Patent Grant
11554296
This invention generally relates to golf clubs. In particular, the present disclosure is related golf coupling mechanisms for joining golf club heads and shafts.
Current fitting methods require a large inventory of shafts to fit a wide variety of users. A golf club fitter evaluates a user's swing, and then selects a golf club having specifications that would best fit the user. The golf club fitter needs to have a large inventory of shafts and club heads to be able to accommodate different user's fitting dimensions. This large inventory is undesirable in the field because excess shafts or club heads take up storage space that could be used for other fitting equipment. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a golf coupling mechanism that adjusts a club head loft angle, a club head lie angle, and a golf club shaft length to reduce club head or shaft inventory size.
For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elements in the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in different figures denote the same elements.
The present embodiments discussed below are directed to a golf coupling mechanism configured for joining a golf club head to a golf club shaft. The golf coupling mechanism is disposed within a hosel having a hosel bore. The golf coupling mechanism allows for the adjustment of a club head loft angle, a club head lie angle, and a golf club shaft length while utilizing one shaft. The golf coupling mechanism utilizes an off-axis tilt in combination with an arcuate coupler set protruding from an outer surface of the golf coupling mechanism to adjust the loft angle and lie angle of the golf club. The arcuate coupler set of the golf coupling mechanism is configured to engage an arcuate receiver coupler set intended within the hosel of the golf club head. The arcuate coupler set of the golf coupling mechanism frictionally locks the shaft relative to the golf club head. The arcuate couplers ensure the golf coupling mechanism is centered within the hosel and ensures uniform contact between the golf coupling mechanism and the hosel (i.e. coupling mechanism is not misaligned within the hosel to create high areas of stress).
The golf coupling mechanism utilizes a removable spacer and removable extender to extend the length of the shaft. The golf coupling mechanism with the shaft lengthening components including the removable spacer and the removable extender accommodates a wide range of golfer's heights and/or wrist to floor dimensions. The removable spacer and the removable extender increase the length of the golf coupling mechanism thereby increasing the length of the shaft. The removable spacer and the extender are non-threadably secured to the golf coupling mechanism. The removable lengthening components of the golf coupling mechanism allows a golf fitter to use one shaft to accommodate a golf player's dimensions without the need for a large club head or shaft inventory.
The terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, system, article, device, or apparatus.
The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the like should be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or more elements, mechanically or otherwise. Coupling (whether mechanical or otherwise) can be for any length of time, e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant.
The absence of the word “removably,” “removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does not mean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.
The terms “loft”, “loft angle”, “lie”, or “lie angle” of a golf club, as described herein, refers to angles formed between the golf club and a ground plane when the golf club is held in an address position. In the address position, the lie angle of the golf club (i.e. angle formed between the shaft and the ground plane) and the loft angle of the golf club (i.e. the angled formed between the club face and the ground plane) are oriented as specified by the manufacturer, and are measured by any suitable loft and lie machine.
Embodiments of a golf club head are described herein, wherein the golf club head can comprise a hollow body club head. More specifically, the club head can be an iron, wedge, a crossover, or other iron-type club heads.
For example, the iron can comprise a loft angle less than approximately 60 degrees, less than approximately 59 degrees, less than approximately 58 degrees, less than approximately 57 degrees, less than approximately 57 degrees, less than approximately 56 degrees, less than approximately 55 degrees, less than approximately 54 degrees, less than approximately 53 degrees, less than approximately 52 degrees, less than approximately 51 degrees, less than approximately 50 degrees, less than approximately 49 degrees, less than approximately 48 degrees, less than approximately 47 degrees, less than approximately 46 degrees, less than approximately 45 degrees, less than approximately 44 degrees, less than approximately 43 degrees, less than approximately 42 degrees, less than approximately 41 degrees, less than approximately 40 degrees, less than approximately 39 degrees, less than approximately 38 degrees, less than approximately 37 degrees, less than approximately 36 degrees, less than approximately 35 degrees, less than approximately 34 degrees, less than approximately 33 degrees, less than approximately 32 degrees, less than approximately 31 degrees, less than approximately 30 degrees, less than approximately 29 degrees, less than approximately 28 degrees, less than approximately 27 degrees, less than approximately 26 degrees, less than approximately 25 degrees, less than approximately 24 degrees, less than approximately 23 degrees, less than approximately 22 degrees, less than approximately 21 degrees, less than approximately 20 degrees, less than approximately 19 degrees or less than approximately 18 degrees.
Further, in some embodiments, the loft angle of the iron can be greater than approximately 17 degrees, greater than approximately 18 degrees, greater than approximately 19 degrees, greater than approximately 20 degrees, greater than approximately 21 degrees, greater than approximately 22 degrees, greater than approximately 23 degrees, greater than approximately 24 degrees, greater than approximately 25 degrees, greater than approximately 26 degrees, greater than approximately 27 degrees, greater than approximately 28 degrees, greater than approximately 29 degrees, greater than approximately 30 degrees, greater than approximately 31 degrees, greater than approximately 32 degrees, greater than approximately 33 degrees, greater than approximately 34 degrees, greater than approximately 35 degrees, greater than approximately 36 degrees, greater than approximately 37 degrees, greater than approximately 38 degrees, greater than approximately 39 degrees, greater than approximately 40 degrees, greater than approximately 41 degrees, greater than approximately 42 degrees, greater than approximately 43 degrees, greater than approximately 44 degrees, greater than approximately 45 degrees, greater than approximately 46 degrees, greater than approximately 47 degrees, greater than approximately 48 degrees, greater than approximately 49 degrees, greater than approximately 50 degrees, greater than approximately 51 degrees, greater than approximately 52 degrees, greater than approximately 53 degrees, greater than approximately 54 degrees, greater than approximately 55 degrees, greater than approximately 56 degrees, greater than approximately 57 degrees, greater than approximately 58 degrees, greater than approximately 59 degrees, or greater than approximately 60 degrees.
The iron can comprise a lie angle ranging from 50 degrees to 65 degrees. In some embodiments, the lie angle of the iron can range from 50 to 60 degrees, or 60 to 65 degrees. For example, the lie angle of the iron can be 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, or 65 degrees.
A volume of the iron can be greater than or equal to 20 cubic centimeters (cc) and less than or equal to 80 cubic centimeters (cc). In some embodiments, the volume of the iron can range from 20 to 50 cc, or 50 to 80 cc. In other embodiments, the volume of the iron can range from 20 to 60 cc, 30 to 70 cc, or 40 to 80 cc. For example, the volume of the iron can be 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80 cc.
Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details or embodiment and the arrangement of components as set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. It should be understood that the description of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the disclosure from covering all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Golf Club Head with Golf Coupling Mechanism
The present technology generally relates to an iron-type club head having a golf coupling mechanism for joining a shaft to the club head. The golf coupling mechanism reduces the size of club head inventory and/or shaft inventory by having the capability of achieving multiple loft angles, lie angles, and shaft lengths with one club head and one shaft. The golf coupling mechanism comprises a shaft sleeve, a shaft cap, and a retaining assembly to secure the golf coupling mechanism within the hosel of the club head. The shaft sleeve comprises features such as an off-axis tilt and a coupler set having a plurality of couplers to enable the golf coupling mechanism to adjust the loft and lie angle together. The coupler set of the shaft sleeve frictionally locks the shaft relative club head while providing uniform contact between the golf coupling mechanism and the hosel. The shaft cap is formed from a soft material to allow the shaft cap to elastically compress within the shaft sleeve. The shaft cap acts like a “shaft pillow” to soften the interaction between the shaft and the golf coupling mechanism. The shaft cap further comprises centering features such as ribs to center the shaft within golf coupling mechanism.
The golf coupling mechanism further comprises shaft lengthening components such as a removable spacer and a removable extender to extend the shaft length. The removable spacer and the removable extender are secured to the golf coupling mechanism without the use of threads or a threaded connection. The non-threaded connection of the removable spacer and the removable extender allow for quick removal of these components to increase or decrease the shaft length. The golf coupling mechanism described herein allows for multiple lie angle options, loft angle options, and shaft length options while utilizing a single club head and a single shaft. Described below is a first embodiment of the present technology.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to identify like or identical components in various views,
As illustrated in
Referring to
The top end bore 168 of the shaft sleeve 156 comprises a sleeve axis 176 extending along a centerline of the shaft sleeve 156 in a direction from the sleeve top end 160 to the sleeve bottom end 164. The hosel bore 140 comprises a hosel bore axis 180 extending along a centerline of the hosel bore 140. The sleeve axis 176 can be angled or tilted with respect to the hosel bore axis 180. The sleeve axis 176 can be angled between 0.4 degrees to 2.5 degrees relative to the hosel bore axis 180. In some embodiments, the sleeve axis 176 can be angled between 0.4 to 1.5 degrees or 1.5 to 2.5 degrees relative to the hosel bore axis 180. For example, the sleeve axis 176 can be angled 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.22, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, or 2.5 degrees relative to hosel bore axis 180. The top end bore 168 of the shaft sleeve 156 can be non-concentric with the hosel bore 140.
