Golf club with insert.

Abstract

A golf club with an insert located in an ideal position to strike a golf ball. The head of the golf club and the insert have a built-in locking mechanism such that the insert is removable; the golfer can replace it with an insert of a different material, thereby changing the “feel” of the golf club through changes in the hardness/softness and density of the material from which the insert is made. The insert is screw-shaped with a flat head that is flush with the striking surface of the golf club when it is fully inserted. There is, optionally, an o-ring that slips over the threaded portion of the insert such that when the insert is screwed into the receptacle, the head is “padded” against the receptacle, thereby cushioning the impact and reducing the chances that the insert will rattle out of the receptacle due to frequent ball striking.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A golf club with an insert, comprising: a golf club with a golf club head, where the golf club head has a front face and a back face, a hole, where the hole extends from the front face through the back face, a receptacle, and an insert, where the insert comprises a head, one or more threads, a back, and a front, where the back additionally comprises one or more indentations, where the insert can be placed in the hole, where the receptacle additionally comprises a countersunk portion and a threaded portion comprising one or more threads, where the threaded portion of the receptacle mates with the one or more threads of the insert, and where the countersunk portion is approximately the same general shape and depth as the head of the insert, such that when the insert in fully screwed into the receptacle, the head of the insert is flush with the front face, additionally comprising an o-ring, where the o-ring has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, where the insert additionally comprises a thread diameter, which is the diameter of the insert at the one or more threads, and a head diameter, which is the diameter measured across the head of the insert, and where the inner diameter of the o-ring is slightly larger than the thread diameter, such that the o-ring can slip over the one or more threads, and where the outer diameter of the o-ring is smaller than the head diameter, such that when the insert is inserted into the receptacle, the head can be screwed into the receptacle such that the head is flush with the front face of the golf club. 
     
     
         2 . A golf club with an insert, comprising: a golf club with a golf club head, where the golf club head has a front face and a back face, a hole, where the hole extends from the front face through the back face, a receptacle, and an insert, where the insert comprises a head, one or more threads, a back, and a front, where the back additionally comprises one or more indentations, where the insert can be placed in the hole. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club of  claim 2 , where the receptacle additionally comprises a countersunk portion and a threaded portion comprising one or more threads, where the threaded portion of the receptacle mates with the one or more threads of the insert, and where the countersunk portion is approximately the same general shape and depth as the head of the insert, such that when the insert in fully screwed into the receptacle, the head of the insert is flush with the front face. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club of  claim 3 , where the receptacle is molded into head of the golf club during a molding process. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club of  claim 3 , where the receptacle is machined into head of the golf club after the molding process. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club of  claim 3 , where the receptacle is a separate device that is manufactured separately from the molding process by which the head of the golf club was created, and where the receptacle is inserted into the hole and adhered to the hole by a suitable means. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club of  claim 3 , where the insert is made of metal. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club of  claim 3 , where the insert is made of plastic 
     
     
         9 . The golf club of  claim 3 , where the insert comprises at least one of synthetics, composites, wood, fiberglass, resin, metal, and plastic. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club of  claim 3 , additionally comprising an o-ring, where the o-ring has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, where the insert additionally comprises a thread diameter, which is the diameter of the insert at the one or more threads, and a head diameter, which is the diameter measured across the head of the insert, and where the inner diameter of the o-ring is slightly larger than the thread diameter, such that the o-ring can slip over the one or more threads, and where the outer diameter of the o-ring is smaller than the head diameter, such that when the insert is inserted into the receptacle, the head can be screwed into the receptacle such that the head is flush with the front face of the golf club. 
     
     
         11 . A kit for golfers to exchange inserts into the head of a golf club, comprising: a golf club with an insert, comprising: a golf club with a golf club head, where the golf club head has a front face and a back face, a hole, where the hole extends from the front face through the back face, a receptacle, and an insert, where the insert comprises a head, one or more threads, a back, and a front, where the back additionally comprises one or more indentations, and an insert exchange tool, where the tool comprises a grip, an extension, a plug and one or more projections, where the grip is a horizontally oriented member capable of being grasped by the hand of a golfer, where the extension is a vertically-oriented member, where the extension has a grip end and a projection end, where the extension is connected at its grip end to the grip, and at its projection end to the plug, where the plug is a cylindrical body with one or more projections, where the one or more projections are aligned in number and spacing such that they mate with the one or more indentations in the back of the insert, such that a golfer can use the tool to turn the insert and effectively insert it or remove it from the receptacle. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11  where the receptacle additionally comprises a countersunk portion and a threaded portion, there the threaded portion mates with the plurality of threads of the insert, and where the countersunk portion is approximately the same general shape and depth as the head of the insert, such that when the insert in fully screwed into the receptacle, the head of the where the receptacle additionally comprises a countersunk portion and a threaded portion comprising one or more threads, where the threaded portion of the receptacle mates with the one or more threads of the insert, and where the countersunk portion is approximately the same general shape and depth as the head of the insert, such that when the insert in fully screwed into the receptacle, the head of the insert is flush with the front face. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , where the receptacle is molded into head of the golf club during a molding process. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 12 , where the receptacle is machined into head of the golf club after the molding process. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 12 , where the receptacle is a separate device that is manufactured separately from the molding process by which the head of the golf club was created, and where the receptacle is inserted into the hole and adhered to the hole by a suitable means. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 12 , where the insert is made of metal. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 12 , where the insert is made of plastic 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 12 , where the insert where the insert comprises synthetics, composites, wood, fiberglass, resin, or other suitable materials. 
     
     
         19 . The kit of  claim 12 , where the insert comprises at least one of synthetics, composites, wood, fiberglass, resin, metal, and plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The kit of  claim 12 , additionally comprising an o-ring, where the o-ring has an inner diameter and an outer diameter, where the insert additionally comprises a thread diameter, which is the diameter of the insert at the one or more threads, and a head diameter, which is the diameter measured across the head of the insert, and where the inner diameter of the o-ring is slightly larger than the thread diameter, such that the o-ring can slip over the one or more threads, and where the outer diameter of the o-ring is smaller than the head diameter, such that when the insert is inserted into the receptacle, the head can be screwed into the receptacle such that the head is flush with the front face of the golf club.