Patent Grant
11779815
The subject matter herein relates generally to golf clubs and, more particularly, to club head, hosel and shaft constructions.
In recent years, a great amount of attention has been given by golf club designers, engineers, and manufacturers towards adjustable features in golf clubs so that the clubs can be adjusted to fit a larger segment of the market and then adjusted at the factory after initial manufacture and for custom orders, by fitters at the point of fitting, by retailers at the point of retail, by golf professional on the driving range or putting green, or by the end user to better fit the user's ideal or preferred specifications. Such adjustment has mostly focused on the ability to change the shaft angle relative to the head and the weighting and Center of Gravity of the heads.
However, there has been very little technological innovation that provides any adjustability for golf clubs that can suit a wider variety of specifications that include club head face loft, shaft lie angle and also shaft axis relative to the club head's center of gravity via bend and hosel length, and to allow the selection, interchangeability of the main portion of the hosel as well as the adjustable mechanisms to provide a wider array of fitting options. The way each golfer swings the club is often varied and dynamic, and changes through time, experimentation or instruction. These are especially true for putters, as golfers use very personal styles, and more readily experiment with different setups, methods and techniques, as well as having different needs, tastes and preferences for ideal model, style, design, shape, weight, balance, materials, colors, aesthetics, etc.
Most club companies only offer irons and putters in particular that are built as one piece and cannot be adjusted at all other than by bending the hosel or shaft using a bending bar and loft and lie machine or vise, or in less precise but relatively common older methods such as stepping on the head while bending the shaft or hosel by hand with force, heating with a torch or friction from a towel to facilitate easier bending, or even slamming against the ground or golf cart tire.
Some manufacturers offer clubs where the hosel (or neck) is interchangeable, especially in drivers and some fairway woods or hybrids. In full swing clubs the newest trend is a shaft and grip that is interchangeable at the juncture of the head and neck (or hosel), and therefore selectable to be able to replace another shaft and grip assembly (usually with a small hosel adaptor sleeve that enables the mechanical juncture between the head and shaft via the adaptor, or connector piece, and also may enable differing shaft angles relative to the head buy using non-concentric attributes of sleeves and rotating collars that further adjust the shaft axis to the receiving receptacle. Some even allow spacers to provide different net length adjustments to the overall length of the club.
However, as noted, the vast majority of these adjustable hosel systems are fixed in that the adjustable features are only selectable within the given, fixed sequence of changes. The factory, fitter or user has the option to rotate the non-concentric sleeve changes only within a fixed set of parameters.
Furthermore, none of the prior art adjustable systems can be used with existing inventory of heads and interchangeable hosels.
Additionally, none of the prior art devices or systems allow the manufacturer, fitter or user to adjust the shaft plane and the hosel plane independent of one another and in concert to achieve fitting specifications and playability specifications independently or together for expanded levels of adjustment for offset, shaft lean and head loft, lie angle and head center-of-gravity to shaft axis alignment and balance.
Furthermore, it is known that many golfers often have tendencies to more consistently miss shots to the left or to the right. Often this is caused by not closing the face soon enough, resulting in a miss to the right for a right-handed golfer, or by closing the face too soon before impact causing a miss to the left. It is also generally known that the hosel design places the shaft axis in a plane in a relationship to the club head's center of gravity. The proximity of the shaft axis toward the heel places the club head's center of gravity outside the shaft axis, toward the toe. This configuration is often referred to as “toe hang.” Clubs with more toe hang (the club head's center of gravity is further away from the shaft axis) can slow down the rate at which the clubs' face closes during the stroke. This is especially important with putters, where the Rules of Golf allow putter hosels and shafts to be connected to the head at locations other than the heel portion of the head.
Heel shafted clubs create a large moment arm where the face typically opens on the back swing and then swings back to square and then past on the forward swing. The timing of getting the face back to square is important in all clubs in order to get the ball to travel in the intended direction after contact. With putters in particular, the face angle has more of an affect on the direction of the putt than the path the putter is swung along, since the swing speed, and head speed is lower than that of most full swing clubs. Therefore, the ability of the golfer to square the face, both at address, and especially at impact is significantly important to the outcome of the putt. However, golfer's body dimensions, posture, setup positions, stroke mechanics, ball position and other factors all play a role in the swing and stroke paths. Putting in particular is also very individual in style and substance. Therefore, the need to be able to fit all the golfers' individual specifications becomes important and a great benefit over fixed putters, or those with only minimal types of adjustment.
