Improvements in and relating to Golf Drivers.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Golf Drivers.
I, WARREN RICHARD BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 53 Coleman Street, in the City of Bridgeport, County of Fairfield and
State of Connecticut, one of the United States of America, Architect, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in golf drivers, and
has for its objects, first, to obtain the most advantageous disposition of the grain
of the wood composing the head of the driver and to do away with the necessity of
making such heads from natural bends or crooks; second, to make the head of
such strength that, whether said head is made from one or several pieces, the
danger of breakage will be reduced to a minimum; third, to properly locate the
weight within the head; and, fourth, to splice the handle and the head together in
such manner that not only is there no wrench or wear against the winding cord,
but also the full benefit of the flexibility of the wood composing the splice is
retained.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this Specification→
Figure 1 is a top view illustrating my improvement, the head being made in
sections;
Figure 2 a section at the line a-a, of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the
arrow b;
Figure 3 a section at the line c-c, of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the
arrow d;
Figure 4 a section at the line c-c, of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the
arrow e;
Figure 5 a perspective illustrating my improvement, the driving head being
made from a single piece of wood bent into the proper shape by the usual steam
bending process;
Figure 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of the driver shown at Figure 5,
said section being taken down through the middle portion of the handle and head,
and
Figure 7 a section at the line of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the
arrow q.
Similar numbers of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
The principal feature of my improvement resides in the manner in which the
grain of the driver head is disposed, said grain in all instances running in a
direction parallel with the driving face of the head. Also an important feature
of my improvement relates to the manner in which the splice between the handle
and the head is effected, said splice extending in all instances in a vertical plane
which is substantially parallel with the driving face of the head.
My improvement enables me to make a sectional head, and therefore the proper
shape, weight and balance of the head are obtained with great facility. In fact
the sectional head constructed in accordance with my improvement is more desirable
and durable than the solid head, although the latter by the observance of my
peculiar splicing and disposition of the grain of the wood, possesses decided
advantages over golf drivers as ordinarily constructed.

page_text: Referring especially to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, of the drawings, 1 is the handle
which at the bottom is laterally flattened on each side as shown at 2. The upper
portion of said handle is shown broken away in the drawings since the construction
of such portion is very ordinary and does not enter into my invention.
The lower end of the handle is curved to form a short offset 3 and the extreme
edge of said offset is beveled, as shown in Figure 3.
The lines running lengthwise of the handle and the offset, and appearing in
Figure 3, indicate the grain of the wood. The head of the driver is composed of
several sections made of wood, and said sections are cut and put together in such
a way that the grain of the wood of each section runs in a direction parallel with
the driving face of the club, as is shown in Figures 3 and 4, where all parallel
lines which appear represent the grain of the wood. The center section 4 of the
driver is beveled to correspond with the beveled edge of the offset 3, so that said
beveled parts when assembled make a close joint.
5 is the back or weight section which has a flattened face 6 corresponding to
one of the flattened sides of the handle 1, and 7 is a weight chamber cut within
said section, from the inside. A gate 8 leads from the bottom of said section 5 into
the chamber 7.
9 is the driving face, which is flat so as to lie snugly against the flattened surface
on the handle, and has a seat 10 cut in the outside within which is secured by
nails 11 a suitable leather or other facing 12.
In assembling the parts the center section 4 is preferably joined to the offset 3
on the handle by gluing and the weight or back section and driving face are then
glued to the flat surfaces formed by said section 4 and offset 3."
The parts are then firmly secured together by screws 13, 14. The screws 13
pass entirely through the driving face and offset and center section 4 into the
weight section 5, the heads of said screws being flush with the surface of the
seat 10 on the driving face. The center screw 14 is somewhat longer than
the other screws and passes through the driving face and section 4 into the
back section and through the center of the chamber 7.
The weight 15 is made of lead which is run within the chamber 7 through the
gate 8. Thus it will be seen that said weight will be firmly anchored around
the screw 14 within the chamber and cannot possibly become loose or disarranged.
After the facing 12 has been secured in proper position on the driving face the
heads of the screws will be out of sight, thus giving a neater and more attractive
appearance to the driver. The driving face and back section at their upper
portions are so shaped that when they lie against the flat sides of the handle, the
three parts thus assembled will present an unitary appearance, or in other words, a
perfect splice, which latter, after the spliced parts have been properly united by
gluing, is wound with cord in the usual manner.
Of course it is not essential that the gate 8 should lead into the chamber 7 from
the bottom of the driver, since said gate might with equally good results enter said
chamber from the top or side of the driver, and I do not wish to be limited in this
respect, and furthermore, the weight itself inay be anchored to the weight section
of the driver in any desirable manner without departing from the spirit of my
invention; but, in arranging said weight in the position and manner I have shown,
numerous advantages result therefrom.
