Metal working – Means to assemble or disassemble – With work-holder for assembly
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-22
2001-07-17
Watson, Robert C. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Means to assemble or disassemble
With work-holder for assembly
C269S909000, C269S285000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260250
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates generally to golf clubs and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for reducing stresses within a face insert plate section of a golf club head when a lie and/or loft angle of the golf club head is to be adjusted.
It has been observed that, when golf club heads having face insert plates are placed within conventional clamping mechanisms and forces are applied to the hosel regions of those golf club heads, substantial damage may result to the face insert region of the golf club heads. This damage may take the form of cracks that appear within the face insert plates, partial or total separation of the face insert plates from their respective golf club heads and/or loss of epoxy filler or bonding agent from regions between the face insert plates and remaining portions of the face sections of the golf club heads.
Thus, it is submitted that those skilled in the art would find to be quite useful an apparatus and method for relieving stresses within a face region of a golf club head, when a lie and/or loft angle of the golf club head is to be adjusted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for reducing stresses within a face region of a golf club head, when a lie and/or loft angle of the golf club head is to be adjusted. The present invention also is directed to an apparatus and method for protecting a face insert plate of a golf club head, when the lie and/or loft angle of the golf club head is to be adjusted.
In one innovative aspect, the present invention may take the form of a bending plate that may be used to cover a face insert of a golf club head, when the golf club head is placed within a conventional clamping apparatus and forces are applied to the hosel region of the golf club head in an effort to adjust the lie and/or loft angle of the golf club head.
In one preferred form, the bending plate has a first substantially planar surface, or plate section, configured to cover a face region of the golf club head when the golf club head is placed within a clamping apparatus. The bending plate also preferably has an edge engaging section for receiving and abutting an edge of the golf club head when the golf club head is placed within the clamping apparatus. Preferably, the edge engaging section of the bending plate is adapted to detachably engage a top edge portion of the golf club head. The substantially planar surface, or plate section, of the bending plate functions to protect a face insert plate of the golf club head and, moreover, functions to minimize mechanical stresses in a face region of the golf club head when the golf club head is placed in the clamping apparatus and forces are applied to the hosel region of the golf club head. The planar surface, or plate section, of the bending plate also functions to secure the face insert plate within, for example, a face insert receiving cavity of the golf club head and prevents the face insert plate from “popping out” of the face insert receiving cavity when forces are applied to the hosel region of the club head.
In another innovative aspect, the planar surface, or plate section, of the bending plate preferably has a centrally located aperture or “window” formed therein. The centrally located aperture may be used when mounting a club head and associated bending plate within, for example, a conventional clamping apparatus. Moreover, by viewing through the aperture the scorelines provided on the face of a golf club head, it is possible to confirm that the golf club head and associated bending plate are properly positioned within the clamping apparatus.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the bending plate may take many forms and that the above-described embodiment represents but one example of those forms. For example, it will be appreciated that, in alternative embodiments the edge-engaging portion of the bending plate could be replaced with raised “finger” elements capable of engaging the top section of a golf club head. Similarly, the substantially planar surface of the bending plate could be replaced with an arrangement of cross-bars or other means for protecting a face insert plate and minimizing mechanical stresses within a face region of the golf club head, when the golf club head is placed in a clamping apparatus and forces are applied to a hosel region of the golf club head.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a bending plate that may be used to minimize mechanical stresses within a face region and face insert plate of a golf club head, when the golf club head is placed in a clamping apparatus and forces are applied to a hosel region of the golf club head.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide improved methods for adjusting the lie and/or loft of a golf club head having a face insert.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Hall J. Neil
Hettinger Ronald K.
Callaway Golf Company
Catania Michael A.
Watson Robert C.
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