Adjustable golf club putter

A golf club includes a head having a striking face and a shaft having first and second ends such that the shaft defines an axis. The club further includes a hosel assembly including a member having first and second ends. The first end of the member is fastened to the head. The hosel assembly also includes a hosel having first and second ends. The first end of the hosel is fastened to the shaft. The second end of the hosel is pivotally fastened to the second end of the member. A cam member is pivotally fastened to a first one of the hosel and the member about an axis. The cam member has a cam surface offset from the axis. The cam surface is engaged with a second one of the hosel and the member. The rotation of the cam member about the axis causes the cam surface to pivot the member relative to the hosel to change the lie or loft angle of the putter head relative to the shaft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates in general to a golf club, and in particular to an
 improved golf club putter having a head which is adjustably mounted with
 respect to the shaft of the golf club.
 Golf club putters generally include a shaft, a hand grip attached to one
 end of the shaft, and a putter head attached to the other end of the
 shaft. Commonly, hand grips include formations, such as a flattened area,
 formed thereon for proper positioning of a player's hands on the hand
 grip. The formations of the hand grip should be positioned correctly with
 respect to the putter head for accurate operation of the golf club putter.
 However, because of the varying grips, stances, and swings of different
 players, there is not one ideal shaft position which would accommodate
 every player. Also, the desired length of the shaft from the hand grip to
 the putter head differs from person to person.
 In most golf club putters, the putter head is permanently attached to the
 shaft so that the axis of the shaft is at a predetermined lie angle. The
 lie angle is generally defined as the angle between the axis of the shaft
 and a plane defined by a bottom surface of the putter head in a direction
 towards or away from the player holding the golf club putter. However, due
 to differences in heights, stances, and swings of different players, there
 is not one ideal lie angle which would accommodate every player. Also,
 because the putter head is permanently attached to the shaft, the striking
 surface of the putter head is at a fixed loft angle. The loft angle is
 generally defined as the angle between the striking surface and the axis
 of the shaft. However, due to differences in heights, stances, and swings
 of different players, there is not one ideal loft angle which would
 accommodate every player. Also, it is sometimes desirable to adjust the
 orientation of the head of the putter relative to the shaft.
 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates in general to an improved golf club which can be
 adjusted to change the loft angle or the lie angle between the shaft and
 the putter head of the golf club.
 In one embodiment of the invention, the golf club includes a head having a
 striking face and a shaft having first and second ends such that the shaft
 defines an axis. The club further includes a hosel assembly including a
 member having first and second ends. The first end of the member is
 fastened to the head. The hosel assembly also includes a hosel having
 first and second ends. The first end of the hosel is fastened to the
 shaft. The second end of the hosel is pivotally fastened to the second end
 of the member. A cam member is pivotally fastened to a first one of the
 hosel and the member about an axis. The cam member has a cam surface
 offset from the axis. The cam surface is engaged with a second one of the
 hosel and the member. The rotation of the cam member about the axis causes
 the cam surface to pivot the member relative to the hosel to change the
 lie or loft angle of the putter head relative to the shaft.
 Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to
 those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the
 preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 a
 first embodiment of a golf club putter, indicated generally at 10, in
 accordance with the present invention. The putter 10 has a head 11 which
 generally includes a body 12 and a hosel extention member or a hosel 14
 extending upward from an end of the body. Although the hosel 14 is shown
 as an integral portion of the body 12, the hosel 14 can be a separate
 structure fastened to the body 12. The body 12 has a striking face 15 for
 engagement with a golf ball (not shown) when the putter 10 is used. The
 body 12 and striking face 15 can have any desired shape suitable for
 striking a golf ball. As will be explained in detail below, the hosel 14
 and the attachment member 20 define a hosel assembly for adjustably
 attaching the shaft 16 to the head 11.
 An end 18 of the hosel 14 includes a notched portion 22 having a threaded
 bore 24 formed therethrough. The notched portion 22 also includes a
 circular engagement surface 26 preferably having a textured face, the
 reason for which will be explained in detail below.
