# US 10,307,646 B2 · Golf club > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,646 B2 - Document ID: US10307646B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/855,592 - Filed: 2017-12-27 - Published: 2018-07-05 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-29 - Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd. - Inventors: Naruhiro Mizutani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307646B2 ## CPC - A63B 53/02: Joint structures between the head and the shaft - A63B 53/04: Heads - A63B 53/027: {about the longitudinal axis of the shaft only} - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A sleeve 8 fixed to a shaft 6 includes an engaging projection part P1. A head 2 includes an engaging recess part R1. The engaging projection part P1 includes a first side surface P11 located on a side receiving a rotating force by hitting, a second side surface P12 located on an opposite side to the first side surface P11, and an outer surface P13. The engaging recess part R1 includes a first opposed surface R11 opposed to the first side surface P11, a second opposed surface R12 opposed to the second side surface P12, and an inner surface R13 opposed to the outer surface P13. The engaging projection part P1 has a tapered projection part TP1. The part TP1 has a maximum width equal to or greater than an opening width of the engaging recess part R1. The outer surface P13 includes an outer inclination surface K13. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A golf club comprising: a shaft; a head having a hosel hole; a sleeve fixed to a tip end portion of the shaft; and a screw capable of being screw-connected to the sleeve, wherein: the sleeve includes at least one engaging projection part; the head includes at least one engaging recess part; a rotation of the sleeve with respect to the hosel hole is regulated based on an engagement between the engaging projection part and the engaging recess part; a falling-off of the sleeve from the hosel hole is regulated based on a connection between the screw and the sleeve inserted to the hosel hole; the engaging projection part includes a first side surface located on a side which receives a rotating force caused by hitting, a second side surface located on an opposite side to the first side surface, and an outer surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, wherein an edge is between the first side surface and the outer surface and an edge is between the second side surface and the outer surface; the engaging recess part includes a first opposed surface opposed to the first side surface, a second opposed surface opposed to the second side surface, and an inner surface opposed to the outer surface; the engaging projection part includes a tapered projection part formed such that a distance between the first side surface and the second side surface decreases toward a tip end of the sleeve, wherein a thickness of the engaging projection part in a radial direction of the sleeve decreases toward the tip end of the sleeve; the tapered projection part engages the engaging recess part; a maximum width of the tapered projection part is equal to or greater than an opening width of the engaging recess part; and the outer surface includes an outer inclination surface inclined so as to go toward a radial-direction inner side as approaching to the tip end of the sleeve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the engaging recess part includes a tapered recess part formed such that a distance between the first opposed surface and the second opposed surface decreases toward the tip end of the sleeve. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface includes an inner inclination surface inclined so as to go toward the radial-direction inner side as approaching to the tip end of the sleeve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The golf club according to claim 3, wherein in a connected state where the sleeve is fixed to the head by tightening the screw, a contact pressure between the outer inclination surface and the inner inclination surface is produced because of an axial force of the screw. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first side surface and the first opposed surface extends along an axial direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the at least one engaging projection part comprises a plurality of engaging projection parts, the at least one engaging recess part comprises a plurality of engaging recess parts, and the engaging projection parts are engaged with the respective engaging recess parts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The golf club according to claim 6, wherein the engaging projection parts are arranged at equal intervals in a circumferential direction, and the engaging recess parts are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the engaging recess part is provided on an inner surface of the hosel hole. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the engaging recess part is provided at an upper end of the hosel hole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the head includes a head body and an engaging member formed separately from the head body, the engaging member is fixed inside the hosel hole, and the engaging member has the engaging recess part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein in a connected state where the sleeve is fixed to the head by tightening the screw, a gap is present between a lower edge of the engaging projection part and a lower edge of the engaging recess part. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The golf club according to claim 1, wherein in a connected state where the sleeve is fixed to the head by tightening the screw, a contact pressure between the first side surface and the first opposed surface is produced because of an axial force of the screw. ### Claim 13 A golf club comprising: a shaft; a head having a hosel hole; a sleeve fixed to a tip end portion of the shaft; and a screw capable of being screw-connected to the sleeve, wherein: the sleeve includes at least one engaging projection part; the head includes at least one engaging recess part; a rotation of the sleeve with respect to the hosel hole is regulated based on an engagement between the engaging projection part and the engaging recess part; a falling-off of the sleeve from the hosel hole is regulated based on a connection between the screw and the sleeve inserted to the hosel hole; the engaging projection part includes a first side surface located on a side which receives a rotating force caused by hitting, a second side surface located on an opposite side to the first side surface, and an outer surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, wherein an edge is between the first side surface and the outer surface and an edge is between the second side surface and the outer surface; the engaging recess part includes a first opposed surface opposed to the first side surface, a second opposed surface opposed to the second side surface, and an inner surface opposed to the outer surface; the engaging projection part includes a tapered projection part formed such that a distance between the first side surface and the second side surface decreases toward a tip end of the sleeve, wherein a thickness of the engaging projection part in a radial direction of the sleeve decreases toward the tip end of the sleeve; a maximum width of the tapered projection part is greater than an opening width of the engaging recess part; and the outer surface includes an outer inclination surface inclined so as to go toward a radial-direction inner side as approaching to the tip end of the sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The golf club according to claim 13, wherein the engaging recess part includes a tapered recess part formed such that a distance between the first opposed surface and the second opposed surface decreases toward the tip end of the sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The golf club according to claim 13, wherein the inner surface includes an inner inclination surface inclined so as to go toward the radial-direction inner side as approaching to the tip end of the sleeve. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The golf club according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the first side surface and the first opposed surface extends along an axial direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The golf club according to claim 13, wherein the at least one engaging projection part comprises a plurality of engaging projection parts, the at least one engaging recess part comprises a plurality of engaging recess parts, and the engaging projection parts are engaged with the respective engaging recess parts. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The golf club according to claim 13, wherein the engaging recess part is provided on an inner surface of the hosel hole. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The golf club according to claim 13, wherein the engaging recess part is provided at an upper end of the hosel hole.