Abstract:
This disclosed subject matter provides twin-axis sports equipment wherein a structure connecting a main shaft and a striking portion comprises two axes. The sports equipment can be a golf club, a hockey stick, an ice hockey stick, a tennis racket, a badminton racket, or the like. The striking portion can be configured as the striking portion of a golf club driver, wood, iron or putter, and can include a golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter having a punched hole or a dimple. A void can be formed in the striking portion, from a toe side and a heel side of the striking portion, which further connects with a main shaft.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a Divisional of and claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/327,219, filed on Dec. 3, 2008, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. This application also claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-312356, filed on Dec. 3, 2007, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The disclosed subject matter relates to various sports equipment, such as a golf club driver, wood, iron, and putter, hockey and ice hockey sticks, a tennis racket, a badminton racket, and the like, and particularly relates to twin-axis sports equipment and heads for these types of sports equipment. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In the past, various types of sports equipment have comprised many aspects that depend on the skill of the user. For example, particularly for a beginner, etc., the swing of a golf club and the transfer of the moment of force are difficult, resulting in the golf ball or the like never being struck with exact directionality and speed. 
         [0006]    This is also related to the so-called third law of sports (the law of action-reaction), i.e., the rule of thumb that force is the result of interaction, and the forces experienced by two colliding objects are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction. For example, when the swing of a golf club and the transfer of moment of force are less than ideal, the struck ball flies in a direction other than that intended by the user. 
         [0007]    A conventional golf club, as shown in  FIG. 5  (which shows a so-called wood club), comprises a head portion  2 , a shaft portion  3 , and a grip portion  4 . The head portion  2  comprises a toe portion  5 , a heel portion  6 , a neck portion  7 , and a face portion  8 . 
         [0008]    As described above, with a conventional golf club, it is difficult to control the directionality of the golf ball when striking the ball, and particularly difficult to control a rightward slice, thereby hindering the improvement of the golf play of a beginner, etc. 
         [0009]    In various sports, in general, torque—which is the moment of force around a rotation axis—becomes an issue when rotating an object around a fixed rotation axis. Even with the swing of a golf club, for example, it is desirable to increase this torque. 
         [0010]    In Japanese Patent Application No. JP-A 1998-201884 a golf putter is disclosed wherein the shaft  2  of the head upper portion comprises two axes. When the shaft is designed with two axes, the putter head  4  is provided with two support points so as to balance the force across the entire head, thereby improving swing balance, significantly widening the sweet spot (core) of the face  5 , and reducing the weight of the club. In other words, the two axes make it possible to accurately strike the ball without difficulty and enable many and varied club designs. 
         [0011]    Nevertheless, the disclosure of JP-A 1998-201884 is limited to a golf putter and cannot be used with golf clubs in general or with various sports equipment as is the case with the disclosed subject matter, and its configuration is limited to an even arrangement of the two axes on the upper surface of the putter. 
         [0012]    Additionally, certain golf journals or dictionaries disclose various topics from basic golf knowledge to club specifications, the club center of gravity, the club shaft, the club loft and face angle, club weight, and the like. Nevertheless, these descriptions are based on existing golf clubs and are not provided to solve the aforementioned problems or address the same concerns as does the disclosed subject matter. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0013]    Conventional sports equipment, such as golf clubs, for example, are provided with a distance (approximately 4 cm in the case of a golf club) between the club head center of gravity that strikes the golf ball and the shaft, resulting in an impact in the range of tons on a section not in line with this axis. As a result, the club head rotates and, at the moment of impact of the club, stick, or racket on the ball, puck, shuttlecock, or the like, the head unavoidably bends rightward due to the great force, sometimes causing the struck ball, such as the golf ball, to curve, i.e., slice. 
         [0014]    The reason the golf club bends, as described above, is believed to be that the shaft and the center of gravity that strikes the ball are not in alignment. This has lead to the emergence of golf clubs and the like designed to decrease the curve of the ball by changing the position of the shaft and creating inventive head shapes based on various conventional initiatives. 
