GB1568988A - Golf clubs - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO GOLF CLUBS (71) 1, Rov ALEXANDER CHURCHWARD, a citizen of the United States of America, of 6444 19th Avenue South Richfield, Minnesota, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following state ment :- The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to golf clubs. Both the golfing expert and the beginner desire clubs that are suitably weighted and balanced to satisfy the particular individual.

All have experienced the frustation of the curving golf ball. The ball is said to hook when the golf ball is struck by a right-handed golfer and curves to the left during flight. On the other hand, the ball is said to slice if the same golfer strikes the ball and the ball curves to the right. In the past much effort has been expended in order to overcome the hook or slice. For example, grips have been designed to remind the golfer that the club must be held properly to strike the ball properly. In other words, the ball must be struck such that the club face is neither excessively open nor excessively closed.

Effort has been expended through lessons and various types of apparatus to teach the golfer proper stance and proper swing. In spite of such effort, the hook and slice continue to bother many golfers in varying degrees.

Most golfers have experienced the satisfying "click" of the ball when struck with the so called sweet spot of the golf club. Also most have experienced the frustrating "thud" when the sweet spot is missed.

One objective of the present invention is to provide means whereby a golf club may be weight adjusted to substantially reduce or eliminate the problem of the hook or slice for most golfers.

Viewed from one aspect the invention provides a golf club comprising a shaft, a grip disposed at one end of said shaft and a club head disposed at the other end of said shaft, said club head including a body portion, an impact block as herein defined disposed in said body portion, and a sole plate, said impact block having defined therein a plurality of openings, a plurality of weights slideably received each in respective one of said openings, said sole plate substantially covering the bottom of said club head and including a removable cover for providing access to at least some of said openings so as to permit the slideable insertion and removal of said weights in and from said openings.

Viewed from another aspect the invention provides a golf club sole plate having a thickened central portion peripherally surrounded by a thin plate-like portion, said central portion including a recess in the lower side thereof in use and being provided with a plurality of openings into each of which a weight can be slideably inserted, at least some of said openings extending through said central portion from the upper surface thereof in use to said recess, and said sole plate further including a removable cover providing access to at least some of said openings.

Some embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows a golf club in accordance with the present invention; Figure II shows a perspective view of the lower side of the head of one embodiment of the golf club; Figure III shows the lower side of the club head of Figure II with the impact block cover removed; Figure IV shows the lower side of the club head with the sole plate removed; Figure V is a cross sectional view of the club head taken along the line V-V in Figure III; Figure VI is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sole plate in accordance with the present invention; Figure VII is a cross sectional view of the sole plate of Figure VI; Figure VIII is a top view of the sole plate of Figure VI; Figure IX is a bottom view of the sole plate of Figure VI; and Figure X is a cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the sole plate.

A golf club 10 in accordance with the present invention (Fig. 1) includes a club head 11, a shaft 12, and a handle or grip 13. The club 10 is of the type generally called a "wood." The shaft 12 is stiff, yet flexible, and typically is made of light weight tubular spring steel. The grip 13 is applied over the upper portion of the shaft 12 and typically consists of a wrapping of leather or rubber to provide a non-slip surface.

The club head 11 of a so-called "wood" is generally constructed of wood, such as persimmon or laminated wood; however, as used herein the term "wood" will also include clubs having heads of various other materials such as plastics e.g. nylon. The club head 11 (Figure II) has a body portion 16, a sole plate 17, and a face 18 including a face plate 19.

The face 19, as shown, is generally slightly curved. The face plate 19 is recessed into the club head 11 to provide an even surface across the face 18. The face 18 of the club head 11 may have horizontal furrows to aid in control of the golf ball. The face plate 19 provides a hard wear-resistant surface for striking the ball.

The club head 11 (Figure III) includes an impact block 21. The term "impact block" as used herein means a weight carrier block adapted to control the impact characteristics of the club head. The impact block 21 may be constructed of aluminium or other lightweight material, for example, magnesium alloy. Alternatively, the impact block 21 may be of any other material such as copper. The forward surface of the impact block 21 desirably is spaced about 3/8 to 1/2 inch from the face of the club.

The impact block 21 may be of any desired shape and size, but is preferably a noncircular shape. The impact block 21 preferably is a matrix which has defined therein a plurality of openings 20 each for reception of a weight 22. The weights 22 may be of any desired size and weight; however, in one preferred embodiment each weight is equal to one lorythmic swing weight. In another preferred embodiment each weight may be equal to two lorythmic swing weights. By so doing a single club can be manufactured which at a later time can be weight-adjusted to provide, for example, a C-2 to an E-2 club. This substantially simplifies the manufacturing of golf clubs. Thus a single club may be manufactured which is capable of weight adjustment over the entire commonly used weight range. This eliminates the need for large inventories on the part of a golf pro shop.

In one embodiment the weights 22 for insertion in the impact block 21 are ofcylindrical shape and have a head portion 22a by which the weights may be grasped. The weights 22 may have a length that is very nearly the same as the length of openings 20 in the impact block 21. The openings 20 desirably extend entirely through or very nearly through the impact block 21. Thus the weights 22 have a length that is approximately equal to the thickness of the impact block 21. In another embodiment the openings and the weights extend only through a portion of the impact block. The cylindrical weights may if required be a composite of two materials. In other words, one portion or end of the weight may be made of a heavy material such as copper and another portion or end of the weight may be light-weight such as polyethylene.The weight may be inserted with the heavy end down or alternatively with the heavy end up. This provides for vertical, as well as the horizontal, adjustment of the weights. The weights 22 are slideably received in the openings 20 and not threadably engaged. Such slideable reception provides very significant advantages over threaded engagement. For example, adjustment of the amount of weight or location of weights may be quickly and easily adjusted. Threaded screws, on the other hand, are very slow and somewhat difficult to change. The screws and screw slots may be stripped. Such problems are not encountered in the present embodiments. The present impact block 21 and weights 22 may be simply and efficiently manufactured. The impact block 21 may be manufactured from a metal block simply by drilling or punching the openings in the block.Threading such openings would make such manufacture complicated and expensive.

The weight 22 may simply be metal rod material cut to the appropriate length to provide headless weights. The rod material may be standard copper rod which is readily and widely available. Further, no special tools are necesary to either manufacture or change such weights.

The openings 20 may be in a grouped array such that the golfer may recall which openings he normally has filled with the weights 22, thus giving the individual golfer a base point from which to adjust the locations of the weights. The openings 20 are preferably a series of aligned openings. The grouped array may comprise at least four rows of openings, each row having at least four openings.

The club head 11 has a cavity 23 defined therein for snug reception of the impact block 21. In the assembled club 10, the impact block 21 fits just beneath the sole plate 17 which in turn is secured to the club head 11 such as by screws 24. The impact block 21 and weights 22 are held in place by the sole plate 17.

The impact block 21 desirably has a low horizontal profile and is located close to the sole plate 17 so that the centre of gravity is lowered in the club head 11, thus lowering tbe so-called "sweet spot" or ideal area of impact on the face of the club. The impact block 21, for example, may be disposed if desired in the lower 25% of the club head 11.

The impact block 21 may be a copper bar stock having a thickness of about 3/16 inches. Such lowering of the "sweet spot" andjor low horizontal profile of the impact block creates greater velocity in the club head without increasing the golfer's normal swing and therefore also creates greater distance.

The sole plate 17 has an opening 31 therein which is slightly smaller in size than impact block 21. Access to weights 22 is provided through opening 31. A cover 32 is normally held in place over opening 31 by a screw 33 which is threadedly engaged in opening 34 in impact block 21.

One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes sole plate 117 which is shown in Figures VI through IX. The sole plate 117 has a thickened central portion 118 periphally surrounded by a thin plate-like portion 119. Portion 118 is integral with portion 119. The portion 118 may be, for example, square in horizontal profile (i.e. as viewed in Figure VIII). The portion 119 includes a plurality of openings 121 through which screws may extend for securing the sole plate 117 to the club head.

The sole plate 117 includes a recess 122 (Figure VII) in the lower surface thereof. The recess 122 may be aligned with portion 118 and may be of slightly smaller size than portion 118, see Figure VII. A cap 123 may be snugly fitted into recess 122 and held in place by a screw 124.

The portion 118 includes a plurality of openings 125 which extend from the upper surface 126 of portion 118 to the recess 122.

As shown in Figure VII, weights 1 27a may be inserted into openings 125 from the upper surface 126 or weights 127b may be inserted into openings 125 through recess 122. This enables raising of the center of gravity by inserting the weight 1 27a from above or lowering the centre of gravity by insertion of the weights 127al from beneath. The weights 1 27a and 127awl also may be moved toward the heel or toe as previously described with regard to embodiment 11. Insertion of weights 1 27a from above necessitates removal of the sole plate 117 from the club head; whereas, insertion of weights 127al through recess 122 only requires removal of the cap 123.Thus, the weights inserted from above may be considered "semi-permanent" weights. The weights inserted through recess 122 may be considered "ready access" weights. The semi-permanent weights may be used for gross or major weight adjustment; whereas, ready access weights may be used for fine adjustment.

A further embodiment 217 of sole plate is shown in cross section in Figure X. Sole plate 217 has a thickened central portion 218 and athin portion 219. The portion 219 includes a plurality of openings 221 through which screws may extend for securing the sole plate 217 to the club head 211. The thickened portion 218 has a first set of openings 225a extending from the upper surface 226 of portion 218 to the recess 222. The portion 218 has a second set of openings 225 b which extend only part way through portion 218. In other words, the openings 225b begin at the upper surface 226 of portion 218 and extend to a point above the lower surface of sole plate 218. The openings 225b may be arranged in a first row along the heel side of portion 218 and a second row along the toe side of portion 218 as shown in Figure X.Heel and toe weighting may be provided by filling both rows of openings 225b with weights. Heel and toe weighting spreads the weights of the club head increasing the size of the sweet spot.

A cap 223 may be secured in place in recess 222 by screw 224 which is engageable in opening 230. The weights 227a, which are inserted in openings 225a, are ready access weights and may be used for fine weight adjustment. Weights 227b inserted in openings 225b are semi-permanent weights and may be used for heel and toe weighting or other major weight adjustment.

In all of the embodiments described, the sole plate substantially covers the bottom of the club head, i.e. it extends in covering fashion over at least the major part of the club head bottom.

It will thus be seen, that at least in the preferred embodiments, the invention permits the movement of the centre of gravity to the position where the individual golfer most often strikes the ball. The centre of gravity can undergo heel and toe adjustment, and/or be raised and lowered.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A golf club comprising a shaft, a grip disposed at one end of said shaft and a club head disposed at the other end of said shaft, said club head including a body portion, an impact block as herein defined disposed in said body portion, and a sole plate, said impact block having defined therein a plurality of openings, a plurality of weights slideably received each in respective ones of said openings, said sole plate substantially covering the bottom of said club head and including a removable cover for providing access to at least some of said openings so as to permit the slideable insertion and removal of said weights in and from said openings.

2. A golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein said removable cover is held in place by a screw-threaded fastener which extends through said cover and is engaged in a screwthreaded opening in said impact block.

3. A golf club as claimed in claim 1 or 2

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (16)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. lowered in the club head 11, thus lowering tbe so-called "sweet spot" or ideal area of impact on the face of the club. The impact block 21, for example, may be disposed if desired in the lower 25% of the club head 11. The impact block 21 may be a copper bar stock having a thickness of about 3/16 inches. Such lowering of the "sweet spot" andjor low horizontal profile of the impact block creates greater velocity in the club head without increasing the golfer's normal swing and therefore also creates greater distance. The sole plate 17 has an opening 31 therein which is slightly smaller in size than impact block 21. Access to weights 22 is provided through opening 31. A cover 32 is normally held in place over opening 31 by a screw 33 which is threadedly engaged in opening 34 in impact block 21. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes sole plate 117 which is shown in Figures VI through IX. The sole plate 117 has a thickened central portion 118 periphally surrounded by a thin plate-like portion 119. Portion 118 is integral with portion 119. The portion 118 may be, for example, square in horizontal profile (i.e. as viewed in Figure VIII). The portion 119 includes a plurality of openings 121 through which screws may extend for securing the sole plate 117 to the club head. The sole plate 117 includes a recess 122 (Figure VII) in the lower surface thereof. The recess 122 may be aligned with portion 118 and may be of slightly smaller size than portion 118, see Figure VII. A cap 123 may be snugly fitted into recess 122 and held in place by a screw 124. The portion 118 includes a plurality of openings 125 which extend from the upper surface 126 of portion 118 to the recess 122. As shown in Figure VII, weights 1 27a may be inserted into openings 125 from the upper surface 126 or weights 127b may be inserted into openings 125 through recess 122. This enables raising of the center of gravity by inserting the weight 1 27a from above or lowering the centre of gravity by insertion of the weights 127al from beneath. The weights 1 27a and 127awl also may be moved toward the heel or toe as previously described with regard to embodiment 11. Insertion of weights 1 27a from above necessitates removal of the sole plate 117 from the club head; whereas, insertion of weights 127al through recess 122 only requires removal of the cap 123.Thus, the weights inserted from above may be considered "semi-permanent" weights. The weights inserted through recess 122 may be considered "ready access" weights. The semi-permanent weights may be used for gross or major weight adjustment; whereas, ready access weights may be used for fine adjustment. A further embodiment 217 of sole plate is shown in cross section in Figure X. Sole plate 217 has a thickened central portion 218 and athin portion 219. The portion 219 includes a plurality of openings 221 through which screws may extend for securing the sole plate 217 to the club head 211. The thickened portion 218 has a first set of openings 225a extending from the upper surface 226 of portion 218 to the recess 222. The portion 218 has a second set of openings 225 b which extend only part way through portion 218. In other words, the openings 225b begin at the upper surface 226 of portion 218 and extend to a point above the lower surface of sole plate 218. The openings 225b may be arranged in a first row along the heel side of portion 218 and a second row along the toe side of portion 218 as shown in Figure X.Heel and toe weighting may be provided by filling both rows of openings 225b with weights. Heel and toe weighting spreads the weights of the club head increasing the size of the sweet spot. A cap 223 may be secured in place in recess 222 by screw 224 which is engageable in opening 230. The weights 227a, which are inserted in openings 225a, are ready access weights and may be used for fine weight adjustment. Weights 227b inserted in openings 225b are semi-permanent weights and may be used for heel and toe weighting or other major weight adjustment. In all of the embodiments described, the sole plate substantially covers the bottom of the club head, i.e. it extends in covering fashion over at least the major part of the club head bottom. It will thus be seen, that at least in the preferred embodiments, the invention permits the movement of the centre of gravity to the position where the individual golfer most often strikes the ball. The centre of gravity can undergo heel and toe adjustment, and/or be raised and lowered. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A golf club comprising a shaft, a grip disposed at one end of said shaft and a club head disposed at the other end of said shaft, said club head including a body portion, an impact block as herein defined disposed in said body portion, and a sole plate, said impact block having defined therein a plurality of openings, a plurality of weights slideably received each in respective ones of said openings, said sole plate substantially covering the bottom of said club head and including a removable cover for providing access to at least some of said openings so as to permit the slideable insertion and removal of said weights in and from said openings.

2. A golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein said removable cover is held in place by a screw-threaded fastener which extends through said cover and is engaged in a screwthreaded opening in said impact block.

3. A golf club as claimed in claim 1 or 2

wherein said impact block is integral with said sole plate.

4. A golf club as claimed in claim 3 wherein said sole plate comprises a thickened central portion defining said impact block, periphally surrounded by a thin plate-like portion, said central portion including a recess in the lower side thereof in use, and at least some of said openings extending from the upper side in use of said central portion through to said recess.

5. A golf club as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said sole plate is separate from said impact block.

6. A golf club as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sole plate holds said impact block in said club body portion.

7. A golf club as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said impact block is adapted for receipt of weights from above the block on removal thereof from said club body portion, and from below the block on removal of said cover.

8. A golf club as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein all said openings extend completely through said impact block.

9. A golf club as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein some of said openings extend only part-way through said impact block.

10. A golf club sole plate having a thickened central portion periphally surrounded by a thin plate-like portion, said central portion including a recess in the lower side thereof in use and being provided with a plurality of openings into each of which a weight can be slideably inserted, at least some of said openings extending through said central portion from the upper surface thereof in use to said recess, and said sole plate further including a removable cover providing access to at least some of said openings.

11. A golf club sole plate as claimed in claim 10, wherein said central portion is adapted for receipt of weights from said upper surface, and also from said lower side upon removal of said cover.

12. The invention as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said openings are arranged to enable the insertion of weights such as to give heel to toe adjustment of the centre of gravity of the club.

13. The invention as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said openings are arranged to enable the insertion of weights such as to give vertical adjustment of the centre of gravity of the club.

14. The invention as claimed in any preceding claim, including one or more weights slideably inserted in said openings.

15. A golf club substantially or hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5; or Figs. 1 and 6 to 9; or Figs. 1 and 10; of the accompanying drawings.

16. A golf club sole plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.

6 to 9, or Fig. 10, of the accompanying drawings.