Golf club head with separable component

Abstract

The present invention relates to a golf club, and more particularly to a wood-type club head with a separable body component. In certain aspects, the invention provides a golf club head with a face and hosel body member and one or more of an interchangeable aft body member. The invention further provides a variety of insights and mechanisms for coupling the interchangeable member to the body member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a first body member;   a second body member interchangeably coupleable to the first body member at an attachment perimeter to create a playable club.   
     
     
         2 . The club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first body member further comprises a boss for receiving a releaseable shaft and the second body member includes a portion that is adapted so that the second body member is fastened in place by fastening the shaft to the first body member. 
     
     
         3 . The club head of  claim 1 , further comprising a releasable functional component that fastens the second body member to the first body member. 
     
     
         4 . The club head of  claim 3 , wherein the releasable component is a weight screw. 
     
     
         5 . The club head of  claim 4 , wherein the weight screw comprises a threaded post dimensioned to pass through a hole in the second body member and be screwed into a threaded hole in the first body member. 
     
     
         6 . The club head of  claim 1 , wherein the second body member comprises a majority of a crown of the club head, a majority of a heel-side skirt of the club head, and a majority of a toe-side skirt of the club head. 
     
     
         7 . The club head of  claim 6 , wherein the first member comprises a face cup, a hosel, and at least a portion of a sole of the club head. 
     
     
         8 . The club head of  claim 7 , wherein the first member comprises a majority of the sole. 
     
     
         9 . The club head of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment perimeter intersects the assembled club head at an intersection through a crown, a sole, a toe-side skirt portion, and a heel-side skirt portion of the club head. 
     
     
         10 . The club head of  claim 9 , wherein the intersection is substantially within a plane that is substantially vertical when the club head is at address. 
     
     
         11 . The club head of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment perimeter comprises a wavy line. 
     
     
         12 . The club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second bodies are coupled by mating a plurality of posts on one of the two bodies with a plurality of corresponding holes on the other of the two bodies. 
     
     
         13 . A golf club head comprising:
 a fore body member comprising a hosel, a portion of a sole, and at least a portion of a ball-striking face; and   an aft body member releasably coupled to the fore body member by a mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The club head of  claim 13 , in which the mechanism comprises a cantilever with a protruding tip on one body member and a recess dimensioned to receive the protruding tip on the other body member. 
     
     
         15 . The club head of  claim 14 , wherein the recess comprises a hole through the body member, and the club head can be disassembled by pressing on the protruding tip to disengage the cantilever mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The club head of  claim 14 , wherein the cantilever mechanism comprises a protruding tab that can be operated from outside of the club head to release the aft body member from the fore body member. 
     
     
         17 . The club head of  claim 16 , wherein the protruding tab is configured to be disengaged through the use of a tool. 
     
     
         18 . The club head of  claim 13 , wherein the mechanism includes a cam. 
     
     
         19 . The club head of  claim 18 , wherein operation of the cam causes one or more engagement hooks to engage with a receiving portion to fasten the aft body member to the fore body member. 
     
     
         20 . The club head of  claim 18 , wherein the cam includes a tool engagement surface. 
     
     
         21 . A kit for a golf club head comprising:
 a fore body member comprising a hosel, at least a portion of a ball-striking face, and an attachment mechanism;   a first aft body member comprising at least a portion of a crown, a sole, a skirt, and the attachment mechanism, and adapted to be releasably coupled to the fore body member; and   a second aft body member also adapted to be releasably coupled to the fore body member, wherein coupling either aft body member to the fore body member provides a playable club head.