Releasable and Interchangeable Connections for Golf Club Heads and Shafts
First Claim
1. A golf club head/shaft connection assembly, comprising:
- a first cylindrical structure having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end includes a first opening that defines a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein an exterior surface of the cylindrical structure nearer to the first end than the second end includes a first rotation-inhibiting structure, and wherein the second end includes a securing structure;
a second cylindrical structure having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end defines an opening to a borehole for receiving the first cylindrical structure, wherein an interior surface of the second cylindrical structure nearer to the first end than the second end includes a second rotation-inhibiting structure; and
a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A golf club head/shaft connection assembly, comprising:
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a first cylindrical structure having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end includes a first opening that defines a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein an exterior surface of the cylindrical structure nearer to the first end than the second end includes a first rotation-inhibiting structure, and wherein the second end includes a securing structure; a second cylindrical structure having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end defines an opening to a borehole for receiving the first cylindrical structure, wherein an interior surface of the second cylindrical structure nearer to the first end than the second end includes a second rotation-inhibiting structure; and a securing system for releasably engaging the securing structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A golf club, comprising:
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a golf club head having a hosel area that provides access to a club head chamber defined in the club head, wherein the club head chamber extends completely through the club head and includes a first opening for receiving a securing member; a club head connection member extending into the club head chamber of the golf club head, having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end defines an opening to a borehole, and wherein an interior surface of the club head connection member nearer to the first end than the second end includes a first rotation-inhibiting structure; and a shaft connection member extending into the borehole of the club head connection member, the shaft connection member including a cylindrical structure having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the shaft connection member includes a second opening that defines a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein an exterior surface of the cylindrical structure nearer to its first end than its second end includes a second rotation-inhibiting structure that engages the first rotation-inhibiting structure on the club head connection member, and wherein the second end includes a securing structure; a shaft engaged in the cylindrical interior chamber of the shaft connection member; and a securing member extending through the second end of the club head connection member and into the second end of the club head chamber of the golf club head and releasably engaging the securing structure of the shaft connection member to thereby releasably engage the shaft connection member with the club head connection member and the golf club head. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of assembling a golf club, comprising:
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providing a golf club head having a hosel area that provides access to a club head chamber defined in the club head, wherein the club head chamber extends completely through the club head and includes a first opening for receiving a securing member; placing at least a portion of a club head connection member into the club head chamber, wherein the club head connection member has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end defines an opening to a borehole, and wherein an interior surface of the club head connection member nearer to the first end than the second end includes a first rotation-inhibiting structure; engaging a shaft with a shaft connection member, wherein the shaft connection member includes a cylindrical structure having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the shaft connection member includes a second opening that defines a cylindrical interior chamber for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein an exterior surface of the cylindrical structure nearer to its first end than its second end includes a second rotation-inhibiting structure that engages the first rotation-inhibiting structure, and wherein the second end of the shaft connection member includes a securing structure; placing at least a portion of the shaft connection member into the bore hole of the club head connection member such that the first rotation-inhibiting structure engages the second rotation-inhibiting structure to inhibit rotation of the shaft connection member with respect to the club head connection member and the golf club head; placing a securing member into the second end of the club head chamber; and releasably engaging the securing member with the securing structure of the shaft connection member to thereby releasably engage the shaft connection member with the club head connection member and the golf club head. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification