U.S. patent number 3,810,621 [Application Number 05/289,799] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-14 for hosel-less wood type golf club.
Invention is credited to Truett P. Mills.
United States Patent |
3,810,621 |
Mills |
May 14, 1974 |
HOSEL-LESS WOOD TYPE GOLF CLUB
Abstract
A wood type golf club having a club head with a frontal striking
surface, toe and heel portions, a bottom surface, and a top
surface, the club head having a shaft receiving opening in the top
surface at said heel portion and said top surface being a
continuation of the general contour of the club head from the toe
to the heel portions. The club head is provided on its bottom
surface with a sole plate which is associated with a shaft retainer
that is received in the shaft receiving opening in the club head. A
shaft is received in the shaft retainer and secured therein.
Inventors: |
Mills; Truett P. (Tuscaloosa,
AL) |
Family
ID: |
26755903 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/289,799 |
Filed: |
September 18, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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74656 |
Sep 23, 1970 |
3759517 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/309 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
60/00 (20151001); A63B 53/02 (20130101); A63B
53/04 (20130101); A63B 53/0466 (20130101); A63B
53/0416 (20200801); A63B 53/0433 (20200801) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
53/04 (20060101); A63B 53/02 (20060101); A63b
053/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/67C,77R,80.2,83,167 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Manning, Jr.; Wellington M.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A wood type golf club comprising:
a. a club head having a frontal striking surface, toe and heel
portions, a bottom surface and a top surface, said club head
defining a shaft receiving opening on said top surface at said heel
portion, said top surface having a continuous generally convex
contour from said toe to said heel portions;
b. a sole plate secured to said bottom surface, said sole plate
having a shaft receiving opening of a predetermined shape therein,
said shaft receiving opening in said sole plate being smaller than
said shaft receiving opening in said club head;
c. a shaft retainer received in said opening in said club head;
and
d. a shaft passing through said shaft retainer and being secured
therein, a lower portion of said shaft extending through said shaft
retainer having a cross section of a predetermined shape and being
received in said opening in said sole plate, said predetermined
shapes of said portion of said shaft and said opening cooperating
to preclude against rotation of said shaft with respect to said
club head.
2. The wood type golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein said sole
plate substantially covers the bottom of the club head.
3. The wood type golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft
receiving opening in the sole plate and the bottom cross section of
the shaft are rectangular.
4. The wood type golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft
receiving opening in the sole plate and the bottom cross section of
the shaft are triangular.
5. The wood type golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft
receiving opening in the sole plate and the bottom cross section of
the shaft are oval.
6. The wood type golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft
is adhesively secured within said shaft retainer.
7. The wood type golf club as defined in claim 6 wherein the
adhesive is an epoxy.
8. The wood type of golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein the
shaft is secured within said shaft retainer by a pin.
9. The wood type golf club as defined in claim 1 comprising further
a member received around said shaft and resting atop and being
secured to said club head.
10. The wood type golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft
retainer abuts the sole plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present application is a division of an application filed in
Sept. 23, 1970, entitled "Hosel-less Wood Type Golf Club" Ser. No.
74,656, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,759,517.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Golf club design and manufacturing techniques have continued to
improve throughout the years from the old wooden clubs employing a
wood head and a wood shaft secured thereto to today's solid or
laminated club head with a light metal alloy shaft or the like
secured thereto. These clubs have been continually improved to
provide more durable clubs, while aerodynamics has been given great
consideration in club head design to improve efficiency of the
clubs. Moreover, clubs are now custom made for the individual to
provide proper weight, shaft flexibility, shaft length, and the
like.
Other than a streamlined design, however, club head design has not
progressed materially. Instead, club head design has become
accepted as a standard, and developmental efforts have been
directed to materials of construction. As set forth in the above
referred to parent application, there is tremendous advantage to be
had in removing the hosel area from the wood-type golf clubs. The
term wood-type golf club does not necessarily refer to materials of
construction, but to a type of golf club having an enlarged club
head as opposed to a blade-type club head as is found in golf irons
and putters.
The hosel area of the club head is that area on the club head that
extends upwardly therefrom at the heel and, in some manner,
receives the shaft. Removal of the hosel area has resulted in
improvement in several areas. First, a substantial reduction is
realized in the amount of wood or other material required to
produce the club head. Secondly, the process for manipulating the
raw materials during the manufacture of the club head is both
shortened and simplified. Thirdly, removal of the hosel area from
the club head greatly lessens the tendency of the club to develop
torque during swinging, the result of which reduces the tendency of
the club to twist out of the desired path of travel. Hence, the
chances for the golfer to improve his game are greatly enhanced.
Further, removal of the hosel area has directly attributed to
improvement of the efficiency, i.e., distance obtained by the golf
club during use. A further very important advantage is the fact
that by removal of the hosel area from the club head, club head
design and club assembly techniques may now expand to horizons
heretofore unknown.
The parent application, in addition to teaching the hosel-less club
head, discloses a sole plate and shaft retainer as are taught
herein. The parent application, however, teaches the shaft retainer
to be integral with or secured to the inner face of the sole plate
while the instant application teaches an association
therebetween.
