U.S. patent number RE38,717 [Application Number 09/614,706] was granted by the patent office on 2005-03-22 for golf club.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Parallel Axis Golf. Invention is credited to Charles R. Bothwell.
United States Patent |
RE38,717 |
Bothwell |
March 22, 2005 |
Golf club
Abstract
A golf club includes a club head and a club shaft attached to
the club head. A plurality of bends which are spaced from one
another are formed in the club shaft to define a straight first
club shaft segment, a second club shaft segment adjoining and
connected to the first club shaft segment extending upwardly from
and laterally relative to the first club shaft segment, and a third
club shaft segment adjoining and connected to the second club shaft
segment and extending upwardly from the laterally relative to the
second club shaft segment. The first club shaft segment and the
third club shaft segment extend along spaced imaginary lines and
the club head is closer to the golfer swinging the golf club than
would be the case if the club shaft were straight along the length
thereof.
Inventors: |
Bothwell; Charles R. (Newport
Beach, CA) |
Assignee: |
Parallel Axis Golf (Orange,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
34279036 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/614,706 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
572637 |
Dec 14, 1995 |
5616087 |
|
|
Reissue of: |
725295 |
Oct 2, 1996 |
05792002 |
Aug 11, 1998 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/316; 473/244;
473/288; 473/313 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
53/10 (20130101); A63B 60/00 (20151001); A63B
60/22 (20151001); A63B 53/007 (20130101); A63B
60/06 (20151001); A63B 53/021 (20200801); A63B
53/14 (20130101); A63B 53/005 (20200801); A63B
60/34 (20151001); A63B 60/10 (20151001); A63B
60/08 (20151001) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
53/00 (20060101); A63B 53/14 (20060101); A63B
53/10 (20060101); A63B 53/02 (20060101); A63B
53/16 (20060101); A63B 053/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;473/316,323,287,288,314,298,299,289,292,294,313 ;273/81.3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Graham; Mark S.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reed; Randall L. Levin &
O'Connor
Parent Case Text
This Application is a continuation-in-part application based on
application Ser. No. 08/572,637, filed Dec. 14, 1995, now U.S. Pat.
No. 5,616,087.
Claims
I claim:
1. A golf club comprising, in combination: a club head having a
golf ball engaging surface; a club shaft attached to said club head
and extending upwardly from said club head, said club shaft
including a substantially straight first club shaft segment
extending upwardly from said club head along a first imaginary
line, a second club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said
first club shaft segment and extending upwardly and laterally
relative to said first club shaft segment, a substantially straight
third club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said second
club shaft segment at a location spaced from said first club shaft
segment and extending upwardly from said second club shaft segment,
a fourth club shaft segment connected to said third club shaft
segment and extending upwardly and laterally relative to said third
club shaft segment, and a substantially straight fifth club shaft
segment connected to and extending upwardly from said fourth club
shaft segment along a second imaginary line spaced d from said
first imaginary line; and an elongated club handle connected to
said fifth club shaft segment, said club handle being offset
relative to said first club shaft segment, and said first imaginary
line intersecting the ground at a location closer to a golfer
holding the golf club by said club handle and swinging the golf
club to strike a golf ball than the location of intersection
between said second imaginary line and the ground at the time of
golf ball contact by said golf ball engaging surface.
2. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein said club shaft is of
non-integral, multi-piece construction and wherein at least one of
said second and fourth club shaft segments comprises an insert
connected to the remainder of said club shaft.
3. A golf club comprising, in combination: a club head having a
substantially planar golf ball engaging surface; a club shaft
attached to said club head and extending upwardly from said club
head, said club shaft including a substantially straight first club
shaft segment extending upwardly from said club head along a first
imaginary line, a substantially straight second club shaft segment
adjoining and connected to said first club shaft segment at a lower
bend extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said first
club shaft segment from said lower bend and defining an angle of
divergence with said first club shaft segment at said lower bend,
and a substantially straight third club shaft segment adjoining and
connected to said second club shaft segment at an upper bend spaced
from said first club shaft segment and extending upwardly from and
laterally relative to said second club shaft segment from said
upper bend and from said second club shaft segment along second
imaginary line spaced from and substantially parallel said first
imaginary line, said third club shaft segment and said second club
shaft segment defining an angle of divergence substantially equal
to the angle of divergence defined by said first club shaft segment
and said second club shaft segment, said angles being within the
range of from about 3 degrees to about 47 degrees; and an elongated
club handle connected to said third club shaft segment at a
location spaced from said second club shaft segment, said club
handle having a distal end and being offset relative to said first
club shaft segment, and said first imaginary line intersecting the
ground at a location closer to a golfer holding the golf club by
said club handle and swinging the golf club to move said first club
shaft segment in a swing plane substantially at right angles to
said substantially planar golf ball engaging surface to strike a
golf ball than the location of intersection between said second
imaginary line and the ground at the time of golf ball contact by
said golf ball engaging surface, said handle inclined relative to
said first club shaft segment and defining an angle of inclination
with said first club shaft segment of no more than about five
degrees.
4. A golf club comprising, in combination: a club head having a
substantially planar golf ball engaging surface; a club shaft
attached to said club head and extending upwardly from said club
head, said club shaft including a substantially straight first club
shaft segment extending upwardly from said club head along a first
imaginary line, a substantially straight second club shaft segment
adjoining and connected to said first club shaft segment at a lower
bend extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said first
club shaft segment from said lower bend and defining an angle of
divergence with said first club shaft segment at said lower bend,
and a substantially straight third club shaft segment adjoining and
connected to said second club shaft segment at an upper bend spaced
from said first club shaft segment and extending upwardly from and
laterally relative to said second club shaft segment from said
upper bend and from said second club shaft segment along second
imaginary line spaced from and substantially parallel said first
imaginary line, said third club shaft segment and said second club
shaft segment defining an angle of divergence substantially equal
to the angle of divergence defined by said first club shaft segment
and said second club shaft segment, said angles being within the
range of from about 3 degrees to about 47 degrees; and an elongated
club handle connected to said third club shaft segment at a
location spaced from said second club shaft segment, said club
handle having a distal end .[.and being offset relative to said
first club shaft segment.]. , and said first imaginary line
intersecting the ground at a location closer to a golfer holding
the golf club by said club handle and swinging the golf club to
move said first club shaft segment in a swing plane substantially
at right angles to said substantially planar golf ball engaging
surface to strike a golf ball than the location of intersection
between said second imaginary line and the ground at the time of
golf ball contact by said golf ball engaging surface, said second
club shaft segment inclined at an offset angle whereby said first
and third club shaft segments are offset by said second club shaft
segment and are not aligned in a plane orthogonal to said swing
plate.
5. The golf club according to claim 4 wherein said offset angle is
within the range of from about one degree to about five
degrees..Iadd.
6. A golf club comprising, in combination: a club head having a
substantially planar golf ball engaging surface; a club shaft
attached to said club head and extending upwardly from said club
head, said club shaft including a substantially straight first club
shaft segment extending upwardly from said club head along a first
imaginary line, a substantially straight second club shaft segment
during adjoining and connected to said first club shaft segment at
a lower bend extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said
first club shaft segment from said lower bend and defining an angle
of divergence with said first club shaft segment at said lower
bend, and a substantially straight third club shaft segment
adjoining and connected to said second club shaft segment at an
upper bend spaced from said first club shaft segment and extending
upwardly from and laterally relative to said second club shaft
segment from said upper bend and from said second club shaft
segment along a second imaginary line spaced from and substantially
parallel said first imaginary line, said third club shaft segment
and said second club shaft segment defining an angle of divergence
substantially equal to the angle of divergence defined by said
first club shaft segment and said second club shaft segment, said
angles being within the range of from about 3 degrees to about 47
degrees and wherein the length of said second shaft segment between
said lower and upper bends being in the range of from about one
quarter inch to about five inches; and an elongated club handle
connected to said third club shaft segment at a location spaced
from said second club shaft segment, said club handle having a
distal end, and said first imaginary line intersecting the ground
at a location closer to a golfer holding the golf club by said club
handle and swinging the golf club to move said first club shaft
segment in a swing plane substantially at right angles to said
substantially planar golf ball engaging surface to strike a golf
ball than the location of intersection between said second
imaginary line and the ground at the time of golf ball contact by
said golf ball engaging surface, said handle, said first club shaft
segment, said second club shaft segment and said third club shaft
segment form a plane that is not aligned in a plane orthogonal to
the swing plane of the golf club. .Iaddend..Iadd.
7. A golf club comprising: a golf club head with a substantially
planar golf ball engaging surface; a golf club shaft with: a first
shaft segment attached to and extending up from said golf club head
along a first imaginary line, to a first bend; a second shaft
segment extending off at said first bend from said first shaft
segment at a first predetermined angle of divergence to a second
bend; a third shaft segment extending along a second imaginary
line, off at said second bend from said second shaft segment at a
second predefined angle of divergence; wherein said first and
second predefined angles of divergence vary from 3 degrees to about
47 degrees; wherein said first imaginary line of said first shaft
segment is parallel to said second imaginary line of said third
shaft segment and said golf club shaft is positioned with respect
to said golf club head such that an extension of said second
imaginary line towards said golf club head projects to a position
closer to a center of said golf club head than a projection of said
first imaginary line towards said golf club head; wherein said
first and second predefined angles are equal and said second
section is positioned at a predetermined offset angle with respect
to said first and third shaft segments; said offset angle at which
said second shaft segment is inclined positions said first, second
and third segments such that a plane formed by said first, second
and third shaft segments is not aligned in a plane orthogonal to a
swing plane of said golf club. .Iaddend..Iadd.
8. The golf club of claim 7 further comprising, a handle extending
off of said third shaft segment on an end of said third shaft
segment which end is opposite a position of where said second shaft
segment connects to said third shaft segment. .Iaddend..Iadd.
9. The golf club of claim 7 wherein said angle of offset is within
a range from about one degree to about five degrees or more.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
10. The golf club of claim 8 wherein said first bend is located
from about 7 to about 37 inches from a distal end of said handle.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
11. The golf club of claim 7 wherein said shaft is an integral
single piece construction bent in two spaced locations to form said
first, second and third shaft segments. .Iaddend..Iadd.
12. A golf club comprising: a golf club head with a substantially
planar golf ball engaging surface; a golf club shaft with: a first
shaft segment attached to and extending up from said golf club head
along a first imaginary line, to a first bend; a second shaft
segment extending off at said first bend from said first shaft
segment at a first predetermined angle of divergence, to a second
bend; a third shaft segment extending, along a second imaginary
line, off at said second bend from said second shaft segment at a
second predefined angle of divergence; wherein said first and
second predefined angles of divergence vary from 3 degrees to about
47 degrees; wherein said first imaginary line of said first shaft
segment is parallel to said second imaginary line of said third
shaft segment and said shaft is positioned with respect to said
golf club head such that an extension of said first imaginary line
towards said golf club head projects it to a position on a ground
closer to a golfer standing on that ground and holding said golf
club than a position on the ground of a projection of said second
imaginary line towards the golf club head; wherein said second
shaft segment is positioned at a predetermined offset angle with
respect to said first and second shaft segments; and wherein said
offset angle at which said second shaft segment is inclined
positions said first and third shaft segments such that a plane
formed by said first and said third shaft segments is not aligned
in a place orthogonal to a swing plane of said golf club which
swing plane is orthogonal to said substantially planar golf ball
engaging surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.
13. The golf club of claim 12 further comprising a handle extending
off of said third shaft segment on an end of said third shaft
segment which end is opposite a position of where said second shaft
segment connects to aid third shaft segment. .Iaddend..Iadd.
14. The golf club of claim 12 wherein said angle of offset is
within a range from about one degree to about five degrees or more.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
15. The golf club of claim 13 wherein said first bend is located
from about 7 to about 37 inches from a distal end of said handle.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
16. The golf club of claim 12 wherein said shaft is an integral
single piece construction bent in two spaced locations to form said
first, second and third shaft segments. .Iaddend..Iadd.
17. A golf club comprising: a golf cub head with a substantially
planar golf ball engaging surface; a golf club shaft with: a first
segment attached to and extending up from said golf club head along
a first imaginary line, to a first bend; a second shaft segment
extending off at said first bend from said first shaft segment at a
first predetermined angle of divergence, to a second bend; a third
shaft segment extending, along a second imaginary line, off at said
second bend from said second shaft segment at a second predefined
angle of divergence; and wherein said first and second predefined
angles of divergence vary from 3 degrees to about 47 degrees;
wherein said shaft is an integral single piece construction bent in
two spaced locations to form said first, second and third shaft
segments; wherein said first imaginary line of said first shaft
segment is parallel to said second imaginary line of said third
shaft segment and said shaft is positioned with respect to said
golf club head such that an extension of said first imaginary line
towards said golf club head projects it to a position on a ground
closer to a golfer standing on that ground and holding said golf
club than a position on the ground of a projection of said second
imaginary line towards the golf club head; wherein said second
shaft segment is positioned at a predetermined offset angle with
respect to said first and second shaft segments; and wherein said
offset angle at which said second shaft segment is inclined
positions said first and third shaft segments such that a plane
formed by said first and said third shaft segment is not aligned in
a plane orthogonal to a swing plane of said golf club which swing
plane is orthogonal to said substantially planar golf ball engaging
surface. .Iaddend..Iadd.
18. The golf club of claim 17 further comprising a handle extending
off of said third shaft segment on an end of said third shaft
segment which end is opposite a position where said second shaft
segment connects to said third shaft segment. .Iaddend..Iadd.
19. The golf club of claim 17 wherein said angle of offset is
within a range from about one degree to about five degrees or more.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
20. The golf club of claim 17 wherein said first bend is located
from about 7 to about 37 inches from a distal end of said handle.
.Iaddend.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a golf club which is so constructed as to
provide improved performance compared to conventional golf club
constructions. In particular, the golf club of the present
invention enables a golfer to hit a golf ball longer and straighter
as compared to convectional golf club constructions.
BACKGROUND ART
Golf clubs typically employ shafts which are straight between the
club head and the club handle. A wide variety of materials have
been and are employed in the construction of such shafts.
Golf clubs, particularly putters, have been proposed which employ
shafts which are not straight in an attempt to improve club
performance. The clubs shown in the following U.S. patents are
believed to be representative of the state of the art insofar as
non-straight club shafts are concerned: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,874,668,
issued Apr. 1, 1975, U.S. Pat. DES. 256,824, issued Sep. 9, 1980,
U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,694, issued Oct. 14, 1980, U.S. Pat. No.
4,625,965, issued Dec. 2, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,816, issued
Nov. 11, 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,073, issued May 3, 1994, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,328,185, issued Jul. 12, 1994 and U.S. Pat. No.
4,795,153, issued Jan. 3, 1989. The above-noted Patents all relate
to golf putter constructions which allegedly improve a golfer's
putting stroke. The arrangements shown in the patents appear to be
inappropriate insofar as construction of golf clubs other than
putters is concerned and are not directed to improvement of or
performance of clubs other than putters.
Canadian Patent No. 710,688, issued Jun. 1, 1965, discloses a golf
club incorporating structure that redistributes the weight of the
club between the hands and the club head. The redistribution of
weight is. accomplished by weighting the club intermediate the club
head and hand grip, in a location selected for a particular
individual, so that the club itself will tend to bring the hands
toward the body during both the back swing and follow through.
An embodiment of the club disclosed in the Canadian Patent, the
embodiment illustrated in the FIGS. 8 and 9 thereof, shows a form
of offset and weight distribution that the inventor believed was
particularly adapted for approach irons and the like. A block
formed of a suitable metal such as brass, steel or aluminum,
depending upon the weight required, has shaft segments located in
drilled holes in the block and the structure is adjustable to place
the hand grip of the club either forwardly or backwardly of the
club hosel or behind the face of the club in varying amounts in
accordance with the preference of the user of the golf club. FIG. 3
of the Canadian Patent discloses an embodiment in which the head of
a putter is offset in the direction of the player with an
offsetting portion positioned between two sections of the shaft.
Lead or other weight material is poured into a drilled portion of
the offset to weight the club at that location.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved golf club construction
which has been found to dramatically improve a golfer's swing and
enable a golfer to hit a ball longer and straighter than with a
conventional club. A golfer can "feel" the club head throughout the
swing, more so than with a conventional club. This is accomplished
without adding weights to the club. More particularly, the golfer
club of the present invention incorporates structural elements
arranged in a particular manner which cooperate to provide improved
club performance without the addition of weights to the club. In
fact, the principles of the present invention may be carried out
merely by forming bends in a unitary club shaft, said bends being
of a specific character. Utilizing this approach, no additional
weight is applied to the club. Added club weight can be undesirable
under many circumstances for many golfers.
In effect, a swinging golf club is a dynamic energy system, the
energy input being the golfer's swing and the desired output being
the transfer of energy to the ball.
During the swing, energy is inputted into the shaft when it flexes,
however, virtually all of the energy is recovered when the shaft
straightens, before it hits the ball, because the shaft is elastic
and made from low energy loss (low hysteresis) material. In
contrast, the golfer's hands are formed of a high energy loss (high
hysteresis) material.
The result of this is that energy put into the hands from twist of
the club is not recoverable and therefore not available to be
transferred to the ball with conventional clubs.
The golf club disclosed and claimed herein, on the other hand, is
of such construction that it minimizes energy loss due to twisting.
This is believed to account for the improved performance of the
club disclosed and claimed herein as compared to conventional
clubs. The club disclosed and claimed herein not only has been
found to hit a ball consistently farther but also straighter as
compared to ordinary straight shafted clubs.
The golf club of the present invention includes a golf head having
a substantially planar golf ball engaging surface.
A club shaft is attached to the club head and extends upwardly from
the club head, the club shaft including a substantially straight
first club shaft segment extending upwardly from the club head
along a first imaginary line. A substantially straight second club
shaft segment adjoins and is connected to the first club shaft
segment at a lower bend extending upwardly from and laterally
relative to the first club shaft segment from the lower bend and
defining an angle with the first club shaft segment at the lower
bend.
The club shaft also includes a substantially straight third club
shaft segment adjoining and connected to the second club shaft
segment at an upper bend spaced from the first club shaft segment
and extending upwardly from and laterally relative to the second
club shaft segment from the upper bend and from the second club
shaft segment along a second imaginary line spaced from and
substantially parallel to the first imaginary line.
The third club shaft segment and the second club shaft segment
define an angle substantially equal to the angle defined by the
first club shaft segment and the second club shaft segment, the
angles being within the range of from about 3 degrees to about 47
degrees.
The golf club also includes an elongated club handle connected to
the third club shaft segment at a location spaced from the second
club shaft segment. The club handle has a distal end and is offset
relative to the first club shaft segment.
The first imaginary line intersects the ground at a location to a
golfer holding the golf club by the club handle and swinging the
golf club to move the first club shaft segment in a swing plane
substantially at right angles to the substantially planar golf ball
engaging surface to strike a golf ball than the location of
intersection between the second imaginary line and the ground at
the time of golf ball contact by the golf ball engaging
surface.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention
will become apparent with reference to the following description
and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a golfer with a golf club constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the club, a portion thereof
being broken away;
.Iadd.FIG. 2A is a side elevational view of another version of the
club, a portion thereof being broken away;.Iaddend.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the club, a portion thereof
being broken away;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged, side elevational view illustrating the club
handle and adjoining shaft portion with two alternate
configurations being illustrated, one in solid line and one in dash
line;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged, side elevational view of a club handle and
adjoining shaft portion illustrating alternate configurations, one
illustrated in solid line and one illustrated in dash line;
FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the club handle and
.[.adjacement.]. .Iadd.adjacent .Iaddend.club shaft portion
illustrating alternate canted handle configurations;
.Iadd.FIG. 6A is a front elevational view of a club which depicts
alternative alignments of the second and third sections;
FIG. 6B is an oblique view of the lower portion of the club
depicted in FIG. 6A; .Iaddend.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged, side elevational view of a club handle and
adjoining club shaft portion of an alternate embodiment of the
club;
FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing selected structural elements of
the alternate embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a club head and shaft;
and
FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic side view of a club constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, a golf club constructed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention includes a club head 10
having a substantially planar golf ball engaging surface 12 (FIG.
3). In FIG. 1 a player is shown holding the club and addressing a
golf ball 14.
A club shaft 16 is attached to the club head and extends upwardly
therefrom. Club shaft 16 includes a straight first club shaft
segment 20 extending upwardly from the club head along a first
imaginary line A.
A straight second club shaft segment 22 adjoins and is integrally
connected to the first club shaft segment at a lower bend 26. The
second club shaft segment extends upwardly from and laterally
relative to the first club shaft segment from the lower bend and
defines an angle of divergence Y (See FIG. .[.3.].
.Iadd.5.Iaddend.) with the first club shaft segment at the lower
bend.
A straight third club shaft segment 30 adjoins and is connected to
the second club shaft segment at an upper bend 34 spaced from the
first club shaft segment and extending upwardly from and laterally
relative to the second club shaft segment from the upper bend and
from the second club shaft segment.
Third club shaft segment 30 extends along a second imaginary line
B. The third club shaft segment and the second club shaft segment
define an angle of divergence .[.Y.]. .Iadd.Z
.Iaddend.substantially equal to angle .Iadd.Y .Iaddend.defined by
the first club shaft segment and the second club shaft segment.
Unexpectedly, it has been found that the angles Y .Iadd.and Z
.Iaddend.must be within the range of from about 3 degrees to about
47 degrees in order for the club to attain the desired results of
providing a longer ball distance and ball accuracy. Tests have
shown that, all else being equal, a club constructed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention can hit a golf ball
considerably further (and straighter) than a golf ball hit by
conventional straight shaft clubs. This distance differential can
run in the order of thirty feet or more in the case of drivers.
The golf club also includes an elongated club handle 40 which is
connected to the third club shaft segment 30 at a location spaced
from the second club shaft segment. The club handle 40 has a distal
.[.and.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.is offset relative to the first club
shaft segment.
The first imaginary line .[.B.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.intersects the
ground at a location closer to a golfer holding the golf club by
the club handle and swinging the golf club to move the first club
shaft segment in a swing plane substantially at right angles to the
substantially planar golf ball engaging surface to strike a golf
ball than the location of intersection between the second imaginary
line .Iadd.B .Iaddend.and the ground at the time of golf ball
contact by the golf ball engaging surface.
Controlled tests have shown that clubs constructed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention consistently hit the
ball farther and straighter. Mechanical .[.analyses.].
.Iadd.analysis .Iaddend.suggest the reason for this lies in the
unique and efficient way the energy is transmitted from the
golfer's hands through the club to the ball.
When the ball is struck, the force of impact produces a twisting
force or torque tending to rotate the club about the axis of the
grip. The amount of torque is the amount of force multiplied by a
distance "d". See FIGS. .[.8.]. .Iadd.9 .Iaddend.and .[.9.].
.Iadd.10 .Iaddend.wherein "d" is the distance between the location
of ball contact with club head H and the center of shaft S. This
torque is resisted by the golfer's hands. However, the energy
dissipated in the golfer's hands is lost from the system.
The golf club of the present invention reduces this torque by
reducing the distance "d" between the point of contact with the
ball and third club shaft segment 30 (and the handle). This in turn
minimizes the energy dissipated, retaining more energy in the
dynamic system available for conversion into ball velocity at
impact. Less twist yields the secondary advantage of straighter
shots as well. .Iadd.As depicted in FIG. 10 the second imaginary
line B projects to a position closer to the center 37 of the club
head H than the first imaginary line. .Iaddend.
Other parameters have also been found to be important insofar as
operation of the golf club in the desired manner is concerned. The
length of the second club shaft segment 22 between upper bend 34
and lower bend .[.36.]. .Iadd.26 .Iaddend.should be in the range of
from about 1/4 inch to about 5 inches. FIG. 4 indicates this
dimension by reference letter .[.Y.]. .Iadd.P .Iaddend.and the
figure also illustrates a second golf club shaft segment of a
shorter length in solid lines and the same segment in longer length
by dash lines.
Another golf club construction parameter of importance is that the
distance between the distal .[.and.]. .Iadd.end .Iaddend.of the
club handle and the upper bend 34 is to be within the range of from
about 7 inches to about 37 inches. .Iadd.FIG. 2A depicts a golf
club with the upper bend 34 at or near 37 inches from the distal
end of the handle. .Iaddend.
The handle 40 may be inclined relative to the first club shaft
segment as illustrated by the dash line representations of the
handle in FIG. 6. For purposes of practicing the present invention,
the angle of inclination with the first club shaft segment should
be no more than about 5 degrees.
The first and third club shaft segments of the club shown in FIG. 3
are aligned in a plane orthogonal to the swing plane. This is also
shown in FIG. 6 in the solid line representation of the club.
However, it is within the scope of the present invention to incline
the second club shaft segment at an offset angle whereby the first
and third club shaft segments are offset by the second club shaft
segment and are not aligned in a plane orthogonal to the swing
plane. This is shown by the dash line representation of the second
club shaft segment 22 and first club shaft segment 20 in FIG. 6
wherein the first club shaft segment is offset to the right
relative to third club shaft segment 30. Of course, the offset
could be to the left .Iadd.as depicted in FIG. 6A
.Iaddend.depending upon the desires and requirements of the player.
In any event, the offset angle .[.is to.]. .Iadd.can .Iaddend.be
within the range of from about 1 degree to about 5 degrees .Iadd.or
more.Iaddend.. .Iadd.The offset angle would obviously be zero
degrees when the first and third shaft segments are aligned in the
plane perpendicular to the swing plane of the golf club as depicted
in FIG. 3 and the solid line portions of FIGS. 6 and
6A..Iaddend.
The golf club shown in FIGS. 1-6 has a shaft which is of integral,
single piece construction and which is bent at two spaced locations
to form the upper and lower bends as well as the second club shaft
segment.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the
invention. In this instance, the club shaft 16A is of nonintegral,
multi-piece construction. In this embodiment, first club shaft
segment 20A has a socket 50 and third club shaft segment 30A
defines a socket 52. Sockets 50, 52 receive opposed reduced ends of
an insert 54 having bends 26A and 34A formed therein. Any suitable
means may be employed to secure the insert 54 to the first and
third of shaft segments.
The embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8 also differs from that previously
described by virtue of the fact that a second insert 58 is
connected to handle 40A and a socket 60 formed at the upper end of
third club shaft segment 30A.
Insert 58 forms a fourth club shaft segment 66 which is connected
to the third club shaft segment and extends upwardly and laterally
relative thereto. The insert also forms a fifth club shaft segment
68 which is connected to and extends upwardly from the fourth cub
shaft segment along a second imaginary line spaced from the first
imaginary line occupied by first club shaft segment 20A.
The elongated club handle 40A is connected to the fifth club shaft
segment. The club handle is offset relative to the first club shaft
segment 20A. Thus, the first imaginary line occupied by club shaft
segment 20A will intersect the ground at a location closer to a
golfer holding the golf club by the club handle and swinging the
golf club to strike a golf ball than the location of intersection
between the second imaginary line occupied by the fifth club shaft
segment and the ground at the time of golf ball contact by the golf
ball engaging surface.
* * * * *