Golf club with removable components

• US 8,012,037 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• 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:
  US12/909,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20110034266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 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 driver-type club head having a body with a metal hosel, the hosel having an upper threaded portion and a lower portion, the upper threaded portion having a threaded cross-section, the lower portion having a first mating contact surface;

a shaft comprising a graphite material having a tip end and a butt end; and

a connection assembly comprising;

a metal 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 second mating contact surface for engaging the first mating contact surface, the sleeve also comprising an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft;

a metal cap having a body with a central aperture, the cap mounted over the sleeve, the body of the 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, a NYLOK polymeric coating provided on at least a portion of the threaded area of the cap; and

a non-metallic ferrule having a body and a main aperture, wherein the shaft is placed through the main aperture, and the ferrule is positioned proximate the top section of the sleeve, wherein the ferrule comprises an inside surface having a plurality of ribs,

wherein when the cap is tightened on the sleeve, the cap forces the second mating contact surface against the first mating contact surface and 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.

3. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the top section of the sleeve comprises an annular groove, and wherein the locking ring is positioned in the annular groove to retain the cap loosely on the sleeve.

4. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the locking ring is composed of a metal material and has a thickness in the range of 0.025 inch to 0.035 inch.

5. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, titanium, and titanium alloy.

6. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the cap is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel, titanium, and titanium alloy.

7. 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.

8. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve has an overall length of at least one inch.

9. The golf club according to claim 8, wherein the sleeve has an overall length of 1.5 inches.

10. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the ferrule is composed of a lightweight thermoplastic material.

11. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloy, and stainless steel.

12. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the club head comprises both metallic and non-metallic materials.

13. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises a metal material.

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

a driver-type club head including a face cup and an aft-body, the face cup comprising a metal material and including a striking face and a hosel, the hosel having an upper threaded portion, a central portion and a lower portion, the upper threaded portion having a plurality of threads thereon, the central portion having a circular cross-section, and the lower portion having a first mating contact surface;

a shaft composed of a composite material having a tip end and a butt end; and

a connection assembly comprising;

a metal 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 second mating contact surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel, the top section having an annular groove, the sleeve also comprising an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft;

a non-metallic ferrule having a body and a main aperture, wherein the shaft is placed through the main aperture, and the ferrule is positioned proximate the top section of the sleeve, wherein the ferrule comprises an inside surface having a plurality of ribs;

a cap having a body with a central aperture, the cap mounted over the sleeve, the body of the 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;

a compressible polymeric material provided on least a portion of the threaded area of the cap or the threaded portion of the hosel; and

a locking ring positioned in the annular groove to retain the cap loosely on the sleeve,

wherein when the cap is tightened on the sleeve, the cap forces the second mating contact surface against the first mating contact surface and rotation of the shaft relative to the golf club head is mechanically prohibited.

15. The golf club according to claim 14, wherein the compressible polymeric material is NYLOK.

16. The golf club according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve has an overall length of at least one inch.

17. The golf club according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve is mounted on the shaft with an adhesive.

18. A golf club comprising:

a driver-type club head having a body with a metal hosel, the hosel having an upper threaded portion and a lower portion, the upper threaded portion having a threaded cross-section, the lower portion having a first mating contact surface;

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

a connection assembly for removably attaching the club head to the shaft, the connection assembly comprising;

an aluminum 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 second mating contact surface for engaging the first mating contact surface, the top section having an annular groove, the sleeve also comprising an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft;

a titanium cap having a body with a central aperture, the cap mounted over the sleeve, the body of the 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, a NYLOK polymeric coating provided on at least a portion of the threaded area of the cap;

a metal locking ring positioned in the annular groove to retain the cap loosely on the sleeve; and

a lightweight, thermoplastic ferrule having a body and a main aperture, wherein the shaft is placed through the main aperture, and the ferrule is positioned proximate the top section of the sleeve, wherein the ferrule comprises an inside surface having a plurality of ribs,

wherein when the cap is tightened on the sleeve, the cap forces the second mating contact surface against the first mating contact surface and rotation of the shaft relative to the golf club head is mechanically prohibited.