Abstract:
The present invention is a method and apparatus for removing a golf club head from a golf club shaft. A clamping mechanism secures the shaft of the golf club within the apparatus while a force mechanism applies sufficient force against the golf club head to separate the golf club head from the golf club shaft upon the breaking of an epoxy bond securing the golf club head to the golf club shaft. Heat is then applied to the golf club head to release or melt the epoxy bond. Simultaneous with breaking the epoxy bond, the force mechanism detaches the golf club head from the golf club shaft.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of applicant&#39;s U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/427,461, filed Oct. 22, 1999, now abandoned entitled “Graphite Golf Shaft Removal Apparatus,” which application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/106,223, filed Oct. 30, 1998, entitled “Graphite Golf Shaft Removal Apparatus.” The above referenced patent applications are incorporated in their entirety herein by this reference. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to golf equipment, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for removing a head of a golf club from a shaft of the golf club. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The desirability of repairing or customizing golf clubs by removing a head of a golf club from a shaft of the golf club has been recognized for years, and various devices known as shaft removers or shaft pullers exist for this purpose. 
   Generally, a conventional shaft remover requires that the golf club shaft (most often graphite) be clamped securely in the apparatus. A threaded shaft contained within the apparatus moves a block bearing against the golf club head. The threaded shaft is rotated to apply a slight amount of axial force against the club head. Heat is applied to the club head until the user believes the epoxy bond, securing the golf club head to the shaft, has been broken. If the epoxy bond has broken, further rotation of the threaded shaft applies additional force against the head of the golf club to remove the head from the shaft. If the epoxy bond is not broken, the head will not be forced off of the shaft and more heat must be applied to the club head until the user estimates that the epoxy bond is broken. The threaded shaft is rotated once again, increasing the axial force bearing against the head, to remove the head from the shaft if the epoxy bond has broken. 
   This method suffers from critical disadvantages. The disadvantages result because the user must estimate the amount of heat to apply to the club head to break the epoxy bond. With conventional devices, the user does not know when the epoxy bond breaks. Intermittent breaks in heating, and a further application of force against the club head, are required to determine whether the epoxy bond has broken. The melting point of shaft epoxy is approximately 250-degrees and the melting point of the resin in a graphite shaft is approximately 350-degrees. If the user underestimates the degree of heat, the head will not separate from the shaft. If the user overestimates the degree of heat, unaware that the epoxy bond has broken, the user risks damaging the shaft by reaching the 350-degree melting point of the graphite shaft resin. 
   For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a golf club shaft remover where, prior to heating, the user can knowingly apply a sufficient magnitude of force to the golf club head to detach the head from the shaft simultaneously with the breaking of the epoxy bond, without a further application of force once heating begins. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a method and apparatus that overcomes the critical deficiencies in conventional graphite shaft removers. The golf club shaft remover of the present invention includes a force mechanism that applies a constant and sufficient force against a head of a golf club to detach the head from a shaft of the golf club simultaneously with the breaking of the epoxy bond securing the head to the shaft. Accordingly, the user is relieved of estimating the amount of heat required to break the epoxy bond, which can result in damaging the graphite shaft. 
   In one aspect of the present invention, the golf club shaft removing apparatus includes a frame, a clamping mechanism connected to the frame for securing the golf club and a force mechanism. The force mechanism is also connected to the frame and includes a hydraulic piston, a hollow shaft, a forcing spring, and a turret. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, the frame includes a block having a bore through which the hydraulic piston slidably resides. The frame can also include a base, a first upstanding frame portion supporting the clamping mechanism and a second upstanding frame portion supporting the force mechanism. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, the clamping mechanism includes a threaded clamping screw, a clamping handle to turn the screw, a moving block, and an upper and lower jaw. The upper jaw may reside within the moving block, while the lower jaw may reside within the first upstanding frame portion. The upper and lower jaws engage and secure the golf club shaft. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, the force mechanism includes a hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic piston and a piston handle, a hollow shaft connected to the end of the piston, a forcing spring within the hollow shaft and a turret. The force mechanism communicates force to the golf club head via the piston, the hollow shaft, the spring and the turret. The hollow shaft can have an open end and a closed end, the closed end being connected to the distal end of the piston. The forcing spring can have a first end and a second end, with the first end of the spring abutting the interior closed end of the hollow shaft. The turret may have a smaller diameter portion and a larger diameter portion, with the smaller diameter portion inserted in the open end of the hollow shaft abutting the second end of the spring. The larger diameter portion of the turret may be external to the shaft with a slot designed to engage the shaft of the golf club while abutting the head of the golf club. The turret could also include about its periphery multiple slots differing in size to engage a variety of golf club shaft diameters. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, an alignment spring exists for resisting axial movement of the hollow shaft in response to the force created by the hydraulic piston. The alignment spring may have two ends, one end connected to the frame and the other end connected to the hollow shaft or the turret. Alternatively, one end of the alignment spring is connected within a second bore in the first upstanding portion of the frame, while the second end of the alignment spring is connected to a tab at the distal end of the hollow shaft. 
   In another of its aspects, this invention provides a method for removing a golf club head from a golf club shaft by securing the shaft of the golf club and introducing a force on the head of the golf club where the force alone is capable of detaching the head of the golf club from the shaft of the golf club upon the breaking of an epoxy bond securing the head of the golf club to the shaft of the golf club. Heat is then applied to the head of the golf club until a temperature is reached sufficient to break the epoxy bond securing the head of the golf club to the shaft of the golf club. Simultaneous with reaching a temperature sufficient to break the epoxy bond, the force detaches the head of the golf club from the shaft of the golf club. The force can be introduced to the head of the golf club by compressing a forcing spring. The force in the compressed spring is alone capable of detaching the head of the golf club from the shaft of the golf club upon heating the head of the golf club to a temperature sufficient to break the epoxy bond. Simultaneous with the breaking of the epoxy bond, the compressed forcing spring expands to move the head of the golf club away from the shaft of the golf club via the turret. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a front elevation view of a golf club shaft remover in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a rear elevation view of the golf club shaft remover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a right end elevation view of the golf club shaft remover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a left end elevation view of the golf club shaft remover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top plan view of the golf club shaft remover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom plan view of the golf club shaft remover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a partial front elevation view and partial cross-section view of the golf club shaft remover, in accordance with the present invention, with jaws closed, securing a golf club shaft, and a turret engaging the golf club shaft while applying a force to a golf club head, with a hosel of the golf club head being heated; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a front elevation view of the golf club shaft remover in accordance with the present invention with jaws in an open position after a golf club head has been removed from a golf club shaft; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates an elevation view of a multi-slotted turret in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a right end elevation view of the golf club shaft remover shown in  FIG. 1  without the inclusion of the turret. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, m there is shown in the Figures generally, and especially  FIG. 1 , an illustration of a golf club shaft remover  10 . The golf club shaft remover  10  includes a frame  20 , a force mechanism  30 , and a clamping mechanism  50 . The clamping mechanism  50  secures a golf shaft  102  of a golf club  100  while the force mechanism  30  applies a hydraulic force against a hosel  106  of a head  104  of the golf club  100 . 
   The frame  20  includes a base  21 , a block  22 , a first upstanding portion  26 , a second upstanding portion  27 , and a clamping screw support block  28 . The first upstanding frame portion  26  supports the clamping mechanism  50 , while the second upstanding frame portion  27  supports the force mechanism  30 . 
   The force mechanism  30  includes a hydraulic cylinder  31  having a hydraulic piston  32  and a hydraulic piston handle  34 . The hydraulic cylinder  31  can also include a pressure relief valve  36 . A hollow shaft  40  is fixedly connected to a distal end of the hydraulic piston  32  (point of connection not shown). The hollow shaft  40  and the piston  32  slidably reside within a bore  24  (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) through the block  22  of the frame  20 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , illustrating a cross-section of the block  22  and showing the bore  24  within the block  22 .  FIG. 7  also illustrates that the hollow shaft  40  has an open end and a closed end. A forcing spring  48 , introduced into the open end, resides within the hollow shaft  40 . A first end of the forcing spring  48  abuts the interior closed end of the hollow shaft  40 . A turret  46 , having a smaller diameter portion  60  and a larger diameter portion  61  partially resides slidably within the open end of the hollow shaft  40 . An end of the smaller diameter portion  60  of the turret  46  is introduced into and resides residing within the open end of the hollow shaft  40 . The end of the smaller diameter portion  60  of the turret  46  abuts the second end of the forcing spring  48 . The larger diameter portion  61  of the turret  46 , residing external to the hollow shaft  40 , includes a plurality of slots  47  to engage the shaft  102  of the golf club  100  while abutting the head  104  of the golf club  100 . The turret  46  is rotatable about the axis of the piston  32  and the hollow shaft  40  to position one of the plurality of differing sized slots  47  into engagement with the shaft  102  of the golf club  100 . 
     FIG. 9  illustrates the turret  46  having multiple slots  47 , each differing in size. The various size slots  47  are designed to accommodate golf club shafts of various diameters. 
   Referring again to the Figures generally, and especially  FIG. 1 , the golf club shaft remover  10  includes an alignment spring  42  which resists axial movement in the hollow shaft  40  and the piston  32  in response to the hydraulic force created by the force mechanism  30 . The alignment spring  42  has a first end (not shown) attached within the block  22  of the frame  20  and a second end attached to a tab  44  on the distal end of the shaft  40 . 
   The clamping mechanism  50  includes an externally threaded clamping screw  52  rotatably residing within a bore  29  (shown in the cross-section of  FIG. 7 ) through the clamping screw support block  28 . At one end of the screw  52 , a clamping handle  54  is connected to facilitate the rotatable operation of the clamping mechanism  50 . The second end of the screw  52  is connected to a moving block  56  housing a movable upper jaw  58 . The movable upper jaw  58  secures the shaft  102  against a stationary lower jaw  59 , which is removably connected to a top of the block  22 . The movable upper jaw  58  and the stationary lower jaw  59  can be removed and replaced with jaws of different size to accommodate golf club shafts of various diameter. 
   In operation, a golf club  100  is inserted into the golf club shaft remover  10  with its shaft  102  placed within the stationary lower jaw  59  and its hosel  106  bearing against an appropriately sized slot  47  in the rotatable turret  46 , as shown in FIG.  1 . Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the clamping handle  54  is rotated in a clockwise direction to threadably move the clamping screw  52  in a 45-degree direction relative to the horizontal through the internally threaded bore  29  in the clamping screw support block  28 . The clockwise rotation (as shown by the arrow) of the clamping screw  52  drives the moving block  56  toward the shaft  102  of the golf club  100  until the movable upper jaw  58  engages and securely clamps the shaft  102  of the golf club  100  against the stationary lower jaw  59 . 
   The hydraulic piston handle  34  is manually and pivotally pumped to drive the piston  32  horizontally toward the head  104  of the golf club  100 , applying a force against the head of  104  of the golf club  100  via the piston  32 , the hollow shaft  40 , the forcing spring  48  and the turret  46 . The turret  46 , bearing against the hosel  106 , is resistant to the horizontal movement of the piston  32  and the hollow shaft  40  toward the head  104  of the golf club  100 . The continual application of this hydraulic force drives the hollow shaft  40  toward the interior wall  49  of the turret  46 , compressing the forcing spring  48 . Upon reaching the maximum compression of the forcing spring  48 , where the distal end of the hollow shaft  40  touches the interior wall  49  of the turret  46  (as shown in FIG.  7 ), sufficient potential energy exists in the coiled forcing spring  48  to detach the head  104  of the golf club  100  from the shaft  102  upon the breaking of the epoxy bond securing the head  104  to the shaft  102  of the golf club  100 . 
   During the application of horizontal hydraulic force to compress the forcing spring  48 , alignment spring  42  prevents axial movement in the hollow shaft  40  and the piston  32 , which if allowed to occur could prevent the complete compression of the forcing spring  48 . 
   Heat is then applied to the hosel  106  of the head  104  of the golf club  100 , usually by propane torch or heat gun (as shown in FIG.  7 ), until the epoxy bond securing the head  104  to the shaft  102  of the golf club  100  releases or melts. Simultaneous with the breaking of the epoxy bond, the compressed forcing spring  48  expands to drive the turret  46  toward the head  104  of the golf club  100  to remove the head  104  from the shaft  102  of the golf club  100  (as shown in FIG.  8 ). The expansion of the forcing spring  48  drives the turret  46  and the head  104  a sufficient horizontal distance (without further application of hydraulic force) to remove or at least substantially separate the head  104  from the shaft  102  so that the user need not estimate when and if sufficient heat has been applied to the hosel  106  to break the epoxy bond. Therefore, damage to the integrity of the graphite shaft  102  due to overheating is avoided. 
   The clamping handle  54  is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction (opposite the arrow shown in FIG.  7 ), threadably moving the clamping screw  52  in a 45-degree direction relative to the horizontal, pulling the moving block  56  and the movable upper jaw  58  away from clamping engagement with the shaft  102  of the golf club  100 . The golf club  100  is then removed from the golf club shaft remover  10 . 
   These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It should therefore be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include all changes and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of the invention.