U.S. patent application number 12/257481 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for golf club with plural alternative impact surfaces.
Invention is credited to Ilir Bardha.
Application Number | 20090111606 12/257481 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38233368 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090111606 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bardha; Ilir |
April 30, 2009 |
GOLF CLUB WITH PLURAL ALTERNATIVE IMPACT SURFACES
Abstract
A golf club having a shaft and an elongated head projecting at a
lie angle relative to the shaft, the head having the shape of a
regular polygon in a cross section at right angles to the central
axis of the head, with each face being formed of a material that
provides a different ball rebound factor, the head section being
rotatable about the central axis so that any one of the faces may
be presented for use with the club.
Inventors: |
Bardha; Ilir; (West
Bloomfield, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GIFFORD, KRASS, SPRINKLE,ANDERSON & CITKOWSKI, P.C
PO BOX 7021
TROY
MI
48007-7021
US
|
Family ID: |
38233368 |
Appl. No.: |
12/257481 |
Filed: |
October 24, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11469178 |
Aug 31, 2006 |
7442129 |
|
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12257481 |
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60758350 |
Jan 12, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/341 ;
473/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/065 20130101;
A63B 53/026 20200801; A63B 53/028 20200801; A63B 60/02 20151001;
A63B 53/0487 20130101; A63B 2053/0491 20130101; A63B 53/022
20200801; A63B 53/0416 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/341 ;
473/349 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/06 20060101
A63B053/06; A63B 53/04 20060101 A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A golf club head having a striking face, a heel and a toe and a
bore extending from a surface of the head, parallel to the striking
face, and at least one elongated weighting element having an outer
configuration, along cross sections through its length,
complementary to the inner diameter of the bore, adapted to be
inserted into the bore to weight the club head.
2. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a central hole
through the length of the weighting element and an elongated
fastener having a head at one end, adapted to pass through the
central hole in the weighting element, and to fasten to the club
head, to retain the weighting element within the club head.
3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein said weighting element is
tubular in shape.
4. The golf club head of claim 1 in which the weighting element is
cylindrical and at least a portion of the bore has complementary
threads on its contacting surfaces, whereby said weighting element
may be threaded within the bore.
5. The golf club head of claim 4 wherein the bore extends from the
toe end of the club head and a second threaded bore adapted to
receive a second cylindrical threaded weighting element extends
from the heel end of the club.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/469,178 filed Aug. 31, 2006, which claims
priority of U.S. Patent Application 60/758,350 filed Jan. 12,
2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to an adjustable golf club, and more
particularly to an adjustable putter with an elongated head with a
central axis extending at a lie angle relative to the shaft and
formed with a plurality of faces each having a different rebound
factor. The head is rotatable about its central axis to present one
of these faces for ball-impacting use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It has long been recognized that the hardness and
coefficient of restitution of the impact face of a golf club will
affect the force imparted to the ball when a club is swung with a
given speed. Materials which will provide an appropriate range of
forces often differ from the material with which the golf head is
constructed, so it has been proposed to provide golf clubs with
inserts of particular materials chosen for their hardness and
rebound coefficients (which will hereinafter be collectively
referred to as "impact factors"). U.S. Pat. No. 3,937,474 discloses
a golf club with a polyurethane insert on the striking face that
provides an advantageous impact factor to balls hit with the
club.
[0004] It has also been proposed to male these inserts detachable
so that the impact face of a club may be altered to provide an
insert which is chosen based on the condition of the course. For
example, when the greens have short grass and are relatively hard,
i.e. "fast", an insert with a relatively low impact factor is
chosen, but when the grass is longer, or damp, so that the green is
"slow", an insert with a high impact factor is chosen. This allows
a golfer to use substantially the same stroke with fast and slow
greens and to impart forces on the golf ball which are consistent
with these conditions. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No.
5,921,871.
[0005] Rather than requiring an insert to be changed in order to
alter the force induced on a ball using a relatively consistent
stroke, it has been proposed to provide a multiple-faced head for a
golf putter in which the different faces have different
ball-impacting characteristics. U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,708 discloses
such an adjustable putter. The head is polygonal in shape and is
affixed to the club shaft so that all of the faces lie in the
vertical plane when the club is in use. The head has a polygonal
socket on its upper surface which mates with a male polygonal
member disposed at one end of the hosel so that the hosel may be
inserted into the head into a position which supports one of the
faces in a ball-impacting position. The head is unusual in shape,
in no way resembling a conventional golf putter, and the weighting
created by this unusual shape is unconventional and may well be
confusing to the golfer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is accordingly directed toward a golf
club and more particularly a putter, which has a head with a
plurality of faces, each having a different impact factor when
hitting a golf ball, which may be positionally adjusted to place
one of the faces into a golf ball hitting position. More
particularly, it is directed toward such a club in which the head
is of a conventional shape with a central axis that is disposed at
a chosen lie angle relative to the club shaft so it may be
positionally adjusted in a rotational manner about the central axis
to place one of the faces in ball-impacting position.
[0007] A preferred embodiment of the invention which will
subsequently be disclosed in detail employs a head having a section
which is formed as a regular polygon, symmetrical about the central
axis of the head. The polygonal section may be rotated about its
central axis so as to dispose one of the planar faces, having a
chosen impact factor, in ball-impacting position.
[0008] The preferred embodiment of the invention employs a heel
fixed to the club neck and a regularly polygonal blade section
which extends from the heel at the chosen lie angle. The heel and
the blade are formed with complementary sections that may be
positioned in abutment to one another to fix the blade in a chosen
rotational position relative to the heel or may be separated from
one another to allow rotation of the blade with respect to the heel
to select a particular ball-impacting face.
[0009] In one preferred embodiment a bolt extends through a
longitudinal hole in the blade and its threaded end fastens in a
threaded hole in the section of the heel that abuts the end of the
blade. The threaded fastener may be rotated to lock the two into a
chosen position or may be loosened to separate the two and allow
rotation to another desired position, placing another face in
ball-impacting position.
[0010] In one embodiment which will be subsequently disclosed, a
generally tubular weighting element of a selected weight may be
supported in the hole of the head around the threaded fastener to
adjust the weight of the head.
[0011] Alternatively, the club may incorporate a toe portion which
is symmetrical in shape and rotates with the rotationally
adjustable blade section, or is nonsymmetrical and remains in a
constant position relative to the heel independent of the
rotational position of the blade. The putter may also incorporate a
mallet-like section which extends from the heel, toe and blade,
away from the ball-impacting face.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Other objects, advantages and applications of the present
invention will be made apparent by the following detailed
description of preferred embodiments of the invention. The
description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golfer using a first
preferred embodiment of a club formed in accordance with the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of the head of the
club of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the components
that form the golf club head of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rotatable blade section
of the club with the face inserts separated from the blade
section;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an insert for one of the
faces of the blade section employing a series of serrations to
improve the grip of the face on an impacted ball;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the golf club head of
FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a
club head formed in accordance with my invention employing springs
between the blade section and both the heel and toe sections;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of
the club of my invention taking the form of a mallet structure;
[0021] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the components of a mallet
section and a tool for loosening a bolt to allow rotation of the
blade section to alter the impact face used;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of
my invention wherein the rotational position of the blade is
altered to present alternative club faces by changing the position
of engagement between the shaft or shank and the blade section;
[0023] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of still another embodiment of
my invention incorporating a novel weighting system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-6 illustrate a first
embodiment of a golf putter formed in accordance with my invention,
generally indicated at 20. The head 20 includes a neck or hosel 22
which terminates at its upper end in a tubular section 24 adapted
to receive a golf club shaft 26. The lower end of the hosel 22 is
fixed within the upper surface of a heel 28 forming part of the
golf club head. One side surface of the heel abuts an end surface
of a rotatable blade section 30 which is square in cross section.
The blade 30 is elongated and is formed about what will be termed a
central axis 32. The opposite side of the blade is formed in
abutment to a vertical surface of a toe section 36. Heel section 28
and toe section 36 have the configuration and are weighted like
popular conventional golf putters.
[0025] The angle between the axis of the shaft 26 and the central
axis 32 of the head is termed the lie of the club. On a putter it
may vary between approximately 90 degrees and 50 degrees. The
central axis of the blade 30 extends at the lie angle relative to
the shaft 26.
[0026] The blade section 30 is illustrated as rectangular in cross
section about a plane normal to its central axis. The blade section
30 is preferably a regular polygon, but it could employ a number of
faces other than four, such as three, five, six, etc. The faces are
arrayed at equal angles about the central axis. Each of the faces
of the blade 30 is designed to provide a different impact factor
upon contact with a golf ball. The faces may differ in hardness,
rebound factor or the like. Different hardness and rebound factors
can be formed by making the faces of different materials and the
blade 30 is illustrated as having one face formed of the same as
the base material and other faces formed with conventional inserts
34 which fit within recesses 38 formed in the center of the face.
Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a rectangular blade may have three
inserts 34 formed in recesses 38 on three of its sides, and the
fourth side may be formed of the same base material as the blade.
For example, the blade may be formed of chrome steel and the
inserts may be formed of various densities of polymers such as
polyurethanes, Kevlar or the like, or metals such as titanium,
aluminum, sintered carbides, etc., or composites of fibers and
polymers. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a blade face insert may have
striations 39 or other formations formed on its surface to vary the
ball gripping properties of the insert. Alternative grooves could
be filled with different materials than the base insert. For
example, the base could be formed of aluminum with urethane
disposed in the grooves.
[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6, the end surfaces of the
blade 30 may be formed with equally spaced sections 40 which may be
depressions, extending tabs, or various combinations thereof. These
sections are arrayed symmetrically about the central axis of the
blade 30 and are adapted to mate with similar depressions or tabs
42 formed on the complementary vertical surfaces of the heel 28 and
the toe 36.
[0028] The blade 30 has a central circular hole 44 extending
entirely through the body about the central axis. A cylindrical
tubular weight 46, having an outer diameter complementary to the
inner diameter of the hole 44, is adapted to be inserted into the
hole and to receive, within its inner diameter, extending tubular
sections 48 and 50 which project from the central axis of the
mating surfaces of the heel 28 and toe 36 respectively. A smaller
diameter end of the section 48 projects into a central hole 49 in
the heel 28 and a similar formation on the section 50 projects into
a hole 51 in the toe 36. Thus the tubular weight 46 is disposed
within a blade section 30 and the sections 48 and 50 extend into
the exposed ends of the tube 46 and when they are brought into
abutment, the sections 42 on the toe and heel lock with the
sections 40 on the two ends of the blade 30 to prevent rotation of
the blade.
[0029] A bolt 60 having a head 62 at one end and a thread 64 at the
other end is adapted to pass through a central hole 66 formed
through the heel 28, through the central hole in the weight 46
nestled within the blade 30 and to thread into a complementary
female thread in a central aperture in the toe 36. By rotating the
fastener 62 through an appropriate groove formed in its head, the
toe and heel sections may be brought into abutment with the blade
30 and lock the blade in a chosen rotational position. By rotating
the bolt 60 in the opposite direction, the abutting sections 40 and
42 may be separated allowing the blade 30 to be rotated about its
central axis, relative to the heel 28 to present a different face
in ball-impacting position.
[0030] A compression spring 70 is supported over the fastener 60 so
as to be compressed between the inner side of the head 62 and an
abutting shoulder section of the heel 28 when the fastener 62 is in
a locked position. This maintains the tension on the bolt and
prevents accidental loosening or vibration during swing of the
club, and maintaining the parts of the head biased toward another
during rotation of the blade 30.
[0031] A conventional screwdriver or Allen wrench may be used to
tighten and loosen the fastener 62.
[0032] A club formed in accordance with FIG. 1 meets the standards
of the United States Golf Association in requiring a tool to change
the rotational position of the blade 30 and prevents it from being
changed during a round of golf. In other embodiments of the
invention which do not necessarily conform to USGA standards, the
club could be assembled so as to allow adjustment of the faces
without use of a tool.
[0033] Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.
7. The alternative embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG.
7 is much like the club illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 and like numbers
are used on similar parts. It differs from the embodiment of FIGS.
1-6 in that a pair of springs are employed, one 70 surrounding the
threaded fastener 60 between the abutting surfaces of the toe 36
and the blade 30, and a second 72 surrounding the threaded fastener
60 between the abutting surfaces of the heel 28 and the blade 30.
When the threaded fastener is released, these springs push the
blade 30 apart from the heel 28 and the toe 36 to allow easy
rotation of the blade 30 to change the impact face. Otherwise, the
embodiment is the same.
[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a club of the
present invention which differs from the other embodiments in
including two mallet sections 82 and 84 affixed to, or formed
integrally with, the toe 86 and heel 88 respectively. The two
sections 82 and 84 abut one another along a line 89 where the heel
and toe are brought into abutment to lock the blade 90 in a chosen
rotational position. The extending sections 82 and 84 give a weight
distribution and appearance to the putter that many golfers
prefer.
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates the sections in exploded form and
illustrates the manner in which an Allen wrench 92 may be used with
the threaded fastener 94 with an appropriate head, to join the
sections. The abutting contact line 89 of the two mallet sections
also provide an aiming line for a golfer using the putter.
[0036] FIG. 10 discloses another alternative embodiment of the
invention which employs a polygonal blade section 100 with inserts
102 on at least three of the faces so that a different impact
factor is provided on each face. The blade 100 includes apertures
104 on each face, any one of which can receive the end of an
extending shaft 106. This allows the shaft to join directly to the
blade, without any special heel section. By removing the shaft 106
from one of the apertures 102 and placing it in one of the other
such as 104, the blade 100 can be rotated relative to the shaft 106
to provide a different impact surface.
[0037] FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the invention in
which a regular polygonal head section 110 with plural faces
providing different impact factors is joined to a heel section 112
extending at a lie angle denoted as "L" to a shaft 114. A pair of
threaded cylindrical recesses 116 and 118 are formed in the forward
end of the head 110 and in the rear of the heel 112, both on the
center line of the head. Cylindrical weights 120 and 122, threaded
on their outer diameters, may be inserted into the recesses 116 and
118 respectively to accomplish weighting of the putter. The weights
120 and 122 may be made available in a variety of lengths or
densities to allow adjustment of the weighting.
[0038] The weight 122 has a central hole 124, which allows a bolt
126 to pass through a central hole 128 in the heel 112,
communicating with the recess 118, and tlread into a recess 130 in
the head 110. The bolt may be loosened to allow rotation of the
head 112 about its central axis to present a putting face with a
chosen impact factor and then tightened to secure the head relative
to the heel.
* * * * *