U.S. patent application number 10/652600 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for vented golf club shaft.
Invention is credited to Burrows, Bruce D..
Application Number | 20040048683 10/652600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34273407 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040048683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Burrows, Bruce D. |
March 11, 2004 |
Vented golf club shaft
Abstract
A golf club including an elongated hollow club shaft connected
at one end to a golf club head, and having a grip mounted at an
opposite end thereof. The club shaft is vented to permit and
facilitate transmission of shock energy generated upon normal
striking impact with a golf ball from the golf club in the form of
acoustic energy, while substantially reducing or eliminating
transmission of the shock energy in the form of vibration to the
golfer's hands. In a first embodiment, a plurality of vents are
formed in the club shaft at a location near the grip. In a second
embodiment, a plurality of vents are formed in a cap mounted onto
the club shaft at the grip end thereof.
Inventors: |
Burrows, Bruce D.;
(Valencia, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stuart O. Lowry
KELLY BAUERSFELD LOWRY & KELLEY, LLP
Suite 1650
6320 Canoga Avenue
Woodland Hills
CA
91367
US
|
Family ID: |
34273407 |
Appl. No.: |
10/652600 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60409615 |
Sep 9, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/316 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/00 20151001;
A63B 53/00 20130101; A63B 60/54 20151001; A63B 53/10 20130101; A63B
53/12 20130101; A63B 53/007 20130101; A63B 60/16 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/316 |
International
Class: |
A63B 053/10; A63B
053/12 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A golf club, comprising: a club head; a club shaft having a
hollow tubular construction and a lower end connected to said club
head; and a grip mounted on said club shaft generally at an upper
end thereof; said club shaft being vented to permit discharge from
said club shaft of a portion of shock energy generated upon impact
of said club head with a golf ball, thereby reducing the magnitude
of shock energy transmitted to a golfer's hands grasping said
grip.
2. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said club head comprises a
metal wood club head.
3. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said club head comprises an
iron type club head.
4. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said club shaft comprises a
metal shaft.
5. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said club shaft comprises a
composite material.
6. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said grip comprises a resilient
material.
7. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said vented club shaft includes
at least one vent port formed therein at a position disposed
generally in closely spaced relation to said grip.
8. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said vented club shaft includes
a circumferentially spaced array of vent ports formed therein at a
position generally in closely spaced relation to said grip.
9. The golf club of claim 8 further including a reinforcement
sleeve mounted on said club shaft generally in surrounding relation
to said vent ports, said reinforcement sleeve having a
circumferentially spaced array of openings formed therein generally
in respective alignment with said vent ports formed in said club
shaft.
10. The golf club of claim 8 wherein said array of vent ports are
formed in said club shaft on the order of about 1/4 to about 1/2
inch from a lowermost end of said grip.
11. The golf club of claim 10 wherein each of said vent ports has a
width of about 1/8 inch, and a length of about 1/2 inch.
12. The golf club of claim 8 wherein each of said vent ports has a
width of about 1/8 inch, and a length of about 1/2 inch.
13. The golf club of claim 1 further including a vented cap mounted
on an upper end of said vented club shaft, said vented cap having
at least one vent port formed therein.
14. The golf club of claim 13 wherein said grip includes a radially
in-turned lip at an upper end thereof for engaging and retaining
said vented cap on said shaft upper end.
15. The golf club of claim 1 further including a vented cap mounted
on an upper end of said vented club shaft, said vented cap having a
plurality of vent ports formed therein.
16. A golf club, comprising: a club head; a club shaft having a
hollow tubular construction and a lower end connected to said club
head; and a grip mounted on said club shaft generally at an upper
end thereof; said club shaft having a circumferentially spaced
array of vent ports formed therein at a position generally in
closely spaced relation to said grip, said vent ports permitting
discharge from said club shaft of a portion of shock energy
generated upon impact of said club head with a golf ball, thereby
reducing the magnitude of shock energy transmitted to a golfer's
hands grasping said grip.
17. The golf club of claim 16 further including a reinforcement
sleeve mounted on said club shaft generally in surrounding relation
to said vent ports, said reinforcement sleeve having a
circumferentially spaced array of openings formed therein generally
in respective alignment with said vent ports formed in said club
shaft.
18. A golf club, comprising: a club head; a club shaft having a
hollow tubular construction and a lower end connected to said club
head; a grip mounted on said club shaft generally at an upper end
thereof; and a vented cap mounted on an upper end of said vented
club shaft, said vented cap having at least one vent port formed
therein for permitting discharge from said club shaft of a portion
of shock energy generated upon impact of said club head with a golf
ball, thereby reducing the magnitude of shock energy transmitted to
a golfer's hands grasping said grip.
19. The golf club of claim 18 wherein said grip includes a radially
in-turned lip at an upper end thereof for engaging and retaining
said vented cap on said shaft upper end.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/409,615, filed Sep. 9, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to improvements in golf
clubs. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved
golf club having a hollow shaft that is vented for permitting and
facilitating transmission of shock energy generated upon normal
striking impact with a golf ball from the golf club in the form of
acoustic energy, to correspondingly and substantially reduce or
eliminate transmission of the shock energy in the form of vibration
to the golfer's hands.
[0003] Golf clubs are well known in the art, to include a club head
such as a wood-type or iron-type club head mounted at a lower end
of an elongated club shaft. An upper end of the club shaft has a
resilient grip mounted thereon and designed for comfortable manual
grasping and swinging of the golf club to strike a golf ball. In
modern golf clubs, the wood-type or iron-type club head is commonly
formed from a cast or machined metal or metal alloy such as
stainless steel, titanium alloy, and the like. The club shaft is
commonly formed from a selected metal or metal alloy, or
alternately from a nonmetallic composite material such as a
graphite-based composite. The club shaft typically has an elongated
tubular or hollow construction with a stiffness or flexibility
(whip) characteristic that may be variably selected in accordance
with the preferences of an individual golfer. The grip mounted onto
the club shaft at the upper end thereof is normally formed from a
selected resilient elastomer.
[0004] During normal club use, substantial shock energy is
generated when a golfer swings the club to strike a golf ball. This
shock energy primarily takes the form of vibrations transmitted
through the club shaft from the club head to the grip for tactile
detection by the golfer's hands. In this regard, this vibrational
energy is particularly susceptible to such feedback tactile
detection when the point of golf ball impact with the club head is
off-center, i.e., misaligned with an optimal ball striking zone
commonly referred to as the "sweet spot". For many amateur golfers,
off-center ball impacts occur relatively frequently, resulting in a
correspondingly frequent negative tactile feedback indicative of
improper ball-head alignment and typically further indicative of a
poor golf shot. Such negative tactile feedback can be discouraging,
and thereby undermines enjoyment of the game.
[0005] The present invention relates to an improved golf club
having a vented club shaft, so that a substantial portion of the
shock wave or shock energy generated upon ball impact can be
transmitted or discharged from the club in the form of acoustic
energy or sound, thereby significantly reducing or eliminating the
transmission of the shock energy in the form of vibration to the
golfer's hands.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the invention, a golf club is provided
with a vented shaft to permit and facilitate transmission and
discharge of shock energy, generated upon normal striking impact
with a golf ball, from the golf club in the form of acoustic energy
or sound, thereby substantially reducing or eliminating
transmission of shock energy in the form of vibration to the
golfer's hands.
[0007] The improved golf club comprises an elongated hollow club
shaft connected at one end to a golf club head, and having a grip
mounted generally at an opposite end thereof. In one preferred
form, the club shaft includes at least one and preferably a
plurality of vent ports formed therein at a location near the grip.
