Adjustable loft golf club

• US 6,206,788 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lily S. Krenzler
• Original Assignee: Leo M. Krenzler
• Inventors: Krenzler, Leo M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US09/510,324
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 473/244, 473/245, 473/246, 473/247, 473/248, 473/238, 473/219, 473/288, 473/324, 473/350, 473/305, 473/307, 473/314, 473/336, D21/747, D21/748
• US Class Current: 473/245
• 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 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like

Abstract

A golf club head (16) is provided with a rough heel end surface (40) that surrounds a threaded opening (38) that enters into the heel (36) of the club head (16) and extends substantially longitudinally of the club head (16). A thin washer (42) is placed against the rough surface (40) then, a similar rough surface (24) on a hosel eye (20) is moved into contact with the opposite surface of the washer (42). A connector bolt (18) is inserted through an opening (22) in the hosel eye (20) and is threaded into the opening (38) in the club head (16). The club head (16) is rotated relative to the club hosel (14) to place it into a desired loft angle. Then, the bolt (18) is tightened. This draws the rough surfaces (24, 40) into tight contact with the washer (42). The surfaces (24, 40) are harder than the washer material and when the bolt (18) is tightened, points or edges on the surfaces: (24, 40) dig into the washer material. This construction allows substantially an infinite number of loft angle settings of the club head (16) relative to the club shaft (12).

Claims

1. In a golf club having a club head that is adjustably connected to a hosel for changing the loft angle of the club, an improvement comprising:

said hosel having a lower end portion that includes a transverse bolt receiving opening having first and second ends, and an annular, substantially flat, metal, first end surface at the first end of said opening;

said club head having a heel, an internally threaded bolt receiving opening in said heel extending into said club head substantially lengthwise of the club head, and an annular, substantially flat, metal, heel surface surrounding the bolt receiving opening in said club head;

a flat washer positionable axially between the metal first end surface on said hosel and the metal heel surface on the club head, said washer having a center opening and opposite sides;

a bolt having a head, a threaded shank extending from the head, and a bolt axis, said shank being fittable through the bolt receiving opening in the hosel, and through the center opening in the washer, and being threadable into the bolt receiving opening in the club head,

wherein the club head can be rotated about the bolt axis to provide a desired loft angle and then the bolt can be tightened to connect the club head to the hosel at the selected loft angle, wherein the washer is made from a material that is softer than the metal, first end surface on the hosel and is softer than the metal, heel surface on the club head, and wherein the metal, first end surface on the hosel and the metal, heel surface on the club head are rough surfaces having grains that penetrate into the opposite sides of the washer when the bolt is tightened, for holding the club head against rotation relative to the hosel.

2. The golf club improvement of claim 1, wherein the metal first end surface on the hosel and the metal heel surface on the club head are sandblasted to form the grains and make them rough surfaces.

3. The golf club improvement of claim 2, wherein the washer material is at least predominately aluminum.

4. The golf club improvement of claim. 1, wherein the washer material is at least predominately aluminum.

5. The golf club improvement of claim 1, wherein the hosel includes a countersink at the second end of the bolt receiving opening sized to receive the bolt head and the bolt head is in the countersink when it is tightened.

6. The golf club improvement of claim 5, wherein the metal first end surface on the hosel and the metal heel surface on the club head are sandblasted to make them rough surfaces.

7. The golf club improvement of claim 6, wherein the washer material is at least predominately aluminum.

8. The golf club improvement of claim 5, wherein the washer material is at least predominately aluminum.

9. The golf club improvement of claim 1, wherein the metal first end surface on the hosel and the metal heel surface on the club head have grains in the form of small points that penetrate into the washer.

10. The golf club improvement of claim 9, wherein the washer material is at least predominately aluminum.

11. The golf club improvement of claim 1, wherein the metal first end surface of the hosel and the metal heel surface on the club head include grains in the form of lines with edges that penetrate into the washer.

12. The golf club improvement of claim 11, wherein the washer material is at least predominately aluminum.

13. The golf club improvement of claim 1, wherein the club head is substantially infinitely adjustable between maximum and minimum loft angles and the grains on the rough surfaces will hold the club head in substantially whatever position it is sent into between the limits.

14. The golf club improvement of claim 13, wherein the washer is at least predominately aluminum.