Golf club shaft

• US 8,328,657 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Demkowski, Paul M., Sugimae, Ryuichi, Walker, Michael, Wahl, Bret H., DeShiell, Drew T., Sentianin, Eric Michael, Ines, Marni D., Schartiger, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US12/718,312
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 473293-299, 473/239, 473/318, 4031091-1098
• US Class Current: 473/296
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 Metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/0085 Telescopic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/22 Adjustable handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/28 with adjustable length

Abstract

An adjustable length golf club including an engaging mechanism, a rotational shaft, a locking mechanism, and a lower shaft. The rotational shaft is connected with the engaging mechanism and is configured to rotate upon movement by the engaging mechanism. The locking mechanism is connected with the rotational shaft and includes a locking insert and a locking collar located on the locking insert. The locking insert being is configured to retain the locking collar during axial movement. The lower shaft has an inner surface that is in frictional contact with the locking collar. The locking insert is threadingly engaged with the locking collar and a first rotational movement in a first rotational direction by the rotational shaft causes the locking insert to move the locking collar creating a frictional locking engagement between the locking collar and the inner surface of the lower shaft.

Claims

1. An adjustable length golf club comprising:

an engaging mechanism;

a rotational shaft connected with the engaging mechanism and being configured to rotate upon movement by the engaging mechanism;

a locking mechanism connected with the rotational shaft, the locking mechanism including a locking insert and a locking collar located on the locking insert, the locking insert being configured to retain the locking collar during axial movement; and

a lower shaft having an inner surface that is in frictional contact with the locking collar, wherein the locking insert is threadingly engaged with the locking collar and a first rotational movement in a first rotational direction by the rotational shaft causes the locking insert to move the locking collar creating a frictional locking engagement between the locking collar and the inner surface of the lower shaft, wherein the locking collar has at least two finger portions that engage an engaging surface of the locking insert to prevent movement with respect to the lower shaft.

2. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein the locking collar is configured to move in a first axial direction toward a club head attached to a lower portion of the lower shaft, the locking collar moving from a first unlocked position to a locking second position.

3. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein the locking collar includes a keying outer surface for engagement with the interior surface of the lower shaft to prevent the locking collar from rotating.

4. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein the at least two finger portion includes three or four expandable finger portions.

5. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, further comprising:

a top collar connected with the engaging mechanism;

an upper shaft connected with the top collar, the upper shaft having a keyed portion.

6. The adjustable length golf club of claim 5, further comprising:

a tubular grip cover having an outer surface and an inner surface and being configured to cover the entire upper shaft.

7. The adjustable length golf club of claim 6, wherein a weight zone extending from an upper end of the upper shaft to a lower end of the grip cover weighs between about 100 g and about 135 g.

8. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein a maximum amount of axial shaft adjustment is defined by a keying portion located on the lower shaft.

9. The adjustable length golf club of claim 8, wherein an upper shaft keying portion is greater than or equal to a length of the lower shaft keying portion.

10. The adjustable length golf club of claim 8, wherein the keying portion located on the lower shaft extends a distance of between about 25.4 mm and about 381 mm.

11. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein a second rotational movement in a second rotational direction by the rotational shaft causes an outer diameter of the locking collar to be reduced and disengaged from the inner surface of the lower shaft.

12. The adjustable length golf club of claim 11, wherein the locking collar moves in a second axial direction away from the club head upon being disengaged from a locked position.

13. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein a keying portion of the locking collar engages with a keyed inner surface of the lower shaft thereby preventing the locking collar from substantially rotating.

14. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein a maximum amount of axial shaft adjustment is between about 25.4 mm and about 127 mm.

15. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein a total club length including the lower shaft, club head, and a grip portion is between about 812.8 mm and about 1524 mm.

16. The adjustable length golf club of claim 1, wherein the locking collar includes a first polygonal keying shape.

17. The adjustable length golf club of claim 16, wherein the first polygonal keying shape of the locking collar is located on a finger portion of the locking collar and is configured to engage with a matching second polygonal keying shape located on an interior surface of the lower shaft.

18. The adjustable length golf club of claim 16, wherein the engagement mechanism is located within about 25.4 mm of the butt end of the grip portion.

19. An adjustable length golf club comprising:

an engaging mechanism;

a rotational shaft connected with the engaging mechanism and being configured to rotate upon movement by the engaging mechanism;

a locking mechanism connected with the rotational shaft, the locking mechanism including a locking insert and a locking collar located on the locking insert, the locking insert being configured to retain the locking collar during axial movement; and

a lower shaft having an inner surface that is in frictional contact with the locking collar, wherein the locking insert is threadingly engaged with the locking collar and a first rotational movement in a first rotational direction by the rotational shaft causes the locking insert to move the locking collar creating a frictional locking engagement between the locking collar and the inner surface of the lower shaft, wherein a maximum amount of axial shaft adjustment is defined by a keying portion located on the lower shaft.

20. The adjustable length golf club of claim 19, wherein the locking collar is configured to move in a first axial direction toward a club head attached to a lower portion of the lower shaft, the locking collar moving from a first unlocked position to a locking second position.

21. The adjustable length golf club of claim 19, wherein the locking collar includes a keying outer surface for engagement with the interior surface of the lower shaft to prevent the locking collar from rotating.

22. The adjustable length golf club of claim 19, further comprising:

a top collar connected with the engaging mechanism;

an upper shaft connected with the top collar, the upper shaft having a keyed portion.

23. The adjustable length golf club of claim 22, further comprising:

a tubular grip cover having an outer surface and an inner surface and being configured to cover the entire upper shaft.

24. The adjustable length golf club of claim 23, wherein a weight zone extending from an upper end of the upper shaft to a lower end of the grip cover weighs between about 100 g and about 135 g.

25. An adjustable length golf club comprising:

an engaging mechanism;

a rotational shaft connected with the engaging mechanism and being configured to rotate upon movement by the engaging mechanism;

a locking mechanism connected with the rotational shaft, the locking mechanism including a locking insert and a locking collar located on the locking insert, the locking insert being configured to retain the locking collar during axial movement, wherein the locking collar includes a first polygonal keying shape; and

a lower shaft having an inner surface that is in frictional contact with the locking collar, wherein the locking insert is threadingly engaged with the locking collar and a first rotational movement in a first rotational direction by the rotational shaft causes the locking insert to move the locking collar creating a frictional locking engagement between the locking collar and the inner surface of the lower shaft.

26. The adjustable length golf club of claim 25, wherein the locking collar is configured to move in a first axial direction toward a club head attached to a lower portion of the lower shaft, the locking collar moving from a first unlocked position to a locking second position.

27. The adjustable length golf club of claim 25, wherein the locking collar includes a keying outer surface for engagement with the interior surface of the lower shaft to prevent the locking collar from rotating.

28. The adjustable length golf club of claim 25, further comprising:

a top collar connected with the engaging mechanism;

an upper shaft connected with the top collar, the upper shaft having a keyed portion.

29. The adjustable length golf club of claim 28, further comprising:

a tubular grip cover having an outer surface and an inner surface and being configured to cover the entire upper shaft.

30. The adjustable length golf club of claim 29, wherein a weight zone extending from an upper end of the upper shaft to a lower end of the grip cover weighs between about 100 g and about 135 g.

31. The adjustable length golf club of claim 25, wherein the first polygonal keying shape of the locking collar is located on a finger portion of the locking collar and is configured to engage with a matching second polygonal keying shape located on an interior surface of the lower shaft.