Joint Formed With Sleeve Engaging Shaft And Hosel Patents (Class 473/309)
  • Patent number: 8632417
    Abstract: 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 first cylindrical structure having a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, a first rotation-inhibiting structure, and a securing structure; (b) a second cylindrical structure having a borehole for receiving the first cylindrical structure, and a second rotation-inhibiting structure that engages the first rotation-inhibiting structure and (c) a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure. The shaft may extend at an angle from the shaft connection assembly so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head by rotating the first cylindrical structure or exchanging the second cylindrical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, Joshua Michael Boggs, Sherry Lynn Jones, Joseph M. Lehman, Daniel Francis Wisniewski
  • Patent number: 8628430
    Abstract: A golf club head with a leading end of a shaft mountable thereon, the golf club head includes: a head main body, formed with a hosel insertion hole; a hosel, formed with a shaft case insertion hole and removably mounted in the hosel insertion hole; and a shaft case, formed with a shaft insertion hole and removably mounted in the shaft case insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi, Hideo Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8622847
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8616996
    Abstract: A golf club head with an adjustable hosel that sits within a cavity loaded with filler material. The cavity may generally extend from crown to sole or, in the alternative, extend only a partial amount of the distance from the crown to the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Steve Murphy
  • Patent number: 8616995
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 8602907
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8597135
    Abstract: 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 shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. 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 adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond J. Sander, James S. Thomas, Vincent Contini, Scott Allen Harris, Matthew Paul Rubal, James Alan Prescott, Gregory A. Trees
  • Publication number: 20130303300
    Abstract: A length adjustment system for joining a golf club head to a shaft is provided. The length adjustment system may be utilized to produce a minor length and an intermediate length of a golf club. In a minor length configuration, the length adjustment system includes a shaft sleeve attached to an end of the shaft. The minor length configuration also features a minor length weight system. The intermediate length configuration further includes a first hosel sleeve and an intermediate length weight system. The length adjustment system results golf club that has similar characteristics in each configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: TAYLOR MADE GOLF COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jason Sulak
  • Publication number: 20130288816
    Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, and a fixing member Fx1. The head 4 has a hosel part 4h capable of swingably supporting the shaft 6. The shaft 6 has a tip connecting part 6t capable of being connected to the fixing member Fx1. The fixing member Fx1 has a connector 12 capable of being connected to the shaft 6, a first sliding member S1 capable of engaging the connector 12 with a plurality of positions in a first direction D1, and a second sliding member S2 capable of engaging the first sliding member S1 with a plurality of positions in a second direction D2. A movement of the connector 12 in the first direction D1 and a movement of the connector 12 in the second direction D2 are independent of each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8562453
    Abstract: A golf club includes: a shaft case being inserted into a hosel from the upper end side of a hosel hole in a head; an extending member with a lower end side which is screwed into the upper end side of the hosel hole, into which the screw member is screwed; and a pair of attachments which is fit onto the shaft and interposed between an upper end surface of the shaft case and a lower end surface of the screw member and each of which has a half-split cylindrical shape, wherein: the shaft case is fixed to the hosel hole by the screw member pressing the shaft via the attachments; and the shaft case is fixable to the hosel hole by removing the extending member and the attachments and screwing the screw member onto the upper end side of the hosel hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumiaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8535173
    Abstract: A golf club head with an improved Moment of Inertia (MOI) is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a releasable hosel mechanism that is leaner and more lightweight, it allows a significant amount of weight to be saved from the hosel portion of the golf club head and used to improve Center of Gravity (CG) location of the golf club head; which contributes to the improvement of the MOI of the golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Golden, Christopher D. Harvell
  • Publication number: 20130237340
    Abstract: A golf club includes: a shaft (4); an adapter (3) having a shaft inserting portion (9) disposed with a shaft inserting hole (13) at one end for fixing the shaft (4) and at the other end a fixing portion (7) which is integrally disposed with the shaft inserting portion (9) with a central axis thereof deviated from a central axis of the shaft inserting portion (9) and is disposed with a concave portion (12) at least at a part of a circumferential wall surface thereof; a club head (1) including a hosel portion (2) disposed with a hosel hole (5) for inserting the adapter (3) and a through hole (10) extending from a hosel outer wall to the hosel hole (5) and located at a position corresponding to the concave portion (12) of the fixing portion (7); and a retaining means (11) passing through the through hole (10) to press the concave portion (12) so as to prevent the shaft (4) from dropping out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Mizuno Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Mine, Mitsuyasu Ito
  • Patent number: 8523700
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond J. Sander
  • Patent number: 8517855
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8496541
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8485915
    Abstract: A variable length shaft assembly comprising a shaft adapter, a grip support, and an engagement device is disclosed herein. The variable length shaft assembly of the present invention allows a golfer to quickly, semi-permanently, and inexpensively change the overall length of the shaft assembly, such that the shaft performs as desired and conforms to USGA rules. The variable length shaft assembly of the invention may further a travel limiter to prevent parts of the shaft assembly from disengaging from each other. Methods of adjusting the length of a golf club shaft without damaging any portion of the shaft are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Callaway Gold Company
    Inventor: D. Clayton Evans
  • Patent number: 8480511
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of creating markings on a golf club ferrule, some of which comprising providing a polymeric ferrule body having a first color; painting at least a portion of the ferrule body with a paint material, the paint material having a second color that is different than the first color, such as with a high contrast; and removing one or more portions of the paint material from the ferrule body, such as by laser engraving, to reveal respective portions of the first color, thereby forming one or more markings on the ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan T. Sargent, Abram Stanley Harris
  • Publication number: 20130137529
    Abstract: A ferrule includes: an upper body which projects from an upper end face of a hosel portion; an inserted portion which is provided to project downwards from the upper body to be inserted into an interior of a hosel hole; and a groove which is provided circumferentially on an outer circumferential surface of the inserted portion, wherein a lower end portion of the inserted portion has a diameter which is smaller than that of an upper side of the inserted portion than the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yasunori IMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8449404
    Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so they may be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft orientation with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include a shaft adapter and a head adapter. The shaft adapter may have an exterior surface extending along a first axis and a bore having a cross-sectional shape along a second axis configured to attach to a shaft member. The second end of the shaft adapter has a cross-sectional shape of a regular polygon. The head adapter has a first end and a second end along a first axis and a bore having a shape of a regular polygon along a second axis that is shaped to receive the second end of the shaft adapter in a plurality of orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, Gregory A. Trees, Vincent J. Contini, Raymond J. Sander, James Alan Prescott, Scott Allen Harris, Matthew Paul Rubal
  • Patent number: 8419567
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 8398503
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20130053167
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Publication number: 20130053168
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Publication number: 20130053164
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Marty R. Jertson, Ryan M. Stokke
  • Patent number: 8382607
    Abstract: A length adjustment system for joining a golf club head to a shaft is provided. The length adjustment system may be utilized to produce a minor length, an intermediate length, and an extended length of a golf club. In a minor length configuration, the length adjustment system includes a shaft sleeve attached to an end of the shaft. A retainer releasably secures the shaft and shaft sleeve to the golf club head. The minor length configuration also features a minor length weight system. The intermediate length configuration further includes a first spacer, a first hosel sleeve, and an intermediate length weight system. The extended length configuration further includes a second spacer, a second hosel sleeve, and an extended length weight system. The length adjustment system incorporates the discovery of unique relationships among its components so that the resulting golf club has similar characteristics in each configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jason Sulak
  • Patent number: 8376874
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Thomas Orrin Bennett, Stephanie Bezilla, Charles E. Golden, Bradford Hughes Hartwell, Scott A. Knutson, Stephen S. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20130017901
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of creating markings on a golf club ferrule, some of which comprising providing a polymeric ferrule body having a first color; painting at least a portion of the ferrule body with a paint material, the paint material having a second color that is different than the first color, such as with a high contrast; and removing one or more portions of the paint material from the ferrule body, such as by laser engraving, to reveal respective portions of the first color, thereby forming one or more markings on the ferrule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Nathan T. Sargent, Abram Stanley Harris
  • Patent number: 8353781
    Abstract: The subject golf clubs have a shaft and clubhead. The shaft has a tip-end coupled to the clubhead, a butt-end, a reduced-EI portion located adjacent the tip-end, and a remaining portion extending between the butt-end and the reduced-EI portion. The portions are coupled together at an interface. The remaining portion exhibits a respective rate of stiffness reduction as a function of distance from the butt-end. The reduced-EI portion is typically shorter than and has less stiffness than the remaining portion. A stiffener insert is inserted into the shaft, such as in the reduced-EI portion, to add stiffness locally. The reduced-EI portion exhibits a respective rate (which can be zero) of stiffness reduction as a function of distance toward the tip-end. These rates can be similar or different. The interface can exhibit a greater rate in stiffness reduction than the other portions. The stiffeners can be user-selectable, from a kit supplied with the club, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew Tom DeShiell, Todd P. Beach
  • Patent number: 8337319
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In some embodiments, the club head has an adjustable sole piece that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the sole of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Sargent, Todd P. Beach, Kraig A. Willett
  • Patent number: 8303431
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Nathan Sargent, Kraig Alan Willett, Joseph Henry Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8277333
    Abstract: 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 shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. 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 adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, Gregory A. Trees, Vincent Contini, Raymond J. Sander, James Alan Scott, Scott Allen Harris, Matthew Paul Rubal
  • Patent number: 8272972
    Abstract: A golf club, includes: a head; a shaft; a shaft case, having a cylindrical shape and fixed to a leading end of the shaft, a hosel, mounted on the head, wherein: the shaft case is inserted into the hosel from an upper end of the hosel; and the shaft case is fixed to the hosel so that an insertion depth of the shaft into the hosel is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi, Hideo Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8262498
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman, Kevin R. Harper
  • Patent number: 8262499
    Abstract: A golf club head with an adjustable hosel that sits within a cavity loaded with filler material. The cavity may generally extend from crown to sole or, in the alternative, extend only a partial amount of the distance from the crown to the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Steve Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120225729
    Abstract: A connector of a golf club is provided. The connector includes a shaft adapter and a hosel adapter. A compression nut fits over both adapters to secure them against one another. The hosel adapter advantageously fits over the hosel, thereby allowing the bore of the hosel to remain unmodified from its original design. The connector also includes an anti-rotation arrangement to prevent relative rotation between the shaft adapter and the hosel adapter. Further, the tip end of the club shaft passes entirely through the connector and seats within the hosel as it normally would in the absence of the connector. The connector does not surround the tip end of the shaft where it seats in the hosel, giving the club an unaltered feel, despite the inclusion of the connector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: CLUB-CONEX, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Burch
  • Patent number: 8257193
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: 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, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8246484
    Abstract: A golf club head with a leading end of a shaft mountable thereon, the golf club head includes: a head main body, formed with a hosel insertion hole; a hosel, formed with a shaft case insertion hole and removably mounted in the hosel insertion hole; and a shaft case, formed with a shaft insertion hole and removably mounted in the shaft case insertion hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi, Hideo Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8235838
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
  • Patent number: 8235840
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventors: 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, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8235836
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter L. Soracco, Thomas C. Morris, Scott A. Rice
  • Patent number: 8235835
    Abstract: A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft and a club head. The shaft is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head. The shaft alignment features and a fastening member are integrated into the construction of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Peter L. Soracco
  • Patent number: 8235831
    Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd P. Beach, Mark V. Greaney, Ian C. Wright, Kraig A. Willett, Nathan T. Sargent, Matthew D. Johnson, Gery M. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 8231480
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, John Thomas Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Patent number: 8226496
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
    Inventor: J. Andrew Galloway
  • Patent number: 8221259
    Abstract: 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 shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. 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 adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Thomas, Gregory A. Trees, Vincent Contini, Raymond J. Sander, James Alan Scott, Scott Allen Harris, Matthew Paul Rubal
  • Patent number: 8206237
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are muscle-back iron golf clubs that have improved mass qualities to provide higher rotational moments of inertia and lower center of gravity while retaining the workability of muscle-back irons and the size, shape and dimensions preferred by tour players and low handicap players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Gilbert, Douglas C. Jorgensen
  • Publication number: 20120142445
    Abstract: A length adjustment system for joining a golf club head to a shaft is provided. The length adjustment system may be utilized to produce a minor length, an intermediate length, and an extended length of a golf club. In a minor length configuration, the length adjustment system includes a shaft sleeve attached to an end of the shaft. A retainer releasably secures the shaft and shaft sleeve to the golf club head. The minor length configuration also features a minor length weight system. The intermediate length configuration further includes a first spacer, a first hosel sleeve, and an intermediate length weight system. The extended length configuration further includes a second spacer, a second hosel sleeve, and an extended length weight system. The length adjustment system incorporates the discovery of unique relationships among its components so that the resulting golf club has similar characteristics in each configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Michael Scott Burnett, Jason Sulak
  • Patent number: 8192299
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a golf club includes: a head having a hosel having a hosel hole; a shaft; a shaft case having a shaft insertion hole to which one end of the shaft is inserted and configured to be inserted to the hosel hole; and a ring-shaped screw member configured to be screwed into one end of the hosel to fix the shaft case in the hosel hole, and to be fitted with an outer face of an one end of the shaft case so as not to contact with the shaft directly, wherein an axis of the shaft insertion hole is nonparallel to an axis of the hosel hole, and an inner face of the hosel hole and an outer face of the shaft case includes a triangular or more polygonal cross-sectional face that is perpendicular to the axis of the hosel hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumiaki Sato, Hiroshi Takahashi, Hideo Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 8182357
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable connector including at least two parts, each having a main body with a bore having a longitudinal axis therein, wherein an external surface of the main body of a first part is configured to bear against an internal surface of the bore of a second part when the first part is at least partially inserted into the bore of the second part to form a connection, characterized in that the positioning of the bores with respect to the main bodies is such that when the parts are connected to each other, rotation of one part with respect to the other changes the inclination of the longitudinal axes of the bores with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Simon Garry Moore
  • Patent number: 8177657
    Abstract: 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 tradition al golf clubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Cobra Golf Incorporated
    Inventors: Karl A. Clausen, Peter L. Soracco