ADJUSTABLE PUTTER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A device, kit and method providing an adjustable hosel insert for a golf club capable of rotational adjustments that modify the shaft offset and toe hang characteristics of the golf club.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein is generally directed to the field of golf equipment, and in particular, relates to an adjustable hosel insert to be used with a putter assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One piece golf clubs with fixed performance characteristics are the typical equipment for golfers and for tournament play as strict adherence to the United States Golf Association (USGA) rules is required. The USGA provides equipment standards as to size, shape, angle, material and method of use so that fixed parameter clubs have become the standard.

Under USGA Equipment Rules, a putter must not be substantially different from the traditional and customary form and make, must be composed of a shaft and a head, must not have a loft exceeding ten degrees, and must not have a lie angle exceeding 80 degrees. No part of the club should be designed to move, nor should it be promoted as doing so, during play.

The USGA Equipment Rules create exceptions for adjustment features that satisfy the following requirements: 1) the adjustment cannot be readily made; 2) all adjustable parts are firmly fixed and there is no reasonable likelihood of them working loose during a round; and 3) all configurations of adjustment conform to the USGA Rules. During a round, the playing characteristics of the club must not be purposely changed by adjustment or by any other means. All necessary adjustments must be made at the beginning of the round.

Putting is a uniquely challenging discipline in golf due to the complex geometries involved in the putting stroke and the exceedingly low permissible margins of error. In particular, due to the USGA Equipment Rules that limits the lie angle of a putter to 80 degrees of less, a putting stroke will always include some degree of arc that causes the putter face to open and close as the putter head progresses along the arc path.

To successfully aim a putt, the putter face must be perfectly square to the desired target line at the precise time of impacting the golf ball (“Square at Impact”). Thus, successful putting is fundamentally about timing the position of the putter face as it moves around the putter's stroke arc. Given the complex intersecting geometries involved in putting, it is important that golfers be fitted with a putter that is tailored to suit the golfer's individual stroke characteristics.

In particular, the objective is to fit a golfer into a putter that has feel, balance, and performance characteristics that cause the putter face to naturally orient to Square at Impact as the putter moves along the stroke arc based on the golfer's natural putting stroke without significant additional compensation.

While a number of club specifications can impact the feel, balance, and performance characteristics of a putter, the most dramatic are the shaft offset and toe hang specifications. Shaft offset measures the distance by which the shaft angle projection sits in front or behind the putter face. Changes in shaft offset affect where in the putting stroke golfer makes contact with the ball. Accordingly, changes in shaft offset can affect the angle of the putter face at the time of impact, the effective loft delivered to the ball at impact (“Dynamic Loft”), the visual appearance of the putter at address, and, in part, the toe hang characteristics of the putter.

Toe hang measures the balance characteristics of the putter head and is expressed as the angle at which the putter face comes to rest relative to the horizontal plane when the club shaft is oriented horizontally. Lower toe hang angles indicate that the putter head is more neutrally balanced, while higher toe angles indicate that the balance of the putter favors the toe of the putter. The balance of the putter head affects the rate the putter face naturally wants to close as the putter head moves along a defined stroke arc. Accordingly, changes in toe hang can assist the golfer in more consistently achieving Square at Impact by adjusting the timing at which the putter face closes to correspond with the golfer's natural stroke arc and preferred ball position.

By manipulating shaft offset and toe hang configurations, one can tune the performance of a club to ensure that the golfer is making contact with the ball at the desired time and location within the golfer's stroke arc (via adjustments to shaft offset); and based on the golfer's unique putting stroke, the putter face is oriented to Square at Impact based on where in the stroke arc the golfer makes contact with the ball (via adjustments to toe hang.)

Currently, the primary means through which shaft offset and toe hang are manipulated is through using 1 of 5 core hosel types with fixed, non-adjustable characteristics. The offerings are very limited and not suitable for most golfers' natural stroke types. The shaft offset and toe hang settings cannot be changed after the date of purchase or to accommodate subsequent changes to the golfer's stroke, ball position, or other physical club attributes that affect club performance. Not all hosel types are offered in every putter head style, so golfers are frequently limited to specific putter head styles based on needing to select a hosel type that is most suitable to their stroke type.

With current equipment golfers must artificially adapt their swings and manipulate other things like ball position, stance, club length, etc. to achieve Square at Impact. While good putters can successfully and consistently make these compensations, putting performance would improve with less compensation.

In contrast to current offerings, the designs of the current embodiments enable the golfer to make refined adjustments to the shaft offset and toe hang characteristics of any putter. This adjustment flexibility allows the golfer to configure a putter with customized feel, balance, and performance characteristics that are matched to the golfer's “natural putting stroke.” Encouraging a golfer to use its “natural putting stroke” will yield more stroke path and timing consistency than a “learned putting stroke” or a putting stroke that requires excessive manipulation and will result in better putting performance.

Golfers would benefit from a putter featuring adjustable hosel inserts (“AHIs”) that allow the golfer to select from a wide variety of shaft offset and toe hang configurations to find a configuration that is most suited to the golfer's individual stroke characteristics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one example embodiment, an adjustable hosel insert (“AHI”) that allows the golfer to modify the shaft offset and toe hang characteristics in a putter by making rotation adjustments to the AHI.

In one example embodiment, a diagonal adjustable hosel insert (“DAHI”) is an interchangeable part that is designed to mate with an interchangeable putter adapter that is fixed at a lie angle preferred by the golfer, features some degree of hosel offset, and then bends back to the desired lie angle before joining to the golf shaft.

In another example embodiment, a perpendicular adjustable hosel insert (“PAHI”) is an interchangeable part that is designed to mate with the putter body at 90 degrees upright, features a horizontal L bend with some degree of hosel offset, and joins to an interchangeable shaft adapter featuring a bend that fixes the shaft at the desired lie angle.

In one example embodiment, the design of the DAHI and PAHI permits the adjustable hosel to be rotated in defined angular increments to create alternative shaft offset and toe hang configuration without adversely affecting other putter specifications such as lie angle or shaft lean.

In one example embodiment there is disclosed an adjustable hosel insert for a golf club, comprising an adjustable dominant hosel tip having incremental adjustment members, the adjustable dominant hosel tip oriented in spaced parallel relationship to a subordinate hosel tip, an angled hosel run disposed between the adjustable dominant hosel tip and the subordinate hosel tip, and the adjustable dominant hosel tip oriented in a separate plane from the subordinate hosel tip.

In another example embodiment there is disclosed a putter club assembly having a shaft, hosel and putter head, comprising the hosel defined by an adjustable hosel insert having a dominant and a subordinate hosel tip, the putter head adjustably engaged with the dominant hosel tip whereby the dominant hosel tip has a first mating member mounted on the dominant hosel tip, the dominant hosel tip oriented in a separate plane from the subordinate hosel tip with the subordinate hosel tip positioned opposite the dominant hosel tip and the hosel angularly disposed between the dominant hosel tip and the subordinate hosel tip, and the subordinate hosel tip secured to the shaft of the putter club.

In a further example, there is disclosed a putter club assembly having a shaft, hosel, putter head, and putter face where the hosel is defined by an adjustable hosel insert having a dominant and a subordinate hosel tip, the putter head is fixedly engaged with the dominant hosel tip, the subordinate hosel tip is positioned opposite the dominant hosel tip with the hosel disposed between the dominant hosel tip and the subordinate hosel tip, the subordinate hosel tip is defined by a first shaft mating member mounted on the subordinate hosel tip, the shaft has a shaft adapter with a corresponding second shaft mating member positioned opposite the shaft on the shaft adapter, the first shaft mating member of the shaft adapter is adjustably secured to the second shaft mating member of the shaft adapter, and the dominant hosel tip is oriented in a separate plane from the subordinate hosel tip.

In one example embodiment, there is an adjustable putter assembly kit, comprising a putter head, a putter face insert, a lie adapter having engagement members positioned at opposite ends, an adjustable hosel insert having engagement members positioned at opposite ends, a shaft adapter having engagement members positioned at opposite ends, and a golf club shaft.

In one example embodiment there is disclosed a method of fitting a golfer for a putter comprising the steps of selecting a putter head, selecting a putter face insert, the putter face insert having a shape that is configured to mate with the putter head, selecting an adjustable hosel insert having shaft offset and toe hang rotational adjustment members, the adjustable hosel insert having terminal ends that are adapted to mate with the putter head and a golf club shaft, mounting the putter face insert to the putter head, mounting the putter head to the adjustable hosel insert, and mounting the adjustable hose) insert to the shaft. The steps may further include selecting a putter adapter defined by lie angle adjustment members, the putter adapter having terminal ends that are adapted to mate with the putter head and the adjustable hosel insert, and rotationally engaging a first mating member disposed on the first terminal end of the adjustable hosel insert with a corresponding second mating member disposed on the putter adapter forming a rotation joint and rotating the rotation joint thereby adjusting the shaft offset and toe hang characteristics.

The steps may further include selecting a shaft adapter, the shaft adapter having first and second terminal ends that are adapted to mate with the golf club shaft and the adjustable hosel insert, the adjustable hosel insert having a terminal end shaft mating member with adjustment members adapted to rotationally engage with corresponding adjustment members on the second terminal end of the shaft adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent from the following more particular description of example embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing an example of a putter assembly with a diagonal hosel insert according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a cut away view of a section of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3B is a cut away view of a section of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3C is a cut away view of a section of FIG. 3.

FIG. 3D is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3E is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an alternate form of rotation joint.

FIG. 5 is an alternate perspective side view of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top front perspective view of a section of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a side exploded view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an alternate perspective exploded side view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an alternate perspective exploded side view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional exploded view about lines 12-12FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14A is a top plan view of FIG. 14 showing incremental rotation adjustment of hosel insert.

FIG. 14B is a top plan view of FIG. 14 showing incremental adjustment of hosel insert.

FIG. 14C is a top plan view of FIG. 14 showing incremental adjustment of hosel insert.

FIG. 15 is an exploded side perspective view showing an example of a putter assembly with a perpendicular hosel insert according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is an exploded partial view of FIG. 15.

FIG. 16A is a bottom view of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an exploded partial view of the putter head disclosed in FIG. 1.

FIG. 18 is a front view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a bottom exploded view of FIG. 17. FIG. 20 is a side view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 21 is a rear view of FIG. 17.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view about lines 22-22 of FIG. 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless defined otherwise, technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term “optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequent described event, circumstance, or substituent may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within the respective ranges, as well as the recited endpoints.

The terms “about” or “approximately” as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, are meant to encompass variations of and from the specified value, such as variations of +/−10% or less, +/−5% or less, +/−1% or less, and +/−0.1% or less of and from the specified value, insofar such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosed invention. It is to be understood that the value to which the modifier “about” or “approximately” refers is itself also specifically, and preferably, disclosed.

Various embodiments are described hereinafter. It should be noted that the specific embodiments are not intended as an exhaustive description or as a limitation to the broader aspects discussed herein. One aspect described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced with any other embodiment(s). Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or “an example embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment but may. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments. Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention. For example, in the appended claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

There is provided a new and useful golf club, namely a putter, featuring interchangeable adjustable hosel inserts (“AHIs”) providing a plurality of rotational orientations in defined angular increments around a putter adapter projection for purposes of creating unique shaft offset and toe hang characteristics that are better suited to a golfer's unique putting stroke characteristics. FIGS. 1-14C show adjustable hosel variations that are adapted to mate with a putter adapter having a putter adapter projection that is set to a desired lie angle (default of ˜70 degrees) and hereinafter referred to as diagonal adapter hosel insert or (“DAHI”). Another aspect of adjustable hosel, as shown in FIGS. 15-16A, is adapted to mate with a putter adapter or lie adapter having a putter adapter projection that is perpendicular to a putter sole and hereinafter referred to as a perpendicular adjustable hosel insert or (“PAHI”).

In one aspect, the club comprises a golf club shaft 10 that has a port 12 which accommodates shaft adapter 13. The shaft adapter 13 is connected to the shaft via a male spud feature 14 on the end of the shaft adapter 13 that is designed to be inserted into the shaft tip 12. The shaft 10 is securely attached to the shaft adapter 13 using epoxy, a set screw, a set pin, welding or a threaded hole. The shaft adapter 13 is rigidly and securely attached to the shaft 10 so that the shaft adapter is incapable of being rotated independently of the shaft 13, in a manner that complies with USGA Equipment Rules.

Referring to FIG. 2, the shaft adapter 13 is a separate, interchangeable component that may incorporate a mating member, or more specifically, a male rotation member 16 or a female rotation member designed to mate with a reciprocal part featured in a subordinate adjustable hosel tip 18. In one aspect, the shaft adapter 13 features a male hosel joint member 15 having at least one stop or tooth 17 but preferably two or more on one side of the shaft adapter as shown in FIG. 3C. The subordinate hosel tip 18 comprises a corresponding mating member or more specifically, a female shaft joint piece 19, having female shaft groove members or stops 20 that are rotationally engaged with the male shaft end stops 17 forming a shaft rotation joint. Located in proximity to the female shaft joint piece 19 on the subordinate hosel tip 18 is shaft opening 21, see FIG. 8, for socket screw 22 that is secured to female shaft joint piece as shown in FIG. 12. The shaft 10 may also connect directly to an AHI 24 without the shaft adapter 13 and subordinate hosel tip 18 as described above.

A second end of the AHI 24 is referred to as a dominant hosel tip 28 and comprises, preferably, a female shaft joint piece 31 having female shaft groove members or stops 33 that are rotationally engaged with male shaft end stops 35 forming a shaft rotation joint. Located in proximity to the female shaft joint piece 31 on the dominant hosel tip 28 is shaft opening 27, see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3B, for socket screw 26 that is secured to female shaft joint piece 31 as shown in FIG. 12. Female shaft joint piece 31 is designed to matingly engage with male putter joint piece 35, as part of putter adapter or lie adapter 37, that has putter end stops 36 as shown in FIG. 3A and FIGS. 7-9.

Disposed between the subordinate hosel tip 18 and the dominant hosel tip 28 is the hosel run that may have several different configurations. In one example embodiment, the subordinate hosel tip 18 and the dominant hosel tip 28 are located on opposite terminal ends of the hosel run, are designed to extend along independent parallel planes separated by a measure of offset at the desired lie angle established by a putter adapter 37, to be discussed in more detail, and are connected by a diagonal hosel run as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12 . The hosel run is angled such that the connections between the subordinate hosel tip and the dominant hosel tip with the hosel run form an angle. In another example embodiment to be discussed in more detail, a subordinate hosel tip 109 and dominant hosel tip 93 are located at opposite terminal ends of hosel run 95, are designed to extend on independent parallel planes separated by a measure of offset that are perpendicular to the putter sole, and connected by an L shaped hosel run 95 as shown in FIGS. 15-16. The hosel run 95 is angled such that the connection between the subordinate hosel tip 109 and the hosel run 95 forms an angle and the connection between the dominant hosel tip 93 and the hosel run 95 is vertically aligned along a horizontal plane.

As set forth above, the shaft 10 is secured to the AHI 24 which in turn is secured to the putter head with a putter adapter 37, in one form. The putter adapter 37 comprises a putter joint member 38 that is designed to mate with a corresponding joint connection 44 on the putter head 41 and hosel joint member 36 that is located opposite the putter joint member 38 and designed to mate with a corresponding joint connection 31 located in the dominant hosel tip 28, as shown in FIG. 3A. The putter joint member 38, in this embodiment, is preferably a male putter joint member having at least one tooth 35 as shown but additional teeth may be added without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Again, as shown in this embodiment, the male hosel joint member 36 has at least one tooth, however, the putter adapter 37 could just as easily feature female end stops that are designed to mate with male end stops located on the putter head 41 and the dominant hosel tip 28 without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In one embodiment, the putter adapter 37 is designed to adjust the lie angle of the putter as a result of the putter adapter featuring a bend as shown in FIG. 12 that causes the male hosel joint member 36 to extend away from the putter head at the golfer's preferred lie angle, to be discussed in more detail below. In such embodiments, interchangeable putter adapters 37 featuring different lie angles may be offered to permit the golfer to change lie angle by installing different putter adapters. In one embodiment, the putter adapter 37 features threaded openings on opposite ends of the putter adapter 34, 36 that are designed to be engaged by socket screws 26, 39 that are positioned to pass through the putter head 41 and the dominant hosel tip 28.

The dominant hosel tip 28 forms a rotation joint with the putter adapter 37 for rotational adjustment of the AHI. The subordinate hosel tip 18 forms an optional rotation joint with the shaft adapter 13. The AHI materials may comprise carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, metal alloys, copper, brass, bronze, carbon fiber, fiberglass, composites, plastics, polymers, nylons, wood or any other material that is durable.

In one aspect, there is more than one female end stop 19, 31 on one side of the rotation joint that will be separated by defined angular increments. Again, as set forth above, the putter adapter 37 and the shaft adapter 13 could just as easily feature the female end stops. There are one or more male end stops 17 featured on the other side of the rotation joint as shown in FIG. 3, 3B and 3C. In one aspect, the putter adapter 37 and the shaft adapter 13 have the male end stops 35, 17. In another aspect, the hosel tips 18, 28 feature the male end stops without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In a further aspect, the putter adapter is separately manufactured and features a single male end stop (i.e., male joint piece with one male tooth) on each side of the putter adapter oriented at 12 o'clock.

In one aspect, as the dominant hosel tip 28 is rotated and the male end stops are mated with different female end stops, the subordinate hosel tip 18 will rotate around the putter adapter projection P at a radius equal to the hosel offset in defined angular increments based on the spacing of the female end stops. As an example, but not by way of limitation: if (1) there are 10 evenly spaced female end stops on the female side; (2) there is at least one male end stop on the male side; and (3) the AHI features a hosel offset of 0.5 inches, then the subordinate hosel tip 18 would move in 36 degree increments at a radius of 0.5 inches each time the male end stop was slotted into a new adjacent female end stop.

For putters featuring DAHIs, there is the option to double adjustment capacity by using a reversible design, as shown in FIG. 3D and 3E, that has the male and female end stops for the shaft adapter 14 and the subordinate hosel tip 18 offset by ½ of the angular increment incorporated into the male and female end stops for the putter adapter 37 and the dominant hosel tip 28 of the AHI. For example, assume there are 6 female end stops on one side of the AHI, with each located at 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, 300, and 360 degrees (“A-Side”). To permit double adjustment capacity, it would be necessary to have 6 female end stops on the other side of the AHI (“B-Side”), with each located 30, 90, 150, 210, 270, and 330 degrees. When the A Side is mated with the putter adapter 37, the subordinate hosel tip 18 would rotate in 60 degree increments measured from the 12 o'clock position (i.e., 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10). When the B Side is mated with the putter adapter 37, the subordinate hosel tip 18 would move in 60 degree increments measured from the 1 o'clock position (i.e., 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11).

For putters featuring DAHI's, in one aspect, the shaft 10 may connect to a shaft adapter 14 that features a plug or sleeve 13 that is designed to be fixedly attached to the shaft 10 and on the opposite side the male hosel joint member 15 that is designed to mate with the corresponding female joint connection 20 located in the subordinate hosel tip 18, as shown in FIG. 3B and 3C. The shaft adapter 13 features a threaded opening 17 on the male hosel joint member 15 that is designed to be engaged by a socket screw 22 positioned to pass through the subordinate hosel tip 18. However, the shaft adapter 13 could just as easily feature female end stops that are designed to mate with male end stops located on the subordinate hosel tip 18. In an alternative aspect, the shaft 10 may connect directly to the subordinate hosel tip 18 via a plug or sleeve that does not feature a rotation joint (not shown). Each hosel tip 18, 28 will feature some level of hosel offset, accordingly, when the dominant hosel tip 28 is connected to the putter adapter 37, the dominant hosel tip 28 will be in line with the putter adapter projection P and the subordinate hosel tip will run parallel to the putter adapter projection P by a distance equal to the hosel offset. See FIG. 13 through FIG. 14C.

The shaft offset and toe hang characteristics of a putter can be manipulated or adjusted by making adjustments to the shaft angle projection S of the putter. Shaft offset is adjusted by moving the shaft angle projection S along the X axis relative a putter face 53. As the shaft angle projection S is moved in front of or behind the putter face 53, it effectively moves the position of the golfer hands and shaft relative to the ball at the time of impact. Toe hang is adjusted by changing the angular relationship between the shaft angle projection S and putter center of mass C. For purposes of toe hang, the shaft angle projection S functionally creates a pivot origin that the putter head 41 rotates around. Due to gravity, the putter head will orient itself such that the putter center of mass C is located directly beneath the pivot origin. As a consequence, toe hang can be manipulated by moving the shaft angle projection relative to the putter center of mass. The toe hang T is measured by holding the putter shaft 10 horizontally, allowing the putter head 41 to rotate and come to rest, and measuring the resulting angle between the putter face 53 and a horizontal plane. Lower toe hang angles indicate that the putter head is more neutrally balanced, while higher toe hang angles indicate that the balance of the putter head favors the toe of the putter.

In particular, each hosel tip 18, 28 features a measure of horizontal offset between the dominant hosel tip 28, which is designed to attach to the putter head 41 via the putter adapter 37, and the subordinate hosel tip 18, which is designed to attach to the shaft 10 via the shaft adapter 13. As a result, as the dominant hosel tip is rotated around the putter adapter projection P, the subordinate hosel tip 18, or, if the embodiment has the subordinate hosel tip 18 directly connected to the shaft 10, rotates around putter adapter projection at a radius defined by the amount of offset featured in the AHI. The location of the subordinate hosel tip 18 controls the shaft angle projection S, so as the subordinate hosel tip 18 revolves around the putter adapter projection P, the shaft offset will increase or decrease based on changes to the X axis position of the subordinate hosel tip 18. Similarly, the rotational movement of the subordinate hosel tip 18 will change the X and Y coordinates of the shaft angle projection S, which in turn will modify the toe hang characteristics of the putter. The design of the AHI permits the adjustable hosel to be rotated in defined angular increments to create alternative shaft offset and toe hang configuration without adversely affecting other putter specifications such as lie angle or shaft lean.

Each rotation joint may be designed in two basic configurations: a rotation joint featuring a male joint piece 16, 34 that slots into a female joint piece 19, 31, as previously described, such that the side walls of the female joint piece overlap the male joint piece, referred to as “male/female rotation joint”. There is also disclosed different aspects of the rotation joint. For male/female rotation joints, the end stops may be based on a gear structure where at least one male tooth 16 is featured on the outside of the side wall of the male joint piece and is designed to slot into a series of reciprocal female grooves cut into the side wall of the female joint piece 19. It is contemplated that there could be as many male teeth as there are female grooves but the current preferred form has at least two male teeth as shown in FIG. 3C and 3D. There will be multiple female grooves cut into the female joint piece that will define the angular adjustment increments that the AHI may be rotated based on a gear structure where a male tooth is featured on the inside of the side wall of the female joint piece and is designed to slot into a series of reciprocal female grooves cut into the side wall of the male joint piece. There may be one or more male teeth on the female joint piece. There will be multiple female grooves cut into the male joint piece that will define the angular adjustment increments that the AHI may be rotated.

In another aspect, the rotation joint may have two sides fitting flush with one another with no overlapping materials, a “flush rotation joint.” See FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Based on a pin/hole structure where one or more male pins fixed to the face of the male joint piece is designed to be inserted lengthwise into a series of reciprocal female holes drilled into the internal face of the female joint piece. Alternatively, the male pin may be fixed to the internal body of the female joint piece and designed to be inserted into a series of reciprocal female holes drilled into the face of the male joint piece. As above, there may be one or more male pins, but there will be multiple female pin holes that will define angular adjustment increments that the AHI may be rotated based on a face meshed, alternating tooth structure where the face of one side of the connection has a series of symmetric protrusions and intrusions and the internal face of the other side of the connection features a series of inverse protrusions and intrusions designed to mate up.

In another aspect, the rotation joint may have a face meshed, alternating tooth structure (not shown) where the face of the male joint piece has a series of symmetric protrusions and intrusions and the internal face of the female joint piece features a series of inverse protrusions and intrusions designed to mate with the male side.

The male joint piece and the female joint piece may be attached to one another with a screw 22, 26 running through the core of one side and connected to a threaded hole running through the core of the other side, an internal screw assembly in which the screw continues along through the core of the AHI and joins to the putter adapter 37 or shaft adapter 13.

Putter adapter 37 is attached to the putter head 41 with a socket screw 39 that is secured within a bore hole 44 within the putter head 41. The socket screw 39 is designed to pass through the putter head and engage a threaded opening in the core of the putter adapter 37 as shown in FIG. 2. The putter adapter 37 is securely attached to the putter head 41 so that the putter adapter is incapable of rotation independent of the putter head. The putter adapter may be attached to the putter head with a permanent or semi-permanent method including a socket screw, as described, epoxy, glue, welding, a threaded hole, set pin, or set screw. For putters featuring DAHI's, the putter adapter 37 features a bend that imparts the desired lie angle to the shaft and connects to the putter head via a corresponding vertical female opening in putter topline 47.

The putter adapter may also be integrated with the putter head design (not shown) forming a one-piece design with the putter head through milling or casing. As discussed above, the putter adapter may feature one or more notches, bulges or locating pins/holes to ensure consistent positional orientation, prevent rotation of the putter adapter and permit the golfer to substitute putter adapters featuring different lie angles. The putter adapter may have any shape without departing from the scope of the disclosure as long as the end stop features incorporated into the putter adapter 37 are compatible with the end stop features incorporated in the AHI. Shape variations could without limitation be based on the following shapes: a cylinder (with or without an end stop); a cylindrically shaped hole or a cube, rectangle, hexagon, octagon, oval, etc.

The AHI may take various forms and may be connected to a straight lateral run extending diagonally from one hosel tip to the other, as described, a straight lateral run extending perpendicularly from one hosel tip to the other and a curved lateral run featuring one or more bends extending from one hosel tip to the other as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. The AHI may be symmetric in shape and design (i.e., diagonal AHI's designed to be reversible); asymmetric in shape and design (i.e., perpendicular AHIs); reversible by design (i.e., capable of being flipped 180 degrees); and non-reversible. There is also provided interchangeable AHI's that feature different hosel offset and length dimensions so that the golfer can further manipulate the shaft offset and toe hang characteristics by using AHIs with different geometric features. Further, the AHIs may contain sub-components (i.e., AHI is of a modular design that permits the AHI to be assembled using multiple parts).

As shown in FIGS. 15, 16 and 16A, there is also disclosed a perpendicular AHI (PAHI) 91 that is oriented such that the dominant hosel tip 92 extends 90 degrees upright from the putter topline 123, features an L-bend to impart a measure of offset before the subordinate hosel tip 109 returns to a 90 degree upright position. The PAHI 91 extends horizontally in a vertical plane from the subordinate hosel tip 109 and vertically in a horizontal plane from the dominant hosel tip 92, where golfers will be able to select from a variety of shaft adapters featuring different lie angles. As depicted in FIG. 15, the PAHI features the male putter joint member 93 on the dominant hosel tip 92 that is adapted to mate with a corresponding vertical female joint member 94 in putter topline 123 that is perpendicular to a putter sole 105, and the subordinate hosel tip 109 features a female joint member 108 that is adapted to mate with a male hosel joint member 107 on the shaft adapter 106. The shaft adaptor 106 has a mating member 104 that is designed to fit within shaft opening 103 of shaft 101. However, the dominant hosel tip 92 of a PAHI could just as easily feature female end stops that are designed to mate with male end stops attached to the putter head, and the subordinate hosel tip 109 of a PAHI could just as easily feature male end stops that are designed to mate with female end stops attached to the shaft adapter 106.

For shaft adapters designed for PAHI's, the shaft adapter 106 itself will impart the desired lie angle, so shaft adapters will be offered in a variety of lie angle options. The female joint piece 94 is rotationally engaged with the male shaft joint piece 93 in the dominant hosel tip 92 forming a shaft rotation joint that when rotationally adjusted causes the subordinate hosel tip 109 to rotate radially around the dominant hosel tip 92 rotation joint. The male joint piece 93 located on the dominant hosel tip 92 includes a threaded opening 96 that is designed to be engaged by a socket screw 115 that is positioned to pass through a bore hole 113 within the putter head. The male joint member 107 of the shaft adapter 106 includes a threaded opening 102 that is designed to be engaged by a socket screw 111 that is positioned to pass through the bottom of the subordinate hosel tip 109. The putter head comprises putter body 119, putter toe 121, the putter topline 123, putter back 125, putter heel 127, putter face 129, putter sole 105, putter face insert 131 and putter face insert screws 135.

Referring back to FIGS. 1-14C disclosing the DAHI, the putter head comprises putter body 43, putter toe 45, the putter topline 47, putter back 49, putter heel 51, the putter face 53, putter sole 55, putter face insert 57 and putter face insert screws 59. The putter head design is offered in 4 major putter head design styles, preferably with multiple variations in each category. In one form, there are multiple, interchangeable putter face inserts 57 with uniform geometric dimensions offered in different materials and weights, different loft angles and different milling patterns. The putter face insert 57 is secured to the putter body 43 with the putter face insert screws 59 that pass perpendicularly through the rear wall of the putter 55 and connect to threaded holes in the backside of the putter face insert 57.

The putter head may be offered in traditional shapes and sizes including but without limitation, the classic blade, anser style blade, mid-mallet and mallet. As described above, the putter may incorporate the modular putter head or solid body putter heads. The putter may be weight adjusted via ports cut into the putter sole and in some instances the toe and heel portions of the putter face. There are also alignment aids such as lines and dots that conform to USGA regulations as well as milling patterns on the putter insert or on the solid body putter heads. With respect to the putter face inserts, the intent is to use a uniform shape of putter face inserts (i.e., identical length, width, and height dimensions) so that all putter face inserts are compatible with all modular putter heads and can be freely interchanged. The preferred form of putter head insert has a trapezoidal shape with a lower or bottom segment that is longer than the top and two sides of equal length. This shape is designed to slot into a hole cut into the middle of the putter face. The shape could take any form without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

Alternatively, a putter face insert that spans the entirety of the putter face is also contemplated. Standard materials for putter heads may be used along with a variety of milling patterns. The putter face inserts may also be offered with different lofts so that the golfer can manipulate the loft angle by installing different putter face inserts.

As discussed above and as shown in FIGS. 17-22, applicable to all AHI's, the putter face inserts will be mechanically attached to the putter head with screws. The screw assembly could run perpendicularly through the putter sole and connect to threaded holes in the bottom of the putter face insert, run perpendicularly through the back of the putter body and connect to threaded holes in the rear of the putter face insert, run perpendicularly through the face of the putter face insert and connect to thread holes in in the putter body. The putter face inserts will be sold with different alignment aids consisting of a variety of combinations of lines and dots that conform to USGA regulations and these will be capable of being combined in different configurations with alignment aids featured on the putter body to create multiple different combination options.

There is also provided a putter club assembly that will include a fitting kit so that a golfer can adjust the club according to individual preference (not shown). The golfer will be provided access to a proprietary “Fit Kit” through a qualified golf club fitter or putter retailer. Each Fit Kit will include: (1) multiple putter heads in different styles; (2) optional putter face inserts of different construction materials; (3) an optional putter adapter (and in the case of a putter using a Diagonal AHI, multiple putter adapter options featuring different lie angle configurations); (4) multiple AHI Assemblies with different offset configurations; (5) an optional shaft adapter (and in the case of a putter using a Perpendicular AHI, multiple shaft adapter options featuring different lie angle configurations); and (6) one or more shafts featuring different length and grip options.

The fitting process begins by identifying the following characteristic of the golfer: height, arm length, putting stance, putting stroke arc, ball position, manner of gripping the golf club, and any range of motion impediments or other unique physical characteristics. The golfer will select a shaft suitable to the golfer's physical characteristics featuring the golfer's preferred golf grip. There can be multiple shafts fitted with shaft adapters in different lengths and featuring different grips that can be interchangeably connected to the subordinate hosel tip to permit the golfer to be fit using preferred length and grip type.

The golfer will then select one or more putter head variations to try based on the golfer's preferences in terms of alignment features, aesthetics, and overall comfort. The golfer will also be able to select a putter face insert based on the golfer's preferred construction material and performance characteristics.

Utilizing the Fit Kit, once a shaft is selected, a putter adapter featuring the golfer's preferred lie angle will be selected and mounted to the putter head. The golfer will then have ability to select an AHI featuring the golfer's preferred amount of offset and the golfer will be able to install and make rotational adjustments to the AHI to manipulate the tow hang and shaft offset characteristics of the assembled club. The club will be assembled by mounting the putter face insert to the putter head; mounting the putter head to the putter adapter; mounting the putter adapter to the dominant hosel tip of the AHI; mounting the subordinate hose tip of the AHI to the shaft adapter; and mounting the shaft adapter to the shaft.

The golfer will be prompted to hit a series of practice putts. Based on the golfer's miss tendencies, the golfer or professional fitter will make physical adjustments to the putter during this fitting process by making rotational adjustments to the dominant hosel tip and/or substituting different AHI assemblies with different offset characteristics to create different shaft offset and toe hang characteristics that are better suited to golfer's putting stroke.

The AHI adjustment system promotes further adjustment and refinement after the golfer has been fit into the putter, it being understood that changes in a golfer's putting stroke, tendencies, ball position, and putter grip choice can all have a meaningful effect on the play and balance characteristics of a putter. Through the AHI adjustment setting, golfers will have the ability to be re-fit any number of times using the procedure identified above without significant cost or inconvenience.

Various modifications and variations of the described inventions, methods, and kits of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific embodiments, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications and that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the invention. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure come within known customary practice within the art to which the invention pertains and may be applied to the essential features herein before set forth.

Claims

1. An adjustable hosel insert for a golf club, comprising: an adjustable dominant hosel tip having incremental adjustment members;the adjustable dominant hosel tip oriented in spaced parallel relationship to a subordinate hosel tip;an angled hosel run disposed between the adjustable dominant hosel tip and the subordinate hosel tip; andthe adjustable dominant hosel tip oriented in a separate plane from the subordinate hosel tip.

2. The adjustable hosel insert according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable dominant hosel tip rotationally engages with corresponding adjustment members in a putter adapter.

3. The adjustable hosel insert according to claim 2 wherein the adjustable dominant hosel tip and the putter adapter form a rotation joint therebetween.

4. The adjustable hosel insert according to claim 3 wherein rotation of the dominant hosel tip changes physical location of the subordinate hosel tip relative to the putter head.

