U.S. patent application number 10/730597 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for extensible golf club.
Invention is credited to Benson, Shawn B..
Application Number | 20040116197 10/730597 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25532859 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040116197 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Benson, Shawn B. |
June 17, 2004 |
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 LLP
Suite 400
2405 Grand Blvd.
Kansas City
MO
64108
US
|
Family ID: |
25532859 |
Appl. No.: |
10/730597 |
Filed: |
December 8, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10730597 |
Dec 8, 2003 |
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10084286 |
Feb 25, 2002 |
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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 53/00 20130101;
A63B 53/005 20200801; A63B 2210/50 20130101; A63B 2208/12
20130101 |
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, the shaft including
at least one spacer segment operable to selectively adjust the
length of the shaft, and configured for maintaining the integrity
of the shaft as an integral member.
2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the at least one spacer
segment is removably attachable to the shaft.
3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein the at least one spacer
segment includes a female portion and a male portion for coupling
to a first portion and a second portion of the shaft.
4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the at least one spacer
segment is configured for coupling with a first portion and a
second portion of the shaft.
5. The golf club of claim 4, wherein the at least one spacer
segment includes one spacer segment.
6. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the at least one spacer
segment includes a plurality of spacer segments.
7. The golf club of claim 6, wherein each of said spacer segments
is configured for coupling with one of: a) a spacer segment and a
portion of the shaft; or b) two spacer segments.
8. An extensible golf club comprising: a shaft formed of a first
portion and a second portion; and at least one spacer member
configured for coupling the first shaft portion to the second shaft
portion and configured for maintaining the integrity of the shaft
as an integral member when the first and second shaft portions are
coupled thereto.
9. The golf club of claim 8, wherein the at least one spacer member
includes a first end including a female-type receiving port and a
second end including a male-type connector.
10. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the at least one spacer
member includes one spacer member.
11. The golf club of claim 10, wherein the female-type receiving
port on the spacer member is configured for engaging a
correspondingly configured male portion on the first shaft portion
and the male-type connector is configured for engaging a
correspondingly configured female receiving portion of the second
shaft portion.
12. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the at least one spacer
member includes a plurality of spacer members.
13. The golf club of claim 12, wherein the female-type receiving
port on the spacer member is configured for engaging a
correspondingly configured male portion on either of the first
shaft portion or a spacer member, and the male-type connector is
configured for engaging a correspondingly configured female
receiving portion on either of the second shaft portion or a spacer
member.
14. An apparatus for extending a golf club comprising: at least one
spacer member configured for coupling a first portion of a golf
club to a second portion of the golf club, and configured for
maintaining the integrity of the golf club as an integral member
when the first and second golf club portions are coupled
together.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one spacer
member includes a first end including a female-type receiving port
and a second end including a male-type connector.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, additionally comprising: a first
portion of a golf club and a second portion of a golf club.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first portion of a golf
club includes a shaft portion in communication with a handle and
the second portion of the golf club includes a shaft portion in
communication with a head.
18. A spacer member for extending the length of a golf club
comprising: a body configured for coupling a first portion of a
golf club to a second portion of the golf club, and configured for
maintaining the integrity of the golf club as an integral member
when the first and second golf club portions are coupled
together.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the body includes a first
end including a female-type receiving port and a second end
including a male-type connector.
20. An extensible golf club comprising: a club head presenting a
substantially flat ball-striking surface; a handle; and a shaft
coupled to the club head and the handle, said shaft including at
least one spacer segment operable to selectively adjust the length
of the shaft, said shaft being configured to prevent telescopic
adjustment of the length thereof.
21. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 20, said shaft
including a normally lower portion coupled to the club head and a
normally upper portion coupled to the handle, said spacer segment
being adapted to be coupled between the lower portion and the upper
portion.
22. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 21, said shaft
being non-retractable.
23. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 20, said shaft
including a plurality of spacer segments operable to selectively
adjust the length of the shaft, 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.
24. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 23, said spacer
segments being interchangeable.
25. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 23; and a locking
mechanism for fixing the spacer segments relative to one
another.
26. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 25, said locking
mechanism selected from the group consisting of thread, epoxy, a
pin, and combinations of two or more thereof.
27. An extensible golf club as claimed in claim 23, said spacer
segments being selectively interconnectable so that multiple spacer
segments can be simultaneously used to adjust the length of the
shaft.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation application of U.S. Application for
Letters Patent Serial No. 10/084,286, filed Feb. 25, 2002, which is
a continuation of U.S. Application for Letters Patent Serial No.
09/351,749, filed Jul. 8, 1999, abandoned, which is a continuation
of U.S. Application for Letters Patent Serial No. 08/986,895, filed
Dec. 8, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,412, issued Dec. 7, 1999; all
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 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 pin hole 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 (J)
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.
* * * * *