WO2003061774A1

WO2003061774A1 - Golf club

Info

Publication number: WO2003061774A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/013706
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Edel
Original assignee: David Edel
Priority date: 2002-01-17
Filing date: 2002-05-01
Publication date: 2003-07-31

Abstract

A golf club (10) having a transparent hosel is provided. The ends of the hosel (16) may further include connecting portions adapted to receive the connecting portions of a shaft (12) and clubhead (14). The connecting portions may include an inner post (24)and an outer sheath adapted (22) to form an interference fit with the connecting portions of the shaft (12) or clubhead (14).

Description

GOLF CLUB

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from Provisional Patent application

Serial No. 60/299,548, filed June 18, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in

its entirety for all purposes.

Background of the Invention

A golf club typically includes four distinctive elements, a grip, a shaft, a hosel,

and a head. The grip is typically applied to the shaft and provides an area for the user

(or golfer) to hold the golf club. The shaft is an elongated element typically made of

steel or graphite, though it may be made of another material or a combination of

several materials. The length of the shaft may vary depending upon the height and

desire of the user and the type of golf club. The hosel is the connective stem between

the shaft and the head. The head provides a surface with which the golfer may strike a

ball. The combination of the shape of head and the angle of striking surface, along

with the type of golf swing executed by the golfer, determine both the trajectory and

distance the ball will travel after it is struck by the golf club.

A putter is a type of golf club that is generally used to roll the ball (or putt)

along the surface of a golf course. Golfers typically putt the ball when they are trying

to roll the ball into the hole from on or near the green. Because the hole has a

relatively small diameter compared to the playing surface, putting accurately is vital to

a successful golf game. Proper alignment of the putter with the golf ball and the

intended path of the ball are crucial elements of an accurate putt. A golfer typically tries to cause a golf ball to roll in a trajectory on the green so

that the golf ball will fall into the hole. This trajectory is typically called "the line."

The golfer tries to get the ball to roll on the line and is said to "line-up" the putt before

causing the golf ball to roll towards the hole. Putters may have markings or be

designed to assist the golfer in lining-up a putt to make it easier for the golfer to roll

the ball on the line.

Many novice, and some expert, golfers find that the hosel interferes with their

ability to putt accurately. As an example, when a golfer assumes the standard putting

position, the putter's line of sight to the ball and putter head surface is typically

interrupted by the hosel. Due to the optics of binocular vision, a viewer's eyes tend to

naturally focus on the object that is closest (i.e. the hosel) and blur objects that are

further away, particularly when they are directly behind the closer object (i.e. the

putter head and ball). Mental focus is typically required to force the viewer's eyes to

focus on the objects that are behind the closer object. The visual interference and

requirement for mental focus created by the visual impact of the hosel may cause the

golfer to lose concentration and putt inaccurately.

In addition, the "feel" of the golf club can vary greatly depending on the

material used for both the shaft and the head of the club, the degree of flex in the

shaft, and the types of connections used between the various elements of the club.

Golfers tend to seek those clubs that have the best feel for their style of play. Summary of the Invention

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a golf club. The golf club

includes a shaft, a head, and a transparent hosel connecting the shaft to the head. The

transparent hosel is configured to engage the shaft in an interference fit.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a golf club hosel having

a shaft-connecting portion. The shaft-connecting portion includes an inner post and

an outer sleeve.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a putter comprising

a head, a shaft including a grip, and a transparent hosel connecting the shaft to the

head.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a golf club including a hosel according to

one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a transparent hosel of the present invention

connected to a putter head.

Fig. 3 is a bottom- view of the hosel of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top-view of the hosel of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a rear- view of the hosel of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a front- view of the hosel of Fig. 2

Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a cross-section of a hosel shaft-connecting

portion of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention provides a hosel that does not interfere with the golfer's

line of sight, particularly when aligning the head of a club with a golf ball, thereby

assisting the golfer in aligning the putt correctly. In one embodiment, the invention

provides a golf club having a transparent hosel, or neck. The transparent hosel is

suitable for any type of golf club including drivers, driving irons, fairway woods,

irons, wedges, chippers, putters, and the like.

As shown in Fig. 1, a golf club 10 includes a shaft 12 connected to head 14, by

a transparent hosel, or neck, 16. Shaft 12 may additionally include a grip 18. Shaft 12

may be cylindrical or other shape and may also be partially hollow. Transparent hosel

16 connects to both shaft 12 and head 14. Club head 14 typically includes a striking

surface (or club face) 15, which is used to strike the ball. The club head and striking

surface may be made of the same or different material.

While only one style of hosel is shown in Figs. 1-7, it should be appreciated

that hosel 16 may take a variety of shapes including traditional hosel shapes such as

L-shaped or Anser style, slant neck, and S-bend. Hosel 16 may be made of any

suitable clear or transparent material including clear plastic such as polycarbonate or

the like. A transparent hosel produces little to no interference in the golfer's line of

sight to the striking surface of the golf club.

For example, hosel 16 may aid a golfer in obtaining an accurate putting stroke

by eliminating the distraction created by the presence of an opaque hosel. In some

cases, golfers may use the markings on the putter and striking surface to align the

putter with the intended path to the hole. In other cases, golfers prefer to align the striking surface with the ball without the use of markings on the putter. Regardless,

the golfer's ability to accurately align the putter with the ball may be diminished by

the presence of an opaque hosel that interrupt the direct path between the golfer's eye

and the putter's striking surface. A transparent hosel may reduce the distraction

created by the hosel and allows the golfer to accurately align the striking surface with

the ball.

In Fig. 2, hosel 16 is shown at a larger scale. Again, hosel 16 is connected to

head 14. In this depiction, head 14 is a putter head. However, it should be

appreciated that head 14 could be a driver, driving iron, fairway wood, iron, wedge,

chipper or any other type of golf club head.

In addition to correct alignment of the club head with the ball, golfers often

desire a greater amount of feel with their golf clubs, and in particular with respect to

their putters. The correct feel differs for each individual golfer. For example a correct

feel for a particular golfer may mean that the shaft and hosel provide more or less

stiffness or more or less feedback as the clubhead strikes the ball. The hosel of the

present invention may be adapted to adjust the feel of the club to the specific taste of

the golfer. For example, because the transparent hosel is typically formed of a clear

plastic, the hosel will typically provide a slight amount of flex. Furthermore, different

plastics of different hardness may be used to make the hosel softer or harder or

provide more or less flex to the hosel. Because traditional hosels have been made of

metal, it has not been possible to provide a flexible hosel, let alone a hosel in which

the amount of flex can be adjusted by varying the material composition of the hosel. The present invention further provides a post and sleeve configuration for

connecting various parts of a golf club. The post and sleeve configuration increases

the strength of the connection and creates a better feel for the golfer. In one

embodiment, the present invention provides a putter with a clear or transparent hosel

and a post and sleeve configuration for connecting the hosel to the shaft of a golf club.

Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, hosel 16 may have a shaft-connecting portion 20 that

is configured to form an interference fit with shaft 12. In this embodiment, shaft-

connecting portion 20 has an outer sleeve 22 and an inner post 24 that are configured

to form an interference fit with the golf club shaft (not shown).

A close-up of the interference fit between hosel 16 and shaft 12 is shown in

Fig. 7, which shows a vertical cross-section of shaft-connecting portion 20 with shaft

12 inserted between outer sleeve 22 and inner post 24. Typically, inner post 24 fits

into the partially hollow shaft 12 while outer sleeve 22 surrounds a portion of shaft 12,

thereby forming an interference fit between the ends of hosel 16 and shaft 12.

The interference fit between hosel 16 and shaft 12 may provide a better feel for

the golfer using golf club 10, as the post and sleeve configuration connection may be

more stable, secure, and durable than previous connections, which typically have

either a post or a sleeve, but not both. As will be appreciated, as an alternative

embodiment, the end of shaft 12 may terminate in an inner post and outer sleeve and

hosel 16 may terminate in a hollow or partially hollow cylinder adapted to form an

interference fit with the post and sleeve end of shaft 12.

As will be appreciated shaft 12 may be secured to hosel 16 by any suitable

means including an adhesive (not shown). Because golf clubs may be exposed to a variety of weather elements, it may be desirable for the adhesive to be waterproof and

able to withstand normal external temperature ranges.

Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of hosel 16 and head 14. Fig. 4 shows a top view

of hosel 16 and head 14. Figs. 5 and 6 show rear and front views of hosel 16 and head

14, respectively. In all figures, shaft-connecting portion 20 is shown, as well as outer

sleeve 22 and inner post 24.

While the present invention has been described primarily with respect to a

putter, the hosel of the present invention is useful for any golf club including drivers,

fairway woods, irons, wedges, chippers, and the like. Furthermore, while the present

invention has been primarily illustrated as being a transparent hosel having a inner

post and outer sleeve assembly adapted to receive a shaft, it should be appreciated that

the inner post and outer sleeve assembly could be used with an opaque hosel made of

traditional metal or wood materials and that the transparent hosel could be used with a

traditional shaft-connecting portion including either a post or a sleeve and that such

embodiments are contemplated by the scope of the present invention.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct

inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been

disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and

illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations

are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious

combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or

properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite "a" or "a first" element

or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such

elements.

Inventions embodied in various combinations and subcombinations of features,

functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed in this or a related application.

Such claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or directed to the same

invention, whether different, broader, narrower or equal in scope to any original

claims, are also regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of the

present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a head; and

a transparent hosel connecting the shaft to the head, wherein the hosel is

configured to engage the shaft in an interference fit.

2. The golf club of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the hosel is plastic.

3. The golf club of claim 1 wherein the golf club is a putter.

4. The golf club of claim 1 wherein the hosel is S-bend shaped.

5. The golf club of claim 1 wherein the hosel is L-shaped.

6. The golf club of claim 1 wherein the hosel is slant neck shaped.

7. The golf club of claim 1 wherein the hosel provides flex.

8. The golf club of claim 1 wherein the shaft connecting portion comprises

an inner post and outer sleeve that are configured to form an interference fit with the

shaft.

9. A golf club hosel having a shaft-connecting portion comprising:

an inner post; and

an outer sleeve.

10. The golf club hosel of claim 9 wherein the hosel is made of a transparent

material.

11. The golf club hosel of claim 9 wherein the hosel is made of a flexible

material.

12. The golf club hosel of claim 9 wherein the hosel is S-bend shaped.

13. The golf club hosel of claim 9 wherein the hosel is L-shaped.

14. The golf club hosel of claim 9 wherein the hosel is slant neck shaped.

15. A golf club comprising;

a head;

a shaft including a grip; and

a transparent hosel connecting the shaft to the head.

16. The golf club of claim 15 wherein the hosel is configured to form an

interference fit with the shaft.

17. The golf club of claim 15 wherein an end of the hosel includes an inner

post and an outer sleeve.

18. The golf club of claim 15 wherein the hosel is flexible.

19. The golf club of claim 15 wherein the hosel is S-bend shaped.

20. The golf club of claim 15 wherein the hosel is L-shaped.

21. The golf club of claim 15 wherein the hosel is slant neck shaped.