5. The adjustable hosel insert according to claim 3 wherein the subordinate hosel tip is adapted to rotate radially around the dominant hosel tip as rotational adjustments are made to the dominant hosel rotation joint.

6. The adjustable hosel insert according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable dominant hosel tip rotationally engages with corresponding adjustment members in a golf club putter head.

7. The adjustable hosel insert according to claim 1 wherein the subordinate hosel tip and a golf club shaft member form a rotation joint therebetween.

8. The adjustable hosel insert according to claim 1 wherein the angled hosel run forms an angled connection with the subordinate hosel tip and the dominant hosel tip.

9. A putter club assembly having a shaft, hosel and putter head, comprising: the hosel comprising an adjustable hosel insert having a dominant and a subordinate hosel tip;the putter head adjustably engaged with the dominant hosel tip whereby the dominant hosel tip has a first mating member mounted on the dominant hosel tip;the dominant hosel tip oriented in a separate plane from the subordinate hosel tip with the subordinate hosel tip positioned opposite the dominant hosel tip and the hosel angularly disposed between the dominant hosel tip and the subordinate hosel tip; andthe subordinate hosel tip secured to the shaft of the putter club.

10. The putter club assembly according to claim 9 wherein the first mating member of the dominant hosel tip is mechanically engaged with a corresponding second mating member mounted on a putter adapter.

11. The putter club assembly according to claim 10 wherein the putter adapter is defined by the second mating member and a third mating member positioned at opposite ends of the putter adapter.

12. The putter club assembly according to claim 9 wherein an adjustable hosel insert securing member is insertable through the dominant hosel tip and threadedly engaged with the first mating member.

13. The putter club assembly according to claim 9 wherein the shaft is secured to a first end of a shaft adapter, the shaft adapter defined by a first mating shaft member at a second end opposite the first end and the first mating shaft member mechanically engaged with a corresponding second mating shaft member mounted on the subordinate hosel tip.

14. The putter club assembly according to claim 13 wherein a second adjustable hosel insert securing member is insertable through the subordinate hosel tip for threaded engagement with the second mating shaft member.

15. The putter club assembly according to claim 9 wherein the putter head includes a detachable putter face.

16. The putter club assembly according to claim 10 wherein the first mating member and the corresponding second mating member comprise male and female rotation joints.

17. The putter club assembly according to claim 10 wherein the first mating member and the corresponding second mating member comprise a flush joint.

18. The putter club assembly according to claim 10 wherein the first mating member and the corresponding second mating member comprise a meshed face joint.

19. A putter club assembly having a shaft, hosel, putter head, and putter face comprising: the hosel defined by an adjustable hosel insert having a dominant and a subordinate hosel tip;the putter head fixedly engaged with the dominant hosel tip;the subordinate hosel tip positioned opposite the dominant hosel tip with the hosel disposed between the dominant hosel tip and the subordinate hosel tip;the subordinate hosel tip defined by a first shaft mating member mounted on the subordinate hosel tip;the shaft having a shaft adapter with a corresponding second shaft mating member positioned opposite the shaft on the shaft adapter;the first shaft mating member of the shaft adapter adjustably secured to the second shaft mating member of the shaft adapter; andthe dominant hosel tip oriented in a separate plane from the subordinate hosel tip.

20. The putter club assembly according to claim 19 wherein the hosel extends horizontally in a vertical plane from the subordinate hosel tip and vertically in a horizontal plane from the dominant hosel tip.

21. An adjustable putter assembly kit, comprising: a putter head;a putter face insert;a lie adapter having engagement members positioned at opposite ends;an adjustable hosel insert having engagement members positioned at opposite ends;a shaft adapter having engagement members positioned at opposite ends; anda golf club shaft.

22. The putter assembly kit according to claim 21 wherein the engagement members are selected from the group consisting of male and female joint members, flush joint members, and meshed face members.

23. A method of fitting a golfer for a putter, comprising the steps of: selecting a putter head;selecting a putter face insert, the putter face insert having a shape that is configured to mate with the putter head;selecting an adjustable hosel insert having shaft offset and toe hang rotational adjustment members, the adjustable hosel insert having terminal ends that are adapted to mate with the putter head and a golf club shaft;mounting the putter face insert to the putter head;mounting the putter head to the adjustable hosel insert; andmounting the adjustable hosel insert to the shaft.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the steps further include: selecting a putter adapter defined by lie angle adjustment members, the putter adapter having terminal ends that are adapted to mate with the putter head and the adjustable hosel insert, and rotationally engaging a first mating member disposed on the first terminal end of the adjustable hosel insert with a corresponding second mating member disposed on the putter adapter forming a rotation joint.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the steps further include rotating the rotation joint thereby adjusting the shaft offset and toe hang characteristics.

26. The method according to claim 23 wherein the steps further include: selecting a shaft adapter, the shaft adapter having first and second terminal ends that are adapted to mate with the golf club shaft and the adjustable hosel insert, the adjustable hosel insert having a terminal end shaft mating member with adjustment members adapted to rotationally engage with corresponding adjustment members on the second terminal end of the shaft adapter.