Golf club with removable components

• US 7,819,754 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Cackett, Matthew T., Evans, D. Clayton
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US12/208,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20090075748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 473/288, 473307-309, 473/246, 473/345
• US Class Current: 473/307
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft

Abstract

A golf club having removable components includes a club head, a shaft, and a connection assembly. The club head includes a hosel having an upper treaded portion and a lower portion with a faceted cross-section. The connection assembly includes a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft and a screw-cap. The sleeve, which has an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft, includes a lower section that has a multi-faceted surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel. The screw-cap is mounted over the sleeve and includes a body having an upper area and a threaded area, the latter of which is capable of engaging the upper threaded portion of the hosel to removably secure the shaft to the club head.

Claims

1. A golf club having removable components, the golf club comprising:

a club head having a body with a hosel substantially in an interior of said head wherein a very small portion of said hosel protrudes form an upper surface of said head, the hosel having a depth of 1.065 inches and having in an interior of said head and a lower portion, the upper threaded portion having with no threads on said very small portion that protrudes from said upper surface of said head, the lower portion having a faceted cross-section;

a shaft having a tip end and a butt end; and

a connection assembly comprising

a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft, the sleeve having a body including a top section and a lower section, the lower section having a multi-faceted surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel, the sleeve also comprising an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft, the multi-faceted lower section of the sleeve consisting of a first faceted surface, a first curved surface, a second faceted surface, a second curved surface, a third faceted surface and a third curved surface,

a screw-cap having a body with a central aperture, the screw cap mounted over the sleeve, the body of the screw-cap having an upper area and a threaded area, the threaded area capable of engaging the upper threaded portion of the hosel of the club head for removably securing the shaft to the club head, and

a NYLOK polymeric material provided on at least a portion of the threaded area of the screw-cap;

wherein when the screw-cap is tightened down on the sleeve, the screw-cap forces the multi-faceted lower section of the sleeve against the mating contact surfaces of the lower portion of the hosel of the golf club head and all rotation of the shaft relative to the golf club head is mechanically prohibited.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the connection assembly further comprises a locking ring positioned in an annular groove formed proximate the top section of the sleeve to retain the screw-cap loosely on the sleeve.

3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the connection assembly further comprises a ferrule having a body and a main aperture, wherein the shaft is placed through the main aperture, and the ferrule is positioned on the top section of the sleeve.

4. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised of an aluminum alloy material.

5. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the screw-cap is comprised of a titanium alloy material.

6. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein each of the lower section of the sleeve and the lower portion of the hosel is tapered.

7. A golf club having removable components, the golf club comprising:

a club head including a face cup and an aft-body, the face cup comprised of a metal material and including a striking face and a hosel substantially in an interior of said head wherein a very small portion of said hosel protrudes form an upper surface of said head, the hosel having a depth of 1.065 inches and having in an interior of said head, a central portion and a lower portion, the upper threaded portion having with no threads on said very small portion that protrudes from said upper surface of said head, the central portion having a circular cross-section, and the lower portion having a tapered, faceted cross-section;

a shaft having a tip end and a butt end; and

a connection assembly comprising

a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft, the sleeve having a body with a top section and a lower section, the lower section having a tapered, multi-faceted surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel, the sleeve also comprising an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft, the lower section of the sleeve having a length in the range for 0.375 inch to 0.525 inch,

a thermoplastic ferrule having a body and a main aperture, wherein the shaft is placed through the main aperture, and the thermoplastic ferrule is positioned on the top section of the sleeve,

a screw-cap having a body with a central aperture, the screw cap mounted over the sleeve, the body of the screw-cap having an upper area and a threaded area, the threaded area capable of engaging the upper threaded portion of the hosel of the club head for removably securing the shaft to the club head, and

a NYLOK polymeric material provided on at least a portion of one of the threaded area of the screw-cap and the upper threaded portion of the hosel;

wherein when the screw-cap is tightened down on the sleeve, the screw-cap forces the multi-faceted lower section of the sleeve against the mating contact surfaces of the lower portion of the hosel of the golf club head and all rotation of the shaft relative to the golf club head is mechanically prohibited.

8. The golf club according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve has an annular groove formed therein proximate the top section of the sleeve, and wherein the connection assembly further comprises a locking ring positioned in the annular groove to retain the screw-cap loosely on the sleeve.

9. The golf club according to claim 8, wherein the locking ring is comprised of a metal material and has a thickness in the range of 0.025 inch to 0.035 inch.

10. The golf club according to claim 7, wherein the lower section of the sleeve comprises a first faceted surface, a first curved surface, a second faceted surface, a second curved surface, a third faceted surface and a third curved surface.

11. The golf club according to claim 7, wherein the sleeve is comprised of an aluminum alloy material.

12. The golf club according to claim 7, wherein the screw-cap is comprised of a titanium alloy material.