Some putter companies have made adjustable lie angle systems that pivot around a single hinge axis. However, these adjustable lie angle systems typically do not provide for additional shaft axis changes that provide for other specification modifications, corrective specification or other expanded levels of adjustment.
Some companies have designed putters with loft adjustment achieved with a selection of interchangeable face plates. However, these usually require multiple attachment screws and can negatively alter the feel with a face that can vibrate, click, or otherwise not feel solid due to the multipart construction in the hitting area where the most force is applied at contact with the golf ball.
Other companies have created adjustable mechanisms to change the angle of the shaft relative to the head, using a angled ring or faceted bushing type connection pieces between the connector portion of the hosel that accepts the shaft tip at one end and the lower portion of the hosel where it intersects and connects with the head, where the hosel adjustment system can change the club face's effective loft higher or lower, in some cases the face angle to open or closed, and in other systems lie angle adjustments as well. The hosel and shaft tip sections of these devices are typically locked in place through the hosel portion with a machine screw or bolt from a recess in the underside of the head. However, these systems are usually limited, or “closed” in that they do not provide the ability to interchange from a selection of different modular hosel pieces, you cannot use the club without the adjustment pieces in place, nor select one or more pieces in combination or no adjustment pieces if so desired.
Furthermore, there is no optional hose length adjustment that can be readily made with these other systems.
In another adjustable hosel device, a jointed or segmented hosel is provided that articulates a segmented hosel so that when different segments are turned, the angle of each segment relative to the others can be adjusted. The hosel of this device is described as having optional interchangeable intermediate sections and having sections that can selectively rotate around the axis of the hosel.
None of the known prior art teaches the ability or a mechanism to quickly and easily interchange the hosel type and length, the shaft and grip of the golf club, nor change the loft, lie, shaft lean and offset and toe hang head balance relative to shaft axis specifications, within the Rules of Golf, to suit an individual golfer's needs and preferences for shaft alignment in relation to head balance, in relation to player setup and stroke tendencies, or the ability to customize the length, or the weight and balance characteristics, of the club in the same device.
Therefore, there is a need for a golf club head, adjustable and interchangeable, modular hosel and shaft construction that provides quick and efficient selection and interchangeability of the individual components from a wide selection of different components, providing adjustability of a large amount of shaft alignment to head orientations, length of the hosel, offset or onset of the shaft to the head, lie angle, loft, shaft lean, length of the shaft and balance of the head relative to the axis of the shaft, by the manufacturer, by a fitter or golf professional or a user, including in a golf course setting, with a single tool or set of tools that can also provide the ability to change the orientation of the grips features relative to the shaft and golf club head.
There is also a need for a golf club head, adjustable and interchangeable, modular hosel and shaft construction that can also provide interchangeability of portions of the modular hosel from a selection of portions, and further refinement of the specifications after installation of the particular hosel.
There is also a need for a golf club with an adjustable and interchangeable, modular hosel and shaft construction that can also provide shaft angle adjustments at the top of the hosel independent from and in concert with the hosel type, and any optional head and modular hosel adjustments and interchangeability at the juncture of the head and hosel.
There is also a need for a golf club head, adjustable and interchangeable, modular hosel and shaft construction that can also provide the ability for the user to better align the orientation of the club head face relative to the hosel, shaft and target line with additional alignment features between the shaft, hosel and club head.
There is also a need for a golf club shaft and grip that can also provide the ability for the user to change the overall length either to increase or decrease the overall length or to compensate for different length modular hose combinations utilized to change the other specifications such as loft, lie, balance and shaft alignment.
There is also a need for a golf club modular hosel construction that can also provide the ability for the user to change the sound and feel aspects of the golf club through the addition or removal of optional dampening devices within the adjustable hosel apparatus.
