Abstract:
A secure golf club, of the “wood” or “iron” variety intended for high-speed impact of a golf ball, whose shaft may be lengthened or shortened in a relatively quick and easy manner. In a preferred embodiment, the shaft includes one or more shaft extension sections rigidly attached to the shaft or to each other by reverse-thread connections, to reduce the tendency of the shaft sections to loosen during play. Shaft locking mechanisms are also preferably employed for preventing relative axial movement along the shaft and between the shaft sections. Preferably, the shaft has a substantially continuous and substantially smooth outer periphery, substantially void of gaps or steps creating stress points within the shaft that might lead to fracture or breakage of the golf club during play.

Description:
CONTINUATION INFORMATION  
       [0001]     This application is a utility patent application which claims priority from, and is a continuation of, a U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60/532,815, filed Dec. 29, 2003, and titled “TRD Fit Junior Golf Club Shaft.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to golf clubs and, more specifically, to golf clubs whose shaft lengths may be adjusted.  
         [0003]     There is a need for a competitively playable golf club with a shaft whose length maybe easily adjusted. For example, children have an obvious need for such clubs as they grow.  
         [0004]     Collapsible and/or telescoping golf clubs are known. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,006 to Hesser; U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,860 to Ehrich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,619 to Napolitano; U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,372 to Beebe; U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,608 to Wilkinson; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,723,000 to Dombrowski. While such clubs may function suitably as putters, non-putter, swingable golf clubs exert a relatively large amount of centrifugal and torsional force on the shaft of a club, which may result in the fracture or other failure of collapsible and/or telescoping golf club shafts during play.  
         [0005]     Even relatively skilled golfers may be conscious of swing weight and swing speed. Relatively small changes in the location of weight along the club shaft can affect these factors, and may be detected by golfers and possibly negatively influence play. Obstructions on the outer periphery of the golf club shaft, while not aesthetically appealing, may also disturb laminar flow and swingability of the club, as well as the golfer&#39;s concentration. The above-referenced patents, such as Napolitano (note collar 41) and Beebe (note thumbscrew 32), as well as other prior patents (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,382 to Palmer (note threaded cap 41) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,096 to Lee (note threaded locking sleeve 22) suffer from such deficiencies.  
         [0006]     Still other prior patents disclose golf clubs with relatively complex mechanisms (U.S. Pat. No. 6,413,168 to McKendry, disclosing movable tooth and tooth rack assembly), or which are not intended for providing adjustable-length shafts for non-putters (U.S. Pat. No. 6,317,866 to Rivera, disclosing one shaft length for putters, and another for non-putters; U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,798 to Preato, directed to a putter).  
         [0007]     One recent patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,749,521, discloses a golf club with an extendable shaft similar to the present invention, but not one whose shaft may be shortened.  
         [0008]     The shaft material used can be important, as well. Many modern golf clubs are made with graphite shafts. However, it was discovered that when used with the present invention, graphite shaft extensions more than a few inches in length form hairline fractures at the length-adjustment points in the shaft which, over time, can result in catastrophic failures.  
         [0009]     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a golfclub with a shaft that maybe quickly and easily lengthened or shortened while overcoming these problems.  
       DEFINITION OF CLAIM TERMS  
       [0010]     The following terms are used in the claims of the patent as filed and are intended to have their broadest meaning consistent with the requirements of law. Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language.  
         [0011]     “High speed” means a speed substantially faster than the conventional speed at which the club head of a putter impacts a golf ball and, for purposes of this application, is intended to reference golf club head speeds at ball impact in excess of 50 miles/hr or about 73 ft/sec.  
         [0012]     “Relatively quick and easy manner” means adjusting the golfclub shaft length within minutes or less, using the dexterity of a normal lay adult, and not requiring special skills or tools only possessed by golf experts, golf designers or golf mechanics.  
         [0013]     “Reverse-thread connection” means a threaded connection in which tightening occurs through a rotation opposite to the normal direction, i.e., for a right-hand club, tightening is accomplished by a counterclockwise turn, while for a left-hand club, a standard threaded connection may be used such that tightening is accomplished by a clockwise turn.  
         [0014]     “Secure” means a golf club having a shaft which will not substantially loosen during play in a manner that might substantially affect play or lead to fracture or breakage of the golf club.  
         [0015]     “Swingable” refers to a golf club whose club head is swung above the shoulder, i.e., an “iron” or “wood” type golf club, as opposed to a putter.  
         [0016]     “Substantial instances” refers to fracture or breakage of golf clubs in the shaft at the connection locations which occurs, statistically, substantially more often than occurs generally within the golf club industry.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The objects mentioned above, as well as other objects, are solved by the present invention, which overcomes disadvantages of prior golfclubs capable of adjusting shaft length, while providing new advantages not believed currently available with such golf clubs.  
