# US 2013/0303301 A1 · Adjustable connector

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- Number: US 2013/0303301 A1
- Document ID: US20130303301A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/946,355
- Filed: 2013-07-19
- Published: 2013-11-14
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-02
- Assignees: NIKE, Inc.
- Applicants: Nike, Inc.
- Inventors: Simon Garry Moore
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130303301A1

## CPC

- A63B 53/02: Joint structures between the head and the shaft
- A63B 53/00: Golf clubs
- A63B 53/0466: {wood-type}
- A63B 53/047: {iron-type}
- A63B 60/42: Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
- F16L 27/02: Universal joints, i.e. with mechanical connection allowing angular movement or adjustment of the axes of the parts in any direction
- F16L 37/103: {the connection being maintained by the eccentricity of the two parts of the joint}
- A63B 53/023: {adjustable angular orientation}
- A63B 53/025: {lie angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about an axis parallel to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position}
- A63B 53/026: {loft angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position}
- A63B 53/06: adjustable
- A63B 53/14: Handles
- A63B 60/22: Adjustable handles
- A63B 2209/14: with form or shape memory materials
- A63B 2210/50: Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
- A63B 2210/58: slideably retracted in a housing when not in use
- F16B 2200/10: Details of socket shapes
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable connector including at least two parts, each having a main body with a bore having a longitudinal axis therein, wherein an external surface of the main body of a first part is configured to bear against an internal surface of the bore of a second part when the first part is at least partially inserted into the bore of the second part to form a connection, characterized in that the positioning of the bores with respect to the main bodies is such that when the parts are connected to each other, rotation of one part with respect to the other changes the inclination of the longitudinal axes of the bores with respect to one another.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A golf club having a coupled head and shaft comprising:
a connection mechanism to couple the head to the shaft, said connection mechanism including:
a first part having a cylindrical tubular body that includes a first internal bore, wherein the first part engages a hosel of the head and rotates between a first plurality of rotational positions, and
a second part coupled to the shaft at a distal end of the shaft, wherein the second part is rotatable between a second plurality of rotational positions, said second part having a second internal inclined bore that receives said distal end of the shaft,
wherein the combination of the first plurality of rotational positions and the second plurality of rotational positions adjust two angular relationship parameters between the head and the shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The golf club of claim 1, wherein the two angular relationships are two of the following:
a lie angle of the head, a loft angle of the head, and a face angle of the head.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The golf club of claim 1, wherein at least one part includes a marking configured to indicate one or more of the angular relationship parameters between the head and the shaft.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The golf club of claim 3, wherein the marking is arranged around one or more of a rim of the first part and a rim of the second part.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The golf club of claim 3, wherein the marking includes a sequence of numbers.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The golf club of claim 3, wherein the marking includes a sequence of letters.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The golf club of claim 1, wherein at least one part is configured to be releasably connected to either the shaft or the head.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The golf club of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of rotational positions includes four discrete rotational positions.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The golf club of claim 8, wherein the second plurality of rotational positions includes four discrete rotational positions.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The golf club of claim 9, wherein the combination of the first plurality of rotational positions and the second plurality of rotational positions adjust the two angular relationship parameters between the head and the shaft in exactly sixteen different combinations.

### Claim 11

A golf club having a releasably coupled head and shaft comprising:
a connection mechanism to couple the head to the shaft, the connection mechanism including:
a first part engageable with a hosel of the head, wherein the first part and the hosel have complimentary surfaces that allow the first part to be rotatable between a first plurality of rotational positions, said first part having a first internal bore, and
a second part coupled to the shaft at a distal end and having an outer wall configured to fit into said first internal bore, wherein the first part and the second part have complimentary surfaces that allow the second part to be rotatable inside the first internal bore between a second plurality of rotational positions, said second part having a second internal inclined bore with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bore of the second part, said bore receiving the distal end of the shaft,
wherein at least one part is releasably connected to either the shaft or the head, further wherein a combination of the first plurality of rotational positions and the second plurality of rotational positions changes a first angular relationship between the head and the shaft and a second angular relationship between the head and the shaft, wherein the second angular relationship is different than the first angular relationship.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The golf club of claim 11, wherein the first and second angular relationships are a lie angle of the head and a loft angle of the head.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The golf club of claim 11, wherein the first and second angular relationships are a loft angle of the head and a face angle of the head.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The golf club of claim 11, wherein at least one part includes a marking configured to indicate at least one of the first and second angular relationship parameters between the head and the shaft.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The golf club of claim 14, wherein the marking includes at least one of a sequence of numbers and a sequence of letters.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The golf club of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of rotational positions includes four discrete rotational positions.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The golf club of claim 16, wherein the second plurality of rotational positions includes four discrete rotational positions.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The golf club of claim 17, wherein the combination of the first plurality of rotational positions and the second plurality of rotational positions adjust two angular relationship parameters between the head and the shaft in exactly sixteen different combinations.

### Claim 19

A golf club having a coupled golf club head and shaft comprising:
a connection mechanism to couple the golf club head to the shaft, the connection mechanism including:
a first part rotatable between a first plurality of rotational positions; and
a second part rotatable between a second plurality of rotational positions,
the parts having cooperating surfaces such that a first combination of rotational positions between the first part and the second part provides a first orientation between the golf club head and the shaft, and further such that a second combination of rotational positions between the first part and the second part provides a second orientation between the golf club head and the shaft, the second orientation between the golf club head and the shaft being different from the first orientation between the golf club head and the shaft.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The golf club of claim 19, wherein the orientation between the golf club head and the shaft are defined by one or more angular relationship parameters between the golf club head and the shaft.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The golf club of claim 19, wherein the one or more angular relationship parameters include one or more of the following: a loft angle of the golf club head, a lie angle of the golf club head, and a face angle of the golf club head.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The golf club of claim 19, wherein at least one part includes a marking configured to indicate the orientation between the golf club head and the shaft.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The golf club of claim 19, wherein the first plurality of rotational positions includes four discrete rotational positions.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The golf club of claim 23, wherein the second plurality of rotational positions includes four discrete rotational positions.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The golf club of claim 24, wherein the orientation between the golf club head and the shaft includes exactly sixteen different orientations.

### Claim 26

A golf club comprising:
a shaft;
a golf club head; and
an adjustable connector that connects the shaft to the golf club head, the adjustable connector having a first rotatable part that engages the golf club head and a second rotatable part that engages the shaft,
the parts each having a longitudinal axis of a bore that is different from an axis of rotation of the parts thereby defining that the parts are rotatable about their individual axis of rotation at a constant angle of inclination causing their individual longitudinal axis of the bore to rotate with respect to the axis of rotation and further such that the rotation of the parts of the adjustable connector alters the relative orientation of the golf club head and the shaft.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The golf club of claim 26, wherein the relative orientation of the golf club head and the shaft includes one or more of the following: a lie angle of the golf club head, a loft angle of the golf club head, and a face angle of the golf club head.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The golf club of claim 26, wherein the first part is rotatable between four discrete rotational positions.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The golf club of claim 28, wherein the second part is rotatable between four different discrete rotational positions.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The golf club of claim 29, wherein the combination of the four discrete rotational positions of the first part and the four discrete rotational positions of the second part alter the relative orientation of the golf club head and the shaft in exactly sixteen different orientations.