GB2520673A

GB2520673A - A golf putter/club heads with a variable & interchangeable neck system

Info

Publication number: GB2520673A
Application number: GB1318764.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter I Pellew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-23
Filing date: 2013-10-23
Publication date: 2015-06-03
Also published as: GB201318764D0; WO2015059477A3; WO2015059477A2; US20160263447A1

Abstract

A golf club such as a putter comprises a shaft, a neck connected to the shaft and a club head 19 joined to the neck by a joint which allows for adjustment between the neck and the club head. The adjustment may include the lie and loft angle of the club head and further allow for 360 degree rotational variation of the club shaft. The joint may comprise a ball 02 and socket joint which may allow for a restricted amount of movement of the club head. The club head may be locked in the place once in a position. A captive nut 01 arranged to compress the ball may be included and may further have a grub screw or plunger to restrict its movement. The ball may be formed as one piece with the neck or be provided with a hole 05 into which the neck is fitted. An alternative embodiment is characterised by the club head being joined to the shaft by a joint which allows for adjustment between the shaft and the club head. Also envisaged is a golf club which comprises an interchangeable neck (15/17).

Description

A Golf Putter IClub Heads with a Variable & InterchanEeable Neck System This is an invention/device is for a new design and type of Neck System and Head, for Golf Putter heads & Golf Club heads, affording adjustment and variability between the Neck, incorporating the putter/club Shaft and the Head, the putter/club head. It also allows the heads, the putter/club head, to be able to use different Types and Styles of Necks.

Interchangeable Necks.

This design/device allows the Lie' and Loft' of the putter/club head to be individually adjusted thus enabling the player lobe able to address the head of the puller/club with the ball in a way that suits his own unique conformation and physical requirements. Taking into account that every player has a different conformation, the putter head/club head is therefore better able to accommodate these variations. This design meets with the Golf Federations rules governing what is allowed and permitted regarding adjustable shafts and puffer heads/club heads, i.e. the 100 and 200 degree rulings.

This invention/design allows for adjustment and variability between the neck/shaft and the club head and is achieved without altering the design and aesthetics of the traditional Golf Putter/Club Head and its many variations in design. It is attained by joining the Neck/Shaft and the Golf Putter/Club Head together by means of a ball and socket joint (a type of universal join) and thus giving universal adjustment, movement and variability.

When the desired position is obtained, by the player/user, the unit can be secured/locked in place. The result being a unique golf putter/club that has taken into account the players/users special physical requirements as well as taking into consideration the topography of the ground on which the putter heads/club heads are being used.

Present-day Golf Putter Heads come in numerous models/variations attempting to cover all the possible different variations, i.e. with different neck angles and types of necks, straight or with various degrees of crank/offset. A certain amount of adjustment, of forward and backward movement/variation Lie', is achieved by the bending' of the shall. The same applies to Loft. None, however, allow for 360° degrees of rotational variation of the club shaft, as well as, a forward and aft movement, Lie' and lateral, side to side movement Loft' by a simple mechanical adjustment. Nor are the necks interchangeable. The amount of movement can be restricted, i.e. to meet the aforementioned 10° and 20° degree rulings.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which a Golf Putter Head is used for simplification.

Figure 01 shows a side elevation of a Golf Putter Head 19 and the parts that go to make up the device, the Variable Neck System, and in the order in which they enter into the Cavity/Bore 04 and which is threaded. The parts being: 01 Captive Cap/Nut threaded, 02 Ball/Sphere & 03 Captive Socket. 10 represents the part of the putter head closest to the player and which is known as the Heel'. 11 represents the part of the puffer head furthest from the player and which is known as the Toe'.

Figures 02 is a cross section showing 01, the Captive Cap/Nut, which is threaded and which locks the Ball/Sphere 02 of the device in position. 09a & 09b represent the pin holes for a pin spanner/key.

Figures 03 is a cross section showing 02, the Ball/Sphere. In this image of 02, the BalllSphere, there is also shown the HolelPoeket' 05 into which the putter shaft or Extended Necks 15 & 17 (Figures 07 & 08) fit into.

Figures 04 is a cross section showing 03 Captive Socket, which rests on a Flange 18, (Figure 05) and into which the Ball/Sphere 02 nesfies and is supported when compressed by the tightening of the Captive Cap/Nut 01.

Figure 05 is a cross section of the Heel' area of a Golf Putter Head 19 and showing all the parts assembled. These being: 01 Captive Cap/Nut, 02 Ball/Sphere & 03 Captive Socket in theft correct positions in the threaded Cavity/Bore 04. 06 shows a weight screw which can be fitted on the base of the putter head which is known as the Sole' should it be required and requested. 07 shows a threaded Hole' nmning from the Heel 10 of the puffer into the CavitylBore 04. This threaded Hole' 07 can accommodate a grub screw or grub screw and plunger in order to afford extra security, if necessary, in locking the unitldevice, in CavitylBore 04, securely in place by restricting the movement of the Captive Cap/Nut 01.

Figure O6is a a side elevation of a Golf Puller Head 19 showing the device integrated into the Putter Head'. What is visible is part of the Ball/Sphere 02 and Ut Hole/Pocket' 05 into which either the putter shaft fits into or the Extended Necks 15 & 17 (Figures 07 & 08) fits into. 01 represents the Captive Cap/Nut 09a, 09b & 09c represents pinholes which in conjunction with a pin spanner/key lock the device in position.

Figure 07 is a side elevation of a Neck Extension 15 with an offset. The Neck Extension 15 can be made with varying degrees of offset. It can also be made as a straight extensions without any offset. Both types of Neck Extension (straight or offset) can vary in length. 08 shows where the puffer shaft fits into a Hole/Pocket' at the top end of the Neck Extension.

This type of Neck 13 is known as a Plumbers Neck Hosel'. The name Hose!' refers to the part that connects the shaft to the Neck extension. The other end of the Neck Extension, 12, is shown fitted into the Hole/Pocket' 05 of the Ball/Sphere 02 of the device.

Figure 08 is a side elevation of a Neck Extension 17 with an offset. The Neck Extension 17 can be made with varying degrees of offset. It can also be made as a straight extensions without any offset. Both types of Neck Extension (straight or offset) can vary in length. 16 shows where the putter shaft fits Over a Stub' at the top end of the Neck Extension. This type of Neck 14 is known as a Flare Tip Hose?. The name Hose!' refers to the part that connects the shaft to the Neck extension. The other end of the Neck Extension, 12 is shown fitted into the Hole/Pocket' 05 of the Ball/Sphere 02 of the device.

This design/device is typically produced, Figure 05, whereby the Bore/Cavity 04 is entered on the top side of the Colt Putter Head 19 and at the Heel' 10 area. The Ball/Sphere 02 is being held in position, in the BorelCavity 04 of the Golf Puffer Head 19, by the Captive Cap/Nut 01 on the top and supported at the bottom, of the Bore/Cavity 04, by the Captive Socket 03 which rests on a Flange 18. This, however, need not be exclusively the case.

This design/device can be produced whereby the parts are inserted from the base of the putter, known as the Sole'. In this case the rolls of the Captive Socket 03 and the Captive Cap/Nut 01 are reversed. The Bore/Cavity is entered from the Sole' of the putter and the locking of the Ball/Sphere would be done on the underside, the Sole', by a Captive Cap/Nut. The Captive Socket 03 would in turn become part of and incorporated into the Golf Putter Head 19.

The top side of the Golf Putter Head 19 would have an opening exposing part for the Ball/Sphere 02 and the Hole/Pocket' 05 into which either the putter shaft or the Neck Extensions could and would fit.

The Neck Extensions 15 & 17, Figure 07 & 08, typically would be produced without the Ball/Sphere 02 being attached to theft end part 12. The Ball/Sphere 02 would then be bonded together, by either heat or glue, with the Neck Extensions. This is general practise when attaching putter shafts to Golf Putters. In the same way, when attaching the putter shaft directly to the Ball/Sphere 02, heat, glue or other bonding agent is used. This, however, need not be exclusively the case.

The Neck Extensions 15 & 17, Figure 07 & 08, can also be produce as one piece and incorporating the Ball/Sphere 02 at their end 12.

The Bore/Cavity 04 as described, into which the device is fitted, is situated at the Heel' 10 area of a Golf Putter Head 19 however this is not exclusively the case. This Bore/Cavity 04 can be located anywhere along the entire length of the puffer/club, between the Heel' 10 and the Toe' 11 of the putter. Furthermore the Bore/Cavity 04 need not be confided to the Front Edge 20 (Figures 01 & 06) but can, depending on the design of the Putter Head, be situated anywhere between the Front Edge 20 (Figures 01 & 06) and the Back Edge 21 (Figures 01 & 06).

The Captive Cap/Nut 01 (Figure 02) has been designed whereby a special spanner/key known as a pin spanner/key is required and whose lugs fit into the location Holes 09 on the Captive Cap/Nut 01 (Figure 02). This is to meet existing Golf Federations rules which state that any adjustment must be achieved through an independent, special devise/tool, i.e. spanner. This, however, is not, exclusive and the Captive Cap/Nut 01 (Figure 02) could be produced whereby the adjustment can be made without the need of a special tool.

The parts for this design/device are made/manufactured in either metal or plastic composites or a combination of both. Typically the Golf Puffer Head 19 (Figures 01, 05 & 06) would be in Stainless Steel, Zinc Alloy, Titanium, Aluminium. The Ball/Sphere 02 in Carbon Fibre, Nylon, Stainless Steel, Aluminium. The Extended Necks 15 & 17 (Figures 07 & 08) would be in Carbon Fibre, Stainless Steel, Graphite or a Plastic Composite whilst the Captive Cap/Nut 01 (Figure 02) & Captive Socket 03 (Figure 04) would be produced in a Metal, Stainless Steel or a Plastic Composite.

This design/device can be produced and used in either right handed or left handed putter/club models and with various designs, shapes and types of putter heads and not only exclusively to putter heads but as well with other Golf Club heads. i.e. wedges, drivers etc. This design/device, as with conventional golf putter heads, in no-way resiricts the use of weight pockets in the putter/club heads if so desired.

Claims

Claims 1. A golf club comprising a shaft, a neck connected to the shaft and a club head joined to the neck by a joint which allows for adjustment and variability between the neck and the club head.
2. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein the joint is operable to allow the lie and loft of the club head to be individually adjusted.
3. A golf club according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the joint is operable to allow for 360 degrees of rotational variation of the club shaft.
4. A golf club according to any one of the preceding claims) wherein the amount of movement of the club head is restricted.
5. A golf club according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the joint comprises a ball and socket joint.
6. A golf club according to claim 5, wherein the joint is operable to permit the club head to be locked in place once in a position desired by a user.
7. A golf club according to claim 6, wherein the socket comprises a captive nut which is arranged to compress the ball to lock the club head in place.
8. A golf club according to claim 7, further comprising a grub screw or grub screw and plunger to restrict the movement of the captive nut.
9. A golf club according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the ball is provided with a hole or pocket into which the neck is fitted. Co
10. A golf club according to any one of claims S to 8, wherein the ball is produced as one piece with the neck.
11. A golf club according to any one of claims S to 10, wherein the ball is releasable from the socket to render the neck interchangeable with another neck.
12. A golf club comprising a shaft and a club head joined to the shaft by a joint which allows for adjustment and variability between the shaft and the club head.
13. A golf club according to claim 12, wherein the joint is operable to allow the lie and loft of the club head to be individually adjusted.
14. A golf club according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the joint is operable to allow for 360 degrees of rotational variation of the club shaft.
15. A golf club according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the amount of movement of the club head is restricted.
16. A golf club according to any one of the claims 12 to 15, wherein the joint comprises a ball and socket joint.
17. A golf club according to claim 16, wherein the joint is operable to permit the club head to be locked in place once in a position desired by a user.
18. A golf club according to claim 17, wherein the socket comprises a captive nut which is arranged to compress the ball to lock the club head in place.
19. A golf club according to claim 18, further comprising a grub screw or grub screw and plunger to restrict the movement of the captive nut.
20. A golf club according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the ball is provided with a hole or pocket into which the shaft is fitted.
21. A golf club comprising a neck and a club head joined to the neck by a ball and socket joint.
22. A golf club comprising a shaft and a club head joined to the shaft by a ball and socket joint.
23. A golf club comprising an interchangeable neck.
24. A golf club substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. r Co (4