The sleeve axis 176 being angled from the hosel bore axis 180 enables the shaft sleeve 156, when rotated within the hosel 132, to vary the loft angle and lie angle of the club head 100. The club head 100 using the golf coupling mechanism has two degrees of freedom, wherein the shaft sleeve 156 can tilt forward and backward (i.e. strikeface 108 to rear 112 direction, or vice versa) to vary the loft angle, and the shaft sleeve 156 can tilt left and right (i.e. heel to toe direction, or vice versa) to vary the lie angle. The rotation of the shaft sleeve 156 within the hosel 132 can adjust the loft angle and the lie angle together.
The shaft sleeve 156 can comprise a coupler set 184 having a plurality of sleeve couplers protruding from an outer surface of the shaft sleeve 156. The coupler set 184 of the shaft sleeve 156 can protrude from the outer surface near the top end 160 of the shaft sleeve 156. As illustrated in
The sleeve couplers of the sleeve coupler set 184 can comprise arcuate surfaces configured to restrict rotation of the shaft sleeve 156 and the shaft 136 relative to the club head 100. The sleeve couplers of the sleeve coupler set 184 can be complimentary to the receiver couplers of the receiver coupler set 188 as described below. As illustrated in
The sleeve coupler set 184 of the shaft sleeve 156 can comprise at least four sleeve couplers. The sleeve coupler set 184 of the shaft sleeve 156 can comprise a first sleeve coupler, a second sleeve coupler, a third sleeve coupler, and a sleeve fourth coupler. The sleeve coupler set 184 of the shaft sleeve 156 can further comprise a sleeve fifth coupler, a sixth sleeve coupler, a seventh sleeve coupler, and an eighth sleeve coupler.
Referring to
The receiver coupler set 188 of the hosel bore 140 can comprise at least four receiver couplers. The receiver coupler set 188 of the hosel bore 140 can comprise a first receiver coupler, a second receiver coupler, a third receiver coupler, and a fourth receiver coupler. The receiver coupler set 188 of the hosel bore 140 can further comprise a fifth receiver coupler, a sixth receiver coupler, a seventh receiver coupler, and an eighth receiver coupler.
In some embodiments, the sleeve couplers of sleeve coupler set 184 can be asymmetric about the outer surface of the shaft sleeve 156 such that one or more sleeve couplers are longer in length at a first area of the shaft sleeve 156 (i.e. coupler length measured in a sleeve top end 160 to sleeve bottom end 164 direction) than a second area of the shaft sleeve 156 (e.g. 90 degrees or 180 degrees away from the first area). The receiver couplers of the receiver coupler set 188 can be complementary to the asymmetric profile of the sleeve couplers of the sleeve coupler set 184.
The arcuate surfaces of the sleeve coupler set 184 and the receiver coupler set 188 can be configured to be continuously curved, such as to be devoid of inflection points or edges. The edgeless design of the sleeve couplers from the coupler set 184 and the receiver coupler set 188 maximizes the contact surface area between the couplers when the sleeve coupler set 184 sits against the receiver coupler set 188. Maximizing the contact surface area between the coupler sets allows forces during golf swings to be evenly distributed across the couplers. Even force distribution across the couplers minimizes high localized stress concentrations and increases the durability of the golf coupling mechanism 104. The contact of the sleeve couplers between the coupler set 184 and the receiver coupler set 188 frictionally locks and restricts rotation of the shaft sleeve 156 relative to the club head 100 thereby restricting rotation between the shaft 136 and the club head 100.
Referring to
With continued reference to
Referring to
To adjust the loft angle and the lie angle of the club head 100, a golf fitter begins by using the torque-limiting tool to loosen the fastener 152. The fastener 152 does not need to be removed entirely from the hosel bore 140. Once the fastener 152 is loosened enough, the golf coupling mechanism 104 can be slightly lifted from its position within the hosel 132 and rotated. The golf fitter can rotate the golf coupling mechanism 104 to a desired lie angle setting indicator (as described in more detail below). Once the desired lie angle setting is selected, the golf coupling mechanism 104 can then be reseated within the hosel bore 140 and the fastener 152 can be tighten to secure golf coupling mechanism 104 within the hosel 132. The shaft 136 does not need to be removed from the golf coupling mechanism 104 to adjust loft and lie settings.
