Golf club

• US 7,993,213 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2010
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craig A. Drinko
• Original Assignee: Craig A. Drinko
• Inventors: D'Eath, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US12/868,225
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 473/288, 473/307, 473340-341, 473/309, 473313-314
• US Class Current: 473/288
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/025 lie angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about an axis parallel to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A golf club including a club head having an upright golf ball striking face and an elongated upright cavity formed into an upper surface of the club head and being positioned in close proximity to the striking face. A separate hosel sized for close fitting insertion into the cavity has a height greater than the depth of the cavity so that the hosel extends above the cavity after mechanical securement of the hosel within the cavity for viewing prominence and interchangeability. The hosel also has a diagonally upwardly extending hole for receiving and lockably supporting a distal lower end of the club shaft, the axis of the hole selectively oriented at an acute angle rearwardly with respect to a bottom surface of the club head to establish a lie angle of the golf club.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising:

a club head having an upright golf ball striking face and an elongated upright cavity having a bottom, a length, a width, and a depth and opening upwardly from said club head, said cavity being positioned in close proximity next to said striking face and passing through only one material of said club head;

an elongated club shaft;

a hosel sized for close fitting insertion into, and support within, said cavity, said hosel having a height over an entire length thereof greater than the depth of said cavity wherein, when said hosel is fully inserted into said cavity, all of an upper portion of said hosel is exposed and extending above said cavity;

said hosel having a diagonally upwardly extending cylindrical hole for receiving and lockably supporting a distal lower end of said club shaft, said hole selectively oriented at an acute angle with respect to a bottom surface of said club head which establishes a lie angle of said golf club.

2. A golf club as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said club head is a putter head.

3. A golf club as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said club head is a wood or driver head.

4. A golf club as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said hosel is reversible for a right-handed or left-handed golfer.

5. A golf club as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a length of said hosel is proximate to a diameter of a golf ball to provide a visual alignment aid.

6. A golf club comprising:

a club head having an upright golf ball striking face and an elongated upright cavity having a closed bottom, a length, a width, and a depth, said cavity opening upwardly from an upper surface of said club head, said cavity being positioned in close proximity next to said striking face and passing through only one material of said club head;

an elongated club shaft;

a hosel sized for close fitting insertion into, and mechanical securement within, said cavity, said hosel having a height over an entire length of said hosel greater than the depth of said cavity wherein, when said hosel is fully inserted into said cavity, an upper portion of said hosel is exposed and extends above said cavity;

said hosel having a rearwardly sloping cylindrical hole for receiving and securing a distal lower end of said club shaft, said hole selectively oriented at an acute angle with respect to a bottom surface of said club head which establishes a lie angle between said bottom surface and a longitudinal axis of said club shaft.

7. A golf club as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said club head is a putter head.

8. A golf club as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said club head is a wood or driver head.

9. A golf club as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

said hosel is reversible for a right-handed or left-handed golfer.

10. A golf club as set forth in claim 6, wherein:

a length of said hosel is similar to a diameter of a golf ball to provide a visual alignment aid.