Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6475100
-
Patent Number
6,475,100
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, October 11, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 5, 200221 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 473 307
- 473 309
- 473 310
- 473 311
- 473 314
- 473 345
- 473 346
-
International Classifications
-
-
Disclaimer
Terminal disclaimer
Abstract
The golf club (20) of the present invention allows for the face angle of the golf club to be set after manufacturing of the golf club head (22). The golf club (20) of the present invention is able to accomplish this by providing a golf club head (22) with an internal hosel (38) (such as a GREAT BIG BERTHA® HAWK EYE® driver), a shaft (40) and an insert (51) that is disposed within the internal hosel (38). The insert (51) allows for the face angle of the golf club (20) to be oriented after manufacturing of the golf club head (22). The golf club (20) may also include a hosel liner (50) that is disposed within the insert (51).
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wood-type golf club. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wood-type golf club head with the capability to adjust the face angle.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to improve their game, golfers seek customization of their equipment to their particular swing. Golf equipment manufacturers have responded by increasing the different types of clubs available to the average golfer. For drivers, this has included increasing the different number of lofts readily available to the average golfer. Further, the average golfer can choose the type of shaft, whether metal or graphite, appropriate to the golfer's swing. Additionally, the length of the shaft may be adjusted, and the type of grip can be customized for the golfer.
However, golfers demand perfection, and every possible adjustment must be made to fit a particular golfer's swing. Thus, drivers that allow for adjustments in the lie angle and face angle have been made available to golfers. One such driver is Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,973 for a Golf Club Head With Enlarged Hosel, originally filed in 1996. The insert of Jackson is removable thereby allowing for another insert with a different shaft orientation to be inserted into the hosel. The insert of Jackson has a diameter that is much larger than that of the tip end of the shaft.
Another example is Schroder, U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,733, filed in 1990 for a Golf Club. The Schroder patent discloses a club head with an elongated lower shaft portion that can be rotated to adjust the face angle of the golf club. The lower shaft portion is adjustable by rotating the shaft to accommodate the golfer, however, the tip of the shaft will be disposed behind or in proximity to the center of percussion of the golf club. Additionally, Schroder requires a particular shaft, with a lower angled portion, for the golf club head.
A further example is Toulon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,528, filed in 1996, for a Golf Club Head And Hosel Construction. The Toulon patent discloses a hosel with a slot groove that provides for adjustment of the face angle by five degrees and the lie angle by seven degrees by application of a transverse bending force on the hosel.
A further example of such an invention is Wood, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,851,155, which was originally filed in 1997. The Wood patent discloses a hosel that allows for customization of the face angle for a particular golfer by reorienting the club head relative to a neck member of the hosel.
Yet a further example is Kubica, U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,549 which was filed in 1997 for a golf club and a multitude of hosels with each hosel having a passage with a different angle relative to the club head. Each hosel has a flat portion for securing the hosel within a bore in the club head. In order to adjust the angle, the hosel must be replaced with another hosel. The hosels are composed of a material softer than the club head.
The prior art also contains the use of inserts for non-adjustment purposes. One example of the prior art is Chappell, U.S. Pat. No. 5,688,188 for a golf club. The Chappell patent discloses an iron with a ferrule composed of a thermoplastic material having a modulus of elasticity of 80-1980 pounds per square inch, a specific gravity of 1.15 to 1.22, shore hardness of 60, and an Izod strength of 3.0 to 10.0 ft/lbs. The ferrule is placed within an external hosel, and the exposed end of the ferrule 21 millimeters. The preferred material is a butyrate.
Another example is Dekura, U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,089, which was originally filed in Japan in 1994 for a metal wood composed of magnesium or aluminum alloy with a hosel attaching section composed of ABS and epoxy. The rigidity of the hosel attaching section is lower than the shaft to absorb vibration and shock to thereby reduce vibrations through the shaft.
