US3601399A - Adjustable golf club head - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable gold club comprising a handle shaft, club head assembly and an elongated club head member movable within the club head but unable to be fully withdrawn therefrom. The handle shaft is connected to the club head member in the conventional hosel-type relationship. The club head and club head member possess corresponding splines, whereby when the splines are meshed the club head is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the club head member. Within the club head are holding structure, retaining components and adjustable elements connecting the club head member to the club head to provide limited axial movement of the member, while also allowing the club head to be angularly varied to the longitudinal axis of the member.

Description

limited States Patent [72] lnventors Martyn L. Ageus 970 Easy 51., his Angeles, Calif. 90042; Robert S. Wallace, 2706 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif. 90034 [211 App]. No. 807,051 [22) Filed Mar. 13, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [73] Assignee said Agens, by said Wallace [54] ADJUSTABLE GOLF CLUB HEAD 9 Claims, 14 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 273/79, 273/80.] [51] int. CI A63b 53/06 [50] Field 01 Search 273/79, 80.1, 81.2,168

[56] Referencs Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,219,417 3/1917 Vories 273/79 1,429,569 9/1922 Craig 273/79 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley AttorneyWhite, Haefliger & Bachand ABSTRACT: An adjustable gold club comprising a handle shaft, club head assembly and an elongated club head member movable within the club head but unable to be fully withdrawn therefrom. The handle shaft is connected to the club head member in the conventional hosel-type relationship. The club head and club head member possess corresponding splines, whereby when the splines are meshed the club head is prevented from rotating about the longitudinal axis of the club head member. Within the club head are holding structure, retaining components and adjustable elements connecting the club head member to the club head to provide limited axial movement of the member, while also allowing the club head to be angularly varied to the longitudinal axis of the member.

ADJUSTABLE GOLF CLUB HEAD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As the game of golf has developed over the years, a number of clubs have been developed to perform different functions, and these range from the woods to the iron, with the greatest number being in the group known as the iron.'The reason for this variety becomes apparent when it is realized that a club that is used to drive the ball a great distance horizontally should provide a relatively flat trajectory of the ball, and hence the club face should make only a slight angle to the vertical. On the other hand, when it is desired to lift the ball out of a sand trap or other obstacle, horizontal distance is relatively unimportant, but the need for lifting the ball nearly vertically becomes most important. Consequently, a club for use under these conditions should be one that makes a much larger angle to the vertical, and it is not practical to attempt to use either of the clubs to perform the function of the other. Finally, when the ball is on the putting green, :1 club is used in which the face is substantially vertical, since a putter is intended to roll the ball along the grass rather-than lift it for greater distance.

The variety of requirements has meant that a number of clubs have been developed, and a golfer thus takes with him a golf bag carrying approximately three woods and probably five or more irons.

In an effort to overcome the financial burden of purchasing this larger number of clubs, as well as to overcome the physical burden of carrying them, it has been proposed that a golfer provide himself with a single club whose head is adjustable so that the hitting face of the club may be set to different angles, depending upon the particular use to which the clubis being put.

While it has been proposed to provide an adjustable or universal golf club, the prior devices have been subject to a number of disadvantages. Thus, a number of golf clubs have been proposed making use of two abutting, radially extending surfaces, each having radial grooves so that the club head may be turned to the desired position, the grooved surfaces engaged, and the surfaces held immovable with respect to each other by means of a screw or suitable holding means.

Other inventors have used a friction adjustment. The basic difficulty with this form of adjustment is that regardless of how tightly the mating surfaces are pressed together, the club head tends to change its position when it is actually used in the hitting of the ball.

A third form of construction uses a number of axially extending grooves to hold the head in the desired position. Some disadvantages of this form of device are that the particular construction does not provide the desired fineness of adjustment, and the grooves are not protected against dirt and other foreign matter that may cause wear and clog the grooves.

The present invention overcomes these prior difficulties by providing a golf club having an adjustable head that can be adjusted to any of the established and approved iron configurations, can be adjusted quickly and easily, has all adjusting parts protected against foreign matter, and will retain the setting or adjustment until the player purposely resets the head.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention comprises a golf club having a single head that is manually adjustable, to any position from that of a putter to a No. l 1 iron, with all of the approved intermediate iron configurations being provided. The head is mounted on a shaft and normally held against axial movement, but can be axially moved from a playing to a setting position. In the playing position, the head is held against rotation by a pair of splinedmembers within the head, where they are protected against dirt, etc., and when the head is moved to setting position, these splines, still protected. are disengaged so that the head may be rotated to the desired position and then returned to playing position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf club as it appears in use, showing the relationship of the parts, and the similarity of the club to presently used clubs;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the lower end of the golf club, with a portion of the head broken away to show the interior construction;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the portion of the club shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the club head taken at the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the club head taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a-view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the club head in its setting position;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view, partially broken away, showing the relationship of the various elements of the club head;

FIG. is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing a modified form having a lock to prevent the movement of the club head along the head shaft;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view showing the operating member of the locking mechanism in the locked position;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the locking mechanism, taken along the line 1010 ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 1 l is an elevational view, partially in section, similar to FIG. 8 but showing the club head in setting position;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary end view of the club and head shaft illustrating the various locations and relative positions of the members of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the locking members; and

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG, 2, showing an alternate form of construction.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the golf club has ahandle shaft 10 with a grip 11 at its upper end and aclub head assembly 12 at its lower end. Thehandle shaft 10 may be of any suitable construction, preference being given to a tubular metal construction having the desired weight, stiffness and other characteristics desired and expected by players. At its lower end, thehandle shaft 10 fits into ahosel 13 that extends upwardly at a suitable angle from the heel of theclub head assembly 12. At its lower end, the hosel l3 terminates in a horizontally extendinghead shaft 14, best seen in FIG. 7.

Mounted on thehead shaft 14 is ahead member 15 having the general outline of a conventional club head, with a face 16 I intended to hit the golf ball, the face customarily being provided with surface markings or grooves of conventional form, all as generally indicated in FIGS. 1 and 7.

As indicated in FIGS. 35, theface 16 is radially displaced from the axis of thehead shaft 14, and theback surface 17 of theclub head 15, opposite theface 16, extends around theshaft 14 to enclose the latter. The lower edge of theface 16 is generally horizontal, spaced downwardly from the axis of thehead shaft 14, with the heel end of the surface curving upwardly to meet thehosel 13. The upper edge of theface 16 extends from the hosel of the club, where the edge is adjacent thehead shaft 14, generally upwardly toward the toe of the club. The resulting outline is seen in FIG. 2.

Extending the length of thehead 15 is abore 20 which receives thehead shaft 14. For approximately half of its length from thehosel 13 toward the toe, thebore 20 makes a sliding fit with thehead shaft 14, and near the toe of the club head, the diameter of the bore is enlarged, as shown at 21, to receive locking and holding members as hereinafter described. Between thebore 20 and the enlargedportion 21 is afemale spline 25, hereinafter described.

Near the heel of thehead 15, theback surface 17 of the head is provided with gradations ormarkings 22 that cooperate with an arrow andindex line 23 on the neck of thehosel 13, extending into thehead shaft 14, to indicate the par ticular setting of thehead 15. Thus, as the head is rotated about thehead shaft 14, theface 16 may assume any position from that of a putter, as indicated in solid outline in FIG. 3, to that of a sand wedge or No. 11 iron, as indicated in broken outline in FIG. 3.

As previously indicated, splines in thehead 15 and on thehead shaft 14 retain the head in the desired position. As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the end of thehead shaft 14 nearest the toe of thehead 15 is provided with amale spline portion 24 extending completely around the circumference of the end portion. Themale spline portion 24 of thehead shaft 14 cooperates with afemale spline 25 that, as shown in hereinafter described forms, may be formed integral with thehead 15, or, as shown in FIGS. 2-7, may be formed as a sleeve anchored in the space between the bore and the enlargedbore 21, and held against rotation by akey 26.

With this construction, when theclub head 15 is moved along thehead shaft 14 away from thehosel 13,, the female spline in the head slides free and disengages from thesplined portion 24 on the shaft, so that thehead 15 may be rotated to any desired club position, as indicated by themarkings 22 andindex 23. When the desired club position has been achieved, thehead 15 is then moved back toward thehosel 13 and the splines then hold the head against rotation.

It should be noted that the angular difference between the positions of theface 16 for consecutively numbered settings is only four degrees. This allows the loft of each setting to conform accurately to the loft of each club of a complete set of irons. It also means that in order for theclub head 15 to assume each of the different numbered positions, there must be a total of 90 splines, located four degrees apart, around the circumference of the male splinedportion 24 of thehead shaft 14. Thefemale spline 25 must be provided with a similar number of similarly spaced splines.

To urge thefemale spline 25 into engagement with the male splinedportion 24 of thehead shaft 14 while permitting the limited axial movement necessary to adjust the angular position of the club head, a spring is provided. As best seen in FIG. 2, thespring 30 is preferably a helical compression spring fitting within theenlarged portion 21 of thebore 20, with one end bearing against thefemale spline 25 and the other end bearing against thehead 31 of aretainer member 32 having the general appearance of a screw. Thus, as seen in FIG. 2, from the head 31 ashank 33 extends to a screw-threadedportion 34 of reduced diameterthat fits into a correspondingly threadedhole 35 in the splined end of thehead shaft 14. Suitable means, such as an adhesive, or cement, or alock washer 36 prevent the retainingmember 32 from working loose. A disc orbutton 37 closes the end of theenlarged portion 21 0f thebore 20 to keep out dirt and to provide a finished appearance to the club.

It will thus be apparent that when theclub head 15 is in its normal or playing position, shown in FIG. 2, thespring 30 presses against thefemale spline 25 to urge thehead 15 toward the hose] 13, keeping the female spline engaged with themale shaft spline 24 so that the angular position of the head cannot be inadvertently changed. When thehead 15 is to be readjusted to a different setting, the club head is grasped with one hand while the other holds thehosel 13. Pulling the hands apart until the spring is fully compressed moves theclub head 15 to the setting position shown in FIG. 6, which disengages the splines and allows the head to be rotated to the desired position, as shown by themarkings 22 andindex 23. The spring then retracts the head to the playing position. While it is extremely unlikely, if thespring 30 should break, thehead 31 of the holdingmember 32 would prevent theclub head 15 from flying off thehead shaft 14.

It will be appreciated that the forces acting on theclub head 12 at the time of impact with the golf ball are considerable. Thus, in addition to the force produced by the impact of thegolf club head 12 with the golf ball, there is also the centrifugal force developed by the swinging of the head about a center of rotation approximately 5 feet away. It is thus very important that thesplined members 24 and 25 be firmly in contact with each other, thus insuring the maintenance of thehead 12 in its proper position and the prevention of excessive loading on the splines if they are not completely engaged.

Because of the centrifugal forces involved, it is necessary that thespring 30 be relatively stiff. This presents no problem for most men who exercise regularly, but it has been found that some women do not have sufficient strength to be able to slide aclub head 12 along thehead shaft 14 and then rotate the head to the desired setting. While it might be assumed that such a person would not swing the club with as great vigor, it has been found that a spring sufficiently stiff to prevent movement of the club head on thehead shaft 14 is too stiff a spring for such people to be able to compress with comfort. To overcome these problems, the modification shown in FIGS. 8 through 13 has been developed. In this form, all of the elements are substantially identical to the corresponding elements previously described, with the exception of theretainer member 32.

In the modified form shown, a locking means indicated generally by the numeral 50 engages a retainingmember 42 comparable to the previously described retainingmember 32. Themember 50 is mounted in theclub head 15 and normally engages the retainingmember 42, as indicated in FIG. 8, to prevent the movement of the head along thehead shaft 14. However, when it is desired to reset the angular position of theclub head 15, the lockingmember 50 may be disengaged from theretainer member 42 and the club head moved outwardly along the club head shaft, as indicated in FIG. 117

As seen in FIGS. 8 and 11, theretainer member 42 has a generally screw-shaped appearance with ahead 41, ashank 43, and a threaded end 44 that fits into a correspondingly threadedhole 35 in the splined end of thehead shaft 14. The end of theshank 43 is suitably held in thehole 35 in a manner that prevents theretainer member 42 from working loose, all as in the previously described form.

As in the previously described form, thespring 30 has one end bearing against thefemale spline 25, and the other end bears against thehead 41 of theretainer member 42. Thehead 41 fits withing theenlarged portion 21 of thebore 20, and the outer face of the retainer head, remote from the heel of the club, is spaced from the end of theclub head 15 so that theretainer member 42 is at all times completely within thehead 15 and spaced from the end of it.

As is best seen in FIG. 10, the outer end of theretainer head 41 is provided with a centrally located undercut recess 51 having acentral opening 52 that is concentric with thehead 41 and smaller than the inner opening 53, thereby providing ashoulder 54, Thehead 12 is held in adjusted position by aflange 55 of the lockingmember 50 that engages theshoulder 54.

As seen in FIGS. 10 and 13, the lockingmember 50 includes acircular disc 56 that is pressed into the end of thebore 20, thus anchoring the locking means 50. Mounted on thedisc 56 is a latchingmember 57 having a generallycylindrical body 58 that bears against aspring washer 65 that in turn bears against the inner surface of thedisc 56, with acylindrical projection 60 extending through aslot 61 in thedisc 56. Thecylinder 60 is provided with a concentric threaded bore 62, and a screw 63 extends through awasher 64 and into thebore 62 to hold the latching member firmly but slidably against thedisc 56.

Spaced from thebody 58 on the side away from thedisc 56 is theflange 55, held to the body by acylindrical member 66. The latchingmember 57 thus consists of thebody 58, the concentriccylindrical members 60 and 66 extending from opposite sides of the body member, the concentric screw 63 holding theconcentric washers 64 and 65 against thedisc 56.

It will be noted that theslot 61 is elongated, and is so shaped and positioned that when the latchingmember 57 is concentric with thedisc 56, thecylindrical body 60 bears against the inner end of theslot 61. The other end of theslot 61 is so located that when the latchingmember 57 is displaced radially, theflange 55 extends to the outer edge of he recess 53,

engaging theshoulder 54 of thehead 41 of theretainer member 42. Theslot 61 is shaped to permit this sliding motion of thelatch member 57, and to restrict the motion to the radial movement described.

The latchingmember 57 is thus movable between a central, released position and a radially displaced position where theflange 55 engages thehead 41 of theretainer member 42. When the retainer member is so engaged by theflange 55 of the lockingmember 50, thehead 12 cannot be moved along thehead shaft 14 to disengage thesplined members 24 and 25. Consequently, a verylight spring 30 may be used, and consequently ladies and others with insufficient strength to move a heavier spring are able to make the necessary adjustment of the club head.

With the form shown in FIGS. 8-13, it will be recognized that thespring 30 is a convenience but not a necessity, since the locking means 50 is the device which holds thehead assembly 12 in playing position. Consequently, thespring 30 may be very light or entirely eliminated. In fact, any time a positive locking means is provided, the spring may be omitted, and one such formof construction is shown in FIG. 14.

The alternate form shown in that figure makesuse of elements heretofore described including thehosel 13,head shaft 14,head 15 with itsfaces 16 and 17, bore 20, enlarged bore 21, andfemale spline 25, here shown as having been broached in an integral portion of the head. The end of thehead shaft 14 projects from the end of the head shaft, all as previously described. However, the spring is omitted, and to hold thehead 15 in playing position, acaptive screw 70 passes through awasher 71 pressed into the end of theenlarged bore 21, and threadedly engages theretainer member 42. Thewasher 71 closes the end of thebore 21, protecting'the splines 24 and 25 against dirt, and may be of such a material and thickness to provide the proper weight and balance for the club. Thecaptive screw 70 may be held in thewasher 71 by any suitable means, such as aretainer ring 72 which permits freedom of rotation of the screw and limited axial movement. The end of thescrew 70 fits into a threadedhole 23 in theretainer member 42, and thehead 15 can be held firmly in playing position by tightening the screw. The head of thescrew 70 may be of any suitable shape, such as round, oval, flat, etc., but generally flat or oval is preferred. Likewise, the screw may be engaged by any suitable tool, such as a screwdriver or polygonal rod, and of these, a key formed of hexagonal rod is preferred.

It will become apparent that all of the various elements going to make up the improved golf club can be quickly and easily assembled, new parts may be installed, if needed, and the movement of thehead 15 on theshaft 14 is both easy and positive. It will be appreciated that the construction of the improved club is such as to protect all of the precision formed parts, particularly the splines formed on the end of thehead shaft 14 and the interior of thehead 25, from grit and dirt. The use of splines insures that the club head will not change its position when the ball is hit, as has been the case in those club heads relying on a frictional engagement, and the use of the splines in the form shown provides a complete range of club head settings, a feature not possible with the radially fluted surfaces or similar means.

in addition to these advantages, the improved adjustable I golf club has the advantage of looking substantially like a conventional golf club, and its weight can be distributed to provide a normal feel" to the club.

While various forms of the invention have been shown and described, the patent is not to be restrictedto the particular form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown, except as limited by the following claims.

We claim;

1. An adjustable golf club having a handle shaft and a club head assembly which includes:

a generally horizontal head shaft;

' is provided with amale spline 24, and a retainer member 42 a club head member mounted on said head shaft for axial and rotational movement with respect thereto the head member having bore structure into which said shaft is received from one end of the said member;

spline means within said member interconnecting said club head member and said head shaft to prevent rotation therebetween, said spline means being disengageable by axially bodily moving said club head member with respect to said head shaft, whereby said member may be rotated with respect to said shaft;

holding means maintaining said club head member in such a position with respect to said head shaft as to engage said spline means,

said holding means including a retainer member having a stem and a flange at opposite ends thereof, the stem having threaded connection with the shaft terminal within said bore so that the flange is received inwardly of the bore structure at the opposite end of said member, said retainer member acting to prevent the axial removal of said club head from said head shaft, and

adjustable means having interconnection with said flange and manually adjustable to have a first position in which said axial movement of the club head member is blocked, and a second position in which said axial movement of the head member is unblocked.

2. A golf club as defined in claim 1 in which said spline means includes an external spline on the head shaft terminal, and an internal spline defined by said bore structure in spaced relation to said retainer member flange.

3. A golf club as defined in claim 1, having a hosel formed as a continuation of said head shaft adapted to receive said handle shaft.

4. A golf club as defined in claim 1, including a helical spring located within said bore structure, between a shoulder defined by said club head member and said flange.

5. The golf club as recited in claim 1 wherein said adjustable means comprises a disc fitting within the member bore structure at said opposite end of the member, said disc defining a laterally elongated slot, a part projecting through said slot and a latch on said part movable into'and out of latching relation with said retainer member head in response to lateral displacement ofsaid part in said slot.

6. The golf club of claim 5 wherein said part has a button thereon at the outer side of said disc for manual deflection, laterally, and said retainer member flange has an undercut recess to interfit said latch.

