U.S. patent application number 10/084286 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-27 for extensible golf club.
Invention is credited to Benson, Shawn B..
Application Number | 20020082103 10/084286 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25532859 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020082103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Benson, Shawn B. |
June 27, 2002 |
Extensible golf club
Abstract
A golf club which includes interconnected segments which can be
added to extend the length thus providing an inexpensive
alternative to buying new golf clubs. The segments are securely
connected to achieve a rigid and sturdy golf club which can grow
longer as a child grows taller. The segments preferably have a
threaded male/female connection with epoxy applied to the threads
followed by the added security of a roll pin inserted into the
connection.
Inventors: |
Benson, Shawn B.; (Lenexa,
KS) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOVEY WILLIAMS TIMMONS & COLLINS
2405 GRAND BLVD., SUITE 400
KANSAS CITY
MO
64108
|
Family ID: |
25532859 |
Appl. No.: |
10/084286 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10084286 |
Feb 25, 2002 |
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09351749 |
Jul 8, 1999 |
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09351749 |
Jul 8, 1999 |
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08986895 |
Dec 8, 1997 |
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5997412 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/239 ;
473/296; 473/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2210/50 20130101;
A63B 53/00 20130101; A63B 2208/12 20130101; A63B 53/005
20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/239 ;
473/296; 473/316 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/12; A63B
053/16 |
Claims
1. An extensible golf club comprising: a club head; a handle; and a
shaft coupled to the club head and the handle, said shaft including
a plurality of spacer segments operable to selectively adjust the
length of the shaft, said shaft being configured to prevent
telescopic adjustment of the length thereof.
2. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 1, said shaft
including a normally lower portion coupled to the club head and a
normally upper portion coupled to the handle, said spacer segments
being adapted to be coupled between the lower portion and the upper
portion.
3. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 2, said shaft being
non-retractable.
4. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 1, each of said
spacer segments including a first end and a second end, said first
end of one of said spacer segments being configured to at least
partly abut a second end of an adjacent one of said spacer
segments.
5. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 1, said spacer
segments being interchangeable.
6. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 1; and a locking
mechanism for fixing the spacer segments relative to one
another.
7. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 6, said locking
mechanism selected from the group consisting of thread, epoxy, a
pin, and combinations of two or more thereof.
8. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 1, said spacer
segments being selectively interconnectable so that multiple spacer
segments can be simultaneously used to adjust the length of the
shaft.
9. An extensible golf club comprising: a club head; a normally
lower shaft attached to the club head; a handle; a normally upper
shaft attached to the handle; and a plurality of selectively
interconnectable spacer segments for coupling the normally lower
shaft to the normally upper shaft, with the distance between the
club head and handle being adjustable by varying the number of
spacer segments coupled between the shafts.
10. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 9, said spacer
segments being non-telescopically coupled to the normally lower
shaft.
11. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 9; and a locking
mechanism for fixing the spacer segments relative to one
another.
12. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 11, said locking
mechanism selected from the group consisting of thread, epoxy, a
pin, and combinations of two or more thereof.
13. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 9, each of said
spacer segments including a first end and a second end, said first
end of one of said spacer segments being configured to at least
partly abut a second end of an adjacent one of said spacer
segments.
14. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 9, said spacer
segments being interchangeable.
15. An extensible golf club comprising: a club head; a handle
spaced from the club head; a shaft coupled to the handle and the
club head; and a plurality of spacers, each being selectively,
threadably interconnectable with the shaft to adjust the distance
between the club head and handle.
16. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 15, said shaft
including a normally lower section and a normally upper section,
each of said spacers being couplable to either the upper section or
the lower section.
17. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 16, said shaft
being non-retractable.
18. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 16, said shaft
being non-telescoping.
19. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 15, each of said
spacers including a first end and a second end, said first end of
one of said spacers being adapted to at least partly abut a second
end of an adjacent one of said spacers.
20. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 19, said spacers
being interconnectable by a male/female connection.
21. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 20, said spacers
being substantially identical to one another.
22. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 15, said spacers
being selectively interconnectable so that multiple spacers can be
simultaneously used to adjust the distance between the club head
and handle.
23. A method of lengthening the shaft of a golf club, said method
comprising the steps of: (a) disconnecting a normally upper shaft
section from a normally lower shaft section, wherein the upper
shaft section is fixed to a handle and the lower shaft section is
fixed to a club head; and (b) connecting at least one spacer
between the shaft sections.
24. A method as claimed in claim 23, step (a) including the step of
unscrewing the shaft sections relative to one another.
25. A method as claimed in claim 24, step (a) including the step of
unscrewing a spacer relative to at least one of the shaft
sections.
26. A method as claimed in claim 23, step (b) including the step of
threadably attaching the at least one spacer to at least one of the
shaft sections.
27. An extensible golf club comprising: upper and lower shaft
sections cooperatively presenting a common shaft axis along which
each of the sections extends; a handle fixed relative to the upper
shaft section; a club head fixed relative to the lower shaft
section, said club head presenting a center of gravity that is
radially offset relative to the lower shaft section, said club head
further presenting a generally flat ball-striking surface extending
between opposite outermost edges of the club head, with one of the
edges being spaced further from the shaft axis than the other; and
at least one spacer removably and threadably connectable between
the shaft sections to adjust the distance between the handle and
the club head, with the shaft sections and the at least one spacer
being configured so that the distance between the handle and club
head is greater when the at least one spacer is connected between
the shaft sections than when the at least one spacer is removed
from shaft sections.
28. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 27, said club head
being asymmetrical relative to the shaft axis, said ball-striking
surface projecting generally radially from the shaft axis.
29. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 27, said
ball-striking surface presenting a plurality grooves.
30. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 29, said grooves
being at least substantially parallel relative to one another and
spaced inwardly relative to the.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation application of U.S. Application for
Letters Patent Ser. No. 09/351,749, filed Jul. 8, 1999, which is a
continuation of U.S. Application for Letters Patent Ser. No.
08/986,895, filed Dec. 8, 1997, now U.S Pat. No. 5,997,412, issued
Dec. 7, 1999; both of which are hereby incorporated by reference
herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a golf club which is extensible in
length. This invention allows a child to start playing golf with a
short golf club and to simply add new segments to lengthen the club
as the child grows rather than buying new, longer clubs.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Golf is enjoyed as both a competitive sport and as an
exercise activity. The age group of people taking up golf has
become younger. This is particularly true due to the recent
successes of young professional golfers which has made the game
popular among children and parents. Manufacturers have responded to
this demand by producing golf clubs in a variety of lengths which
will accommodate people of all sizes. However, buying a club of a
shorter length does not allow a child to use the club for very
long. As the young golfer grows, he or she must continually replace
the club as it becomes too short. There is accordingly a need for a
golf club having an extensible length which can be increased as the
child's height increases. This golf club must also be sturdy and
rigid in order to provide maximum benefit to the child's game.
[0006] Some U.S. patents which show variations to shafts of golf
clubs are Nos. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,029,860; 5,609,336; 5,282,619;
5,328,174; 5,024,438; 5,496,029; 1,650,183; 3,102,726; and
3,424,464. None of the above patents disclose a device which uses a
plurality of segments to increase the length of a golf club.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower
section of the upper shaft of the club ends with a collar which has
a threaded male projection that can fit into a threaded female
opening of a spacer segment. The connection is secured by a roll
pin which is permanently inserted in a hole in the barrel of the
spacer segment and through a hole in the threaded male projection,
the end result being the addition of permanent growth or extension
which cannot be disassembled. New spacer segments can continually
be added by placing the threaded female opening of each new spacer
segment over the threaded male projection of the last-attached
spacer segment. A roll pin used as described above secures the
connection. The upper section of the lower shaft of the club ends
with a collar which has a threaded female opening to receive the
threaded male projection of the bottom or last-attached spacer
segment. This connection is secured with a removable roll pin which
can be removed to permit the addition of more spacer segments as
the child grows.
[0008] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the
threaded male projections are about 3/4 of an inch long and the
male/female connections are further secured by the application of
an epoxy to the threads prior to connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the golf club embodying the
present invention with one spacer segment in place;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded fragmentary view with parts broken
away of the upper and lower shaft portions of the invention
connected by two spacer segments;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view depicting one spacer
segment connecting the upper and lower shafts of the golf club;
and.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in partial vertical section
illustrating how the upper shaft, eight spacer segments, and the
lower shaft are connected when the club is in its maximum extended
form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a golf club 10.
Broadly speaking, the golf club 10 includes a lower shaft 12, a
midsection 14, and an upper shaft 16.
[0014] Upper shaft 16 of golf club 10 has a lower end 18 fitted
with a first collar 20. First collar 20 terminates in a threaded
male projection 22 (shown in FIG. 2) which has a pin hole 23. FIG.
1 illustrates an upper end 24 of upper shaft 16 covered with a
handle 26.
[0015] Lower shaft 12 has an upper end 28 which terminates in a
second collar 30. Second collar 30 has a pin hole 31 and a threaded
female opening 32 (shown in FIG. 2). FIG. 1 illustrates the club
head 34 which is attached to a lower end 36 of the lower shaft
12.
[0016] Midsection 14 is composed of spacer segment 38(a) in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 2, midsection 14 contains spacer segment 38(a) and spacer
segment 38(b). Referring to FIG. 4, the midsection 14 has spacer
segments 38(a) through 38(h). Turning to FIG. 2, spacer segment
38(a) has a threaded female opening 40 and a threaded male
projection (not shown). Spacer Segment 38(b) has a threaded female
opening (not shown) and a threaded male projection 42. Each spacer
segment added to the golf club 10 has a similar structure and
further includes a pin hole 44 on its threaded male projection, a
pin hole 46 on its barrel 48, and a wrench flat 49.
[0017] Referring to FIG. 2, spacer segment 38(a) has a threaded
female opening 40 which threadably receives threaded male
projection 22. A roll pin 50 is inserted through pin hole 46 of
spacer segment 38(a) and pin hole 23 of the threaded male
projection 22, thus reinforcing the connection.
[0018] Still referring to FIG. 2, second collar 30 has a threaded
female opening 32 for threadably receiving the threaded male
projection 42 of second spacer segment 38(b). Threaded male
projection 42 has a pin hole 44 through its entire diameter, and
second collar 30 has a pinhole 31 which is reflected across the
threaded female opening 32 (shown in breakaway) thus permitting a
removable roll pin 52 to be inserted when threaded male projection
42 is threadably received by threaded female opening 32. This
secures second spacer segment 38(b) to second collar 30 of lower
shaft 12.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, each threaded male projection is
about 3/4 of an inch in length, and the barrel 48 has a length (l)
of about 1 inch. The spacer segments can be of varying sizes and
lengths, but preferably they are substantially similar to one
another.
[0020] FIG. 2 also illustrates how the spacer segments look when
connected to one another. Spacer segment 38(b) has a threaded
female opening (not shown) which receives the threaded male
projection (not shown) of spacer segment 38(a). A roll pin 54 is
inserted through spacer segment 38(b) and the male projection (not
shown) of spacer segment 38(a) resulting in a secure connection
between the two spacer segments. This connection can be repeated
numerous times between many spacer segments. Flat 49 is provides a
gripping surface for tightening the connections.
[0021] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the golf club
length can be potentially increased by up to eight spacer segments
as shown in FIG. 4 where spacer segments 38(a)-38(h) are
interconnected by the same male/female and roll pin connection
described above. Spacer segment 38(a) is secured to a first collar
20 by a roll pin 50. Eighth spacer segment 38(h) is secured to a
second collar 30 by a removable pin 52.
[0022] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the connections when the
golf club is lengthened by only one spacer segment. An upper shaft
16 is covered by a handle 14. A lower end 18 of upper shaft 16 ends
in a first collar 20. An upper end 28 of lower shaft 12 is fitted
with a second collar 30. A spacer segment 38(a) has a threaded
female opening 40 which threadably receives a threaded male
projection 22 of first collar 20. This connection is secured by a
roll pin 50. Second collar 30 has a threaded female opening 32
which threadably receives a threaded male projection 56 of spacer
segment 38(a). This connection is secured by a removable roll pin
52. Each time a user wishes to lengthen the golf club, he or she
can withdraw removable roll pin 52 and add another spacer segment
by putting the new spacer segment's threaded female opening over
the threaded male projection of the most recently attached spacer
segments. The user then connects the new spacer segment's threaded
male projection to second collar 30 by way of the above described
male/female connection followed by reinsertion of removable roll
pin 52.
[0023] It will be appreciated that this unusual feature of adding
segments permits a child to use the same golf club for quite some
time. Furthermore, club head 34 (FIG. 1) could be any golf head
that the user desires, not just the one shown. Placing an amount of
epoxy on the male/female connection and inserting a roll pin
through that connection provides the same strong, rigid shaft of a
one piece golf club. These features save money for the families of
children who play golf and give children from a wide range of
economic backgrounds the ability to afford quality equipment.
* * * * *