Shot control hosel
A shot control hosel is disclosed for customizing golf clubs. The disclosed embodiments of the invention provide a set of hosels, each hosel having a non-conical body. The body has a central axis, a top portion and a bottom portion. A cylindrical opening extends from the top portion to the bottom portion and is adapted to accommodate a golf club shaft. A flange may be provided on the body and may be adapted to engage a notch within a bore of a golf club head. A resilient barb on the smaller of the top portion and the bottom portion is provided to secure the hosel within the bore.
Latest Patents:
This application is a divisional application of, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/117,426 entitled “SHOT CONTROL HOSEL,” filed Apr. 5, 2002, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/282,357, entitled “SHOT CONTROL HOSEL,” filed Apr. 6, 2001. The contents of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to golf club hosels. In particular, the invention relates to shot control hosels.
2. Related Art
The information contained in this section relates to the background of the art of the present invention without any admission as to whether or not it legally constitutes prior art.
Many types and kinds of adjustable hosels are available for golf clubs. Reference may be made to the following: U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,585 to Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,973 to Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,155 to Wood et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,549 to Kubica, U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,411 to Wood et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,828 B1 to Wood et al. Further, reference may be made to UK patent document number 2,207,358A and to Taiwan patent document number 78,209,008.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the following, the invention will be explained in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which:
The present invention provides a system and a method for customizing golf clubs. In particular, the disclosed embodiments of the present invention relate to interchangeable hosels for golf clubs.
In one embodiment, a set of hosels is provided, each hosel having a conical body, the body having a central axis, a top portion and a bottom portion; a cylindrical opening extending from the top portion to the bottom portion, the opening being adapted to accommodate a golf club shaft; a flange adapted to engage a notch within a bore of a golf club head; and a resilient barb on a smaller one of the top portion and the bottom portion, the barb being larger than the smaller one of the top portion and the bottom portion.
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a hosel which may be made from non-metallic substances such as thermoplastic material or other.
Although
Referring again to
The angle and direction at which the opening extends from the pivot point 24 may be adjusted to customize the golf club assembly for each individual golfer. The angle and direction may be adjusted in all three physical dimensions. For example, the shaft may be inserted in a direction that is at one variable angle in a first plane formed by the shaft and the club head, at another variable angle in a vertical plane perpendicular to the first plane, and at a third variable rotation angle. Thus, a plurality of hosels 10 may be made available, with each offering a different longitudinal angle, such as the face angle, and a different lie angle.
The beginning of the opening 23 at the pivot point 24 may be located substantially at the center of the top portion 16 and the center of the annular barb 18. Alternatively, the beginning of the opening 23 may be located near the perimeter of the top portion 16. In this manner, a maximum range of angles may be achieved.
Although
It is understood that although the illustrated embodiments illustrate a conical hosel body with a larger bottom portion and a small top portion engaging a club head bore with corresponding dimensions, other embodiments of the invention may provide hosels with larger top portions and smaller bottom portions for engaging a club head bore with the appropriate dimensions.
When the golf club is assembled by using a selected one of a plurality of hosels, each having a varying angle and direction between the opening and the hosel body. Alternatively, the plurality of hosels may be provided with angles varying in the above-noted three dimensions. Thus, a golfer may select a golf club and then select the hosel which provides the desired club head orientation.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications and combinations are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations to the exact abstract and disclosure herein presented.
Claims
1. A golf club customizing system, comprising:
- a plurality of hosels, each hosel comprising: a non-conical body, said body having a central axis, a top portion and a bottom portion; a golf club shaft-receiving opening extending from said top portion toward said bottom portion, said opening having an opening axis; and a resilient barb mounted onto said non-conical body.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said golf club shaft-receiving opening is generally cylindrical.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said opening axis forms an angle in a direction with said central axis of said non-conical body.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said angle and said direction are different for each hosel of said plurality of hosels.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said opening axis and said central axis form an angle associated with a face angle.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said opening axis and said central axis form an angle associated with a lie angle.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein each hosel further comprises a flange adapted to engage a notch within a bore of a golf club head.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said non-conical body comprises a cross-section having a non-circular shape.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said opening comprises a circular cylinder.
10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said opening comprises a non-circular cylinder.
11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said non-conical body comprises multiple components abutted together.
12. A method of customizing golf clubs, comprising:
- providing a plurality of hosels, each hosel comprising: a non-conical body, said body having a central axis, a top portion and a bottom portion; a golf-club shaft-receiving opening extending from said top portion to said bottom portion, said opening having an opening axis; and a resilient barb mounted onto said non-conical body;
- wherein each hosel of said plurality of hosels has a different combination of an angle and a direction between said central axis and said opening axis; and
- selecting one hosel from said plurality of hosels, said one hosel having a combination of said angle and said direction adapted to provide a desired orientation of a club head relative to a club shaft.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said shaft-receiving opening is generally cylindrical.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein said selected one hosel provides a desired face angle.
15. The method according to claim 12, wherein said selected one hosel provides a desired lie angle.
16. A golf club customizing system, comprising:
- a plurality of hosels, each hosel comprising: a non-conical body, said body having a central axis, a top portion and a bottom portion; a golf club shaft-receiving opening extending from said top portion toward said bottom portion, said opening having an opening axis, said opening axis forming an angle and a direction with said central axis; and flange means adapted to prevent rotational motion of said non-conical body when assembled into a bore of a golf club head.
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said shaft-receiving opening is cylindrical.
18. The system according to claim 16, further comprising securing means for preventing longitudinal motion of said non-conical body within said bore of said golf club head.
19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said flange means comprises a non-circular portion of said non-conical body.
20. The system according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said angle and said direction are different for each hosel of said plurality of hosels.
21. The system according to claim 16, wherein said opening axis and said central axis form an angle associated with a face angle.
22. The system according to claim 16, wherein said opening axis and said central axis form an angle associated with a lie angle.
23. A golf club, comprising:
- a golf-club head having a hosel-receiving bore;
- a golf-club shaft; and
- a hosel secured within said hosel-receiving bore, said hosel comprising: a non-conical body, said body having a central axis, a top portion and a bottom portion; a golf club shaft-receiving opening extending from said top portion to said bottom portion, said opening having an opening axis and being adapted to receive said golf-club shaft, said axis forming an angle and a direction with said central axis; and flange means adapted to prevent rotational motion of said non-conical body when assembled with said golf-club head.
24. The golf club according to claim 23, wherein said shaft-receiving opening is generally cylindrical.
25. The golf club according to claim 23, further comprising securing means for preventing longitudinal motion of said non-conical body within said bore of said golf club head.
26. The golf club according to claim 23, wherein said flange means comprises a non-circular portion of said non-conical body.
27. The golf club according to claim 23, wherein at least one of said angle and said direction are different for each hosel of said plurality of hosels.
28. The golf club according to claim 23, wherein said opening axis and said central axis form an angle associated with a face angle.
29. The golf club according to claim 23, wherein said opening axis and said central axis form an angle associated with a lie angle.
30. The golf club according to claim 23, wherein said hosel further comprises a resilient barb mounted onto said non-conical body.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 29, 2004
Publication Date: Jan 13, 2005
Applicant:
Inventor: David Boone (Lake Forest, CA)
Application Number: 10/902,651