         [0015]    Based on the above-described points, the disclosed subject matter provides various sports equipment that can be configured to be capable of supporting the face section of a club head, etc., that contacts a ball with two axes. Alternatively, the various sports equipment can include a punched hole or dimple in the club head (in the case of a golf club). The disclosed subject matter can include sports equipment configured to reduce the operating torque, i.e., preventing a reduction in the moment of force, on the shaft of the club, stick, racket, or the like of the various sports equipment, and eliminating the loss of force caused by the rotation of the head of the club, stick, racket, or the like, making it possible for even a beginner to appropriately and accurately transfer force to the ball. 
         [0016]    The above-described features, according to the disclosed subject matter, can be achieved, for example, by twin-axis sports equipment wherein an axis connecting a main shaft and a striking portion on the head comprises two axes. 
         [0017]    In the disclosed subject matter, because the axis connecting the main shaft and the striking portion comprises two axes, the moment of force at the time the ball or the like is struck can be more properly or appropriately executed, thereby reducing the curve of the ball that results when the force is shifted rightward. 
         [0018]    Further, the twin-axis sports equipment of the disclosed subject matter can be embodied in a golf club, a hockey stick, an ice hockey stick, a tennis racket, a badminton racket, or the like. 
         [0019]    In the disclosed subject matter, because the clubs, sticks, and rackets are limited to specific sports equipment, the above-described effect is more clearly defined. 
         [0020]    Further, the disclosed subject matter can include a twin-axis golf club including a striking portion configured as a striking portion of a golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter. In the disclosed subject matter, because the striking portion is specified to be the striking portion of a golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter, the above-described effect is more clearly defined. 
         [0021]    The golf club can also be configured as a golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter having a punched hole or a dimple. In this case, the golf club driver, wood, iron, or putter having a punched hole or a dimple can exhibit the same or similar operation and effect as the above-described twin-axis club. 
         [0022]    Further, the twin-axis golf club of the disclosed subject matter can include an auxiliary shaft axis wherein one end is joined within the half closer to the striking portion of the main shaft axis connected to a heel side of the striking portion, and the other end is joined with an opposite face portion of the striking portion. In this case, because the twin-axis golf club comprises an auxiliary shaft axis having one end joined within the half closer to the striking portion of the main shaft axis connected to a heel side of the striking portion, and having the other end joined with an opposite face portion of the striking portion, the same or similar operation and effect as the twin-axis club can be achieved. 
         [0023]    Further, the disclosed subject matter can be configured as a golf club wherein a bridge portion is installed upright from a toe side and a heel side of a striking portion, with a section from the heel side connecting to a main shaft axis, and a void portion formed by the bridge portion and the striking portion upper surface. In this case, because the bridge portion is installed upright from the toe side and the heel side of the striking portion, and it further connects with the main shaft axis, and forms a void portion with the striking portion, the same or similar operation and effect as the twin-axis club can be achieved. 
         [0024]    The disclosed subject matter, as described above, can include sports equipment configured to support the face section of a club head, etc., that strikes a ball with two axes and/or provides, in the case of a golf club, a punched hole or dimple in the head of the golf club, etc., thereby reducing the torque, i.e., preventing reduction in the moment of force, on the shaft of the club, stick, racket, or the like, and eliminating the loss of force caused by the rotation of the head of the club, stick, racket, or the like, making it possible for even a beginner to appropriately and accurately transfer force to the ball, puck, shuttlecock, etc. 
         [0025]    Further, as described above, certain embodiments of the disclosed subject matter make it possible to increase the torque, which is the moment of force around the rotation axis of the club etc., during the swing of the club, for example, so as to eliminate the loss of force caused by the rotation of the head of the club or the like, thereby increasing the force on the struck ball, puck, shuttlecock, etc., and in golf, for example, increasing the so-called flying distance. 
         [0026]    Further, the disclosed subject matter, as described above, can include a configuration that significantly increases and makes appropriate the inertia moment on the head portion striking point of the golf club, etc., making it possible to suppress the occurrence of defects such as the twisting of the shaft that occurs when the ball is struck. 
         [0027]    In this manner, a golf club or the like can be capable of properly and accurately striking a ball, etc., based on a simple configuration. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a general plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a general plan view showing the configuration of another embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is an overall explanatory plan view showing the configuration of another embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is an overall explanatory view showing the configuration of conventional golf club. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a general plan view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter. 
       
    
    
     EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0034]      10 ,  20 ,  30  golf club 
         [0035]      11 ,  21 ,  31  golf club (wood) 
         [0036]      12 ,  22 ,  32  face portion 
         [0037]      12 ′,  22 ′ opposite face portion 
         [0038]      13 ,  23 ,  33  striking portion 
         [0039]      14 ,  24 ,  34  shaft 
         [0040]      15 ,  25  auxiliary shaft 
         [0041]      16 ,  26 ,  36  main shaft 
         [0042]      17 ,  27  grip 
         [0043]      38  void portion 
         [0044]    X shaft joining portion 
         [0045]    Y shaft joining portion (striking portion central portion) 
         [0046]    S punched hole or dimple 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0047]    The following describes exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter in detail with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 . 
         [0048]    While the embodiments described below are specific examples of the disclosed subject matter and therefore are provided with various technical features, it should be noted that the scope of the disclosed subject matter is not limited to these embodiments. 
         [0049]      FIG. 1  shows the configuration of an embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the presently disclosed subject matter. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 1 , a golf club  10  is a golf club wood  11  comprising a striking portion  13  that includes a face  12 , a shaft axis  14  and an auxiliary shaft axis  15  that connect this striking portion  13 , a main shaft axis  16 , a grip  17 , and a shaft axis joining portion X. 
         [0051]    The shaft axis  14  is connected to the face  12  of the striking portion  13  at one end, and continuously connected to the main shaft axis  16  on the other end. The auxiliary shaft axis  15  is connected to an opposite face portion  12 ′ of the striking portion  13  on one end, and connected at X to the main shaft axis  16  on the other end. 
         [0052]    The golf club  10  of this embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is configured as described above and shown in the figures, making it possible to appropriately transfer force applied by a user from the grip  17  through the main shaft axis  16 , through the shaft axis  14 , through the auxiliary shaft axis  15 , and to the striking portion  13 , in the end causing the struck ball to be appropriately and accurately projected with great force from the face  12 . 
         [0053]    As described above, with the center of gravity of the golf club positioned between the two axes, the bending of the head, at the very least, no longer occurs to the extent it had to when the ball is struck between the two axes, thereby reducing the curve of the ball as well. 
         [0054]    For example, while the head of a conventional golf club bends significantly outward when the ball is released near the toe (near the side edge away from the user of the golf club), the axis on the toe side of a golf club with two axes configured as in the disclosed subject matter invites an opposite force, thereby correcting and setting straight the bend of the head. 
         [0055]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show the configuration of another embodiment of a golf club according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         [0056]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing a golf club head having a punched hole or a dimple according to the disclosed subject matter, and  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , a golf club  20  is a golf club wood  21  comprising a striking portion  23  that includes a face  22 , a shaft axis  24  connected to the striking portion  23 , a main shaft axis  26 , a grip  27 , a punched hole or a dimple S, and a shaft axis joining portion Y. 
         [0057]    The shaft axis  24  is connected to a substantially central portion Y of the striking portion  23  on one end, and continuously connected to the main shaft axis  26  on the other end. The punched hole or dimple S is formed in the substantially central portion of the striking portion  23 , but is designed so that a sufficient thickness of the face  22  of the striking portion  23  of the golf club (in this case, the wood  21 ) remains. 
         [0058]    The golf club  20  according to this embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is configured as described above, making it possible to evenly transfer the force applied by the user from the grip  27  through the main shaft axis  26 , through the shaft axis  24 , about the punched hole or dimple S, and to the faces  22  and  22 ′, thereby causing that force to be appropriately transferred to the striking portion  23  and, in the end, to the ball to be struck in an appropriate and accurate fashion from the face  22  and with great force. 
         [0059]      FIG. 4  shows the configuration of another embodiment of a golf club according to the disclosed subject matter. 