In one embodiment, a golf club head, multi-piece modular hosel, shaft and grip assembly is provided comprising: a first shaft portion having a grip portion orientated to be grasped by the golfer; a shaft section extending towards the golf club head, an intermediate modular hosel upper stem section at the tip end of the shaft, said upper hosel stem section connected with the hosel upper portion, with one or more optional modular hose riser sections in between the hosel upper portion and the hosel lower portion, said upper portion connected with the lower portion with a mechanical device such as a screw, bolt or key accessed from inside, through or under a bend in the hosel section, said hosel lower portion interchangeably connected to the head portion in a hosel port, wherein the mechanical device connects the hosel and the golf club head.
In another embodiment, a golf club head, modular multi-piece hosel, shaft and grip assembly is provided comprising: a first shaft portion having an outer grip orientated to be grasped by the golfer, an optional intermediate modular hosel upper stem section at the tip end of the shaft, said upper hosel stem section connecting with the hosel upper portion, said hosel lower portion interchangeably connected to the head portion in a hosel port, with one or more optional modular hosel adjustment spacers in between the hosel lower portion and the head hosel port, with the hosel lower portion connected with the head with at least one of a mechanical devise such as a screw, bolt or key accessed from the under side, side and/or top of the golf club head either in connection with or adjacent to the hosel port.
In another embodiment, a golf club head, modular multi-piece hosel, shaft and grip assembly is provided comprising: a first shaft portion having a grip portion orientated to be grasped by the golfer, a modular hosel shaft connector section at the tip end of the shaft, said modular hosel shaft connector section connecting with the hosel upper portion, with one or more optional modular hosel adjustment spacers in between the hosel upper portion and the modular hosel shaft connector portion, said shaft connector section connected with the hosel upper portion with a mechanical devise such as a screw, bolt or key accessed from inside, through or under a bend in the hosel section, said hosel lower portion interchangeably connected to the head portion in a hosel port, with one or more optional modular hosel adjustment spacer sections in between the hosel lower portion and the head hosel port, said lower portion connected with the head with at least one of a mechanical devise such as a screw, bolt or key accessed from the under side, side or top of the golf club head either in connection with or adjacent to the hosel port.
Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is the ability to change the length of the hosel, and length of the shaft independent of one another as well as the length of the overall club. Being able to change the length of the hosel at the bottom, and/or the top offers distinct advantages not found in other prior art devices. Changing the length at the top of the hosel bend will change the length of the shaft, but not the balance of the head in relation to the shaft axis. Changing the length of the hosel at the base of the hosel will change the balance of the head as it changes the distance from the hosel bend point from the head, and therefore the shaft axis relationship to the head center-of-gravity.
Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is the ability to change the type of the hosel, with a large selection of different hosel geometries, and still be able to utilize the upper and/or lower adjustment spacers to further, better and more precisely fit, customize and adjust the overall and shaft to head specifications. Being able to change the style of the hosel and selectively choose and orient the adjustment spacers offers distinct advantages not found in other prior art adjustability devices.
The disclosed subject matter provides a multi-piece modular golf club hosel assembly that can have a traditional design, shape and appearance, with a very small, unobtrusive fitting and adjustment mechanism at either end or both ends of the traditional hosel piece. The ability to adjust the shaft angle orientation and specifications independently for lie angle, putter head loft angle, putter head balance relative to the shaft axis and offset and shaft lean is very beneficial for the manufacturer, retailer, fitter, golf professional and the consumer. For instance, the retailer can inventory one model of club that can be fit and adjusted for many different golfers' needs. Furthermore, the golfer can adjust the specifications to suit changing course conditions before or after a round, or when traveling to different courses for instance.
The optional modular hosel shaft tip connector portion can be made separate from the shaft tip section, made to be firmly affixed with the shaft, or made as part of the shaft. The modular hosel shaft tip connector portion can be epoxied to a shaft tip section, or it can be connected in an interchangeable and/or an adjustable construction.
The optional lower hosel shaft connector portion can be a male “shaft in” as in a traditional shaft tip that enters a female cup in the top of the hosel. Or the upper hosel adjustment section The hosel cup section can be made as a female piece where the upper hosel section is a male portion that connects to the inside of the female of multiple pieces. For purposes of this application, by “affixed” is meant that the parts are relatively permanently connected such that they are not separable, including, for example, one-piece construction or parts welded or parts that are firmly epoxied together, press fit together, or some combination for redundancy strengthening and added durability.
The hosel shaft connector portion can be fabricated similarly to a traditional shaft tip, preferably in light weight material such as thin walled steel tubing, aluminum tubing, titanium tubing or graphite tubing or solid rod, or other suitable material and construction. As taught in Billings '604 and Billings '991, modular hosels can be utilized to provide differing shaft alignment configurations such as differing lie angles, head loft specifications, offset, onset or no offset, etc. In the disclosed subject matter, the addition of different combinations of adjustment spacers and their orientations can provide entirely new levels of customization, fitting and adjustability.
In one embodiment, adjustment to loft, lie angle and club head balance such as toe hang, can be achieved separately or in combination using none, one, two or more straight or angled adjustment spacers together at the juncture between the base of the hosel and the hosel port, or stem, or the club head. In another embodiment, an optional selection of straight or angled adjustment spacers is assembled between the tip of the shaft tip or modular hosel shaft tip connector portion, and can be used to adjust the shaft axis angle for adjustment to effective loft, lie angle and club head balance such as toe hang, face balance, or heel hang. The angled or straight adjustment spacers can also be used to adjust shaft length, especially when paired with a selection of differing hosel sections that are longer or shorter.
Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is that the combination of adjustment betweentheupperhoselportionandthelowerhoselportionadjustmentthatprovidesnewlevels of adjustability not found in other prior art systems. For instance, the lower hosel adjustment can be used to move the hosel portion angle forward toward the toe, to move the shaft alignment closer to the center of the club head, while the upper hosel adjustment can enable the shaft axis to be moved back to realign with the appropriate lie angle suitable to the individual golfer. In this way, the club head shaft axis alignment can be made to be more or less in line with the center of gravity of the head. Or in other words, a hosel can be adjusted from orientations commonly referred to as “toe down” to “face balanced,”, or even “heel down,” or from face balanced to toe down, heel down, etc. This same system can be used to make the hosel more or less offset, and have the shaft axis remain neutral at 90 degrees vertically straight up from the ground plane, or leaned forward toward the face or back away from the face as may be best suited or desirable for the individual golfer.
Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is the ability of the optional modular hosel shaft tip connector to be rotated around it's axis as another form of adjustability, so that, for instance if the golfer prefers or wants to experiment with a grip's various geometric features, such as a flat portion for instance, of the grip being orientated upwards toward the golfers chin (usually under the golfers thumbs), or conversely, downward towards the ground (under the fingers), or off to one side such as facing the target or away from the target. By unscrewing locking machine screw, bolt, screw tab or key or other locking mechanism, from under or through the hosel bend section, and rotating the shaft tip or shaft tip connector and engaging a keyed, geared, ratcheting or internal mortised joint, or other type construction; realigning and reengaging and locking the screw, the golfer can quickly and easily make changes to find the best grip alignment for their setup, stroke mechanics and personal preferences.
The hosel port that accepts the hosel and any optional adjustment spacers is preferably mortised, keyed, notched, splined, geared or otherwise designed in such a way as to facilitate the modular parts being firmly attached to one another without any unwanted movement, rattling or vibration. When using a preferred mortised-type joint, the structure can contain a number of sides: a round with a one or more flat sides, a triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, etc. An illustrated embodiment is a round cornered square exterior geometry and a round inner pass through port. The mortised portion can be located on the top portion of the club head, so that the outermost sides of the adjustment spacers abut the upper edge in a flush manner, or the mortised section can be recessed so that the adjustment spacer or spacers fit down into the recess partially or completely.