Another example is Take et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,723, originally filed in Japan in 1994 for a Golf club With Cushion Material Between Shaft And Head. The Take patent discloses the use of a cushioning member composed of a synthetic resin such as ABS resin, polycarbonate, or epoxy, in order to cushion the shaft within the metal head.
Another example is Allen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,149 which was originally filed in 1999 for a shortened hosel and an extended ferrule. The primary object of the Allen patent is to reduce hosel weight without sacrificing shaft support or cosmetic integrity. The Allen patent discloses a hosel with a length of 0.625 inch to 0.750 inch, and an extended ferrule composed of a high strength thermoplastic.
One of the earliest example is Offutt, U.S. Pat. No. 1,167,922, originally filed in 1914 for a golf club head with an enlargement on a tubular metal shaft to provide a fluted surface.
However, golfers want a high performance golf club that can be easily customized to them while golf equipment manufacturers need to provide as much standardization as possible in order to prevent escalation of manufacturing costs. Thus, although the prior art has presented many inventions for providing customization, the prior art has failed to provide a cost effective method of customization.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a solution to the cost-effective customization of golf clubs while provide golfers with golf clubs that they currently play and trust to give them optimal performance. The present invention is able to accomplish this by providing a wood-type golf club head with an insert for orientation of the golf club face angle subsequent to the manufacturing of the golf club head.
A golf club head is typically manufactured using a casting procedure or a forging procedure. Typically, the face angle of the golf club is fixed at the time of manufacture since the location and orientation of the hosel is integrally manufactured with the entirety of the golf club head. Depending on manufacturing tolerances, the intended face angle, or effective loft angle, could be off several degrees or more. The present invention overcomes this problems by fixing the face angle of the golf club post-manufacturing through use of an insert.
One aspect of the present invention is a golf club including a golf club head, an insert and a shaft. The golf club head has a crown, a sole, a striking plate and an internal hosel. The internal hosel has a hosel wall defining a bore that extends from a crown opening below a top of the crown to a sole opening at the sole. The insert is disposed within the internal hosel. The insert has a cylindrical body that extends from the crown opening to the sole opening. The cylindrical body defines a bore that extends from the crown opening to the sole opening. The bore is disposed at a predetermined angle within the cylindrical body to define a face angle of the golf club. The shaft has a tip end and a butt end. The tip end of the shaft is positioned through the bore of the insert to the sole opening.
Another aspect of the present invention is a method for manufacturing a golf club. The method begins with providing a golf club head having a crown, a sole, a striking plate and an internal hosel extending from the crown to the sole. The internal hosel has a hosel wall defining a bore that extends from a crown opening below a top of the crown to a sole opening in the sole. The next step is attaching a removable insert to a tip end of a shaft. The insert has a cylindrical body that defines a bore extending therethrough. The shaft is positioned within the bore. The next step is orienting the insert to define the face angle of the golf club. The next step is placing the shaft, while attached to the insert, within the internal hosel of the golf club head. An excess portion of the tip end of the shaft and an excess portion of the insert extends further than the sole opening. The next step is cutting the excess portions of the tip end of the shaft and the insert at the sole opening to define a relatively smooth sole surface.
Yet another aspect of the present invention is a golf club including a golf club head, an insert, a hosel liner and a shaft. The golf club head has a crown, a sole, a striking plate and an internal hosel extending from the crown to the sole. The internal hosel has a hosel wall defining a bore that extends from a crown opening below a top of the crown to a sole opening in the sole. The insert is disposed within the bore of the internal hosel. The insert has a cylindrical body that extends from the crown opening to the sole opening. The cylindrical body defines a bore that has an upper chamber in communication with the crown opening and a lower chamber in communication with the upper chamber and the sole opening. The bore defines a face angle of the golf club. The hosel liner has an upper portion, a lower portion and a bore therethrough. The upper portion has a greater diameter than the lower portion, and the lower portion positioned within the upper chamber of the bore of the insert. The hosel liner has a shoulder below the upper portion that engages the crown, and the hosel liner is composed of a polymer material. The shaft has a tip end and a butt end. The tip end of the shaft is positioned through the bore of the hosel liner and through the bore of the insert to the sole opening.
Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a front plan view of the golf club of the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a top plan view of the golf club of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a heel end side view of the golf club of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a toe end side view of the golf club of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
is a bottom plan view of the golf club of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 6
is an exploded perspective view of the golf club of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 7
is a front plan view of the golf club of
FIG. 1
with the internal hosel, removable insert and hosel liner in phantom.
FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional view of line
8
—
8
of FIG.
3
.
FIG. 9
is an exploded view of FIG.
8
.
FIG. 10
is a cross-sectional view of the front of the golf club head.
FIG. 11
is an isolated top view of the removable insert.
FIG. 12
is an isolated side view of the removable insert.
FIG. 13
is an isolated perspective view of the removable insert.
FIG. 14
is an isolated side view of an alternative removable insert with a different bore angle.
FIG. 15
is an isolated perspective view of the hosel liner.
FIG. 16
is an isolated bottom view of the hosel liner.
FIG. 17
is an isolated top view of the hosel liner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in
FIGS. 1-4
, a golf club is generally designated
20
. The golf club
20
has a golf club head
22
, a shaft
40
and a hosel liner
50
. The golf club head
22
has a body
23
with a crown
24
, a sole
26
, a ribbon
28
and a striking plate
30
. The striking plate
30
generally extends from a heel end
32
to a toe end
34
of the front of the golf club head
20
. The body
23
preferably has a hollow interior
36
with an internal hosel
38
for receiving the tip end of a shaft
40
through the hosel liner
50
which is disposed within an insert
51
. As will be explained in greater detail below, the insert
51
allows for post-manufacturing adjustment of the face angle of the golf club
20
.
The golf club head
22
has a body
23
that is preferably composed of a metal material such as titanium, titanium alloy, stainless steel, or the like, and is most preferably composed of a forged titanium material. However, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the body
23
may be composed of alternative materials such as composites such as a pre-peg resin with carbon strands.
The body
23
, when designed as a driver, preferably has a large volume, typically greater than 300 cubic centimeters, and is most preferably 350 cubic centimeters for a body
23
composed of titanium. However, when designed as a driver, a body
23
composed of stainless steel may have a volume range of 200 cubic centimeters to 275 cubic centimeters, and a body
23
composed of a composite material may have a volume of 325 cubic centimeters to 400 cubic centimeters. The body
23
, when designed as a driver, preferably weighs no more than 215 grams, and most preferably weighs between 180 and 205 grams. When the body
23
is designed as a fairway wood, the body
23
weighs from 135 grams to 180 grams, and preferably from 140 grams to 165 grams.
The shaft
40
is preferably composed of a graphite material, however, it may be composed of a lightweight metal material such as titanium. Alternatively, the shaft
40
may be composed of a hybrid of graphite and metal. Yet further, the shaft
40
may be composed of a thin stainless steel material. The weight of the shaft
40
preferably ranges from 40 grams to 80 grams, more preferably from 50 grams to 75 grams, and is most preferably 65 grams.
The shaft
40
is attached to the golf club head
22
through the hosel liner
50
and the insert
51
. The insert
51
is positioned within the internal hosel
38
of the golf club head
22
. The hosel liner
50
is positioned within insert
51
.
The internal hosel
38
does not substantially extend beyond the surface of the crown
24
of the golf club head
22
. More precisely, the internal hosel
38
is lower than the top of the crown
24
when the golf club
20
is in the address position to strike a golf ball. The internal hosel
38
is positioned within the hollow interior
36
of the golf club head
22
, nearest the heel end
32
. As best shown in
FIGS. 7-9
, the internal hosel
38
includes a wall
60
that defines a bore
39
that opens at a crown opening
52
and a sole opening
62
of the body
23
. The bore
39
is sized to accommodate the insert
51
. The insert
51
is secured within the bore
39
of the internal hosel
38
through application of an adhesive, such as an epoxy, to the external surface of the insert
51
. The internal hosel
38
is preferably cast with the body
23
of the golf club head
22
. Alternatively, the internal hosel
38
may be welded within the hollow interior
36
in alignment with the crown opening
52
and the sole opening
62
of the body
23
. The diameter of the bore
39
is not much greater than the outer diameter of the removable insert
51
thereby allowing for a tight and secure fit of the insert
51
within the bore
39
.
The insert
51
has a cylindrical body
57
with a wall
55
that defines a bore
77
that includes an upper chamber
54
, a lower chamber
56
and a transition region
58
. The upper chamber
54
is in flow communication with a top opening
59
of the insert
51
into which the hosel liner
50
is secured with the insert
51
. The lower chamber
56
is in open communication with a bottom opening
61
of the insert
51
. The upper chamber
54
is in open communication with the transition region
58
that is in open communication with the lower chamber
56
. The upper chamber
54
has a diameter A and the lower chamber
56
has a diameter B. Diameter A is greater than diameter B in order to provide a mechanical locking mechanism for securing of the hosel liner
50
. The shaft
40
will extend through the hosel liner
50
, into the transition region
58
and then into the lower chamber
56
of the insert
51
. The insert is preferably composed of a metal material, however, it may be composed of a polymer material. A preferred metal material is aluminum. Other metal materials are stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloys and the like. Polymer materials include thermoplastic polyurethanes, phenoxies, polyamides and the like.
As shown in
FIGS. 11-14
, the insert
51
has a length that extends from the crown opening
52
to the sole opening
62
. The bore
77
is angled relative to a central axis
79
of the cylindrical body
57
such that a central axis
81
of the bore
77
is at an angle of between 0 to 3.5 degrees relative to the central axis
79
of the insert
51
. The wall
55
varies in thickness from upper chamber
54
having a thickness of
55
b
to transition having a thickness of
55
c
to the lower chamber
56
having a thickness of
55
d.
Further, due to the angling of the bore
77
, the thickness on one side is different than the thickness on the other side. Additionally, a flange
73
at the top opening
59
has a thickness
55
a.
The flange
73
allows for facilitated retention and accuracy of location of the insert
51
within the internal hosel
38
during manufacturing of the golf club
20
.
The internal angling of the bore
77
relative to the cylindrical body
57
allows for the adjustment of the face angle of the golf club
20
. Further, a quarter rotation of the insert
51
within the internal hosel
38
will change the face angle of the golf club
20
by a predetermined amount. A half rotation will further adjust the face angle, and a three-quarters adjustment will modify the face angle even further. Additional adjustments to the face angle of the golf club
20
are accomplished by exchanging a first insert
51
having a first bore angle relative to a central axis
79
of the cylindrical body
57
with a second insert
51
having a second bore angle relative to a central axis
79
of the cylindrical body
57
. Thus, the golf club head
22
may be manufactured within predetermined specifications for a genus of golfers (an example would be golfers requiring a particular driver) while each insert
51
allows for a specific species of golfers (example would be golfers requiring a specific face angle).
The hosel liner
50
generally includes an upper portion
64
and a lower portion
66
. The hosel liner has an external opening
63
and an internal opening
65
. The lower portion
66
is positioned within the upper chamber
54
of the insert
51
. The diameter A of the upper chamber
54
should securely accommodate the diameter of the lower portion
66
. The upper portion
64
rests above the crown
24
.
As shown in
FIGS. 15-17
, the upper portion
64
has an exterior surface
68
with a plurality of recesses
70
therein. The surface
68
of the upper portion is curved, and the outer diameter increases in size toward the lower portion
66
. The upper portion
64
ends at a shoulder
72
that rests on the crown
24
of the golf club head
22
when the lower portion of the hosel liner
50
is placed within the insert
51
. The curved surface
68
of the upper portion
64
of the hosel liner
50
is discontinuous with the surface of the crown
24
.
The lower portion
66
has a cylindrical surface
73
with major slots
74
and minor slots
76
.
The major slots extend along a substantial portion of the surface
73
and are open at the internal opening
65
. The interior surface of the lower portion
66
has projections
78
that engage the shaft
40
. The hosel liner
50
is preferably composed of a polymer material such as a polycarbonate material. The hosel liner
50
is designed to relieve stress that is placed on the shaft
40
during the impact between a golf club head
22
impact and a golf ball. The hosel liner
50
prevents substantial contact between the shaft
40
, typically graphite, and the metal golf club head
22
.
In manufacturing the golf club
20
, the tip end of a shaft
40
is inserted through the external opening of the hosel liner
50
. Then, the hosel liner
50
and the shaft
40
are inserted through the top opening
59
of the insert
51
. Then, the shaft
40
, hosel liner
50
and insert
51
are inserted through the crown opening
52
. An excess portion
95
of the tip end of the shaft
40
and an excess portion
97
of the insert
51
extend beyond the surface of the sole
26
. These excess portions
95
and
97
are cut to create a smooth surface at the sole opening
62
.
From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A golf club comprising:a wood-type golf club head having a crown, a sole and a striking plate, the crown, the sole and the striking plate defining a hollow interior, the golf club head having an internal hosel disposed within the hollow interior, the internal hosel having a hosel wall defining a bore that extends from a crown opening at the crown to a sole opening at the sole; an insert disposed within the bore of the internal hosel, the insert having a cylindrical body extending from the crown opening to the sole opening, the cylindrical body defining a bore that extends from the crown opening to the sole opening, the bore of the insert disposed at an angle of between 0 to 3.5 relative to a central axis of the insert within the cylindrical body, a hosel liner having an upper portion, a lower portion and a bore therethrough for positioning of the shaft therein, the upper portion having a greater diameter than the lower portion, the upper portion having a curved surface with a plurality of recesses therein, the lower portion positioned within the internal hosel, the hosel liner having a shoulder below the upper portion, the shoulder engaging the crown, and the hose liner composed of a polymer material; and a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the tip end of the shaft positioned through the bore of the insert to the sole opening; wherein the angle of the bore of the insert relative to the central axis of the insert defines a face angle of the golf club.
- 2. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, amorphous metals, a composite material, magnesium, and a polymer material.
- 3. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the insert has an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the upper chamber having a diameter greater than the lower chamber, the lower portion of the hosel liner positioned within the upper chamber.
- 4. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the bore of the insert is at angle such that a quarter rotation of the removable insert within the bore of the internal hosel will result in a modification of the face angle of the golf club.
- 5. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head has a volume greater than 250 cubic centimeters.
- 6. The golf club according to claim 1 wherein the golf club head weighs between 180 grams and 205 grams.
- 7. A golf club comprising:a wood-type golf club head having a crown, a sole and a striking plate, the crown, the sole and the striking plate defining a hollow interior, the golf club head having an internal hosel disposed within the hollow interior, the internal hosel having a hosel wall defining a bore that extends from a crown opening at the crow to a sole opening at the sole; an insert disposed within the bore of the internal hosel, the insert having a cylindrical body extending from the crown opening to the sole opening, the cylindrical body defining a bore that extends from the crown opening to the sole opening, the bore of the insert disposed at an angle of between 0 to 3.5 relative to a central axis of the insert within the cylindrical body, a hosel liner having an upper portion, a lower portion and a bore therethrough for positioning of the shaft therein, the upper portion having a greater diameter than the lower portion, the lower portion having a plurality of slots and a plurality of interior projections, the lower portion positioned within the internal hosel, the hosel liner having a shoulder below the upper portion, the shoulder engaging the crown, and the hosel liner composed of a polymer material; and a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the tip end of the shaft positioned through the bore of the insert to the sole opening; wherein the angle of the bore of the insert relative to the central axis of the insert defines a face angle of the golf club.
US Referenced Citations (10)