Abstract:
The present invention is directed at a quick release connection system to facilitate customization of golf clubs. It can be used to interchange soleplates quickly and easily. Teeth are disposed on the inside of a frame so that a soleplate may be inserted with minimal resistance, but cannot be removed without specific steps which may require the use of a simple tool. Strengthening and interlock devices are provided to ensure performance quality akin to traditional golf clubs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/984,306, filed Jan. 4, 2011, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/622,207, filed Nov. 19, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/563,224, filed Nov. 27, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,820, issued Nov. 24, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention generally relates to golf clubs, and more specifically to golf clubs having an improved connection that provides for interchanging a shaft with a club head. Furthermore, the invention also relates to golf clubs having an improved connection for inserting and removing adjustable weights or other attachments within the club head. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In order to improve their game, golfers often customize their equipment to fit their particular swing. Absent a convenient way to make heads and shafts interchangeable, a store or a business offering custom fitting must either have a large number of clubs with specific characteristics, or must change a particular club using a complicated disassembly and reassembly process. If, for example, a golfer wants to try a golf club shaft with different flex characteristics, or use a club head with a different weight, center of gravity, or moment of inertia, in the past it has not been practical to make such changes. Golf equipment manufacturers have been increasing the variety of clubs available to golfers. For example, a particular model of a driver-type golf club may be offered in several different loft angles and lie angles to suit a particular golfer&#39;s needs. In addition, golfers can choose shafts, whether metal or graphite, and adjust the length of the shaft to suit their swing. Recently, golf clubs have emerged that allow shaft and club head components, such as adjustable weights, to be interchanged to facilitate this customization process. 
         [0004]    One example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,646 to Wheeler for a Golf Club Assembly. The Wheeler patent discloses a putter having a grip and a putter head, both of which are detachable from a shaft. Fastening members, provided on the upper and lower ends of the shaft, have internal threads, which engage the external threads provided on both the lower end of the grip and the upper end of the putter head shank to secure these components to the shaft. The lower portion of the shaft further includes a flange, which contacts the upper end of the putter head shank, when the putter head is coupled to the shaft. This design produces an unaesthetic bulge at the top of the shaft and another unaesthetic bulge at the bottom of the shaft. 
         [0005]    Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,442 to Walker for Golf Clubs with Quick Release Heads. The Walker patent discloses a golf club in which the club head is secured to the shaft by a coupling rod and a quick release pin. The upper end of the coupling rod has external threads that engage the internal threads formed in the lower portion of the shaft. The lower end of the coupling rod, which is inserted into the hosel of the club head, has diametric apertures that align with diametric apertures in the hosel to receive the quick release pin. 
         [0006]    Another example is U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2006/0105855 A1 to Cackett et al. for a Golf Club with Interchangeable Head-Shaft Connections. The Cackett publication discloses a golf club that uses a sleeve/tube arrangement instead of a traditional hosel to connect the interchangeable shaft to the club head in an effort to reduce material weight and provide for quick installation. A mechanical fastener (screw) entering the club head through the sole plate is used to removably secure the shaft to the club head. 
         [0007]    Still another example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,673 to Roark for an Interchangeable Golf Club Head and Adjustable Handle System. The Roark patent discloses a golf club with a quick release for detaching a club head from a shaft. The quick release is a two-piece connector including a lower connector, which is secured to the hosel of the club head, and an upper connector, which is secured to the lower portion of the shaft. The upper connector has a pin and a ball catch that both protrude radially outward from the lower end of the upper connector. The upper end of the lower connector has a corresponding slot formed therein for receiving the upper connector pin, and a separate hole for receiving the ball catch. When the shaft is coupled to the club head, the lower connector hole retains the ball catch to secure the shaft to the club head. 
         [0008]    However, the utilization of pins, screws, and/or coupling rods in the attachment of the shaft to club heads has certain drawbacks. The addition of these connection aids may add weight to the clubs, which negatively affects swing speed and moments of inertia, and therefore overall club performance and ball-striking ability. Furthermore, these methods take time to attach and detach. Finally, these connection aids are subject to stripping and/or material failure if exposed to excessive forces either during attachment or during normal club use. 
         [0009]    Hence, there remains a need in the art for golf clubs with an improved connection that provides a method for quickly and easily interchanging the shaft, removable weights and other attachments with the club head. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The invention is directed to a quick release connection system for assembling a golf club. In one embodiment, angularly disposed teeth are arranged on a portion of a golf club within a hosel hole. This portion can be the inner wall of the hosel hole or another part of the golf club. The teeth form an acute angle with the direction of insertion, and when a shaft is inserted into the hole, the teeth allow the shaft to pass by the teeth. When removal of the shaft is attempted, the teeth bite into the outside of the shaft and resist its withdrawal. An optional channel can be scored into the shaft to retain the teeth and to provide added strength to the point of engagement with the teeth. A sliding release collar is adapted to push the teeth radially outward from the shaft so that the teeth are no longer in contact with the shaft and removal of the shaft is permitted. A removing tool is also provided and is adapted to either push or pull the release collar. The connection system includes an optional plug sized and dimensioned to stabilize the shaft. Optional interlock devices are disposed on or within the frame, plug, or shaft and are designed to prevent rotation of the shaft within the connection system. 
         [0011]    The inventive connection system can also be used to connect removable weight(s), other attachments including decorative attachments, or a sole plate to the body portion of a golf club head. A second set of angularly disposed teeth can also be provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the accompanying drawings, which form apart of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a golf club equipped with the quick release connection system of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional view of the quick release connection system according to one embodiment of the present invention prior to the insertion of a shaft; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2   a  shows a cross-sectional view of the quick release connection system according to one embodiment of the present invention after insertion of the shaft; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the quick release connection system of the present invention disposed in a club head body. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the quick release connection system according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a release tool and a shaft of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view of the quick release connection system according to another embodiment of the present invention prior to connection; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6   a  shows a cross-sectional view of the quick release connection system according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6  after connection; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 6   a  and the operation of a release tool according to the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a portion of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  6   a , and  7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    The present invention is directed to a quick release connection system for assembling and disassembling golf clubs. Such a system can be utilized or customized for various applications, including, but not limited, to the shaft-club head connection, the insertion of adjustable weights in the club head, and the connection of a sole plate to the club head. Several embodiments of the present invention are described below. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a quick release connection system for connecting a golf club shaft to a club head. The quick release connection system comprises a golf club shaft and a hosel of a golf club head with an opening sized and dimensioned to receive the shaft. Preferably, the hosel opening comprises a frame surrounding an open area and a plurality of angularly disposed teeth that extend from a frame into the open area, so that when a shaft is inserted, contact is made between the teeth and the shaft. The teeth are angled toward the sole or heel of the club, such that they do not obstruct the insertion of the shaft into the hosel opening, but may give or bend as the shaft passes through. The teeth form an acute angle with the direction of insertion, e.g., the angle between the shaft and the teeth that faces toward the opening of the hole is less than 90 degrees. The teeth are preferably arranged in a ring, but are not limited to any singular arrangement. When the shaft is removed by pulling it from the club head, the teeth will bite into the outside of the shaft and prevent its removal. In order to remove the shaft, a release tool is attached around the shaft and pushes against a cylindrical release collar slidingly connected to the shaft or the hosel. When pressed by the release tool on the outer end, the release collar pushes the teeth away from the shaft. Once this contact is broken, the shaft can be removed. Alternatively, the release tool is sized and dimensioned to directly push or pull the teeth away from the shaft. 
         [0025]    Additionally, the interior of the connection system can be sealed off at one end by a shaft stopper. An optional brace plug may also extend from the shaft stopper to fit within the end of the shaft to provide additional mechanical support. In order to prevent the shaft from rotating within the frame of the connection system, one or more interlock devices may be disposed on or within the connection system, i.e., on the frame, shaft stopper, brace plug, shaft, or any combination thereof. Suitable anti-rotational devices include keyway or key/spline systems. Extra row(s) of teeth may also strengthen the connection between the shaft and the connection system, helping to hold the shaft in place. Another suitable method for strengthening this connection is to optionally score a line or ring on the golf club shaft to secure the teeth on the scored line. 