Another aspect of this disclosure is the ability to change the shaft lean from standard, counterbalanced or belly to an “arm rest” or “arm lock” style. This is accomplished by either changing at least one of the length, size, shape or material of the butt section. A modular hosel and/or an adjustable/interchangeable shaft tip- or mid-section can also be used for additional combinations and adjustment and interchangeable options. For instance, a modular hosel can be used to adjust the lie angle within a range of optional lie angles. Also, a modular hosel that is easily interchangeable can also allow a forward lean to be incorporated into the golf club to alter the effective loft, or to allow alternative setup, posture and means and methods of holding the club, such as with an Arm Rest or Arm Lock style where the shaft angle is leaned forward to rest against the players leading arm—either inside the arm or across and over the arm or pressed against the arm with the other hand as is known in the game and is approved by the new rules by the USGA and R&A that restrict anchoring to the body but allow anchoring against a player's arm. In this setup, the ability to rotate the grip to place the flat against the arm is an important benefit.
An optional means of adjustment of the length of the shaft and grip section employs a length spacer or set of spacers that fit between the shaft tip section and the upper portion of the hosel that provide different net lengths when installed. Such spacers can be provided in varied lengths, for instance 1% inch, ½ inch and 1-inch lengths, and can be used alone or in combination to provide precise length changes for the overall length of the golf club. The length of the upper hosel adjustment spacers can add length of the overall club without changing the balance of the head and shaft using square or non-angled spacers, or can also change the shaft alignment configurations by using angled spacers in addition to length changes. A longer connection screw, bolt, key or other connection mechanism can be used to allow for the added length. A long screw with deep bore and tapped section of the lower shaft tip connector stem can also facilitate different lengths and heights depending on the number of adjustment spacers selected. The adjustment spacers preferably would also have the same dedicated mortised joints, male on one end and female on the other, to keep the shaft and grip section from rotating around its access when in use. The stem length adjustment can be affixed for use with a locking screw, locking washer, or mechanism such as a spring-loaded tab, latch, threaded collet or other means. A dedicated specialized tool such as a star or Torx® brand by Textron, a 6-lobed drive screw driver, or keyed or pronged collet turning key can be utilized for quick and easy changes by one or all of the manufacturer, retailer, fitter and/or user.
Alternatively, the modular hosel construction can include optional dampening devices such as foam, rubber or other dampening materials in the form of “O-rings”, gaskets, inserts or the like and can be designed, sized and positioned to fit inside it's mating sections to dampen the sound and feel of the golf club when it strikes a ball.
For a more complete understanding of the disclosed subject matter, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
The golf club head 100 is shown in a generally finished state and includes an optional interchangeable flange 115 on the back of the putter head. The head 110 or flange 115 can include optional adjustable weights 215 in the head, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,828,672 and 7,566,276.
In one embodiment shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
As noted, adjustment spacers are provided in different lengths, and different degrees of change, and can be used alone or stacked, allowing the club to be adjusted for loft and lie angles independent of one another, or in combination. The orientation of the angled side of the adjustment spacer determines the specification change to the assembled golf club. For instance, with the degree of angle change from level, positioned toward the toe 116 will cause the shaft angle to change one degree upright. If a two degree spacer is oriented towards the face, that will create two degrees more effective. As can be seen in
The shaft can be connected to the golf club directly with a standard or specialized tip section, either formed as part of the shaft or affixed or connected to the shaft tip. The shaft tip or tip section can then be connected to the head or with a hosel, with optional upper or lower adjustable modular spacers between the shaft tip or shaft tip connector and the head or hosel. An optional hosel portion can be modular and interchangeable with the head as taught in Billings' '276, '604 and '991, providing further levels of customization, fitting options and adjustment.
As can be seen in the close up cutaway view in
Alternately, a pin, set screw or key can be inserted from the outside, for instance the face, back or heel, or from an adjacent position on the sole, to orient and secure the hosel in a redundant manner from the main central screw connection. Alternatively, the stem could be firmly affixed with a latch or tab, a locating pin or pins, one or more set screws either with or without the use of a flat, channel or rib associated with or within the mortised section between the stem and the head hosel port sections.
As an alternative to a modular hosel, the shaft, or optional shaft tip connector can be a female “shaft over” version that connects to a male spud or stud that is either formed as part of the head or affixed or connected to the head. If the later connected version, the stud can be connected from the side or underneath the head and thus be interchangeable for length, for instance, providing similar benefits to the hosel connected through a port in the heel of the head as previously described.