In an alternative preferred form, at least one and preferably a
plurality of vent ports are formed in an end cap mounted onto the
club shaft at the grip end thereof. In either embodiment, upon
striking impact of the club head with a golf ball, a substantial
portion of the resultant shock energy transmitted from the club
head to the club shaft is discharged through the vent ports to the
surrounding air in the form of acoustic energy or sound, which is
both readily audible and distinctive. Conversely, any residual
portion of this shock energy available for transmission to the
golfer's hands in the form of vibration is significantly
reduced.
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become more apparent from the following detailed description taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such
drawings:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club incorporating a
vented shaft in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmented perspective view
corresponding generally with the encircled region 2-2 of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken
generally on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmented perspective view similar to
FIG. 2, but depicting a modified embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged and fragmented sectional view
illustrating one alternative preferred form of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top end view of a golf club shaft, taken
generally on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a fragmented exploded perspective view
illustrating assembly of the components illustrated in the
embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] As shown in the exemplary drawings, an improved golf club
referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 is provided with
an elongated vented hollow club shaft 12. The club shaft 12 is
connected at a lower end to a club head 14 (FIG. 1), and carries a
resilient grip 16 mounted at an upper end thereof. In use, upon
swinging of the golf club to strike the club head 14 against a golf
ball (not shown), the vented shaft 12 permits and facilitates
transmission of resultant ball impact shock energy from the club in
the form of acoustic energy or sound, while significantly reducing
or eliminating transmission of the shock energy in the form of
vibration to the golfer's hands.
[0018] The illustrative golf club 10 shown in FIG. 1 has an
overall, generally conventional construction to include the
elongated club shaft 12 connected to the club head 14 and having
the resilient grip 16 mounted thereon. In this regard, FIG. 1 shows
the club head 14 in the form of a wood-type club head having a
front ball impact face 18 for striking a golf ball. In accordance
with modern golf club construction, the wood-type head 14 may
comprise a so-called metal wood club head comprising a hollow head
construction formed from a selected cast or machined metal or alloy
such as stainless steel, titanium alloy, etc. As shown, the club
head 14 has a hosel 20 formed generally at a heel end thereof for
connection in any suitable and known manner to the lower end of the
club shaft 12.
[0019] While the invention is shown and described herein with
respect to a golf club 10 having a wood-type club head 14 as shown
in the illustrative drawings, persons skilled in the art will
recognize and appreciate that the club head may alternatively
comprise any one of a standard set of iron-type golf clubs, a
putter, or a sand or pitching wedge or the like.
[0020] The club shaft 12 has an elongated hollow tubular
construction extending from the connection thereof to the club head
14 to an upper end having the resilient grip 16 mounted thereon.
The club shaft 12 may be formed from a suitable metal shaft
material, such as stainless steel or the like, or alternatively
formed from a nonmetallic material such as a graphite-based
composite or the like. The specific stiffness or flexibility (whip)
characteristics of the club shaft 12 may be expressly selected or
tailored to suit the custom preferences of an individual
golfer.
[0021] The resilient grip 16 is shown in the form of a molded
elastomer sleeve having a size and shape for slide-fit mounting
onto the upper end of the golf club shaft 12. The grip 16
preferably incorporates an external surface grid pattern or texture
22 (shown best in FIG. 2) for facilitated manual grasping and
secure gripping by the player's hands. Alternative grip
configurations are known, such as an elongated strip of elastomer
or leather material for spiral wrapping about the upper end portion
of the club shaft 12.
[0022] In use, as is well known and understood, the golfer grasps
the grip 16 while manually swinging the club shaft 12 to drive the
front impact face 18 of the club head 14 into impact engagement
with a golf ball. As the club head 12 contacts the golf ball with a
substantial shock impact, the ball is driven forwardly in the
direction of club head movement. At the same time, substantial
reaction forces are transmitted to the club head in the form of a
shock wave or shock energy for dissipation by transmission along
the club shaft 12 and further to the golfer's hands, typically in
the form of vibrational energy. The magnitude of this vibrational
energy can be significant, and is noticeable by tactile detection
with the golfer's hands, particularly when the ball impact point on
the club head face 18 is outside an optimal ball impact zone or
sweet spot.
[0023] In accordance with the present invention, the hollow club
shaft 12 is vented so that a substantial portion of this shock wave
or shock energy can be transmitted and discharged from the golf
club in the form of acoustic energy or sound, rather than
transmitted in the form of vibration to the golfer's hands. In this
regard, in one preferred form of the invention, the club shaft 12
as shown in FIGS. 1-3 includes a plurality of small vent ports 24
formed therein at a location near but preferably a short distance
below the lowermost end of the resilient grip 16. FIG. 3 shows a
plurality of eight small vent ports 24 formed at equiangular
intervals about the club shaft circumference, with each vent port
having a narrow width of about 1/8 inch and a length of about 1/2
inch, and with the array of vent ports 24 disposed about 1/4-1/2
inch below the lowermost end of the grip 16.
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a modified embodiment of the improved
golf club 10 as shown and described in FIGS. 1-3. In particular,
FIG. 4 shows a reinforcement ring or sleeve 25 mounted about the
club shaft 12, wherein this sleeve 25 has a plurality of vent ports
24' formed therein in alignment with the vent ports 24 formed in
the club shaft 12 as previously described and shown in FIGS. 1-3.
The vented reinforcement sleeve 25 may be formed from metal or
other suitably stiff material for secure mounting onto the club
shaft 12 in alignment with the vent ports 24. This reinforcement
sleeve 25 is normally used with a nonmetallic club shaft 12, such
as a graphite composite shaft, to strengthen the shaft in the
region of the vent ports 24.
[0025] With this construction, it has been found that a significant
portion of the ball impact shock energy transmitted from the club
head 14 to the shaft 12 is emanated or discharged from the club
shaft in the form of a readily audible and distinctive acoustic
wave or sound. Such dissipation of a substantial portion of this
ball impact shock energy significantly reduces the residual energy
available for transmission in the form of vibration to the golfer's
hands. As a result, the golfer is able to detect by tactile
sensation little if any of this residual energy. Instead, each golf
shot is accompanied by a more solid tactile sensation together with
a distinctive audible ring or click emanating from the vent ports
24, whereby the confidence level of the golfer is maintained
despite an occasion misaligned or mishit golf shot.
[0026] FIGS. 5-7 illustrate another alternative preferred form of
the invention, wherein alternative vent ports 124 are formed in an
end cap 26 having a size and shape for mounting onto the upper end
of the club shaft 12. More particularly, the cap 124 may be
constructed from metal or molded plastic or the like, and includes
the multiple vent ports 124 for communicating the interior of the
club shaft 12 with the surrounding air. FIGS. 5-7 show the cap 26
to have a raised central body 28 having the vent ports 124 formed
therein, in combination with a recessed peripheral flange 30
projecting radially outwardly therefrom. This flange 30 has a size
and shape to overlie the upper end of the club shaft 12, and is
securely retained thereon by a radially in-turned lip 32 formed at
the upper end of the resilient grip 16. The lip 32 defines a
central aperture 34 for seated reception and retention of the cap
body 28.
[0027] In use, the vent ports 124 formed in the end cap 26 function
in the same manner as previously described with respect to the vent
ports 24 shown in FIGS. 1-3. A substantial portion of the ball
impact shock energy is transmitted through the vent ports 124 in
the form of acoustic energy or sound, thereby significantly
reducing the residual shock energy available for transmission in
the form of vibration to the golfer's hands. The embodiment of
FIGS. 5-7 is particularly suitable for retrofitting the invention
to existing golf clubs.
[0028] A variety of further modifications and improvements in and
to the improved golf club head of the present invention will be
apparent to those persons skilled in the art. Accordingly, no
limitation on the invention is intended by way of the foregoing
description and accompanying drawings, except as set forth in the
appended claims.
* * * * *