 The hosel or attachment member 20 includes a tubular portion 28 having a
 bore 30, as best shown in FIG. 3, which is formed therein. The bore 30 is
 adapted to receive the end of the shaft 16. The end of the shaft 16 is
 fixably attached to the attachment member 20 by a suitable fastener, such
 as by a pair of set screws 32 in threaded engagement with threaded bores
 34 formed through the tubular portion 28 of the attachment member 20. The
 end of the shaft 16 can be fixably attached to the attachment member 20 by
 any suitable means, such as a band clamp assembly (not shown).
 The end of the shaft 16 can be rotated to any desired rotational
 relationship with respect to the attachment member 20 prior to tightening
 of the set screws. For example, it is common for a shaft 16 to include a
 hand grip (not shown) having a flattened area for proper placement of the
 players hands. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the
 shaft 16 can be rotated prior to tightening the set screws so that the
 flattened area or the grip is at a desired rotational position relative to
 the head 10. The set screws 32 are then tightened to fixably attach the
 shaft 16 to the attachment member 20, and to the head 11 via the hosel 14.
 Preferably, the end of the shaft 16 has a generally constant diameter for a
 predetermined length of the shaft 16. If the putter 10 of the present
 invention was provided with a shaft 16 having a relatively long length
 prior to attachment of the shaft 16 to the attachment member 20, the end
 of the shaft 16 can be cut to a desired length, and then attached to the
 attachment member 20 by tightening the set screws 32. Thus, the shaft 16
 and the putter head 10 can be fastened together to accommodate the height,
 stance, and swing of virtually any player.
 The attachment member 20 further includes a notched portion 36 having a
 bore 38 formed therethrough. The notched portion 36 also includes a
 circular engagement surface 38 engaged with the engagement surface 26 of
 the end 18 of the hosel 14. The engagement between the engagement surface
 38 of the attachment member 20 and the engagement surface 26 of the hosel
 14 helps prevent rotational movement therebetween. The attachment member
 20 and the end 18 of the hosel 14 are pivotally fastened together by a
 screw 40 disposed in the bore 38 of the attachment member 20. The screw 40
 is threadably engaged with the threaded bore 24 of the end 18 of the hosel
 14. The attachment member 20 and the shaft 16 can be fixed at a desired
 angle a with respect to the hosel 14, as shown in FIG. 1. Since the hosel
 14 is an integral structure of the body 12, the angle .alpha. is relative
 to an angle commonly referred to as the "lie angle". The lie angle is
 generally defined as an angle between an axis 41 of the shaft 16 and a
 plane generally defined by a bottom surface 42 of the body 12 in a
 direction towards or away from the player as the player holds the putter
 10. Of course, the bottom surface 42 can have any suitable shape, such as
 a relatively flat shape or a curved shape. The attachment member 20 and
 the hosel 14 are preferably pivoted about a plane which is generally
 parallel to the axis of the shaft 16.
 Preferably, the circular engagement surfaces 26 and 38 have a textured face
 to provide for a high coefficient of friction therebetween so that the
 surfaces 26 and 38 are less likely to slide or rotate relative to one
 another when the screw 40 is tightened. Alternatively, the circular
 engagement surfaces 26 and 38 can have interlocking grooves or teeth 44,
 as best shown in FIG. 4. The teeth 44 help prevent the head 10 from
 pivoting with respect to the shaft 16. The teeth 44 can be oriented in a
 radially extending manner so that the pitch or distance between adjacent
 teeth determines the incremental change of the lie angle.
 There is illustrated in FIG. 7 a second embodiment of a golf club putter,
 indicated generally at 60, in accordance with the present invention. The
 putter 60 has a head 61 including a body 62. The body 62 has a striking
 face 64. Of course, the body 62 and the striking face 64 can have any
 suitable shape. As will be described below, the body 62 is adjustably
 attached to a golf club shaft 66 by the cooperation of a hosel extention
 member or a hosel 68 and, a hosel or an attachment member 70 which define
 a hosel assembly, indicated generally at 71.
 The hosel 68 has a first end 72 fixably attached to the body 62. The first
 end 72 can be fixably attached to the body 62 by any suitable method, such
 as by a press fit, a threaded connection, or a weld. The hosel 68 has a
 second end 74 having a threaded bore 76 formed therethrough. The hose 68
 further includes an engagement surface 78 having a plurality of grooves 80
 formed therein.