7. An adjustable golf club having a handle shaft and a club head assembly which includes:

a hosel adapted to receive the lower end of said handle shaft;

a generally horizontal head shaft formed at an angle to said hosel and as an integral continuation thereof;

a club head member mounted on said head shaft for axial and rotational movement with respect thereto;

first spline means on the toe end of said head shaft;

second spline means defined within said club head member and by said bore structure, adapted to engage said first spline means to hold said club head member against rotation with respect to said head shaft, said first and second spline means being disengageable by axial bodily movement of said club head member with respect to said head shaft;

holding means maintaining said club head member in such a position with respect to said head shaft as to engage said spline means;

said holding means including a retainer member having a stem and a flange at opposite ends thereof, the stem having threaded connection with the shaft terminal within said bore so that the flange is received inwardly of the bore structure at the opposite end of said member, said retainer member acting to prevent the axial removal of said club head from said head shaft, and

said retaining member.

9. A golf club as defined inclaim 7, in which said holding means comprises a helical spring bearing against means connected to said club head and against means connected to said head shaft, to urge the club head toward said hose], said spring being completely within said club head member.

Claims (9)

1. An adjustable golf club having a handle shaft and a club head assembly which includes: a generally horizontal head shaft; a club head member mounted on said head shaft for axial and rotational movement with respect thereto the head member having bore structure into which said shaft is received from one end of the said member; spline means within said member interconnecting said club head member and said head shaft to prevent rotation therebetween, said spline means being disengageable by axially bodily moving said club head member with respect to said head shaft, whereby said member may be rotated with respect to said shaft; holding means maintaining said club head member in such a position with respect to said head shaft as to engage said spline means, said holding means including a retainer member having a stem and a flange at opposite ends thereof, the stem having threaded connection with the shaft terminal within said bore so that the flange is received inwardly of the bore structure at the opposite end of said member, said retainer member acting to prevent the axial removal of said club head from said head shaft, and adjustable means having interconnection with said flange and manually adjustable to have a first position in which said axial movement of the club head member is blocked, and a second position in which said axial movement of the head member is unblocked.

2. A golf club as defined in claim 1 in which said spline means includes an external spline on the head shaft terminal, and an internal spline defined by said bore structure in spaced relation to said retainer member flange.

3. A golf club as defined in claim 1, having a hosel formed as a continuation of said head shaft adapted to receive said handle shaft.

4. A golf club as defined in claim 1, including a helical spring located within said bore structure, between a shoulder defined by said club head member and said flange.

5. The golf club as recited in claim 1 wherein said Adjustable means comprises a disc fitting within the member bore structure at said opposite end of the member, said disc defining a laterally elongated slot, a part projecting through said slot and a latch on said part movable into and out of latching relation with said retainer member head in response to lateral displacement of said part in said slot.

6. The golf club of claim 5 wherein said part has a button thereon at the outer side of said disc for manual deflection, laterally, and said retainer member flange has an undercut recess to interfit said latch.

7. An adjustable golf club having a handle shaft and a club head assembly which includes: a hosel adapted to receive the lower end of said handle shaft; a generally horizontal head shaft formed at an angle to said hosel and as an integral continuation thereof; a club head member mounted on said head shaft for axial and rotational movement with respect thereto; first spline means on the toe end of said head shaft; second spline means defined within said club head member and by said bore structure, adapted to engage said first spline means to hold said club head member against rotation with respect to said head shaft, said first and second spline means being disengageable by axial bodily movement of said club head member with respect to said head shaft; holding means maintaining said club head member in such a position with respect to said head shaft as to engage said spline means; said holding means including a retainer member having a stem and a flange at opposite ends thereof, the stem having threaded connection with the shaft terminal within said bore so that the flange is received inwardly of the bore structure at the opposite end of said member, said retainer member acting to prevent the axial removal of said club head from said head shaft, and adjustable means having interconnection with said flange and manually adjustable to have a first position in which said axial movement of the club head member is blocked, and a second position in which said axial movement of the head member is unblocked.

8. A golf club as defined in claim 7, in which said holding means comprises engaging means mounted in said club head and operable to releasably engage a cooperating means on said retaining member.

9. A golf club as defined in claim 7, in which said holding means comprises a helical spring bearing against means connected to said club head and against means connected to said head shaft, to urge the club head toward said hosel, said spring being completely within said club head member.

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