Golf club head with adjustable center of mass

Abstract

The golf club head with an adjustable center of mass provides for player adjustment of club action according to the position of an adjustable weight or mass within the club head. A hollow, “metal wood” type club head includes an open receptacle in the sole wall, with an L-shaped arm and mass installing in the receptacle. The arm includes a club head attachment end that attaches within the receptacle, and a weighted end, which extends into the interior of the club head. The L-shaped arm may be turned about its mounting axis to orient the weight or mass to the front, rear, left, or right within the club head, or to some intermediate position therebetween. The adjustably positionable mass alters the collective center of gravity of the assembly to affect the draw, fade, and loft tendencies of the club, as well as affecting the vibratory characteristics of the club.

1 . A golf club head with an adjustable center of mass, comprising: 
 a golf club head having at least a sole plate, the sole plate having an open weight installation receptacle formed therethrough, a club face defining the front of said golf club head, a rear portion opposite the club face, a heel portion having a hosel extending therefrom, and a toe portion opposite the heel portion, the head having a hollow interior; and    a unitary, monolithic, generally L-shaped arm having a club head attachment leg terminating in a club head attachment end and having a weighted leg generally normal to the club head attachment leg terminating in a weighted end opposite the club head attachment end, the L-shaped arm being removably and adjustably secured within the weight installation receptacle and hollow interior of said club head.    
   
   
       2 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , further including: 
 an index disposed externally upon the sole plate of said golf club head and surrounding the weight installation receptacle; and    an indicator disposed upon the club head attachment end of said L-shaped arm, corresponding with said index when said L-shaped arm is installed within the weight installation receptacle.    
   
   
       3 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , further including at least one detent disposed within the weight installation receptacle, the club head attachment end of said L-shaped arm having a configuration selectively engaging the at least one detent of the weight installation receptacle and orienting the weighted end of said L-shaped arm within said club head.  
   
   
       4 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , further including a removable and adjustably positionable mass disposed upon the weighted end of said L-shaped arm.  
   
   
       5 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , further including a receptacle cap removably disposed over the weight installation receptacle for securing said L-shaped arm therein when installed.  
   
   
       6 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein at least said L-shaped arm is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal core having a vibration damping coating, and a vibration damping material.  
   
   
       7 . A golf club head with an adjustable center of mass, comprising: 
 a golf club head having at least a sole plate, the sole plate having an open weight installation receptacle formed therethrough, a club face defining the front of said golf club head, a rear portion opposite the club face, a heel portion having a hosel extending therefrom, and a toe portion opposite the heel portion, the head having a hollow interior;    a rotary mass adjustably disposed within the hollow interior of said golf club head, said rotary mass having at least a club head attachment end secured to the weight installation receptacle;    an index disposed externally upon the sole plate of said golf club head and surrounding the weight installation receptacle; and    an indicator disposed upon the club head attachment end of said rotary mass and corresponding with said index when said rotary mass is installed within the weight installation receptacle.    
   
   
       8 . The golf club head according to  claim 7 , wherein said rotary mass comprises a unitary, monolithic, generally L-shaped arm having a club head attachment leg terminating in a club head attachment end, and having a weighted leg normal to the club head attachment leg terminating in a weighted end opposite the club head attachment end.  
   
   
       9 . The golf club head according to  claim 7 , further including at least one detent disposed within the weight installation receptacle, the club head attachment end of said rotary mass having a configuration selectively engaging the at least one detent of the weight installation receptacle and orienting the weighted end of said rotary mass within said club head.  
   
   
       10 . The golf club head according to  claim 7 , further including a removable and adjustably positionable mass disposed upon the weighted end of said rotary mass.  
   
   
       11 . The golf club head according to  claim 7 , further including a receptacle cap removably disposed over the weight installation receptacle for securing said rotary mass therein when installed.  
   
   
       12 . The golf club head according to  claim 7 , wherein at least said rotary mass is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal core having a vibration damping coating, and a vibration damping material.  
   
   
       13 . A golf club head with an adjustable center of mass, comprising: 
 a golf club head having at least a sole plate, the sole plate having an open weight installation receptacle formed therethrough, a club face defining the front of said golf club head, a rear portion opposite the club face, a heel portion having a hosel extending therefrom, and a toe portion opposite the heel portion, the head having a hollow interior;    a rotary mass adjustably disposed within the hollow interior of said golf club head, said rotary mass having at least a club head attachment end secured to the weight installation receptacle; and    at least one detent disposed within the weight installation receptacle, the club head attachment end of said rotary mass having a configuration selectively engaging the at least one detent of the weight installation receptacle and orienting the weighted end of said rotary mass within said club head in a user-selectable orientation.    
   
   
       14 . The golf club head according to  claim 13 , wherein said rotary mass comprises a unitary, monolithic, generally L-shaped arm having a club head attachment leg terminating in a club head attachment end and having a weighted leg normal to the club head attachment leg terminating in a weighted end opposite the club head attachment end.  
   
   
       15 . The golf club head according to  claim 13 , further including: 
 an index disposed externally upon the sole plate of said golf club head and surrounding the weight installation receptacle; and    an indicator disposed upon the club head attachment end corresponding with said index when said rotary mass is installed within the weight installation receptacle.    
   
   
       16 . The golf club head according to  claim 13 , further including a removable and adjustably positionable mass disposed upon the weighted end of said rotary mass.  
   
   
       17 . The golf club head according to  claim 13 , further including a receptacle cap removably disposed over the weight installation receptacle for securing said rotary mass therein when installed.  
   
   
       18 . The golf club head with an adjustable center of mass according to  claim 13 , wherein at least said rotary mass is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal core having a vibration damping coating, and a vibration damping material.