Abstract:
A connector of a golf club is provided. The connector includes a shaft adapter and a hosel adapter. A compression nut fits over both adapters to secure them against one another. The hosel adapter advantageously fits over the hosel, thereby allowing the bore of the hosel to remain unmodified from its original design. The connector also includes an anti-rotation arrangement to prevent relative rotation between the shaft adapter and the hosel adapter. Further, the tip end of the club shaft passes entirely through the connector and seats within the hosel as it normally would in the absence of the connector. The connector does not surround the tip end of the shaft where it seats in the hosel, giving the club an unaltered feel, despite the inclusion of the connector.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to golf clubs, and more particularly to connectors used between a shaft of the golf club and the club head. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A contemporary golf club has two major components: the shaft and the club head. The club head includes a hosel having a bore that receives the tip end of the shaft when the club is assembled. The tip end of the shaft is typically secured in the hosel using an epoxy. 
     The sizing of the tip end of the shaft as well as the bore of the hosel is generally standardized in the industry. As a result, these components are interchangeable, i.e. different shafts may be combined with different club heads. This interchangeability allows golfers to customize their clubs to their liking by experimenting with various combinations of shafts and club heads. 
     Various golf club manufacturers such as Callaway, Nike Golf, Alpha Golf, and Taylor Made have devised connectors that take advantage of this interchangeability by expediting the joining process. Typically, these connectors mount with the hosel of the club head and the tip end of the shaft, and are used to rapidly and removeably join the shaft and club head without the use of epoxy. These connectors have been recognized as providing an advantage to club retailers, as golfers can try various combinations of shafts and club heads in a single visit to a retail store. 
     Unfortunately, these connectors have significant deficiencies. For example, the portion of the connector that mounts with the hosel of the club head is typically received in the bore of the hosel. This portion of the hosel is ordinarily occupied by the tip end of the shaft alone when a connector is not employed. Such a configuration creates at least two problems. 
     First, the shaft is surrounded by the connector within the hosel. It has been observed that this configuration changes the design dynamics of the club. It has also been observed that such a configuration creates a metallic, mute, or harsh feel when striking a golf ball. 
     Second, the bore of the hosel must be bored out or otherwise modified to accommodate the connector and the tip end of the shaft therein. This problem arises because the tip end of the shaft and the hosel are ordinarily sized to snugly mate with one another. Put another way, the inner diameter of the hosel bore is only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tip end of the shaft. 
     As a result, the hosel bore must be increased to receive the connector and the shaft. Alternatively, golf club manufacturers must manufacture custom club heads having non-standard hosel bores specifically designed to accommodate the size of a particular style of connector. It goes without saying that this alternative is equally disadvantageous as the problems noted above. 
     Therefore, there is a need in the art for a connector for a golf club that overcomes the noted problems in the art. The invention provides such a connector. These and other advantages of the invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention provides a golf club connector for releasably securing a golf club shaft and a club head having a hosel with a bore. The connector includes a shaft adapter having a bore sized and configured to receive the golf club shaft. The connector also has a hosel adapter having a bore sized and configured to receive the hosel such that the hosel is positioned within the bore of the hosel adapter. The connector also includes a compression nut threadably engaging the hosel adapter, the compression nut engaging the shaft adapter to axially bias the shaft adapter into engagement with the hosel adapter. 
     In certain embodiments, the shaft adapter has a first bore, and the hosel adapter has a second bore and a third bore having a greater diameter than the second bore, the first bore receiving a portion of the golf club shaft, the second bore receiving another portion of the golf club shaft and the hosel. In certain embodiments, the hosel adapter further comprises an annular seat positioned between the second and third bores, the annular seat having an abutment surface that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the hosel adapter. Further, the abutment surface of the annular seat is configured to abut an axial end of the hosel such that the hosel does not extend into the second bore. 
     In certain embodiments, the shaft adapter has a first bore, the hosel adapter has a second and a third bore, and wherein the first, second, and third bores are axially aligned such that the connector has a continuous bore therethrough. 
     In certain embodiments, the connector further includes an anti-rotation arrangement formed between the shaft adapter and the hosel adapter for preventing relative rotation between the shaft adapter and hosel adapter. 
     In another aspect, a golf club connector for releasably securing a golf club shaft and a club head having a hosel with a bore is provided. The connector includes a shaft adapter having an annular wall and a first anti-rotation member formed on the annular wall. The connector also includes a hosel adapter having an annular wall and a second anti-rotation member formed on the annular wall. The shaft and hosel adapter are rotatably fixed relative to one another through engagement of the first and second anti-rotation members. The first and second anti-rotation members mate to define a portion of a continuous bore extending between the shaft adapter and the hosel adapter. 
     In certain embodiments, the first and second anti-rotation members are configured to mate to allow passage of the golf club shaft through the continuous bore. In certain embodiments, the first and second anti-rotation members are keyed to one another such that the second anti-rotation member receives the first anti-rotation member. 
     In certain embodiments, the first anti-rotation member includes at least one axial projection projecting from an axial abutment surface of the shaft adapter. The second anti-rotation member includes at least one axially extending pocket extending from an axial abutment surface of the hosel adapter. In certain embodiments, the at least one axial projection is a pair of generally rectangular keys, and wherein the at least one axially extending pocket is a pair of generally rectangular cutouts. 
     In certain embodiments, the pair of generally rectangular keys are angularly positioned about a longitudinal axis of the shaft adapter at about 180° relative to one another. The generally rectangular cutouts are angularly positioned about a longitudinal axis of the hosel adapter at about 180° relative to one another. 
     In certain embodiments, the hosel adapter includes a hosel receiving portion and a threaded portion axially extending from the hosel receiving portion. The cutouts are formed in the threaded portion. 
     In certain embodiments, the shaft adapter has a stepped outer diameter with a radially projecting ring formed proximate an end of the shaft adapter. The shaft adapter has a constant inner diameter such that the shaft adapter has a greater wall thickness at the radially projecting ring than at the remainder of the shaft adapter. The pair of generally rectangular keys extend axially away from the radially projecting ring. In certain embodiments, the radially projecting ring includes a seating surface at an end thereof opposite the end from which the pair of generally rectangular pair of keys extend from. 
     In certain embodiments, the connector further includes a compression nut for joining the shaft adapter with the hosel adapter. The compression nut has a continuous bore fore receipt of a portion of the shaft adapter and of a portion of the hosel adapter. A biasing surface is formed within the continuous bore of the compression nut. The biasing surface abuts the seating surface to axially bias the shaft adapter into engagement with the hosel adapter. 
     In yet another aspect, a system for assembling a golf club is provided. The system includes a golf club shaft and a golf club head having a hosel. The hosel has a bore for receiving an end of the golf club shaft. The system also includes a shaft adapter having a first bore for receiving the golf club shaft. The system also includes a hosel adapter having a second bore and a third bore. A portion of the golf club shaft is positioned in the second bore. A portion of the golf club shaft and a portion of the hosel are positioned within the third bore. 
     In certain embodiments, the first bore has a same bore diameter as the second bore. In certain embodiments, the third bore has a bore diameter greater than the bore diameters of the first and second bores. In certain embodiments, the first, second, and third bores are axially aligned such that the golf club shaft extends through each of the first, second, and third bore diameters and seats against a bottom surface of the hosel bore below a bottom edge of the hosel adapter. 
     Other aspects, objectives and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golf club employing an exemplary embodiment of a connector according to the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective exploded view of the connector of  FIG. 1 , and it is installed on the golf club; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross section of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded cross section of the connector of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  an exemplary embodiment of a connector  10  according to the teachings of the present invention. The connector  10  is installed on a golf club  12 . It will be recognized from the following description that the connector  10  is not limited in any way to the particular golf club  12  illustrated. Indeed, the connector  10  may be advantageously employed with various types of golf clubs. As such, the particular golf club  12  illustrated is provided for purposes of description and does not limit embodiments of the invention in any way. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the connector  10  is positioned between the golf club shaft  14  and the club head  16 . As will be better understood from the following, the connector  12  advantageously joins the shaft  14  with the club head  16  without any modification of either of these components. As such, the connector  10  can readily be integrated with “off the shelf” clubs. 
     Further, the connector  10  leaves the dynamics and feel of the club unchanged by incorporating a hosel adapter  18  that fits over a hosel  20  of the club head  16 . Similarly, the connector  10  incorporates a shaft adapter  22  that fits over the shaft  14  of the golf club  12 . The hosel adapter  18  and shaft adapter  22  are joined by way of a compression nut  24 . The shaft adapter  22 , hosel adapter  18 , and compression nut  24  will be described in turn in the following. 
     Turning first to the shaft adapter  22 , and with reference now to  FIG. 2 , the shaft adapter  22  is generally cylindrical in shape. The shaft adapter  22  has a generally stepped outer diameter  36 . The stepped outer diameter  36  of the shaft adapter  22  has radial projection  38 . A first anti-rotational member in the form of a pair of keys  40  is formed proximate the radial projection  38  and extends from an axial face  42  thereof. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the axial face  42  of the shaft adapter  22  abuts a corresponding axial face  44  of the hosel adapter  18 . As will be explained in greater detail below, the hosel adapter  18  includes a second anti-rotation member in the form of a pair of cut outs  46  for receipt of the pair of keys  40 . Such a configuration prevents the relative rotation between the shaft adapter  22  and hosel adapter  18 . 
     Turning back to  FIG. 2 , the shaft adapter  22  also includes a seating surface  50  on which the compression nut  24  seats against to bias the shaft adapter  22  into axial engagement with the hosel adapter  18 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the compression nut  24  includes a biasing surface  52  that seats against the seating surface  50  of the shaft adapter  22 . As can best be seen in  FIG. 3 , both the biasing surface  50  and seating surface  52  are angled greater than 90° relative to vertical, but could be formed at right angles in other embodiments. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 4 , the shaft adapter  22  has a first bore in the form of a smooth and constant inner diameter  60 . As such, the stepped outer diameter  36  of the shaft adapter  22  results in a first wall thickness  62  and a second wall thickness  64  greater than the first wall thickness  62  in the region of the radial projection  38 . As can best be seen at  FIG. 4 , the keys  40  have a key thickness  66  that is generally equivalent to the second wall thickness  64 . However, it will be recognized that the key thickness need not be the same as the second wall thickness  64  to provide the anti-rotation functionality as described herein. 
     The smooth inner diameter  60  of the shaft adapter  22  is sized to receive the shaft  14  of the golf club  12  (see  FIG. 1 ). The smooth inner diameter  60  and the shaft  14  mate such that there is little to no play between the shaft  14  and shaft adapter  22 . Further, the shaft adapter  22  can be affixed to the shaft  14  using an epoxy. As a result, the shaft adapter  22  may be securely fastened to the shaft  14 , but later be removed by removing the cured epoxy. 
     The shaft adapter  22  can be manufactured from a variety of materials including plastic, metal, etc. Indeed, any material that is sufficiently rigid for mounting and later operation of the golf club  12  will suffice. As one example, the shaft adapter  22  may be injection molded. All of the structural features described herein relative to the shaft adapter  22  may be implemented in a single operation such as injection molding, or later manufacturing processes may be employed to achieve the shape described and shown herein. Additionally, although not shown, the outer surface of the shaft adapter  22  can also include an alignment or a “clocking” mark for rotatably aligning the shaft adapter  22  relative to the shaft  14 . 
     Having described the structural attributes of the shaft adapter  22 , description of the hosel adapter  18  will now be provided. With reference back to  FIG. 2 , the hosel adapter  18  is also generally cylindrical in shape. The hosel adapter  18  includes a hosel receiving portion  74  and a male threaded portion  76  extending from the hosel receiving portion  74 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the aforementioned cut outs  46  are formed in the male threaded portion  76 . Also as illustrated, the cut outs  46  extend axially from the axial face  44  of the hosel adapter  18 . 
