WO1988007880A1

WO1988007880A1 - Golf club with adjustable head

Info

Publication number: WO1988007880A1
Application number: PCT/AU1988/000090
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Montesalvo
Original assignee: Giuseppe Montesalvo
Priority date: 1987-04-09
Filing date: 1988-03-31
Publication date: 1988-10-20

Abstract

A golf club head (2) having a base member (4) to which a club shaft (3) can be connected. A ball strike member (5) is carried by the base member (4) and has a ball strike face (6) for presenting to a ball for striking during a golf game. A connecting mechanism (8) adjustably connects the strike member (5) to the base member (4) so that the strike member (5) is selectively movable relative to the base member (4). In this way the angle of the strike face (6) as presented to the ball can be altered. The club shaft (3) may have two or more shaft sections (17) telescopically interconnected to allow variation of the shaft length. Accidental rotation between adjacent shaft sections (17) is prevented by a locking sleeve (18).

Description

GOLF CLUB_.WITH ADJUSTABLE HEAD

This invention relates generally to a golf club and in particular to the head of that club. The invention is applicable to clubs known as "irons" and it will be convenient to refer to such clubs in the following description. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited thereto.

Typically, a golf game is played with a set of clubs usually comprising at least one "wood", at least one "iron" and a "putter". Professional and serious amateur players may have a large number of clubs within their set for use in particular ball lie situations. In particular, the set may- include a series of irons having heads with different ball striking face angles for achieving varying ball travelling characteristics, such as ball lift, distance, and spin.

The set of clubs is required to be toted about a golf course during play. Sometimes those clubs are carried in a wheeled buggy or by a caddy which can alleviate their burden. However, where that is not permitted or not available then it can be tiresome for each golfer to carry his/her own clubs. That in turn can adversely affect the player's game.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate this disadvantage through the provision of a golf club head, and golf club, that may be substituted for a number of conventional clubs.

With that in mind, the present invention provides a golf club head including a base member to which a club shaft can be connected; a ball strike member having a ball strike face for presenting to a ball for striking during a golf game; and, a connecting mechanism for adjustably connecting the strike member to the base member, the strike member being selectively movable relative to the base member thereby altering the angle of the .strike face as presented to the ball.

The connecting mechanism preferably connects the strike member to the base member for relative rotation movement. That rotation is about an axis contained in or lying parallel to the strike face. The axis also extends at least generally parallel to a playing surface supporting a ball to which the strike face is presented during use of the club head. The connecting mechanism preferably includes a connecting shaft projecting from one of the base member and the _>txike member, and a receiving bore in the o1her member into which the shaft is rotatably received. Relative rotation between the shaft and bore rotates the strike member to alter the strike face angle. Interengaging bearing surfaces are preferably provided on the connecting shaft and receiving bore. Those surfaces may taper in a direction away from an opening of the bore through which the connecting shaft is received:. With

arrangement, ' the bearing surface of the connecting shaft positively seats on the bearing surface of the receiving bore.

The connecting shaft and receiving bore are preferably pro ide with opposing faces selectively engageable in opposing abutting relationship to prevent relative rotation between the connecting shaft and receiving bore and disengageable to permit such rotation. The connecting shaft and "receiving bore are preferably .relatively linearly moveable along the axis of rotation in one direction to disengage the opposing faces for rotation and in an opposite direction to engage -those faces to prevent -rotation. A resilient biasing element may act directly or indirectly on the connecting shaft to bias the connecting shaft and receiving bore axially in a direction of interengagement of the opposing faces. In this way, the shaft and bore may be manually movable against that bias to disengage the opposing faces for relative rotation of the shaft and bore. The opposing faces may be provided by projections on surfaces of the shaft and bore, or by profiled surface regions of the shaft and bore.

The present invention also provides a golf club incorporating the above club head.

The following description refers to preferred embodiments of the golf club head and golf club of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings where the golf club is illustrated in preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that the golf club head and golf club of the present invention are not limited to the preferred embodiments as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings, where the same reference numerals identify the same or similar features:

Fig. 1 is a side view partially in section of one preferred embodiment golf club incorporating the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is a side view partially in section of another preferred embodiment golf club incorporating the invention.

The drawings illustrated separate embodiments of golf club 1 having head 2 and shaft 3. Head 2 includes base member

4 to which shaft 3 is connected and ball strike member 5 having ball strike face 6 for presenting to a ball (not illustrated) for striking in a usual manner during a golf game. Base member 4 may be of any suitable construction and configuration, but -will preferably be such as to neither distract nor adversely affect a player during club use. In that regard, base member 4 will preferably be of a relatively small size and not so heavy as to affect club balance. To some extent that -may depend on the players using club 1 so that base member 4 may be individually sized and weighted according to a player's preference. in these embodiments base member 4 will include small base block 7. Block 7 may be of a streamlined shape to minimise _ ts affectϊin club use and also to improve overall club head appearance. Base block 7 may be generally cylindrically shaped.

