GB2309647A

GB2309647A - Golf club

Info

Publication number: GB2309647A
Application number: GB9602042A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vincent Patrick Emmerson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-02-01
Filing date: 1996-02-01
Publication date: 1997-08-06
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-01
Also published as: GB9602042D0; GB2309647B

Abstract

A golf club 10 with a shaft 12 is formed of two parts 14,16 along its length. Respective male and female threaded portions 24 and 34 are provided on plugs 22 provided in the respective parts 14,16. The thread on the portions 24,34 is of an opposite hand to the golf club 10.

Description

GOLF CLUB This invention concerns improvements in or relating to golf clubs.

As a result of their length, golf clubs are relatively cumbersome to transport or store. It is therefore not particularly easy to carry even a single club, which may for instance be required for practice.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf club, the golf club comprising a shaft formed from at least two parts, the parts being selectively coaxially connectable together.

Connecting means are preferably provided on said parts, and the connecting means may comprise respective screw threads on each of said parts. The screw threads are preferably of an opposite hand to the golf club, whereby upon a shot being played the threads tend to tighten.

A threaded male member may be provided on a one of said parts.

The male member may be provided on a plug located in the free end of said part with the male part, extending therefrom. The plug is preferably a sliding fit in said part and means may be provided for rigidly mounting the plug in said part. Alternatively, the plug may be an expanding fit in said part. The plug preferably includes a shoulder which abuts externally against the free end of said part.

A threaded female member is preferably provided in the other, or a one of the others, of said parts. The female member is preferably also provided on a plug located in the free end of said other part, with the female part located therein. Said plug is preferably a sliding fit in said part and means may be provided for rigidly mounting a plug in said part.

Alternatively, the plug may be an expanding fit in said part. Said plug preferably includes a shoulder which abuts externally against the free end of said part.

The thread is preferably of a pitch to substantially avoid cross threading and also to provide unscrewing substantially without binding.

The thread is preferably 8mm.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a golf club according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of part of the club of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a further part of the club of Fig.

1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a component shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a component shown in Fig. 3.

The drawings show a golf club 10 of a conventional configuration except that the shaft 12 is formed in two parts 14,16 along its length, with the parts 14,16 being of generally similar length. The first part 14 which mounts the club head 18 on one end thereof, is provided with a male connection 20 on the other end. The connection 20 is provided by a plug 22.

The plug 22 has a cylindrical portion 24 of a size to slidingly fit in the part 14. The portion 24 terminates in a shoulder 26 of a diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the part 14, which abuts externally against the free end of the part 14. Extending from the shoulder 26 is a threaded finger 28 of a smaller diameter than the portion 24. An 8mm thread is provided on the finger 28.

A female connection 30 is provided on the other part 16. The connection 30 again comprises a plug 32 with a cylindrical portion 34 terminating in a shoulder 36 abutting externally against the free end of the part 16. An 8mm thread is provided on the inside of the portion 34 to be engageable with the thread on the finger 28. The threads on the portion 34 and finger 28 are left handed for right hand golf clubs. The plugs 22,32 are fixed in the parts 14,16 by any suitable means such as glueing, radial pins or both. Alternatively, the plugs 22,32 could be an expanding fit in the parts 14,16, or could be mounted therein using an expanding device, swaging or any combination of these.

In use, the club 10 can be transported with the parts 14,16 disconnected thereby enabling location for example in a brief case. When it is required to use the club 10, the parts 14,16 can be screwed together.

When a shot is played this will tend to tighten the connection between the parts 14,16. It is of course to be realised that the threads would be right handed for a left hand golf club. The 8mm thread substantially prevents cross-threading and also provides unscrewing essentially without binding.

There is thus described a golf club which is of relatively simple construction and can thus be inexpensively and robustly manufactured but provides considerable advantages over existing golf clubs.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the shaft may be made from more than two parts. Different means may be provided for connecting together the parts of the shaft. For instance, different thread sizes or types could be used.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant daims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

aaims-:

1. A golf club, the golf club comprising a shaft formed from at least two parts, the parts being selectively coaxially connectable together.

2. A golf club according to claim 1, in which connecting means are provided on said parts.

3. A golf club according to claim 2, in which the connecting means comprises respective screw threads on each of said parts.

4. A golf club according to claim 3, in which the screw threads are of an opposite hand to the golf club, whereby upon a shot being played the threads tend to tighten.

5. A golf club according to claims 3 or 4, in which a threaded male member is provided on a one of said parts.

6. A golf club according to claim 5, in which the male member is provided on a plug located in the free end of said part with the male part, extending therefrom.

7. A golf club according to claim 6, in which the plug is a sliding fit in said part and means are provided for rigidly mounting the plug in said part.

8. A golf club according to claim 6, in which the plug is an expanding fit in said part.

9. A golf club according to any of claims 6 to 8, in which the plug includes a shoulder which abuts externally against the free end of said part.

10. A golf club according to any of claims 5 to 9, in which a threaded female member is provided in the other, or a one of the others, of said parts.

11. A golf club according to claim 10, in which the female member is provided on a plug located in the free end of said other part, with the female part located therein.

12. A golf dub according to claim 11, in which said plug is a sliding fit in said part and means are provided for rigidly mounting the plug in said part.

13. A golf club according to claim 11, in which the plug is an expanding fit in said part.

14. A golf club according to any of claims 11 to 13, in which said plug includes a shoulder which abuts externally against the free end of said part.

15. A golf club according to any of claims 3 to 14, in which the thread is of a pitch to substantially avoid cross threading and also to provide unscrewing substantially without binding.

16. A golf club according to claim 15, in which the thread is 8mm.

17. A golf club substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.