         [0018]     In a preferred embodiment, a swingable, secure “wood”-type or iron-type golf club is provided whose shaft may be lengthened or shortened in a relatively quick and easy manner. The golf club of this embodiment includes a club head intended for high-speed impact of a golf ball, and a shaft. The shaft includes a first shaft portion having a predetermined shaft length. The first shaft portion is permanently attached to the club head. The shaft may include at least a first shaft extension section removably attached by reverse-thread connections at a first connection location to the first shaft portion, and removably attached at a second connection location to a shaft section carrying a grip. Different shaft extensions may be substituted having different lengths, as desired. Additional shaft extensions, having predetermined lengths for example, may also be added or removed, as desired, to change the length of the golf club. When made according to the present invention using a suitably strong material, the shaft extensions may be in the range of about 2-14 inches, for example, such as 4 inches, 6 inches, 8 inches, etc.  
         [0019]     One or more locking mechanisms may be provided for preventing relative axial movement at the connection locations along the shaft. One preferred locking mechanism includes a tubular sleeve or annular clip surrounding a portion of the shaft at a connection location; the clip may include a tab for engaging adjacent grooves at the connection location. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may consist of a set screw (preferably accessible by a non-standard fastening device such as an Allen wrench, for example), a spring roll pin, a mechanical spring locking device, or a detent or other mechanism.  
         [0020]     The shaft so constructed preferably forms a substantially continuous and substantially smooth outer periphery, substantially void of gaps or steps at the connection locations that create stress points within the shaft leading to substantial instances of fracture or breakage of the golf club during play.  
         [0021]     Preferably, the shaft and any extension(s) are made of a relatively high-strength material such as a low-carbon steel.  
         [0022]     Each shaft section may terminate in a threaded end, with adjacent threaded ends being, alternatively, internally and externally threaded ends configured for mating connection. These threaded ends are preferably quickly and easily threadably connected and disconnected, preferably using a reverse thread connection. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate currently preferred embodiments of the present invention. As further explained below, it will be understood that other embodiments, not shown in the drawings, also fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 1-4  are perspective views of golf clubs showing various embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 1A  is a partial, enlarged perspective view of a preferred locking mechanism of the present invention, for preventing relative axial movement in the connection location between adjacent shaft sections;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, exploded view of the golf club shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of various components of the shaft connection and locking mechanisms according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged, perspective view of the currently preferred locking mechanism of the present invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged, perspective view of a wood-type golf club head which may be used with the present invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged, exploded view of a preferred embodiment in which one shaft extension section is interconnected between grip and club head shaft sections to form a golf club with an adjustable-length shaft according to the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged, perspective view of a shaft extension connection mechanism and an alternative locking mechanism according to the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the components shown in  FIG. 10 ;  
         [0033]      FIGS. 12-14  are top, side and rear perspective views of a locking mechanism component shown in  FIG. 10 ; and  
         [0034]      FIGS. 15-18  are elevation and perspective views of an alternative connecting and locking mechanism of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0035]     Set forth below is a description of what are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to these preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.  
         [0036]     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  20  generally designates a golf club with length-adjustment capabilities according to the present invention. In  FIG. 1 , golf club  20  includes a shaft, generally designated as  25 , having a shaft section  25   a  connected to a second shaft section  35   a  largely covered by tubular grip  35 . Shaft section  25   a  may be permanently attached to hosel or neck portion  30   a  of club head  30  in any suitable manner as is well known in the art.  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , additional, separate shaft extension sections may be employed to form the overall shaft length  25 , thereby allowing selective adjustment of the shaft length of the golf club. For example,  FIGS. 2 and 3  show golf clubs  20  with identical shaft portions  25   a  but differently-sized shaft extension sections  25   b.    FIG. 4  shows a golf club similar to  FIG. 3  but with an additional shaft extension section  25   c.  While shaft extensions of predetermined length are preferred for manufacturing convenience, any of these shaft extension sections may be provided in varying sizes.  
         [0038]     In a particularly preferred embodiment, for ease of manufacture and simplicity, only one shaft extension section, available in predetermined, varying sizes, may be used. However, in other embodiment, two or more separate shaft extension sections may be employed, depending upon the shaft materials used, the desired shaft length ranges, player ability and corresponding swing speed ranges, and other parameters identified below.  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-8 , in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the upper shaft section  35   a  largely covered by grip  35  may terminate in an outer threaded male end  42 . Male threaded end  42  may be permanently attached to shaft section  35   a,  as further explained below. Likewise, the end of shaft section  25   a  opposing hosel  30   a  of club head  30  may terminate in a female threaded end  46 . Ends  42  and  46  may be threadably attached to removably attach shaft sections  25   a  and  35   a.    
         [0040]     The shaft and shaft extension sections are preferably made of a suitable material which will withstand the torque of a swing sweep for a conventional golf swing, as well as the torque of ball impact at a normal swing speed. One such suitable material is low carbon steel, such as an alloy-type 4140, though other materials, such as aluminum, graphite or other composites, may be used.  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , in a preferred embodiment golf club  20  may be designed so that its shaft length is adjustable for any age junior golfer, from ages 4-14, for example. Preferably, it is unnecessary to change or adjust the grip end or the head end to effectuate a shaft length adjustment. To accomplish this, an appropriately-sized shaft extension section  25   b  may be used. The extension sections may be made of the same steel material that shaft  25  is made of. As shown in  FIG. 9 , each opposing end of extension section  25   b  may include threaded fastener ends  42 ,  46 . These threaded fastener ends may be made as one piece with the shaft extension sections, or may be permanently attached to the sections by adhesives such as epoxy.  
         [0042]     Preferably, the young junior golfer starts playing with a golf club with no shaft extension section that is properly sized for him or her, as shown in  FIG. 1 . As the junior player grows and the golf club becomes too short for proper use, an appropriately-sized shaft extension section may then be added to the golf club, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Continuing player growth may require substitution of a longer shaft extension section, as shown in  FIG. 3  or, if preferred, stacking of shaft extension sections as shown in  FIG. 4 . Additionally, with the present invention, because these shaft extension section interconnections are not permanent, shaft extension sections may be removed and/or substituted for shorter shaft extension sections, quickly and easily, allowing the same golf club set to be used by children of different ages and sizes, for example.  
         [0043]     The shaft  25  thus constructed is a substantially continuous piece with a relatively smooth outer periphery, substantially void of gaps or steps at the connection locations that may create stress points within the shaft length that may lead to shaft fracture or breakage. (The overall shaft may and preferably does have gradual increments or steps of increased width along its length, to allow for a gradual change from the grip diameter to the hosel portion that is inserted into the golf club head. However, such increments are gradual, not localized at the connection locations, so that they do not cause undue stresses during play.)  
         [0044]     Accordingly, it will now be understood that the present invention allows adjacent shaft and shaft extensions to be quickly and easily interconnected, without introducing substantial stress points within or along the shaft length. The shaft extension sections may also be easily assembled or disassembled to allow lengthening or shortening of the golf club, as desired. Also, once an adjustment is made, the golf club may be immediately used.  
         [0045]     The shaft extension sections are also preferably self-tightening and will not loosen during play, as now explained below, to restrict relative axial movement of the various shaft sections during play. It was found that playing with golf clubs having conventionally threaded shaft extensions causes the shaft extensions to loosen during ball impact, due to rotational forces exerted on the lower shaft as a result of ball impact forces on the club head. To counter this, reverse threads are preferably used, so that these rotational forces will actually cause adjacent shaft sections to tighten during play.  
         [0046]     However, it was also discovered that during the portions of the golf swing both prior to and after ball impact, a reverse rotational force counter to that experienced at ball impact can be exerted on the shaft which may cause adjacent shaft sections connected by reverse threads to loosen during play. To prevent this, two alternative locking mechanism were devised, as now described, which are designed to prevent relative rotational movement between adjacent shaft sections and/or shaft extension sections and, thus, prevent relative axial movement along the entire shaft length.  
         [0047]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-7 , a first, preferred mechanism for locking adjacent, connected shaft sections is shown. In this embodiment, threaded ends  42 ,  46  may again be permanently attached to the shaft sections as explained above. To prevent relative rotational movement, and thus relative axial movement, between adjacent shaft sections, a locking mechanism  40 , in the preferred embodiment taking the form of a generally C-shaped clip, maybe used. Annular clip  40 , which may be made of steel or another suitable material, includes a sleeve  40   a  with edges  40 b and a tab  41 . Clip  40  is designed to surround and hug shaft  25  in the area of interconnection or connection location between adjacent shaft sections. Threaded ends  42 ,  46  may include flanges or stops  38 ,  47 , respectively, having longitudinal spaces or grooves  43 , 49 , respectively. When threaded ends  42 , 46  are connected, tab  41  is designed to fit within the open area formed by adjacent grooves  43 , 49  between stops  38 ,  47 , as shown in  FIG. 1A . In this manner, adjacent shaft extensions may be securely interconnected and retained by locking clip  40  such that relative rotation between adjacent shaft sections and, thus, their relative axial movement, will be prevented. The space in C-shaped clip  40  allows a finger or instrument to enter this area; by pushing on the edge of the groove and applying a rotational force, the clip will expand and can be removed from the shaft.  
