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US 4,948,132 AGranted
Golf club
OwnerNorman W. Whartoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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OwnerNorman W. Whartoninventor
Estimating the term…
A golf club tailored to the requirements of an individual player is assembled from the combination of a club head and a shaft assembly selected from a range of club heads and shaft assemblies having a variety of characteristics. In particular, the shaft assemblies each have a lower end portion defining an axis which is inclined with respect to an axis defined by the remainder of the shaft assembly. By allowing the lower portion of the shaft assembly to be fitted into a bore in the club head in a number of different rotational positions the lie and face angle of the head can be varied without exchanging club heads, thereby allowing a retail outlet to provide a wide choice of club characteristics without having to keep a large stock. The inclination of the lower end portion of the shaft assembly is achieved by fitting a tubular bush to the lower end of the shaft, the bush having a generally cylindrical outer surface for engaging the wall of the bore in the club head and defining a longitudinal axis which is inclined with respect to the axis of shaft. Means are provided for calibrating the rotational position of the bush in the club head to achieve a required face angle and lift combination. Once a suitable rotational position has been selected the shaft assembly is bonded in the head, with a pin passing through the shaft assembly and the head for additional anchorage.
A golf club comprising a club head, a shaft assembly, the shaft assembly having a generally cylindrical lower end portion mounted in a round bore defined in said club head, wherein a major portion of the shaft assembly defines a first longitudinal axis and the lower end portion defines a second longitudinal axis which is inclined with respect to the first longitudinal axis such that the orientation of the head with respect to the first longitudinal axis is dependent on the rotational position of the shaft assembly with respect to the head, first means operable for securing said club head and shaft assembly temporarily in any relative orientation, and second means operable for securing said club head and shaft assembly permanently in a selected relative orientation, said shaft assembly comprising a shaft having a grip at one end thereof and a bush secured to the shaft at the other end thereof, the bush alone defining the second longitudinal axis, said bush including a sleeve having a longitudinal bore housing said other end of the shaft and said bush having an outer surface engaging said bore in the head, the outer surface defining an axis which is inclined with respect to the axis of the bore in the sleeve.
A method of assembling a golf club comprising:
A kit of parts for assembling a golf club comprising a club head, an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a straight cylindrical bush of round cross-section, in which there is a bore in the club head to receive one end of the shaft and the diameter of said bore in the club head is greater than the diameter of said one end of the shaft, the cylindrical bush has a bore to receive said one end of the shaft and with its outer surface engages said bore in the club head to locate said one end of the shaft in the bore in the club head, said bore in the bush having an axis, and said outer surface of the bush defining an axis, wherein said axis defined by the outer surface of the bush lies at an angle with respect to said axis of the bore in the bush and hence the longitudinal axis of the shaft, means is provided to attach the bush permanently to the shaft, first means is provided for releasably holding the bush to the club head whereby the desired position of rotation of the bush in said bore in the club head, and hence the lie and face angle of the assembled club, may be ascertained, and second and permanent connection means is provided for fixing the bush in its selected rotational position in said bore of the club head for use of the club.
A golf club of the kind comprising a club head, an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, and a bore in the club head to receive one end of the shaft, in which the diameter of said bore in the club head is greater than the diameter of said one end of the shaft and there is a straight cylindrical bush of round cross section for locating said one end of the shaft in the bore in the club head, which bush has a bore to receive said one end of the shaft and an outer surface to engage said bore in the club head, said bore in the bush having an axis, and said outer surface of the bush defining an axis, wherein said axis defined by the outer surface of the bush lies at an angle with respect to said axis of the bore in the bush and hence the longitudinal axis of the shaft, there being further provided means to attach the bush permanently to the shaft, first means for releasably holding the bush to the club head whereby the desired position of rotation of the bush in said bore in the club head, and hence the lie and face angle of the assembled club, may be ascertained, and second and permanent connection means for fixing the bush in its selected rotational position in said bore of the club head for use of the club.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.