Interchangeable golf club hosel

• US 20110256951A1
• Filed: 04/15/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Knutson, Scott A., Soracco, Peter L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,496,540 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 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club with an improved interchangeable hosel is disclosed herein. More specifically, the improved interchangeable hosel is independent of the golf club head as well as the shaft; and has a non-threaded connection mechanism that releasably connects the shaft to the golf club head quickly and easily. The non-threaded connection mechanism disclosed in accordance with the present invention may generally utilize a circumferentially constricting clamping force to secure the shaft of the golf club to the head of the golf club.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a club head; and

a hosel, independent of said shaft and said club head, releasably juxtaposed between said shaft and said club head,

said hosel further comprising a non-threaded connection mechanism to secure said shaft and said club head to said hosel, wherein said non-threaded connection mechanism contracts an internal circumference of said hosel to secure said shaft within said hosel.

2. The golf club of claim 1, said non-threaded connection mechanism is further comprising:

a first flap running lengthwise along said hosel extending outward from said hosel;

a second flap substantially parallel to said first flap running lengthwise along said hosel extending outward from said hosel such that said first flap and said second flap creates a gap in said internal circumference of said hosel; and

a rotating clamp adapted to rotationally compress said first flap with said second flap,

wherein said rotating clamp decreases said internal circumference of said hosel when it compresses said first flap with said second flap.

3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein said club head comprises a solid protrusion located near a heel portion of said club head adapted to engage a bottom portion of said hosel.

4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein said solid protrusion located near said heel portion of said club head has an outer diameter that is substantially similar to an outer diameter of said shaft.

5. The golf club of claim 2, wherein said hosel comprises a solid protrusion at a bottom portion of said hosel adapted to engage a receptacle well located near a heel portion of said club head.

6. The golf club of claim 5, wherein said solid protrusion located at said bottom portion of said hosel has an outer diameter that is substantially different from an outer diameter of said shaft.

7. The golf club of claim 2, wherein said hosel further comprises an anti-rotation tab to engage an anti-rotation notch on said club head to prevent axial rotation between said hosel and said club head.

8. The golf club of claim 2, wherein said rotating clamp comprises a tapered engagement portion adapted to engage said first flap and said second flap simultaneously to decreases said internal circumference of said hosel.

9. The golf club of claim 2, wherein said rotating clamp comprises an offset hinge hole adapted to engage a tightening pin to decrease said internal circumference of said hosel.

10. A golf club head comprising:

a striking face at a forward portion of said golf club head for striking a golf ball;

a body portion connected to an aft portion of said striking face providing structural support; and

a hosel, independent of said striking face and said body, adapted to connect to a heel portion of said body,

said hosel further comprising,

a first connection end adapted to connect to said heel portion of said body;

a second connection end adapted to connect to a shaft; and

a non-threaded connection mechanism protruding externally from said hosel,

wherein said non-threaded connection mechanism reduces an internal circumference of said hosel to secure said shaft to said hosel.

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said hosel comprises a solid protrusion at one end of said hosel adapted to engage a receptacle well located near said heel portion of said club head.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said solid protrusion located at said one end of said hosel has an outer diameter that is substantially different form an outer diameter of said shaft.

13. The golf club of claim 11, said non-threaded connection mechanism is further comprising:

a first flap running lengthwise along said hosel extending outward from said hosel;

a second flap substantially parallel to said first flap running lengthwise along said hosel extending outward from said hosel such that said first flap and said second flap creates a gap in said internal circumference of said hosel; and

a rotating clamp adapted to rotationally compress said first flap with said second flap,

wherein said rotating clamp decreases said internal circumference of said hosel when it compresses said first flap with said second flap.

14. The golf club of claim 11, wherein said rotating clamp comprises a tapered engagement portion adapted to engage said first flap and said second flap simultaneously to decrease said internal circumference of said hosel.

15. The golf club of claim 11, wherein said rotating clamp comprises an offset hinge hole adapted to engage a tightening pin to decease said internal circumference of said hosel.

16. The golf club of claim 11, wherein said hosel further comprises an anti-rotation tab to engage with an anti-rotation notch on said club head to prevent axial rotation between said hosel and said club head.

17. A golf club head comprising:

a body; and

a hosel releasably connected to a heel portion of said body;

said hosel further comprising a non-threaded connection mechanism to secure a shaft to said hosel, and

said non-threaded connection mechanism further comprising,

a first flap running lengthwise along said hosel extending outward from said hosel;

a second flap substantially parallel to said first flap running lengthwise along said hosel extending outward from said hosel such that said first flap and said second flap creates a gap in said internal circumference of said hosel; and

a rotating clamp adapted to rotationally compress said first flap with said second flap;

wherein said rotating clamp decrease said internal circumference of said hosel when it compresses said first flap with said second flap.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein said hosel comprises a solid protrusion at one end of said hosel adapted to engage a receptacle well located near a heel portion of said club head.

19. The golf club head of claim 18, wherein said rotating clamp comprises an offset hinge hole adapted to engage a tightening pin to decease said internal circumference of said hosel.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein said hosel further comprises an anti-rotation tab to engage with an anti-rotation notch on said club head to prevent axial rotation between said hosel and said club head.