Patent ID: 6780120
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A putter having an extendable shaft, comprising:a) a putter head; b) a first elongate tube having an open top end and a spaced bottom end, the bottom end of the first tube being connected to the putter head, c) a second elongate tube having an open bottom end, d) a clamp assembly having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, a spaced distal end, and defining a bore extending longitudinally therethrough, the clamp assembly further having a male protrusion extending from a surface of the bore toward the longitudinal axis and an exterior surface extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the exterior surface defining a shoulder surface intermediate the proximal end and the distal end of the clamp assembly, a lower portion of the clamp assembly intermediate the shoulder surface and the distal end sized and shaped for complementary receipt within the top end of the first tube so that the clamp assembly is fixed relative to the first tube, wherein the clamp assembly further defines an orifice extending from the surface of the bore toward the exterior surface of the clamp assembly, the orifice having an annular shoulder surface proximate the exterior surface, the clamp assembly further defining an aperture extending between the exterior surface of the clamp assembly and the annular shoulder surface, e) an elongate shaft sized and shaped for complementary receipt within the bore of the clamp assembly, the shaft having a forward end and a spaced rear end, the shaft having a longitudinally extending slot defined in a portion thereof proximate the forward end of the shaft that is sized and shaped for complementary engagement with the male protrusion of the clamp assembly, at least a portion of the shaft proximate its rear end being received within the bottom end of the second tube so that the shaft is fixed relative to the second tube, and f) a captured fastening member having a drive end and an opposed contact end, the captured screw member being sized and shaped for operative receipt in the orifice of the clamp assembly and being movable between a disengaged position, in which the drive end of the fastening member is moved toward the annular shoulder surface of the orifice so that the contact end is spaced from the exterior surface of the shaft, and an engaged position, in which the drive end of the fastening member is moved away from the annular shoulder surface of the orifice so that a portion of the contact end is in contact with a portion of the exterior surface of the shaft such that the shaft and the second elongate tube are fixed relative to the clamp assembly.