Patent Publication Number: US-6656058-B2

Title: Torque minimization apparatus for a golf club

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to arrangements within that golf club to minimize the twisting and the torque effect upon the hitting of a golf ball. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Golf club design is directed towards two goals. The first goal is to maximize impact energy to the golf ball, so that the struck ball flies as far as possible. The second goal is for that golf ball, when hit, to fly as straight and true as possible. The prior art has attempted to reach these goals primarily by the design of the club head, the composition of the club head face, or the composition of the club shaft itself. Other prior art devices relate to swing training arrangements intended to physiologically program the golfer&#39;s swing. 
     In order to increase the probability of impacting a force that causes a golf ball to fly straight, the face of the club must address the ball in a perfectly perpendicular attitude. Torque of the club must be taken into consideration. Torque is the rotation of the club shaft transferred to the club head-end face that causes the club face to impact the golf ball in a less than perpendicular manner. This torque is created by the mechanics unique to each golfer&#39;s swing. Torque in the shaft, and an offset club face is what causes the ball to fly in less than a straight flight, as either in a hook or in a slice. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club shaft that will minimize or eliminate any torque unique to each golfer. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to minimize or eliminate the characteristics of a golf club that would affect the ball going in anything else than a straight ball trajectory. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club having a club head speed that would reach maximum acceleration at the point that the golf club face impacts the golf ball. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club shaft that will increase the shaft flexibility but reduce or eliminate golf club shaft rotational torque. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention utilizes a material for the golf club shaft to improve golf club shaft head speed and to minimize golf club shaft rotational torque. Such material is Nitinol (NiTi) that is a unique shape memory alloy of nickel and titanium. Nitinol is a material which will re-attain its original shape once its constraining forces are removed. Nitinol is one component of the present invention that imparts flexibility to the golf club shaft. The Nitinol material is responsible for both the flexibility of the shaft and the torque retardation of that golf club shaft. 
     The present invention utilizes one or more ribbons of Nitinol which may, when arranged according to the principles of the present invention, flex only in the direction of the large flat front and any parallel back face of the golf club head. A Nitinol ribbon cannot flex from side to side because of the I-beam principles unique to a flat ribbon design. 
     In the present invention, one or more elongated ribbons of super elastic material, for example preferably Nitinol or another metal or a superelastic plastic, are arranged along side one another. The Nitinol ribbons have an upper end and a lowermost end. The length of the longest ribbons may extend from about 44 to 54 inches and the ribbons may have a thickness of preferably about 0.001 to about 0.1 inches. In a preferred embodiment, the ribbons of Nitinol have a central long ribbon being sandwiched by a first pair of slightly shorter Nitinol ribbons, those three ribbons being sandwiched by a yet slightly shorter third pair of Nitinol ribbons, each set of pairs of Nitinol ribbons having a common upper end and each pair of Nitinol ribbons having lowermost ends spaced apart from the other lowermost ends of the other pairs of ribbons. 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the multiple pairs of varying lengths of Nitinol ribbons sandwiched together and held together by a plurality of spaced apart restraining bands. The sandwich of multi-length Nitinol bands in a preferred embodiment are arranged within the hollow tubular shaft of the golf club, the upper end of the Nitinol band sandwich being disposed within the upper end of the handle portion of the golf club shaft. The lower end of the Nitinol band sandwich comprising the stepped down or reduced thickness of the Nitinol sandwich, residing in the lower end of the golf club shaft. The golf club shaft having at its lower end a golf club head. The golf club head has a generally planar face which is utilized to strike and impact the golf ball at the lowermost arcuate portion of the golfer&#39;s swing. 
     The band of Nitinol ribbons sandwiched together are held securely within the hollow tapered shaft of the golf club by internal support means therewithin. Such internal support means may comprise a plurality of opposed spaced apart shelves or ledges within the club shaft. Those ledges or shelves would have progressively narrower gaps therebetween, proceeding towards the lower end of the shaft. 