The present invention thus extens beyond the original invention to
provide a wood-type golf club having a club head with improved
aerodynamic properties, all of the advantages discussed above with
respect to the golf club disclosed and claimed in the parent
application and different assembly techniques. It has now been
determined that it is not necessary to secure the shaft retainer to
the inner face of the sole plate. Instead, various and sundry
arrangements may be employed wherein the shaft retainer is
associated with the sole plate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a wood-type
golf club having a club head with the hosel are removed and in
which the shaft is attached to the club head by a shaft
retainer-sole plate arrangement.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a wood-type
golf club having a club head to which a shaft is secured at a heel
portion within a shaft retainer where the shaft retainer is
associated with a sole plate.
Still further, another object of the present invention is to
provide a wood-type golf club which develops substantially less
torque than conventional golf clubs.
Still further, another object of the present invention is to
provide a golf club which permits a vast expansion in the area of
club head design and improve the manufacturing process for the club
head.
Generally speaking, the wood-type golf club of the present
invention comprises a club head having a frontal striking surface,
toe and heel portions, a bottom surface, and a top surface, said
club head further defining a shaft receiving opening on said top
surface at said heel portion, said top surface being a continuation
of the general contour of the club head from said toe to said heel
portions; a sole plate secured to said bottom surface; a shaft
retainer associated with said sole plate and being received in said
shaft receiving opening, and a shaft received in said shaft
receiving opening and secured therein.
More specifically, the present invention is directed to a golf club
having a club head that has no upward projection or neck in which a
shaft is normally received. The club head instead receives a shaft
retainer in the heel portion thereof with the shaft retainer being
operatively associated with a sole plate secured to the bottom
surface of the club head. The shaft retainer is not integrally
secured to the sole plate by welding, brasing, or the like, but is
merely associated with the sole plate in some fashion.
One preferred means of association between the shaft retainer and
the sole plate is to provide a sole plate having an opening therein
in which a mating section of the shaft or shaft retainer resides so
as to preclude rotation thereof. As such, the opening in the sole
plate generally is non-circular and preferably is square,
triangular, oval, or the like. In fact, the opening could be of any
shape. If a circular opening is provided, then though the
connection will provide additional solidarity to the shaft-club
head connection, the shaft or shaft retainer should additionally be
pinned or otherwise secured within the shaft retainer receiving
opening against rotation. Hence, when the lower end of the shaft or
shaft retainer is received within a non-circular shaped opening in
the sole plate, the shaft will be precluded from rotation with
respect to the sole plate in the event the shaft, once secured
within the shaft retainer is twisted.
Many methods are available for securing the shaft retainer within
the club head and for securing the shaft within the shaft retainer.
For example, suitable adhesives such as epoxies may be employed
alone or in conjunction with pins or screws. Threaded connection
may also be employed and is preferred for securement between the
shaft and the shaft retainer. In other words, any suitable means
may be employed that will securely unite the various members of the
club.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a conventional golf club
employing a club head having a normal hosel and a sole plate
affixed to the bottom of the club.
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a portion of a golf club
according to the teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a golf club produced according to the
teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of a golf club showing a
further embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a golf club showing
another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a club head having no hosel according
to the teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a club head having no hosel
according to the teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of a club head having no hosel
according to the teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a sole plate according to the
teachings of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a sole plate having a shaft retainer
associated therewith according to the teachings of the present
invention.
FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a sole plate having a shaft
retainer associated therewith according to a further embodiment of
the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a top view of a golf club shaft retainer according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of a sole plate having a four
way roll and having a shaft retainer associated therewith.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a conventional wood-type golf
club as shown in the prior art, generally indicated as 15. This
conventional golf club has a hosel 16 that has been formed thereon
to receive a shaft 17. Additionally, a frontal striking area 18 and
a sole plate 19 are also shown. In the conventional sense, the sole
plate 19 serves no purpose other than reducing wear on the bottom
surface of the slub head. A hole must be drilled into the hosel 16
of the conventional club head 15 into which the shaft 17 is
inserted. The connection therefore is between the wooden club head
15 and metal shaft 17 which can be split, broken or worn in the
hosel area which has only a thin shell of wood therearound. Such
wear and tear accounts for some ninety-five per cent of the damage
that occurs to golf clubs. Further, a plastic sleeve or ferrule 21
generally overlies the hosel and conforms to the taper of the hosel
or provides a continuation of the taper of the hosel. Sleeve 21, in
some cases, is, however, replaced with a thread wrapping.
FIG. 2 comparatively illustrates a golf club produced according to
the present invention to that of the prior art as shown in FIG. 1.
The golf club of the present invention is provided with a club head
generally indicated as 20 that has no pre-formed hosel area.
Instead, club head 20 is provided with a frontal striking surface
22, a toe portion 23, a heel portion 24, a bottom surface 25 and a
top surface 26. As can best be seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the club
head according to the present invention has a shaft opening 27 in
the top surface 26. Note, however, that the top surface does not
turn upwardly to form a hosel, but is a continuation of the general
contour of the club head from the toe portion 23 to the heel
portion 24.
Removal of the hosel or neck area of the club head 20 thus
substantially reduces the amount of wood or other desired material
that is required to produce the club head. Moreover, historically,
golf club manufacturers have been limited in design and
manufacturing techniques by the hosel or neck. Now, however, club
head design may expand into horizons heretofore unknown. For
example, a symmetrical club head may be manufactured which would
permit use of the club head for the manufacture of a right hand or
left hand club. The shaft receiving opening would just be drilled
on the opposite side of the club head for a left hand club.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3.
The club head 20 is provided with a shaft receiving opening 27
extending therethrough at an angle. A sole plate 32, as may best be
seen in FIG. 9, has a plurality of fastening member openings 33
therein and a shaft retainer receiving opening 35 therein. Sole
plate 32 is secured to the bottom surface 25 of club head 20 by a
plurality of fastening members 34 such as screws which are received
in openings 33. A shaft retainer 31 is received in opening 27 of
club head 20 and is secured therein in any suitable manner such as
by adhesives. Shaft retainer 31 is shown to have internal threads
37 extending therealong. For a right hand club, left hand threads
37 should be employed and for a left hand club, right hand threads
37 should be employed.
Sole plate 32 has a receiving opening 35 as set forth above.
Opening 35 preferably has a non-circular shape. Likewise, the
bottom cross section 31' of shaft retainer 31 should have a
non-circular or other shape that matches and snugly fits opening
35. A tight fit between the shaft retainer 31 and opening 35 of
sole plate 32 or shaft 40 (as described hereinafter) and opening 35
is preferred. Hence, when shaft retainer 31 is in place, the bottom
31' thereof will reside within and mate with opening 35 of sole
plate 32. As such, when sole plate 32 is secured to the bottom
surface 25 of club head 20, relative rotation between shaft
retainer 31 and club head 20 is precluded. While any shape is
suitable, a circular shape is not as suitable for opening 35 and
bottom 31' of shaft retainer 31, as are an oval, triangular or
rectangular shape which are preferred. A shaft 40 is received
within shaft retainer 31 as shown in FIG. 3. Shaft 40 is shown to
have threads 41 along the lower end thereof. Threads 41 of shaft 40
are received by threads 37 of shaft retainer 31 so as to secure
shaft 40 to club head 20. As mentioned above, however, any suitable
means may be employed to secure shaft 40 to club head 20. To finish
the golf club, a metal or plastic ferrule, washer or the like 42
may be placed over shaft 40 and secured to club head 20 around
shaft receiving opening 27.
A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
FIG. 4. A club head 420 is shown having a shaft receiving opening
427 therein, and a sole plate 432 secured to the bottom surface 425
thereof. The receiving opening 435 in sole plate 432 receives a
like shaped end 441 of a shaft 440 instead of a shaft retainer 431.
Opening 435 in sole plate 432 and lower end 441 of shaft 440 may be
any shape as discussed above, but are preferably non-circular in
shape as to prevent relative rotation between shaft 440 and club
head 420. Hence, shaft retainer 431 merely abuts sole plate 432 and
is not secured thereto, though it is not necessary for shaft
retainer 431 to even abut sole plate 432. Shaft retainer 431 is
shown to have a smooth inner surface 437 while shaft 440 is
likewise smooth along its length. Hence, shaft 440 may be secured
within shaft retainer 431 by adhesive, pins or the like.
FIG. 5 shows still a further embodiment of the present invention.
Club head 520 is shown to have a shaft receiving opening 527
therein. A sole plate 532 is shown secured to the bottom surface
525 of club head 520 by a plurality of screws 534. A shaft retainer
531 is received withn opening 527 of club head 520 and suitably
secured therein. Shaft retainer 531 is shown to have a smooth inner
surface 537 in which a shaft 540 resides. Shaft 540 is secured
within shaft retainer 531 and club head 520 by a countersunk pin or
screw 539. Screw 539 is headless and after being countersunk, the
remaining space therebehind is filled in with a suitable filler to
smooth the surface of the club head. In FIG. 5, shaft 540 is
illustrated as passing through retainer 531 and abutting sole plate
532. There may, however, be no connection between sole plate 532
and shaft 540 or retainer 531. As such, sole plate 532 prevents
club head 520 from splitting in the event of shock thereto.
As may be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, the sole plate 32 may have a
projection 32' extending upwardly therefrom. Projection 32' is of a
shape that mates with a like shaped inner surface 31' of shaft
retainer 31 to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Further sole
plate 32 may have any shape or roll according to the desired shape
wanted for the bottom of the club head. It is, however, an
advantage for the woods, especially the fairway woods, to employ a
sole plate having a four-way roll as shown in FIG. 13.
Removal of the hosel or neck area from the club head also removes
weight from the heel portion of the club head. Hence, weight may
now be better distributed behind the hitting area of the club head
to improve the balance of the club. Further, the golf clubs
produced according to the teachings of the present invention will
also be much easier to repair in the event of damage thereto than
the presently available clubs.
Having described the present invention in detail, it is obvious
that one skilled in the art will be able to make modifications and
adaptations thereto without departing from the scope of the
invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should
be governed by the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *