Golf club head with removable rails

Abstract

A golf club head includes a club head body having a striking face, a sole, a crown, a toe and a heel. The club head also includes an adjustable soleplate system having at least one rail member adapted for selective attachment to the sole of the club head body.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/622,613, entitled “GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH REMOVABLE RAILS”, filed Oct. 28, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a golf club head employing a soleplate system for a golf club head. More particularly, the invention relates to a golf club head employing one or more removable rail members that are selectively secured within slots along the sole of the golf club head, wherein the rail members are manufactured with different heights, weights and profiles.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Over the past twenty years, metal wood type golf club heads have replaced solid wood club heads. The metal wood type golf club heads offer the opportunity to enhance the striking characteristics of the club head by shifting the weight distribution within the club head, altering the materials from which the metal wood type golf club head is manufactured and increasing the overall size and “sweet spot” of the club head without substantially increasing the weight of the club head.

Current oversized driver heads commonly exceed 300 cc in volume and are conventionally manufactured from lightweight alloys, for example, titanium alloys. In an effort to enhance the striking characteristics of these relatively large club heads, weights are often added at various internal and external locations along the club head to improve, based upon personal preferences of a golfer, the launch angle and flight trajectory of a golf ball. The weight members are commonly manufactured from high-density material that adds to the weighting characteristics of the club head.

However, mass produced golf clubs are manufactured with weight distributions chosen to assist a large range of golfers. The weight distribution of a mass produced golf club head may be too heavy or too light for a specific golfer. In addition, the weight distribution may be positioned too far toward the striking face, too far toward the rear of the club head, too far toward the heel of the club head or too far toward the toe of the club head to suit individual golfers.

In addition to the positioning of weights within metal wood type golf club heads, various sole configurations are used in enhancing the striking characteristics of a club head for individual golfers. As with the use of specific weight distributions with golf club heads, different sole constructions are oftentimes best suited for only a specific group of golfers.

With the foregoing in mind, a need exists for a golf club head that allows a golfer to fine tune the weight distribution and sole characteristics of a golf club head for his or her swing. The present invention provides a club head offering a selectively adjustable removable soleplate system that provides for reliable and secure attachment of a plurality of sole rail members such that a golfer may readily customize his or her golf club head to enhance performance by specifically tuning the golf club head for producing desired swing characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head including a club head body having a striking face, a sole, a crown, a toe and a heel. The club head also includes an adjustable soleplate system including at least one rail member adapted for selective attachment to the sole of the club head body.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the soleplate system includes a recess formed in the sole of the club head body and the rail member is shaped and dimensioned for selective attachment within the recess.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the recess is a slot formed along the sole of club head body which is shaped and dimensioned for receiving the rail member.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the club head body is formed of a titanium alloy.

It is also another object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the rail member includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending substantially from a rear of the club head body toward the striking face of the club head body.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a golf club head further including a plurality of rail members.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the rail member includes a facing first surface and a connecting second surface, the facing first surface being shaped and dimensioned to ride along a striking surface and the connecting second surface being shaped and dimensioned for attachment to the sole of the club head body.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the soleplate system includes a facing slot formed along the sole of club head body which is shaped and dimensioned for receiving the connecting second surface of the rail member.

It is also another object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the facing first surface includes a rectangular profile.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the facing first surface includes a trapezoidal profile.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the facing first surface includes a circular profile.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the facing first surface includes a uniform profile as it extends from the first end of the rail member toward the second end of the rail member.

It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the facing first surface includes a non-uniform profile as it extends from the first end of the rail member toward the second end of the rail member.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the rail member includes uniform weight distribution as it extends from the first end of the rail member toward the second end of the rail member.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head wherein the rail member includes a non-uniform weight distribution as it extends from the first end of the rail member toward the second end of the rail member.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club head in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a golf club head shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the golf club head shown in FIG. 1 along the line III-III.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the gold club head shown in FIG. 3 along the line IV-IV.

FIG. 5 shows various cross sectional shapes that may be used for the rail members in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show various alternate embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. Since various similar embodiments are disclosed herein, the same reference numerals are used for different embodiments where the structure being referenced is similar.

