Patent Publication Number: US-6669573-B2

Title: Hosel construction and method of making same

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/084,032, filed May 22, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,828. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates in general to an improved golf club hosel construction and method of a method of making it. The invention more particularly relates to a hosel construction which can be used to fit golf clubs to individual golfers, and which can be made according to a novel method. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In order to accommodate the largest possible percentage of the population of golfers, off-the-shelf golf clubs have been manufactured to have physical properties for use by a typical golfer having typical golfing characteristics. The golfing characteristics affected the physical properties of the golf clubs, e.g., shaft length, lie angle, and face angle, and included the height of the golfer, the position of the golfer when addressing a golf ball, the swing path of the golf club, the swing height of the club head, etc. Using the typical golfing characteristics to produce off-the-shelf golf clubs having standard physical properties reduced the manufacturing costs of the clubs and enabled the golf club manufacturers to sell the golf clubs at a relatively low cost. 
     While such an approach provided the majority of golfers with access to relatively inexpensive golf clubs, the off-the-shelf golf clubs were not ideally suited for all golfers. In this regard, a golfer whose golfing characteristics deviated from the typical golfing characteristics was not able to utilize the off-the-shelf golf clubs to perform at the highest level possible. To achieve peak performance levels, the golfer was required to adjust his or her golfing characteristics to match the typical golfing characteristics embodied in the off-the-shelf golf clubs. 
     The adjusting of golfing characteristics required instruction and substantial time devoted to the adjustment. 
     In an effort to avoid the time and expense involved in the adjustment of golfing characteristics, golfers turned to customized golf clubs designed specifically for the golfing characteristics of the individual golfer. With the customized golf clubs the golfer was able to utilize his or her own individual golfing characteristics to obtain peak performance without adjusting the individual golfing characteristics. 
     Generally, the customized golf clubs utilized a club head having an upwardly extending hosel portion for connecting the club head to a shaft. Each individual golfer required a particular relationship between the club head and the hosel portion. Thus, to accommodate as many golfers as possible, an assembler of custom fitted golf clubs had to either maintain a large inventory of all possible combinations of club head/hosel portion relationships, or manufacture each one of the required club heads having the appropriate club head/hosel portion relationship as required. 
     Although the customized golf clubs enabled all golfers to obtain golf clubs suited for the golfer&#39;s individual golfing characteristics, such customized golf clubs were relatively expensive. Furthermore, the assembly of such customized golf clubs required a substantial amount of time to complete. 
     Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a new and improved hosel construction for assembling customized golf clubs, and which can be made according to a novel method. Such a hosel construction should enable customized golf clubs to be produced with greater precision in a relatively inexpensive manner, and should enable the customized golf clubs to be assembled quickly and easily. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved hosel construction and a method of making it, wherein the hosel construction facilitates the production of customized or fitted golf clubs in a relatively quick and inexpensive manner, and with greater precision. 
     Briefly, the above and further objects of the present invention are realized by providing a new and improved hosel construction, which can be made according to a novel method of the present invention. 
     The hosel construction includes a plug member extending downwardly for engaging a club head having a club face. A neck member, extending angularly upwardly from the plug member, engages a shaft to complete a golf club. The neck member extends in a generally transverse dimension to determine-a lie angle between the shaft and the club head. The neck member also extends in a generally longitudinal dimension to determine a face angle for the club face. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The above mentioned and other objects and features of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of the embodiment of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a hosel construction, which is constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away front elevational view of a fitted golf club utilizing the hosel construction of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the golf club of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a cut-away plan view of the golf club of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of another hosel construction, which is also constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a partially cut-away front elevational view of a fitted golf club utilizing the hosel construction of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a left side elevational view of the golf club of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a cut-away plan view of the golf club of FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of another hosel construction, which is also constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIGS. 10A-B are cross sectional views of the hosel construction of FIG. 9, taken substantially along line  10 A-B thereof. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-4 thereof, there is shown a hosel construction  10 , which is constructed in accordance with the present invention. The hosel construction  10  facilitates the construction of a customized or fitted golf club for an individual golfer using a standard golf club shaft  12  and a standard golf club head  14 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the club head  14  is indicative of a wood type of golf club. The club head  14  includes a generally vertical upwardly directed opening at a heel portion  18  of the club head  14 , and club face  16  having an associated face angle. 
     The hosel construction  10  cooperates with the shaft  12  and the club head  14  to angularly position the shaft  12  relative to the club head  14  to a desired lie angle. The hosel construction  10  also angularly positions the club face  16  to a desired face angle. The desired lie angle and desired face angle determine the physical properties of the fitted golf club to accommodate the golfing characteristics of the individual golfer. 
     As used herein, all directions are described relative to the club head  14  (FIG.  4 ), wherein the club face  16  is at the front of the club head  14  and the hosel construction is at the left side of the club head  14 . Thus, a longitudinal dimension is defined through the front and back of the club head  14  and a transverse dimension is defined relative to the longitudinal dimension. 
     The hosel construction  10  includes a generally downwardly extending club head engaging portion, or plug member  41 , adapted to be received in the opening in the heel portion  18 . The plug member  41  includes a plurality of sides, such as front side  43  and left side  45 . The opening in the heel portion  18  has a corresponding number of sides to enable the plug member  41  to be received in the opening, wherein the engagement of the sides  43  and  45  with corresponding sides in the opening substantially limits the rotation of the hosel construction  10  within the opening in the heel portion  18 . It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the plug member  41  could also be circular or ovate with only one side. 
     The hosel construction  10  further includes a shaft engaging member, or neck member  30 , extending generally angularly upwardly from the plug member  41 . The neck member  30  is generally cylindrical and defines an opening  32  for receiving the shaft  12  therein. The neck member  30  further includes a pair of ornamental grooves  34  and  36  circumscribing the neck member  30 . In order to facilitate obtaining the desired lie angle and the desired face angle for the particular golfer, the neck member  30  extends in the generally transverse dimension, and also extends in the generally longitudinal dimension, relative to the plug member  41   
     As best seen in FIG. 2, the neck member  30  extends upwardly and angularly outwardly in the transverse dimension away from the plug member  41  to define the desired lie angle between the shaft  12  and the club head  14 . The neck member  30  (FIG. 3) also extends upwardly and rearwardly from the plug member  41  in the longitudinal dimension to position the club face  16  at the desired face angle. In this regard, to maintain the shaft  12  in a substantially upright position, the club head  14  is reoriented counter-clockwise in the longitudinal dimension to position the club face  16  at the desired face angle. As the standard face angle is defined when the club head  14  is substantially parallel to a ground surface  2 , the rearward extension of the neck member  30  in the longitudinal dimension represents the degrees of rotation of the club face  16  necessary to position the club face  16  at the desired face angle from the standard face angle. The counter-clockwise reorientation of the club head  14  results in the face angle being increased toward a hook position from the standard face angle. The face angle is the angle between the face and the shaft of the club. 
     Similarly, the outward extension of the neck member  30  in the transverse dimension reorients the club head  14  about its heel  18  in the transverse dimension to position the neck member  30  at the desired lie angle. The degrees of reorientation in the transverse dimension are preferably determined relative to a standard lie angle. A progressive scale is also contemplated. As shown in FIG. 2, the neck member  30  is reoriented to increase the lie angle from the standard lie angle. 
     The hosel construction  10  further includes a boss  38  disposed about an upper portion of the plug member  41  to engage a reveal encircling the opening at the heel  18  of the club head  14  when the plug member  41  is received within the opening in the heel portion  18 . The plug member  41  further includes a threaded opening  47  for receiving a screw  26  to secure the hosel construction  10  to the club head  14 , wherein the screw  26  extends from a counter bore  24  through a bore and into the threaded opening  47 . While in the preferred embodiment the threaded screw  26  is utilized, other securing devices and methods such as adhesives and rivets are also contemplated. 
     Preferably, the hosel construction  10  is fabricated or machined in one piece from a metallic material. However, other materials such as thermoplastics, carbon-graphite, are also contemplated within the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, there is shown another hosel construction  50  which is also constructed in accordance with the present invention. The hosel construction  50  is adapted to be received within an opening in a club head  62  for connecting the club head  62  to a shaft  60  to form a fitted golf club. The club head  62  is substantially similar to the club head  14  (FIGS.  2 - 4 ), and includes a generally vertical upwardly extending opening for receiving the hosel construction  50  and a club face  64  disposed at a face angle. 
     The hosel construction  50  is substantially similar to the hosel construction  10  (FIGS. 1-4) and includes a downwardly extending plug member  56 , a boss member  54  disposed about an upper portion of the plug member  56 , and a neck member  52  extending generally angularly upwardly from the plug member  56 . The neck member  52  extends generally in the transverse dimension relative to the plug member  56  to orient the shaft  60  at a desired lie angle relative to the club head  62 . The neck member  52  further extends generally in the longitudinal dimension relative to the plug member  56  to orient the club face  64  at a desired face angle. 
     Although the neck member  52  extends outwardly in the longitudinal dimension, a comparison of FIGS. 2 and 6 shows the neck member  52  (FIG. 6) does not extend outwardly in the transverse dimension to the extent that the neck member  30  (FIG. 2) does. As a result, the desired lie angle produced by the hosel construction  50  is less than the desired lie angle produced by the hosel construction  10 . As shown in FIG. 6, the neck member  52  is reoriented inwardly from the standard lie angle position. Thus, the lie angle is decreased from the standard lie angle to obtain the desired lie angle. 
     In addition, the neck member  52  extends generally forwardly in the longitudinal dimension to increase the face angle relative to the standard face angle. Thus, by reorienting the club head  62  clockwise in the longitudinal dimension while maintaining the shaft  60  in a substantially upright position, the face angle is decreased from the standard face angle to obtain the desired face angle. 
     The hosel construction  50  is secured to the club head  62  by a screw  58  or other securing devices or methods. 
     The hosel constructions  10  (FIGS. 1-4) and  50  (FIGS. 5-8) illustrate only two possible configurations. Further configurations can be obtained by combining either positive or negative deviations of the lie angle and the face angle from the standard lie angle and standard face angle. In addition, the amount of deviation, either positive or negative, can be adjusted. Of course, another configuration could be obtained with no deviation, i.e., the desired face angle and desired lie angle correspond to the standard face angle and standard lie angle, respectively. In this way, any possible number of desired lie angles or desired face angles can be achieved for an individual golfer using a standard club head, such as club heads  14  and  62 , and standard shafts, such as shafts  12  and  60 . 
     Although a right-handed wood type of golf club is shown in FIGS. 1-8, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that other types of golf clubs, such as irons and putters, can also be customized or fitted using the disclosed hosel construction. In addition, left-handed fitted golf clubs can be assembled with the hosel construction of the present invention. 
     In order to assemble a custom or fitted golf club for a particular golfer, a desired lie angle and a desired face angle must be determined for the golfer. The desired lie angle and the desired face angle for the golfer can be determined according to the method and apparatus for fitting golf clubs to golfers disclosed in co-pending and co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/799,072, filed Feb. 11, 1997, which application is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     Utilizing the known standard characteristics of the standard golf club head and the standard shaft, such as the standard face angle and standard lie angle, an appropriate hosel construction, such as hosel constructions  10  and  50 , can be selected to position the club head to the desired lie angle and the desired face angle. In this regard, to obtain the desired lie angle, it may be necessary to select a hosel construction that will increase or decrease the lie angle relative to the standard lie angle to obtain the desired lie angle. Similarly, it may be necessary to select a hosel construction that will increase or decrease the face angle relative to the standard face angle to obtain the desired face angle. As illustrated by hosel constructions  10  and  50 , a single hosel construction can accomplish both adjustments of the lie and face angle. 
     In order to accommodate a wide variety of golfing characteristics for individual golfers using standard club heads and shafts, a plurality of hosel constructions having different combinations for obtaining desired lie angles and desired face angles can be utilized. The degrees of deviation from standard lie and face angles for such hosel constructions are set forth below in Table 1. Only the combinations using deviations of 1°, 0° and −1° are shown. However, additional increments, positive and negative, integer and non-integer, are also contemplated. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Hosel 
                 Lie Angle Deviation 
                 Face Angle Deviation 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 1 
                 −1° 
                 −1° 
               
               
                 2 
                 −1° 
                 0° 
               
               
                 3 
                 −1° 
                 +1° 
               
               
                 4 
                 0° 
                 −1° 
               
               
                 5 
                 0° 
                 0° 
               
               
                 6 
                 0° 
                 +1° 
               
               
                 7 
                 +1° 
                 −1° 
               
               
                 8 
                 +1° 
                 0° 
               
               
                 9 
                 +1° 
                 1° 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The following example illustrates the selection of the appropriate hosel construction for a fitted golf club. The golf club to be fitted is a six iron having a standard lie angle of 55° and a standard face angle of 0°. The desired lie angle and desired face angle are determined to be 56° and −10° for a hooked face, respectively, for the individual golfer. Using Table 1, it is determined that the use of hosel construction number  7  will increase the lie angle to the desired lie angle from the standard lie angle. Hosel construction number  7  will also decrease the face angle from the standard face angle to the desired face angle. 
     After selection of the appropriate hosel construction, the selected hosel construction is coupled between the standard club head and the shaft to produce the customized or fitted golf club for the golfer. Further adjustments, such as lengthening or shortening the shaft length may also be required. In this way, the same golf club and shaft can be utilized to assemble, quickly and easily, a fitted club for any one golfer out of the entire population of golfers. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS.  9  and  10 A-B, there is shown another hosel construction  110  for coupling a standard shaft  112  to a standard club head  114 . The hosel construction  110  is similar to the hosel constructions  10  and  50  (FIGS. 1-8) and facilitates the assembly of a fitted golf club having a desired lie angle and a desired face angle. The hosel construction  110  is received within an opening in a heel portion  116  of the club head  114 , and is secured therein by a securing screw (not shown) or other securing devices or methods. 
     The hosel construction  110  includes a shaft engaging or neck member  120  and a head engaging or plug member  122  having an offset opening to receive the neck member  120  therein. A longitudinal axis of the opening in the plug member  122  intersects a longitudinal axis of the plug member  122 , wherein the opening is slanted relative to the plug member  122 . 
     As best seen in FIGS. 10A-B, the plug member  122  is substantially circular. As shown in solid lines in FIG. 9, the slanted opening in the plug member  122  causes the neck member  120  to extend generally inwardly in a transverse dimension. As a result, the neck member  120  and the shaft  112  are offset inwardly from the longitudinal axis of the plug member  122  (FIG.  10 A). Similarly, when plug member  122  is rotated 180° to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 9, the opening in the plug member  122  urges the neck member  120  outwardly in the transverse dimension, wherein the neck member  120  and shaft  112  are offset outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the plug member  122  outwardly (FIG.  10 B). 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, the present invention applies to both woods and irons, and it will become apparent to those skilled in the art, that the terms “loft angle” apply more appropriately to an iron. Thus, the terms “longitudinal angle” as used in the claims are intended to apply to both woods and irons. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations to the exact abstract or disclosure herein presented.