Couplings for securing golf shaft to golf club head

• US 10,449,422 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Becktor, Mika, Brekke, Dustin, Lambeth, Jacob
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau, Stephen L
• Application Number:
  US15/625,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20180361206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A coupling for securing a golf shaft to a golf club head includes a first component configured to contact, and engage with, the golf shaft, and a second component bonded to the first component and configured to space the first component from the golf club head. The second component includes a second material having a Young'"'"'s modulus less than a first material of the first component. In another aspect, a coupling includes a shaft engagement element, and a spacer configured to space the first component from the golf club head so that the golf shaft is above the golf club head in its entirety. The spacer includes a material having a Young'"'"'s modulus no greater than about 10 Gpa. In another aspect, a kit includes a first coupling and a second coupling with at least one of a structural configuration or a material of a vibration dampening element differing.

Claims

1. A coupling for securing a golf shaft to a golf club head, the coupling comprising:

a first component configured to contact, and engage with, the golf shaft, the first component comprising a first material having a first Young'"'"'s modulus;

a second component configured to space the first component from the golf club head in an operating position, the second component bonded to the first component and comprising;

a hosel engagement portion configured to contact, and engage with, a hosel of the golf club head; and

a second material having a second Young'"'"'s modulus less than the first material and no greater than about 10 GPa; and

an annular groove for receiving and securing the golf shaft between the first component and the second component.

2. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the second component is configured to isolate the first component, in its entirety, from the golf club head when in an operating position.

3. The coupling of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the first Young'"'"'s modulus to the second Young'"'"'s modulus is no less than 3.

4. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the first Young'"'"'s modulus is no less than about 30 GPa.

5. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of:

steel, stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy, aluminum, zinc, and copper.

6. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of:

an elastomer, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a polyurethane, an acetal resin, a thermoplastic material, a polyamide, and a fiber-reinforced resin.

7. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the first component is configured to fit within an internal bore of the golf shaft.

8. The coupling of claim 1, further comprising a third component configured to contact, and engage with, the golf club head, the third component comprising a third material having a Young'"'"'s modulus greater than the second Young'"'"'s modulus.

9. The coupling of claim 1, wherein the second component is co-molded with the first component.

10. A coupling for securing a golf shaft to a golf club head, the coupling comprising:

a shaft engagement element configured to engage with the golf shaft; and

a spacer configured to space the shaft engagement element from the golf club head in an operating position, the spacer comprising;

a hosel engagement portion configured to contact, and engage with, a hosel of the golf club head; and

a first material having a first Young'"'"'s modulus no greater than about 10 Gpa; and

an annular groove for receiving and securing the golf shaft between the shaft engagement element and the spacer;

wherein the coupling is configured such that, when operably secured to a golf shaft and the hosel, the golf shaft is located above the hosel in its entirety.

11. The coupling of claim 10, wherein the first Young'"'"'s modulus is no greater than about 5 Gpa.

12. The coupling of claim 10, wherein the shaft engagement element comprises a second material having a second Young'"'"'s modulus no less than about 30 GPa.

13. The coupling of claim 12, wherein a ratio of the second Young'"'"'s modulus to the first Young'"'"'s modulus is no less than 3.

14. The coupling of claim 12, wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of:

steel, stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy, aluminum, zinc, and copper.

15. The coupling of claim 10, wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of:

an elastomer, a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, a polyurethane, an acetal resin, a thermoplastic material, a polyamide, and a fiber-reinforced resin.

16. The coupling of claim 10, wherein the shaft engagement element is configured to engage with an internal bore of the golf shaft.

17. The coupling of claim 10, further comprising a third component configured to contact, and engage with, the golf club head in an operating state, the third component comprising a third material having a Young'"'"'s modulus greater than the first Young'"'"'s modulus.