The addition of additional spacer sections to the upper and/lower hosel portion are performed in a “fixed” manner with a specialized tool as dictated by the rules of golf so it can be deemed conforming under the Rules of Golf. To make the assembly conforming to the current Rules of Golf as administered by the USGA and R&A, and secured for continuous play and lessening the chance of the screw working loose, a small amount of epoxy can be placed on the tip of the screw after all changes are made to the configuration of components. Alternatively, a thread locking compound such as Locktite® brand thread locker can be placed on the screw tip. For additional strength and durability, epoxy can be used inside the lower hosel and/or upper hosel ports to provide a semi-permanent construction. Some customers may prefer this solution once all specifications have been fit and if they don't intend to make adjustments afterwards. However, these epoxy bonds can be heated and disassembled later if so desired.
Referring back to
The exterior rounded comer square matches closely visually with traditional hosel square or rectangular stem shape. A square with rounded comers facilitates milling the internal section to mate with the male stem and have large flats to resist twisting. Alternate means for locating and assembling the hosel section inside the head can also be utilized, especially where a bent-neck, plumber neck and the like are selected and for USGA conformance for user-adjustability, such as a key, tab, pin, set screw, bolt, bolts, screw or screws. A rectangular mortice joint can be used as an alternative to the square spacer with rounded comers. However, a rectangular solution is not as efficient as the adjustment spacers would have to be made differently for loft and lie adjustments since they couldn't be orientated in all four directions for stronger or weaker loft or for upright or flat lie angles.
One embodiment is to manufacture the upper hosel shaft tip connector from lightweight aerospace quality alloys such as 6061, 2024 or 7075 Aluminum Alloy, preferably heat treated and then anodized after manufacture for added strength and durability. Other materials such as steel, titanium, titanium alloy, bronze, aluminum bronze, graphite composite, tungsten, ceramic, metal matrix composite or magnesium or other material compositions can be utilized for weight and strength advantages.
The upper spacer adjuster sections are preferably turned on a precision lathe, such as a tool room lathe or engine lathe, or most preferably a CNC lathe. Bar stock raw material, such as 303 Stainless Steel, can be used where the outside diameter is the same net size of the finished product, and then the stepped down sections are turned down on the lathe and then parted off. Live tooling can be used to cut the inner mortised sections or those can be cut in a secondary operation on a manual or CNC mill for instance. Alternatively, the upper hosel adjustable spacers could be extruded with around or other shaped exterior, and around cornered square or other shape inner shape into a hollow tube or hollow bar stock that is then milled or turned and parted into the final shape. Another alternative manufacturing process would be to precision cast the parts.
The lower spacer adjuster sections are preferably milled in a milling center, such as a CNC vertical or horizontal machining center, and commonly available bar stock is used to make a number of adjustment spacers at one time in a vice in the machining center or in a special fixture. Bar stock raw material, such as 303 Stainless Steel, can be used where the outside dimension is near net to the max dimension of the finished part, and minimal machining time is needed and there is low waste and fewer chips to be recycled. By milling all the squares flat upper surfaces, the changes can all be made in a second and final operation limiting setup and down time. Alternatively, the sides of the female mortised joint and/or the sides of the male tenon section can be machined with a slight taper to facilitate a tight bond between the parts when the screw or other tightening connection mechanism is employed. Alignment markings can be engraved during the final milling operation to permanently identify the angle orientation on the exterior surfaces of the various components.
Alternatively, the lower adjustment spacers could also be turned on a lathe or CNC lathe. If the raw round bar stock's outer diameter is the same net size of the rounded corners of the finished product, and then the flat side sections could be milled off with live tooling on the lathe and then parted off. Live tooling can be used to cut the inner mortised sections or those can be cut in a secondary operation on a manual or CNC mill for instance.
Alignment markings, graphics and other information and designs can be engraved, laser engraved, stamped or printed on the exterior surfaces of the various components in the assembly. Paint can be applied to the stamped or engraved portions to make them more visible.
Having thus described the subject matter by reference to certain of its preferred embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments disclosed are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and that a wide range of variations, modifications, changes, and substitutions are contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and, in some instances, some features of the disclosure may be employed without a corresponding use of the other features. Many such variations and modifications may be considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure.
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