U.S. patent application number 10/563433 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-02 for golf club.
Invention is credited to Shaun Brian Womersley.
Application Number | 20060247071 10/563433 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27741552 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060247071 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Womersley; Shaun Brian |
November 2, 2006 |
Golf club
Abstract
This invention relates to a golf club consisting of a club head
having a tapered bore formed therein extending and tapering
inwardly from the base of the club head to the upper surface
thereof, a socket of corresponding external shape to the bore in
the club head and a shaft adapted to be inserted into a bore formed
in the socket. The socket is inserted upwardly into the end of the
bore in the base of the club head and due to the taper is
positively retained in said bore against upward movement.
Inventors: |
Womersley; Shaun Brian;
(Wakefield, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Family ID: |
27741552 |
Appl. No.: |
10/563433 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
July 2, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB04/02886 |
371 Date: |
May 1, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/02 20130101;
A63B 53/0441 20200801; A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 53/0487 20130101;
A63B 60/00 20151001; A63B 53/0416 20200801; A63B 53/0466
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 4, 2003 |
GB |
0315638.7 |
Claims
1-36. (canceled)
37. A golf club in the form of a putter for putting a golf ball
into a golf hole comprising a club head having a shaft secured
thereto wherein the width of the club head is at least a major
portion of the diameter of the golf hole and the ratio of the club
head width to the depth of the club head is in the range of 1.0 to
1.0, down to 1.0 to 0.5.
38. A golf club according to claim 37, wherein the rear end of the
club head is at least partially arcuate in shape in plan view.
39. A golf club according to claim 37, wherein the club head
comprises a housing block, a carcass connected thereto, a weighting
assembly releasably connected to the carcass and a club face
connected to the housing block.
40. A golf club according to claim 39, wherein the upper surface of
the club head is provided with a central guide line extending
perpendicularly to the plane of the club face and additional guide
lines extending parallel to the central guide line and spaced-apart
therefrom.
41. A putter comprising a head having a shaft secured thereto
wherein the head of the putter has two upwardly spaced-apart
surfaces each provided with or forming visual indicating means
adapted to co-operate when viewed from above to enable the position
of the putter to be adjusted to a correct orientation.
42. A putter according to claim 41, wherein the markings are at
least partially circular and the diameter of the circular part of
the marking on the lower one of said two surfaces is equal to or
greater than the diameter of the circular part of the marking on
the upper one of said two surfaces to facilitate alignment of the
markings so that the putter and the golfer's eyes are correctly
positioned at the golfer's address position.
43. An alignment device for placing adjacent to and in front of a
club head face comprises two upwardly spaced-apart members which
when viewed from above are adapted to enable the upper one of the
members to be located centrally in the lower one of the
members.
44. An alignment device according to claim 43, wherein at least the
upper one of the members has a circular outline when viewed from
above.
45. An alignment device according to claim 44, wherein the lower
one of the members has a circular outline when viewed from above or
has a marking on its upper surface which is circular when viewed
from above.
46. An alignment device according to claim 45, wherein the diameter
of the circular outline of the marking on the lower one of the
members is equal to or greater than the circular outline of the
upper one of the members.
47. An alignment device according to claim 43, wherein the members
are connected together in vertically spaced-apart position by a
central stem.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a golf club and more particularly,
but not exclusively, to a putter.
[0002] It is known to provide golf clubs which are formed inter
alia from a club head and a shaft in which the shaft is secured in
a bore in the club head by, for example, adhesive. It will be
appreciated that this method of securing the shaft to the club
suffers from the disadvantage that total reliance is placed upon
the adhesive joint in securing the club head to the shaft and this
method is applied not only to a putter but also to other clubs
including woods and irons.
[0003] It is also known to provide putters having different shapes
of club head such as a simple blade shape to a T-shaped head in
plan view to attempt to provide a putter which is easier to use to
allow the golfer to be more accurate when executing a putting
stroke.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a golf
club in which the disadvantage set out above in the second
paragraph is alleviated. Alternatively, the object of the invention
is to provide an improved design of putter which facilitates the
execution by a golfer of a more accurate putting stroke.
[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, a golf club
comprises a club head having a bore formed therethrough extending
from the base of the club head to the upper CONFIRMATION COPY
surface thereof, a socket adapted to be inserted into the bore in
the club head and a shaft adapted to be inserted into a bore formed
in the socket, wherein the socket is adapted to be inserted
upwardly into the end of the bore in the base of the club head and
positively retained in said bore against movement out of the top of
the bore.
[0006] Preferably, the bore in the club head is provided with a
reduced diameter portion forming a lip against which a
corresponding lip on the socket engages to restrict upward movement
of the socket towards and out of the upper end of the bore in the
club head and positively locate the socket in desired position in
said bore.
[0007] Preferably, also, at least part of the bore in the club head
is tapered outwardly from the end at or adjacent to the upper
surface towards the end of the bore at or adjacent to the base of
the club head and the socket is of a complementary shape to allow
upward insertion thereof into the said bore from the base of the
club head.
[0008] At least part of the bore in the club head is, preferably,
non-circular in section and at least part of the socket has a
complementary non-circular shape in section.
[0009] Preferably, the longitudinal axis of the bore in the socket
in which the shaft is inserted is disposed at an angle to the
longitudinal axis of the socket.
[0010] Preferably, also, the socket is formed of a material which
degrades at a faster rate than the material from which the club
head and/or the shaft are formed.
[0011] The socket is, preferably, formed of a plastics
material.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, a golf club in
the form of a putter for putting a golf ball into a golf hole
comprises a club head having a shaft secured thereto wherein the
width of the club head is at least a major portion of the diameter
of the golf hole and the ratio of the club head width to the depth
of the club head is in the range of 1.0 to 1.0 down to 1.0 to
0.5.
[0013] Preferably, the width of the club head is equal to or
greater than the diameter of a golf hole and the depth of the club
head is equal to or greater than the radius of a golf hole.
[0014] Preferably, also, the rear end of the club head is at least
partially arcuate in shape in plan view.
[0015] The rear end of the club head, preferably, has a weighting
assembly secured thereto.
[0016] Preferably, the weighting assembly is releasably secured to
the club head.
[0017] Preferably, also, the weighting assembly is arcuate in
shape.
[0018] The weighting assembly of arcuate shape, preferably, has a
radius which is equal to or substantially equal to the radius of a
golf hole.
[0019] Preferably, the club head comprises a housing block, a
carcass connected thereto and the weighting assembly releasably
connected to the carcass.
[0020] Preferably, also, a club face is connected to the housing
block and the club face may be releasably connected to the housing
block.
[0021] An insert is, preferably, connected to the side of the club
face remote from the carcass.
[0022] Preferably, the insert is releasably connected to the club
face.
[0023] Preferably, also, the upper surface of the club head is
provided with a central guide line extending perpendicularly to the
plane of the club face.
[0024] The upper surface of the club head is, preferably, provided
at or adjacent to the sides thereof with additional guide lines
extending parallel to the central guide line and equally
spaced-apart therefrom by a distance equal to the radius of a golf
hole.
[0025] Preferably, two intermediate guide lines are provided on the
surface of the club head parallel to and equally spaced-apart on
each side of the central guide line by a distance equal to the
radius of a golf ball.
[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, a putter
comprises a head having a shaft secured thereto wherein the head of
the putter has two upwardly spaced-apart surfaces each provided
with or forming visual indicating means adapted to co-operate when
viewed from above to enable the position of the putter to be
adjusted to a correct orientation.
[0027] Preferably, the visual indicating means comprises markings
formed on said two surfaces adapted to be aligned by a golfer when
viewed from above at the golfers address position to position the
putter in the correct orientation and the golfers eyes in the
correct position.
[0028] Preferably, also, the markings are at least partially
circular.
[0029] The diameter of the circular part of the marking on the
lower one of said two surfaces is, preferably, equal to or greater
than the diameter of the circular part of the marking on the upper
one of said two surfaces to facilitate alignment of the markings so
that the putter and the golfers eyes are correctly positioned at
the golfer's address position.
[0030] A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be
described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings of which:--
[0031] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a golf club in
a dismantled condition with parts omitted for the sake of
clarity;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternative
golf club in a dismantled condition with parts omitted for the sake
of clarity;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a further
alternative golf club in a dismantled condition with parts omitted
for the sake of clarity;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of alternative shapes of socket
for use in the above referred to golf clubs;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a modification
of the golf club of FIG. 1 in a dismantled condition with parts
omitted for the sake of clarity;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an alternative
part of the golf club shown in FIG. 5;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the alternative part of the golf
shown in FIG. 6;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a side view of the alternative part of the golf
club shown in FIG. 6; and
[0039] FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a modification
of the golf club of FIG. 2 in a dismantled condition with parts
omitted for the sake of clarity.
