Golf club

• US RE38,717 E1
• Filed: 07/12/2000
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Parallel Axis Golf
• Original Assignee: Parallel Axis Golf
• Inventors: Bothwell, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US09/614,706
• Time in Patent Office: 1,714 Days
• Field of Search: 473/316, 473/323, 473/287, 473/288, 473/314, 473/298, 473/299, 473/289, 473/292, 473/294, 473/313, 273/81.3
• US Class Current: 473/316
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/021 the shaft axis being forwardly offset relative to the striking face of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/007 Putters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-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 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/22 Adjustable handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/34 with the handle axis different from the main axis of the implement

Abstract

A golf club includes a club head and a club shaft attached to the club head. A plurality of bends which are spaced from one another are formed in the club shaft to define a straight first club shaft segment, a second club shaft segment adjoining and connected to the first club shaft segment extending upwardly from and laterally relative to the first club shaft segment, and a third club shaft segment adjoining and connected to the second club shaft segment and extending upwardly from the laterally relative to the second club shaft segment. The first club shaft segment and the third club shaft segment extend along spaced imaginary lines and the club head is closer to the golfer swinging the golf club than would be the case if the club shaft were straight along the length thereof.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising, in combination:

a club head having a golf ball engaging surface;

a club shaft attached to said club head and extending upwardly from said club head, said club shaft including a substantially straight first club shaft segment extending upwardly from said club head along a first imaginary line, a second club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said first club shaft segment and extending upwardly and laterally relative to said first club shaft segment, a substantially straight third club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said second club shaft segment at a location spaced from said first club shaft segment and extending upwardly from said second club shaft segment, a fourth club shaft segment connected to said third club shaft segment and extending upwardly and laterally relative to said third club shaft segment, and a substantially straight fifth club shaft segment connected to and extending upwardly from said fourth club shaft segment along a second imaginary line spaced d from said first imaginary line; and

an elongated club handle connected to said fifth club shaft segment, said club handle being offset relative to said first club shaft segment, and said first imaginary line intersecting the ground at a location closer to a golfer holding the golf club by said club handle and swinging the golf club to strike a golf ball than the location of intersection between said second imaginary line and the ground at the time of golf ball contact by said golf ball engaging surface.

2. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein said club shaft is of non-integral, multi-piece construction and wherein at least one of said second and fourth club shaft segments comprises an insert connected to the remainder of said club shaft.

3. A golf club comprising, in combination:

a club head having a substantially planar golf ball engaging surface;

a club shaft attached to said club head and extending upwardly from said club head, said club shaft including a substantially straight first club shaft segment extending upwardly from said club head along a first imaginary line, a substantially straight second club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said first club shaft segment at a lower bend extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said first club shaft segment from said lower bend and defining an angle of divergence with said first club shaft segment at said lower bend, and a substantially straight third club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said second club shaft segment at an upper bend spaced from said first club shaft segment and extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said second club shaft segment from said upper bend and from said second club shaft segment along second imaginary line spaced from and substantially parallel said first imaginary line, said third club shaft segment and said second club shaft segment defining an angle of divergence substantially equal to the angle of divergence defined by said first club shaft segment and said second club shaft segment, said angles being within the range of from about 3 degrees to about 47 degrees; and

an elongated club handle connected to said third club shaft segment at a location spaced from said second club shaft segment, said club handle having a distal end and being offset relative to said first club shaft segment, and said first imaginary line intersecting the ground at a location closer to a golfer holding the golf club by said club handle and swinging the golf club to move said first club shaft segment in a swing plane substantially at right angles to said substantially planar golf ball engaging surface to strike a golf ball than the location of intersection between said second imaginary line and the ground at the time of golf ball contact by said golf ball engaging surface, said handle inclined relative to said first club shaft segment and defining an angle of inclination with said first club shaft segment of no more than about five degrees.

4. A golf club comprising, in combination:

a club head having a substantially planar golf ball engaging surface;

a club shaft attached to said club head and extending upwardly from said club head, said club shaft including a substantially straight first club shaft segment extending upwardly from said club head along a first imaginary line, a substantially straight second club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said first club shaft segment at a lower bend extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said first club shaft segment from said lower bend and defining an angle of divergence with said first club shaft segment at said lower bend, and a substantially straight third club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said second club shaft segment at an upper bend spaced from said first club shaft segment and extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said second club shaft segment from said upper bend and from said second club shaft segment along second imaginary line spaced from and substantially parallel said first imaginary line, said third club shaft segment and said second club shaft segment defining an angle of divergence substantially equal to the angle of divergence defined by said first club shaft segment and said second club shaft segment, said angles being within the range of from about 3 degrees to about 47 degrees; and

an elongated club handle connected to said third club shaft segment at a location spaced from said second club shaft segment, said club handle having a distal end and being offset relative to said first club shaft segment , and said first imaginary line intersecting the ground at a location closer to a golfer holding the golf club by said club handle and swinging the golf club to move said first club shaft segment in a swing plane substantially at right angles to said substantially planar golf ball engaging surface to strike a golf ball than the location of intersection between said second imaginary line and the ground at the time of golf ball contact by said golf ball engaging surface, said second club shaft segment inclined at an offset angle whereby said first and third club shaft segments are offset by said second club shaft segment and are not aligned in a plane orthogonal to said swing plate.

5. The golf club according to claim 4 wherein said offset angle is within the range of from about one degree to about five degrees.

6. A golf club comprising, in combination:

a club head having a substantially planar golf ball engaging surface;

a club shaft attached to said club head and extending upwardly from said club head, said club shaft including a substantially straight first club shaft segment extending upwardly from said club head along a first imaginary line, a substantially straight second club shaft segment during adjoining and connected to said first club shaft segment at a lower bend extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said first club shaft segment from said lower bend and defining an angle of divergence with said first club shaft segment at said lower bend, and a substantially straight third club shaft segment adjoining and connected to said second club shaft segment at an upper bend spaced from said first club shaft segment and extending upwardly from and laterally relative to said second club shaft segment from said upper bend and from said second club shaft segment along a second imaginary line spaced from and substantially parallel said first imaginary line, said third club shaft segment and said second club shaft segment defining an angle of divergence substantially equal to the angle of divergence defined by said first club shaft segment and said second club shaft segment, said angles being within the range of from about 3 degrees to about 47 degrees and wherein the length of said second shaft segment between said lower and upper bends being in the range of from about one quarter inch to about five inches; and

an elongated club handle connected to said third club shaft segment at a location spaced from said second club shaft segment, said club handle having a distal end, and said first imaginary line intersecting the ground at a location closer to a golfer holding the golf club by said club handle and swinging the golf club to move said first club shaft segment in a swing plane substantially at right angles to said substantially planar golf ball engaging surface to strike a golf ball than the location of intersection between said second imaginary line and the ground at the time of golf ball contact by said golf ball engaging surface, said handle, said first club shaft segment, said second club shaft segment and said third club shaft segment form a plane that is not aligned in a plane orthogonal to the swing plane of the golf club.

7. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head with a substantially planar golf ball engaging surface;

a golf club shaft with;

a first shaft segment attached to and extending up from said golf club head along a first imaginary line, to a first bend;

a second shaft segment extending off at said first bend from said first shaft segment at a first predetermined angle of divergence to a second bend;

a third shaft segment extending along a second imaginary line, off at said second bend from said second shaft segment at a second predefined angle of divergence;

wherein said first and second predefined angles of divergence vary from 3 degrees to about 47 degrees;

wherein said first imaginary line of said first shaft segment is parallel to said second imaginary line of said third shaft segment and said golf club shaft is positioned with respect to said golf club head such that an extension of said second imaginary line towards said golf club head projects to a position closer to a center of said golf club head than a projection of said first imaginary line towards said golf club head;

wherein said first and second predefined angles are equal and said second section is positioned at a predetermined offset angle with respect to said first and third shaft segments;

said offset angle at which said second shaft segment is inclined positions said first, second and third segments such that a plane formed by said first, second and third shaft segments is not aligned in a plane orthogonal to a swing plane of said golf club.