The golf coupling mechanism 104 can adjust the loft angle by 0.2 degrees to 2.0 degrees, and the lie angle by 0.5 degrees to 1.5 degrees. For example, the golf coupling mechanism 104 can adjust the loft angle by 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.33, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.85, 0.88, 0.89, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.22, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0 degrees. For example, the golf coupling mechanism 104 can adjust the lie angle by 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.81, 0.85, 0.89, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.22, 1.3, 1.4, or 1.5 degrees.
The golf coupling mechanism 104 can comprise five settings: three weak loft angle settings (i.e. greater loft angle), and two strong loft angle settings (i.e. lower loft angle). In one example, the sleeve axis 176 can be angled 1.22 degrees away from the hosel bore axis 180. A neutral position of the golf coupling mechanism 104 can occur when the sleeve axis 176 is in line with a loft plane (i.e. a plane that is tangent to the strikeface 108). The neutral position can be the first weak loft angle setting, where the golf coupling mechanism 104 does not change the factory made loft and lie angle of the club head 100. The adjustments to the different weak loft angle settings starts from the neutral setting. The second weak loft angle setting occurs when the golf coupling mechanism 104 is rotated 45 degrees in a first direction to achieve a 0.33 degree loft angle decrease and a 0.89 degree lie angle increase. The third weak loft angle setting occurs when the golf coupling mechanism 104 is rotated 45 degrees in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to achieve a 0.33 degree decrease in loft angle and a 0.89 decrease in lie angle. In this example, the weak loft angle settings can adjust the loft angle and lie angle by less than 1 degree.
The adjustments to the different strong loft angle settings starts from the neutral setting. The first strong loft angle setting occurs when the golf coupling mechanism 104 is rotated 90 degrees in the first direction to achieve a 1.22 degree loft angle decrease and a 1.22 lie angle increase. The second strong loft angle setting occurs when the golf coupling mechanism 104 is rotated 90 degrees in the second direction to achieve a 1.22 loft angle decrease and a 1.22 lie angle decrease. In this example, the strong loft angle settings can adjust the loft angle and the lie angle by greater than 1 degree.
Referring to
With continued reference to
In reference to the two strong loft angle settings described above, the first strong loft angle setting occurs when a sleeve indicator 204 aligns with the topmost hosel indicator 208. The first strong loft angle setting allows for a strong loft angle configuration with an upright lie angle configuration. The second strong loft angle setting occurs when a sleeve indicator 205 algins with the bottommost hosel indicator 208. The second strong loft angle setting allows for a strong angle configuration with a flat lie angle configuration.
Golf Coupling Mechanism with Length Adjustment
The golf coupling mechanism 104 allows for the adjustment of a club head loft angle, a club head lie angle, and a golf club shaft length while utilizing one shaft. To achieve adjustments in loft and lie angle, as described above, the golf coupling mechanism 104 includes the shaft sleeve 156 having an off-axis tilt within the top end bore 168 and an asymmetric sleeve coupler set 184. The off-axis tilt and the asymmetric sleeve coupler set 184 enables the shaft sleeve 136, when rotated within the hosel 132, to have two degrees of freedom. To achieve adjustments in a length of the shaft 136, the golf coupling mechanism 104 further includes shaft lengthening components such as a removable spacer and a removable extender. The removable spacer and the removable extender enable the shaft sleeve 156 to have a third degree of freedom (i.e. extending and retracting within the hosel bore 140). The removable spacer and the removable extender control the lengthening of the shaft 136. The golf coupling mechanism 104 having the shaft lengthening components increases or decreases the shaft length while utilizing one shaft.
As described in more detail below, the removable spacer and the removable extender increase the length of the golf coupling mechanism 104 thereby increasing the length of the shaft 136. The removable spacer can comprise one or more coupler sets having a plurality of couplers similar to the sleeve coupler set 184 of the shaft sleeve 156 and the receiver coupler set 188 of the hosel 132. The one or more coupler sets of the removable spacer ensures the golf coupling mechanism 104 frictionally locks the shaft 136 relative to the club head 100 in a lengthen configuration. The removable extender comprises one or more engagement members that interlock with shaft sleeve 156. The one or more engagement members of the removable extender can non-threadably secure the removable extender to the shaft sleeve 156. The non-threaded connection between the removal extender and the shaft sleeve 156 eases the removal of the shaft lengthening components from the golf coupling mechanism 104 to adjust loft angle, lie angle, and shaft length.