Club shaft 3 is connected directly to block 7. That may be achieved (as illustrated) by forming shaft 3 and block 7 integral with one another or by fastening shaft 3 and block 7 together such as by welding. Alternatively (not illustrated) block 7 may also _>e provided ^*with a shaft end receiving bore into which a shaft end can be secured. In another alternative (not illustrated) base member 4 may have a short boss upstanding from block 7 and to which a shaft end may be connected, such as by welding dτ ±>y providing with a bore into which the shaft end is received. It will be appreciated that shaft 3 will be connected to base member 4 at an angle determined by the desired manner of presentation of the striking-_face to a -ball during game play - that angle may be the same or similar as in conventional clubs.

Ball strike member 5 is connected to base member 4 so as to extend forwaxdly thereof relative to a player when strike face 6 is presented to a ball in a normal playing technique. Strike face 6 is preferably at least substantially planar and, as in conventional clubs, lies in a forwardly projecting plane at an angle (including 0°) to club shaft 3.

Strike member 5 may be of any suitable construction and configuration but like base member 4 will preferably be such as to neither distract nor adversely affect a player during club use. That construction and configuration may also be determined by any rule requirements for golf clubs. In any event, strike member 5 may have a generally similar appearance to the striking part of conventional club heads. Thus, for example where club 1 is intended for use as an iron and/or putter then strike member 5 may be blade like in shape and configuration.

Head 2 also includes connecting mechanism 8 connecting strike member 5 to base member 4 for relative rotational movement. That movement is about axis X that is at least substantially contained in or lies at least substantially- parallel to strike face 6 and extending forwardly of base member 4. When strike face 6 is presented to a ball in a normal playing technique then axis X will preferably lie at least substantially parallel to a playing surface beneath the ball. In this way, as strike member 5 is rotated the angle of strike face 6 relative to club shaft 3 is altered.

Connecting mechanism 8 may provide for infinite alteration (not illustrated) of the strike face angle, or stepped alteration (as illustrated) between selected angles such as may be provided by a series of conventional clubs. In any event, however, strike member 5 is firmly secured in any selected rotational position, i.e. connecting mechanism 8 prevents accidental rotation of strike member 5 such as during club swing or ball strike.

.Connecting ..mechanism 8 includes connecting shaft 9 projecting from either base member 4 (not illustrated) or strike member 5 (as illustrated), and receiving bore 10 in the other member 4, 5, into which shaft 9 is rotatably received. As illustrated, shaft 9 may be connected, integrally or otherwise, to strike member 5 and extend rearwardly therefrom for receipt in forwardly opening bore 10 in base member 4. Connecting shaft 9 is neatly journalled within bore 10 to minimise "play" between base member 4 and strike member 5. That .may be facilitated by providing each of shaft 9 and bore 10 with bearing surfaces 11 that are tapered relative to rotational axis X. In this way, shaft 9 may be drawn into bore 10 until bearing surfaces 11 positively interengage. Bearing surfaces 11 may extend only partway along shaft 9 and bore 10, and in that regard may be located adjacent the bore opening.

Connecting mechanism 8 provides for retention of shaft 9 0 within bore 10 while permitting relative rotation therebetween to alter the strike face angles. To that end, connecting mechanism 8 includes retaining element 12. Retaining element 1.- -may i.e a simple retaining pin (as in Fig. 1)-, clip, nut (as in Fig. 2), collar, stud, or the like applied to shaft 9, or an enlarged section on shaft 9, so as to slidingly abut directly or indirectly base member 4. However, retention may be such that shaft:-.9 is biased - into bore 10 - that may be particularly so where tapered bearing surfaces 11 are provided since shaft bearing surface 11 will then be biased into o engagement with bore bearing surface 11. The hias may be resilient and may be provided by spring 13 interposed between retaining element 12 ^* and base member 4 for reacting therebetween to draw shaft 9 into bore 10.

Connecting mechanism 8 may incorporate any suitable facility for locking strike member 5 in a selected rotational location. In the illustrated embodiments opposing faces 14 are provided directly or indirectly on connecting shaft 9 and base member 4, faces 14 being selectively engageable in opposing abutting relationship to prevent relative rotation, and disengageable to permit rotation. In particular, faces 14 are arranged about shaft 9 and bore 10 so that biasing spring

13 normally biases them into abutting engagement but by manually axially moving shaft 9 (by pulling strike member 5 and base member 4 apart) sufficiently against that bias faces

14 are moved out of restraining engagement. Thereupon, strike member 5 may be rotated before releasing for return axial movement of shaft 9 under bias of spring 13 for reengagement of opposing faces 14. The number and spacing of faces 14 may be determined at least to some extent by the desired angles of the strike face.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, opposing faces 14 may be provided on teeth, splines, or other projections 15 on walls of shaft 9 and bore 10 which can be selectively meshed to prevent rotation. Alternativley, as illustrated in Fig. 2 faces 14 may be provided by flats or other profiled surfaces 16 on shaft 9 and in bore 10. In that regard, flats 16 may be provided on tapered bearing surfaces 11 of shaft 9 and bore 10 so that bearing surfaces 11 are other than of a circular profile. Golf club 1 may have a conventional rigid shaft. However, (as illustrated) to further enhance versatility of club 1, shaft 3 may be constructed for longitudinal extension and retraction for _^varying the shaft length. n this way, a single golf club may be suitable for use by players requiring different club lengths.

To that end, shaft 3 may have two or more sections 17 telescopically interconnected. Those sections 17 may be selectively lockable one to another at desired extensions. That locking is preferably such as to prevent accidental axial or rotational movement between shaft sections 17. Locking between shaft sections may be provided by locking sleeve 18 screw-t-hreadably mounted on an '.end of an outer shaft section 17 into which an adjacent inner section 17 is received, that section end being longitudinally split so that as sleeve 18 is manually turned the section end radially deflects to frictionally grip or release the inner section. Adjacent shaft sections 17 may be profiled to prevent relative rotation and in that regard may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape ^" or include an interengaging key and keyway (not illustrated).

A golf club incorporating the present invention is used in much the same way as conventional clubs during a golf "game. However, a number of conventional clubs may be replaced by a single club incorporating the invention. In that regard, it is simply a matter of manipulating the strike member to vary the strike face angle until the equivalent of a required conventional club xs attained. That club can -be manipulated as necessary prior to each golf stroke in order to provide a club with an optimum strike face angle. A. golf .icl b incorporating the present invention overcomes the need for a large selection of conventional golf clubs during a typical golf game. That in turn may ease the burden on a player to carry his/her clubs about a golf course. In addition, the club may minimise the overall expense of equipment required to play golf.

Finally, it is to be understood that various modifications and/or additions may be made to the club head and golf club without departing from the ambit of the present invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

Claims: 1. A golf club head including a base member to which a club shaft, -can be connected; a ball strike member .having a ball strike face for presenting to a ball for striking during a golf game; and, a connecting mechanism for adjustably connecting the strike member to the base member, the strike member .-being selectively movable .relative to the base member thereby altering the angle of the strike face as presented to the ball. 0 2. A golf club head as claimed In claim 1, wherein the connecting mechanism connects the strike member to the base member ^" for relative rotational ^* movement about an axis contained in or lying parallel to the strike face and extending at least generally parallel to a playing surface supporting a ball to which the strike face is presented.

3. A golf club head as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting mechanism includes a connecting shaft projecting from one of the base member and the strike member, and a receiving bore In the other member into which the shaft is o rotatably received so that relative rotation between the shaft and bore rotates the strike member to alter the strike face angle.

4. A golf club head as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connecting shaft and receiving bore are each provided with interengaging bearing surfaces, the bearing surfaces being tapered in a direction away from an opening of the bore through which the 'connecting shaft is received, whereby the bearing surface of the connecting shaft positively seats on the bearing surface of the receiving bore. o

5. A golf club,-head as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the connecting shaft and receiving bore are provide with opposing faces selectively engageable in opposin abutting relationship to prevent relative rotation between th connecting shaft and receiving bore and disengageable t permit such rotation.

6. A golf club head as claimed in claim 5, wherein th connecting shaft and receiving bore are relatively linearl moveable along the axis of rotation to disengage the opposing faces for rotation and engage those faces to prevent rotation.

7. A golf club head as claimed in claim 6, wherein th connecting mechanism includes a resilient biasing element acting directly or indirectly on the connecting shaft to bias the connecting shaft and receiving bore axially in a direction of interengagement of the opposing faces, the shaft and bore being manually movable against the bias to disengage the opposing faces for relative rotation of the shaft and bore.

8. A golf club head as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the opposing faces are provided by projections on surfaces of the shaft and bore, or by profiled surface regions of the shaft and bore.

9. A golf club head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to either one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A golf club including a golf club head as claimed in any preceding claim, and a club shaft connected to the base member, the club shaft having two or more shaft sections telescopically interconnected, the sections being selectively lockable one to another at desired extensions thereby to vary the length of the club shaft.