The present application claims priority on Patent Application No. 2013-153222 filed in JAPAN on Jul. 24, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club.
2. Description of the Related Art
A golf club including various adjusting functions is conventionally proposed. The adjusting function can improve the compatibility of a golf club and a golf player.
US 2011/0152000 and US 2012/0122601 disclose golf clubs including a head and a shaft detachably attached to the head. In these golf clubs, the axis of a shaft hole of a sleeve is inclined to a hosel axis. The inclination of a shaft axis enables the adjustment of a loft angle, a lie angle, and a face angle.
These U.S. gazettes disclose a golf club head including a head and a sole adjusting part attached to a bottom part of the head. The sole adjusting part is a mechanism for adjusting a face angle. The sole adjusting part is detachably attached to the bottom part of the head by a screw member. The sole adjusting part is attached to the bottom part of the head so that an edge face of the sole adjusting part can be protruded from a bottom face of the head. A protruding amount of an edge face of the sole adjusting part from the bottom face of the head can be gradually adjusted. The face angle is prescribed by the protruding amount.
The protruding amount of the edge face of the sole adjusting part is set depending on a predetermined position of rotation angle about its center axis. If the protruding amount is adjusted, the protruding amount of the sole adjusting part corresponding to a desired face angle is first selected. Then, the screw member is loosened or removed. The sole adjusting part is rotated about its center axis, and is made to stand still at a position of rotation angle corresponding to a desired protruding amount. Finally, the screw member is clamped by a torque equal to or greater than a predetermined value, thereby to fix the sole adjusting part to the head.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-267460 also discloses a hook angle adjusting member for adjusting a face angle (hook angle). The hook angle adjusting member has a plate shape. The hook angle adjusting member has a shape so that a plate thickness is gradually decreased (gradually increased) from one end to the other end. If a face angle of a golf club is changed, a hook angle adjusting member having a shape corresponding to a desired face angle is first selected. Then, the hook angle adjusting member is firmly fixed to a bottom face of a head by bonding, welding, and screwing or the like.
The sole adjusting part and the hook angle adjusting member require troublesome adjusting work. The present invention was made by taking the present circumstances into consideration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club including a mechanism which can easily adjust a face angle.
A preferable golf club includes: a shaft; a head including a sole; and a face angle adjusting mechanism provided on the sole,
wherein the face angle adjusting mechanism includes: a grounding member which can be protruded from the sole; a storing part storing the grounding member; and an elastic member pressing the grounding member so that the grounding member is protruded from the storing part;
the grounding member is set so that a protruding amount of the grounding member from the sole is varied depending on its position of rotation angle about its axis in a state where the grounding member is stored in the storing part; and
the protruding amount of the grounding member is changed thereby to change a face angle, by changing a position of rotation angle of the grounding member against a pressing force of the elastic member.
Preferably, one of the grounding member and the storing part includes a plurality of parts to be locked;
the other of the grounding member and the storing part includes a locking part which can be engaged with each of the parts to be locked;
each of the plurality of parts to be locked corresponds to each of a plurality of different protruding positions of the grounding member;
the locking part and the part to be locked are locked by the pressing of the elastic member, thereby to position the grounding member at a protruding position corresponding to the part to be locked.
Preferably, the grounding member includes a columnar outer peripheral surface;
the storing part includes a columnar inner peripheral surface;
the part to be locked includes a part of a hollow formed in one of the outer peripheral surface of the grounding member and the inner peripheral surface of the storing part;
the locking part includes a locking projection formed on the other of the outer peripheral surface of the grounding member and the inner peripheral surface of the storing part; and
the locking projection can be guided and locked to the hollow.
Preferably, the hollow includes the part to be locked and a guiding part;
the guiding part includes one of a bump and a groove extending in a direction including a circumferential component;
the part to be locked includes a notched part formed toward an axial direction from the guiding part;
the guiding part can guide circumferential movement of the locking projection in a state where the locking projection is pressed by the elastic member;
the grounding member is pressed by the elastic member thereby to elastically lock the locking projection in the axial direction to the part to be locked so as to bring about a state where the grounding member cannot be protruded in the axial direction, and cannot be rotated about its axis; and
the grounding member is pressed against a pressing force of the elastic member thereby to separate the locking projection from the part to be locked so as to bring about a state where the grounding member can be rotated about its axis.
Preferably, the elastic member is a spring member interposed between a bottom part of the storing part and the grounding member.
The present invention will be described later in detail based on preferred embodiments with appropriate reference to the drawings.
The golf club 2 includes a head 4, a shaft 6, a sleeve 8, and a screw 10. The golf club 2 further includes a washer 12. The sleeve 8 is fixed to a tip part of the shaft 6. The fixation is achieved by adhesion using an adhesive agent. A grip which is not shown is attached to a back end part of the shaft 6.
The head 4 includes a body M4. As shown in
The head 4 of the embodiment is a wood type golf club. However, the type of the head 4 is not limited. Examples of the head 4 include a wood type head, a utility type head, a hybrid type head, an iron type head, and a putter head. Examples of the shaft 6 include a carbon shaft and a steel shaft.
The sleeve 8 is fixed to the head 4 by fastening the screw 10. Therefore, the shaft 6 is attached to the head 4. The sleeve 8 can be detached from the head 4 by loosening the screw 10. Therefore, the shaft 6 fixed to the sleeve 8 can also be detached from the head 4. Thus, the shaft 6 is detachably attached to the head 4.
The hosel h4 has a hosel hole hz1 (see
The sleeve 8 includes an upper part 8a, an intermediate part 8b, and a lower part 8c. A bump surface ds1 is formed on a boundary between the upper part 8a and the intermediate part 8b. The sleeve 8 has a shaft hole 8d and a screw hole 8e. The shaft hole 8d passes through the upper part 8a, and leads to the intermediate part 8b. The shaft hole 8d is opened to an upper side (a shaft side). The screw hole 8e is formed in the lower part 8c. The screw hole 8e is opened to a lower side (a sole side).
As shown in
The lower part 8c of the sleeve 8 includes a rotation-preventing part rp1. A sectional shape of the rotation-preventing part rp1 is a non-circular form. In the embodiment, the rotation-preventing part rp1 includes a plurality of projections t1. The projections t1 are outwardly protruded in the radial direction. The plurality of projections t1 are disposed at equal intervals in a circumferential direction.
The rotation-preventing part rp1 is engaged with a rotation-preventing part (not shown) provided on the head 4. Although not shown in the drawings, a plurality of recesses are formed in the rotation-preventing part of the head 4. The plurality of recesses are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. A shape of the recess corresponds to a shape of the projection t1 described above. That is, the recess and the projection t1 have a complementary shape to each other. Each of the projections t1 is engaged with the corresponding recess. The relative rotation of the head 4 and the sleeve 8 is prevented by the engagement.
As shown in
The sleeve 8 can be fixed to the head 4 at a plurality of positions of rotation angle about its center axis (its axis). The direction of the axis line s1 of the shaft 6 to the head 4 can be changed depending on the plurality of positions of rotation angle and the angle θ. A face angle, a lie angle, and a real loft angle can be changed by the position of rotation angle of the sleeve 8. The face angle, the lie angle, and the real loft angle can be adjusted by selecting the position of rotation angle of the sleeve 8. In the adjustment, the face angle, the lie angle, and the real loft angle are interlocked with each other.
The prevention of coming off of the sleeve 8 is achieved by screw connection of the sleeve 8 and the screw 10. In the assembled state, the screw 10 is inserted into the through hole th1, and connected to the screw hole 8e of the sleeve 8 in a screwing manner. In the assembled state, a head part of the screw 10 cannot pass through the through hole th1. The head part of the screw 10 abuts on a lower surface f1 (see
As shown in
The grounding member 22 is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The part to be locked 30 includes a notched part notched to the small diameter part s32 side (opening side) in the axial direction from the bump 32. The radial depth of the part to be locked 30 has the same size as the bump 32. The radial bottom face of the part to be locked 30 is flush with the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter part b32. The part to be locked 30 can also be referred to as a hollow for the small diameter part s32. In the embodiment, the locking projection 28 has a rectangular cylindrical shape. However, the shape of the locking projection 28 is not limited to the rectangular columnar shape, and may be a columnar shape or the like. The part to be locked 30 has a rectangular cross section. The part to be locked 30 has an approximately complementary shape to the locking projection 28.
The locking projection 28 is locked to the part to be locked 30 toward the axial opening side of the storing part 24 by the pressing force of the coil spring 26. Furthermore, the locking projection 28 is locked also in the circumferential direction. Thereby, the unintended rotation of the grounding member 22 about its axis is prevented. The three parts to be locked 30 are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction in each of the three sections of the bump 32 described above. In the embodiment, the parts to be locked 30 are formed at intervals of 30 degrees. If the grounding member 22 is rotated, the bump 32 serves as a guiding part guiding the circumferential displacement of the locking projection 28.
The bump 32 is inclined to the axial direction from the circumferential direction. However, the bump 32 may be a bump extending only in the circumferential direction without being inclined in the axial direction. In this case, it is necessary to make the depth end positions of the three parts to be locked 30 in the axial direction different from each other as in
In the three sections of the bump 32, the shapes and the disposals of the three parts to be locked 30 of O, N, and C are the same. In the bump 32 having the three sections, the part to be locked 30 of C is positioned on the most opening side of the storing part 24 in the axial direction. The part to be locked 30 of O is positioned on the most depth side of the storing part 24 in the axial direction. The part to be locked 30 of N is positioned at a central position between the part to be locked 30 of C and the part to be locked 30 of O in the axial direction.
The three parts to be locked 30 of C are positioned at intervals of 120 degrees in the circumferential direction. The three parts to be locked 30 of N are also positioned at intervals of 120 degrees in the circumferential direction. The three parts to be locked 30 of O are also positioned at intervals of 120 degrees in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the three locking projections 28 described above are simultaneously locked to the three parts to be locked 30 of C. The three locking projections 28 are simultaneously locked to the three parts to be locked 30 of N. The three locking projections 28 are simultaneously locked to the three parts to be locked 30 of O. If the locking projection 28 is locked to the part to be locked 30 of C, the grounding member 22 is positioned on the outermost side in the axial direction in the storing part 24. If the locking projection 28 is locked to the part to be locked 30 of O, the grounding member 22 is positioned on the innermost side in the axial direction in the storing part 24.
As shown in
A part of the coil spring 26 is kept in the internal space of the cylindrical part c22 of the grounding member 22 in the storing part 24. If the locking projection 28 is locked to the bump 32 or the part to be locked 30, the coil spring 26 is in a compressed state between the bottom face of the storing part 24 and the grounding member 22. The coil spring 26 biases the grounding member 22 in a direction in which the grounding member 22 is extruded from the opening of the storing part 24. The shape of the grounding member 22 is not limited to the cylindrical shape. The grounding member 22 may have a columnar shape.
The grounding member 22 can be rotated about its axis in the storing part 24 by an external force. If the locking projection 28 is locked to any of the parts to be locked 30, the grounding member 22 is pressed in the axial direction of the storing part 24 against the restoring force of the coil spring 26 by the external force. Thereby, the locking of the locking projection 28 to the part to be locked 30 is released. In this state, the grounding member 22 is rotated about its axis to the circumferential position corresponding to the other part to be locked 30. Here, if the pressing external force to the grounding member 22 is released, the locking projection 28 is locked to the other part to be locked 30 by the restoring force of the coil spring 26. If the locking projection 28 is positioned at the circumferential position corresponding to the attaching/detaching groove 34, and the pressing external force to the grounding member 22 is released, the grounding member 22 can be separated from the storing part 24. A leaf spring or the like may be used in place of the coil spring.
As described above, it is not necessary to remove the grounding member 22 from the storing part 24 in order to set the grounding member 22 at the adjustment positions of C, N, and O, and work for loosening a screw or the like is not also required. As described above, the depth sizes of all the parts to be locked 30 in the axial direction from the bump 32 are the same. Therefore, even if the locking projection 28 is locked to any of the three parts to be locked 30, the grounding member 22 may be pressed into the storing part 24 by the same distance in order to release the locking. The face angle adjusting mechanism 20 facilitates the adjusting work of the face angle.
As shown in
Meanwhile, as described above, the arrows 38 are applied to positions corresponding to the three locking projections 28 on the grounding surface t22 of the grounding member 22, and the cross groove 40 is formed in the central part. The arrows 38 are made to correspond to any of the marks 36 of O, N, C, and dot by rotating the grounding member 22 in a state where the grounding member 22 is attached to the storing part 24, and thereby the locking projections 28 can be positioned to the three parts to be locked 30 of O, N, C and the attaching/detaching grooves 34.
In the embodiment, the face angle is adjusted at three stages. Since the protruding amount of the grounding member in
Although the grounding member 22 is not protruded from the opening of the storing part 24 in
The adjustable range of the face angle is preferably large. However, the excessively closed face angle and the excessively opened face angle are unnecessary. In light of them, the lower limit of the adjustable range of the face angle is preferably equal to or greater than 2 degrees, and more preferably equal to or greater than 3 degrees. The upper limit of the adjustable range is preferably equal to or less than 10 degrees, more preferably equal to or less than 8 degrees, and still more preferably equal to or less than 6 degrees. For example, if the maximum value of the face angle is +1 degree, and the minimum value of the face angle is −1 degree, the adjustable range of the face angle is 2 degrees.
[Material of Grounding Member 22]
The material of the grounding member 22 is not limited. Preferable examples of the material include a metal, a resin, and a fiber-reinforced resin. In respect of a strength and durability, the metal is preferable. Examples of the metal include a titanium alloy, stainless steel, an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, a tungsten-nickel alloy, and a tungsten alloy. Examples of the resin include an engineering plastic and a super-engineering plastic. Examples of the fiber-reinforced resin include CFRP (carbon fiber-reinforced plastic). If the movement of the center of gravity of the head is suppressed, a material having a small specific gravity is preferable. In this respect, the fiber-reinforced resin, the titanium alloy, the aluminum alloy, and the magnesium alloy are preferable, and the aluminum alloy is more preferable.
A method for manufacturing the grounding member 22 is not limited. Examples of the method include forging, sintering, casting, die-casting, NC processing, press forming, and injection molding. A method for manufacturing the non-grounding member X2 is not limited. Examples of the method include forging, sintering, casting, die-casting, NC processing, press forming, and injection molding.
[Method for Measuring Face Angle]
In the measurement of the face angle, the golf club 2 is placed on the level surface HP at a specified lie angle. The axis line s1 of the shaft is disposed in a plane VP perpendicular to the level surface HP. The shaft 6 can move in the direction of the axis line s1 in a state where the lie angle is held, and the shaft 6 is rotatably supported around the axis line s1. The sole s4 is grounded on the level surface HP so that the head 4 is most stable while the support of the shaft 6 is maintained. The state where the head 4 is most stable is also referred to as a face angle measurement state. In the face angle measurement state, the face angle is measured. In
The center point FC of the face f3 is defined as the center of a figure of the face f3 in the plan view.
In the case of a driver (No. 1 wood), the specified lie angle is usually 56 degrees or greater and 60 degrees or less. The real loft angle of the driver is usually 8 degrees or greater and 13 degrees or less. The club length of the driver is usually 43 inches or greater and 48 inches or less. The club length is measured based on the golf rule of “1c. Length” in “1. Clubs” of “Appendix II. Design of Clubs” specified by R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf club of Saint Andrews).
In the present application, the direction of the line of intersection LK is defined as a toe-heel direction. The direction perpendicular to the toe-heel direction and parallel to the level surface HP is defined as a face-back direction.
In the present application, a plus or minus sign is applied to the value of the face angle α (see
In the embodiment described above, the locking projection 28 is provided on the grounding member 22, and the part to be locked 30 is provided in the storing part 24. However, the constitution is not limited. A projection to be locked may be provided on the grounding member, and the locking part may be provided in the storing part.
A groove 52 with which the locking projection 50 can be engaged is formed in an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical part c44 of the grounding member 44. The groove 52 includes an attaching/detaching groove h52 and a guiding groove g52 continuous to the attaching/detaching groove h52. The part to be locked 48 is formed in the guiding groove g52. The attaching/detaching groove h52 extends in an axial direction from an opening side end part of the cylindrical part c44. One end of the attaching/detaching groove h52 is outwardly opened from the opening side end part of the cylindrical part c44. The other end of the attaching/detaching groove h52 does not lead to a disc part side end part (not shown) of the cylindrical part c44. The guiding groove g52 is continuous to the other end of the attaching/detaching groove h52, and extends in a direction slightly inclined to the axial direction from the circumferential direction of the cylindrical part c44. That is, the direction in which the guiding groove g52 extends includes a circumferential component. The inclination of the axial direction may be inclination (
The guiding groove g52 is sectioned into three at intervals of 120 degrees along the circumferential direction. The circumferential lengths of the sections of the guiding groove g52 are the same. The attaching/detaching groove h52 is formed in the end part of each of the sections of the guiding groove g52. The sections of the guiding groove g52 are formed at the same position in the axial direction. The inclination angles of the sections of the guiding groove g52 to the axial direction from the circumferential direction are the same. The combinations of the attaching/detaching grooves h52 and the guiding grooves g52 in the sections have the same shape.
In the embodiment, the grooves 52 of the three sections are independent without being communicated with each other. However, the constitution is not limited. The attaching/detaching groove h52 of one section may be communicated with the guiding groove g52 of the adjacent section thereby to communicate all the sections of the grooves 52 with each other.
The part to be locked 48 is a portion notched to the opening side end part in the axial direction from the guiding groove g52. In the embodiment, the part to be locked 48 has an approximately complementary shape to the locking projection 50. The locking projection 50 is locked to the part to be locked 48 toward the opening side of the grounding member 44 in the axial direction, and can be locked also in the circumferential direction. The three parts to be locked 48 are formed at regular intervals in the circumferential direction in the guiding groove g52 in each of the sections described above. In the embodiment, the parts to be locked 48 are formed at intervals of 30 degrees. The circumferential distance between the attaching/detaching groove h52 and the adjacent part to be locked 48 is also 30 degrees.
All the parts to be locked 48 have the same shape. That is, the circumferential width and the axial depth size of all the parts to be locked 48 are the same. Therefore, the axial depth end positions of the three parts to be locked 48 correspond to the inclination of the guiding groove g52. The part to be locked 48 positioned on the most opening side of the grounding member 44, of the three parts to be locked 48 is the same part to be locked 48 of C (closed) described above. The part to be locked 48 positioned on the most disc part (not shown) side is the same part to be locked 48 of O (opened) described above. The part to be locked 48 of N (neutral) is positioned between the part to be locked 48 of C and the part to be locked 48 of O in the axial direction. The difference in size at the axial position between the part to be locked 48 of C and the part to be locked 48 of N is the same as the difference in size at the axial position between the part to be locked 48 of N and the part to be locked 48 of O.
The locking projection 50 is provided so as to be inwardly protruded in the radial direction on the inner peripheral surface of the storing part 46. In the embodiment, the three locking projections 50 are provided at intervals of 120 degrees. However, the number of the locking projections is not limited to 3. The number of the locking projections can be decreased or increased corresponding to the number of the sections of the guiding groove g52 of the grounding member 44 described above. Although the locking projection 50 has a rectangular columnar shape in the embodiment, the shape of the locking projection 50 is not limited to the rectangular columnar shape. The locking projection 50 may have a columnar shape or the like. The locking projection 50 has an approximately complementary cross-sectional shape to the part to be locked 48 and the groove 52.
As shown in
Meanwhile, although not illustrated, the above-described marks of O, N, and C are applied so as to correspond to the circumferential positions of the three parts to be locked 48 in each of the three sections on the grounding surface of the disc part of the grounding member 44. Dot marks (not shown) are applied to positions corresponding to the positions of the three attaching/detaching grooves h52. Furthermore, an locking groove (not shown) with which the rotary tool can be engaged is formed in the central part of the grounding surface of the disc part. The grounding member 44 is rotated in a state where the grounding member 44 is attached to the storing part 46 to make any of the marks of O, N, C and dot correspond to the arrows 54, and thereby the locking projections 50 can be positioned to the three parts to be locked 48 of O, N, and C, and the attaching/detaching grooves h52.
The locking projections 50 are positioned to the three parts to be locked 48 of O, N, and C, and thereby the protruding amount of the grounding member 44 from the storing part 46 can be adjusted as in
Although the face angle is adjusted at three stages of C (closed), N (neutral), and O (opened) in the embodiment described above, the constitution is not limited. For example, the number of the set ranges may be increased to five stages of opened−2, opened−1, neutral, closed+1, and closed+2, or the like. A plurality of grounding members having different protrusion heights may be prepared. For example, a first grounding member which can be adjusted at three stages of opened−2, opened−1, and neutral, and a second grounding member which can be adjusted at different three stages of neutral, closed+1, and closed+2 may be prepared.
The description hereinabove is merely for an illustrative example, and various modifications can be made in the scope not to depart from the principles of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-153222 | Jul 2013 | JP | national |
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Number | Date | Country |
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2004-267460 | Sep 2004 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150031470 A1 | Jan 2015 | US |