Golf club

• US 4,948,132 A
• Filed: 02/13/1989
• Issued: 08/14/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Norman W. Wharton
• Original Assignee: Norman W. Wharton
• Inventors: Wharton, Norman W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Carl D.
• Application Number:
  US07/310,475
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 273/79, 273/80.1, 273/80.2, 273/80 C, 273/81 R, 403/351, 403/353, 403/360, 403/362
• US Class Current: 473/246
• 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 53/025 lie angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about an axis parallel to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/026 loft angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7011 Radially interposed shim or bushing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7041 including set screw

Abstract

A golf club tailored to the requirements of an individual player is assembled from the combination of a club head and a shaft assembly selected from a range of club heads and shaft assemblies having a variety of characteristics. In particular, the shaft assemblies each have a lower end portion defining an axis which is inclined with respect to an axis defined by the remainder of the shaft assembly. By allowing the lower portion of the shaft assembly to be fitted into a bore in the club head in a number of different rotational positions the lie and face angle of the head can be varied without exchanging club heads, thereby allowing a retail outlet to provide a wide choice of club characteristics without having to keep a large stock. The inclination of the lower end portion of the shaft assembly is achieved by fitting a tubular bush to the lower end of the shaft, the bush having a generally cylindrical outer surface for engaging the wall of the bore in the club head and defining a longitudinal axis which is inclined with respect to the axis of shaft. Means are provided for calibrating the rotational position of the bush in the club head to achieve a required face angle and lift combination. Once a suitable rotational position has been selected the shaft assembly is bonded in the head, with a pin passing through the shaft assembly and the head for additional anchorage.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising a club head, a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly having a generally cylindrical lower end portion mounted in a round bore defined in said club head, wherein a major portion of the shaft assembly defines a first longitudinal axis and the lower end portion defines a second longitudinal axis which is inclined with respect to the first longitudinal axis such that the orientation of the head with respect to the first longitudinal axis is dependent on the rotational position of the shaft assembly with respect to the head, first means operable for securing said club head and shaft assembly temporarily in any relative orientation, and second means operable for securing said club head and shaft assembly permanently in a selected relative orientation, said shaft assembly comprising a shaft having a grip at one end thereof and a bush secured to the shaft at the other end thereof, the bush alone defining the second longitudinal axis, said bush including a sleeve having a longitudinal bore housing said other end of the shaft and said bush having an outer surface engaging said bore in the head, the outer surface defining an axis which is inclined with respect to the axis of the bore in the sleeve.

2. A method of assembling a golf club comprising:

providing a range of club heads having different characteristics but each having a round bore;

providing a range of shaft assemblies at least some of which each have a major portion defining a first longitudinal axis and a generally cylindrical lower end portion defining a second longitudinal axis inclined with respect to the first longitudinal axis by a predetermined angle, different assemblies within the range having different angles between the said axes;

selecting a club head from the range of club heads;

selecting a shaft assembly having a required angle between the said axes;

securing the selected head to the selected shaft assembly by inserting the cylindrical lower end portion in said round bore of the selected club head and adjusting to a desired rotational position with respect to the shaft assembly so that the head is at a required angle with respect to the first longitudinal axis while the shaft assembly and club head are temporarily secured together; and

permanently securing the selected club head and shaft assembly together at said desired rotational position;

3. A kit of parts for assembling a golf club comprising a club head, an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a straight cylindrical bush of round cross-section, in which there is a bore in the club head to receive one end of the shaft and the diameter of said bore in the club head is greater than the diameter of said one end of the shaft, the cylindrical bush has a bore to receive said one end of the shaft and with its outer surface engages said bore in the club head to locate said one end of the shaft in the bore in the club head, said bore in the bush having an axis, and said outer surface of the bush defining an axis, wherein said axis defined by the outer surface of the bush lies at an angle with respect to said axis of the bore in the bush and hence the longitudinal axis of the shaft, means is provided to attach the bush permanently to the shaft, first means is provided for releasably holding the bush to the club head whereby the desired position of rotation of the bush in said bore in the club head, and hence the lie and face angle of the assembled club, may be ascertained, and second and permanent connection means is provided for fixing the bush in its selected rotational position in said bore of the club head for use of the club.

4. A kit of parts according to claim 3 in which there is provided a selection of different club heads, and a selection of different shaft assemblies comprising different shafts with bushes attached thereto having different angles of inclination between said axes defined by their respective outer surfaces and said axes of their respective bores.

5. A golf club of the kind comprising a club head, an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a bore in the club head to receive one end of the shaft, in which the diameter of said bore in the club head is greater than the diameter of said one end of the shaft and there is a straight cylindrical bush of round cross section for locating said one end of the shaft in the bore in the club head, which bush has a bore to receive said one end of the shaft and an outer surface to engage said bore in the club head, said bore in the bush having an axis, and said outer surface of the bush defining an axis, wherein said axis defined by the outer surface of the bush lies at an angle with respect to said axis of the bore in the bush and hence the longitudinal axis of the shaft, there being further provided means to attach the bush permanently to the shaft, first means for releasably holding the bush to the club head whereby the desired position of rotation of the bush in said bore in the club head, and hence the lie and face angle of the assembled club, may be ascertained, and second and permanent connection means for fixing the bush in its selected rotational position in said bore of the club head for use of the club.

6. A golf club according to claim 5, wherein the outer surface of the bush includes means for locating the bush in said bore of the club head at a required rotational position.

7. A golf club according to claim 6, wherein said locating means comprises a plurality of surface discontinuities extending parallel to said axis defined by the outer surface of the bush for engagement with at least one corresponding surface discontinuity in said bore of the club head.

8. A golf club according to claim 5, wherein said axis defined by the outer surface of the bush is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft by an angle of less than or equal to 6°

.

9. A golf club according to claim 8 wherein the said angle is less than or equal to 4°

.

10. A golf club according to claim 5, wherein said first means for releasably holding the bush to the club head comprises a securing screw housed in the club head and engaging said outer surface of the bush.

11. A golf club according to claim 10, wherein the securing screw is arranged with its axis substantially parallel to said axis defined by the outer surface of the bush.

12. A golf club according to claim 5, wherein said axis defined by the outer surface of the bush and the longitudinal axis of the shaft intersect at a point less than about 125 mm from the sole of the club head.

13. A golf club according to claim 5, wherein said second and permanent connection means for fixing the bush in said bore of the club head includes a pin which is insertable in a hole in the club head to engage a groove on said outer surface of the bush.