Referring to
Referring to
With continued reference to
Referring to
Referring to
In another embodiment, as illustrated in
Referring to
To adjust the length of the shaft 136, a golf fitter begins by using the torque-limiting tool to remove the fastener 152. Once the fastener 152 is removed from the hosel bore 140, the golf coupling mechanism 104 can be removed from the hosel 132. The golf fitter can couple the removable spacer 216 and the removable extender 228 to the shaft sleeve 156. Once the removable spacer 216 and the removable extender 228 are secured to the shaft sleeve 156, the assembled golf coupling mechanism 104 is reseated within the hosel bore 140 and secured with the fastener 152.
The golf coupling mechanism 104 can comprise a kit of multiple spacers 216 and multiple extenders 228 to accommodate a wide range of golfer's heights and wrist to floor measurements. The golf coupling mechanism 104 including the removable spacer 216 and the removable extender 228 can extend the length of the shaft 136 from 0.25 inch to 2.0 inches. In some embodiments, the golf coupling mechanism 104 can increase the length of the shaft 136 from 0.25 to 1.0 inch, or 1.0 to 2.0 inch. For example, the golf coupling mechanism 104 can increase the length of the shaft 136 by 0.25, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0 inches. A standard or neutral shaft length can be achieved when the golf coupling mechanism 104 is devoid of removable spacer 216 and the removable extender 228. A lengthen shaft 136 can be achieved when the golf coupling mechanism 104 includes the removable spacer 216 and the removable extender 228.
Method of Manufacturing
In many embodiments, a method for forming the club head 100 includes forming the club head 100 with the strikeface 108, the rear 112, the top rail 116, the sole 120, the toe 124, the heel 128, and the hosel 132. In some embodiments, the strikeface 108 can be formed integrally with the club head 100 including the rear 112, the top rail 116, the sole 120, the toe 124, the heel 128, and the hosel 132. Forming the integral club head 100 can comprise casting, 3D printing, machining, or any other suitable method for forming the club head 100.
In other embodiments, the strikeface 108 can be formed separately from the club head 100. Forming the separate strikeface 108 can comprise machining, 3D printing, casting, or any suitable method for forming the separate strike face 120. In many embodiments, securing the strike face 108 to the club head 100 can be accomplished by welding, mechanical fastening, or any other suitable method of securing the separate strike face 108 to the club head 100.
The club head 100 may be formed from a metal. Examples of metals may include, for example, but not limited to, steel, steel alloy, stainless steel, stainless steel alloy, C300, C350, Ni (Nickel)-Co(Cobalt)-Cr(Chromium)-Steel Alloy, 8620 alloy steel, S25C steel, 303 SS, 17-4 SS, carbon steel, maraging steel, 565 Steel, AISI type 304 or AISI type 630 stainless steel, titanium alloy, Ti-6-4, Ti-3-8-6-4-4, Ti-10-2-3, Ti 15-3-3-3, Ti 15-5-3, Ti185, Ti 66-2, Ti-7s, Ti-9s, Ti-92, or Ti-8-1-1 titanium alloy, amorphous metal alloy, or other similar metals.
The golf coupling mechanism 104 can be formed from metals or polymeric materials. The shaft sleeve 156, the removable spacer 200, and the removable extender 228 can be formed from aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, or titanium alloy. The shaft cap 192 can be formed from a soft material that allows the shaft cap 192 to elastically compress. For example, the shaft cap 192 can comprise a polymer plastic material wherein the polymer plastic material can be a thermoplastic material, or a soft polymer plastic according to the Shore D durometer scale. The soft polymer plastic can be no greater than 40, 45, 50, 55 or 60 on the Shore D durometer scale. The soft polymer plastic can be no greater than 55 on the Shore D durometer scale. The polymer plastic material can be comprised of polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, polymethacrylate, rubber, polycarbonate, synthetic rubber or co-polymers thereof.
Replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction and not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims.