         [0060]      FIG. 4  is an overall explanatory perspective view showing the head of the golf club according to an aspect of the disclosed subject matter. In  FIG. 4 , a golf club  30  is a golf club wood  31  comprising a striking portion  33  that includes a face  32 , a shaft axis  34  that connects the striking portion  33 , a main shaft axis  36 , a grip (not shown), and a void portion  38  surrounded and formed by the shaft axis  34  and the striking portion  33 . 
         [0061]    The shaft axis  34  is connected to the substantially central portion of one side of the striking portion  33  on one end, and continuously connected to the main shaft axis  36  on the other end. The void portion  38  is positioned in the substantially central portion of the striking portion  33  and on the side of the face  32 , and is formed so as to be surrounded by the shaft axis  34  and the striking portion  33  as described above. That is, the shaft axis  34  is formed like a bridge to the striking portion  33 , forming the void portion  38 . 
         [0062]    The golf club  30  according to this embodiment of the disclosed subject matter can be configured as described above, making it possible to evenly transfer the force applied by the user from the grip through the main shaft axis  36 , through the bridge-like shaft axis  34 , and to the striking portion  33  and the face  32  in an appropriate manner, causing the ball to be appropriately and accurately struck with great force. 
         [0063]    As described above, in this embodiment, in place of the twin-axis golf club, the head portion  33  of the golf club is provided with the void portion  38 , which is positioned in the substantially central portion of the striking portion  33  and on the side of the face  32  and formed so as to be surrounded by the shaft axis  34  and the striking portion  33  as described above, thereby eliminating, at the least, the bend of the head that can occur in conventional devices when the ball is struck in an area other than the end of the head  33 , and reducing the curve of the ball. 
         [0064]    For example, while the head of a conventional golf club significantly bends outward when the ball is contacted and released near the toe, in the case of the present embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, the axis on the toe side invites an opposite force owing to the establishment of the void portion  38  in the head portion  33  of the golf club, thereby correcting and setting straight the bend of the head. 
         [0065]      FIG. 6  shows yet another embodiment of a golf club made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter. In this embodiment, a golf club  20  can include a striking portion  23  that includes a face  22  and an opposing surface  22 ′. A main shaft  24  can extend from the striking portion  23  to the grip  27  and can include an auxiliary shaft  25  extending at an acute angle from the main shaft  25  to the opposing surface  22 ′ that is directly opposed to the striking face  22  of the striking portion  23 . A through hole S can be located in the striking portion  23  and extend therethrough. The cross-section taken at line X-X of  FIG. 6  and shown in  FIG. 3  shows one specific configuration for the through hole S. 
         [0066]    The above-referenced changes made to a golf club according to the disclosed subject matter can be within the scope of existing golf regulations, and the shaft can form a line pointing to the heel portion or pointing to a point to the left or right of the heel portion when the club is viewed from above in the so-called address position. That is, the shaft can be clearly installed on the line of the heel portion of the golf club. 
         [0067]    In some cases, a golf club made in accordance with the presently disclosed subject matter can fall outside the scope of the above-described golf regulations. In this case, the golf club can be used for private games or practice. 
         [0068]    The twin-axis sports equipment  10  according to the disclosed subject matter has been mainly described in terms of a golf club above, but the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto. The disclosed subject matter may be widely applied to sports equipment used in games that employ a ball, puck, shuttlecock, or the like and require such a ball, etc., to be accurately struck, such as sports equipment used in, for example, hockey, ice hockey, tennis, badminton, and the like. 
         [0069]    The golf club  20  having a punched hole or dimple on the golf club head according to the disclosed subject matter has been mainly described in terms of a golf club above, but the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto. The disclosed subject matter may be widely applied to sports equipment used in games that employ a ball, puck, shuttlecock, or the like and require such a ball, etc., to be accurately struck, such as sports equipment used in, for example, hockey, ice hockey, tennis, badminton, and the like. 
         [0070]    In this manner, according to the disclosed subject matter, it is possible to provide a golf club or other sports equipment capable of simply correcting and setting straight the bend of the club or curve of a struck ball or object based on a simple configuration, and which configuration can increase the flying distance of the struck ball or object. 
         [0071]    While there has been described what are at present considered to be exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereto, and it is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. All conventional art references describe above and any English abstracts associated therewith are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference.