GOLF CLUB WITH REMOVABLE COMPONENTS

• US 20090075748A1
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Cackett, Matthew T., Evans, D. Clayton
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/306
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft

Abstract

A golf club having removable components includes a club head, a shaft, and a connection assembly. The club head includes a hosel having an upper treaded portion and a lower portion with a faceted cross-section. The connection assembly includes a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft and a screw-cap. The sleeve, which has an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft, includes a lower section that has a multi-faceted surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel. The screw-cap is mounted over the sleeve and includes a body having an upper area and a threaded area, the latter of which is capable of engaging the upper threaded portion of the hosel to removably secure the shaft to the club head.

Claims

1. A golf club having removable components, the golf club comprising:

a club head having a body with a hosel, the hosel having an upper threaded portion and a lower portion, the upper threaded portion having a threaded cross-section, the lower portion having a faceted cross-section;

a shaft having a tip end and a butt end; and

a connection assembly comprising

a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft, the sleeve having a body including a top section and a lower section, the lower section having a multi-faceted surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel, the sleeve also comprising an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft,

a screw-cap having a body with a central aperture, the screw cap mounted over the sleeve, the body of the screw-cap having an upper area and a threaded area, the threaded area capable of engaging the upper threaded portion of the hosel of the club head for removably securing the shaft to the club head.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the connection assembly further comprises a locking ring positioned in an annular groove formed proximate the top section of the sleeve to retain the screw-cap loosely on the sleeve.

3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the connection assembly further comprises a ferrule having a body and a main aperture, wherein the shaft is placed through the main aperture, and the ferrule is positioned on the top section of the sleeve.

4. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the lower section of the sleeve comprises a first faceted surface, a first curved surface, a second faceted surface, a second curved surface, a third faceted surface and a third curved surface.

5. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of an aluminum alloy material.

6. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the screw-cap is comprised of a titanium alloy material.

7. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein each of the lower section of the sleeve and the lower portion of the hosel is tapered.

8. The golf club according to claim 1, further comprising a polymeric material provided on at least a portion of the threaded area of the screw-cap.

9. The golf club according to claim 8, wherein the polymeric material is a Nylok material.

10. The golf club according to claim 1, further comprising a polymeric material provided on at least a portion of the upper threaded portion of the hosel.

11. A golf club having removable components, the golf club comprising:

a club head including a face cup and an aft-body, the face cup comprised of a metal material and including a striking face and a hosel, the hosel having an upper threaded portion, a central portion and a lower portion, the upper threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon, the central portion having a circular cross-section, and the lower portion having a tapered, faceted cross-section;

a shaft having a tip end and a butt end; and

a connection assembly comprising

a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft, the sleeve having a body with a top section and a lower section, the lower section having a tapered, multi-faceted surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel, the sleeve also comprising an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft,

a screw-cap having a body with a central aperture, the screw cap mounted over the sleeve, the body of the screw-cap having an upper area and a threaded area, the threaded area capable of engaging the upper threaded portion of the hosel of the club head for removably securing the shaft to the club head.

12. The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the sleeve has an annular groove formed therein proximate the top section of the sleeve, and wherein the connection assembly further comprises a locking ring positioned in the annular groove to retain the screw-cap loosely on the sleeve.

13. The golf club according to claim 12, wherein the locking ring is comprised of a metal material and has a thickness in the range of 0.025 inch to 0.035 inch.

14. The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the connection assembly further comprises a thermoplastic ferrule having a body and a main aperture, wherein the shaft is placed through the main aperture, and the ferrule is positioned on the top section of the sleeve.

15. The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the lower section of the sleeve comprises a first faceted surface, a first curved surface, a second faceted surface, a second curved surface, a third faceted surface and a third curved surface.

16. The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the sleeve is comprised of an aluminum alloy material.

17. The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the screw-cap is comprised of a titanium alloy material.

18. The golf club according to claim 11, further comprising a polymeric material provided on at least a portion of one of the threaded area of the screw-cap and the upper threaded portion of the hosel.

19. The golf club according to claim 18, wherein the polymeric material is a Nylok material.

20. A golf club head for interchangeable connection to a golf club shaft, the golf club head including:

a body having a striking face, a crown portion, a sole portion, a heel end, and a toe end; and

a hosel having an upper threaded portion and a lower portion, the upper threaded portion having a threaded cross-section with a plurality of threads, the lower portion having a faceted cross-section.

21. The golf club head according to claim 20, wherein the lower portion has a pseudo-triangular cross-section with three planar surfaces.

22. The golf club head according to claim 20, wherein the lower portion of the hosel is tapered.

23. The golf club head according to claim 20, further comprising a polymeric material coating at least a portion of the plurality of threads of the upper threaded portion.

24. A component for utilization with an interchangeable golf club head, the component comprising:

a shaft having a tip end and a butt end;

a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft, the sleeve having a body including a top section and a lower section, the lower section having a tapered, multi-faceted surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel, the sleeve also comprising an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft; and

a screw-cap having a body with a central aperture, the screw cap mounted over the sleeve, the body of the screw-cap having an upper area and a threaded area, the threaded area including a plurality of threads.

25. The component according to claim 24, wherein the lower section of the sleeve includes three outer planar surfaces.

26. The component according to claim 24, further comprising a polymeric material coating at least a portion of the plurality of threads of the screw-cap.