 When the golf club putter 60 is assembled, the attachment member 70 is
 pivotally connected to the second end 74 of the hosel 68 by the
 cooperation of the threaded bore 76 and a bolt 82 disposed in a bore 84
 formed through the attachment member 70. The shaft 66 is attached to a
 first arm 86 of the attachment member 70 by a pair of set screws 88, in a
 similar arrangement as the shaft 16 and attachment member 20 of the golf
 club putter head 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6. Of course, the shaft
 66 of the putter 60 can be attached to the attachment member 70 by any
 suitable means. The attachment member 70 further includes a second arm 90
 having an engagement surface 92. The engagement surface 92 faces the hosel
 68. Preferably, the engagement surface 92 has a plurality of grooves 94
 formed therein. The engagement surfaces 92 and 78 are engaged with one
 another and cooperate to maintain the selected lie angle between the head
 64 and the shaft 66 when the bolt 82 is tightened. The second arm 90 may
 also include a cut-out window 96 formed therethrough for viewing and
 aligning indicia (not shown) representing the relative lie angle between
 the head 64 and the shaft 66.
 There is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 a third embodiment of a golf club
 putter, indicated generally at 100. The putter 100 has a head 102 having a
 body 104. The body 104 has a striking face 106 for engagement with a golf
 ball (not shown) when the putter 100 is used. The body 104 and striking
 face 106 can have any desired shape. A hosel extention member 108, also
 shown in FIG. 10, is fastened to and extends upwardly from the body 104.
 The hosel extention member 108 can be fastened to the body 104 by any
 suitable manner. As best shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the hosel extention
 member extention member 108 has an upper end 108a having first and second
 threaded bores 110 and 112 formed therethrough.
 The putter 100 further includes a hosel or 114, which is also shown in FIG.
 11. The, attachment member 114 has first and second arms 114a and 114b.
 The first arm 114a has a bore 116 formed therein for receiving the end of
 a shaft 118. The end of the shaft 118 is fixably attached to the hosel 114
 by a suitable fastener, such as by a pair of set screws 120 in threaded
 engagement with threaded bores 122 formed through the first arm 114a of
 the hosel 114. The end of the shaft 118 can be fixably attached to the
 hosel 114 by any suitable means, such as a band clamp assembly (not
 shown). The shaft 118 can be rotated to any desirable position and cut to
 any desirable length in a similar manner as described above with respect
 to the putter 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. If desired, the shaft 118 can be
 permanently attached to the hosel 114.
 The hosel 114 has a bore 124 formed therethrough located between the first
 and second arms 114a and 114b. The hosel 114 and the hosel extention
 member 108 are pivotally fastened together by a bolt 126 inserted in the
 bore 124 of the hosel 114 and the threaded bore 110 of the hosel extention
 member 108. Thus, the bores 110 and 124 and the bolt 126 define a pivot
 axis for rotation of the shaft 118 with respect to the hosel extention
 member 108. The hosel 108 and the hosel 114 define a hosel extention
 member assembly, indicated generally at 127 for adjustment of the shaft
 118 relative to the head 102. Since the hosel extention member 108 is
 fastened to the body 104, rotation of the hosel 114 relative to the hosel
 extention member 108 changes the lie angle of the putter 100.
 The second arm 114b has a semi-circular slot or recess 128 forming a
 generally U-shaped wall 129. The second arm 114b also has an arcuate slot
 130 formed therethrough. A circular generally flat disk 132, also shown in
 FIG. 12, is disposed in the recess 128. The disk 132 has an outer
 cylindrical surface 133. The disk 132 is pivotally fastened to the hosel
 114 by a bolt 134 which is inserted through a hole 136 formed through the
 disk 132, the arcuate slot 130 of the hosel 114, and threaded into the
 threaded bore 112 of the hosel extention member 108. The hole 136 is
 positioned off-center with respect to the center of the disk 132. When
 properly tightened, the cooperation of the bolt 134, the disk 132, and the
 hosel 114 frictionally prevents the hosel 114 from rotating relative to
 the hosel extention member 108.
 To adjust the lie angle, the bolt 134 is loosened so that the disk 132 can
 be rotated. Preferably, the diameter of the disk 132 is just slightly
 smaller than a width W, as shown in FIG. 11, of the recess 128 so that the
 disk 132 can travel in a generally vertical direction, as viewing FIG. 8,
 within the recess 128. Rotation of the disk 132 causes the bolt 134 to
 move within in an arcuate path within the arcuate slot 130, thereby
 adjusting the lie angle. The hosel 114 rotates relative to the hosel
 extention member 108 about a pivot point defined by the bolt 126. Since
 the hole 136 and the bolt 134 are off-center with respect to the center of
 the disk 132, and the disk 132 is confined in the recess 128, the rotation
 of the disk 132 functions as a cam member such that a portion of the outer
 cylindrical surface 132 of the disk 132 engages and pushes against a
 portion of the wall 129. The outer cylindrical surface 133 functions as a
 cam surface acting against the wall 129. The outer cylindrical surface of
 the bolt 134 also functions as a cam surface acting against the inner wall
 of the arcuate slot 130. Thus, the rotation of the disk 132 changes the
 angular relationship between the hosel extention member 108 and the hosel
 114. For example, rotation of the disk 132 in a clockwise direction form
 the position shown in FIG. 8, causes the bolt 134 to move leftwardly, as
 viewing FIG. 8, within the arcuate slot 130, causing the disk 132 to move
 generally downwardly to a position shown in FIG. 13. Since the bolt 134 is
 fixed relative to the hosel extention member 108, except rotationally
 within the bore 112, movement of the disk 132 causes movement of the hosel
 114, thereby adjusting the lie angle. If the disk 132 was rotated
 counter-clockwise, as viewing FIG. 8, the hosel 114 would be moved to a
 position illustrated in FIG. 14. After the disk 132 has been properly
 rotated, the bolt 126 can then be tightened, thereby frictionally fixing
 the hosel extention member 108 relative to the hosel 114.
 The disk 132 can be rotated by any suitable mechanism. For example, the
 disk 132 can have a non-cylindrical bore 138 formed therein for receiving
 a lever arm 140 to assist in rotating the disk. For example, the bore 138
 could have a hexagonal shape. Appropriate movement or rotation of the
 lever arm 140, causes rotation of the disk 132. Preferably, the bore 138
 and the openings formed in the heads of the bolts 126 and 134 have the
 same size and non-cylindrical shape, so that a common lever arm 140 can be
 used to manipulate them.
 Although the hosel 114 is shown and described as being attached to the
 shaft 118, and the hosel extention member 108 is shown and described as
 being attached to the head 102, the hosel 114 and hosel extention member
 108 can be interchanged. For example, the hosel 114 could be adapted to be
 fastened to the head 102, and the hosel extention member 108 could be
 adapted to be fastened to the shaft 118.
 There is illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16 a fourth embodiment of a golf club
 putter, indicated generally at 150. The putter 150 has a head 152 having a
 body 154 and a striking face 156. The putter 150 has a first hosel
 assembly, indicated generally at 157, similar to the hosel assembly 127 of
 the putter 100 of FIG. 8. A shaft 158 is fastened to hosel 160 in a
 similar manner as the putter 100 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The hosel
 160 and a circular disk 162 which provides means for changing the lie
 angle, as described above with respect to the putter 100.
 The putter 150 further includes a second hosel assembly, indicated
 generally at 164, which is attached to the hosel assembly 157. The second
 hosel assembly 164 can adjustably change the angle between the striking
 face 156 and the shaft 158 in a transverse direction to the player holding
 the putter 150, commonly referred to as the "loft angle". Preferably, the
 second hosel assembly 164 is pivoted in a plane which is generally
 perpendicular to a second plane generally defined by the striking face 156
 of the head 152. The loft angle is changed by rotating the head 152 about
 a pivot point defined by a bolt 176. As stated above, the second hosel
 assembly 164 is similar in structure and function as the hosel assembly
 127 of the putter 100 of FIG. 8. However, the orientation of the second
 hosel assembly 164 is offset by 90 degrees, compared to the first hosel
 assembly 157. The second hosel assembly 164 includes a first portion 166
 adjustably fastened to the hosel 160, and a second portion 168 fastened to
 the body 154. The first portion 166 has a pair of threaded bores 170 and
 172 for receiving a bolt 174 and the bolt 176, respectively. The second
 portion 168 includes a recess 178 and an arcuate slot 180 formed
 therethrough. The second hosel assembly 164 operates in a similar manner
 as described above with respect to the hosel assembly 127 of the putter
 100.
 There is illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 a fifth embodiment of a golf club
 putter, indicated generally at 200. The putter 200 has a head 202 having a
 body 204. The body 204 has a striking face 206 for engagement with a golf
 ball (not shown) when the putter 200 is used. The body 204 and striking
 face 206 can have any desired shape. The putter 200 further includes a
 hosel assembly, indicated generally at 208. The hosel assembly 208
 includes an hosel 210 and a hosel extention member 212. The hosel
 extention member 212, which is also shown in FIG. 19, is fastened to and
 extends upwardly from the body 204. The hosel extention member 212 can be
 fastened to the body 204 by any suitable manner. As best shown in FIGS. 18
 and 19, the hosel extention member 212 has an upper end 212a having first
 and second bores 214 and 216 formed therethrough. Preferably, the bore 214
 is internally threaded, and the bore 216 has a relatively smooth surface.
 The hosel 210, which is also shown in FIG. 20, has first and second arms
 210a and 210b extending at an angle to one another. The first arm 210a has
 a bore 218 formed therein for receiving the end of a shaft 220. The end of
 the shaft 220 can be attached to the hosel 210 by any suitable manner,
 such as for example, a press-fit or permanently adhered thereto. If
 desired, the shaft 220 can be adjustably attached to the hosel 210 by
 fasteners, such as by a pair of set screws (not shown) or by a band clamp
 assembly (not shown).
 The hosel 210 has a bore 222 formed therethrough located between the first
 and second arms 210a and 210b. The hosel 210 and the hosel extention
 member 212 are pivotally fastened together by a bolt 224 inserted in the
 bore 222 of the hosel 210 and threaded into the bore 214 of the hosel
 extention member 212. Thus, the bores 214 and 222 and the bolt 224 define
 a pivot axis for rotation of the shaft 220 with respect to the hosel
 extention member 212. The hosel extention member 212 and the hosel 210 of
 the hosel assembly 208 provide for adjustment of the shaft 220 relative to
 the head 202. Since the hosel extention member 212 is fastened to the body
 204, rotation of the hosel 210 relative to the hosel extention member 212
 changes the lie angle of the putter 200.
 The second arm 210b of the hosel 210 has a semicircular recess 226 and an
 arcuate slot 228 formed therethrough. A cam member 230, which is also
 shown in FIG. 21, is disposed in the arcuate slot 228 and the recess 226.
 The cam member 230 includes a cylindrical portion or head 232 having a
 slot 234 defining an axis 236. The slot 234 can be any suitable shape for
 receiving a tool (not shown) to assist in rotating the cam member. For
 example, the slot 234 can have a six-sided star shaped cross-section for
 receiving a conventional "torx" type wrench (not shown). Of course, the
 slot 234 can have any suitable cross-sectional shape. The cam member 230
 further includes a cylindrically shaped arm 238 extending from the head
 232. The arm 238 extends along an axis 240 which is preferably parallel to
 but offset from the axis 236 by a distance "D", as shown in FIG. 21, the
 reason for which will be explained below. The arm 238 extends into the
 bore 216 of the hosel extention member 212, as best shown in FIG. 18. The
 head 232 of the cam member 230 is disposed in the recess 226 of the hosel
 210. The outer cylindrical surface of the head 232 engages a U-shaped wall
 239 defined by the recess 226.
 To adjust the lie angle of the putter 200, the bolt 224 is loosened so that
 the hosel extention member 212 is not frictionally fastened to the hosel
 210. Unloosening of the bolt 224 also allows the cam member 230 to be
 freely rotated. Preferably, the diameter of the head 232 of the cam member
 230 is just slightly smaller than a width W', as shown in FIG. 20, of the
 recess 226 of the hosel 210. The head 232 of the cam member 230 functions
 similarly to the disk 132 of the putter 100 illustrated in FIG. 8.
 Rotation of the head 232 of the cam member 230 about the axis 236 causes
 the arm 238 to move within in an arcuate path within the arcuate slot 228
 of the hosel 210, thereby adjusting the lie angle. The hosel 210 rotates
 relative to the hosel extention member 212 about a pivot point defined by
 the bolt 224. Since the axis 240 of the arm 238 is off-center with respect
 to the axis 236 of the head 232, and the head 232 is confined in the
 recess 226, the rotation of the cam member 230 functions as a cam, the
 rotation of which changes the angular relationship between the hose
 extention member 212 and the hosel 210. For example, rotation of the cam
 member 230 in a clockwise direction form the position shown in FIG. 17,
 causes the bolt arm 238 to move leftwardly, as viewing FIG. 17, within the
 arcuate slot 228, causing the cam member 230 to move downwardly within the
 recess 226 to a position shown in FIG. 22. Since the arm 238 is fixed
 relative to the hosel extention member 212, except rotationally within the
 bore 216, movement of the cam member 230 causes movement of the hosel 210,
 thereby adjusting the lie angle of the putter 200. If the cam member 230
 was rotated counter-clockwise, as viewing FIG. 17, the hosel 210 would be
 moved to a position illustrated in FIG. 23. After the cam member 230 has
 been properly rotated to achieve the desired lie angle, the bolt 224 can
 than be tightened, thereby frictionally fixing the hosel 212 relative to
 the hosel 210.
 There is illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25 a sixth embodiment of a golf club
 putter, indicated generally at 300. The putter 300 has a head 302 having a
 body 304 and a striking face 306. The putter 300 has a hosel assembly,
 indicated generally at 308, similar in structure and function as the hosel
 assembly 208 of the putter 200 of FIG. 17. The hosel assembly 308 includes
 an attachment member 310 and a hosel 312. A shaft 314 is fastened to the
 attachment member 310. The hosel assembly 308 provides means for
 adjustably changing the loft angle of the putter 300, i.e., the angle
 between the striking face 306 and the shaft 314 in a transverse direction
 to the player holding the putter 300. As stated above, the hosel assembly
 308 is similar in structure and function as the hosel assembly 208 of the
 putter 200 of FIG. 17, except that the plane of rotation is offset by 90
 degrees.
 As shown in FIG. 24, the hosel assembly 308 includes a bolt 316 and a cam
 member 318 having an generally cylindrical arm 320 extending from the cam
 member 318. The bolt 316 is threadably engaged with a threaded bore 322
 formed in the attachment member 310. The arm 320 is disposed in a bore 324
 formed in the attachment member 310. The bolt 316 and the arm 320 are
 similar in structure and function as the bolt 224 and the arm 238,
 respectively, of the hosel assembly 208 of the putter 200 illustrated in
 FIG. 18. To retain the bolt 316 and the arm 320 in the bores 322 and 324,
 respectively, the bolt 316 and the arm 320 preferably have ends 316a and
 320a,respectively, which are "peened" or capped so that they are prevented
 from substantially moving in a rightward direction, as viewing FIG. 24.
 The ends 316a and 320a have radially outwardly extending portions which
 are trapped by shoulders 322a and 324a formed in the bores 322 and 324,
 respectively.
 It should be understood that all of the embodiments of the putters
 described throughout this specification, can be configured differently to
 include or exclude features which are described and shown with other
 embodiments. For example, the putter 300 of FIG. 24 can be configured to
 further include the hosel assembly 208 of the putter 200 of FIG. 17.
 It should also be understood that although the above described embodiments
 are illustrated and described as golf club putters, the present invention
 relates to any suitable golf club structure suitable for striking a ball,
 such as for example, "drivers", "woods", "irons", and "wedges".
 In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and
 mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in
 its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this
 invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and
 illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.