With reference to the various figures, a golf club head 10 is shown. The golf club head 10 includes a club head body 12 and an adjustable soleplate system 14 adapted for the selective attachment of rail members 16 along the sole 18 of the club head body 12.

The club head body 12 is preferably formed of metal, for example, a titanium alloy, although those skilled in the art will appreciate that a variety of materials may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The club head body 12 includes a striking face 20, a sole 18, a crown 22, a toe 24, a heel 26 and a hosel 28 to which a shaft 30 is secured.

The adjustable soleplate system 14 includes a plurality of selectively removable rail members 16 shaped and dimensioned for attachment within recesses 32 formed in the sole 18 of the club head body 12. Although rail members of various shapes and sizes may be used in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention as discussed below in greater detail, each the rail members 16 is generally composed of an elongated body 34 having a first end 44 and a second end 46. The elongated body 34 also includes a longitudinal axis 48 extending substantially from the rear 42 of the club head body 12 toward the striking face 20 of the club head body 12.

The rail members 16 are releasably secured within the recesses 32 via coupling structures, such as, screws 33. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of rail members 16 of various weights and sizes are provided with the club head 10. This allows the user to selectively choose the rail members 16 for use in optimizing the weight distribution and swing characteristics of the club head 10. Although a preferred club head 10 is disclosed herein with an adjustable soleplate system 14 in which two recesses 32 are respectively provided adjacent the heel 26 and toe 24 of the golf club head 10 for attachment of two rail members 16, other system variations may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein in conjunction with metal wood type club heads. However, it is contemplated the soleplate system of the present invention may be employed in conjunction with other golf club heads without departing from the spirit of the present invention. That is, the concepts underlying the present soleplate system may be employed in conjunction with irons, hybrid clubs and putters without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

More particularly, and with regard to a preferred embodiment of the present adjustable soleplate system 14, each rail member 16 is composed of an elongated body 34 having a facing first surface 36 and a connecting second surface 38. The facing first surface 36 is shaped and dimensioned to ride along the grass, sand or other striking surface of the golf course or driving range as the club head 10 strikes the ball. As will be discussed below, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the facing first surface 36 may take a variety of shapes (see FIG. 5) so as to provide golfers with choices regarding the swing characteristics offered by the golf club head 10. The various profiles contemplated for use in conjunction with the facing first surface 36 of the rail member 16 may be used in such a way that the rail member 16 has a consistent profile from its first end 44 to its second end 46 (see FIGS. 1 through 4) or, and in accordance with an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the profile of the rail member 116 along the facing first surface 136 may be varied along the length of the rail member 116 between the first end 144 and the second end 146 thereof so as to vary the surface characteristics as the club head 110 moves from the striking face 120 to the rear 142 thereof.

The connecting second surface 38 is shaped and dimensioned for engagement within connecting recesses 32 formed along the sole 18 of the club head 10. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting second surface 38 of the rail members 16 is shaped and dimensioned to fit within slots 32 formed along the sole 18 of golf club head 10. The second connecting surface 38 is selectively coupled to respective slots 32 utilizing screws 33 or other coupling structures known to those skilled in the art.

The body 34 of the rail member 16 is composed of a high density material and, as will be discussed below in greater detail, is designed to enhance both the weight characteristics of the golf club head 10 and the movement characteristics of the club head 10 as the sole 18 of the golf club head 10 passes along the ground.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the rail members 16 may have various cross sections designed to enhance movement of the rail members 16 along the grass, sand or other striking surface of the golf course or driving range as the club head 10 strikes the ball. For example, and with reference to FIG. 5, the facing first surface 36 of the rail members 16 may be rectangular, trapezoidal or even circular. A trapezoid shape, for example, like a wedge, would make the face sit up or hug the ground, changing the launch angle, face angle and allowing for more weight to be positioned at the fat end of the rail member. In addition, the rail members may be formed with sharp edges like on a rectangle or smooth edges like on a rod. With this in mind, and as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the rails may be formed with a variety of shapes and cross sectional profiles designed to provide different movement characteristics as the rails dig into the grass, sand or other surface upon impact.

By providing a soleplate system 14 in which rail members 16 of various weights and shapes may be employed, the movement characteristics of the golf club head 10 as it passes along the grass, sand or other striking surface of the golf course or driving range as the club head 10 strikes the ball during impact may be readily changed to suit specific golfers. In addition, the weight distribution of the golf club head 10 can be altered by utilizing rail members 16 of different weights and shapes. For example, different height rail members 16 will make the striking face 20 of the club head 10 either sit up or hug the ground and rail members 16 of different weights will shift the center of gravity accordingly. The different heights of the rail members 16 could also change the face angle of the club head 10.

While the embodiment disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4 utilizes rail members 16 wherein the weight distribution is evenly distributed along the length of the rail member 16, an embodiment employing rail members 216 having non-uniform weight distribution along the length thereof is also contemplated, that is, the first end 244 may be heavier or lighter than the second end 246 (see FIG. 7). It is contemplated the weight variation may be achieved by utilizing different materials at the first and second ends or by structuring the first and second ends in such a way that the weight at the first end is different from the weight and the second end. By providing a non-uniform weight distribution, the rail member 216 will allow a golfer to move the center of gravity around the club head 210 by simply choosing rail members 216 with desired weight characteristics. For example, if more weight is added to the second end 246 of the rail member 216 closest to the back of the sole 218 and the rear 242 of the golf club head 210, the center of gravity will be shifted toward the rear 242 of the golf club head 210 translating into different hitting characteristics. Similar scenarios would be achieved by moving weight toward the toe 224 or heel 226 or striking face 220.

The implementation of a rail member 216 with a non-uniform weight distribution is further enhanced by providing a coupling structure as described above with reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, which allows for reversal of the rail members 216. That is, the coupling structure permits the first end 244 to be positioned either adjacent the striking face 220 or the rear 242 of the club head body 212 depending upon the specific needs of the golfer (see and compare identical rail members 216 positioned adjacent the toe 224 and heel 226 of the club head body 212 where the first end 244 is adjacent the striking face 220 on the heel side and the second end 246 is adjacent the striking face 220 on the toe side). The symmetrical nature of the coupling structure further allows for shifting of the weight members between the toe and heel based upon the fact the coupling structure employed for all rail members is both identical and symmetrical.

Although rail members with uniform weight distribution and uniform facing first surface profiles are disclosed with reference to the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 4, rail members with a non-uniform facing surface profile are disclosed with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 6, and rail members with non-uniform weight distribution are disclosed with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 7, it is contemplated these variations may be used in various combinations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, and as shown in FIG. 8, a rail member 316a of uniform shape and weight is used in conjunction with a rail member 316b having a non-uniform shape and weight.

While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a club head body including a striking face, a sole, a crown, a toe and a heel; and

an adjustable soleplate system including at least one rail member adapted for selective attachment to the sole of the club head body.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the soleplate system includes a recess formed in the sole of the club head body and the at least one rail member is shaped and dimensioned for selective attachment within the recess.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the recess is a slot formed along the sole of club head body which is shaped and dimensioned for receiving the at least one rail member.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the club head body is formed of a titanium alloy.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one rail member includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis extending substantially from a rear of the club head body toward the striking face of the club head body.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, further including a plurality of rail members.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the at least one rail member includes a facing first surface and a connecting second surface, the facing first surface being shaped and dimensioned to ride along a striking surface and the connecting second surface being shaped and dimensioned for attachment to the sole of the club head body.

8. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the soleplate system includes a facing slot formed along the sole of the club head body which is shaped and dimensioned for receiving the connecting second surface of the at least one rail member.

9. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the facing first surface includes a rectangular profile.

10. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the facing first surface includes a trapezoidal profile.

11. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the facing first surface includes a circular profile.

12. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the facing first surface includes a uniform profile as it extends from a first end of the at least one rail member toward a second end of the rail member.

13. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the facing first surface includes a non-uniform profile as it extends from a first end of the at least one rail member toward a second end of the at least one rail member.

14. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the at least one rail member includes uniform weight distribution as it extends from a first end of the at least one rail member toward a second end of the at least one rail member.

15. The golf club head according to claim 7, wherein the at least one rail member includes a non-uniform weight distribution as it extends from a first end of the at least one rail member toward a second end of the at least one rail member.