         [0026]    This embodiment and other embodiments, including but not limited to connection systems for adding removable weights or sole plates to the club head, are described in detail below. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of the present invention applied to a golf club  40 . A frame portion of the connection system, not shown, is disposed or integrated within hosel  38  of golf club head  42 . Shaft  12  is inserted into the frame within hosel  38 , passing through release collar  22 , which is slidingly connected to the frame and around shaft  12 , and protrudes out from within hosel  38 . Optional scored line  19  is cut out of shaft  12  to facilitate attachment to the frame. The optional scored line  19  can be a gap between the end of shaft  12  and the top of plug  18 . To release shaft  12 , release tool  24  is placed around shaft  12  and pushed against release collar  22 , as described above and in more detail below. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2 and 2   a  illustrate the quick release connection system  10  according to the present invention. Shaft  12  is inserted in the opening  30  of frame  14 . As shaft  12  passes inside frame  14  at proximal end  15 , it contacts teeth  16 , but its movement is not obstructed because teeth  16  are mounted angularly relative to a longitudinal axis of frame  14  and shaft  12 , and toward distal end  17 . Distal end  17  is disposed proximate to the heel of club head  42 . To ease insertion into opening  30 , shaft  12  may be tapered at the insertion end. Shaft  12  can be pushed around optional brace plug  18  all the way up to contact with shaft stopper  20 . Optional brace plug  18  stabilizes shaft  12  within frame  14 . At least one shaft interlock system may align and lock shaft  12  to frame  14  to minimize any relative rotation between shaft  12  and the frame  14 . Suitable interlock systems include, but are not limited to, key and spline systems oriented along the shaft axis. 
         [0029]    To remove shaft  12  from frame  14 , release tool  24  is preferably used in conjunction with release collar  22 , which is slidingly attached to frame  14  or is an extension of frame  14 . Release tool  24  is placed around shaft  12  and is moved distally along arrows  1  until it comes in contact with release collar  22 . As release tool  24  is moved further distally along arrows  1 , release collar  22  is moved in the same direction, contacting teeth  16 . Teeth  16  are then moved radially outward away from shaft  12 . When teeth  16  are no longer in contact with shaft  12 , shaft  12  can be removed from connection system  10 . In order to prevent re-engagement between teeth  16  and shaft  12 , release tool  24  is pressed against release collar  22  during the removal of shaft  12 . Preferably, release tool  24  has a U-shape so that it can be readily positioned around shaft  12  and removed therefrom, as shown in  FIG. 5 . In an alternative embodiment, release collar  22  is constructed to be wide enough around shaft  12  such that a person may be able to manually push in release collar  22  to disengage teeth  16  without the use of release tool  24 . For example, release collar  22  may include a lip or another user-actuated handle. 
         [0030]    Yet another embodiment of the invention is directed at a quick release connection system for adjustable, removable weights that can be inserted into a golf club head, and is shown in  FIG. 3 . This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  2   a , except that the shaft is replaced by a removable weight and the connection system comprises an insertion hole in the club head. Sizes and materials of shaft, frame, and teeth, as recognized by those in the art, can vary according to the different force and strength requirements of the club head. In this embodiment, frame  14  is integrated within the body of golf club head  42  and is adapted to receive a removable weight  44 , which can be hollow or solid. Connection system  10  is not limited to any one location within the body of club head  42 , and there can be multiple connection systems  10  integrated within a single club head  42 . Placing removable weights in different locations within the club head allows golfers to adjust the trajectory of their shots by changing the center of gravity and the moment of inertia. For example, placing a heavy removable weight toward the bottom and rear of the club head moves the center of gravity in the same direction, permitting the golfer to hit a ball with a higher launch angle. This also increases the moment of inertia, increasing the size of the sweet spot and minimizing the chances that an off-center hit will result in a poor shot. Similar to  FIGS. 2 and 2   a , teeth  16  bite into the side of removable weight  44  once it has been inserted to prevent removal without release tool  24 . Similar to previous embodiments, in order to remove the removable weight  44 , the release tool  24  is pushed against release collar  22  to disengage teeth  16  from contact with weight  44 . 
         [0031]    Another embodiment of the present invention is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  2   a , and  3 , except that connection system  10  is separate from and is removably disposed within a hosel or insertion hole of the golf club head, not integrated with the walls of the hosel or insertion hole. In this embodiment, a plurality of teeth may be disposed on the outside of frame  14  to connect connection system  10  to the inside of the hosel.  FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of quick release connection system  10  according to this embodiment, separate from and being inserted into opening  50 . Opening  50  may be an opening in a hosel, an insertion hole, or any other similar opening known in the art. This embodiment preferably uses teeth as seen in the previous embodiments to attach connection system  10  within opening  50 . Connection system  10  may be inserted into opening  50  either before or after shaft  12  is inserted into connection system  10 . As shaft  12  passes inside frame  14  at proximal end  15 , it contacts teeth  16 , but its movement is not obstructed because teeth  16  are mounted angularly relative to a longitudinal axis of frame  14  and shaft  12 , and toward distal end  17  as described above. Release collar  22  or an extension thereof is slidingly attached to frame  14 . In the insertion of connection system  10 , as frame  14  is pushed into opening  50 , mounting teeth  52  make contact with the walls  46  of opening  50 , but movement of the connection system is not obstructed because mounting teeth  52  are mounted angularly relative to a longitudinal axis of frame  14  and walls  46 . However, if one attempts to remove connection system  10 , mounting teeth  52  will bite into the walls of opening  50  and prevent removal in that direction. While shaft  12  may be removed by pushing a release tool (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) against release collar  22  as in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 2   a , removal of the entire connection system  10  can only be accomplished using a different release tool, such as a pull ring instead of a push ring. 
         [0032]    This embodiment can also be applied to adjustable, removable weights disposed within the club head. In such an embodiment, shaft  12  is replaced by a removable weight  44 , and frame  14  is disposed inside an insertion hole  48  in the club head. As with the preceding embodiments, sizes and materials of the shaft, frame, and teeth, as recognized by those skilled in the art, can vary according to different force and strength requirements. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 6   a , the quick connection system  110  is used to removably connect a soleplate  112  to a golf club head body  114 . Soleplate  112  may be used to enhance the various performance characteristics of a golf club when attached to club head body  114 , such characteristics include, but are not limited to, increasing the moment of inertia and adjusting the center of gravity. Soleplate  112  comprises a flat portion  117  and at least one inverse bore portion  118 . A plurality of teeth  120  is preferably angularly attached to each inverse bore portion  118  of soleplate  112  as shown. Club head body  114  preferably comprises at least one bore shaft  116 , with each release collar  122  slidingly connected to a bore shaft  116 . Each bore shaft  116  also comprises an optional scored line  119  which runs around at least a portion of the circumference of the bore shaft. 
         [0034]    To connect soleplate  112  to club head body  114 , each inverse bore portion  118  of soleplate  112  is placed over each bore shaft  116  in club head body  114 . As soleplate  112  is lowered over bore shaft(s)  116 , teeth  120  will make contact with the outside of bore shaft  116 . Teeth  120  will contact, slide into, and engage with optional scored line  119  in bore shaft  116 , locking soleplate  112  and club head body  114  together. 
         [0035]    In accordance with the present invention, disassembly of soleplate  112  and club head body  114  is shown in  FIG. 7 . Release tool  124  is inserted between the teeth  120  so that hooked portion  125  of tool  124  is below second scored line  123  of release collar  122 .  FIG. 8  is a top view of a portion of the connection system showing teeth  120  engaged with bore shaft  116  and open areas  150  between teeth  120  that tool  124  is inserted into. Referring back to  FIG. 7 , once inserted between teeth  120 , release tool  124  is then pulled along arrow  101 . Hooked portion  125  of tool  124  will engage with scored line  123 , and tool  124  is continually pulled until release collar  122  makes contact with teeth  120  and disengages teeth  120  from optional scored line  119  of bore shaft  116 . Once teeth  120  are disengaged from and no longer in contact with scored line  119 , soleplate  112  can be removed from club head body  114 . 
         [0036]    While it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed herein fulfill the objectives stated above, it is appreciated that numerous modifications and other embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments, which would come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.