embodiments, the track may be welded to the body, or may comprise a protective cover. In other embodiments, the body may comprise a plurality of ribs, and each of the ribs may be affixed to an interior surface of the channel floor. In yet another embodiment, the track may be composed of anodized aluminum. 
     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 
         FIG. 1  is a sole perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  along lines  2 - 2 . 
         FIG. 3  is a first exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a second exploded view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is sole perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is another sole perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The design approaches described herein are based on a construction used in a driver head characterized by a composite crown adhesively bonded to a cast titanium body. This particular construction approach permits the crown configuration to be adapted to the inventive weighting scheme with minimal impact on weight and function. However, the weighting embodiments disclosed herein can be used with other constructions, including all titanium, all composite, and a composite body with metal face cup. The embodiments may also work in conjunction with at least one adjustable weight port on the sole, crown, and/or other part of the driver head. Shifting weight along the channel described herein gives a user control of the golf club head&#39;s center of gravity location. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-7 . The golf club head  10  comprises a channel  20  disposed within the sole  14  of the golf club head  10 , though in alternative embodiments the channel  20  may be disposed in a ribbon or skirt portion and/or in the crown  12  of the golf club head  10 . The channel  20  preferably is integrally cast with the sole  14 , hut in alternative embodiments may be separately formed and then permanently affixed the sole  14  or other portions of the golf club head  10 . The channel  20  extends from a heel side  16  of the club head proximate a hosel  11 , which preferably includes adjustability features, to a toe side  18  of the golf club head  10 , and is supported within the head  10  with a series of ribs  26 . The channel  20  includes a track  30 , which protrudes from a floor  25  of the channel  20 , has a T-shaped cross section, and has a narrow first end  31  and a wider second end  33 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the width of the track  30  abruptly tapers to the narrow first end  31  so that most of the length of the track  30  can be used as a guide for the weight  40 , which can be removed from the track  30  by sliding the weight  40  off of the narrow first end  31 . 
     A weight  40 , which is significantly smaller in length than the channel  20  and slightly smaller in width than the channel  20 , is sized to fit within the channel  20  and includes a T-shaped lower recess  45  sized to receive the upper, T-shaped part of the track  30 . When the track  30  is engaged with the lower recess  45  of the weight  40  as shown in  FIG. 2 , the weight can slide to any point along the track  30 . A stopper  60  is removably affixed over the narrow first end  31  of the track  30  within the channel  20  with semi-permanent adhesives, mechanical fasteners, or other means known to a person skilled in the art, to prevent the weight  40  from becoming disengaged from the track  30  at the narrow first end  31 , and thus the channel  20 , during use. In an alternative embodiment, the stopper  60  may be permanently affixed to the head  10  so that the weight  40  is permanently retained within the channel  20  on the track  30 . The stopper  60  may be made of a lightweight material such as composite, rubber, or another polymer, but preferably functions as another weight and is composed of a denser material such as titanium, steel, or tungsten. 
     When a user has adjusted the weight&#39;s  40  location along the track to a desired point, he or she can removably fix the weight  40  to that location with a screw  50 , which is received in an upper recess  42  of the weight  40 . The threaded portion  55  of the screw  50  extends through a threaded bore  44  that connects the upper recess  42  to the lower recess  45  of the weight  40  and; when it is fully screwed into the weight  40 , makes contact with an upper surface  32  of the track  30 . When the threaded portion  55  of the screw  50  makes contact with the track  30 , it pushes the weight  40  away from the track  30  such that the hooked, lower edges  46   a ,  46   b  of the weight  40  press against the underside of the track  30 , thereby reversibly locking the weight  40  onto the track  30 . The upper surface  32  of the track  30  preferably includes a protective cover  34 , which may be made from a material including, but not limited to, a rubber, felt, or a co-molded polymer, so that neither the screw  50  nor the track  30  becomes damaged when they make contact with each other. In an alternative embodiment, the upper surface  32  of the track  30  is protected with u plate (not shown), which may be located within the lower recess  45  of the weight  40  and/or affixed to a lower surface of the threaded portion  55  of the screw  50  and be pressed towards the track  30  when the screw  50  is tightened by a user. 
     The golf club head  10  of the present invention preferably is assembled as shown in  FIGS. 3-7 . First, a body  19  comprising the hosel  11 , sole  14 , and face  15  is cast from a metal material, which preferably is a titanium alloy, hut in other embodiments may be steel. The channel  20  is integrally cast with the body  19 , and then aback opening  22  is cut into the floor  25  of the channel  20  using a laser, a cutter, or any other means known to a person skilled in the art. The track  30  is cast or otherwise formed from a metal material, preferably an anodized aluminum alloy, and the lower edge  36  of the track  30  is inserted into the track opening  22  and permanently affixed there via welding, soldering, brazing, or another means known to a person skilled in the art, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The track opening  22  preferably extends into the ribs  26  as shown in  FIG. 3  so that the lower edge  36  of the track  30  is supported by the ribs  26  when it is inserted into the track opening  22 . In alternative embodiments, the track  30  may be affixed to the channel  20  with one or more mechanical fasteners, an adhesive, clip or snap mechanisms, or one or more of the mechanisms disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,573 to DiMarco and U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,041 to Evans, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     Once the track  30  is affixed to the body  19 , the weight  40  is slid onto the track  30  via its narrow first end  31 , which is then blocked off with the stopper  60  as shown in  FIG. 7  to prevent the weight  40  from disengaging from the body  19 . The crown  12  may be affixed to the body  19  at any time after the track  30  is affixed to the body  19 , and preferably is permanently attached to the body  19  with an adhesive material. The crown  12  is formed from a light-weight material, preferably a non-metal material such as a composite, which may be selected from any of the composite materials disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,460,123 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/912,994, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     The weight  40  disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment shown herein may have any of the constructions disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/033,218, and may also be added to and removed from the golf club head  10  as disclosed in that application. Similarly, the channel  20  disclosed herein may have any of the configurations disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/656,271, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein, and the channel  20  disclosed herein may disposed anywhere on a golf club head  10 , including the sole,  14 , crown  12 , face,  15 , and ribbon portions. Though the embodiment disclosed herein is provided in a driver, the adjustable weighting configuration shown herein may also be used with other type of golf clubs, including fairway woods, irons, hybrids, and putters. 
     In other embodiments, the golf club head  10  may have a multi-material composition such as any of those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,244,976, 6,332,847, 6,386,990, 6,406,378, 6,440,008, 6,471,604, 6,491,592, 6,527,650, 6,565,452, 6,575,845, 6,478,692, 6,582,323, 6,508,978, 6,592,466, 6,602,149, 6,607,452, 6,612,398, 6,663,504, 6,669,578, 6,739,982, 6,758,763, 6,860,824, 6,994,637, 7,025,692, 7,070,517, 7,112,148, 7,118,493, 7,121,957, 7,125,344, 7,128,661, 7,163,470, 7,226,366, 7,252,600, 7,258,631, 7,314,418, 7,320,646, 7,387,577, 7,396,296, 7,402,112, 7,407,448, 7,413,520, 7,431,667, 7,438,647, 7,455,598, 7,476,161, 7,491,134, 7,497,787, 7,549,935, 7,578,751, 7,717,807, 7,749,096, and 7,749,097, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein. 
     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.