Temporary golf club shaft-component connection
First Claim
1. A temporary connection for connecting a golf club shaft with an additional club component, said temporary connection comprising:
- an elongated adapter insert defining a thrust flange;
an adapter socket having a size and shape for slide-fit reception of said adapter insert, said adapter socket defining a thrust seat for substantially seated reception of said thrust flange when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket, said adapter insert and socket further including interengageable surfaces for substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket;
first connection means for removably interconnecting said adapter insert and socket with said thrust flange seated upon said thrust seat; and
second connection means including a resilient anchor member interposed between said adapter insert and socket at a position spaced axially from said thrust flange and said thrust seat, said anchor member being at least partially compressed when said thrust flange is seated upon said thrust seat for substantially constraining said adapter insert and socket against relative movement.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. The temporary connection includes an adapter insert for slide-fit reception into an adapter socket, wherein the adapter insert and socket include interengaging flat surfaces such as splines to prevent relative rotation therebetween. The adapter insert is mechanically seated and secured relative to the adapter socket at a pair of axially spaced locations, with a resilient compressible anchor member disposed at one of these securement points for substantially eliminating undesired intercomponent movement.
240 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A temporary connection for connecting a golf club shaft with an additional club component, said temporary connection comprising:
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an elongated adapter insert defining a thrust flange;
an adapter socket having a size and shape for slide-fit reception of said adapter insert, said adapter socket defining a thrust seat for substantially seated reception of said thrust flange when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket, said adapter insert and socket further including interengageable surfaces for substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket;
first connection means for removably interconnecting said adapter insert and socket with said thrust flange seated upon said thrust seat; and
second connection means including a resilient anchor member interposed between said adapter insert and socket at a position spaced axially from said thrust flange and said thrust seat, said anchor member being at least partially compressed when said thrust flange is seated upon said thrust seat for substantially constraining said adapter insert and socket against relative movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A temporary connection for connecting a golf club shaft with an additional club component, said temporary connection comprising:
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an elongated adapter insert defining a thrust flange;
an adapter socket having a size and shape for slide-fit reception of said adapter insert, said adapter socket defining a thrust seat for substantially seated reception of said thrust flange when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket, said adapter insert and socket further including interengageable surfaces for substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket;
first connection means for removably interconnecting said adapter insert and socket with said thrust flange seated upon said thrust seat, said first connection means including a compression nut carried by one of said adapter insert and socket and defining an internal thread and an internal thrust shoulder, and an external thread formed on the other of said adapter insert and socket, said compression nut being threadably engageable with said external thread for urging said thrust shoulder against one of said thrust flange and thrust seat for axially displacing said thrust flange into seated engagement upon said thrust seat; and
second connection means including a resilient anchor member seated within a base end of said adapter socket and interposed between said adapter insert and socket at a position spaced axially from said thrust flange and said thrust seat, said anchor member being at least partially compressed when said thrust flange is seated upon said thrust seat for substantially constraining said adapter insert and socket against relative movement.
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21. A golf club, comprising:
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an elongated golf club shaft having a lower end;
an elongated adapter insert carried by said club shaft at said club shaft lower end;
a thrust flange carried by said club shaft at a position generally adjacent to said club shaft lower end;
a club head having a hosel;
an adapter socket carried by said hosel and having a size and shape for slide-fit reception of said adapter insert, said adapter socket defining a thrust seat for substantially seated reception of said thrust flange when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket, said adapter insert and socket further including interengageable surfaces for substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket;
first connection means for removably interconnecting said adapter insert and socket with said thrust flange retained in axially seated relation upon said thrust seat; and
second connection means including a resilient anchor member interposed between said adapter insert and socket at a position spaced axially from said thrust flange and said thrust seat, said anchor member being at least partially compressed when said thrust flange is seated upon said thrust seat for substantially constraining said adapter insert and socket against relative movement. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A golf club, comprising:
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an elongated golf club shaft having an upper end;
an elongated adapter insert carried by said club shaft at said club shaft upper end;
a thrust flange carried by said club shaft at a position generally adjacent to said club shaft upper end;
a hand grip segment;
an adapter socket carried by said hand grip segment and having a size and shape for slide-fit reception of said adapter insert, said adapter socket defining a thrust seat for substantially seated reception of said thrust flange when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket, said adapter insert and socket further including interengageable surfaces for substantially preventing relative rotation therebetween when said adapter insert is slidably received into said adapter socket;
first connection means for removably interconnecting said adapter insert and socket with said thrust flange retained in axially seated relation upon said thrust seat; and
second connection means including a resilient anchor member interposed between said adapter insert and socket at a position spaced axially from said thrust flange and said thrust seat, said anchor member being at least partially compressed when said thrust flange is seated upon said thrust seat for substantially constraining said adapter insert and socket against relative movement. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification