GB2317570A

GB2317570A - Adjustable moulded club head

Info

Publication number: GB2317570A
Application number: GB9620131A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip James Chesworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-09-27
Filing date: 1996-09-27
Publication date: 1998-04-01
Also published as: GB9620131D0

Abstract

A golf club head has an adjustable weight 2 and a stub shaft 7 extending next to or into the weight 2. Filler material is moulded around the weight 2 and stub shaft 7 when the desired position of the weight 2 in the head has been finalised. The head may comprise an angled sole plate 1 of angle iron to which the weight is welded before the moulding process or the head may be of an open ended metal box construction (figs 6-9) into which weights (29 fig 9) are welded before the cavity is filled with the filler material. The stub shaft may be placed directly into a bore in a weight (10 fig 5), into a cut in a weight (5 fig 4) or spaced from a weight (25 fig 7). An aluminum machined face (8 fig 2, 31 fig 9) may be adhered to the head.

Description

A GOLF CLUB The present invention relates to a head for a golf club and particularly, but not exclusively for a putter.

Golf putters come in many shapes and sizes, but the main objective in manufacturing a putter is to produce a club with control and feel. It is an object of the present invention to provide a club in which both of those characteristics are improved.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf club head comprising a weight, the position of which may be varied to alter the balance of the head, a stub shaft extending next to or into the weight and filler material moulded around the weight and stub shaft.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of making a golf club head including the steps of introducing a stub shaft next to or into a weight and moulding filler material around the assembly to produce a head of the desired shape, weight and balance.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the weight is supported on a piece of material of right angled cross section. The base of that piece of material forms three substantially planar portions, a central portion around two outer portions extending at an angle thereto.

This angle may be varied as desired, but would preferably be up to 20 and advantageously about 5". The number of planar portions may also be varied. These different planar portions enable the club to be positioned on the ground with the club shaft extending at different angles to the user. The weight may be formed with a substantially semi circular cross section means to receive the stub shaft or a bore may be formed to receive this shaft. The piece of material may be made of metal, conveniently angle iron, and the weight may be welded to the piece of material. When the weight is in the desired position with the stub shaft extending from it, filler material is moulded around this assembly to produce the desired external shape . This may then be painted and polished. The shape may include "ears" disposed on opposite sides of the stub shaft for stability. A strike face of a soft material such as aluminium may then be fixed to the head and shaft of the desired length in the stub shaft. Fixing in both cases may be by means of an adhesive. In another preferred embodiment, the right angled cross section is replaced by a piece of metal hollow box section.

Sections of the box are cut away to accommodate a pair of feet and the box is drilled to accommodate a stub shaft. Two weights are introduced from opposite ends of the box and after adjustment for balance are welded in position. The weights are covered with filler before finishing painting and polishing in the normal way.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side elevational view in cross section of the head of one form of putter; Figure 2 shows a plan view in cross-section a putter head as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side elevational view of part of the head shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 shows a plan view of part of the head shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 shows a possible modification of the head shown in Figures 1 and 2, and Figures 6 to 9 diagrammatically show progressive stages in the manufacture of another embodiment of the head of one form of putter, specifically, Figure 6 shows a side elevational view of a basic part of the head, Figure 7 shows an underplan view of the part shown in figure 6 at a subsequent manufacturing stage, Figure 8 shows an end elevational view of the part shown in figure 7 but at a still further manufacturing stage, and Figure 9 shows a plan view of the head of figure 8 at a final stage of manufacture.

Referring to figures I to 4 a piece of angle iron 1 is cut to length and then bent to provide a base having a central portion la and two other portions 1b and Ic extending at an angle to the central portion.

This angle may be up to 20 but is preferably about 5". In the angle of the angle iron, which is approximately a right angle, a weight in the form of a solid bar of metal 2 is disposed. This metal bar 2 is welded to the angle iron 1 at 3 and 4. A substantially semi-circular cutout portion 5 is provided in one face 4 of the bar 2. This cutout is sized to receive one half cross section of a stub shaft 6 is welded to the bar by a weld 7.

The position of the bar 2 on the angle iron may be altered as desired to alter the balance and feel of the club head. A machined and positioned aluminium face 8 is glued to that the face of the angle now 1 opposite to the bar 2. Filler is introduced to and shaped around the bar/angle iron combination to produce a shaped body which is then painted and polished. The shape of the body comprises two projecting "ears" which are disposed on oppositely side respectively of the stub shaft 6. These also serve to give balance to the head and to provide stability when the head is moved across the ground.

Once the head of the putter has been manufactured in this way the club may be completed by fixing a shaft (not shown) of the desired length to the stub shaft 6. The modification shown in Figure 5, shows an alternative position for the stub shaft 6. This alternative position identified by the reference numeral 10 involves drilling an aperture through the bar 2 to receive the stub shaft. The position of the stub shaft 6 is chosen so that the club is balanced with respect to the elongate axis of the shaft when held by the user.

The manufacture of a further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 6 to 9. In this embodiment, a piece of metal 20 preferably steel, of hollow box section is cut to length. Two angled sections 21 and 22 are cut away at opposite ends thereof along dashed lines in figure 6. Two feet 23 and 24 are welded to the cut away sections as shown in figure 7. An aperture 25 is drilled through the box section at a central location and a stub shaft 26 is inserted into this aperture and welded in position by welds 27 and 28 as shown in figures 7 and 8. Referring to figure 9 a pair of weights 29 are then introduced into the box section metal piece 20 from opposite ends thereof. The position of the weights may be adjusted as desired to give the assembly the desired degree of balance about the shaft 26. Once adjusted the weights are fixed in position by welding to the front face of the head at 30. Filler is then introduced into the remaining space inside the box section around the weights 29 to fill that remaining space and cover the weights. A piece of aluminium 31 or other suitable soft metal is glued to the front face and the overall assembly is finished off painted and polished. The club shaft (not shown) may then be glued to the stub shaft 26 to produce the finished club.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiments have been described by way of example only and many variations are possible within the scope of the invention. For example the number of planar portions may be altered as desired as may their angle to each other.

Also the position of the stub shaft may be varied as desired.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising a weight, the position of which may be varied to alter the balance of the head, a stub shaft extending next to or into the weight and filler material moulded around the weight and stub shaft.

2. A golf club head as claimed in claim 1, in which the weight is supported on a piece of material of right angled cross-section.

3. A golf club head as claimed in claim 2, in which the piece of material comprises a base having a central planar portion and two outer planar portions extending at an angle thereto.

4. A golf club head as claimed in daim 3, in which each outer planar portion extends at an angle of up to 200 to the central planar portion.

5. A golf club head as claimed in claim 4, in which each outer planar portion extends at an angle of 50 to the central planar portion.

6. A golf club head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the weight is formed with a bore to receive the stub shaft.

7. A golf club head as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the weight is formed with a substantially semi-circular cross-section means to receive the stub shaft.

8. A golf club head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the weight is made of metal.

9. A golf club head as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, or claims 7 and 8 when appendant directly or indirectly to claim 2, in which the piece of material is made of metal.

10. A golf club head as claimed in claim 9, in which the piece of material is angle iron.

11. A golf club head as claimed in claim 9 or 10, when appendant to daim 8, in which the or each weight is welded to the piece of material.

12. A golf club head as claimed in claim 1, in which the piece of material has a hollow metal box section.

13. A golf dub head as claimed in claim 11, in which the box has cut away portions to accommodate a pair of feet and is drilled to accommodate a stub shaft.

14. A golf club head as claimed in claim 12, in which two weights are disposed in opposite ends of the box and welded in position.

15. A golf club head as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a machined face is positioned on the operative face of the head.

16. A golf club head as claimed in claim 15, in which the machined face is made of aluminium.

17. A golf club head as claimed in claim 15 or 16, in which the machined face is fixed to the remainder of the head by adhesive.

18. A golf club head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 to 4, figure 5 or to figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawing.

19. A method of making a golf club head including the steps of introducing a stub shaft next to or into a weight and moulding filler material around the assembly to produce a head of the desired shape, weight and balance.

20. A method of making a golf club head as claimed in claim 16, in which the position of the weight is adjusted to the desired position to give the required balance.

21. A method of making a golf club head as claimed in claim 17, in which the weight is welded in the desired adjusted position.

22. A method of making a golf club head in which a plurality of weights are adjusted to desired positions and welded in those positions.

23. A method of making a goH club head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.