GOLF CLUB

• US 20110098127A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd. (Sumitomo Rubber Industries Limited)
• Inventors: YAMAMOTO, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 8,668,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/307
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/023 adjustable angular orientation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A golf club 2 is provided with a head 4, a shaft 6, a tip member 8, and a screw member 10. The shaft 6 is inserted into a shaft hole of the tip member 8, and a tip part of the shaft 6 is fixed to the shaft hole. An axis line s1 of the shaft 6 is inclined with respect to an axis line z1 of the tip member 8. The head 4 has a head hole into which the tip member is inserted, a head side engaging part capable of being engaged with the tip member 8 inserted into the head hole, and a through hole into which the screw member 10 can be inserted. The tip member 8 has a shaft side engaging part 38 capable of being engaged with the head side engaging part. Circumferential relative positions A in which the head side engaging part and the shaft side engaging part can be engaged with each other are M kinds. The circumferential relative positions A can equalize adjustment distance of a loft angle, a lie angle, or a hook angle as compared with circumferential relative positions B in being equally divided into M pieces in a circumferential direction.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a head;

a shaft;

a tip member; and

a screw member,

wherein the tip member has a shaft hole and a screw hole;

the shaft is inserted into the shaft hole of the tip member, and a tip part of the shaft is fixed to the shaft hole;

an axis line s1 of the shaft is inclined to an axis line z1 of the tip member;

the head has a head hole into which the tip member is inserted, a head side engaging part capable of being engaged with the tip member inserted into the head hole, and a through hole into which the screw member can be inserted;

the tip member has a shaft side engaging part capable of being engaged with the head side engaging part;

the head side engaging part and the shaft side engaging part are engaged with each other so that relative rotation of the head and the tip member is regulated;

coming off of the tip member from the head is regulated by screw connection of the screw member inserted into the through hole and the screw hole;

circumferential relative positions A in which the head side engaging part and the shaft side engaging part can be engaged with each other are M kinds (M is an integer of equal to or greater than

     3);

the M kinds of circumferential relative positions A can adjust a loft angle, a lie angle, or a hook angle; and

the circumferential relative positions A can equalize adjustment distance of the loft angle, the lie angle, or the hook angle as compared with circumferential relative positions B in being equally divided into M pieces in a circumferential direction.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein when a maximum value of the hook angle is defined as Fmax;

a minimum value of the hook angle is defined as Fmin; and

a value calculated by an expression [(Fmax+Fmin)/2] is defined as Fmid, a circumferential relative position enabling adjustment to a hook angle Fa satisfying the following expression (1), and a circumferential relative position enabling adjustment to a hook angle Fb satisfying the following expression (2) exist in the circumferential relative positions A;

Fmid+(Fmax−

Fmid)×

0.4≦

Fa≦

Fmid+(Fmax−

Fmid)×

0.6 

 

(1);

and

Fmin+(Fmid−

Fmin)×

0.4≦

Fb≦

Fmin+(Fmid−

Fmin)×

0.6 

 

(2).

3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein a maximum value of the adjustment distance of the hook angle is equal to or less than 1.5 degrees.

7. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the shaft side engaging part has a first engaging part provided at one circumferential position and a second engaging part provided at a plurality of circumferential positions.

8. The golf club according to claim 7, wherein the first engaging part is a convex part provided at one circumferential position;

and the second engaging part is a plurality of convex parts equally disposed in the circumferential direction.

9. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the shaft side engaging part has a first engaging part and a second engaging part;

the head side engaging part has a first portion and a second portion;

the first portion is engaged with the first engaging part;

the second portion is engaged with the second engaging part; and

the M kinds of circumferential relative positions A can be achieved by engagement of the first portion and the first engaging part.

10. The golf club according to claim 9, wherein the first engaging part is a convex part provided at one circumferential position;

the second engaging part is a plurality of convex parts equally disposed in a circumferential direction;

the first portion is a concave part unequally distributed in the circumferential direction; and

the second portion is a concave part equally distributed in the circumferential direction.

4. A golf club comprising:

a head;

a shaft;

a tip member; and

a screw member,

wherein the tip member has a shaft hole and a screw hole;

the shaft is inserted into the shaft hole of the tip member, and a tip part of the shaft is fixed to the shaft hole;

an axis line s1 of the shaft is inclined to an axis line z1 of the tip member;

the head has a head hole into which the tip member is inserted, a head side engaging part capable of being engaged with the tip member inserted into the head hole, and a through hole into which the screw member can be inserted;

the tip member has a shaft side engaging part capable of being engaged with the head side engaging part;

the head side engaging part and the shaft side engaging part are engaged with each other so that relative rotation of the head and the tip member is regulated;

coming off of the tip member from the head is regulated by screw connection of the screw member inserted into the through hole and the screw hole;

circumferential relative positions A in which the head side engaging part and the shaft side engaging part can be engaged with each other are N kinds;

the N kinds of circumferential relative positions A can adjust a loft angle, a lie angle, or a hook angle;

a key indication corresponding to X kinds (X is an integer of less than N) of circumferential relative positions C, of the N kinds of circumferential relative positions A is provided; and

the circumferential relative positions C can equalize adjustment distance of the loft angle, the lie angle, or the hook angle as compared with circumferential relative positions D in being equally divided into X pieces in a circumferential direction.

5. The golf club according to claim 4, wherein when a maximum value of the hook angle is defined as Fmax;

a minimum value of the hook angle is defined as Fmin; and

a value calculated by an expression [(Fmax+Fmin)/2] is defined as Fmid, a circumferential relative position enabling adjustment to a hook angle Fa satisfying the following expression (1), and a circumferential relative position enabling adjustment to a hook angle Fb satisfying the following expression (2) exist in the circumferential relative positions C;

Fmid+(Fmax−

Fmid)×

0.4≦

Fa≦

Fmid+(Fmax−

Fmid)×

0.6 

 

(1);

and

Fmin+(Fmid−

Fmin)×

0.4≦

Fb≦

Fmin+(Fmid−

Fmin)×

0.6 

 

(2).

6. The golf club according to claim 4, wherein a maximum value of the adjustment distance of the hook angle based on the key indication is equal to or less than 1.5 degrees.