US2171383A

US2171383A - Golf club head

Info

Publication number: US2171383A
Application number: US234652A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Wettlaufer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1938-10-12
Filing date: 1938-10-12
Publication date: 1939-08-29
Anticipated expiration: 1956-08-29

Description

Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to golf clubs, and it has particular reference to the provision of an improved head for a club of the wood type.

The club head or lthe present ,invention is `l5 adapted to be made of light metal, cast into the general form and shape of a wood type head, and wherein substantially the entire interior portion of the head is hollow, to provide a cavity in which may be located various adjustable weights for imparting to the club proper total weight, weight distribution, and balance. An important feature of this invention is to provide durable and rugged means for gaining access to this cavity in which the weights are disposed, and, specifically, this feature resides in the provision of a cover plate for the entire top surface of the head, so located that it will not be torn off by repeated impacts occurring during use,

The novel and inventive features of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims, will be more fully understood from a perusal of the iollowing detailed and exemplary description of specific: embodiments thereof, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the club head as viewed by the player at address;

Fig, 2 is a top view of the head with the cover removed;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the weight plate which is shown in inverted position;

Fig. 6 is a top view' similar to Fig. 2 of another embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Fig. l, the club comprises a head Iii and a shaft i l which may be interconnected in any desired manner. As herein illustrated, the connection follows the teachings of my prior Patent No, 2,067,556, patented January l2, 1937,

whereby, through the provision of a polygonal socket l2 on the head and a complementary eccentric polygonal extension on the shaft, the head and shaft may be given various positions of alignment with respect to each other. Inasmuch as the prior patent explains this matter extensively, it is deemed unnecessary to illustrate or discuss this phase of the club at greater length.

The head I0, shown in plan in Fig. 2, is advantageously formed by casting a light metal,

5()` such as an aluminum alloy, with an integral base I3, striking face wall it, and encircling wall l5. The wall it is substantially plane compared to the wall l5, which, as shown in Fig. 2, is substantially semi-cylindrical, and, as shown in Fig. 3, is

55 of progressively less'heig'ht from the striking face I4 to the back of the head. There is thus formed a large open chamber I6, occupying the entire inner areal of the heady and in which, as will be hereinafter described, are located adjustable weights for balancing the club. 5

The upper edges of the walls i4 and l5 are recessed or sunk to provide a continuous ledge or shoulder Il, which, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, rises abruptly into the upper traces of the walls, to form thrust surfaces for a cover plate 2 l. The 10 cover 2i is preferably formed of sheet metal, and is given a configuration and size to t snugly within the shouldered portions of the walls, bearing both against the cuter walls and on the continuous ledge il, The head wall l5 is also formed with a number of bosses 22 which are tapped and countersunk, as shown by the reference numeral 23. The cover 2l is also drilled and depressed, as indicated by the numeral 24, at its points of registry with the tapped bosses 22. Hence, when the 2O cover 2i is applied to the head, there is a ccntinuous bearing contact with the ledge il and the shouldered portions of the walls il@ and i5, and the cover is flush with the upper traces of the walls. Additionally, the interengaging counter- 25 sunk and depressed portions 23 and te on the head and cover provide an interlocking engagement between the parts, thus rigidly securing the cover on the head against all impact forces, and removing destructive shear loads from the screws 30 26 which are applied to hold the cover in position.

I may note here that this continuous Contact and interlocking engagement has been found highly advantageous, since, if the cover is not rigidly applied to the head, the repeated impacts from blows may cause the screws to shear off, thus rendering the club unacceptable for play until repaired. In the invention as herein described, it will be observed that the shear loads are taken up by the walls and cooperating coun- 40 tersunk and depressed portions, thereby relieving the screw's from all service except the positioning of the cover in its intended location.

It may also be noted that, in practice, the cover 2| substantially covers the entire top area of the 45 club head, as shown in Fig. 1. By `plating cr enamelling the upper surface of the cover with a non-reilective surface, glare of bright sun light in the players eyes is avoided. The colors may be varied among clubs in the same set, or between different sets, thus permitting the player to identify the club readily.

The chamber I6 is utilized to house a manually adjustable weight mechanism. As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, this consists of a segment shaped 55 plate 35 which is pivotally mounted on a stud 3| carried in a boss 32 in the base portion |3. A nut 33 and lock washer 34 on the stud permits the plate to be anchored in any desired radial position. As an aid to securing the plate, the peripheral edge thereof is formed with a depending tooth 35 which may be positioned in any one of a plurality of notches 36 formed in the base i3. Radially disposed slots 31 in the plate 30 are supplied to receive a bolt 38, which may carry any number of auxiliary weights in the form of washers 3S secured by a nut 4|.

By loosening the nut 33, the plate may be positioned so that a major portion of its weight is directed to the toe of the club adjacent the striking face (Fig. 2) or to any other radial position to a point of extreme adjustment where the Weight is disposed between a stop lug 45 in the heel portion of, the chamber and the last notch 35a (dotted lines, Fig. 2) where the Weight is denitely within the sweet spot of the head. By varying the number of Washers 39 and shifting their position in the slots 37, ner shadings of Weight distribution may be obtained, and it will be apparent that the center of the total weight mass may be brought to any desired position.

As shown in Fig. 5, the plate 30 may be mounted on the stud 3| in inverted position with the tooth 55 thereof in an inoperative position to permit free swinging movement of the plate and attached weights. In this instance, the lock washer 3d is omitted and the nut 33 is screwed down to the shoulder Sla of the stud 3|. This arrangement follows the teachings of my prior Patent No. 2,098,445, patented Nov. 9, 1937, where it is shown that at the top of the backstroke the club is in a horizontal position and the weight drops to rest against the stop lug 4|), thus relieving the player of a portion of the cantilever strain of the loaded club head. As the clubl is swung, centrifugal force brings the weighted plate against the toe of the club, Where its full force is available upon impact with the ball.

In Fig. 6 there is shown an adjustable weight structure which will give results comparative to the structure of Fig. 2. The head 55 is similar to the head l5, with the addition of a transverse wall 5| having an angular boss 52 formed in its central portion. Diagonally opposed pads 53 and 54 are formed in the interior of the head chamber, and the former contains a socket 55 while the latter is slotted as indicated by the numeral 56. The boss 52 also contains a slot 57. A threaded stud 58 is positioned in the aligned slots and socket 55, and it is secured by nuts59 disposed on opposite sides of the boss 52. The stud 58 carries a number of washers 6| which are clamped against the pad 53 by a nut 62. It will be apparent that the stud is readily demountable from the chamber when it is desired to remove several of the washers or when a rearrangement of the washer location is indicated. For example, if toe weighting, as shown, is not desired, the washers may be positioned on one or both sides of the angular boss 52, or against the heel pad 54.

As in the first embodiment of the invention, the cover SEI caps the chamber C and conceals and protects the weight structure, and it is removable for easy access.

It will be observed that the cover structure is the same in both embodiments of the invention, and in both cases the cavity of the head is as coextensive with the area of the head as is prac-- tically indicated, thus providing a large chamber in which adjustments may be made. Access to the weights is effected through the top of, the head, and, by placing the cover plate on top, there is no likelihood of its being worn through, as Would occur if the plate were on the bottom of the head. Obviously, it is within the skill of those versed in the art to replace the specific weights shown with others designed to accomplish the same purposes.

I claim:

1. In a golf club., a head comprising an integral metallic shell having bottom and upstanding walls defining an open chamber therein, a pivot member secured to the bottom of said shell, a plate pivotally carried by the pivot member, a plurality of radially spaced teeth in the shell bottom, a tooth in said plate engageable with one of the teeth of said shell, said upstanding walls being formed with a continuous shouldered ledge, a cover for said chamber snugly fitting within said ledge, and interconnecting and interlocking means for securing said cover to said ledge.

2. A golf club head comprising an integral metallic-shell provided with a receiving socket for a shaft; a series of relatively thin walls rigidly reinforced so that they will enclose a compartment of maximum capacity occupying substantially the entire interior volume of the head, said compartment being provided with an opening at the top extending over substantially the entire top area of. the club head, the top rim of said compartment being provided with a continuous shouldered ledge, tapped and conically countersunk reinforcing bosses formed on the interior of said wall areas and terminating in said ledge, a top cover plate adapted to intert said rim and said ledge and to be held in position thereby against lateral displacement, said plate being formed with conically depressed portions, said portions being provided With apertures positioned to align with said tapped formations and to interlock with said countersunk formations, screws removably engaging said plate with said tapped portions, and readily accessible manually adjusted weights supported Within said compartment for varying the balance and weight of the club head.

3. A golf club head comprising relatively thin walls rigidly reinforced so that they will enclose a compartment of maximum capacity occupying substantially the entire interior volume of the head, said compartment being provided with an opening at the top extending over substantially the entire-top area of the club head, the top rim of said compartment being provided with a continuous shouldered ledge, conically countersunk reinforcing bosses formed on the interior of said wall areas and terminating in said ledge, a top cover plate adapted to interft said rim and said ledge and to be held in position thereby against lateral displacement, said plate being formed with conically depressed portions, said portions being provided with apertures positioned to align with and to interlock with said counterv sunk formations, attaching means removably engaging said plate with said head, and readily accessiblev manually adjusted weights supported within said compartment for varying the balance and Weight of the club head.

VWLLIAM L. WETTLAUFER.