US1976324A - Golf club - Google Patents

Description

0ct. 9, 1934. A. E. BUHRKE Er AL 1,976,324

GOLF CLUB Filed June 13 1932 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES GOLF CLUB Alfred E. Buhrke and Allen F. Heeter, Chicago, Ill.; said Heeter assignor to said Buhrke Application June 13, 1932, Serial No. 616,826

Claims.

The invention relates to a new and improved construction of golf clubs and particularly to the construction of a golf club of the type commonly referred to as a wood or wood clu that is, having a head made of wood or analogous brous material having an integral shank or neck to which is attached the usual club shaft which is formed at its attaching extremity adjacent the head as a cylindrical tube that may be 10 tapered according to common construction of tubular, tapered metallic shafts, largely used at the present time for the shafting of woodheaded clubs.

It is a primary object of our invention to provide an improved form of attaching joint between the shaft and the shank of a woodheaded club.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of joint for securely and flexibly connecting the shaft of a wood-headed club to the neck or shank of its club head in such manner as to provide the maximum strength at the initial point of union between the shaft and the neck or shank of the club head to prevent failure of the joint and to prevent splitting of the shank or neck of the club when failure or looseness in the joint occurs.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved form of connecting device for uniting the standard style of flexible, tubular, tapered, steel shaft to the shank or neck of a wood headed club in such manner as to avoid a featheredge or straight taper construction on the attaching portion of the shank or neck of the club head, and otherwise to reenforce the latter so as to prevent splitting and failure of the connection between the shaft and the club head.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved connection between a flexible, metallic, tubular shaft and the neck or shank of a wood-headed club which will permit of a degree of torsibility to the tubular shaft in relation to the club head without tending to split the reduced upper end of the neck or shank of the club head and so avoid failure of the connecting joint and damage to the club head.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description which is directed to the preferred embodiment of the invention hereinafter described and depicted in the draw- 5: ing which forms a part of the specification, the

features of novelty being set forth in the appended claims.

In the said drawing:

Fig. l is an elevation view of a tapered steel shafted wood-headed club embodying the ine@ vention and Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to the View shown in Fig. l, a part of the steel shafting intermediate the handle grip and the club head in each of said views being broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the View being particularly designed to illustrate the detail of the connection of the shank of the club head with the tapered steel club shaft.

Fig. 4 is a broken, transverse, sectional View on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3 illustrating the manner of securing the club shaft in the body of the club head.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation View of a portion of the tapered, tubular steel shafting provided with an attached knurled, metallic collar adjacent the joint at the neck of the wood-headed club and the shaft, the said collar forming a part of the improved construction comprising our invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of a tapered ferrule or adapter constructed to surround the tubular metallic shaft between the neck of the club head and the shaft, the same being arranged to closely surround and be rfi-enforced and protected against longitudinal movement along the shaft by means of the metallic collar construction on the shaft illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal, detailed, sectional view of a metallic ferrule of special construction adapted to surround and strengthen the offset outer end in the wooden neck or shank of the club head and to co-operate with the aforesaid parts of the joint construction or" Figs. 5 and 6 respectively.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the offset outer or upper end of the usual tapered neck or shank of a wood-headed club for (3o-operation 100 with the other described portions of our invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar reference characters throughout the several views of the drawing.

The invention is particularly directed toward the provision of a satisfactory mechanical connection in a club having a head of wood or analogous material with an integral neck, usually of tapered construction, which is bored interiorly 1.10

to receive a shaft and particularly a standard style of tapered, tubular steel shaft, such a conventional type of wood head being shown in the drawing and designated generally by the reference character 10 while the shank or neck of such head is designated by the reference character 11 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8). 12 designates the conventional type oi tapered, tubular steel shaft, the lower and reduced extremity of which is shown in the drawing, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, as being introduced through the longitudinal bore of the neck 11 of the club which extends through the head to the heel so that when the shaft 12 is ultimately seated in the neck and head of the club in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it may be locked in a secure position therein in a manner to be hereinafter described.

Heretofore it has been the customary practice to insert the lower end or extremity of the shaft in the longitudinally bored neck of the woodheaded club, the outer and upper extremity of which, according to the usual prior practice, has been tapered to an approximate featheredge and such joint between the outer and upper extremities between the tapered neck of the club and the shaft has been covered and attempts made to strengthen the joint thus formed in various ways, as by whipping or wrapping the joint between the neck of the club head and handle shaft or" the club with a strong thread of fine twine set in shellac or other coating of adhesive material but such whipping or Wrapping becomes worn or frayed in use and becomes subject to rather rapid deterioration with the result that the slightest loosening at the joint where the material of the neck of the club head is brought to a substantially featheredge results in a tendency for the flexing of the shaft to start a split or crack in the thinned or .outer featheredge of the neck oi the club head which is inclined to extend downwardly into the material of the neck and head of the club often caus' because defective if unwarranted looseness or.

torsional movement between shaft and club head develop.

In the use of the ordinary wood-headed club with the rather extended metallic, tapered, tubular shaft, there is a considerable amount of torsibility in such shafts, especially at the lower, reduced and consequently the weaker portion of the shaft where it is anchored in the neck and head of the wood-headed club. The shank or neck of the club head including the usual jointed connection extends some distance above the intersection of the head and the shank and since the shaft is usually pinned or otherwise rigidly secured in the body portion of the wood club head below the intersection o the head and shank, the torsibility and flexibility of Vthe reduced lower end of the standard tubular tapered steel shaft has a tendency to be eiective in splitting the featheredged upper terminal of the neck of the shank of the head whether it be vprotected by the common practice of whipping or wrapping the joint as described with a strong thread of ne twine or whether the joint adjacent the featheredged or com'cally reduced outer extremity of the neck be protected with of the steel shaft to the tapered or featheredged;

Ybe driven is normally off the axial line of the shaft so that each normal stroke tends to impart atorsional or ilexing strain upon the head in relation to the shaft and we have determined by experiment that the apparent ideal construction of joint between the club head and the shaft is one that will provide a swivel type of joint connection that will permit a certain degree of torsional or flexing movement between the club head and the shaft as a normal and desirable feature of the connection between the head and shaft and of a character which will not have any tendency to split the outer and somewhat necessarily reduced end of the neck or shank of the head.

To that end and in carrying out the principles of our invention, we especially prepare the usual tapering neck and shank of the head 11 in a manner to avoid a straight tapered or featheredged terminal at the outer and upper extremity of the head shank 11 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 8 and from which it will be seen that around the axial bore 13 of the shank l1, the material of the wood head is first turned down to give a portion thereof a cylindrical form as indicated at 14 thereby providing an odset or shoulder l5 of such depth as illustrated that when taken into consideration with the wall of the cylindrical reduced portion 14 it will have the eiect of checking any split that might have a tendency to develop in the cylini drical reduced portion 14 from further extending into the neck 11 of the body of the club head. The outer terminal of the neck or shank of the club head is further reduced in diameter to provide the relatively thin cylindrical portion 16 terminating in the substantial shoulder 17 so that any split that might have a tendency to develop in the portion 16 may also be effectively stopped at the shoulder 17 and not extend into the body of the cylindrical portion 14 of the neck. For cooperating with the outer extremity of the shank thus formed, we provide a specially formed strong, substantially non-expansible ferrule preferably of metal as designated generally by the reference character 18 (Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and Fig. '1). This ierrule 18 is provided with an internal bore 1Q (Fig. 7) adapted for a close drive nt with the cylindrical reduced neck portion 14 of the club head shank.

For practical purposes, in order to give the ferrule 18 the maximum degree of strength which is desirable when the parts are assemble( as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, ferrule 18 may be constructed of an integral piece of suitable metal as, for example, aluminum or alloys of copper and the like but we prefer, for ornamental'purposes, to construct the ferrule 18 of aluminum with a substantially cylindricalbore as illustrated in Fig. 'l consistingr of the before described cylindrical axial bore 1S designed to be co-extensive with and to protect thev cylindrical, reduced portion 14 in the neck ofthe club head shank, there being an inwardly extending contracted peripheral portion designed to form a shoulder to engage the before mentioned shoulder 17 of the shank neck; and spaced above the peripherally contracted portion 2i) another similarly contracted, inwardly extending, peripheral ring 21, the spaced, contracted portions thereby forming the intermediate peripheral groove 22 of substantially the same diameter as the bore 19.

Above the inwardly contracted, peripheral portion 2i is enlarged peripheral offset portion at the upper ter inus of the ferrule forming a seat as designated by the reference character 23 thus producing a peripheral socket 24 designed to furnish a seat for rotatably or swivelly supporting the peripherally reduced lower extremity 26 of an ornamental iinishing sleeve or adapter of tapered form shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 6 and designated generally by the reference character 25.

The adapter sleeve 25, which is somewhat elongated as illustrated and is tapered, is provided with an internal bore 27 so as to have a close or drive rit around the tapered lower end of the club shaft 12 and while it is highly desirable that this adapter sleeve be of relatively strong material as of integral metal such as aluminum or copper alloys and the like, We, however, prefer to utilize some common character of ornamental, lighter material as of celluioid or pyroxylin, suitably re-enforced at its lower end by an internally seated metallic band designated by the reference character 28 shown Fig. 5 as disassociated from its normal seat in the slightly enlarged lower end 29 of the adapter, this metallic sleeve 28 being formed of externally kiurled or roughened band, as illustrated, of aluminum or other relatively strong metal or other strong material so that when the adapter with the band 23 secured thereto is inserted upon the shaft it may become affixed thereto for all practical purposes by reason of the drive nt produced due to the normal taper in the extremity of the shaft 12 thus pmventing any tendency of the adapter 25 to slide upwardly of the shaft out of its normal position illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive which would otherwise tend to cause the lower projecting peripheral ilange 26 with the adjacent enlarged shoulder portion 39 to back away from the swivel joint at the upper end of the ferrule 18 in use and thus avoid presenting an open and unsightly joint.

rEhe of assembly of the parte of our ved joint described and its mode of is substantially as follows:

i5 and 18 producing the hollow reed, cylindrical portions 14 and 16, the metalferrule 18 is slipped over the respective reed portions 16 and le when the shaft with in position with the metallic understood 'that the ferrule 18 will be formed so to be a very close or substantially drive lit ad the outer extremity of the neck of the clu. when seated firmly. upon the shoulders 1.5 and l?, respectively, thetapered lower -Y tremity metallic shaft 12 is ready for inmrtion in 1-o longitudinal bore through the eck of the club head. The shaft "nay be tapered throughout rfrom the handle porti i toward the lower extremity therein a uniform manner according to common construction but icr utilizing our invention to the fullest extent, it is only necessary that the lower portion of the shaft from the head ex tending well above the part intended to be covered by the adapter 25 shall be tapered.

The adapter 25 with its re-enforoing metallic band 28 having been seated upon the shaft 12, the lower extremity of the latter may then be introduced through the bore of the neck and the joint will be satisfactorily completed and assembled by positively and firmly driving the shaft 12 downwardly into the club head with the result that the uniform taper of the shaft 12 will cause the metallic re-enforced ferrule adapter 25 to become substantially affixed to the shaft so that the peripheral extension 25 at the lower end will enter the socket 2e upon the upper terminus of the metallic ferrule 18.

Furthermore, the downward forced progress of the tapered shaft 12 will exert an outwardly wedging effect upon the parts of the joint and the neck or shank of the head with which it contacts and if the parts be properly proportioned and formed with reference to the normal taper of the shaft in the manner substantially as illustrated in the drawing, a strong and secure joint will be formed by the forced assemblage of the parts and the relation of the various parts may be made substantially as rm and tight as desired by force imparted in driving the tapered shaft into the head of the club.

An important feature of the invention is to be found in the provision of the special contracted port-ions 2f), 21 of the metallic ferrule with the peripheral groove 22 therebetween in that, as will be apparent from an inspection of the relative locations of the assembled parts in Fig. 3, the downward wedging progress of the tapered shaft will have a tendency to force the thinned upper cylindrical portion 16 outwardly and into the groove 22 while the same wedgng action of the shaft will slightly expand without splitting the cylindrical portion 14 so that the metallic ferrule 18 will be firmly seated and held in its position by the downward progress and Wedging action of the tapered shaft which as the parts are thus brought rmly together in their relative positions to form the joint, may then be anchored firmly in the head of the club in the usual or any desired manner as by means of a transverse screw of slightly conical formation at its front end to comperato with the material of the club head after passing through suitable registering perforations in the shaft that may be drilled therein by a suitable tool at the time the opening for the screw 35 is made in the material of the club head.

Gbviously the shaft 12 may be locked in a non-rotatable position with respect to the club head by other means and when this is done the lower end of the shaft may be out off and ground to a nish and the lower end thereof plugged by any suitable means as illustrated at 37. When the shaft is thus locked to the club head it will be seen that any tendency of the tubular shaft to taire a twist between the joint and the point of its rigid connection with the club head will be without any tendency toward disrupting the joint or splitting the upper end of the shank of the club head for the reason that the seat of the metallic reinforced adapter ferrule 25 in the peripheral socket 24 in the upper end of thek metallic reenforced ferrule 18 permits of the necessary relative rotary movements or swiveling movements of the parts so that the reduced lower end of the tubular shaft 12 above the locking pin or screw may be free to yield to any flexing and torsional strains within its ordinary elastic limits without tearing, disrupting or splitting the material in the shank 11 of the club head. Furthermore, the described construction is such that if any cracks or checks should develop in the thinned abruptly shouldered portions 14, 16 of the shank of the club head, extension of the same into and damage to the shank and head of the club and resulting failure of the joint will be eiectually prevented by the abruptly shouldered portions 15 and 17. Repeated tests have shown that our improved construction results in a joint of a character so strong and durable that failure due to excessive shocks and strains will ordinarily take place in the material of the club head or of the tubular steel shaft before the described elements of the joint may be loosened or disrupted.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described, the ferrule 18, the body portion of which is constructed perferably of metal as aluminum, will, for ornamental purposes preferably be turned down or reduced in diameter over the major part of its outer periphery leaving a metallic peripheral surface Si that may be exposed when the parts are assembled and the remainder and reduced portion of the body of the ferrule 18 covered by a suitable colored material for ornamental purposes as celluloid or pyroxylin as illustrated by the covering 32 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7) or the whole or part of the ou er portion of the ferrule 18 may be otherwise ornamented by the use of a suitable enamel and the like.

In the foregoing description of our invention we have referred particularly to the specific ernbodimcnt depicted in the drawing in which our invention is shown applied to a club of the driver, brassie and spoon type, in which the head and neck portions are commonly formed of Wood although the invention is to be understood as applying to clubs of the described type in which the head and shank portions are made of other suitable materials as hardened rubber or other compositions as bakelite, pyroxylin, celluloid and the like or even various metallic substances as equivalents for wood or ber compositions.

Our invention may also be applied to the attachment of various types of shafts to the necks or Shanks of club heads of the aforesaid type aside from the common tubular, tapered, metallic shafts, as, for example, shafts of wood, metal or other strong, flexible materials that may not be of tubular form and even may be without taper in the attaching portions of such shafts if suitable provision be made as well understood by those skilled in the al't for affixing the upper portion of our improved swivel connection to such shafts.

Furthermore, the novel portions of our iinproved club head and shaft connector may be made of Various strong and lightv materials as equivalents of the metal parts herein described, and such exposed parts may be variously finished, as by polishing exposed parts, or by covering them with suitable finishing and ornamenting materials as lacquers, paints or varnishes or outer finishing coverings of Celluloid, pyroxylin and the like,

In order that the invention might be fully understood we have set forth in detail the preferred embodiment thereof, but it is not desired to be limited to the details except as defined by the claims for it will be apparent that persons skilled in the art may resort to various modifications without departing from the purpose and spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club head having an integral, elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, there being a tapered shaft bore extending through the said neck and into the club head, the outer extremity of the said tapered neck or shank being turned down to form a substantially cylindrical extension thereby forming an abrupt angular shoulder at the upper extremity of the tapering portion of the neck or shank, a metallic ferrule havingv an inner cylindrical bore adapted to be seated upon the said upwardly extending cylindrical portion of the shank or neck of the club head, a second ferrule affixed to the said metallic shaft, there being cci-operating, peripheral socketed and projecting portions respectively arranged on the said ferrules and adapted to engage each other to have relative rotative movement in abutting relation with respect to each other whereby the said metallic shaft may be free for torsional distortion within the neck and shank of the club above the point of rigid securement of the shaft thereto to prevent distortion of the outer extremity of the neck o1' shank of the head.

2. The combination in a golf club of the wood type, of a club head having an integral elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, there being a tapered shaft bore extending through said neck and into the club head, a hollow, metallic, tapered shaft adapted to be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means for locking said shaft to the body portion of the club head whereby to prevent relative rotative movements of the shaft in relation to the body portion of the club head, the neck or shank of the club head beyond the said outwardly tapering portion thereof being turned down to a cylindrical form to produce an angular shoulder at the outer terminus of the neck or shank, a metallic ferrule adapted to have a drive fit around the cylindrical reduced terminal portion of the neck or shank, there being a peripheral socket in the outer extremity thereof, a second ferrule secured to rotate with the said shaft and being provided around its lower extremity with a peripheral projection adapted to engage in abutting relation with the socketed outer extremity of the first said ferrule whereby to provide a swivel joint between the said ferrules and thereby to permit torsional distortion in the body of the shaft within the neck of the club above the said club head locking means and thereby to avoid distortion and injury to the joint between the shaft and neck or shank of the club head.

3. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club head having an integral,

elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, the

outer extremity of the said tapering neck or shank being turned down to cylindrical form whereby to produce two spaced-apart shoulders, there being a tapering shaft bore extending through said neck and said outer cylindrical within thebody portion of the club head remote from the neck or shank thereof, and means for forming a joint between the outer extremity of the neck or shank portions of the club head prepared as described and said shaft comprising a metallic ferrule attached to the said neck or shank around the cylindrical reduced portion at the outer end of the neck or shank, the said ferrule being seated thereupon with a drive fit and extending above the said cylindrical reduced portions beyond the tapered portion of the neck or shank of the club head, there being a periphu eral socket arranged at the outer extremity of the said ferrule beyond the outer extremity of the more reduced cylindrical portion of the neck or shank, and a second ferrule Xed in relation to the shaft and being provided atk itsl lower extremity with a peripheral depending portion adapted to enter the peripheral socketed portion of the first said ferrule, both said ferrules being formed to taper outwardly from the shouldered outer extremity of the integral tapered neck or shank of the club head whereby to form a finishing joint and to permit relative rotation of the club shaft within the neck or shank of the club head above its point of xed securement thereto whereby to prevent distortion or injury to the joint between the shaft and the neck or shank of the club head.

Il. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club head having an integral, elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, the said outwardly tapering neck or shank being formed beyond its outer extremity with a plurality of cylindrical portions of gradually reduced diameters thereby forming peripheral shoulders, there being a tapered shaft bore extending through the said cylindrical reduced portions of said neck and into the-club head, a hollow, metallic, tapered shaft adapted to be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means for locking the said shaft against rotation in relation to the body portion of the club head remote from the neck or shank portion thereof, and means for forming a joint between the outer extremity of the neck or shank of the club head and said shaft comprising an ornamental, metallic ferrule having a drive fit around the said cylindrical reduced portions on the extremity of the neck or shaft, there being a peripheral socket in the 'upper extremity of said ferrule and a peripheral under-cut groove within the ferrule whereby, when the said parts for joining the head and shank or neck of the club head re in assembled relation, the said metallic ferrule may be rmly aflixed to the outer cylindrical reduced portions of the neck cr shank of the club head by the expansive action of the hollow, metallic, tapered shaft, a second ferrule fixed to the said shaft and adapted to have abutting, rotative relation with respect to the first said metallic ferrule on the neck or shank of the club head and the socket in the upper extremity thereof whereby to permit torsional distortion of the said hollow, metallic, tapered shaft within the neck or shank of the club head and above the point of securement of the shaft to the club head to avoid injury to the joint between the shaft and the club head without interfering with the normal, maximum torsional resiliency of the said shaft.

5. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club head having an integral, elongated, outwardly tapered neck or shank, the said neck or shank at its outer terminal portion being turned down to provide two cylindrical portions, there being a tapered shaft bore eX- tending through said reduced cylindrical portions and through said head neck or shank and into the club head, a hollow, metallic, tapered shaft adapted to be seated in said. tapered shaft bore, means for loclnng shaft against rotation in relation to the body portion of the club head remote iroin the or shank thereof, and means for forming a swivel joint between the outer extremity of the neck. or shank of the club head and said shaft comprising a metallic ferrule adapted to have a close rit around the cylindrical reduced portion adjacent the upper err emity of the tapered or shank and bei b an under-cut interior groove adapted to co--operate with the cuter red ced cylindrical portion whereby to engage the said cylindrical portions above 'the neck or shank of the club head with a drive t due to the expansive action oi the hollow, metallic, tapered shaft when driven to its seat in the club head, and a second fel-rule ed to the hollow metallic tapered shaft in abutting relation to the outer extremity of the 'first id ferrule whereby to have rotative relation with respect to the first said ferrule nd the eck or shank of the club head to which. it is attached when torsional distortion within its elastic limits is imparted to the said hollow, metallic, tapered, shaft above the point of its fixed relation with the clubrhead thereby to avoid u ous torsional distortion within the neck s' ank of the club head, the said ferrules being tapered to form a finished extension of the outer tapered neck or shank of the clubhead in relation to said shaft,

6. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club head having an integral, elongated, outwardly tapered neck there being a tapered shaft bore extending through the said neck and into the club head, the outer extremity of the said tapered. neck or shank being turneddown to form a subelantially cylindrical ertensionthereby f` r ling abrupt angular shoulder at the upper extremity of the tapered ion of the ne s. or shank, metallic ferrule having an inner cylindrical bore adapted to bevseated upon the said upwardly extending cylindrical portion of the or neck oil the club head, a second ferrule iixed to the said shaft, there being coop^' 'i peripheral socketed and project J `ns respectively arn ranged on the said fei'rules and adapted to engage each other to relative rotative movement in abutting relation with respect to each other whereby the said shaft may be free for torsional or flexural distortion within the nec and shaft of the club above the point of rigid securement of t -e shaft thereto to prevent distortion of the outer extremity of the neck or shank of the head.

7. The combination in a golf club of the wood type, of a club head having an integral, elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, there being a tapered shait bore extending through said neck and into the club head, a shaft adapted to be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means for locking said shaft to the body portion of the club head whereby to prevent relative rotative movements of the shaft in relation to the body portion of the club head, the neck or shank of the club head beyond the said outwardly tapering portion thereof being turned down to a cylindrical form to produce an angular shoulder at the outer terminus of the neck or shank, a metallic ferrule adapted to have a ILUG drive fit around the cylindrical reduced terminal portion of the neck or shank, there being a peripheral socket in the outer extremity thereof, a second ferrule secured to rotate with the said shaft, and being provided around its lower extremity with a peripheral projection adapted to engage in abutting relation with the socketed outer extremity of the first said ferrule whereby to provide a swivel joint between the said ferrules and thereby to permit torsional distortion in the body of the shaft within the neck of the club above the said club head locking means and thereby to avoid distortion and injury to the joint between the shaft and neck or shank of the club head.

8. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club head having an integral, eiongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, the outer extremity of the said tapering neck or sha-nk being turned down to cylindrical form whereby to produce two spaced-apart shoulders, there being a tapering shaft bore extending through said neck and said outer cylindrical reduced portions, and into said club head, a shaft adapted to be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means for locking the said lower end of the shaft within the body portion of the club head remote from the neck or shank thereof, and means for forming a joint between the outer extremity of the neck or shank portions of the club head prepared as described and said shaft comprising a ferrule attached to the said neck or shank around the cylindrical reduced portion at the outer end of the neck or shank, the said ferrule being seated thereupon with a drive t and extending above the said cylindrical reduced portions beyond the tapered portion of the neck or shank of the club head, there being a peripheral socket arranged at the outer extremity of the said ferrule beyond the outer extremity of the more reduced cylindrical portion of the neck or shank, and a second ferrule fixed in relation to the shaft and being provided at its lower extremity with a peripheral depending portion adapted to enter the peripheral socketed portion of the first said ferrule, both said ferrules being formed to taper outwardly from the shouldered outer extremity of the integral tapered neck or shank of the club head whereby to form a finishing joint and to permit relative rotation of the club shaft within the neck or shank of the club head above its point of fixed securement theretov whereby to prevent distortion or injury to the joint between the shaft and the neck or shank of the club head.

9. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club head having an integral, elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, the said outwardly tapering neck or shank being formed beyond its outer extremity with a plurality of cylindrical portions of gradually reduced diameters thereby forming peripheral shoulders, there being a tapered shaft bore extending through the said cylindrical reduced portions of said neck and into the club head, a shaft adapted to be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means for locking the said shaft against rotation in relation to the body portion of the club head remote from the neck or shank portion thereof, and means for forming a joint between the outei extremity of the neck or shank of the club head and said shaft comprising an ornamental ferrule having a drive iit around the said cylindrical reduced portions on the extremity of the neck or shank, there being a peripheral socket in the upper extremity of said ferrule and a peripheral under-cut groove within the ferrule whereby, when the said parts for joining the head and shank or neck of the club head are in assembled relation, the said metallic ferrule may be rmly aixed to the outer cylindrical reduced portions of the neck or shank of the club head by the expansive action of the shaft, a second ferrule fixed to the said shaft and adapted to have abutting, rotative relation with respect to the rst said metallic ferrule on the neck or shank of the club head and the socket in the upper extremity thereof whereby to permit torsional or iiexural distortion of the said shaft within the neck or shank of the club head and above the point of securement of the shaft to the club head to avoid injury to the joint between the shaft and the club head without interferring with the normal, maximum torsional resiliency of the said shaft.

10. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club head having an integral, elongated, outwardly tapered neck or shank, the said neck or shank at its outer terminal portion being turned down to provide cylindrical portion, there being a tapered shaft bore extending through said reduced cylindrical portion and through said head neck or shank and into the club head, a shaft adapted to be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means for locking said shaft against rotation in relation to the body portion of the club head remote from the neck or shank thereof, and means for forming a swivel joint between the outer extremity of the neck or shank of the club head and said shaft comprising a metallic ferrule adapted to have a close fit around the cylindrical reduced portion adjacent the upper extremity of the tapered neck or shank and being provided with an under-cut interior groove adapted to co-operate with the outer reduced cylindrical portion whereby to engage the said cylindrical portion above the neck or shank of the club head with a drive iit due to the expansive action of the said shaft when driven to its seat in the club head, and a second ferrule affixed to the shaft in abutting relation to the outer extremity of the first said ferrule whereby to have rotative relation with respect to the first said ferrule and the neck or shank of the club head to which it is attached when torsional and flexural distortion within its elastic limits is imparted to the said shaft above the point of its liked relation with the club head thereby to avoid injurious distortion within the neck or shank of the club head, the said ferrules being tapered to form a finished extension of the outer tapered neck or shank of the club head in relation to said shaft.

ALFRED E. BUHRKE. ALLEN F. HEETER.

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