U.S. patent application number 11/734819 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-16 for two-part hosel connection system for golf clubs.
Invention is credited to Daniel S. Callinan, Noah De La Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Kenneth C. Scott.
Application Number | 20080254909 11/734819 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39854243 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080254909 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Callinan; Daniel S. ; et
al. |
October 16, 2008 |
TWO-PART HOSEL CONNECTION SYSTEM FOR GOLF CLUBS
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a golf club including a shaft, a club head
and several devices for releasably connecting the shaft to the club
head.
Inventors: |
Callinan; Daniel S.;
(Carlsbad, CA) ; De La Cruz; Noah; (San Clemente,
CA) ; Golden; Charles E.; (Encinitas, CA) ;
Scott; Kenneth C.; (San Marcos, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ACUSHNET COMPANY
333 BRIDGE STREET, P. O. BOX 965
FAIRHAVEN
MA
02719
US
|
Family ID: |
39854243 |
Appl. No.: |
11/734819 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/306 ;
473/305 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0433 20200801;
A63B 53/0487 20130101; A63B 2053/0491 20130101; A63B 53/02
20130101; A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 53/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/307 ;
473/305 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/02 20060101
A63B053/02 |
Claims
1. A golf club comprising a shaft, a club head and a connection
system releasably connecting the shaft to the club head, said
connection system comprises a two-part hosel, wherein a first hosel
part is connected to the shaft and a second hosel part is connected
to the club head wherein an anti-rotation device is disposed
between the first and second hosel parts, and wherein said
anti-rotation device is located above the club head.
2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation device
comprises a first serrated surface disposed on the first hosel part
and a second corresponding serrated surface disposed on the second
hosel part and wherein the first and second serrated surfaces mate
to minimize relative rotation between the shaft and the club
head.
3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the connection system further
comprises a hollow sole insert fixedly attached to a bore in the
club head and a fastener adapted to pass through the sole insert
and into a threaded distal end of the shaft to affix the club head
to the shaft.
4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the distal end of the shaft is
spaced apart from the sole insert.
5. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the sole insert is made
integral to the bore.
6. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the bore comprises a ledge
that the sole insert abuts when the fastener is affixed to the
distal end of the shaft.
7. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the threaded distal end of the
shaft comprises a hollow distal end adapted to receive a threaded
shaft insert.
8. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the fastener comprises a
threaded screw.
9. The golf club of claim 2, wherein each serrated surface
comprises a plurality of teeth.
10. A golf club comprising a shaft, a club head and a connection
system, said connection system compriseing a hollow sole insert
affixed in a hosel bore proximate a sole of the club head, wherein
a first key is disposed on an internally threaded distal end of the
shaft and a second corresponding key is disposed on the sole insert
and wherein as a fastener is inserted through the sole insert and
into the threaded distal end of the shaft to connect the shaft to
the club head the first and second keys mate with each other to
minimize relative rotation between the shaft and the club head.
11. The golf club of claim 10, wherein the first and second keys
comprise corresponding surfaces.
12. The golf club of claim 10, wherein the sole insert and hosel
bore are integral to each other.
13. A golf club comprising a shaft, a club head and a connection
system, said connection system comprises a spring loaded bayonet
mount, wherein the spring has a spring constant, k, from about 5
pounds-force to about 100 pounds-force and wherein the spring
loaded bayonet mount is located above the club head.
14. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the bayonet mount comprises
at least one post disposed on the shaft and at least one
corresponding channel disposed on a hosel of the club head and the
bayonet mount further comprises a spring disposed within the
hosel.
15. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the spring constant is from
about 20 pounds-force to about 75 pounds-force.
16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein the spring constant is about
33 pounds-force.
17. The golf club of claim 14, wherein said channel comprises a
reduced diameter section sized and dimensioned to releasably retain
said post.
18. The golf club of claim 17, wherein said reduced diameter
section comprises a triangular section.
19. The golf club of claim 17, wherein said reduced diameter
section comprises a waist section.