     The bands of Nitinol are wider than they are thick. The wide portions of each Nitinol band defines a planar face thereof. The golf club head has a planar face thereon. The planar face of the Nitinol bands, in the present invention are preferably arranged parallel to the planar face of the golf club head, or to a horizontal dividing the sweet spot of the face. This planar arrangement with the stepped configuration of the Nitinol ribbon pairs sandwiching one another permits a front-back flexion with in combination with the golf club head weight, to create a “whip” action of the golf club head to allow more golf club head speed and greater ball flying distance upon impact thereof. The reverse-graduated pairs of Nitinol ribbon bands tightly engaging the shaft (or comprising the shaft) prevent the golf club shaft torqueing. The combination of increased flexibility at the lower or distal end of the golf club shaft and the reduced shaft/head torque would create increased golf ball flight distance and greater likelihood of a straight flight of that golf ball. 
     A further embodiment of the internal support arrangement of the Nitinol ribbons therewithin, may comprise a sleeve of flexible plastic material enveloping the ribbons and filing any space between the ribbons and the inner walls of the shaft, the sleeve may in a further embodiment may also comprise the external surface of the shaft. 
     A yet further preferred embodiment of the present invention is contemplated by an adjustable juncture between the lowermost end of the golf club shaft and a receptive fitting in the golf club head into which the lower end of the golf club shaft mates. By rotating the plane of the Nitinol ribbons with respect to the plane of the face at the golf club head prior to the golf club being swung, may provide for compensation to erratic swinging conditions by the golfer. Such improved flexure and torque elimination would thus result. 
     The invention thus comprises a torque reduction and swing improvement arrangement for a golf club comprising a hollow elongated golf club shaft with a longitudinal axis therewithin, and having a handle portion at an upper end thereof, and a golf club head at a lower end of the shaft. A torque reduction arrangement of at least one ribbon of flexible planar material is disposed longitudinally within the shaft, the ribbon extending from the upper end of the shaft into the lower end thereof. The least one ribbon is secured within the shaft by a securement arrangement within the shaft. The torque reduction arrangement may comprise a plurality of ribbons of material within the shaft. The at least one ribbon may be formed of superelastic material. The superelastic material may be comprised of Nitinol. The plurality of ribbons may comprise a central elongated ribbon sandwiched between at least one pair of shorter ribbons. The plurality of ribbons may have an upper end at a common location at an upper end in the handle portion of the shaft. The plurality of ribbons may be held together by a band arranged therearound. The torque reduction arrangement may be supported within the shaft of the club by an arrangement of shelves pinchably disposed therein. The securement arrangement of said club may comprise a sleeve of engaging material disposed therearound. The sleeve of engaging material may be comprised of a sleeve of plastic. The club head has a planar surface thereon for impacting a ball, and the ribbon of planar material defines a planar surface which is disposed parallel to the planar surface of the club head. The golf club head may be rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the club to affect a displacement of the plane of the at least one ribbon relative to the planar surface of the head. The head and the lower end of the shaft have a splined mating relationship permitting the adjustable rotation therebetween. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings in which; 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of super elastic ribbons banded together; and 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a golf club with a plurality of super elastic bands arranged therewithin according to the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIG. 1, the is shown the present invention which comprises a utilizes one or more ribbons of Nitinol  10  which may, when arranged according to the principles of the present invention, flex only in the direction of the large flat front and any parallel back face of the golf club head of a golf club  12  in which it is placed, as may be seen in FIG. 2. A Nitinol ribbon cannot flex from side to side because of the I-beam principles unique to a flat ribbon design. 
     In the present invention, one or more elongated flat, relatively flexible (in one plane only) ribbons of super elastic material, for example preferably Nitinol or another metal or a super-elastic plastic  10 , are arranged along side one another. The Nitinol ribbons  10  have an upper end and a lowermost end as described hereinbelow. The length of the longest ribbons  10  may extend from about 44 to 54 inches and the ribbons may have a thickness of preferably about 0.001 to about 0.1 inches. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the ribbons of Nitinol  10  have a central, long ribbon  18  being sandwiched by a first pair of slightly shorter Nitinol ribbons  20 , those three ribbons  18  and  20  being sandwiched by a yet slightly shorter third pair of Nitinol ribbons  22 , each long ribbon  18  and each set of pairs of Nitinol ribbons  20  and  22  having a common upper end  24  and each pair of Nitinol ribbons  22  and  20  having lowermost ends  26  and  28  spaced apart from one another lowermost ends, as may be seen in FIG.  1  and FIG.  2 . 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the multiple pairs of varying lengths of Nitinol ribbons  10  sandwiched together and held together by a plurality of spaced apart restraining bands  30 ,  32  and  34 . The sandwich of multi-length Nitinol bands  10  in a preferred embodiment are arranged within the hollow tubular shaft  36 , along its longitudinal axis “L” of the golf club  12 , the upper end of the Nitinol band  10  sandwich being disposed within the upper end  40  of the handle portion  42  of the shaft  44  of the golf club  12 . The lower end of the Nitinol band sandwich  10  comprises the stepped down or reduced thickness of the Nitinol sandwich  10 , residing in the lower end  46  of the golf club shaft  44 . The golf club shaft  44  has a golf club head  50  at its lower end  46 . The golf club head  50  has a generally planar face  52  which is utilized to strike and impact the golf ball “B” at the lowermost arcuate portion of the golfer&#39;s swing. 
     The band of Nitinol ribbons  10  sandwiched together are held securely within the hollow tapered shaft  44  of the golf club  12  by internal support means  60  therewithin. Such internal support means  60  may comprise a plurality of opposed spaced apart shelves or ledges  62  and  64  within the hollow club shaft  44 . Those support means  60  such as for example, the ledges or shelves  62  would have progressively narrower gaps “G” therebetween, as may be seen in FIG. 2, proceeding from the upper end  40  towards the lower end  46  of the shaft  44 . 
     The bands of Nitinol  10  are wider than they are thick. The wide portions of each Nitinol band  18 , or  20  or  22  defines a planar face “P” thereof. The golf club head  50  has a planar face  55  thereon. The planar faces “P” of each of the Nitinol bands  18 ,  20  and  22 , in the present invention are preferably arranged parallel to the planar face  55  of the golf club head  50 , or to a horizontal “H” dividing the sweet spot of the face  55 . This planar arrangement with the stepped configuration of the Nitinol ribbon pairs sandwiching one another thus permits a front-back flexion, as indicated by the arrows “F” in FIG. 1, with in combination with the weight of the golf club head  50 , to create a “whip” action of the golf club head  50  to allow more golf club head speed and greater ball flying distance upon impact thereof. The reverse-graduated pairs of Nitinol ribbon bands tightly engaging the shaft (or comprising the shaft) prevent the golf club shaft torqueing. The combination of increased flexibility at the lower or distal end of the golf club shaft and the reduced shaft/head torque would create increased golf ball flight distance and greater likelihood of a straight flight of that golf ball “B”. 
     A further embodiment of the internal support arrangement  60  of the Nitinol ribbons  18 ,  20  and  22  therewithin may comprise a sleeve of flexible plastic material  70  enveloping the ribbons  18 ,  20  and  22  and filing any space between the ribbons and the inner walls of the shaft  44 . The sleeve  70  may in a further embodiment may also comprise the external surface of the shaft  44 . 
     A yet further preferred embodiment of the present invention is contemplated by an adjustable juncture  80  between the lowermost end  46  of the golf club shaft  44  and a receptive fitting  82  such as a spline relationship in the golf club head  50  into which the lower end  46  of the golf club shaft  44  mates. By rotating the plane of the Nitinol ribbons  10  with respect to the plane of the face  55  at the golf club head  50  prior to the golf club  12  being swung, may provide for compensation to erratic swinging conditions by the golfer. Such improved flexure and torque elimination would thus result.