As the rules to golf may change from time to time (e.g., new regulations may be adopted or old rules may be eliminated or modified by golf standard organizations and/or governing bodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA), the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A), etc.), golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be conforming or non-conforming to the rules of golf at any particular time. Accordingly, golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be advertised, offered for sale, and/or sold as conforming or non-conforming golf equipment. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.
Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicated to the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/or limitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are or are potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations in the claims under the doctrine of equivalents.
Clause 1. A golf club comprising: an iron-type club head comprising: a loft angle greater than 28 degrees; and a hosel; and a golf coupling mechanism configured to be inserted into the hosel and configured to couple a golf club shaft with the iron-type club head; wherein: the hosel comprises a hosel bore configured to receive the golf coupling mechanism; the hosel bore comprises a hosel bore axis extending along a centerline of the hose bore; the golf coupling mechanism comprises: a shaft sleeve having a sleeve bore configured to receive an end of the shaft; the shaft sleeve comprising: a sleeve axis extending along a centerline of the sleeve bore; a sleeve coupler set having a plurality of sleeve couplers protruding from an outer surface of the shaft sleeve; the coupler set comprising: a first coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the first coupler; a second coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the second coupler; a third coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the third coupler; and a fourth coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the fourth coupler; a shaft cap configured to be inserted into the sleeve bore; the sleeve axis is angled with respect to the hosel bore axis such that the sleeve bore is non-concentric with the hosel bore; and the golf coupling mechanism is configured to be rotated within the hosel to change the loft angle and the lie angle of the iron-type club head.
Clause 2. The golf club of clause 1, wherein: the sleeve coupler set of the shaft sleeve further comprises: a fifth coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the fifth coupler; and a sixth coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the sixth coupler.
Clause 3. The golf club of clause 2, wherein: the sleeve coupler set of the shaft sleeve further comprises: a seventh coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the seventh coupler; and an eighth coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the eighth coupler.
Clause 4. The golf club of clause 1, wherein: the hosel bore comprises a receiver coupler set having a plurality of receiver couplers indented into an internal surface of the hosel; the receiver coupler set comprising: a first receiver coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the first receiver coupler; a second receiver coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the second receiver coupler; a third receiver coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the third receiver coupler; and a fourth receiver coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the fourth receiver coupler.
Clause 5. The golf club of clause 4, wherein: the receiver coupler set of the hosel bore further comprises: a fifth receiver coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the fifth receiver coupler; and a sixth receiver coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the sixth receiver coupler.
Clause 6. The golf club of clause 5, wherein: the receiver coupler set of the hosel bore further comprises: a seventh receiver coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the sixth receiver coupler; and an eighth receiver coupler having an arcuate surface curved throughout the eighth receiver coupler.
Clause 7. The golf club of clause 4, wherein: the sleeve coupler set of the shaft sleeve is configured to sit against the receiver coupler set of the hosel bore to restrict the rotation of the shaft relative to the iron-type club head.
Clause 8. A golf club comprising: an iron-type club head comprising: a loft angle greater than 28 degrees; and a hosel; and a golf coupling mechanism configured to be inserted into the hosel and configured to couple a golf club shaft with the iron-type club head; wherein: the hosel comprises a hosel bore configured to receive the golf coupling mechanism; the hosel bore comprises a hosel bore axis extending along a centerline of the hosel bore; the golf coupling mechanism comprises: a shaft sleeve having a sleeve bore configured to receive an end of the shaft; the shaft sleeve comprising: a top section; a bottom section; a sleeve coupler set having a plurality of sleeve couplers protruding from an outer surface of the top section; and a sleeve axis extending along a centerline of the sleeve bore; a shaft cap configured to be inserted into the sleeve bore; a removable spacer configured to couple with the top section of the shaft sleeve; and a removable extender configured to couple with the bottom section of the shaft sleeve; the sleeve axis is angled with respect to the hosel bore axis such that the sleeve bore is non-concentric with the hosel bore; and the golf coupling mechanism is configured to be rotated within the hosel to change the loft angle and a lie angle of the iron-type club head; and the golf coupling mechanism is configured to change a length of the golf club shaft.
Clause 9. The golf club of clause 8, wherein: the removable spacer further comprises a receiver coupler set having a plurality of receiver couplers; and the sleeve coupler set of the shaft sleeve is configured to sit against the receiver coupler set of the removable spacer to restrict the rotation of the shaft sleeve relative to the removable spacer.
Clause 10. The golf club of clause 8, wherein the removable spacer further comprises a spacer coupler set having a plurality of spacer couplers protruding from an outer surface of the removable spacer.
Clause 11. The golf club of clause 10, wherein: the hosel bore comprises a receiver coupler set having a plurality of receiver couplers indented into an internal surface of the hosel; and the spacer coupler set of the removable spacer is configured to sit against the receiver coupler set of the hosel bore to restrict the rotation of the golf coupling mechanism relative to the iron-type club head.
Clause 12. The golf club of clause of 8, wherein the shaft sleeve further comprises locking channels located at the bottom section of the shaft sleeve.
Clause 13. The golf club of claim 12, wherein: the removable extender comprises a first engagement member and a second engagement member; and the first and second engagement member of the removable extender are configured to couple with the locking channels of the shaft sleeve to restrict rotation of the removable extender relative to the shaft sleeve.
Clause 14. The golf club of claim 13, wherein removable extender is secured to the shaft sleeve without the use of a threads.
Clause 15. A golf coupling mechanism configured for joining an iron-type club head and a golf club shaft, the golf coupling mechanism comprising: a shaft sleeve having a sleeve bore configured to receive an end of the shaft; the shaft sleeve comprising: a top section; a bottom section; and a sleeve coupler set having a plurality of sleeve couplers protruding from an outer surface of the top section; a shaft cap configured to be inserted into the sleeve bore; a removable spacer configured to couple with the top section of the shaft sleeve; and a removable extender configured to couple with the bottom section of the shaft sleeve; wherein the removable extender is non-threadably secured to the shaft sleeve.
Clause 16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein: the removable spacer further comprises a receiver coupler set having a plurality of receiver couplers; and the sleeve coupler set of the shaft sleeve is configured to sit against the receiver coupler set of the removable spacer to restrict the rotation of the shaft sleeve relative to the removable spacer.
Clause 17. The golf club of claim 15, wherein the removable spacer further comprises a spacer coupler set protruding from an outer surface of the removable spacer.
Clause 18. The golf club of claim of 15, wherein the shaft sleeve further comprises locking channels located at the bottom section of the shaft sleeve.
Clause 19. The golf club of claim 18, wherein: the removable extender comprises a first engagement member and a second engagement member; and the first and second engagement member of the removable extender are configured to couple with the locking channels of the shaft sleeve to restrict rotation of the removable extender relative to the shaft sleeve.
Clause 20. The golf club of claim 15, wherein the shaft cap comprises a plurality of ribs protruding from an internal surface of the shaft cap; wherein plurality of ribs of the shaft cap are configured to center the shaft within the shaft sleeve of the golf coupling mechanism.
Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.
This claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/881,271, filed on Jul. 31, 2019, and is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/523,839, filed on Jul. 26, 2019, which is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/831,515, filed on Dec. 5, 2017, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,398,946 on Sep. 3, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/003,494, filed on Jan. 21, 2016, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,868,035 on Jan. 16, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/107,240, filed on Jan. 23, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/254,081, filed on Nov. 11, 2015, and is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/282,786, filed on May 20, 2014, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,327,170 on May 3, 2016. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/282,786, filed on May 20, 2014 is a continuation in part of: (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/795,653, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,168,426 on Oct. 27, 2015; (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/429,319, filed on Mar. 24, 2012, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,790,191 on Jul. 29, 2014; (iii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/468,663, filed on May 10, 2012, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,926,447 on Jan. 6, 2015; (iv) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/468,675, filed on May 10, 2012, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,932,147 on Jan. 13, 2015; and (v) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/735,123, filed on Jan. 7, 2013, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,192,823 on Nov. 24, 2015. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/429,319 claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/590,232, filed on Jan. 24, 2012, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/529,880, filed on Aug. 31, 2011. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/468,663 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/468,675 each are a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/429,319, filed on Mar. 24, 2012, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,790,191 on Jul. 29, 2014. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/735,123, filed on Jan. 7, 2013 is a continuation in part of: (i) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/468,663, filed on May 10, 2012, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,926,447 on Jan. 6, 2015; (ii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/468,675, filed on May 10, 2012, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,932,147 on Jan. 13, 2015; (iii) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/464,677, filed on May 10, 2012, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,419,567 on Apr. 16, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/429,319, filed on Mar. 24, 2012, and is issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,790,191 on Jul. 29, 2014, wherein the contents of all above-described disclosures are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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