     Although the cut outs  46  have a generally rectangular shape, it will be recognized that such a shape is not in any way limiting on the invention. Indeed, the cut outs  46  can be a variety of shapes, as is true for the keys  40  of the shaft adapter  22 . Further, fewer or more cut outs  46  and keys  40  may be employed. Still further, the location of the keys  40  and cut outs  46  may be reversed such that the keys are presented on the hosel adapter  18  and the cut outs are presented on the shaft adapter  22 . 
     With additional reference to  FIG. 3 , the keys  40  of the shaft adapter  22  are shown bottomed out in the cut outs  46  of the hosel adapter  18 . It will be recognized however, that the keys  40  may not project into the cut outs  46  such that they bottom out. 
     As can best be seen at  FIG. 3 , the hosel adapter  18  has a stepped inner diameter. Indeed, the male threaded portion  76  defines a second bore  80  that has a diameter that is equivalent to the smooth diameter  60  (i.e. the first bore) of the shaft adapter  22 . As a result, when the axial face  42  of the shaft adapter  22  abuts the axial face  44  of the hosel adapter  18 , a smooth and continuous inner diameter is presented for receipt of the shaft  14  as illustrated. The hosel adapter  18  also has a third bore  82  greater than the second bore  80 . The third bore  82  is sized to receive the hosel  20  as well as the shaft  14 . Such a configuration advantageously allows the shaft  14  to seat within the hosel bore  30  in the manner in which these items were originally designed. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the second and third bores  80 ,  82  are separated by an annular seat  84 . The annular seat  84  is positioned to locate against a top surface  86  of the hosel  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). As can best be appreciated by reference to  FIG. 3 , the location of the annular seat  84  thus defines the maximum insertion depth of the hosel  20  into the hosel adapter  18 . 
     As was the case with the shaft adapter  22 , the hosel adapter  18  can be manufactured by a variety of methods using a variety of materials that are sufficiently rigid to achieve the functionality of the connector as described herein. For example, the hosel adapter  18  may be injection molded. All of the structural features of the hosel adapter  18  described herein may be implemented in a single operation during molding. However, in other embodiments, it is contemplated that certain features may be implemented in multiple manufacturing steps once molding is complete. 
     Additionally, although not shown, the hosel adapter  18  can also include an alignment or “clocking” mark for rotatably aligning the hosel adapter  18  with the hosel  20 , and/or the clocking mark of the shaft adapter  22 . Further, it will be recognized that the hosel adapter  18 , as well as the shaft adapter  22 , can be designed to accommodate hosels and shafts combination of various diameters. Indeed, it will be readily appreciated that the connector  10  can be scaled up or down to meet the design criteria of various clubs  12 . 
     Still further, the hosel adapter  18  and/or the shaft adapter  22  can be designed to have a variable bore so that a single connector  10  can be installed upon hosels and shafts of various diameters. Indeed, such a configuration may be achieved through the use of an insert that fits over the hosel or the shaft to reduce any play between the hosel adapter  18  and hosel, or the shaft adapter  22  and shaft. The insert may be interchangeable such that several inserts are supplied with a connector  10  to accommodate a plurality of hosel and shaft outer diameters. Alternatively, a single, adjustable insert can also be provided to achieve this desired flexibility. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , description will now be provided for the compression nut  24 . The compression nut  24  has an outer periphery with a tapered section  90  and a knurled section  92 . As will be described in greater detail below, the compression nut  24  is threadably received by the male threaded portion  76  of the hosel adapter  18 . The knurled section  92  advantageously enhances manual installation of the compression nut  24  onto the hosel adapter  18 . The compression nut  24  has a continuous bore  88  therethrough for axially receiving the shaft adapter  22 , shaft  14 , and the threaded portion  76  of the hosel adapter  18 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , as introduced above, the compression nut  24  includes female threads  94  that engage the threads of the male threaded portion  76  of the hosel adapter  18 . Such threaded engagement continues until the biasing surface  52  of the compression nut  24  seats against the seating surface  50  of the shaft adapter  22 . Such a configuration ensures that the shaft adapter  22  is sufficiently compressed against the hosel adapter  18 . Additionally, the interaction between the seating surface  50  and biasing surface  52  provides a positive stop to ensure that the compression nut  24  is not tightened to such an extent as to over compress and damage the shaft adapter  22  or the hosel adapter  18 . 