. For instance, by locating said weight at or near the center of the driver the
tendency of said driver to turn in the hands when being swung is avoided, and the
player is thereby enabled to exercise greater accuracy. Again, the broad flat face
of the lead is in a plane directly opposed to the ball during striking, so that the
center of the ball and center of the weight come in line, and greater benefit from
the weight may be obtained.
Heretofore, the heads of implements of this description have been cut from a
single piece of wood having a natural bend, the handle being spliced to said head
at or near such bent portion; but owing to the fact that pieces of wood having the
proper natural bend required are more or less difficult to procure, the drivers thus

page_text: constructed were rendered somewhat expensive, and notwithstanding the great care
exercised in their manufacture often proved to be greatly defective and weak at
the point where they are spliced to the handles, as is evidenced by their frequent
breakage or detachment when in use.
Expert golf players are oftentimes put to great annoyance by this breaking of
the drivers when in the midst of a game, for the reason that when a player has
become thoroughly accustomed to the weight, length, shape and elasticity of the
handle of the driver, and such driver becomes broken, it is by no means an easy
matter for him to readily adapt himself to a new driver.
Aside from the expense occasioned by the breaking of drivers, it will be seen
that the importance of having a driver which is so constructed that the breaking
of the same when in use is a remote possibility, is of great value to the expert.
It will be observed that the joints of the splices between the lower portion of the
handle and the sections which compose the head of the club extend in a vertical
plane, or, in other words, in a plane at right angles to the plane in which the head
is swung when the club is used. This arrangement is directly opposite to that
which characterizes these clubs as heretofore made, and in the latter no matter
how firmly the spliced portions are glued together, the force with which the head
is swung will wrench these portions apart, whereupon the winding cord will loosen,
and the head will then become disengaged from the handle..
In my improvement this disadvantage and annoyance is obviated, and I am
enabled to make a most superior club in this respect, since the head is formed from
sections firmly secured together with the grain of each section so disposed as to
reinforce the grain of the adjacent section.
The section 4 may be made integral with the offset 3 at the lower portion of
the handle, but I prefer to make this section separate, since I am thereby
enabled to use a piece of wood the grain of which is opposed to the grain of the
offset.
By constructing the driver of several sections, not only is the manufacture of the
same cheapened, but said driver is rendered far stronger and more serviceable in
every way; for in making the driver in this manner different kinds of wood may
be employed in the construction of the several pieces and the grains of such
woods may be disposed in any direction with respect to each other. It is evident that -
the driver may be constructed with a greater number of sections than I have herein
shown, such sections being made thinner and put together after the manner of
veneering, with the grain of each section running in a different direction from the
grain of the adjacent sections, and I therefore do not wish to be limited in this
respect, for such modification would be clearly within the scope of my invention,
the gist of which resides in the broad idea of constructing a golf driver the head
whereof is sectional, each section being made from wood, metal, or in fact any
suitable material best adapted for the purpose, so that it is possible to make the
head partly of wood and partly of metal.
In the manufacture of golf drivers in accordance with my improvement, the
heads of which drivers are made from a single piece of wood, I would proceed as
follows, referring particularly to Figures
6 and 7 of the drawings.
In constructing this style of driver, I preferably bend a piece of wood by the
usual process of steaming and clamping, so that the neck and head are integral,:
with the grain running in parallel lines lengthwise of the neck and then following
the bend and running lengthwise of the head, the grain in all instances being
parallel with the driving face of the head. In other words, I obtain the desired:
angular disposition of the head with respect to the neck by the steam bending
process, so that there is no cross grain whatever through the neck or head.
In order that my description of this part of my improvement may be rendered.
more clear, I will refer to the several parts by distinct numbers of reference.
16 is the driver head of any suitable shape, and 17 is the neck integral with:
said lead and extending therefrom at any suitable angle.
4
This neck-is cut down on a taper from top to. bottom so as to leave two tapering.

page_text: forks 18, 19, the inner surfaces whereof extend in substantially a vertical plane
parallel with the striking face of the driver head, as in the instance of the
construction hereinbefore described.
The lower wall 20 of this tapered opening extends into the head and is preferably
parallel with the neck itself, as will be evident from Figure 6, and within this
opening the handle 21 of the driver is inserted, having previously been properly
shaped to conform to said opeuing. Glue is of course used to make the joint
between the handle, neck and head, and this joint or splice is preferably wound in
the usual manner.
It will be observed that I obtain a splice that is exceedingly simple and strong
and which does not in the slightest tend to weaken the handle, neck, or head, and
also the handle is very firmly fixed since it is coufined laterally between the
forks 18, 19, and as to vertical movement it is confined by the inclined wall 20 of
the V-opening between the forks. 22 is the ordinary strip of vulcanized fiber or
leather, which is fixed within the driving face of the club, and 23 is the weight
which is run into an opening in the rear face of the club. I prefer to drive
screws 24 within the bottom wall of the opening in the rear of the club, so that
when the lead composing the weight 23 is poured therein it will anchor itself
firmly around the heads of these screws.
Should it be desired to put this weight in the center of the head, I simply saw
the head from the wall 20 lengthwise, so that said head is thereby divided into
two sections, each one of which latter terminates in one of the forks, 18, 19, and
the opening for the lead is then gouged out of the back section and a little gate
(similar to that hereinbefore described) is pierced in the bottom of the section and
leads into this gouged out opening. The two sections are secured together by glue
and screws in the manner herein before set forth with respect to the first part of my
improvement. The lead is then poured into the opening through this gate, in
precisely the manuer hereinbefore set forth.
It will be observed that in both the sectional and solid heads the grain runs
parallel to the driving face of the club, and the splice between the handle and the
head is in a substantially vertical plane, so that the hest safeguard against
breakage is afforded, while at the same time there is no strain on the winding cords
around the splices and the full benefit of the elasticity of the wood which composes
the latter is retained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is:-
1. A golf club wherein the spliced joints between the handle and head are in
substantially a vertical plane.
2. A golf driver wherein the grain of the handle and head runs in a direction
substantially parallel with the driving face of the club.
3. In a golf driver, the head made from sections, one of which is integral
with the handle, while the other sections are spliced to the sides of said handle in
a plane which is substantially parallel with the driving face and at right angles to
the bottom of the head, these head sections being firmly united together by glue
and screws, while the grains of said sections are in planes which are parallel with
the striking face of the elul, substantially as set forth.
4. In a golf driver, the combination of the handle, the driving head composed of
several sections of wood secured together, the grain of the handle and each
section running in directions that are parallel with the striking face of the club,
and means for splicing and securing said head to said handle, substantially as
set forth.
5. In a golf driver, the combination of the handle having the flattened sides
at its lower extremity, the driving head composed of the center section, the driving
face and weight section, said parts being cut from wood in such manner that when
arranged in proper relative position with respect to each other the grain of the

page_text: wood of each part will be parallel with the striking face of the club and will
run in a direction at an angle to the direction of the grain of its adjacent
part, and means for securing all of said parts firmly together and splicing the
head thus formed to the flattened sides of said handle, substantially as described.
6. The combination of the handle having the flattened vertical sides formed on
its lower extremity and terminating in a vertically disposed offset, the center
section of the driving head joined directly to the end of said offset, the driving
face and weight section having flattened faces which correspond to the flattened
sides of said handle, and means for securing all these parts firmly together and
splicing the head thus formed to the flattened sides of said handle, substantially as
described.
7. The combination of the handle having the flattened vertical sides formed on
its lower extremity and terminating in a vertically disposed offset, the center
section of the driving head joined directly to the end of said offset, the driving
face and weight section having flattened faces which correspond with the flattened
sides of said handle, said parts being first glued together and then further secured
by screws 13, 14, as described, the driving face having a seat cut therein within
which is secured a facing whereby the heads of said screws 13, 14, are concealed,
substantially as set forth.
8. The combination of the handle having the flattened vertical sides formed ou
its lower extremity, the driving head composed of several sections and spliced to
the flattened sides of said handle as described, the weight section being provided
with a chamber 7 having a gate 8 through which molten lead is run to form the
weight contained in said chamber, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination of the handle having the flattened vertical sides formed
on its lower extremity, the driving head spliced to said handle and composed of
several sections glued together and further secured by screws 13, 14, the weight
section being provided with a chamber 7 through which the screw 14 passes, and
a gate 8 which communicates with said chamber from the outside through which
molten lead is run to form the weight, whereby said weight is firmly anchored
around said screw 14 within said chamber, substantially as described.
10. A golf driver comprising a head and a forked neck made from a single
piece of straight grained wood bent to bring said head and neck to the proper angle
with respect to each other, the bases of said forks joining respectively the front
and rear portions of said head while the inner faces of said forks are in vertical
planes which are at right angles to the bottom of said head and are substantially
parallel with the face of the head, the grain of said neck and head running in a
direction parallel with said face, the handle having its lower portion tapered and
fitting snugly between said forks throughout their length, and suitable means for
binding said handle and forks firmly together, substantially as set forth.
11. The combination of the head and neck made from a single piece of straight
grained wood bent to bring said head and neck to the proper angle with respect to
each other, said neck being cut lengthwise to form a tapered opening whose lower
wall extends into the head in a vertical plane and is parallel with said neck,
whereby forks are formed whose inner faces are in vertical planes at right angles
to the bottom of the driver head and substantially parallel with the driving face
of said head, the grain of said head and neck running in a direction parallel with
said face, the handle having its lower extremity shaped to fit snugly against said
wall within said opening throughout its length, and means for firmly uniting said
forks and handle, substantially as set forth.
Dad! 10 1
T
1002
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.