Golf Club Shaft and Head Connector

Abstract

A golf shaft mount for use in assembling a golf club, which includes a golf club shaft and a golf club head forming a hosel, is provided. The golf shaft mount comprises a hosel adapter and a shaft sleeve. The hosel adapter has a first connector and a reduced diameter portion. The reduced diameter portion is interposed between a shoulder and a stub shaft. The hosel adapter is insertable in the hosel and securable to the golf club head. The shaft sleeve has a bore axially formed therein and a central portion. The central portion is interposed between a seating flange and a second connector. The golf club shaft is securable in the bore. The first connector and the second connector are mated until the seating flange abuts the hosel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/762,216, filed Jan. 25, 2006, the entire teachings and disclosure of which are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to golf club parts, and more particularly relates to mounts between golf club shafts and golf club heads.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The typical way to connect a golf club shaft and a golf club head is to epoxy the tip end of the golf club shaft into a bore formed into the body of the golf club head. Often times, specialty golf shops will assembly the shafts and the golf club heads to customize the clubs for a customer. In selecting club heads and shafts, it is often desirable to try the selected combination prior to purchase. There is also known forms of shaft and head component connections such as that shown in PCT Patent Application No. WO 2004/009186 and U.S. Published Application Nos. 2004/0018887 and 2004/0018886. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art once the present invention is understood, there are significant deficiencies existing in the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a golf shaft mount for use in assembling a golf club is provided. The golf club includes a golf club shaft and a golf club head forming a hosel. The golf shaft mount comprises a hosel adapter and a shaft. The hosel adapter has a first connector and a reduced diameter portion. The reduced diameter portion is interposed between a shoulder and a stub shaft. The hosel adapter is insertable in the hosel and securable to the golf club head. The shaft sleeve has a bore axially formed therein and a central portion. The central portion is interposed between a seating flange and a second connector. The golf club shaft is securable in the bore. The first connector and the second connector are mated until the seating flange abuts the hosel.

In another embodiment, a golf shaft mount for use in assembling a golf club is provided. The golf club includes a golf club shaft and a golf club head forming a hosel. The golf shaft mount comprises a hosel adapter and a shaft sleeve. The hosel adapter has a threaded bore and a reduced diameter portion. The reduced diameter portion is interposed between a shoulder and a stub shaft. The hosel adapter is insertable in the hosel and securable to the golf club head. The shaft sleeve has a bore axially formed therein and a central portion. The central portion is interposed between a seating flange and a threaded shaft. The golf club shaft is securable in the bore. The threaded bore and the threaded shaft are threadably mated until the seating flange abuts the hosel.

In yet another embodiment, a system for assembling a golf club is provided. The system comprises a golf club shaft, a golf club head forming a hosel, a hosel adapter, and a shaft sleeve. The hosel adapter has a threaded bore and a reduced diameter portion. The reduced diameter portion is interposed between a shoulder and a stub shaft. The hosel adapter is insertable in the hosel and securable to the golf club head. The shaft sleeve has a bore axially formed therein and a central portion. The central portion is interposed between a seating flange and a threaded shaft. The golf club shaft is securable in the bore. The threaded bore and the threaded shaft are threadably mated until the seating flange abuts the hosel.

Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a golf shaft mount as constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the golf shaft mount of FIG. 1 disposed within a cut-away portion of a golf club;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the golf shaft mount of FIG. 1 incorporated within a fully-assembled golf club; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a golf shaft mount as constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a golf shaft mount 10 is illustrated. As will be explained more fully below, the golf shaft mount 10 permits a golf club shaft 12 and a golf club head 14, each potentially from different manufacturers and having different sizes and dimensions, to be mounted to each other in a removable and/or temporary fashion. Therefore, for example, specialty golf shops can assemble, disassemble, and reassemble different golf club shafts 12 and different golf club heads 14 to each other to customize clubs for a customer. As such, the customer can try the selected combination prior to purchase. Should the customer approve of the assembled components, the golf shaft mount 10 is more than sufficient to maintain the golf club shaft 12 and the golf club head 14 secured together permanently for use on a golf course. As shown in FIG. 1, the golf shaft mount 10 comprises a hosel adapter 16 and a shaft sleeve 18.

The hosel adapter 16 includes a first connector 20, a reduced diameter portion 22, a shoulder 24, and a stub shaft 26. The first connector 20 is, in a preferred embodiment, a threaded bore axially formed in the hosel adapter 16. In an exemplary embodiment, the first connector 20 is a threaded bore having a thread size of ¼-20.

The reduced diameter portion 22, as shown in FIG. 1, is interposed between the shoulder 24 and the stub shaft 26. The reduced diameter portion 22 is, in a preferred embodiment, a circumferential groove formed in the hosel adapter 16. The reduced diameter portion 22 is sized and dimensioned to receive and secure an o-ring 28. When installed, the o-ring 28 is seated within the reduced diameter portion 22 and generally abuts the shoulder 24. The o-ring 28 can be made of a variety of materials such as, for example, rubber.

The stub shaft 26 is sized and dimensioned to be received in an axially-bored neck portion of the golf club head 14 known as a hosel 30. In a preferred embodiment, the stub shaft 26 includes one or more grooves 32. The grooves 32 provide a receptacle for epoxy as well as promote a more even distribution of epoxy. The grooves 32 also ensure better and proper securement between the hosel adapter 16 and the golf club head 14. The grooves 32 can be formed on the stub shaft 26 in a variety of patterns such as, for example, in a helical, spiral and/or corkscrew pattern as illustrated in FIG. 1, in a circumferential or concentric circle pattern, in an axially-aligned pattern, and the like. The varying patterns of the grooves 32 can be chosen based on differing construction objectives such as, for example, removing undesirable weight, permitting an increase amount of epoxy, granting the epoxy better coverage, and more securely holding the club head 14. If desired, all or a portion of the stub shaft 26 can be abraded to further promote securement between the hosel adapter 16 and the golf club head 14.

In an exemplary embodiment, the shoulder 24 has a diameter of about 0.400 of an inch, the reduced diameter portion 22 has a diameter of about 0.313 of an inch, and the stub shaft 36 (excluding the grooves 32) has a diameter of about 0.375 of an inch. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the shoulder 24 generally has a greater diameter than the stub shaft 26 and, in turn, the stub shaft 26 has a greater diameter than the reduced diameter portion 22.

The shaft sleeve 18 includes a bore 34, a central portion 36, a seating flange 38, and a second connector 40. The bore 34, which is cylindrical and axially-aligned with the shaft sleeve 18, is sized and dimensioned such that the shaft sleeve can be slideably received onto the tip end 42 of the golf club shaft 12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bore 24 can be tapered proximate the bottom to better facilitate insertion of the tip end 22 of the golf club shaft 12 as well as provide a reservoir for epoxy.

The central portion 36 is interposed between the seating flange 38 and the second connector 40. In a preferred embodiment, the central portion 36 is slightly tapered such that the diameter of the central portion proximate the second connector 40 is just less than the diameter of the central portion proximate the seating flange 38. This minor taper permits the central portion 36 of the shaft sleeve to be easily and eventually snugly received within the hosel 30 of the golf club head 14.

The seating flange 38 is an integrally formed portion of the shaft sleeve 18 dimensioned to engage with and/or seat on a top surface 44 of the hosel 30. At least a portion of the seating flange 38 possesses a diameter greater than the diameter of the central portion 36. Therefore, while the central portion 36 can be slid into the opening 46 at the distal end of the hosel 30, the seating flange 38 cannot. In a preferred embodiment and as illustrated in FIG. 1, the seating flange 38 is a frustoconical portion of the shaft sleeve 18 that diminishingly tapers as the seating flange extends away from the second connector 40. The seating flange 38 or other portions of the golf shaft mount 10 can include a wrench flat adapted to receive a wrench such that the golf shaft mount can be rotatably driven as well known by those skilled in the art.

The second connector 40 is releasably securable and/or engageable with the first connector 20. In a preferred embodiment, the second connector 40 is a threaded shaft formed on the shaft sleeve 18 with a thread size similar to and/or correspondingly matching that of the first connector 20. As such, the first and second connectors 20, 40 are threadably mateable with each other. In exemplary embodiment, the second connector 40 is a threaded shaft having a thread size of ¼-20. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the first and second connectors 20, 40 are interchangeable with each other. As such, the hosel adapter 16 could include a threaded shaft similar to the second connector 40 and the shaft sleeve 18 could include a threaded bore similar to the first connector 20.

In an exemplary embodiment, the central portion 36 has a diameter that tapers from about 0.400 of an inch near the seating flange 38 to about 0.397 of an inch near the second connector 40. Also in an exemplary embodiment, the seating flange 38 has a diameter of about 0.525 of an inch. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the seating flange 38 generally has a diameter greater than a diameter of the central portion 36.

The golf shaft mount 10 of FIG. 1 can be installed and/or incorporated into an assembled golf club 48 (FIGS. 2 and 3) as follows. First, the o-ring 28 is fitted onto the hosel adapter 16 until the o-ring is positioned within the reduced diameter portion 22. Thereafter, an ample portion of epoxy is inserted into the opening 46 of the hosel 30 and/or onto the stub shaft 26 and in the grooves 32 of the hosel adapter 16. With the epoxy satisfactorily distributed, the hosel adapter 16 is inserted, stub shaft 26 first, into the opening 46 until the uppermost surface 50 of the hosel adapter 36 is beneath the top surface 44 of the hosel 30. In a preferred embodiment, the hosel adapter 16 is inserted into the opening 46 until the uppermost surface 50 is positioned approximately one inch below the top surface 44.

Since the o-ring 28 is sized and dimensioned to correspond to the opening 46 in the hosel 30, the o-ring engages the inner wall 52 of the hosel to draw the epoxy, much like a squeegee, downwardly into the hosel. As such, the inner wall 52 of the hosel 30 above the shoulder 24 on the hosel adapter 16 is generally wiped free (or substantially free) of epoxy. The epoxy that is driven below the shoulder 24 is able to distribute over and around the stub shaft 26 and within the hosel 30. Such distribution of epoxy is encouraged and aided by the grooves 32.

After the epoxy has dried and/or cured and the hosel adapter 16 is secured within the hosel 30, the shaft sleeve 18 is inserted, second connector 40 first, into the opening 46 of the hosel 30. In a preferred embodiment, the threaded first and second connectors 20, 40 are rotated relative to each other to threadably mate the two connectors together. The rotation of first and second connectors 20, 40 relative to each other continues until the seating flange 38 firmly abuts with and/or seats upon the top surface 44 of the hosel 30. In this condition, the golf club shaft 12 and golf club head 14 are mounted together as illustrated in FIG. 3 such that the golf club 48 can be tested, used, and the like. Notably, when the golf shaft mount 10 is incorporated within the golf club 48, the assembled golf club is aesthetically pleasing to a user.

When the first and second connectors 20, 40 are threadably mated, the two components alone prevent and/or prohibit both rotation and axial displacement of the golf club shaft 12 relative to the golf club head 14. To augment this result, for right-handed golfers and right-handed golf clubs, the threading on the first and second connectors 20, 40 are left-hand threading such that during use of an assembled golf club (e.g., swinging the golf club and striking a ball) tends to tighten the threaded connection rather than loosening it. Likewise, for left-handed golfers and left-handed golf clubs, the threading is right-hand threads rather than left-hand threads.

Should it be desired, the golf club shaft 12 and the golf club head 14 can be disengaged from each other by uncoupling the first and second connectors 20, 40. In those embodiments where the first and second connectors 20, 40 are threaded, one of the connectors is simply rotated relative to the other in a direction opposite the direction used to threadably mate the connectors.

Further, since the bore 34 in the shaft sleeve 18 and the hosel adapter 16 can be constructed to have one of several different diameters, differently sized golf club shafts can be coupled with, and later uncoupled from, differently sized golf club heads. A plurality of shaft sleeves 18 and hosel adapters 16 having various dimensions, but universal connectors 20, 40, can be sold as a kit or in a package.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, another embodiment of a golf shaft mount 60 is depicted. The golf shaft mount 60 is similar to the first embodiment except that a portion of the golf shaft mount is integrally formed in the club head. Similar to the golf shaft mount 10, the golf shaft mount 60 also permits the a golf club shaft 62 and a golf club head 64, each potentially from different manufacturers and having different sizes and dimensions, to be mounted to each other in a removable and/or temporary fashion. Again, specialty golf shops can assemble, disassemble, and reassemble different golf club shafts 62 and different golf club heads 64 to each other to customize clubs for the customer. As such, the customer can try the selected combination prior to purchase. Should the customer approve of the assembled components, the golf shaft mount 60 is more than sufficient to maintain the golf club shaft 62 and the golf club head 64 secured together permanently for use on a golf course.

The golf club head 64 of FIG. 4 defines a hosel 66 that includes a generally axial bore 68. In some cases, the hosel 66 is bored such that the bore 68 is slightly larger in diameter and/or depth when compared to the hosel of an off-the-shelf or commercially available golf club head. The hosel 66 can include one or more inward tapers 70, 71, 72 where the diameter of the bore 68 is reduced as the bore progresses into the hosel. The inward tapers 70-72 help to guide the golf shaft mount 60 into the bore 68 during assembly. Further, a lower portion of an inner wall 74 of the hosel 66 is tapped and, more specifically, threaded to form a first connector 76.

The golf shaft mount 60 illustrated in FIG. 4 generally comprises a shaft sleeve 78. In one embodiment, the shaft sleeve 78 is a unitarily and integrally formed member. The shaft sleeve 78 includes a bore 80, a central portion 82, a seating flange 84, and a second connector 86. As shown in FIG. 4, the tip end 88 of the golf club shaft 62 can be secured in the bore 80 using epoxy and the like. The central portion 84 is generally disposed between the seating flange 84 and the second connector 86. Also, the second connector 86 is generally a threaded shaft.

As before, the first and second connectors 76, 86, one of which is in the hosel 66 and the other of which is on the shaft sleeve 60, can be rotated relative to each other to threadably mate the two connectors together. The rotation is continued until the seating flange 84 firmly abuts and/or seats against a top surface 90 of the hosel 66. The first and second connectors 76, 86 are threadably mateable to prohibit and/or prevent both rotation of and axial displacement of the golf club head 64 relative to the golf club shaft 62. In that regard, the first and second connectors 76, 86 can be either left hand or right hand threaded, depending upon whether the club is for a right handed or left handed golfer. Also, the direction of the relative rotation can be reversed such the that first and second connectors 76, 86 can be disengaged when desired.

In one embodiment, the central portion 82 of the shaft sleeve 78 is descended about one and a quarter inches into the hosel 66 when the golf club is assembled. The central portion 82 can have a slightly increasing outer diameter proximate the seating flange 84 such that the shaft sleeve 78 fits snugly in the hosel 66 when the golf club is assembled. In one embodiment, the central portion 82 includes a groove 92 able to receive and/or hold an o-ring 94 just above the second connector 86. Also, although not shown, the shaft sleeve 78, and in particular the seating flange 84, can be configured to include a wrench flat for engaging a wrench.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirely herein. In particular, pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/051,675, filed Feb. 4, 2005, entitled “Golf Club Head And Shaft Connector And Method” is hereby incorporated by this reference.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. A golf shaft mount for use in assembling a golf club, the golf club including a golf club shaft and a golf club head forming a hosel, the golf shaft mount comprising:

a hosel adapter having a first connector and a reduced diameter portion, the reduced diameter portion interposed between a shoulder and a stub shaft, the hosel adapter insertable in the hosel and securable to the golf club head; and

a shaft sleeve having a bore axially formed therein and a central portion, the central portion interposed between a seating flange and a second connector, the golf club shaft securable in the bore, the first connector and the second connector mated until the seating flange abuts the hosel.

2. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are threadably mated.

3. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a threaded bore and the second connector is a threaded shaft.

4. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the hosel adapter is securable to the golf club head and the golf club shaft is securable in the bore using an epoxy.

5. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the reduced diameter portion receives an o-ring.

6. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the stub shaft includes a groove, the groove having a shape consisting of radial, axial, and spiral with respect to the stub shaft.

7. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are threadably mateable to at least one of prohibit and prevent both rotation of and axial displacement of the golf club head relative to the golf club shaft.

8. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are left-hand threaded when a right-handed golf club is assembled.

9. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are right-hand threaded when a left-handed golf club is assembled.

10. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the stub shaft is abraded.

11. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the seating flange is formed by a taper of the shaft sleeve.

12. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the hosel adapter is subjacent to an opening in the hosel when secured to the golf club head.

13. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the hosel adapter is descended about one inch into the hosel when secured to the golf club head.

14. The golf shaft mount of claim 1, wherein the central portion is cylindrical and dimensioned to be received within the hosel when the first connector is mated with the second connector.

15. A golf shaft mount for use in assembling a golf club, the golf club including a golf club shaft and a golf club head forming a hosel, the golf shaft mount comprising:

a hosel adapter having a threaded bore and a reduced diameter portion, the reduced diameter portion interposed between a shoulder and a stub shaft, the hosel adapter insertable in the hosel and securable to the golf club head; and

a shaft sleeve having a bore axially formed therein and a central portion, the central portion interposed between a seating flange and a threaded shaft, the golf club shaft securable in the bore, the threaded bore and the threaded shaft threadably mated until the seating flange abuts the hosel.

16. The golf shaft mount of claim 15, wherein the mating of the threaded bore and the threaded shaft draws the golf club shaft toward the golf club head.

17. The golf shaft mount of claim 15, wherein the connector includes an o-ring encircling the reduced diameter portion and the stub shaft includes a helical groove.

18. The golf shaft mount of claim 15, wherein at least one of the bore and the threaded bore include a tapered portion.

19. A system for assembling a golf club comprising:

a golf club shaft;

a golf club head forming a hosel;

a hosel adapter having a threaded bore and a reduced diameter portion, the reduced diameter portion interposed between a shoulder and a stub shaft, the hosel adapter insertable in the hosel and securable to the golf club head; and

a shaft sleeve having a bore axially formed therein and a central portion, the central portion interposed between a seating flange and a threaded shaft, the golf club shaft securable in the bore, the threaded bore and the threaded shaft threadably mated until the seating flange abuts the hosel.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the system further includes an o-ring disposed about the reduced diameter portion, the o-ring biasing epoxy downwardly into the hosel.

21. A golf shaft mount for use in assembling a golf club, the golf club including a golf club shaft and a golf club head, the golf club head having a hosel including a first connector, the golf shaft mount comprising:

a shaft sleeve having a bore axially formed therein and a central portion, the central portion interposed between a seating flange and a second connector, the bore sized and configured to closely receive the golf club shaft, the second connector adapted to mate with the first connector until the seating flange abuts the hosel.

22. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the first connector and the second connector are threadably mated.

23. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the first connector is a threaded inner wall portion of the hosel and the second connector is a threaded shaft.

24. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the golf club shaft is securable in the bore using an epoxy.

25. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the central portion includes a groove.

26. The golf shaft mount of claim 25, wherein the annular groove receives an o-ring.

27. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the first connector and the second connector are threadably mateable to at least one of prohibit and prevent both rotation of and axial displacement of the golf club head relative to the golf club shaft.

28. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the first connector and the second connector are left-hand threaded when a right-handed golf club is assembled.

29. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the first connector and the second connector are right-hand threaded when a left-handed golf club is assembled.

30. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the seating flange is formed by a taper of the shaft sleeve.

31. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the sleeve is descended about one and a quarter inches into the hosel when secured to the golf club head.

32. The golf shaft mount of claim 21, wherein the central portion is cylindrical and dimensioned to be received within the hosel when the first connector is mated with the second connector.