Apparatus For Connecting A Golf Club Shaft To A Golf Club Head And Golf Clubs Including The Same
Apparatus for connecting a golf club shaft to a golf club head, including an adjustment tube, and golf clubs including the same.
1. Field of the Inventions
The present inventions relate generally to golf clubs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Golfers frequently customize their clubs to better suit their particular swing during the trial and error process commonly referred to as “fitting.” A golfer may try various shafts and club heads, as well as various face, loft and lie angles for each shaft and club head combination, during the fitting process. In order to accommodate such customization, various connector apparatus that releasably and adjustably mount club heads onto shafts have been proposed. The present inventor has determined that such apparatus is susceptible to improvement. For example, the present inventor has determined that conventional connector apparatus can create an unstable connection between the shaft and club head.
Detailed description of embodiments of the inventions will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The following is a detailed description of the best presently known modes of carrying out the inventions. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inventions.
The exemplary golf club 10 illustrated in
The club head 106 is adjustably and releasably mounted onto the shaft 100 by way of a mounting apparatus 112 that is capable of positioning the club head at a variety of face angles, loft angles, lie angles and combinations thereof. The exemplary mounting apparatus 112 includes an adapter 114 that is secured to the shaft tip portion 102, an angular adjustment tube (or “adjustment tube”) 116 and a tube lock 118. As discussed in greater detail below with reference to
It should be noted that, as used herein, a first structure is “adjustably” mounted (or secured) to a second structure if the first structure can be mounted in more than one orientation relative to the second structure, and a first structure is “releasably” mounted (or secured) to a second structure if the first structure can be decoupled from the second structure without excessive effort or destruction of either structure or the instrumentality that is securing the structures to one another. By contrast, “permanently” mounted (or secured) structures may not be separated from one another without excessive effort, destruction of either structure and/or destruction of the instrumentality that is securing the two structures to one another. Examples of instrumentalities that “permanently” secure structures to one another include high strength adhesives, such as epoxy and cyanoacrylate adhesives, and welds.
Turning first to
The exemplary adapter 114 is also provided with an internal connector 136 (e.g. a threaded lumen) that may be connected to a bolt 170 (or other fastener) in the manner described below with reference to
Referring to
The exemplary adjustment tube 116 is also provided with apertures 158a and 158b through which a bolt 170 (or other fastener) may pass in the manner described below with reference to
Referring to
The rotation restrictors 128, 146, 148 and 162 fix the rotational orientations of the adapter 114, adjustment tube 116 and lock 118 relative to one another and, as a result, the rotational orientations of angle α and angle β relative to one another and to the golf club head. The golf club head 106 will, therefore, be biased relative to the shaft 100 by the combination of angle α and angle β.
A wide varied of rotation restrictors may be employed. In the illustrated implementation, the rotation restrictors 128, 146, 148 and 162 are gear-like and include projections 166 and recesses 168. The respective configurations of the projections 166 and recesses 168 are such that the projections of one rotation restrictor (e.g. rotation restrictor 148) fit into recesses of the associated rotation restrictor (e.g. rotation restrictor 162) and vice versa. The number of relative rotational orientations of the adapter 114, adjustment tube 116 and tube lock 118 is dictated by the configurations of the rotation restrictors. In the illustrated implementation, there are eight projections 166 and eight recesses 168 and, accordingly, there are eight relative orientations of the adapter 114 and the adjustment tube 116 as well as eight relative orientations of the adjustment tube 116 and the tube lock 118. Thus, there are sixty-four combinations of the rotational position of angle α and the rotational position of angle β.
The number of indentations and recesses may be increased or decreased in other implementations and, although the number of possible relative orientations of the adapter 114 and adjustment tube 116 is equal to the number of possible relative orientations of the adjustment tube 116 and tube lock 118, the present inventions are not so limited. It should also be noted that the rotation restrictors are not limited to the illustrated gear-like configuration. By way of example, but not limitation, one or both of the rotation restrictors may be a geometric shape such as a square, triangle, or hexagon.
The exemplary rotation restrictors also have male/female relationships. To that end, the rotation restrictors 128 and 148 are respectively inserted into the rotation restrictors 146 and 162 when the recesses and protrusions are aligned. This relationship may be reversed in other implementations. It should also be noted that the adjustment tube 116 has two rotation restrictors, one male and one female, although the adjustment tube may be provided with two male rotation restrictors or two female rotation restrictors in other implementations.
The manner in which the exemplary mounting apparatus 112 may be used to adjustably and releasably mount the club head 106 to the shaft 100 at the desired loft and lie angles is described below with reference to
Referring first to
The adjustment tube 116 is then inserted into the hosel 108. The outer diameter of the cylindrical main portion 138 is essentially identical to the inner diameter of the hosel 108 and, accordingly, there is a tight fit therebetween. It should also be noted that the club head 106 includes a taper 107 that is slightly greater than or equal to the adjustment tube taper 153. The adjustment tube 116 may then be rotated about the longitudinal axis A138 of the main portion 138 in order to position the cylindrical lumen 144 (which is biased at angle β) at one of the eight possible orientations, relative to the tube lock 118 and club head 106, where the projections 166 and recesses 168 of the rotation restrictors 148 and 162 are aligned. The adjustment tube 116 is then pushed toward the tube lock 118 until the rotation restrictor 148 is fully seated in the rotation restrictor 162 and the lip 150 abuts the top of the hozel as shown in
In some instances, a resilient washer (e.g. a rubber washer) or other washer may be positioned at the end of the adjustment tube rotation restrictor 148 and the bottom inner surface of the tube lock 118. The washer prevents the bolt 170 (or other fastener) from easily falling out of the club head when loosened.
Next, as also shown in
The assembly of the mounting apparatus 112 and, therefore, the golf club 10 is completed when the mounting apparatus is releasably anchored or otherwise releasably secured to the club head 106. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In some implementations, a ferrule 182 may be positioned on the shaft 110 and abutting the adapter tube 114 for cosmetic purposes.
Another aspect of the assembly process is, as alluded to above, obtaining the desired rotational orientations of the adapter 114 and adjustment tube 116 relative to the club head 106. Referring to
The indicia in the illustrated implementation includes letters “L,” “R,” “U,” “F” and dots therebetween. The respective positions of the exemplary indicia on the sides of the adapter lip 130 and adjustment tube lip 150 are shown in
Suitable materials for the mounting apparatus 112, e.g. the adapter 114, adjustment tube 116 and a tube lock 118, include but are not limited to 6061-T6 aluminum, 7075-T7 aluminum, titanium, and lightweight alloys of similar strength.
Although the present inventions have been described in terms of the preferred embodiments above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above-described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art.
By way of example, but not limitation, the present inventions are not limited to the bolt-based releasable anchoring of the mounting apparatus described above. To that end, the exemplary golf club 10a illustrated in
Turning to
In the exemplary embodiments described above, angle α and angle β are both non-zero, i.e. there is some possible biasing associated with both the adapter and the adjustment tube. In other implementations, the angle α may be zero and the angle β may be non-zero, or the angle α may be non-zero and the angle β may be zero.
It should also be noted that many of the cylindrical surfaces described herein may slightly tapered, i.e. slightly frusto-conical, if necessary or desired. For example, should the tip portion of the associated golf club shaft be tapered, the adapter lumen 126 (
The locations of the rotations restrictors may also vary from the illustrated locations. For example, the adapter rotation restrictor 128 (
Turning to
Various portions of the exemplary angular adjustment tube 116 (
It is intended that the scope of the present inventions extend to all such modifications and/or additions. Moreover, the present inventions include golf clubs having a shaft, a club head, and the apparatus described above and claimed below.
Claims
1. An apparatus for use with a golf club shaft adapter having an adapter rotation restrictor and a golf club head with a hosel having a hosel rotation restrictor, the apparatus comprising:
- a main portion defining first and second longitudinal ends and a main portion longitudinal axis;
- a lumen, within the main portion and adapted to receive the golf club shaft adapter, defining an opening associated with the first longitudinal end of the main portion and a lumen longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the main portion longitudinal axis;
- a first main portion rotation restrictor associated with the cylindrical lumen and configured to engage the adapter rotation restrictor; and
- a second main portion rotation restrictor associated with an exterior of the main portion.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main portion has a cylindrical outer surface.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lumen comprises a cylindrical lumen.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lumen longitudinal axis and the main portion longitudinal axis are angularly offset by an angle of about 0.25 degrees to 5 degrees.
5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the lumen defines a first longitudinal end associated with the opening and a second longitudinal end; and
- the first main portion rotation restrictor is associated with the second longitudinal end of the lumen.
6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second main portion rotation restrictor is associated with the second longitudinal end of the main portion.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second main portion rotation restrictors includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of recesses.
8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second main portion rotation restrictors is a male rotation restrictor and the other of the first and second main portion rotation restrictors is a female rotation restrictor.
9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main portion defines an outer surface and at least part of the outer surface is tapered.
10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
- an aperture extending from the second longitudinal end of the main portion to the lumen.
11. An apparatus for use with a golf club shaft and a golf club head with a hosel, the apparatus comprising:
- a tube lock including a tube lock rotation restrictor;
- an adapter including an adapter main portion defining an adapter main portion longitudinal axis, an adapter lumen configured to receive the golf club shaft and defining an adapter lumen longitudinal axis, and an adapter rotation restrictor; and
- an adjustment tube including an adjustment tube main portion defining an adjustment tube main portion longitudinal axis, an adjustment tube lumen configured to receive the adapter and defining an adjustment tube lumen longitudinal axis, a first adjustment tube rotation restrictor configured to engage the adapter rotation restrictor, and a second adjustment tube rotation restrictor configured to engage the tube lock rotation restrictor;
- wherein the adapter lumen longitudinal axis is not parallel to the adapter main portion longitudinal axis and/or the adjustment tube lumen longitudinal axis is not parallel to the an adjustment tube main portion longitudinal axis.
12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tube lock is configured to be inserted into the hosel and secured thereto.
13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tube lock rotation restrictor includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of recesses.
14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adapter main portion has a cylindrical outer surface.
15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adapter main portion defines first and second longitudinal ends and the adapter rotation restrictor is associated with the second longitudinal end.
16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the adapter main portion includes a connector associated with the second longitudinal end.
17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adapter lumen longitudinal axis and the adapter main portion longitudinal axis are angularly offset by an angle of about 0.25 degrees to 5 degrees.
18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adapter rotation restrictor includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of recesses.
19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjustment tube main portion has a cylindrical outer surface.
20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjustment tube main portion has an outer surface and at least part of the outer surface is tapered.
21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjustment tube lumen comprises a cylindrical lumen.
22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjustment tube lumen longitudinal axis and the adjustment tube main portion longitudinal axis are angularly offset by an angle of about 0.25 degrees to 5 degrees.
23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second adjustment tube rotation restrictors are adjacent to one another.
24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first and second adjustment tube rotation restrictors are associated with opposite longitudinal portions of the adjustment tube main portion.
25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second adjustment tube rotation restrictors includes a plurality of projections and a plurality of recesses.
26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein one of the first and second adjustment tube rotation restrictors is a male rotation restrictor and the other of the first and second adjustment tube rotation restrictors is a female rotation restrictor.
27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:
- an aperture extending from a longitudinal end of the adjustment tube to the adjustment tube lumen.
28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:
- means for releasably securing the adapter and adjustment tube to the golf club head.
29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein
- the first adjustment tube rotation restrictor and the adapter rotation restrictor are respectively configured such that they can be engaged with one another at a plurality of different rotational orientations; and
- the second adjustment tube rotation restrictor and the tube lock rotation restrictor are respectively configured such that they can be engaged with one another at a plurality of different rotational orientations.
30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein
- the hosel defines a diameter;
- the adjustment tube main portion defines an outer diameter, that is substantially equal to the hosel diameter, and an inner diameter; and
- the adapter main portion defines an outer diameter that is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the adjustment tube main portion.
31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adapter lumen longitudinal axis is not parallel to the adapter main portion longitudinal axis and the adjustment tube lumen longitudinal axis is not parallel to the an adjustment tube main portion longitudinal axis.
32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the second main portion rotation restrictor is associated with the first longitudinal end of the main portion.
33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein
- the lumen defines a first longitudinal end associated with the opening and a second longitudinal end; and
- the first main portion rotation restrictor is associated with the second longitudinal end of the lumen.
34. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein
- the second main portion rotation restrictor includes a plurality of projections.
35. An apparatus for use with a golf club shaft adapter having an adapter rotation restrictor, the apparatus comprising:
- a golf club head including a hosel with a top portion and a hosel rotation restrictor at the top portion of the hosel; and
- angular adjustment tube including a main portion defining first and second longitudinal ends and a main portion longitudinal axis, a lumen, within the main portion and adapted to receive the golf club shaft adapter, defining an opening associated with the first longitudinal end of the main portion and a lumen longitudinal axis that is not parallel to the main portion longitudinal axis, a first main portion rotation restrictor associated with the cylindrical lumen and configured to engage the adapter rotation restrictor, and a second main portion rotation restrictor associated with the exterior of the first longitudinal end of the main portion.
36. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the hosel rotation restrictor is integral with the top portion of the hosel.
37. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the second main portion rotation restrictor includes a plurality of projections.
38. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the hosel rotation restrictor includes a plurality of recesses.
39. An apparatus as claimed in claim 37, wherein the hosel rotation restrictor includes a plurality of projections that defines a plurality of spaces therebetween.
40. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein one of the first and second main portion rotation restrictors is a male rotation restrictor and the other of the first and second main portion rotation restrictors is a female rotation restrictor.
41. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the lumen longitudinal axis and the main portion longitudinal axis are angularly offset by an angle of about 0.25 degrees to 5 degrees.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 23, 2010
Publication Date: Jun 28, 2012
Inventor: Michael H.L. Cheng (Simi Valley, CA)
Application Number: 12/978,381
International Classification: A63B 53/02 (20060101);