Games using tangible projectile – Golf – Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
Patent
1998-11-25
2000-08-29
Chapman, Jeanette
Games using tangible projectile
Golf
Practice swingable implement or indicator associated with...
473247, 473295, 473296, 473307, A63B 5306, A63B 5316
Patent
active
061100552
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a golf club.
A golf club with an adjustable head can be used in place of two or more clubs with different head configurations. Most notably, variation in the angle between the face of the club head and the shaft can be adjusted to vary the degree of loft imparted to a ball when struck. Adjustable golf clubs suffer from the disadvantage that, through the design modifications necessary to incorporate adjustment, or through play between the adjustable components, the feel of the club to the player is unacceptably different from that of a conventional unadjustable club.
GB-A-2109249 discloses a golf club in which the loft of the head can be adjusted. The head can be fitted on an end portion of the shaft which is arranged at an angle to the main body of the shaft. The head can be rotated about the angled end portion. The effective angle between the club face and the shaft is altered as the club head is rotated about the cranked end.
The club disclosed in GB-A-2109249 suffers from the disadvantage that the feel to the player is unacceptably different from that of a conventional unadjustable club due to the requirement for the cranked end of the shaft for mounting the club head.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a golf club in which the head is mounted on a shank portion at the end of the shaft. The head can be rotated around an axis defined by the shank portion, the axes defined by the shank portion and the shaft intersecting at about the bottom of the heel of the head.
Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention provides a golf club which comprises (a) a shaft with a shaft axis, the shaft having a shank portion with a shank axis, and (b) a head which has a heel end and a club face for contacting a golf ball when the club is swung in use, the head being attached to the shank portion of the shaft at its heel end so that it can be rotated around the shank axis, the configuration of the shank portion being such that the shaft axis and the shank axis intersect at about the bottom of the heel end of the club head so that rotating the club head around the shank axis causes the angle between the club face and the shaft to change.
The club of the present invention has the advantage of combining the properties of adjustment to provide different degrees of loft and a feel which more accurately reproduces the feel of a conventional golf club. The club of the invention can provide the player with a range of loft angles while maintaining a desired general location of the club head relative to the axis of the shaft.
Preferably, the shank portion is configured so that the angle between the shank axis and the vertical when the club is held in its intended position for striking a ball is less than about 30.degree., more preferably less than about 15.degree., especially less than about 10.degree.. It is particularly preferred that the shank portion is configured so that the said angle is between 0.degree. and 5.degree., so that the shank will often be substantially vertical when the club is held in its intended position for striking a ball.
Preferably, the angle between the shaft axis and the shank axis is at least about 5.degree., more preferably at least about 10.degree., especially at least about 15.degree., and at least about 20.degree. for some applications. Preferably, the said angle is less than about 40.degree., more preferably less than about 30.degree., especially less than about 25.degree..
Preferably, the shank portion of the shaft is formed by bending an end portion of the shaft. More preferably, the shank portion of the shaft comprises a first section which defines the shank axis and a second section which extends between the shaft and the first section.
Generally, the angles between the first and second sections of the shank, and between the shaft and the second section of the shank, will be obtuse angles. Preferably, the angle between the first and second sections of the shank portion is less than the angle between the said second
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patent: 1982087 (1934-11-01), Wantz
patent: 2027452 (1936-01-01), Rusing
patent: 2146048 (1939-02-01), Barnhart
patent: 3539185 (1970-11-01), Andis
patent: 3663019 (1972-05-01), Palotsee
patent: 4878666 (1989-11-01), Hosoda
patent: 5083779 (1992-01-01), Ungermann
patent: 5385346 (1995-01-01), Carroll et al.
patent: 5496029 (1996-03-01), Heath et al.
Blau Stephen L.
Chapman Jeanette
Tidymake Limited
LandOfFree
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