GB2109249A

GB2109249A - Adjustable head golf club

Info

Publication number: GB2109249A
Application number: GB08133366A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-05
Filing date: 1981-11-05
Publication date: 1983-06-02

Abstract

A golf club has means for adjusting the loft of the head 4 relative to the shaft 5. Adjustment is achieved by screwing a lower portion 5a of the shaft 5, whose axis is inclined relative to the rest of the shaft 5, into a trapped hole 4b in the head 4 to an extent limited by a locking nut 6, which is preset to a required position by means of a calibrated scale. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION The invention relates to a golf club According to the present invention, there is provided a golf club having means provided for adjusting the loft of the head relative to the shaft and so providing, with a single club, an extended range of golf ball trajectories including a head and shaft position suitable for 'putting'.

The club comprises a head, generally of conventional shape, having an attachment point at one end for the fitting of a shaft which is mounted in such a way as to be capable of rotation about its own lower end axis when in an unlocked condition with means being provided for locking the head to the shaft when in the desired operating position. The shaft is typically of circular construction with a portion of its length attached to the club head inclined at an angle to the remaining shaft length. At the remote end from the club head there will normally be provided a conventional hand grip.

The shaft may be provided in either a one or multi piece construction, the multi piece being provided primarily for ease of carrying when not in use.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows front and side diagrammatic elevation of a typical conventional golf club which comprises a club head 1 and shaft 2 the upper end of the shaft being fitted with a hand grip 3.

Two important dimensions of any golf club are the angle a (LOFT) which determines the trajectory of the golf ball. The larger the angle the steeper the trajectory and the shorter the length of the shot andy which is determined by the length of the golf club shaft and the desired position of the hand grip for the player to hold the club in the correct position with the club head 'lying' in its correct position.

With conventional golf clubs, it is normal for the length of shaft to increase with reducing angle of loft and so reducing the angle y. Table 1 shows typical angles of loft for a range of modern golf clubs.

Whilst a right hand 'Iron' club head is shown in Figures 1 & 2, this is only representative and is shown only to illustrate the various components and critical dimensions of a golf club.

Figures 3 & 4 show front and side diagrammatic elevation, partly in section, of a golf club according to the invention having means provided for adjusting the 'loft' of the club face.

Figure 5 shows diagrammatic elevation of the adjustable golf club showing a range of positions of the shaft and the corresponding change in the club face loft.

A golf club in accordance with the invention has a club head 4 at one end of which is a shank 4a into which a shaft 5 is screwed. The shaft 5 has a lower end 5a which is inclined to the upper portion. The lower end 5a is screwed with a self locking left hand thread and mates with a corresponding left hand tapped hole 4b in the club head shank.

Above the left hand thread 5a on the shaft 5 is cut a right hand thread 5b which mates with a locking nut 6.

Marked on the shaft 5 there is a series of lines Sc engraved, their position determined to give the range of loft selection desired.

To adjust the club to give a desired loft, the head 4 is loosened by rotating it anti-clockwise when viewed from the hand grip end. The locking nut 6 can then be rotated to the selected position on a calibrated scale 2c so that rotation of the head 4 in a clockwise direction will lock against the nut and give the desired loft.

By selecting the thread pitch 5a to be larger than 5b the scale Sc is expanded and the setting to a desired loft is more accurately made than if the pitches were the same.

TABLE 1 Club Pitching No. Wedge 9 7 6 5 3 2 Putter a loft in 54 45 38 34 26 19 14 0 degrees CLAIMS (filed on 5 Nov 1982) 1. A golf club with adjustable loft capability comprising a club head, generally of conventional shape, having an attachment point at one end for the fitting of a shaft which is mounted in such a way as to be capable of rotation about its own lower end axis, which is coincident with the mounting axis of the club head, when in an unlocked condition with means being provided for locking the shaft when in the desired operating position, said shaft being typically of circular construction with a portion of its length at the club head end inclined at an angle to the upper portion of the shaft, said shaft having a hand grip at the end remote from the club head.

2. A golf club as claimed in claim 1 in which the lower end of the shaft is threaded and mates with a corresponding tapped hole in the club head.

3. A golf club as claimed in claim 2 in which a locking nut is provided which is tapped and mates with a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION The invention relates to a golf club According to the present invention, there is provided a golf club having means provided for adjusting the loft of the head relative to the shaft and so providing, with a single club, an extended range of golf ball trajectories including a head and shaft position suitable for 'putting'. The club comprises a head, generally of conventional shape, having an attachment point at one end for the fitting of a shaft which is mounted in such a way as to be capable of rotation about its own lower end axis when in an unlocked condition with means being provided for locking the head to the shaft when in the desired operating position. The shaft is typically of circular construction with a portion of its length attached to the club head inclined at an angle to the remaining shaft length. At the remote end from the club head there will normally be provided a conventional hand grip. The shaft may be provided in either a one or multi piece construction, the multi piece being provided primarily for ease of carrying when not in use. For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows front and side diagrammatic elevation of a typical conventional golf club which comprises a club head 1 and shaft 2 the upper end of the shaft being fitted with a hand grip 3. Two important dimensions of any golf club are the angle a (LOFT) which determines the trajectory of the golf ball. The larger the angle the steeper the trajectory and the shorter the length of the shot andy which is determined by the length of the golf club shaft and the desired position of the hand grip for the player to hold the club in the correct position with the club head 'lying' in its correct position. With conventional golf clubs, it is normal for the length of shaft to increase with reducing angle of loft and so reducing the angle y. Table 1 shows typical angles of loft for a range of modern golf clubs. Whilst a right hand 'Iron' club head is shown in Figures 1 & 2, this is only representative and is shown only to illustrate the various components and critical dimensions of a golf club. Figures 3 & 4 show front and side diagrammatic elevation, partly in section, of a golf club according to the invention having means provided for adjusting the 'loft' of the club face. Figure 5 shows diagrammatic elevation of the adjustable golf club showing a range of positions of the shaft and the corresponding change in the club face loft. A golf club in accordance with the invention has a club head 4 at one end of which is a shank 4a into which a shaft 5 is screwed. The shaft 5 has a lower end 5a which is inclined to the upper portion. The lower end 5a is screwed with a self locking left hand thread and mates with a corresponding left hand tapped hole 4b in the club head shank. Above the left hand thread 5a on the shaft 5 is cut a right hand thread 5b which mates with a locking nut 6. Marked on the shaft 5 there is a series of lines Sc engraved, their position determined to give the range of loft selection desired. To adjust the club to give a desired loft, the head 4 is loosened by rotating it anti-clockwise when viewed from the hand grip end. The locking nut 6 can then be rotated to the selected position on a calibrated scale 2c so that rotation of the head 4 in a clockwise direction will lock against the nut and give the desired loft. By selecting the thread pitch 5a to be larger than 5b the scale Sc is expanded and the setting to a desired loft is more accurately made than if the pitches were the same. TABLE 1 Club Pitching No. Wedge 9 7 6 5 3 2 Putter a loft in 54 45 38 34 26 19 14 0 degrees CLAIMS (filed on 5 Nov 1982)

1. A golf club with adjustable loft capability comprising a club head, generally of conventional shape, having an attachment point at one end for the fitting of a shaft which is mounted in such a way as to be capable of rotation about its own lower end axis, which is coincident with the mounting axis of the club head, when in an unlocked condition with means being provided for locking the shaft when in the desired operating position, said shaft being typically of circular construction with a portion of its length at the club head end inclined at an angle to the upper portion of the shaft, said shaft having a hand grip at the end remote from the club head.

3. A golf club as claimed in claim 2 in which a locking nut is provided which is tapped and mates with a corresponding thread on the shaft said thread form being of opposite hand to that used between the club head and the shaft said hand of thread being determined by the desire to produce a right or left handed club or whether the locking nut is above or below the portion of the club head into which the shaft is fitted and against which the locking nut locks.

4. A golf club as claimed in claim 4 in which the shaft is marked with a series of graduation around its outer periphery near to the position of the lock nut which is also marked with a guide line such that accurate positioning of the lock nut can be made and hence calibrated loft selection.

5. An adjustable golf club substantiaily as hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.