         [0048]     If desired, adjacent shaft sections in the connection location may be designed with a slightly smaller outer diameter such that, when fitted with clip  40 , the exterior surface  40   a  of clip  40  will smoothly merge, without any bumps or protuberances, into the outer shaft periphery. However, because clip  40  may be designed with a thickness of only about {fraction (1/64)} of an inch, this may not be necessary.  
         [0049]     Referring now to  FIGS. 10-14 , an alternative locking mechanism is shown. In a preferred embodiment of this locking mechanism, after adjacent shaft sections are connected by a reverse thread connection as explained above, a set screw  60  may be threadably inserted into internally threaded end  46 . For this purpose, threaded end  46  may include a threaded passage  63  ( FIG. 11 ) designed to accommodate set screw  60 . Frictional impact of the end of set screw  60  on threads  45  of externally threaded end  42  will now prevent relative rotation between threads  45  of end  42  and threads  37  of end  46 , and thus prevent relative axial movement between adjacent shaft sections such as  35   a  and  25   a.    
         [0050]     In a preferred embodiment, and still referring to  FIGS. 10-14 , set screws  60 , for example, may include a head  61  ( FIG. 12 ) only accessible using an Allen-type wrench, for example. A set screw head turnable using a conventional screw driver may not be preferred, to prevent non-owners from disassembling the golf club. Threaded passage  63  may include an enlarged opening (not shown) to accommodate head  61  of set screw  60 , allowing the set screw to be sunk within the outer periphery of end  50  or  51 , to further streamline the outer periphery of the club, for functional and/or aesthetic reasons.  
         [0051]     Referring now to  FIGS. 15-18 , yet another alternative connecting and locking mechanism is shown. In this embodiment, externally threaded insert  42  again connects to internally threaded insert  46  (threads not shown). Here, apertures  70 ,  75  on the inserts accept a spring roll pin  73  that may be inserted by tapping it into these apertures. As with the slot/groove, described above, the holes may be drilled into the inserts after the externally and internally threaded inserts are threaded together, to insure proper alignment for the roll pin. Instead of a spring roll pin, a mechanical spring locking device may be used, as may be envisioned by those of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0052]     Other types of locking mechanisms positioned at the connection locations between adjacent shaft sections may be employed to prevent relative axial movement, while still allowing the shaft sections to be quickly and easily connected and disconnected.  
         [0053]     Regarding manufacturing of the threaded ends or inserts  42 ,  46 , in a preferred embodiment these internally and externally inserts may be machined without slots. One set of male and female inserts may then be threaded fully onto each other and slotted as an assembly. These first slotted inserts may then be used as “masters” for slot alignment of all subsequent inserts for a complete set of clubs. The male threaded insert may be fixtured solidly and all female inserts may be threaded fully onto the fixtured male insert and slotted. The female insert may then be fixtured solidly and the male insert may then be threaded fully onto it and slotted. These steps ensure that the indexing of the slot is similar regardless of the start point of the threads on both the male and female inserts. (Inserts  42 ,  46  may be fabricated having grooves or spaces  43 ,  49  which, alternatively, only run the width of the stops  38 , 47 , or which run the length of the inserts as shown in  FIG. 8 ; the latter may be easier to manufacture.) The inserts may then be plated bright zinc to better match a steel shaft and to avoid rusting.  
         [0054]     Regarding manufacturing of the club/shaft assembly, each of the separate grip end shaft section, head end shaft section, and shaft extension sections may first be cut to length. The inserts may then be fixed permanently into the shaft sections. The ends of the inserts that will be fixed into the shaft should have the plating removed (light sanding is adequate). The preferred method for assembly is to use the same epoxy that affixes the golf club head to the shaft in the hosel region. After all inserts are affixed to the shaft sections, the grip end shaft section and the head end shaft sections may be assembled and locked with suitable locking mechanisms such as locking clips or set screws. The club head may then be affixed permanently to the shaft (hosel portion) and allowed to set. Finally, the grip may be attached to the shaft using the standard method of affixing a golf grip (e.g., the use of a two-sided grip tape).  
         [0055]     Using a low carbon steel alloy-type 4140, the designs and manufacturing methods described here, extensions of relatively widely varying lengths may be provided, while still providing a sturdy golf club substantially free of shaft fracture or breakage concerns during normal play. For example, a conventional adult golf club may have a length of between about 40-45 inches, with the grip end having a length of 10.5 inches, the shaft end including the club head having a length of about 18 inches, and the hosel portion having a length of about 1.5 inches. A single shaft extension section made according to the present invention may be provided in the useable range of about 1-14 inches, and more preferably 4-10 inches, while still providing a sufficiently sturdy club with removably attached shaft section(s).  
         [0056]     It will be understood that various modifications to the preferred embodiment disclosed above may be made. The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Rather, it is contemplated that future modifications in structure, function or result will exist that are not substantial changes and that all such insubstantial changes are intended to be covered by the following claims.