     With reference again to  FIG. 4 , also as introduced above, the biasing surface  52  is generally angled. The angle of the biasing surface  52  matches the angle of the seating surface  50  (see  FIG. 3 ). The particular dimension of this angle is not in any way limited, and need only provide the aforementioned biasing and stopping functions as described above. 
     Having described the various structural attributes of the connector  10 , the following describes the general steps for installing the same. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 2 , the connector  10  is configured advantageously for rapid installation onto a shaft  14  and club head  16  of a golf club  12 . To install the connector  10 , the hosel adapter  18  and shaft adapter  22  are first secured to the hosel  20  and shaft  14  respectively. These steps may be performed in any order, and the following description discussing the installation of the hosel adapter  18  first is provided for descriptive purposes only. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , to install the hosel adapter  18 , epoxy is first applied to the outer diameter of the hosel  20 , and/or the surface of the third bore  82  (see  FIG. 4 ) the hosel adapter is then slid over the hosel  20  such that the hosel  20  is received in the third bore  82 . This insertion continues until the top surface  86  of the hosel  20  abuts the annular seat  84  of the hosel adapter  18 . In embodiments incorporating a clocking mark, rotational alignment between the hosel adapter  18  and the hosel  20  is also achieved at this stage. 
     To install the shaft adapter  22 , the same is passed through the continuous bore  88  of the compression nut  24  until the compression nut  24  loosely rests against the seating surface  50  of the shaft adapter  22 . Adhesive or epoxy is then applied to the first bore (i.e. the smooth inner diameter  60 ) of the shaft adapter  22  and/or the outer diameter of the shaft  14 . 
     The shaft adapter  22  is then slid along the shaft  14  until the tip end of the shaft  14  extends beyond the shaft adapter  22  to such an extent though as to allow shaft adapter  22  to abut the hosel adapter  18  as described above and to allow the tip section of the shaft  14  to fully seat within the hosel bore  30  of the hosel  20 . In embodiments incorporating a clocking mark, rotational alignment between the shaft adapter  22  and the shaft  14  and/or the hosel adapter  18  is also achieved at this stage. 
     Once the hosel adapter  18  and shaft adapter  22  are installed, the same may be joined together via the compression nut  24 . More specifically, the shaft  14  is seated in the hosel bore  30  as describe above. Simultaneously, the shaft  14  is rotated while sliding the shaft  14  into the hosel bore  30  such that the keys  40  of the shaft adapter  22  are received in the cut outs  46  of the hosel adapter  18  and the axial face  42  of the shaft adapter  22  abuts the axial face  44  of the hosel adapter  18 . Once this abutment is achieved, the compression nut  24  is threaded down on the threaded portion  76  of the hosel adapter  18 . Installation of the compression nut  24  continues until the biasing surface  52  engages the seating surface  50  as described above, and the compression nut is fully tightened. This completes the installation of the connector. 
     To remove the connector  10  a generally reverse process is followed. More specifically, the compression nut  24  is loosened and the shaft  14  is separated from the club head  16 . Thereafter, any number of known chemical solutions may be applied to the shaft adapter  22  and hosel adapter  18  to dissolve the epoxy and to remove them from the shaft  14  and club head  16  respectively. It will be recognized that the above process of installation and removal leaves the shaft  14  and club head  16  unaltered and undamaged. 
     As described herein, aspects of the connector  10  advantageously provide a means for rapidly combining a golf club shaft  14  with a club head  16  without the need of modifying any portions of either of these items unlike prior designs of connectors. Such advantages are achieved, in part, by providing a hosel adapter  18  that fits over a hosel  20  of a club head  16 . Such a configuration also advantageously allows golf club shaft  14  to seat within the hosel  20  as it would in the absence of a connector  10 . Thus, the design dynamics of the golf club  12  remain generally unaffected by the inclusion of the connector  10 . 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.