Golf club having adjustable weights and readily removable and replaceable shaft

• US 6,514,154 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Finn
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Finn
• Inventors: Finn, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/612,178
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 473/305, 473/306, 473/307, 473/309, 473/313, 473/288, 473/298, 473/299, 473/345, 473/334-339
• US Class Current: 473/306
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0495 moving on impact, slidable, spring or otherwise elastically biased
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2060/464 Means for indicating or measuring the pressure on the grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3635 with sound-emitting source

Abstract

A golf club includes a clubhead having a striking face, a threaded cylindrical chamber behind and generally parallel to the face, and a threaded cylindrical weight member in the chamber. A hosel is attached to the cylindrical weight member and has a shaft receiving socket with a non-circular portion and a threaded portion, the shaft having a hosel engaging end with a mating non-circular cross section and a ferrule having threads engagable with the threaded portion of the socket. A second embodiment includes a clubhead which is symmetrical so that the hosel may be attached at either end to make the club ambidextrous. Some different structures for attaching the hosel to the cylindrical weight member provide for variations in the loft of the club. Another embodiment includes an asymmetric movable weight member which engages the head within a cavity therein and is adjustable both longitudinally and by changing the location of its center of gravity. A special tool mates with each of the adjustments to provide complete and accurate club assembly and adjustment. Additional embodiments include a hollow clubhead with a removable sole plate providing access for adjusting the position of various weights within the clubhead.

Claims

1. A golf club including a shaft, a clubhead and a hosel for attaching said shaft to said clubhead;

said hosel including a socket for receiving said shaft, a part of said socket having a non-circular cross section and another part having threads;

said shaft including a portion having a non-circular cross section mating with the non-circular part of said socket and a threaded ferrule axially movable on said shaft engagable with the part of said socket having threads.

2. A golf club as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end of said shaft includes a generally tapered section and the socket in said hosel includes a mating tapered section;

and

the shaft having a multi-surfaced section and said hosel socket includes a mating multi-surfaced section for non-rotating engagement with the clubhead with respect to said shaft.

3. A golf club as claimed in claim 2 wherein said multi-surfaced section of said shaft is hexagonal in cross section and said socket includes a mating hexagonal cross section.

4. A golf club including a shaft, a clubhead and a hosel for attaching said shaft to said clubhead;

said hosel including means for attaching said shaft to said hosel including a socket for receiving said shaft, said socket comprising a tubular opening having sides defining a non-circular cross section near the bottom of said socket and a threaded cylindrical cross section at the top of said socket;

said shaft having secured thereto a metal sleeve having a non-circular cross section mating with the non-circular part of said socket, and a ferrule which is axially movable on said shaft having threads engagable with the threads of said socket.

5. A golf club in accordance with claim 4 wherein the end of said shaft includes a generally tapered section and the socket in said hosel includes a mating tapered section;

and

said sleeve includes a multi-surfaced section and said hosel socket includes a mating multi-surfaced section for non-rotating engagement of the clubhead with respect to said shaft.

6. A golf club as claimed in claim 4 wherein said multi-surfaced section of said sleeve is hexagonal in cross-section and said multi-surfaced section of said socket defines a mating hexagonal cross section.

7. A golf club including a shaft, a clubhead and a hosel for attaching said shaft to said clubhead, said hosel including a socket for receiving said shaft, said socket comprising a tubular opening having a hexagonal cross-section over a part of its length and a threaded cylindrical cross-section at the top;

said shaft having secured thereto a metal sleeve having a hexagonal cross-section mating with the hexagonal cross-section of said sleeve and a ferrule which is axially movable on said shaft having threads engagable with the threaded cylindrical top of said socket.

8. A golf club including a shaft, a clubhead and a hosel for attaching said shaft to said clubhead;

said hosel including a socket for receiving said shaft, a part of said socket having a non-circular cross section and another part having threads;

said shaft including a portion having a non-circular cross section mating with the non-circular part of said socket and a threaded ferrule engagable with the part of said socket having threads;

said clubhead having a ball-striking surface, a chamber inside said clubhead, and a track in said chamber;

a clamp removably secured to said track; and

a weight member pivotably secured to said clamp and movable in said chamber to vary the weight balance of said golf club.