U.S. patent application number 13/476005 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-23 for golf club.
The applicant listed for this patent is Brian Uvena. Invention is credited to Brian Uvena.
Application Number | 20130130822 13/476005 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48427469 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130130822 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uvena; Brian |
May 23, 2013 |
Golf Club
Abstract
The present invention is an improved golf club intended to be
used for chipping. The club is a long-shafted iron with a
wedge-type head having a high lie angle and an extended grip. When
used is a pendulum fashion like a long shaft putter, the club's
head has a greater chance of staying within the desired impact zone
during the swing. The club according to the invention comprises a
club head with a lie angle of at least about 64 degrees, preferably
about 67 degrees, most preferably about 72 degrees, a shaft, and a
grip, the overall length of the club at least about 44-inches.
Inventors: |
Uvena; Brian; (Huntington,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Uvena; Brian |
Huntington |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48427469 |
Appl. No.: |
13/476005 |
Filed: |
May 20, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61488465 |
May 20, 2011 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0408 20200801;
A63B 53/14 20130101; A63B 2053/0479 20130101; A63B 53/047 20130101;
A63B 60/00 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/282 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20060101
A63B053/00 |
Claims
1. A golf club comprising: a wedge-type club head with an at least
about 58 degree loft, said club head having a heel, a sole, and a
hosel; a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal
end of said shaft fixedly attached to said hosel of said club head;
a grip fixedly attached to said proximal end of said shaft; wherein
the lie angle of said club is at least about 64 degrees; and
wherein said length of said club is at least about 44-inches.
2. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein said lie angle is at
least about 67 degrees.
3. A golf club according to claim 2, wherein said length of said
club is at least about 48 inches.
4. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein said lie angle is at
least about 72 degrees.
5. A golf club according to claim 2, wherein said length of said
club is at least about 48 inches.
6. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein said grip covers at
least about one half of the length of said shaft.
7. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein said grip covers the
middle of the length of said shaft.
8. A golf club according to claim 7, further comprising a second
grip fixedly attached to the center of said shaft.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/488,465 filed on May 20, 2011 which
is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety by reference
thereto.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an improved golf
club. More particularly, the present invention is an improved
chipping iron comprising a wedge type club head with a long shaft.
The present invention helps golfers improve their golf scores by
making, among a variety of other shots, short distance chip shots
easier with less chance for miss-hitting the ball.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Golf has become an immensely popular sport in the past
decades among both men and women of all ages. The sport is played
by people of varying skill levels, from novices to golf
professionals. The basic objective of golf is to hit the golf ball
into a hole in as few hits (strokes) as possible using several
different types of gold clubs. Each hole on a golf course is
different presenting the golfer with various obstacles along the
way and requiring many different types of shots. In addition, golf
courses vary in their levels of difficulty due to their layouts,
including the grading of the land (e.g. hills), and the existence
of various obstacles such as coarse grass, sand traps, lakes,
trees, etc. Over the years, technological advancements have been
made in club technology to help a golfer improve their score. Those
advancements include improved materials of construction for the
club heads, shafts and grips, inserts within club heads, improved
club head shapes and configurations, etc.
[0004] Golfers use several golf clubs during the course of a golf
game depending on the shot at hand, including woods, irons, wedges
and putters. Club selection is based upon the location on the golf
course where the ball is being played from, the lie of the ball
(e.g. on the fairway, in the rough, in a sand trap, on the green),
the desired shot distance, the desired ball flight trajectory,
and/or the need to avoid obstacles. One shot in particular that the
present invention helps with is the chip shot, typically utilized
in close proximity to the green to get the golf ball onto the green
and, most preferably, into the hole but at least as close as
possible. Most golfers use a pitching wedge or a sand wedge, and
sometimes lower irons (7, 8 or 9-irons), for chip shots depending
upon the distance to the hole, the hole location, the length of
green before the hole, the ball lie, etc. As for other golf shots,
a great deal of practice is needed for a golfer to become good at
chipping the ball. For chipping, one particular aspect of the chip
shot difficult for golfers is the hand and wrist action. Sometimes
it is preferred to have little wrist action and at other times it
is desirable to use a large amount of wrist action. Unfortunately,
maintaining the proper form and the desired positioning to properly
strike the ball has proven to be a difficult task for many golfers,
especially novices at the sport.
[0005] A properly executed chip shot results in the ball popping
into the air, landing on the ground (most often the green) and
rolling forward to or into the hole. More often that desired,
especially for the less experienced golfer, the shot is chucked,
flubbed, sliced, fat, thin, or otherwise miss-hit (not hitting the
ball with the sweet spot on the club face or hitting the ball with
the club face open of closed) which ultimately increases the
golfer's score.
[0006] Applicant has invented, and there is a need for, an improved
chipping club that will allow golfers to more consistently hit
these around the green chip shots with less chance for
miss-hitting. An improved club that provides more control for chip
shots and less chance for error during the golf shot. The present
invention increases the likelihood that the club head stays within
a consistent impact zone with respect to the ball during the shot
and reduces the chance for undesired hand and body movements that
typically cause undesirable shots.
[0007] Using the golf club according to the present invention
results in more consistent chip shots by increasing the likelihood
that the club head stays within a consistent impact zone with
respect to the ball.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is a new and improved golf club. While
the invention will be described in connection with certain
embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not
limited to those embodiments. To the contrary, the invention
includes all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be
included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0009] The lie of a golf club is the angle in degrees between the
center line of the club head's hosel and the sole of the club head
when the sole is touching the ground at the center of the club face
scoring area. Standard irons have a lie angle ranging from about 56
degrees for a 1-iron, up to about 63 degrees for a 9-iron. The lie
angle for a standard wedge is generally between about 63.5 and 64
degrees. The loft of a golf club head is a measurement, in degrees,
of the angle at which the face of the club lies relative to a
perfectly vertical face represented by the club's shaft. Standard
irons have a loft ranging from about 14 degrees for a 1-iron, up to
about 55 degrees for a sand wedge, up to about 60 degrees for a lob
wedge. The lengths of clubs decrease as the loft increases. For
standard irons, lengths are about 40 inches for a 1-iron down to
about 35 inches for a sand wedge. According to current USGA rules
and regulations, except for putters, the maximum club length is 48
inches. This rule helps even the competitive playing field because
the longer clubs generally produce greater forces and thus longer
golf shots, particularly for the drivers and higher irons.
Accordingly, even for very tall golfers with custom made clubs at
the maximum length for the high irons, if the 1-iron is the maximum
48-inch length, the wedges are about 43-inches.
[0010] Applicant has surprisingly discovered a new golf club for
chip shots to be used in the same manner as a long shaft putter
which improves consistency and significantly decreases the chance
for miss-hits. The present invention is an iron on a long shaft,
more specifically, a wedge iron with a high lie angle (greater than
64 degrees) on a long shaft (for an overall club length greater
than 44-inches) and with a long grip. When used in a pendulum
fashion with one end of the grip against the golfer's body, the
chip shot is easier.
[0011] The invention is a golf club comprising a golf club head, a
shaft fixedly connected to the golf club head and a grip fixedly
connected to the shaft. The golf club has a proximal end at the
grip end and a distal end at the wedge end. The golf club head is
comprised of a club face, a top line, a leading edge, a trailing
edge, a sole, a heel, and a toe. The golf club head is further
comprised of a hosel which is typically, but need not be, located
and connected to the club head's heel.
[0012] In the preferred embodiment, the club loft is about 58
degrees although a variety of loft angles may be used with the
invention, including but not limited to anywhere between about 55
to 60, up to and above 65 degrees. The lie of the club according to
the invention is at least about 64 degrees, preferably about 67
degrees, most preferably about 72 degrees.
[0013] The golf club head is fixedly attached to the distal end of
the shaft at the club head's hosel. The hosel of the present
invention is generally cylindrical in shape and includes an
internal hosel cavity in which the distal end of the club shaft is
inserted for purposes of mounting the club head on the club shaft.
The internal dimensions of the hosel cavity are about complementary
to the external dimensions of the club shaft's distal end so that
when the distal end of the club shaft is inserted into the hosel
cavity the two form a friction fit. Alternatively, the shaft may be
fastened to the hosel using adhesives, fasteners, fusion or other
methods know in the art.
[0014] The present invention also includes a grip fixedly attached
to the shaft. The grip is about cylindrical in shape with one of
its ends being open and the other end being closed or capped. When
first installed, the grip slides over one end of the shaft into
position on the shaft and unlike other iron grips presently known
and used, the grip length is much longer allowing for gripping at
about the midway point of the shaft where the golfer grips the club
with the second hand. Alternatively, the grip may be two piece with
a first portion at about the midway point of the shaft and a second
portion at the proximal end of the shaft. The grip is made to slide
over the shaft and fit securely upon the outside surface of the
shaft not movable along the shaft during use of the club.
[0015] Applicant has discovered through experimentation that in the
preferred embodiment, the shaft is so dimensioned so that the
overall golf club length is at least about 44-inches in length,
customizable for specific golfers and for the specific lie and loft
of the wedge. Applicant has also discovered through experimentation
that normal wedge lie angles will not work. The lie angle of the
wedge needs to be higher, at least about 64 degrees.
[0016] When used, the proximal end of the club grip aligns with and
is put in contact with a pivot point on the golfer (e.g., the
golfer's chest) when the golfer is ready to hit the ball and
aligned with the wedge sole next to the ball. The shaft may be
tapered so that its diameter varies along its length.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with the general description of the
invention given above and the detailed description of an embodiment
given below, serve to explain the principles of the present
invention. Similar components of the devices are similarly numbered
for simplicity.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the
club according to the present invention with a wedge-type head
having a 58 degree loft and a 67 degree lie, and a 44-inch
length.
[0019] FIGS. 2-7 are front, top, left, right and bottom views of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of the club shown in
FIGS. 1-7.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a left side view of a portion of an embodiment of
the invention showing shaft axis Y-Y and loft angle "A" formed by
club face axis Z-Z
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment
of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 11 shows the measurement of the length of a club (L2)
using the USGA methodology.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of a portion of the club
according to another embodiment of the invention. The hosel of the
club according to this embodiment is about perpendicular to the
club head's sole, about 90-degrees.
[0025] FIG. 13 shows yet another embodiment of the invention, a
modified version of the one shown in FIG. 12, here with the shaft
bent.
[0026] FIG. 14 is front elevation view of a portion of a club
according to another embodiment of the invention. The hosel of the
club according to this embodiment is about 117 degrees as measured
from the non-golfer side of the club, 73-degrees as measured from
the golfer side of the club.
[0027] FIG. 15 show yet another embodiment of the invention with a
90-degree lie.
[0028] FIGS. 16 and 17 show yet another embodiment of the invention
with a wedge-type head having a 58 degree loft and a 64 degree lie,
having a multi-angled shaft.
[0029] FIGS. 18 and 19 show a righty golfer holding and using an
embodiment of the invention with the proximal end of the club held
in the golfer's left hand against a spot on the golfer's chest and
the right hand separated from the left hand on the club holding the
grip (and shaft and club) at about the middle of club's length.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with the general description of the
invention given above and the detailed description of an embodiment
given below, serve to explain the principles of the present
invention. Similar components of the devices are similarly numbered
for simplicity.
[0031] Referring to the Figures, one embodiment of the golf club 50
according to the present invention for right handed golfers is
shown in FIGS. 1-8 having a proximal end 30 and a distal end 40
comprising a shaft 10, a grip 20 and a club head 1. The length L2
of the club (measured as shown in FIG. 11) according to the present
invention is approximately about 44 inches in length. The length L2
of the club 50 according to the invention may be varied, although a
length L2 at least about 44-inches is preferred, most preferably at
least about 48-inches. It is understood that the invention may also
be configured for use by a left handed user.
[0032] When viewed facing club head 1, the club head 1 has a front,
a rear, a top, a bottom, a right and a left side. The club head 1
is comprised of a toe 5, a heel 7, a face 4, a top line 3, a
leading edge 6, a sole 19, a trailing edge 18, a back 8 and a hosel
2 as identified in FIGS. 8 and 9. The top line 3 is along the top
of the club head 1. The leading edge 6 is along the bottom edge of
the club head 1 and along the bottom portion of the club face 4.
The toe 5 is located along the left side of the club head 1 and the
heel 7 is located along the club head's 1 right side.
[0033] The club face 4 is an about flat surface found on the front
side of the club head 1. Axis Z-Z runs along the flat surface plane
of club face 4 as shown in FIG. 9. Club face 4 is the surface with
which the golf ball makes contact when using the club to strike the
ball. In the embodiments shown in the Figures the club face 4
includes linear grooves 11 of varying lengths across its surface
between the toe 5 and heel 7, it being understood that the
invention includes various other groove configurations and surfaces
for the club face 4 as known in the art. Generally, the club face
grooves 11 help spin the golf ball. Likewise, the club head face 4
may be made so as not to be completely flat, instead having a
curve(s), recess(es), dimple(s) or bump(s). The present invention
also includes a wedge further comprising an insert on the face of
the club in the club's preferred striking area similar to an insert
on a putter.
[0034] The hosel 2 part of the club head 1 is an about cylindrical
structure located on the right side of the club head 1 as shown in
the Figures, particularly FIG. 8. In the embodiments shown in all
but FIGS. 15 and 16, the hosel 2 is positioned on the heel 7 of
club head 1. Other embodiments of the invention include a hosel
positioned at other locations on the club head 1 which is made
possible only because of the manner of use of the invention, not
being swung like a normal iron. In the embodiments shown in FIG. 15
the hosel 2 is positioned about centrally behind club face 4 of the
club head 1 and in FIG. 16 the hosel 2 is positioned offset from
the heel 7. Alternatively, the hosel may be positioned on the left
side of the club head 1 near the toe 5 as well as other positions
on the club head 1 (e.g. on the back 8, side, top or bottom of club
head 1).
[0035] The hosel 2 includes an aperture (cavity) within which the
shaft is inserted and fixedly secured. The hosel cavity is about
cylindrical in shape and extends into the interior of the hosel 2.
The hosel cavity may have a smooth internal surface or
alternatively it may include ridges, tabs, protrusions or a coarse
texture to facilitate the fastening of club head 1 to club shaft
10. The hosel cavity may also include threads which are
complementary to those that may be found on the distal end of the
club shaft 10. The internal dimensions of the hosel cavity are
about complementary to the external dimensions of the distal end of
the club shaft 10, so that when the distal end of club shaft 10 is
fitted within the hosel cavity, there is a friction fit between the
hosel cavity's internal surface and the external surfaces of the
club shaft's distal end.
[0036] Axis Y-Y runs along the longitudinal length of hosel 2 and
shaft 10 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The hosel 2 may also be made so
as to be curved or bent along its entire or part of its length. For
straight shaft irons, the angle "B" between the longitudinal axis
Y-Y of the shaft 10 and Axis X-X at the sole of the club is equal
to the angle "B" of the hosel 2 on club head 1. This is the lie of
the club. For the present invention, the lie angle B is at least
about 64 degrees, preferably at least about 67 degrees and most
preferably at least about 72 degrees. In some embodiments, the lie
angle B can be about 90 degrees (the Y-Y axis perpendicular to Axis
X-X as shown in FIG. 12), bent inward toward top line 3 at an angle
of 117 degrees as shown in FIG. 14), or a variety of other
angles.
[0037] The present invention also includes a club head's with
different offsets. When the leading edge of a club face is set back
from the hosel the club is said to have offset, the distance
between the middle of the club's hosel 2 and the leading edge 6 of
club face 4. The club head 1 may also feature an adjustable
hosel/head, featuring a hinging, rotating or similar adjustment, to
allow the user to vary the lie angle B and loft angle A of the
club.
[0038] The bottom of the club head 1 features sole 19. Axis X-X
runs parallel to the bottommost about flat central area of sole 19.
The front of sole 19 shares the leading edge 6 with the bottom of
club face 4 as shown in FIG. 8. The back of sole 19 shares the
trailing edge 18 with the back 8 of club head 1 as shown in FIG.
9.
[0039] The club's loft angle A is the measurement in degrees
between Axis Y-Y and Axis Z-Z as shown in FIG. 9. While the
embodiments shown in the Figures show a wedge with an about 58
degree loft angle, the club according to the present invention is
not limited to a 58 degree loft angle. A variety of loft angles may
be used with the invention, including, but not limited to, loft
angles ranging from 55 to 65 degrees, and greater. Many other golf
club heads could also be used, including but not limited to ones
with a high loft, low loft and hybrids.
[0040] Other embodiments of the present invention may include club
heads which are weighted to adjust the golf club's swingweight, the
ratio of the weight of the club head to the grip end of the club.
Additional embodiments may include a golf club head whose top line
3 is straight across the club head from the top of the club head's
toe 5 to the top of the hosel 2 (not tapered away from the
hsoel).
[0041] The golf club's head 1 can be made of any one or more
materials (particularly when inserts are included) suitable for
manufacturing golf club heads, including but not limited to steel,
aluminum, titanium, etc, or any combination thereof. The golf club
head 1 may also be weighted or hollowed to change its weight.
[0042] The golf club head 1 is fixedly secured to the distal end of
club shaft 10 by threading the two components together, by welding
the distal end of club shaft 10 and hosel 2 of club head 1
together, by fusion, using adhesive, using a fastener(s), by
crimping the two together, or by any other method, or combination
thereof known in the art.
[0043] The club shaft 10 includes a proximal end and a distal end.
The shaft in the embodiment shown in Fhe figures is so dimensioned
so that the overall golf club length is at least about 44 inches
although it is understood that many variations of the shaft length
can be used to create clubs with different lengths. The length of
shaft 10 can also be modified to accommodate different golfers
according to their height and/or general preference. The club shaft
10 can also be made so as to be telescoping, allowing its length to
be increased or decreased by the user as needed or desired.
[0044] The club shaft 10 is about cylindrically shaped. The
diameter of the club shaft 10 may be uniform along its entire
length or tapered. Alternatively, the club shaft 10 may be made in
different shapes, including, for example, triangular, square,
rectangular, oval, octagonal, pentagonal, hexagonal, etc. The
distal end of the club shaft 10 is configured to fit within the
hosel cavity. Although the outer surface of the distal end of the
club shaft 10 is preferably smooth, it may also be made to include
ridges, notches, protrusions, tabs, a coarse surface, or any other
feature that will facilitate and strengthen the friction fit
between the club shaft 10 and the hosel cavity. The distal end of
club shaft 10 may also include threads which are complementary to
those that may be found in the hosel cavity.
[0045] Preferably, the club shaft 10 is about straight with Axis
Y-Y running along its longitudinal length. As the invention is not
intended to be swung with the same speed and force as conventional
irons, other embodiments of the invention may include club shafts
which are bent or curved along a portion(s) of their length to
allow the user's fingers to be positioned over or ahead of the golf
ball when preparing for or following through with a swing. The club
shaft 10 can also be modified in terms of its shape and/or
positioning to vary the club's offset and to make the club shaft 10
more ergonomic.
[0046] The club shaft 10 can be made of any material suitable for
manufacturing golf club shafts as known in the art, including but
not limited to steel, graphite, carbon fiber, titanium, etc.
[0047] The club grip 20 is about cylindrical in shape and features
a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the club grip
20 closest to the golfer is closed/capped, while the distal end
includes an opening into a grip cavity which is an about
cylindrical cavity that extends within the interior of club grip 20
along approximately the club grip's entire longitudinal length L1
as shown in FIG. 11. The interior surface of the club grip cavity
may include ridges, notches, protrusions, tabs, a coarse surface,
or any other feature that will facilitate and strengthen the
friction fit between club shaft 10 and club grip 20. The club grip
cavity may also include threads which are complementary to those
that may be found on the proximal end of club shaft 10.
[0048] The club grip 20 has a length L1 equal to approximately half
the length L1 of chipping golf club 50 so that the distal end of
grip 20 is positioned at approximately the longitudinal center of
shaft 10 (see FIG. 11). Alternatively, the invention includes
alternative configurations include those where the entire shaft is
gripped and where the grip is non-continuous along the length of
the shaft, being in two or more pieces along the shaft.
[0049] Although the club grip 20 in the present embodiment is
formed from rubber, it can also be made of any material suitable
known in the art for manufacturing golf club grips, including but
not limited to leather, rubber, or other similar synthetic and/or
natural materials. The club grip's exterior can be smooth, it can
be textured, and/or can feature grooves to assist with the user's
grip and hand/finger positioning. Additional modifications can be
made to the club grip to make it more ergonomic. The club grip may
also include flat surfaces along some or all of its exterior
surfaces. The length of the club grip can also be modified to
accommodate different golfers according to their height, swing
style and/or general preference. The golf grip 20 can be made to
slide up and down on the golf club shaft 10 to allow the user to
adjust the overall length of the chipping golf club 50. The club
grip 20 may also be segmented so that a portion of the grip is
mounted at about the midway point of the shaft 10 and a second
portion of the grip is mounted toward the proximal end of the shaft
10. The golf club grip 20 can also be mounted to the club shaft 10
at different angles with respect to the shaft, including but not
limited to being about perpendicular to the club shaft 10 (see FIG.
17). Other embodiments may include a club grip 20 which is weighted
to adjust the club's swingweight. Another possible embodiment may
include a club grip 20 which features a rollable ball or other
non-moving similarly curved structure (e.g., a half circle) at the
grip's proximal end to help ease the rotation of the club on the
golfer and reduce friction during the swung.
[0050] When using the golf club according to the present invention,
for right-handed golfers, the proximal end of the club is held in
the golfer's left hand and placed in contact with the golfer's
torso, preferably the chest with the golfer's left elbow pointed
towards the target. The left palm faces the golfer's chest. The
golfer's right hand grasps the grip on the shaft at about the
middle of the club with the right palm facing the target. FIGS. 18
and 19 show a golfer holding the invention. The opposite
orientation would apply for a left-handed golfer. The golfer
positions the distal end of the club, the wedge face in front of
the ball. The golfer uses the invention in a pendulum type
action/motion maintaining the left hand in one spot on the chest
while swinging the distal end of the club back away from the ball
and then forward toward the intended target thereby striking the
ball.
[0051] While the present invention has been illustrated by
description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of
applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended
claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications
will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in
its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific
details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly,
departures may be made from such details without departing from the
spirit or scope of Applicant's invention.
* * * * *