CA1253898A - Golf club - Google Patents
Golf clubInfo
- Publication number
- CA1253898A CA1253898A CA000490778A CA490778A CA1253898A CA 1253898 A CA1253898 A CA 1253898A CA 000490778 A CA000490778 A CA 000490778A CA 490778 A CA490778 A CA 490778A CA 1253898 A CA1253898 A CA 1253898A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- club
- weight
- swing
- head
- golfer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Golf Clubs (AREA)
Abstract
IMPROVED GOLF CLUB
ABSTRACT
The present golf club is equipped with a means of changing the weight distribution in the club as the club is swung. This is accomplished by a moveable weight within the club. The golfer starts his swing with the moveable weight close to his hands. This arrangement allows the golfer to rapidly move the relatively lighter club head through the initial portion of his swing. As the swing is continued the weight moves toward, and preferably into, the club head. As contact is made with the ball, the moveable weight is sub-stantially completely in the lower shaft or head portion of the club.
ABSTRACT
The present golf club is equipped with a means of changing the weight distribution in the club as the club is swung. This is accomplished by a moveable weight within the club. The golfer starts his swing with the moveable weight close to his hands. This arrangement allows the golfer to rapidly move the relatively lighter club head through the initial portion of his swing. As the swing is continued the weight moves toward, and preferably into, the club head. As contact is made with the ball, the moveable weight is sub-stantially completely in the lower shaft or head portion of the club.
Description
~ s3Bg8 .. --1-- .
IMPROVED GOLF CLUB' __ BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
The pre~ent invention relates to an improved golf club. Golf and footb211, are games of inches, golf how-ever, has more of them. Standard golf courses, usually over about 6,00~ yards long, are divided into holes of vary~
ing length. The object of the game is to complete the course in as few strokes as possible. The initial stroke on e~ch hole, usually taken from a tee, and the strokes approaching the green are taken by the golfer with dis-tance in mind. The present club is designed to give the golfer increased distance in suGh situations, without radically changing the golfers style. The increased dis-tance allows the golfer to complete the course in fewer strokes resulting in a lower score.
Previously a number of proposals have been made to improve distance, by balanced clubs or by club~ having various static weight distributions. For example: US
Patents 1,526,951, 2,395,837 and 3,368,812.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE I~VENTION
The present golf club is~uipped with a means of changing the weight distribution in the club as the club is swung. This is accomplished by a moveable weight within the club. The golfer starts his swing with the moveable weight close to his hands. This arrangement allows the golfer to rapidly move the relatively lighter club head through the initial portion of his swing. As the swing is continued the weight moves toward, and preferably into, the club head. As contact is made with the ball, the ~S3~3~8 moveable weight is substantially completely in the lower shaft or head po tion of the club.
The golf swing can be considered to be an arc cir-cumscribed by the club head. The moveable weight starts at a point near the golfer's hands and moves toward the arc. The weight reaches a point contiguous with the arc at about 5 o'clock a~ the arc would be viewed by the golfer.
The point of contact with the ball is ~t 6 o'clock.
After the stroke, the club is placed in a golf bag in the normal grip-down position~ In this position the weight returns to the grip portion of the club, usually within a period between about lO and about 30 qecond~.
The club is again ready for use.
The weight shift is accomplished by means of a flowable weight moving internally within a chamber, or cavity, in the club shaft and which extends into club head. At the qtart of the swing, the flowable weight is in the grip portion of the club qhaft. As the swing progresses the weight moves through the chamber into the lower shaft and head portion of the club. At the point of contact with the;ball the flowable weight, is prefer-ably substantially completely within the club head.
As the club is removed from the golf bag for use, a valve means prevents the weight from flowing downward into the club head. As the club is swung the valve means, preferably operable by centrifugal force, allows the weight to move toward the club head. The position of the weight at the start of the swing allows the golfer to move the club head at a higher initial angular velocit~
~L25;~ 8 than if the weight were concentrated in the club head, or distributed over the entire club. As thOe swing prOgre9Ses the weight moves toward, and preferably into, the club head, giving the golfer a quicker swing. The required add-ed weight in the head, with the added head space, will upon contact with the ball,~ drive the ball a greater distance.
The present invention may be incorporated into commercially available clubs without a substantial change in outward appearance.
Although the present invention i~ particularly suited to driverR and woods, it will be understood that it i9 also adaptable and useful in other golf clubs, e.g., the so-called "irons".
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front-al ~ractionated view, partly in section, of a club 09 the presenk invention as the club would appear as prepared for use. Figure 2 is a similar view showing the club before the stroke has been taken. Figure 3 illustrates the arc of the swing as circumscribed by the club head and shows the progressive movement by inertia and centrifugal force of the moveable weight within the club.
Looking now at Figure 1, the golf club, generally indicated by 11, has upper shaft portion 13, u~ually equip-ped with a grip, such as 15. The internal portion of shaft 13 is hollow and has a means of moving or redistri-buting weight within the club. As shown the redistributing ~%53~398 means is comprised of a valve assembly, namely, valve tube 17 connected to valve 19 which is received in fixed valve seat 21. Valve 19 i~ urged toward seat 21 by spring 23 exerting expanding force between fixed spring-stop 25 and surface 27 of hollow retainer 37. As shown valve seat 21 is an insert into retainer 37, however it will be under-stood that a surfaced portion of hollow retainer 37 may serve as a valve seat.
The club, as shown in Figure 1, i5 in the normally grip-down position as it would be stored in a golf bag.
A flowable medium 31 is shown residing within the hollowed, upper ~haft pos1tion 13. Although the flowable weight medium may be selected from finely-divided solid materials, such as, powdered metals, graphite or glass, it i9 preferred that the flow~ble medium be liquid, or partially liquid. By partially liquid is meant suspensions, or slurries o~ solids in a liquid. The arrows in Figure 1 show the path that the flowable weight medium 31 took in moving through chamber 32 formed by the sealed hollow portion of head 29 and the hol-low portion of shaft 13. The path of th weight is fromthe hollow of heàd 29, through the hollow lower ~haft por-tion 33, through orifice 35 in valve 19 and through valve tube 17. Valve tube 17 has vent 39 therein to aid in ven-ting air from hollowed upper shaft portion 13 as weight medium 31 fill~ ~uch hollowed upper shaft portion.
The valve and retainer components of the present invention may be fabricated of any suitable material such as metals or plastics, or mixtures thereof. Pla~tic mate-5- ~.253~398 ;
rials have been ~ound to be particularly useful. Weight medium 31 is preferably liquid, or partially liquid, for example, mercury, oils or solid suspensions in light oils are useful, however, halogenated materials such as chlori-nated and flourinated methanes, ethanes and propanes, such as those presently n~rketed by DuPont Company under the designation "Freon" have been found to be particularly suited to use.
Figure 2 illustrates movement of the flowable weight medium within the club. If the club shown in Figure 1 is turned so that the head 29 is downward, the normal position of use, valve 19 seated against valve seat 21 prevents passage of the flowable medium. As the club head is ~wung, ~alve 19 is moved toward club head 29 by iner~
tia and centrifugal force allowing flowable medium 31 to move rapidly from hollowed shaft portion 13 through the hol-low ln retainer 37 through the hollowed shaft portions 13 and 33 into hollowed head 29~ Arrows in Figure 2 show the path of flowable medium 31 as it travels through the club.
Figure 3 illust~ates a swing arc 41 as would be cir-cumscribed by the movement of club head 29 and shows the path of flowable weight as the club is swung. Although there are ,a number of fulcrum points in the golfer's body used to swing a golf club, e.g., the legs, hips, shoulders, arms and wris-ts, ~igure 3, for simplicity and to illustrate the present invention shows only the left arm and wrist movements of the golfer's swing. Thus golfer 51 ~as left arm 53 and wrist 55. As golfer 51 starts his swing move-able weight 31 starts at a point 43 near the golfers grip and proceeds, as the club is swung, along path 45 to club :l :2531!39!8 head 29. Preferably moveable weight 31 reaches head 29 at a point about S o'clock, as the arc would be viswed by golfer 51 and contact with the ball will be at about 6 o'clock.
The present invention is particularly adapted to used in the so-called "woods", e.g., drivers, bra~sieq, spoons and cleeks, which generally range in club lenqth from about 41 to about 44 inches and range in over all weight from about 12 to about 14 ounces. In such clubs the moveable weight of the present invention generally ranges from about 0O75 to about 2.00 ounces, and most preferably ~rom about l.OO about 1.50 ounces. The so-called "irons", generally range from about 35 to about 40 incheq in length and have over-all weights ranging from about 1~.5 to about 17.5 ounces. The weight range of the present moveable weight is in the same range as that for woods, although in the case of irons the moveable weight may remain in the shaft portion of the club.
The present invention may ba adapted to a specific golfer 1 9 swing, although this is not usually needed. For example the flowability, or the amount of moveable weight may be varied. The position of valve 19 may be varied with-in the shaft. The hollow in retainer 37 may be increased or decreased. The tension of spring 23 may be varied. The weight of valve 19 may be altered. Although the foregoing adaptations may be made, it has been found that when the valve 19 is positioned from abo~t 15 to about 17 inches from the grip~end of the club and with spring tension ju~t sufficient to retain the weight medium in the upper portio~
538!98 of the club prior to the club swing, tha-t the present ar-rangement adapts itself to the golfer' 9 swing by the com-bination of gravity, inertia and centrifugal force.
The foregoing description and embodiments are in-tended to illustrate the invention without limiting it thereby. It will be understood that various modi~ications can be made in the invention without departing from the spirit or sco~e thereof.
.'` i
IMPROVED GOLF CLUB' __ BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
The pre~ent invention relates to an improved golf club. Golf and footb211, are games of inches, golf how-ever, has more of them. Standard golf courses, usually over about 6,00~ yards long, are divided into holes of vary~
ing length. The object of the game is to complete the course in as few strokes as possible. The initial stroke on e~ch hole, usually taken from a tee, and the strokes approaching the green are taken by the golfer with dis-tance in mind. The present club is designed to give the golfer increased distance in suGh situations, without radically changing the golfers style. The increased dis-tance allows the golfer to complete the course in fewer strokes resulting in a lower score.
Previously a number of proposals have been made to improve distance, by balanced clubs or by club~ having various static weight distributions. For example: US
Patents 1,526,951, 2,395,837 and 3,368,812.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE I~VENTION
The present golf club is~uipped with a means of changing the weight distribution in the club as the club is swung. This is accomplished by a moveable weight within the club. The golfer starts his swing with the moveable weight close to his hands. This arrangement allows the golfer to rapidly move the relatively lighter club head through the initial portion of his swing. As the swing is continued the weight moves toward, and preferably into, the club head. As contact is made with the ball, the ~S3~3~8 moveable weight is substantially completely in the lower shaft or head po tion of the club.
The golf swing can be considered to be an arc cir-cumscribed by the club head. The moveable weight starts at a point near the golfer's hands and moves toward the arc. The weight reaches a point contiguous with the arc at about 5 o'clock a~ the arc would be viewed by the golfer.
The point of contact with the ball is ~t 6 o'clock.
After the stroke, the club is placed in a golf bag in the normal grip-down position~ In this position the weight returns to the grip portion of the club, usually within a period between about lO and about 30 qecond~.
The club is again ready for use.
The weight shift is accomplished by means of a flowable weight moving internally within a chamber, or cavity, in the club shaft and which extends into club head. At the qtart of the swing, the flowable weight is in the grip portion of the club qhaft. As the swing progresses the weight moves through the chamber into the lower shaft and head portion of the club. At the point of contact with the;ball the flowable weight, is prefer-ably substantially completely within the club head.
As the club is removed from the golf bag for use, a valve means prevents the weight from flowing downward into the club head. As the club is swung the valve means, preferably operable by centrifugal force, allows the weight to move toward the club head. The position of the weight at the start of the swing allows the golfer to move the club head at a higher initial angular velocit~
~L25;~ 8 than if the weight were concentrated in the club head, or distributed over the entire club. As thOe swing prOgre9Ses the weight moves toward, and preferably into, the club head, giving the golfer a quicker swing. The required add-ed weight in the head, with the added head space, will upon contact with the ball,~ drive the ball a greater distance.
The present invention may be incorporated into commercially available clubs without a substantial change in outward appearance.
Although the present invention i~ particularly suited to driverR and woods, it will be understood that it i9 also adaptable and useful in other golf clubs, e.g., the so-called "irons".
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front-al ~ractionated view, partly in section, of a club 09 the presenk invention as the club would appear as prepared for use. Figure 2 is a similar view showing the club before the stroke has been taken. Figure 3 illustrates the arc of the swing as circumscribed by the club head and shows the progressive movement by inertia and centrifugal force of the moveable weight within the club.
Looking now at Figure 1, the golf club, generally indicated by 11, has upper shaft portion 13, u~ually equip-ped with a grip, such as 15. The internal portion of shaft 13 is hollow and has a means of moving or redistri-buting weight within the club. As shown the redistributing ~%53~398 means is comprised of a valve assembly, namely, valve tube 17 connected to valve 19 which is received in fixed valve seat 21. Valve 19 i~ urged toward seat 21 by spring 23 exerting expanding force between fixed spring-stop 25 and surface 27 of hollow retainer 37. As shown valve seat 21 is an insert into retainer 37, however it will be under-stood that a surfaced portion of hollow retainer 37 may serve as a valve seat.
The club, as shown in Figure 1, i5 in the normally grip-down position as it would be stored in a golf bag.
A flowable medium 31 is shown residing within the hollowed, upper ~haft pos1tion 13. Although the flowable weight medium may be selected from finely-divided solid materials, such as, powdered metals, graphite or glass, it i9 preferred that the flow~ble medium be liquid, or partially liquid. By partially liquid is meant suspensions, or slurries o~ solids in a liquid. The arrows in Figure 1 show the path that the flowable weight medium 31 took in moving through chamber 32 formed by the sealed hollow portion of head 29 and the hol-low portion of shaft 13. The path of th weight is fromthe hollow of heàd 29, through the hollow lower ~haft por-tion 33, through orifice 35 in valve 19 and through valve tube 17. Valve tube 17 has vent 39 therein to aid in ven-ting air from hollowed upper shaft portion 13 as weight medium 31 fill~ ~uch hollowed upper shaft portion.
The valve and retainer components of the present invention may be fabricated of any suitable material such as metals or plastics, or mixtures thereof. Pla~tic mate-5- ~.253~398 ;
rials have been ~ound to be particularly useful. Weight medium 31 is preferably liquid, or partially liquid, for example, mercury, oils or solid suspensions in light oils are useful, however, halogenated materials such as chlori-nated and flourinated methanes, ethanes and propanes, such as those presently n~rketed by DuPont Company under the designation "Freon" have been found to be particularly suited to use.
Figure 2 illustrates movement of the flowable weight medium within the club. If the club shown in Figure 1 is turned so that the head 29 is downward, the normal position of use, valve 19 seated against valve seat 21 prevents passage of the flowable medium. As the club head is ~wung, ~alve 19 is moved toward club head 29 by iner~
tia and centrifugal force allowing flowable medium 31 to move rapidly from hollowed shaft portion 13 through the hol-low ln retainer 37 through the hollowed shaft portions 13 and 33 into hollowed head 29~ Arrows in Figure 2 show the path of flowable medium 31 as it travels through the club.
Figure 3 illust~ates a swing arc 41 as would be cir-cumscribed by the movement of club head 29 and shows the path of flowable weight as the club is swung. Although there are ,a number of fulcrum points in the golfer's body used to swing a golf club, e.g., the legs, hips, shoulders, arms and wris-ts, ~igure 3, for simplicity and to illustrate the present invention shows only the left arm and wrist movements of the golfer's swing. Thus golfer 51 ~as left arm 53 and wrist 55. As golfer 51 starts his swing move-able weight 31 starts at a point 43 near the golfers grip and proceeds, as the club is swung, along path 45 to club :l :2531!39!8 head 29. Preferably moveable weight 31 reaches head 29 at a point about S o'clock, as the arc would be viswed by golfer 51 and contact with the ball will be at about 6 o'clock.
The present invention is particularly adapted to used in the so-called "woods", e.g., drivers, bra~sieq, spoons and cleeks, which generally range in club lenqth from about 41 to about 44 inches and range in over all weight from about 12 to about 14 ounces. In such clubs the moveable weight of the present invention generally ranges from about 0O75 to about 2.00 ounces, and most preferably ~rom about l.OO about 1.50 ounces. The so-called "irons", generally range from about 35 to about 40 incheq in length and have over-all weights ranging from about 1~.5 to about 17.5 ounces. The weight range of the present moveable weight is in the same range as that for woods, although in the case of irons the moveable weight may remain in the shaft portion of the club.
The present invention may ba adapted to a specific golfer 1 9 swing, although this is not usually needed. For example the flowability, or the amount of moveable weight may be varied. The position of valve 19 may be varied with-in the shaft. The hollow in retainer 37 may be increased or decreased. The tension of spring 23 may be varied. The weight of valve 19 may be altered. Although the foregoing adaptations may be made, it has been found that when the valve 19 is positioned from abo~t 15 to about 17 inches from the grip~end of the club and with spring tension ju~t sufficient to retain the weight medium in the upper portio~
538!98 of the club prior to the club swing, tha-t the present ar-rangement adapts itself to the golfer' 9 swing by the com-bination of gravity, inertia and centrifugal force.
The foregoing description and embodiments are in-tended to illustrate the invention without limiting it thereby. It will be understood that various modi~ications can be made in the invention without departing from the spirit or sco~e thereof.
.'` i
Claims (3)
1. A golf club having a hollow head portion connected to a hollow shaft portion, forming an enclosed internal chamber within the club, a flowable weight movable within said chamber, a valve for preventing said flowable weight from passing from said shaft to said hollow head portion, said valve including means for allowing said flowable weight to flow from said hollow shaft portion into said hollow head portion, said last named means being activated by centrifugal force acting thereon during the downswing of said club.
2. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said flowable weight is a liquid.
3. The golf club of claim 1 wherein said flowable weight within said club is controlled by a valve positioned within said chamber.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000490778A CA1253898A (en) | 1985-09-16 | 1985-09-16 | Golf club |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000490778A CA1253898A (en) | 1985-09-16 | 1985-09-16 | Golf club |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1253898A true CA1253898A (en) | 1989-05-09 |
Family
ID=4131390
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000490778A Expired CA1253898A (en) | 1985-09-16 | 1985-09-16 | Golf club |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1253898A (en) |
-
1985
- 1985-09-16 CA CA000490778A patent/CA1253898A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |