Interchangeable Handle, Striking Face, Or Shaft Patents (Class 473/288)
-
Patent number: 8083606Abstract: A system of interchangeable club heads sharing one or more shafts and golf bag for carrying the club heads and one or more shafts. The club heads contain a shaft segment to set club length and a coupler to interconnect to the shaft and grip. The shaft contains an opposite gender coupler. The system is very lightweight and much more portable than a conventional set of golf clubs. It also creates the opportunity for players to match club heads with shafts with differing performance characteristics. Additionally, it solves a problem for golfers using long shafts on putters. These long shafts can now be disassembled for storage and transport.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Brady Management CorporationInventor: Patrick K. Brady
-
Publication number: 20110312434Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: ALAN HOCKNELL, MATTHEW T. CACKETT, DENVER HOLT, D. CLAYTON EVANS, DANIEL M. STEVENS, JAMES C. WENCK, STEVEN S. OGG, KONRAD LENHOF, JERRY V. BLANKE, JOEL B. ERICKSON, BROADUS PERRY WALL
-
Publication number: 20110306437Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: ALAN HOCKNELL, MATTHEW T. CACKETT, DENVER HOLT, D. CLAYTON EVANS, DANIEL M. STEVENS, JAMES C. WENCK, STEVEN S. OGG, KONRAD LENHOF, JERRY V. BLANKE, JOEL B. ERICKSON, BROADUS PERRY WALL
-
Patent number: 8057320Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf club including a shaft, a club head and several devices for releasably connecting the shaft to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Michael Scott Burnett, Noah De La Cruz, Charles E. Golden, Christopher D. Harvell, Scott A. Knutson, Stephen S. Murphy, Kenneth C. Scott, Daniel S. Callinan
-
Publication number: 20110275449Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: ALAN HOCKNELL, MATTHEW T. CACKETT, DENVER HOLT, D. CLAYTON EVANS, DANIEL M. STEVENS, JAMES C. WENCK, STEVEN S. OGG, KONRAD LENHOF, JERRY V. BLANKE, JOEL B. ERICKSON, BROADUS PERRY WALL
-
Publication number: 20110275448Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: Thomas C. Morris, Gregory Haralson, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Scott A. Knutson, Thomas W. Preece
-
Patent number: 8002644Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Alan Hocknell, Matthew T. Cackett, Denver Holt, D. Clayton Evans, Daniel M. Stevens, James C. Wenck, Steven S. Ogg, Konrad Lenhof, Jerry V. Blanke, Joel B. Erickson, Broadus Perry Wall
-
Patent number: 7997997Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephanie Bezilla, Charles E. Golden, Bradford Hughes Hartwell, Scott A. Knutson, Stephen S. Murphy
-
Patent number: 7993211Abstract: A golf club having a shaft and an elongated head projecting at a lie angle relative to the shaft, the head having the shape of a regular polygon in a cross section at right angles to the central axis of the head, with each face being formed of a material that provides a different ball rebound factor, the head section being rotatable about the central axis so that any one of the faces may be presented for use with the club.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2010Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Inventor: Illir Bardha
-
Patent number: 7993213Abstract: A golf club including a club head having an upright golf ball striking face and an elongated upright cavity formed into an upper surface of the club head and being positioned in close proximity to the striking face. A separate hosel sized for close fitting insertion into the cavity has a height greater than the depth of the cavity so that the hosel extends above the cavity after mechanical securement of the hosel within the cavity for viewing prominence and interchangeability. The hosel also has a diagonally upwardly extending hole for receiving and lockably supporting a distal lower end of the club shaft, the axis of the hole selectively oriented at an acute angle rearwardly with respect to a bottom surface of the club head to establish a lie angle of the golf club.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Inventor: Roger A. D'Eath
-
Patent number: 7980959Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas C. Morris, Gregory Haralson, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Scott A. Knutson, Thomas W. Preece
-
Publication number: 20110172021Abstract: A temporary shaft-component connection for assembling a selected golf club shaft with a club head and/or hand grip segment, to facilitate custom club design and fitting to suit the needs and preferences of an individual golfer. The temporary shaft-component connection is particularly designed for use with nonmetallic club shafts formed from a graphite-based composite material or the like having a range of different lengths and stiffness (whip) characteristics. In a shaft-head connection, a metal adapter insert is mounted onto a lower end of the club shaft and includes one or more flat surfaces for reception into a matingly shaped socket in the hosel of a selected club head to prevent relative rotation between the club shaft and head. A compression nut carried on the shaft is threaded onto the hosel to axially engage and retain a thrust flange on the shaft or adapter or adapter insert, to prevent axial separation of the club head and shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: July 14, 2011Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
-
Patent number: 7976401Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a golf club includes: a golf club head having a hosel; a shaft; a shaft case fixed to one end of the shaft, and inserted into the hosel, the shaft case being formed in a substantially cylindrical shape; and a ring-shaped screw member screwed into one end of the hosel to fix the shaft case in the hosel, the ring-shaped screw member being detachable from the hosel.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fumiaki Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi
-
Patent number: 7963855Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Golf clubs are provided that have spherical releasable connections between the golf club head and the golf club shaft along with head/shaft position adjusting features to allow interchange of shafts and heads and to allow modification of the head/shaft positioning properties. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a hosel insert located within an interior chamber of the club head. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft adapter may be rotated within the hosel insert to create different angles from the shaft so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Vincent J. Contini, James Alan Prescott, Matthew Paul Rubal, Gregory A. Trees, James Thomas
-
Patent number: 7963856Abstract: A hosel portion (22) has a screw portion (32) and a hosel hole (28). The screw portion (32) of a screw member (10) and a screw portion (26) of the hosel portion (22) are coupled to each other. An inner member (8) has a shaft inserting hole (40) and a lower surface (42). A shaft (6) and the shaft inserting hole (40) are fixed through bonding or the like. The lower surface (42) of the inner member (8) has a plurality of first surfaces and a plurality of second surfaces. The first surface is a parallel surface with a central axis or a tilted surface which is tilted to a circumferential direction. The first surface is extended in such a direction as to enable, together with a receiving surface, a generation of a force capable of inhibiting a relative rotation of a head and the shaft in hitting. The second surface is extended in a closer direction to the circumferential direction as compared with the first surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Akio Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 7959522Abstract: A golf driver kit includes a front portion and a plurality of rear portions exchangeably connectable to the front portion and being of different respective shapes for imparting different flight characteristics to a struck golf ball. The front portion includes a front face plate and a hosel for receiving a shaft, plus a rearwardly projecting base on which the rear portion is seated. The rear portion is removably attached to the front portion by screws.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Dick's Sporting Goods, Inc.Inventors: Richard Ray North, III, Ben S. Lavallee
-
Patent number: 7955182Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: James Thomas, Gary G. Tavares, John Thomas Stites
-
Patent number: 7955184Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John Thomas Stites, James Thomas, Gary G. Tavares
-
Patent number: 7955185Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Gary G. Tavares, John Thomas Stites, James Thomas, Raymond J. Sander, Vincent J. Contini, James Prescott, Brian Fortner
-
Patent number: 7955183Abstract: A temporary shaft-component connection for assembling a selected golf club shaft with a club head and/or hand grip segment, to facilitate custom club design and fitting to suit the needs and preferences of an individual golfer. The temporary shaft-component connection is particularly designed for use with nonmetallic club shafts formed from a graphite-based composite material or the like having a range of different lengths and stiffness (whip) characteristics. In a shaft-head connection, a metal adapter insert is mounted onto a lower end of the club shaft and includes one or more flat surfaces for reception into a matingly shaped socket in the hosel of a selected club head to prevent relative rotation between the club shaft and head. A compression nut carried on the shaft is threaded onto the hosel to axially engage and retain a thrust flange on the shaft or adapter or adapter insert, to prevent axial separation of the club head and shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
-
Patent number: 7938735Abstract: An adaptor for a golf club having a golf club head with a head hosel socket and a golf shaft includes an adapter body that includes an adapter shaft portion and an adapter hosel portion. The adapter hosel portion has an adapter hosel socket sized and shaped to receive an end portion of a golf club shaft. The adapter shaft portion is sized and shaped to fit into a head hosel socket of the club head. The adapter hosel socket longitudinal axis and the adapter shaft portion longitudinal axis are angularly offset by a selected offset angle. To change the loft and lie angles of a particular golf club for a particular golfer, a plurality of selectable adapters can be provided with different offset angles.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Grooved, Inc.Inventor: Alan G. Lau
-
Patent number: 7931543Abstract: A temporary shaft-component connection for assembling a selected golf club shaft with a club head and/or hand grip segment, to facilitate custom club design and fitting to suit the needs and preferences of an individual golfer. The temporary shaft-component connection is particularly designed for use with nonmetallic club shafts formed from a graphite-based composite material or the like having a range of different lengths and stiffness (whip) characteristics. In a shaft-head connection, a metal adapter insert is mounted onto a lower end of the club shaft and includes one or more flat surfaces for reception into a matingly shaped socket in the hosel of a selected club head to prevent relative rotation between the club shaft and head. A compression nut carried on the shaft is threaded onto the hosel to axially engage and retain a thrust flange on the shaft or adapter or adapter insert, to prevent axial separation of the club head and shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2010Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
-
Patent number: 7931542Abstract: The invention provides a golf club including a clubhead including a hosel portion having an internal screw portion and a first support surface; a shaft including a neck portion having an external screw portion which screws into the first screw portion and a second support surface opposed to the first support surface, and an adjuster element adapted to be interposed between the first support surface and the second support surface when the clubhead and the shaft are screwed together by the first screw portion and the second screw portion being screwed together, wherein a center axis of an insertion portion on the internal thread is formed is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a center axis of the shaft which results when the clubhead and the shaft are screwed together.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.Inventor: Harunobu Kusumoto
-
Patent number: 7922599Abstract: Golf club 2 has shaft 6, head 4, inner member 8 and screw member 10. The inner member 8 has shaft channel 46 provided so as to open on the top end side, and engaging hole 52 provided separately from this shaft channel 46. The head 4 has hosel member 22 having hosel hole 26, and head hole 70 that extends from the head external surface toward inside the head. At least a part of the inner member 8 is inserted into the hosel hole 26. The shaft 6 and the shaft channel 46 are stuck by adhesion and/or fitting. Continuous hole 76 is formed with the engaging hole 52 continuous with the head hole 70, and the screw member 10 is inserted into the engaging hole 52 and the head hole 70 through this continuous hole 70. The screw member 10 is thread connected with the engaging hole 52 and/or the head hole 70.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Assignee: SRI Sports LimitedInventor: Akio Yamamoto
-
Publication number: 20110081983Abstract: A “THREE IN ONE—HBC(HAND, BELLY, CHEST) PUTTER” is comprised of three putters that can be assembled from the individual parts in the putter package. A combination putter can be used in any of the three forms, hand, belly or chest for the next round of practice or golf. After each round of golf the golfer may change the configuration to any of the other putter forms for the next round of practice or golf.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Inventor: Lyle Dean Johnson
-
Publication number: 20110077096Abstract: A customizable sports implement system includes a sports implement having an elongate primary shaft and an elongate grip shaft, and a customizing mechanism including length setting and weight components having a plurality of different assembly combinations, each of which may be installed within a cavity formed in one of the primary shaft and the grip shaft to set a playing length and playing weight of the sports implement. The sports implement system is adjustable among a plurality of different customized configurations by swapping different assembly combinations of the length setting and weight components into the cavity. A method of customizing a sports implement system includes adjusting the sports implement system among different customized configurations by swapping combinations of the length setting and weight components for one another within the cavity, and adjusting a length setting state of the length setting component.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventor: Mark White
-
Publication number: 20110059809Abstract: The Caddy Rite Golf Club Kit consists of a single golf club that has an interchanging connection system located where the club head connects with the club shaft at the club head hosel thereby allowing any golf club head to be interchanged with the golf club shaft. The interchanging connection system is a two piece connector consisting of a male portion that is inserted and bonded into the club shaft lower end and a mating female portion that is inserted and bonded into the top of the hosel of a golf club head. Any golf club head or set of golf club heads modified with the female portion of the connector can be attached to a golf club shaft that has been modified to include the male portion of the connector. The interchange of one club head with another can be accomplished in less than fifteen seconds while the golfer is moving to advance his/her ball.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventors: James M. Guest, Roland E. Lowrey
-
Patent number: 7892105Abstract: A golf club including a club head and an interchangeable shaft is disclosed herein. A connection assembly (44) comprises a sleeve insert (47), a hosel sleeve (48), a hosel tube (46), a ring mechanism (48) and a guide ring (49).Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2010Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventor: J. Andrew Galloway
-
Patent number: 7878919Abstract: A golf club head includes a face plate and a body member positioned rearwardly of the face plate and having at least two body components. Each of a plurality of apertures is formed in one of the face plate and the body components. At least one fastener extends through at least two of the apertures, the fasteners being configured to removably secure the face plate and the body components together upon being turned a portion of a revolution.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2008Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Mark J. Perry, Megan Sesslar Moore, Matthew S. Young, David M. Walters
-
Side Locking Adjustable Shaft Connection Systems for Removably Connecting a Golf Club Head and Shaft
Publication number: 20110021282Abstract: Releasable golf club head/shaft connection systems and methods allow one to change shafts on a single club head, change club heads on a single shaft, and/or change the angular orientation features of a golf club. Such systems may include: (a) a club head body including a hosel and a locking nut stabilizer; (b) a shaft releasably engaged with the club head body, wherein an end of the shaft includes a retaining member that is inserted into the club head body; and (c) a locking nut engaged with a side surface of the club head body such that a body portion of the locking nut extends at least partially through the hosel and is supported by the locking nut stabilizer. The locking nut is movably engaged with the club head body such that it securely holds the shaft or allows the shaft to be removed therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Raymond J. Sander -
Publication number: 20110021281Abstract: Assemblies for releasably connecting a golf club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure having a circular cross-section and a first set of circumferentially spaced teeth; (b) a club head engaging member including a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure, the retaining structure having a circular opening with a second set of circumferentially spaced teeth to engage the first set of teeth on the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The first set of teeth may have a different number of teeth than the second set of teeth. Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2009Publication date: January 27, 2011Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Raymond J. Sander
-
Patent number: 7871336Abstract: A golf club head is presented comprising a sole including a removable panel secured to the sole via a non-threaded attachment assembly. Further, the removable panel may have a large surface area relative to its thickness, resulting in a chip-like or wafer-like weight member. This design allows the mass of the removable panel to be spread substantially along the surface of the sole as opposed to in the interior of the club head. The golf club head may comprise more than one removable panel. A removable panel of the present invention may generally comprise one or more discrete areas of higher basis weight or higher density. Even further, the removable panel may generally be releasably attached via a quick disconnect mechanism that allows easy interchangeability.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Joshua G. Breier, Karl A. Clausen, Douglas E. Roberts, Peter L. Soracco
-
Patent number: 7857709Abstract: A connector for releasably securing a shaft and a head having a hosel with a bore of standard size. The connector includes a shaft adapter, a hosel adapter, and a compression nut. The shaft adapter has a shaft bore sized to receive the shaft, a first threaded coupling member, and a axial shaft. The hosel adapter has a hosel bore and a main body portion. The hosel bore is sized to receive the axial shaft. The compression nut has a second coupling member. The shaft is secured within the shaft bore and the main body portion is secured within the bore of the hosel using an adhesive and the axial shaft is inserted within the hosel bore. Thereafter, the compression nut is rotated to couple the first and second coupling members together thereby securing the shaft and head together without the shaft being received within the bore of the hosel.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2009Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Inventor: Eric Burch
-
Patent number: 7815519Abstract: A golf club head is composed of a first body having mass concentrations at the heel and toe ends joined by a relatively thinner central web portion that is recessed from the front, top and rear surfaces of the club head. A second body member selected from a plurality of second body members composed of a relatively less dense material is temporarily attached to the web portion of the first body to form a face portion that extends from the sole to the top rail of the club as well as the central portion of the top rail.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Leslie J. Bryant, Anthony D. Serrano
-
Patent number: 7806778Abstract: The invention relates to a putter head for a golf putter and to a golf putter that includes the putter head and a putter shaft secured to the putter head. The putter head includes a first head part, that defines the striking face of the putter, and a second head part that is located operatively rearwardly of the first head part and that is displaceable on guide rods with respect to the first head part along a line extending substantially perpendicularly to the striking face defined by the first head part. Securing screws displaceable within the second head part can engage the respective guide rods for securing the location of the head parts with respect to one another. A shaft securing formation is associated with the first head part and permits securing of a putter shaft to the putter head in different angular configurations with respect thereto.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Inventor: John Clement Elmer
-
Publication number: 20100234121Abstract: The present invention relates to a sand wedge type golf club, including an elongated shaft, a metal club head, a face plate, and an attachment mechanism. The club head has a wedge body and a hosel. The wedge body has a generally U-shaped frame with a planar front face and a back face. The generally U-shaped frame forms a cavity on the front face of the wedge body. The faceplate includes a ball contact surface and a mounting surface engaging the cavity and having internally threaded female connectors. The ball contact surface is co-planar with front face of the wedge body and has a plurality of grooves formed thereon. The attachment mechanism extends through the generally U-shaped frame to connect the internally threaded female connectors to the wedge body.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2009Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventor: Marvin Kirk CURRIE
-
Patent number: 7794331Abstract: A golf club interchanging connection structure for interchanging a club head and a shaft includes a positioning mechanism, a club sleeve, an internal screw, and an anti-rotation external screw. The positioning mechanism is placed within the club head. The club sleeve, having one end being connected to and fixed with the shaft and the other end having a first male screw, is placed within the positioning mechanism. The internal screw comprises a nut hole, which is screwed with the first male screw of the club sleeve to lock the shaft connected to the club sleeve. The anti-rotation external screw comprises a second male screw on an outer surface thereof corresponding to a female screw in the club head, in which the second male screw of the anti-rotation external screw is screwed with the female screw, and the anti-rotation external screw leans against the internal screw.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2008Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Advanced International Multitech Co., LtdInventors: Liang-Ho Tsai, Cheng-Tao Lee
-
Patent number: 7789766Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas C. Morris, Scott A. Rice, Peter L. Soracco
-
Patent number: 7775901Abstract: A lightweight golfing kit particularly suited to use on pitch-and-putt courses comprises one or more golfing shafts, two or more clubheads demountably attachable thereto, and a carrier assembly including a holster open at both ends for supporting the shaft or shafts. The carrier may include a case for the clubheads supporting the holster in an upright position, and loops for supporting the assembly from a golfer's shoulders. Optionally a golfing shaft may be adjustable in length. The assembly may also include a detachable belt.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2007Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Inventors: Teddy Barney Cooper, Teddy Walter Joshua Barney Cooper, James Richard Barney Cooper
-
Publication number: 20100160064Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2010Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: James S. Thomas, John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Vincent J. Contini, Raymond J. Sander, James Prescott, Brian Fortner
-
Patent number: 7736243Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club attachment mechanism comprises a hosel adapter with a first slot coupler across a top portion of the hosel adapter, and a shaft adapter with a second slot coupler across a bottom portion of the shaft adapter. The second slot coupler of the shaft adapter is complementary to the first slot coupler of the hosel adapter. The first slot coupler and the second slot coupler couple together to restrict a rotational movement of the hosel adapter relative to the shaft adapter. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CoporationInventors: Richard R. Sanchez, Mitchell E. Bac, Bradley D. Schweigert, Eric V. Cole
-
Patent number: 7722475Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: James S. Thomas, John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares
-
Patent number: 7722474Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: James S. Thomas, John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Vincent J. Contini, Raymond J. Sander, James Prescott, Brian Fortner
-
Publication number: 20100120550Abstract: A golf club including a club head and an interchangeable shaft is disclosed herein. A connection assembly (44) comprises a sleeve insert (47), a hosel sleeve (48), a hosel tube (46), a ring mechanism (48) and a guide ring (49).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2010Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventor: J. ANDREW GALLOWAY
-
Publication number: 20100120551Abstract: A golf club (20) having a club head (22) with an interchangeable shaft (40) is disclosed herein. The golf club (20) includes a tube (44, 144) mounted in the club head (22), and a sleeve (46, 146) mounted on a tip end (50) of the shaft (40). The tube (44, 144) includes a tapered portion (60, 160) and a rotation prevention portion (62, 162). The sleeve (46, 146) has a frustoconical portion (72, 172) and a keyed portion (74, 174) that are respectively received in the tapered portion (60, 160) and the rotation prevention portion (62, 162) of the tube (44, 144). The golf club (20) further includes a mechanical fastener (48, 148) for removably securing the shaft (40) to the club head (22).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2010Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANYInventors: ALAN HOCKNELL, MATTHEW T. CACKETT, DENVER HOLT, D. CLAYTON EVANS, DANIEL M. STEVENS, JAMES C. WENCK, STEVEN S. OGG, KONRAD LENHOF, JERRY V. BLANKE, JOEL B. ERICKSON, BROADUS PERRY WALL
-
Patent number: 7704158Abstract: A temporary shaft-component connection for assembling a selected golf club shaft with a club head and/or hand grip segment, to facilitate custom club design and fitting to suit the needs and preferences of an individual golfer. The temporary shaft-component connection is particularly designed for use with nonmetallic club shafts formed from a graphite-based composite material or the like having a range of different lengths and stiffness (whip) characteristics. In a shaft-head connection, a metal adapter insert is mounted onto a lower end of the club shaft and includes one or more flat surfaces for reception into a matingly shaped socket in the hosel of a selected club head to prevent relative rotation between the club shaft and head. A compression nut carried on the shaft is threaded onto the hosel to axially engage and retain a thrust flange on the shaft or adapter or adapter insert, to prevent axial separation of the club head and shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2006Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
-
Patent number: 7704156Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: (a) a shaft engaging member including a rotation-inhibiting structure; (b) a club head engaging member including a shaft-receiving chamber and a retaining structure for engaging the rotation-inhibiting structure; and (c) a securing system for releasably securing the shaft engaging member with respect to the club head engaging member. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft engaging member so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares, James S. Thomas
-
Patent number: 7699717Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head and a fastener. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The fastener retains the shaft sleeve in the hosel. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features are provided that provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2008Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventors: Thomas C. Morris, Gregory Haralson, Peter L. Soracco, Scott A. Rice, Scott A. Knutson, Thomas W. Preece
-
Patent number: 7691006Abstract: A golf club having multiple interchangeable striking face plate inserts and a movable weight element positioned therewithin. A number of different angularly inclined striker face plates are keyed to a club head body allowing the club to function as a multiple club configuration. Adjustable weight inserts are provided which impart their kinetic energy during the club swing to increase striking power of the club with the target ball during use.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: William Burke
-
Publication number: 20100069171Abstract: The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange shafts, removable weights, or soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a shaft may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to traditional golf clubs.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2009Publication date: March 18, 2010Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco