US 8,475,292 B2Granted

Wood-type golf clubs with tubing and weights

AssigneeNIKE, Inc.

InventorsDonald S. Rahrig, Robert Boyd, James S. Thomas

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Abstract

Wood-type golf clubs as described herein may include: (a) a hosel to receive a golf club shaft; (b) a club head; and (c) a ball striking face. The club head include may include: a plurality of weights, a plurality of tubes, and an exterior cover structure (e.g., an exterior skin) that covers at least a portion of the plurality of weights and at least a portion of the plurality of tubes, and wherein the exterior cover structure defines the shape of the club head. Additionally, the ball striking face may be engaged with at least two of the plurality of weights and/or at least two of the tubes. The plurality of weights may include a first weight, a second weight, a third weight, and a fourth weight that are all engaged with the striking face.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A golf club head comprising:

a hosel adapted to receive a golf club shaft;
a club head including:
a plurality of weights,
a plurality of tubes that connect the plurality of weights, and
an exterior skin that covers at least a portion of the plurality of weights and at least a portion of the plurality of tubes wherein the exterior skin defines the shape of the club head that includes a heel, a toe, a crown, a sole, a front, and a rear,
wherein the plurality of weights includes:
a first weight located at the front, the sole, and the toe,
a second weight located at the front, the crown, and the toe,
a third weight located at the front, the sole, and the heel, and
a fourth weight located at the front, the crown, and the heel, and
wherein one of the plurality of tubes connects the first weight and the second weight, one of the plurality of tubes connects the first weight and the third weight, one of the plurality of tubes connects the second weight and the fourth weight, and one of the plurality of tubes connects the third weight and the fourth weight;
and
a ball striking face engaged with at least two of the plurality of weights and at least two of the tubes, wherein the ball striking face extends from the toe to the heel.

10 more elements

A wood-type golf club comprising:

a hosel adapted to receive a golf club shaft;
a club head including:
a plurality of weights,
a plurality of tubes that connect the plurality of weights, and
an exterior skin that covers at least a portion of the plurality of weights and at least a portion of the plurality of tubes wherein the exterior skin defines the shape of the club head that includes a heel, a toe, a crown, a sole, a front, and a rear,
wherein the plurality of weights includes:
a first weight located at the front, the sole, and the toe,
a second weight located at the front, the crown, and the toe,
a third weight located at the front, the sole, and the heel, and
a fourth weight located at the front, the crown, and the heel, and
wherein one of the plurality of tubes connects the first weight and the second weight, one of the plurality of tubes connects the first weight and the third weight, one of the plurality of tubes connects the second weight and the fourth weight, and one of the plurality of tubes connects the third weight and the fourth weight;
and
a ball striking face engaged with at least two of the plurality of weights and at least two of the tubes, wherein the ball striking face extends from the toe to the heel,
wherein the golf club shaft is engaged with the club head at the hosel.

11 more elements

A method of making a wood-type golf club, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a club head, wherein the club head includes:
a plurality of weights, a plurality of tubes that connect the plurality of weights, and an exterior skin that covers at least a portion of the plurality of weights and at least a portion of the plurality of tubes wherein the exterior skin defines the shape of the club head that includes a heel, a toe, a crown, a sole, a front, and a rear, wherein the plurality of weights includes:
a first weight located at the front, the sole, and the toe,
a second weight located at the front, the crown, and the toe,
a third weight located at the front, the sole, and the heel, and
a fourth weight located at the front, the crown, and the heel, and further wherein one of the plurality of tubes connects the first weight and the second weight, one of the plurality of tubes connects the first weight and the third weight, one of the plurality of tubes connects the second weight and the fourth weight, and one of the plurality of tubes connects the third weight and the fourth weight;
(b) providing a ball striking face engaged with at least two of the plurality of weights and at least two of the tubes, wherein the ball striking face extends from the toe to the heel;
(c) engaging a golf club shaft with the club head, wherein the golf club shaft is adapted to be received in a hosel of the club head;
and
(d) engaging a grip member with the shaft.

7 more elements

A wood-type golf club comprising:

a hosel adapted to receive a golf club shaft;
a club head including:
a plurality of weights,
a plurality of tubes that connect the plurality of weights, and
an exterior skin that covers at least a portion of the plurality of weights and at least a portion of the plurality of tubes wherein the exterior skin defines the shape of the club head that includes a heel, a toe, a crown, a sole, a front, and a rear,
wherein the plurality of weights includes:
a first weight located at the front, the sole, and the toe,
a second weight located at the front, the crown, and the toe,
a third weight located at the front, the sole, and the heel, and
a fourth weight located at the front, the crown, and the heel,
a fifth weight located at the sole, the toe, and midway between the front and the rear;
a sixth weight located at the crown, the toe, and midway between the front and the rear;
a seventh and an eighth weights located at the sole, midway between the toe and the heel, and midway between the front and the rear,
a ninth and tenth weights located at the crown, midway between the toe and the heel, and midway between the front and the rear,
an eleventh weight located at the sole, the heel, and midway between the front and the rear,
a twelfth weight located at the crown, the heel, and midway between the front and the rear, and
a thirteenth weight located at the rear, midway between the sole and the crown, and midway between the toe and the heel;
and
a ball striking face engaged with at least two of the plurality of weights and at least two of the tubes, wherein the ball striking face extends from the toe to the heel,
wherein the golf club shaft is engaged with the club head at the hosel, and further wherein the first weight, the second weight, the third weight, and the fourth weight engage the striking face.

17 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.