8. The golf club of claim 7 further comprising, a handle extending off of said third shaft segment on an end of said third shaft segment which end is opposite a position of where said second shaft segment connects to said third shaft segment.

9. The golf club of claim 7 wherein said angle of offset is within a range from about one degree to about five degrees or more.

10. The golf club of claim 8 wherein said first bend is located from about 7 to about 37 inches from a distal end of said handle.

11. The golf club of claim 7 wherein said shaft is an integral single piece construction bent in two spaced locations to form said first, second and third shaft segments.

12. A golf club comprising:

a golf club head with a substantially planar golf ball engaging surface;

a golf club shaft with;

a first shaft segment attached to and extending up from said golf club head along a first imaginary line, to a first bend;

a second shaft segment extending off at said first bend from said first shaft segment at a first predetermined angle of divergence, to a second bend;

a third shaft segment extending, along a second imaginary line, off at said second bend from said second shaft segment at a second predefined angle of divergence;

wherein said first and second predefined angles of divergence vary from 3 degrees to about 47 degrees;

wherein said first imaginary line of said first shaft segment is parallel to said second imaginary line of said third shaft segment and said shaft is positioned with respect to said golf club head such that an extension of said first imaginary line towards said golf club head projects it to a position on a ground closer to a golfer standing on that ground and holding said golf club than a position on the ground of a projection of said second imaginary line towards the golf club head;

wherein said second shaft segment is positioned at a predetermined offset angle with respect to said first and second shaft segments; and

wherein said offset angle at which said second shaft segment is inclined positions said first and third shaft segments such that a plane formed by said first and said third shaft segments is not aligned in a place orthogonal to a swing plane of said golf club which swing plane is orthogonal to said substantially planar golf ball engaging surface.

13. The golf club of claim 12 further comprising a handle extending off of said third shaft segment on an end of said third shaft segment which end is opposite a position of where said second shaft segment connects to aid third shaft segment.

14. The golf club of claim 12 wherein said angle of offset is within a range from about one degree to about five degrees or more.

15. The golf club of claim 13 wherein said first bend is located from about 7 to about 37 inches from a distal end of said handle.

16. The golf club of claim 12 wherein said shaft is an integral single piece construction bent in two spaced locations to form said first, second and third shaft segments.

17. A golf club comprising:

a golf cub head with a substantially planar golf ball engaging surface;

a golf club shaft with;

a first segment attached to and extending up from said golf club head along a first imaginary line, to a first bend;

a second shaft segment extending off at said first bend from said first shaft segment at a first predetermined angle of divergence, to a second bend;

a third shaft segment extending, along a second imaginary line, off at said second bend from said second shaft segment at a second predefined angle of divergence; and

wherein said first and second predefined angles of divergence vary from 3 degrees to about 47 degrees;

wherein said shaft is an integral single piece construction bent in two spaced locations to form said first, second and third shaft segments;

wherein said first imaginary line of said first shaft segment is parallel to said second imaginary line of said third shaft segment and said shaft is positioned with respect to said golf club head such that an extension of said first imaginary line towards said golf club head projects it to a position on a ground closer to a golfer standing on that ground and holding said golf club than a position on the ground of a projection of said second imaginary line towards the golf club head;

wherein said second shaft segment is positioned at a predetermined offset angle with respect to said first and second shaft segments; and

wherein said offset angle at which said second shaft segment is inclined positions said first and third shaft segments such that a plane formed by said first and said third shaft segment is not aligned in a plane orthogonal to a swing plane of said golf club which swing plane is orthogonal to said substantially planar golf ball engaging surface.

18. The golf club of claim 17 further comprising a handle extending off of said third shaft segment on an end of said third shaft segment which end is opposite a position where said second shaft segment connects to said third shaft segment.

19. The golf club of claim 17 wherein said angle of offset is within a range from about one degree to about five degrees or more.

20. The golf club of claim 17 wherein said first bend is located from about 7 to about 37 inches from a distal end of said handle.