[0040] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a
golf club in the form of a putter comprises a club head indicated
generally at 10 which is secured to a shaft (not shown). The club
head 10 comprises a housing block 12 which is secured to a carcass
14 in a recessed portion at the front thereof. The housing block 12
can be permanently secured to the carcass 14 by adhesive, or
alternatively can be releasably secured thereto by screws (not
shown). The housing block 12 is formed of metal and the carcass 14
is formed of a relatively lightweight material such as a plastics
material. A club face portion 16 is permanently secured by adhesive
or releasably secured by screws (not shown) to the face of the
housing block 12 remote from the carcass 14. An insert 18 is also
permanently secured by adhesive or releasably secured by screws
(not shown) in a recessed portion 20 of the club face portion 16
remote from the housing block 12. The housing block 12 is provided
with a bore 22 extending from the base to the upper surface
thereof. The bore 22 is of a complementary shape to a socket 24 so
that the socket 24 can be inserted upwardly into the bore 22 from
the lower end thereof. The socket 24 is provided with a lip 26
which is adapted to engage a corresponding lip (not shown) in the
complementary shaped bore 22 in the housing block 12 to positively
restrict upward insertion of the socket 24 and positively locate it
in the desired position in the bore 22. The lower portion of the
socket 24 and the complementary shaped portion of the bore 22 are
of a shape which tapers outwardly towards the lower end of the
socket 24 and the bore 22 and are also non-circular in section to
prevent rotation of the socket 24 about its longitudinal axis in
the bore 22. The socket 24 is secured in the bore 22 of the housing
block 12 by adhesive but it will be appreciated that the tapered
shape of the socket 24 and the bore 22 tend to tighten when the
club is swung to more securely retain the socket 24 in the bore 22
of the housing block 12. The socket 24 is provided at its upper end
with a substantially cylindrical bore 28 into which a shaft (not
shown) is inserted from the top of the club head 10 through a hole
30 in the carcass 14 aligned therewith. The shaft is secured in the
bore 28 in the socket 24 by adhesive and here again the inward
pressure on the socket 24 when the golf club is swung assists in
retaining the shaft in the bore 28 particularly when the socket 24
is formed of a plastics material even though the material has
limited deformability. The plastics material from which the socket
24 is formed is arranged to degrade at a faster rate than the
materials from which the shaft and the housing block 12 are made so
that when the golf club reaches the end of its useful life the more
expensive parts of the golf club can be re-used. The rear end of
the carcass 14 remote from the housing block 12 is arcuate in shape
and a weighting assembly 30 of similar arcuate shape in plan view
is releasably secured in an arcuate recess 32 formed in the rear
end of the carcass 14. The arcuate shape of the rear end of the
carcass 14, the recess 32 and the weighting assembly 30
approximates to the arcuate shape of a golf hole.
[0041] The width of the club head 10 is arranged to be marginally
greater than the diameter of a golf hole and the depth of the club
head 10 is also arranged to be marginally greater than the diameter
of a golf hole but less than the width of the club head 10. The
upper surface of the club head 10 is provided with a central guide
line 34 extending perpendicularly to the plane of the club face
portion 16, a circle 36 representing a golf hole, additional guide
lines 38 extending parallel to the central guide line 34 and
equally spaced-apart therefrom by a distance equal to the radius of
a golf hole and two intermediate guide lines 40 extending parallel
to and equally spaced-apart on each side of the central guide line
34 by a distance equal to the radius of a golf ball.
[0042] It is found that the utilisation of a rear arcuate weighting
assembly 30 provides a more accurate strike on the golf ball to
propel it along a path which is aligned with the central guide line
34 of the putter. In addition, the utilisation of the circle 36,
the additional guide lines 38 and the guide lines 40 gives the
golfer an optical guide which facilitates better alignment of the
putter and also makes the target of the golf hole appear to be
larger making the putt less difficult. This is particularly the
case in respect of the guide lines 38 due to their positioning
closely adjacent to the edge of the club head 10.
[0043] In addition, the assembly of the putter with the facility to
remove and change the components, particularly the weighting
assembly 30, allows the characteristics of the putter to be readily
changed to meet any changes in the golfing conditions such as the
speed of the greens on a golf course.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, an alternative
design of putter is shown and the same components of the putter
shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings are referred to by the same
reference numerals. It will be seen that the putter has the same
housing block 12, club face portion 16, insert 18, socket 24, and
weighting assembly 30. A new size of carcass 42 is provided whose
depth is substantially equal to the radius of a golf hole and the
circular marking 36 on the carcass 14 of the putter described with
reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings is replaced by a semi-circular
marking 44 which corresponds to a representation of half of a golf
hole. This putter is of a smaller overall size which may be
preferred by some golfers but retains the advantages of the putter
described with reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings set out
above.
[0045] In a modification, the housing blocks 12 of the putters
described with reference to both FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings are
provided with additional bores of the same size as the bores 22 but
located either centrally or at the opposite end of the housing
blocks 12 to allow the putter to be conformed to meet the
requirements of a left handed golfer or a golfer who requires the
putter to have a centrally located shaft.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a golf club in the
form of a wood comprises a club head indicated generally at 50 with
a bore 52 having the same shape as the bores 22 of the previously
described putters. The shaft 54 is secured to the club head 50 in
the same manner and utilising the same shape of socket 56 as the
sockets 24 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the
drawings. In addition, a ferrule 58 is provided to cover the upper
end of the connection between the shaft 54 and the club head 50 and
a grommet 60 is provided to cover the lower end of the bore 52.
[0047] Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, four alternative
shapes of sockets 62, 64, 66 and 68 are shown in which the
longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bore in which the shaft is
located is at a different angle to the longitudinal axis of the
socket to accommodate different physical characteristics of
different golfers.
[0048] Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8 of the drawings, in a
modification of the golf club described with reference to FIG. 1 of
the drawings, the same parts being denoted by the same reference
numerals, the carcass 14 is provided with an upper circular plate
70 which is releasably secured thereto by screws (not shown) to
allow the central guide line 34 and the intermediate guide lines 40
to be replaced with other markings if desired.
[0049] An alternative design of the upper circular plate 70 is
shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 of the drawings and comprises two
spaced-apart circular plates 72 and 74 connected together by a
central stem 76. The plates 72 and 74 are disposed in parallel
planes and the upper plate 74 is of smaller diameter than the lower
plate 72 so that when a golfer is aligning a putt, the location of
the upper plate 74 centrally in the lower plate 72 giving an
"eclipse" effect ensures that the golfer's eyes are directly above
the centre line of the club head. The plates 72 and 74 are also
provided with circular and radial markings 78 to facilitate this
"eclipse" alignment by the golfer. In addition, the positioning of
the plates 72 and 74 or the markings thereon relatively to one
another can be used to indicate not only that the golfer's eyes at
the address position are directly above the centre line of the club
head but also that the putter is being held by the golfer at the
correct lie and loft angle.
[0050] In a modification, the diameter of the lower plate 72 or the
marking thereon can be equal to the diameter of the upper plate 74
and the circles defined thereby are in aligned concentricity when
both the putter is correctly positioned and the golfer eyes are
also correctly positioned relatively to the putters head at the
address position.
[0051] It will also be appreciated that this type of "eclipse"
plate assembly for ensuring a golfer's eyes are directly above the
ball and aligned with the centre line of the club head could be
produced as a separate item for placing adjacent to and in front of
the club head face.
[0052] Alternatively, a device in the form of a single circular
plate of smaller diameter than the golf ball can be provided which
is mounted on an arm on the club head or shaft so that it is
capable of pivotal movement to swing the plate into an in use
position in which the plate is above a golf ball placed adjacent to
the club head to an out of use position away from the golf
ball.
[0053] Referring now to FIG. 9 of the drawings, in a modification
of the golf club described with reference to FIG. 2 of the
drawings, the same parts being denoted by the same reference
numerals, the carcass 42 is provided with an upper semi-circular
plate 80 which is releasably secured thereto by screws (not shown)
to allow the central guide line 34 and the intermediate guide lines
40 to be replaced by other markings if desired.
[0054] Although golf clubs in the form of putters and woods have
been described, it will be appreciated the invention can be applied
to irons without departing from the scope of this invention.
* * * * *