20. A golf club comprising a shaft, a club head and a means for
releasably connecting the shaft to the club head.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to golf clubs, and more
specifically to golf clubs having an improved hosel connection that
provides interchangeability between a shaft with a club head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In order to improve their game, golfers often customize
their equipment to fit their particular swing. In the absence of a
convenient way to make heads and shafts interchangeable, a store or
a business offering custom fitting must either have a large number
of clubs with specific characteristics, or must change a particular
club using a complicated disassembly and reassembly process. It,
for example, a golfer wants to try a golf club shaft with different
flex characteristics, or use a club head with a different mass,
center of gravity, or moment of inertia, in the past it has not
been practical to make such changes. Golf equipment manufacturers
have been increasing the variety of clubs available to golfers. For
example, a particular model of a driver-type golf club may be
offered in several different loft angles and lie angles to suit a
particular golfer's needs. In addition, golfers can choose shafts,
whether metal or graphite, and adjust the length of the shaft to
suit their swing. Recently, golf clubs have emerged that allow
shaft and club head components, such as adjustable weights, to be
interchanged to facilitate this customization process.
[0003] One example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,646 to Wheeler for a Golf
Club Assembly. The Wheeler patent discloses a putter having a grip
and a putter head, both of which are detachable from a shaft.
Fastening members, provided on the upper and lower ends of the
shaft, have internal threads, which engage the external threads
provided on both the lower end of the grip and the upper end of the
putter head shank to secure these components to the shaft. The
lower portion of the shaft further includes a flange, which
contacts the upper end of the putter head shank, when the putter
head is coupled to the shaft. This design produces an unaesthetic
bulge at the top of the shaft and another unaesthetic bulge at the
bottom of the shaft.
[0004] Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,442 to Walker for
Golf Clubs with Quick Release Heads. The Walker patent discloses a
golf club in which the club head is secured to the shaft by a
coupling rod and a quick release pin. The upper end of the coupling
rod has external threads that engage the internal threads formed in
the lower portion of the shaft. The lower end of the coupling rod,
which is inserted into the hosel of the club head, has diametric
apertures that align with diametric apertures in the hosel to
receive the quick release pin.
[0005] Another example is U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2006/0105855 A1 to
Cackett et al. for a Golf Club with Interchangeable Head-Shaft
Connections. The Cackett publication discloses a golf club that
uses a sleeve/tube arrangement instead of a traditional hosel to
connect the interchangeable shaft to the club head in an effort to
reduce material weight and provide for quick installation. A
mechanical fastener (screw) entering the club head through the sole
plate is used to secure the shaft to the club head.
[0006] Still another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,673 to Roark
for an Interchangeable Golf Club Head and Adjustable Handle System.
The Roark patent discloses a golf club with a quick release for
detaching a club head from a shaft. The quick release is a
two-piece connector including a lower connector, which is secured
to the hosel of the club head, and an upper connector, which is
secured to the lower portion of the shaft. The upper connector has
a pin and a ball catch that both protrude radially outward from the
lower end of the upper connector. The upper end of the lower
connector has a corresponding slot formed therein for receiving the
upper connector pin, and a separate hole for receiving the ball
catch. When the shaft is coupled to the club head, the lower
connector hole retains the ball catch to secure the shaft to the
club head.
[0007] Other published patent documents, such as U.S. Pat. No.
7,083,529 and U.S. patent application publication numbers
2006/0287125, 2006/0293115, 2006/0293116 and 2006/0281575, disclose
interchangeable shafts and club heads with anti-rotation devices
located therebetween.
[0008] There remains a need in the art for golf clubs with an
improved connection that provides a method for quickly and easily
interchanging the shaft, removable weights and other attachments
with the club head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention is directed to a releasable connection system
for assembling a golf club. The inventive connection system
provides an interchangeability between a shaft and a club head that
imparts minimal visual impairment and club mass fluctuation while
optimizing customization.
[0010] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a
connection system that comprises a two-part hosel, wherein a first
hosel part is connected to the shaft and a second hosel part is
connected to the club head, and an anti-rotation device is disposed
between the first and second hosel parts, and the anti-rotation
device is located above the club head. The anti-rotation device can
have a first serrated surface disposed on the first hosel part and
a second corresponding serrated surface disposed on the second
hosel part. The first and second serrated surfaces mate to minimize
relative rotation between the shaft and the club head.
[0011] In another embodiment, the connection system comprises a
hollow sole insert affixed in a hosel bore proximate a sole of the
club head, wherein a first key is disposed on an internally
threaded distal end of the shaft and a second corresponding key is
disposed on the sole insert. As a fastener is inserted through the
sole insert and into the threaded distal end of the shaft to
connect the shaft to the club head the first and second keys mate
with each other to minimize relative rotation between the shaft and
the club head.
[0012] In yet another embodiment, the connection system comprises a
spring loaded bayonet mount, wherein the spring has a spring
constant from about 5 pounds-force to about 100 pounds-force and
wherein the spring loaded bayonet mount is located above the club
head. The bayonet mount comprises at least one post disposed on the
shaft and at least one corresponding channel disposed on a hosel of
the club head and the bayonet mount further comprises a spring
disposed within the hosel. The channel may have a reduced diameter
section sized and dimensioned to releasably retain said post.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the
specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in
which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in
the various views:
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary driver club
showing a shaft, a club head and a first embodiment of the
inventive connection system;
[0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the two-part hosel of the
connection system of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled shaft;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the connection
system of FIG. 1
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the assembled driver club of
FIG. 1;
[0019] FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views a second embodiment of
the inventive connection system; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an exemplary driver club and a
third embodiment of the inventive connection system; FIG. 8A is an
alternative of the third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] The present invention is directed to a quick connection
system for connecting the shaft to a club head and for changing the
shaft or the club head to optimize the golfer's strength to the
playing conditions. Such a system can be utilized or customized for
various applications, including, but not limited, to the shaft-club
head connection, the insertion of adjustable weights in the club
head, and the connection of a sole plate to the club head. Several
embodiments of the present invention are described below.
[0022] Inventive connection system 10 is designed for club fitters
to repeatedly change shaft or club head combinations during a
fitting session. Inventive connection system 10 is designed to give
fitting accounts maximum fitting options with a system that is fast
and easy to use
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, connection system 10 releasably
connects club head 12 to shaft 14, such that different shafts 14
can be connected to different club heads 12. Connection system 10
comprises a two-part hosel, i.e., shaft serrated hosel 16 and
driver serrated hosel 18 and internally threaded shaft insert 20.
Serrated surface 17 of shaft hosel 16 and serrated surface 19 of
driver hosel 18 are sized to mate with each other to minimize or
prevent relative rotation between shaft hosel 16 and shaft hosel
18. Preferably, each serrated surface comprises a plurality of
corresponding teeth. Connection system 10 further comprises driver
sole insert 22 and screw 24, which are connected to club head 12 on
the sole side, as shown.
[0024] As best shown in FIG. 3, shaft 14 is at least partially
hollow and is sized and dimensioned to receive and retain
internally threaded shaft insert 20 therewithin. Preferably, shaft
insert 20 is securely attached to shaft 14 by means of adhesives,
epoxies or similar materials. Shaft serrated hosel 16 is sized and
dimensioned to fit on the outside of shaft 14. A predetermined
length 26 of shaft 14 is positioned below shaft serrated hosel 16
for insertion into club head 12. The internal threads of shaft
insert 20 are adapted to receive the external threads of fastener
24, such as screw 24.
[0025] As best shown in FIG. 4, driver serrated hosel 18 has
external threads, as shown, and is threaded into the top of bore 28
of club head 12. Adhesives or epoxies can also be used to affix
driver serrated hosel 18 to bore 28. At the bottom of bore 28,
driver sole insert 22 is inserted into bore 28 and affixed therein.
Preferably, driver sole insert 22 is serrated or threaded on the
outside surface to increase the surface area to adhesives or
epoxies. The assembled shaft 14 with shaft insert 20 and shaft
hosel 16 as shown in FIG. 3 is inserted through driver hosel 18 and
into bore 18. Screw 24 is inserted through driver sole insert 22
and is threaded into shaft insert 20 to secure shaft 14 to club
head 12. Preferably, distal tip 30 of shaft 14 is spaced apart from
the top of driver sole insert 22 and shaft 14 and driver sole
insert 22 is separated by gap 32. Gap 32 ensures that screw 24 can
fully pull shaft 14 downward toward the sole of club head 12 so
that serrated surfaces 17 and 19 fully engage each other to
minimize relative rotation between the two hosels 16 and 18 thereby
minimizing relative rotation between shaft 14 and club head 12. In
other words, gap 32 ensures that screw 24 does not "bottom out"
inside threaded shaft insert 20 so that serrated hosels 16 and 18
can fully mate with each other.
[0026] Optionally, bore 28 has ledge 34 shown in FIG. 4 formed
integrally thereon, e.g., through the casting process, to abut
driver sole insert 22 to provide additional structural support for
driver sole insert 22 and screw 24. Alternatively, driver sole
insert 22 can be formed integrally on bore 28. These alternatives
are applicable to all of the embodiments described herein.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, a fully assembled golf club is shown.
Serrated hosels 16 and 18 form a single hosel and the serrated
lines 16 and 17 separating the two hosels are preferably located
above the top of club head 12. The advantage of locating the
anti-rotation device, i.e., shaft serrated hosel 16 and driver
serrated hosel 18, above the club head is that no additional mass
is added, thereby preserving the mass properties of the club head
and eliminating a protrusion at the shaft/hosel intersection. The
anti-rotation device uses a standard hosel to make both the shaft
serrated hosel and the driver serrated hosel This means there is no
weight gained or lost from the device, which in turn means no
change in moment of inertia or center of gravity. Furthermore,
serrated lines 16 and 17 add a visual distinction to the golf club
and readily identify the golf club as an interchangeable golf
club.
[0028] Driver sole insert 22 and shaft threaded insert 20 can be
made out of aluminum, stainless steel or titanium. Screw 24 can be
any threaded screw, and is preferably a TORX.TM. drive flat head
screw and the sole insert 22 is tapered so that the head of screw
24 can be flushed with sole insert 22, as best shown in FIG. 4.
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of connection
system 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the two-part hosel of the
first embodiment is replaced by a keyed anti-rotation device. This
keyed anti-rotation device comprises angled cut-out 36 on the
distal tip of shaft 14. Shaft 14 is also hollow and has threaded
shaft insert 20 inserted therein and conventional hosel 40 disposed
thereon. Driver sole insert 22' has angled surface 38 sized and
dimensioned to match cut-out 36. In this embodiment, shaft 14 is
inserted into driver sole insert 22', and angled cut-out 36 is
keyed to angled surface 38 as screw 24 is threaded into shaft
insert 20 to minimize or prevent relative rotation between shaft 14
and driver sole insert 22'/club head 12. An advantage of this
embodiment is that an anti-rotation device can be added without
adding substantial weight to the club head thereby minimizing the
effect on the club's swing weight.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment of connection system
10 is shown. In this embodiment, bore 18 does not extend through
club head 12. Club head 12 has hosel 42, which has at least one and
preferably two or more channels 44. Channel 44 has entry leg 46 and
locking leg 48. Leg 46 is adapted to receive post 50 on shaft 14.
After post 50 travels through entry leg 46, it passes transverse
leg 47 before being received and held in locking leg 48. Disposed
within hosel 42 is spring 52 which exerts an upward force on shaft
14 to hold securely post 50 in locking leg 48. Spring 52 is
selected so that it can exert a sufficient force to hold post 50
within channel 44. Preferably, spring 52 has a spring constant from
about 5 to about 100 pounds-force/inch. More preferably, the spring
constant can be in the range of about 20 to about 75
pounds-force/inch and most preferably about 33 pounds-force/inch. A
golfer can conveniently insert shaft 14 into hosel 42 after
aligning post 50 to leg 46. Thereafter, shaft 14 is rotated along
transverse leg 47 and afterward spring 52 pushes shaft 14 up leg
48. Post 50 and channel 44 is also known as a bayonet mount or
connection.
[0031] Although channel 44 is illustrated as a "J-shaped" channel,
it can have any shape, e.g., "U", "L", "S", "V" or "W" shape. Also,
preferably leg 46 is preferably deep so that as post 50 is moved
down into hosel 42, more of shaft 14 overlaps hosel 42 to increase
mechanical stability. Alternatively, the top of locking leg 48 may
have a reduced diameter section to hold post 50 by press-fit or by
increased friction. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the reduced diameter
section can be a triangular section. The reduced diameter section
can also be a figure-eight or waist section.
[0032] While the embodiments of the present invention are
illustrated with driver-type clubs, it is understood that any type
of golf clubs can utilize inventive connection system 10.
[0033] While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of
the invention disclosed herein fulfill the objectives stated above,
it is appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments
may be devised by those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be
understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such
modifications and embodiments, which would come within the spirit
and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *