Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/02—Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/02—Joint structures between the head and the shaft
  • A63B53/022—Joint structures between the head and the shaft allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to the shaft
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
  • A63B60/42—Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/02—Joint structures between the head and the shaft
  • A63B53/022—Joint structures between the head and the shaft allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to the shaft
  • A63B53/023—Joint structures between the head and the shaft allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to the shaft adjustable angular orientation
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49815—Disassembling
  • Y10T29/49817—Disassembling with other than ancillary treating or assembling
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
  • Y10T29/49947—Assembling or joining by applying separate fastener
  • Y10T29/49948—Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to golf clubs and golf club heads. More particularly, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs having releasable connections between the golf club head and the shaft and/or head/shaft position adjusting features to allow easy interchange of shafts and heads and/or to allow easy modification of the head/shaft positioning properties.
• golf clubs Being the sole instrument that sets a golf ball in motion during play, golf clubs also have been the subject of much technological research and advancement in recent years. For example, the market has seen dramatic changes and improvements in putter designs, golf club head designs, shafts, and grips in recent years. Additionally, other technological advancements have been made in an effort to better match the various elements and/or characteristics of the golf club and characteristics of a golf ball to a particular user's swing features or characteristics (e.g., club fitting technology, ball launch angle measurement technology, ball spin rates, etc.).
• club fitting technology e.g., ball launch angle measurement technology, ball spin rates, etc.
• club heads are produced by a wide variety of manufacturers in a variety of different models.
• the individual club head models may include multiple variations, such as variations in the loft angle, lie angle, offset features, weighting characteristics (e.g., draw biased club heads, fade biased club heads, neutrally weighted club heads, etc.).
• the club heads may be combined with a variety of different shafts, e.g., from different manufacturers; having different stiffnesses, flex points, kick points, or other flexion characteristics, etc.; made from different materials; etc.
• shafts e.g., from different manufacturers; having different stiffnesses, flex points, kick points, or other flexion characteristics, etc.; made from different materials; etc.
• club fitters and golf professionals can assist in fitting golfers with a golf club head/shaft combination that suits their swing characteristics and needs.
• golf club heads are permanently mounted to shafts using cements or adhesives. Therefore, to enable a golfer to test a variety of head/shaft combinations, the club fitter or professional must carry a wide selection of permanently mounted golf club head/shaft combinations (which takes up a considerable amount of storage space and inventory costs) or the club fitter or professional must build new clubs for the customer as the fitting process continues (which takes a substantial amount of time and inventory costs).
• the disadvantages associated with these conventional options serve to limit the choices available to the golfer during a fitting session and/or significantly increase the expense and length of such a session.
• aspects of this invention relate to systems and methods for connecting golf club heads to shafts in a releasable manner so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the angle and/or position of the shaft with respect to the club head body (and its ball striking face) can be readily changed.
• Golf club head/shaft connection assemblies in accordance with examples of this invention may include: (a) a cylindrical structure having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end includes a first opening that defines a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein an exterior surface of the cylindrical structure includes a rotation-inhibiting structure, and wherein the second end includes a securing structure; and (b) a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure.
• Such golf clubs may include: (a) a golf club head having a shaft-receiving chamber, wherein a first end of the shaft-receiving chamber includes a first rotation- inhibiting structure and a second end of shaft-receiving chamber includes a first opening for receiving a securing member; (b) a shaft connection member extending into the shaft-receiving chamber of the golf club head, the shaft connection member including a structure as generally described above; (c) a shaft engaged in the cylindrical interior chamber of the shaft connection member; (d) a securing member received through the second end of the shaft-receiving chamber of the golf club head
• the club head and shaft may be interchanged with respect to one another by releasing the securing system and interchanging the originally present parts ⁇ e.g., shafts, club heads, etc.) with different parts, e.g., having different characteristics.
• the shaft may be angled and/or the chamber for receiving the shaft in the shaft connection member may be angled or otherwise offset with respect to the axial direction of the shaft connection member so as to allow adjustment of the angle or position of the shaft with respect to the club head ⁇ e.g., with respect to its ball striking face).
• Fig. 1 generally illustrates a front view of an example golf club according to this invention
• FIGs. 2A through 2C illustrate various views of an example golf club head/shaft connection member that may be used in accordance with examples of this invention
• FIGs. 3A through 3E illustrate example features of a connection between a golf club head and a shaft utilizing a golf club head/shaft connection member in accordance with an example of this invention
• FIGs. 4A through 6B illustrate various example features and structures that allow adjustment of various characteristics of a golf club, such as loft angle, lie angle, etc., utilizing golf club head/shaft connection members in accordance with examples of this invention.
• top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “rear,” “side,” “underside,” “overhead,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures and/or the orientations in typical use. None in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional or spatial orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention.
• aspects of this invention relate to systems and methods for connecting golf club heads to shafts in a releasable manner so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or repositioned with respect to one another. More detailed descriptions of aspects of this invention follow.
• One aspect of this invention relates to golf club head/shaft connection assemblies for securely, but releasably, connecting a golf club head and shaft.
• Such assemblies may include, for example: (a) a cylindrical structure having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end includes a first opening providing access to a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein an exterior surface of the cylindrical structure (e.g., nearer to the first end than the second end) includes a rotation-inhibiting structure, and wherein the second end includes a securing structure; and (b) a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure.
• the securing structure will include a threaded hole defined in the second end of the cylindrical structure, and the securing system will include a threaded bolt element that engages the threaded hole.
• the cylindrical interior chamber and the threaded hole may be coaxial or non-coaxial, and optionally, they may be provided in the cylindrical structure completely independent from one another.
• the rotation-inhibiting structure may include plural flat sides that extend in an axial direction of the cylindrical structure (optionally to form a polygon cross section having from 3-25 sides).
• the polygon cross section of the cylindrical structure that forms the rotation-inhibiting structure will have at least 4 flat sides (or even at least six or eight flat sides).
• Other non-round cross sectional configurations may be provided as part of the rotation-inhibiting structure without departing from this invention (e.g., star or asterisk shaped exterior surfaces, oval or elliptical shaped exterior surfaces, non-regular or non-symmetrically shaped exterior surfaces, etc.).
• the rotation-inhibiting structure may extend along any desired portion of an overall longitudinal (or axial) length of the cylindrical structure without departing from this invention. In some more specific examples, the rotation-inhibiting structure will extend less than 50% of an overall axial length of the cylindrical structure, or even less than 35% of the overall axial length. On the other hand, the rotation-inhibiting structure, when present on the exterior surface of the cylindrical structure, will extend a sufficient portion of the overall longitudinal or axial length of the cylindrical structure so as to provide a solid, non-rotational engagement and feel (e.g., at least 2% of the overall axial length). In some more specific examples, the rotation-inhibiting structure will extend from 2-65% of the overall axial length of the cylindrical structure, or even from 5-50% or even 10-35% of the overall axial length.
• the exterior surface of the cylindrical structure (e.g., at the first end thereof) may includes a rotational position indicator to allow a user to easily see the position of the shaft/club head connection member with respect to the club head when in use.
• Such golf clubs may include: (a) a golf club head having a shaft-receiving chamber, wherein a first end of the shaft-receiving chamber includes a first rotation- inhibiting structure and a second end of the shaft-receiving chamber includes a first opening for receiving a securing member; (b) a shaft connection member extending into the shaft-receiving chamber of the golf club head, the shaft connection member including a cylindrical structure having a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end of the shaft connection member includes a second opening that defines a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein an exterior surface of the cylindrical structure includes a second rotation-inhibiting structure that engages the first rotation-inhibiting structure, and wherein the second end includes a securing structure; (c) a shaft engaged in the cylindrical interior chamber of the shaft connection member; (d
• the rotation-inhibiting structure of the club head may constitute an opening having side walls or edges of the same non-round construction (e.g., polygonal, flat-sided, non-regular, etc.) as the rotation-inhibiting structure of the shaft/club head connection member as described above.
• the club head's opening or side walls may be differently shaped from the rotation-inhibiting structure of the connection member, but it may include appropriately located retaining walls, edges, or other structures so as to securely hold the connection member in a non-rotational manner.
• Another aspect of this invention relates to methods of producing club head/shaft connection assemblies in accordance with examples of this invention (e.g., of the types described above).
• Such methods may include, for example: (a) producing a shaft connection member as a cylindrical structure having a first end and an opposite second end (e.g., via casting or molding processes, via extrusion, etc.); (b) producing an open cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft at the first end of the shaft connection member (e.g., via drilling or machining processes, etc.); (c) forming a rotation-inhibiting structure as part of an exterior surface of the cylindrical structure, e.g., nearer to the first end than the second end (e.g., by grinding, machining, etc.); (d) forming a securing structure at the second end of the shaft connection member (e.g., by drilling, tapping, or machining processes, etc.); and (e) providing a securing member for engaging the securing structure (e.g., by manufacturing it
• the securing structure may be formed as a threaded hole defined in the second end of the cylindrical structure and the securing member may be provided as a threaded bolt element that is engagable with the threaded hole.
• the assembly may be formed so as to include any of the various structures and/or configurations described above (and described in more detail below).
• Another aspect of this invention relates to methods of assembling golf clubs using club head/shaft connection assemblies in accordance with examples of this invention.
• Such methods may include: (a) providing a golf club head having a shaft-receiving chamber (e.g., by manufacturing it, from a third party supplier, etc.), wherein a first end of the shaft-receiving chamber includes a first rotation-inhibiting structure and a second end of shaft-receiving chamber includes a first opening for receiving a securing member; (b) engaging a shaft with a shaft connection member, wherein the shaft connection member includes a cylindrical structure, e.g., of the types described receiving chamber of the golf club head such that the first rotation-inhibiting structure engages a rotation-inhibiting structure provided with the shaft connection member to thereby inhibit rotation of the shaft connection member with respect to the golf club head; (d) placing a securing member into the second end of the shaft-receiving chamber; and (e) releasably engaging the s
• various characteristics or features of the club head may be changed, e.g., by changing a position of the shaft with respect to the club head (e.g., by rotating the shaft and its connection member with respect to the club head when the shaft is bent or when the cylindrical interior shaft receiving chamber of the connection member is non-coaxial with respect to its exterior cylindrical surface) to thereby change the loft, lie, offset, inset, or other features of the club head.
• Such methods may include: (a) releasing or disengaging the shaft connection member with respect to the golf club head; (b) changing a position of the shaft connection member with respect to the golf club head (e.g., by rotating them with respect to one another) to thereby alter a position of a free end of the shaft with respect to a ball striking face of the club head; and (c) releasably engaging the securing member with the securing structure of the shaft connection member to thereby releasably engage the shaft connection member with respect to the golf club head at the changed position.
• aspects of the invention allow easy interchange of one shaft for another on the club head (or one club head for another on the shaft).
• Such methods may include: (a) releasing or disengaging the shaft connection member with respect to the golf club head; (b) engaging a second shaft with a second shaft connection member, wherein the second shaft connection member may include the various structures described above; (c) placing at least a portion of the second shaft connection member into the shaft-receiving chamber of the golf club head such that the first rotation-inhibiting structure of the shaft-receiving chamber engages the rotation-inhibiting structures provided on the second shaft connection member to thereby inhibit rotation of the second shaft connection member with respect to the golf club head; (d) placing the securing member into the second end of the shaft- receiving chamber; and (e) releasably engaging the securing member with a securing structure provided with the second shaft connection member to thereby releasably engage the second shaft connection member with the golf club head.
• Fig. 1 generally illustrates an example golf club 100 in accordance with at least some examples of this invention.
• This club 100 includes a club head 102, a releasable club head/shaft connection region 104 that connects the club head to a shaft 106 (which will be described in more detail below), and a grip member 108 engaged with the shaft 106.
• a driver/wood-type golf club head 102 is illustrated in Fig. 1, aspects of this invention may be applied to any type of club head, including, for example: fairway wood club heads; iron type golf club heads (of any desired loft, e.g., from a 0-iron or l-iron to a wedge); wood or iron type hybrid golf club heads; putter heads; and the like.
• the club heads may be made from any desired materials, in any desired construction and/or in any desired manner, including from conventional materials, in conventional constructions, in conventional manners, as are known and used in the art, optionally modified (if necessary, e.g., in size, shape, inclusion of structures, etc.) to accommodate the releasable club head/shaft connection parts.
• any desired materials also may be used for the shaft member 106, including conventional materials that are known and used in the art, such as steel, graphite, polymers, composite materials, combinations of these materials, etc.
• the shaft may be modified ⁇ e.g., in size, shape, etc.) to accommodate the releasable club head/shaft connection parts.
• the grip member 108 may be engaged with the shaft 106 in any desired manner, including in conventional manners that are known and used in the art ⁇ e.g., via cements or adhesives, via mechanical connections, etc.).
• any desired materials may be used for the grip member 108, including conventional materials that are known and used in the art, such as rubber, polymeric materials, cork, rubber or polymeric materials with cord or other fabric elements embedded therein, cloth or fabric, tape, etc.
• the grip member 108 may be releasably connected to the shaft 106 using a releasable connection like releasable connection 104 (examples of which will be described in more detail below).
• Figs. 2A through 2C illustrate an example club head/shaft connection member 200 in accordance with this invention.
• the club head/shaft connection member 200 includes a generally cylindrical body 202 having a first end 204 and an opposite second end 206.
• the first end 204 defines an opening to an interior cylindrical chamber 208 for receiving the end of a golf club shaft 106.
• the second end 206 includes a securing structure (e.g., a threaded hole 210 in this example structure) that assists in securely engaging the connection member 200 to a club head body as will be explained in more detail below.
• a securing structure e.g., a threaded hole 210 in this example structure
• the interior chamber 208 is not open to the threaded hole 210, but if desired, the threaded hole 210 may extend to and open in to the interior chamber 208 in some structures in accordance with this invention.
• a least a portion of the first end 204 of the connection assembly 200 includes a rotation-inhibiting structure 212.
• the rotation-inhibiting structure 212 constitutes a cylindrical area having a non-round cross section such that when it is fit into a close fitting and similarly shaped opening or chamber, the non-rounded sides and edges of the rotation- inhibiting structure 212 will prevent rotation of the connection assembly 200 with respect to the member into which it is fit (e.g., a golf club head, as will be explained in more detail below).
• a portion of the first end 204 of the cylindrical body 202 has a polygon shaped cross section having plural (eight) flat sides 212a.
• the rotation-inhibiting structure 212 may extend along any desired portion of the overall longitudinal length L of the connection assembly 200.
• rotation-inhibiting structure 212 may extend along any desired portion of the overall longitudinal length L of the connection assembly 200.
• the rotation-inhibiting structure 212 should be of sufficient length fto enable strong and secure engagement with the club head in a non-rotational manner.
• the length f may be at least 2% of the overall length L of the connection assembly 200, and in some examples at least 5%, at least 10%, or even least 20% of the overall axial length L.
• the rotation-inhibiting structure 212 may extend from 2-65% of the overall axial length L of the connection assembly 200, or even from 5-50% or 10-35% of the overall length L.
• Figs. 2A through 2C further illustrate that the first end 204 of the club head/shaft connection member 200 includes an expanded portion 214.
• this expanded portion 214 provides a stop that prevents the connection member 200 from extending into the club head body and provides a strong base for securing the connection member 200 to the club head body.
• the exterior shape of the first end 204 may be tapered to provide a smooth transition between the shaft 106 and the club head 102 and a conventional aesthetic appearance.
• connection member structure 200 may be seen from Figs. 2A through 2C.
• the threaded hole 210 of the securing structure in the second end 206 of the connection member 200
• the cylindrical interior chamber 208 see common axial line 216
• coaxial with respect to the exterior surface 218 are not requirements. Rather, if desired, one of these cylindrical holes 208 and 210 may be offset (and still parallel) with respect to the other and/or with respect to the exterior surface 218.
• one hole may be angled with respect to the other and/or with respect to the exterior surface 218.
• connection member 200 may be made from any desired materials and from any desired number of independent parts without departing from this invention.
• the entire connection member 200 is made as a unitary, one-piece construction from conventional materials, such as metals or metal alloys, plastics, and the like.
• the connection member will be made from a titanium, aluminum, magnesium, steel, or other metal or metal alloy material.
• the various holes e.g., chamber 208 and threaded opening 210) and/or surface structures (e.g., flat panels 212a, expanded portions) may be produced in the material in any desired manner without departing from the invention, including via production methods that are commonly known and used in the art, such as by drilling, tapping, machining, lathing, extruding, grinding, etc.
• connection assembly 200 One example of engagement of a golf club shaft 106 with a club head 102 utilizing connection assembly 200 now will be described in more detail in conjunction with Figs. 3A through 3E.
• a shaft 106 is engaged within the cylindrical interior chamber 208 of the connection assembly 200.
• the shaft 106 will be permanently engaged in the chamber 208, e.g., via an adhesive or cement bond.
• Other ways of engaging a shaft 106 with the connection assembly 200 are possible without departing from this invention, including, for example, mechanical connections (including releasable mechanical connections, such as threaded structures or the like); welding, brazing, soldering, or other fusing techniques; etc.
• the shaft 106 is ready for mounting to a golf club head 102.
• the shaft 106 may be connected to the connection member 200 later in the process, even as late as the final step in the connection process.
• FIG. 3B provides an overhead view of the club head 102, without a shaft 106 engaged therewith, looking down the hosel opening).
• the club head 102 includes a hosel area 302 that provides access to a shaft-receiving chamber 304 defined in the club head 102.
• the shaft- receiving chamber 304 in this example structure extends completely through the club head body 102 and produces an opening 306 at the sole of the club head 102.
• the shaft-receiving chamber 304 includes a mounting plate 310 with a hole 310a defined therein, which provides a support surface for securing the connection system 200 within the club head body 102, as will be explained in more detail below.
• the mounting plate 310 may be integrally formed as part of the club head structure, and it may be located at any desired position along the shaft-receiving chamber 304, including right at or near the opening 306.
• a plug member may be provided close to opening 306 (optionally a removable plug member) or the sole member may include a countersunk region to allow the bolt member 308 to lie flush or substantially flush with the club head sole.
• the upper opening for the shaft-receiving chamber 304 in this example structure has rotation-inhibiting structures 312. While a variety of rotation-inhibiting structures 312 may be used without departing from the invention, in this example structure, the rotation-inhibiting structure 312 constitutes an opening having a plurality of flat sides or edges 312a that generally correspond to the size, shape, and location of the rotation-inhibiting structure 212 (and flat panels 212a) of the connection member 200 (e.g., having a non-round opening, and in this illustrated example, a polygonal opening with flat sides or edges 312a). As noted above, a variety of rotation- inhibiting structures 312 and/or 212 may be used without departing from this invention.
• connection assembly 200 (optionally with a shaft 106 already engaged with it) to the club head 102 will be described in more detail in conjunction with Figs. 3 A, 3 C, 3D, and 3E.
• the cylindrical body 202 of the connection member 200 is inserted into the shaft-receiving chamber 304 of the club head body 102 in an appropriate manner such that the rotation-inhibiting structures 212a of the connection member 200 engage the rotation-inhibiting structures 312a of the hosel 302.
• the second end 206 of the connection member 200 is seated against the mounting plate 310 and/or the expanded portion 214 of the connection member 200 first end 204 is seated against the top surface of the hosel 302 opening.
• connection assembly 200 may be engaged with the club head body by inserting the securing system 308 through the opening 306 in the sole of the club head and engaging the securing system 308 with the securing structure 210 provided with the connection member 200.
• the locations where the connection member 200 meet the club head 102 (e.g., at mounting plate 310 and/or the hosel opening) and/or where the securing system 308 meets the club head 102 (e.g., at the mounting plate 310) may include a flexible material (such as a washer, a gasket, an o- ring, an elastomeric washer or coating, etc.) to provide noise and/or vibration dampening, etc.
• connection system is readily releasable, e.g., by twisting out the bolt member 308, to allow users to interchange different shafts 106 on a given golf club head 102 and/or to allow users to interchange different golf club heads 102 on a given shaft/connection member assembly.
• the bolt 308 and mounting plate opening 310a may be structured so as to prevent the bolt 308 from completely falling out of the opening 306 when the bolt 308 is released from the connection system 200 (e.g., by providing an enlarged ring on the free end of bolt 308).
• the bolt may include a head having structures for engaging a screwdriver, an alien wrench, or another tool.
• connection system 200 and its attached shaft 106
• adjustment of the rotational position of the connection system 200 (and its attached shaft 106) with respect to the golf club head 102 may be used in at least some examples of this invention to adjust various features of the overall golf club, such as loft angle, lie angle, inset distance, offset distance, to fade bias, to draw bias, etc.
• any or all of the shaft 106, the connection member 200, and/or the club head 102 may include markings or indicators.
• FIG. 2A and 3A shows an indicator 220 on the connection system 200 (e.g., on the expanded portion 214), and Fig. 3 A shows plural indicators 320 on the hosel area 302 of the club head 102.
• the indicators e.g., indicators 320
• the indicators may be associated with and/or include specific quantitative information, such as a specifically identified loft angle, lie angle, inset distance, offset distance, etc.
• FIG. 4A and 4B illustrate one example golf club head/shaft connection system 400 in which these angles can be controlled and adjusted. More specifically, Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate a releasable golf club head/shaft connection assembly 200 similar to that described above in conjunction with Figs. 1 through 3 E (the same or similar reference numbers are used in Figs. 4A and 4B as those used in Figs.
• the shaft 402 is bent so as to include a first axial direction 404 extending coaxial with the interior chamber 208 of the connection member 200 and a second axial direction 406 extending along a major portion of the shaft 402.
• the axial direction change region 408 (optionally an abrupt bend or a continuous and/or smooth change) transitions the shaft axial direction from the first direction 404 to the second direction 406.
• the angle and/or position of the free end of the shaft 402 may be altered with respect to the club head 102 (and with respect to the ball striking face) by rotating the connection member 200 with respect to the club head (note the changed location of the position indicator 220 of the connection member 200 in Figs. 4A and 4B).
• the club head structure is not shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, but its location with respect to connection member 200 is readily evident from the previously described figures.
• This bent shaft feature along with the releasable connection system 200 (e.g., via releasable securing system features 210 and 308), allows club fitters (or others) to freely and easily adjust various angles and/or positions of the shaft 402 with respect to the club head 102 (e.g., variable lie, loft, and face angle combinations) while still using the same shaft 402 and head 102, which can help users more easily determine the optimum club head/shaft combination and arrangement to suit their needs.
• the axial direction change region 408 may be located at any desired position along the shaft 402 without departing from this invention. In at least some example structures 400 according to this aspect of the invention, the axial direction change region 408 will be located in the lower half of the shaft 402 nearer to the club head 102 than to the grip end. In some more specific examples, the axial direction change region 408 will be located in the lower quarter of the shaft 402 nearest to the club head 102, and even in the lower 10% or even 5% of the shaft 402 nearest to the club head 102. In some example structures 400 according to the invention, the bend or other axial direction change region 408 may be located as close to the connection member 200 or other portion of the club head as possible.
• any desired axial direction change ⁇ (or bend) angle may be used without departing from this invention, e.g., at least 0.25 degrees, at least 0.5 degrees, at least 1 degree, at least 2 degrees, at least 4 degrees, or even at least 8 degrees. In some example structures, this bend or other axial direction change will be between 0.25 and 25 degrees, between 0.5 and 15 degrees, between 1 and 10 degrees, or even between 1 and 5 degrees.
• the shaft 502 may have multiple axial direction change regions ⁇ e.g., regions 504 and 506 in Fig. 5A (in Fig. 5A, the same or similar reference numbers are used as those used in Figs. 1 through 4B to denote the same or similar parts)).
• This double bend feature allows further fine tuning or control of the position and/or angle of the free end of the shaft 502 (at the grip) with respect to the club head 102 and its ball striking face ⁇ e.g., to adjust positions to provide a range of inset, outset, onset, and offset positions and/or optionally to adjust lie, loft, and/or face angle features).
• the club head 102 is not shown in Fig. 5 A.
• Fig. 5B illustrates another example structure 520 including a releasable golf club head/shaft connection assembly ⁇ e.g., like assembly 200) and a shaft 522 having two (or more) axial direction change regions 504 and 506 like those illustrated in Fig. 5A.
• the shaft 522 has more abrupt direction changes as compared to the structure 500 and shaft 502 of Fig. 5A.
• This shaft structure 522 also allows control of the position and/or angle of the free end of the shaft 522 (at the grip) with respect to the club head 102 and its ball striking face ⁇ e.g., to adjust positions to provide a range of inset, outset, onset, and offset positions [50]
• the axial direction change regions 504 and 506 in the various structures may be located at any desired positions along the shafts 502 and/or 522 and/or at any desired relative spacing with respect to one another without departing from this invention.
• At least one of the axial direction change regions 504 and 506 (and optionally both) will be located in the lower half of the shaft 502 and/or 522 nearer to the club head 102 than to the grip end. In some more specific examples, one or both of the axial direction change regions 504 and 506 will be located in the lower quarter of the shaft 502 and/or 522 nearest to the club head 102, and even in the lower 10% or 5% of the shaft 502 and/or 522 nearest to the club head 102.
• the axial direction change regions 504 and 506 may be separated from one another by at least ⁇ / ⁇ inch, at least 1 inch, at least 2 inches, or even at least 4 inches or more without departing from this invention.
• any desired axial direction change (or bend) angles may be used for each of the two (or more) direction changes without departing from this invention, e.g., at least 0.25 degrees, at least 0.5 degrees, at least 1 degree, at least 2 degrees, at least 4 degrees, or even at least 8 degrees.
• these bends or other axial direction changes will be between 0.25 and 25 degrees, between 0.5 and 15 degrees, between 1 and 10 degrees, or even between 1 and 5 degrees.
• these bends or other axial direction changes will be between 25 and 145 degrees, between 30 and 120 degrees, between 45 and 100 degrees, or even between 60 and 90 degrees.
• one bend may be relatively slight (e.g., as shown in Fig. 5A) while another is more abrupt (e.g., as shown in Fig. 5B).
• the bends or axial direction changes 502 and 504 may be arranged so that the free ends of the shaft (and the shaft sections 524 and 526 including the free ends) lie on the same plane or on different planes. Also, if desired, more than two bends or axial direction change regions may be provided in a club head shaft structure without departing from this invention.
• a shaft including one or more axial direction change regions is not the only manner in which the position and/or angle of the free (grip) end of a shaft may be altered with respect to a golf club head and/or its ball striking face.
• Figs. 6A and 6B illustrate another example arrangement.
• the club head/shaft connection member 600 includes an "off-axis" or angled bore hole or interior chamber 608 in which the shaft 106 (optionally a straight shaft) is received. More specifically, in this illustrated example, the outer cylindrical surface 618 of the connection member 600 extends in a first axial direction 626, and the interior cylindrical surface 628 of the bore hole 608 extends in a second axial direction 630 that differs from the first axial direction 626.
• the shaft connection member 600 extends away from the club head 102 at a different and adjustable angle with respect to the club head 102 and its ball striking face (the shaft position and/or angle may be adjusted, for example, by rotating the shaft connection member 600 with respect to the club head hosel). This may be seen, for example, by a comparison of the angles of Figs. 6A and 6B.
• any desired angle may be maintained between the first axial direction 626 and the second axial direction 630, in accordance with some examples of this invention, this angle will be between 0.25 degrees and 10 degrees, and in some examples between 0.5 degrees and 8 degrees, between 0.75 degrees and 6 degrees, or even between 1 degree and 4 degrees.
• the axial directions 626 and 630 may be parallel to one another but offset such that these directions are not coaxial. In this manner, various characteristics of the club may be changed by rotating the connection system 200 with respect to the club head (such as inset or outset dimensions, etc.).
• connection system may be used to connect shafts to other elements of a golf club (or other) structure, such as connecting a golf club shaft to a grip element. Similar structures also may be used to connect shafts to other pieces of athletic equipment or other equipment, if desired (not limited to golf clubs).
• the various steps of the described assembly processes also may be altered, changed in order, combined, and/or omitted without departing from the invention.
• the releasable connection assemblies may be used in any desired manner without departing from the invention.
• the clubs with such connection assemblies may be designed for use by the golfer in play (and optionally, if desired, the golfer may freely change shafts, heads, and/or their positioning with respect to one another).
• clubs including releasable connections in accordance with the invention may be used as club fitting tools and when the desired combination of head, shaft, and positioning have been determined for a specific golfer, a club builder may use the determined information to then produce a final desired golf club product using conventional (and permanent) mounting techniques (e.g., cements or adhesives).
• conventional (and permanent) mounting techniques e.g., cements or adhesives.

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• 2007
  • 2007-08-28 US US11/846,370 patent/US20090062029A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2008
  • 2008-08-20 JP JP2010523038A patent/JP5479341B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2008-08-20 EP EP08798266.6A patent/EP2185252B1/de active Active
  • 2008-08-20 AU AU2008296600A patent/AU2008296600B2/en not_active Ceased
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  • 2008-08-20 WO PCT/US2008/073703 patent/WO2009032533A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2008-08-20 KR KR1020107005698A patent/KR101196508B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2014
  • 2014-01-03 US US14/147,326 patent/US20140121032A1/en not_active Abandoned

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