Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The embodiments of the present invention relate to golf clubs for overcoming the shortcomings of previous golf club designs and in particular shanks. More particularly, a unique hosel position and design affords more clubface surface for ball striking. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The interest in golf has ramped up over the past ten years or so such that there are more than 26 million golfers in the U.S. who purchase $7 billion in golf equipment annually. Consequently, golf club designs continue to advance in an effort to improve and optimize play, and to capture a large portion of the $7 billion in sales. Such advances include larger and larger heads on woods, which are actually fabricated of metal alloys, new shaft materials, new grips and various other design features intended to attract the fancy of golfers. The attraction is typically premised on the club advancements ability to improve a golfer&#39;s game. In some cases improvements are evident and in others no improvement is noticed. 
         [0003]    One universal problem that many golfers encounter is the “shank.” Many golfers consider “the shank” the worst shot in golf. With a shank (if the golfer is right handed), the ball squirts almost straight right from the moment the golfer hits it. The shank occurs when the ball is struck by the portion or part of an iron where the clubface and hosel meet. When a golfer hits the ball in that area of the clubhead it produces a unwanted ball reaction which is called and widely accepted as a “shank.” 
         [0004]    While attempts have been made to design clubs to overcome the shank, none has adequately eliminated the problem. Thus, there exists the need for a set of golf clubs that eliminate shanks without sacrificing other necessary attributes of the golf clubs. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Accordingly a first golf club of the present comprises: a shaft; a hosel having a first end retaining the shaft and a second end integral with an upper portion of a clubhead near a clubhead heel, an upper portion of said hosel in alignment with the retained shaft and a lower portion of said hosel diverging in a rearward direction, relative to the shaft, toward an upper portion of the clubhead and clear of the clubface. 
         [0006]    By positioning the hosel at an upper portion of the clubface and diverging the lower portion of the hosel in a rearward direction, the clubface ball-striking surface is clear of the hosel such that the ability to shank a ball is eliminated. In other words, a larger “sweetspot” is available. Consequently, with more clubface available, players are more likely to hit good shots. Also, by positioning the hosel as set forth herein, clubhead energy is created behind the clubface encouraging a player&#39;s hands to be square through the hitting zone thus promoting a greater chance of straight and accurate ball flight. 
         [0007]    Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a clubhead in a direction of a club toe; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of the clubhead of  FIG. 1  in a direction of the club heel; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the clubhead of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates a bottom view of the clubhead of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of the clubhead of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  illustrates a top view of the clubhead of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates a top view of the clubhead along a back surface of a club shaft; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of the clubhead along a front surface of the club shaft; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates a cross-sectional view (as represented by A in  FIG. 2 ) of a lower segment of the clubhead of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  illustrate a clubhead with dimensions identified thereon and a chart detailing the various dimensions of a set of golf club irons in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 11   a  illustrates a chart detailing various specifications as denoted in  FIG. 11   b  of a set of golf club irons in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
         [0020]    Initial reference is made to  FIGS. 1-8  illustrating a clubhead and hosel arrangement generally referred to by reference numeral  100 . The clubhead  110  and hosel  120  are normally cast, but in limited circumstances may also be forged, from a suitable alloy such as any combination of aluminum, steel, beryllium, nickel, copper, titanium, or other metals in varying combinations. The clubhead  110  comprises a clubface  111 , club back  112 , toe  113  and heel  114 . While not shown, a first end  125  of the hosel  120  includes an opening for receipt of a golf club shaft  130  (shown in dotted lines). The shaft  130  is typically held in place with an adhesive like epoxy or similar substance. To accommodate the shaft  130 , the first end  125  and upper segment  135  of the hosel  120  have a circular cross-section and the upper segment  135  of the hosel  120  is in alignment with the corresponding received shaft  125 . The hosel  120  is termed a dog-leg hosel based on its configuration. 
         [0021]    The hosel  120  begins to diverge near a lower segment  140  thereof. The divergence extends the hosel  120  in a rearward direction or in a direction of a golfer&#39;s backswing. Along with the divergence, the cross-section of the hosel  120  transforms from circular to elliptical. The elliptical cross-section of the hosel  120  near the clubface  111  is flattened such that a lower hosel surface  145  is elevated out of the way of the clubface  111 .  FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional view along A in  FIG. 1  of the lower segment  140  of the hosel  120  showing flattened surface  145  on a clubface  111  side of the club. 
         [0022]    Now referring to  FIG. 5 , each club in a set (e.g., 1-iron, 2-iron, 3-iron, 4-iron, 5-iron, 6-iron, 7-iron, 8-iron, 9-iron, wedge and pitching wedge) has a cavity  115  with a different such that each club&#39;s weight distribution is different. The cavity  115  of each club is designed according to the hosel  120  position and orientation for the subject club. In so doing, a club&#39;s center of gravity is positioned optimally for player performance. 
         [0023]    The hosel  120  becomes integral with the clubhead  110  at an elevated point near the golf club heel  114 . The divergence of the hosel  120  provides for an unobstructed clubhead face  111  to prevent shanks. That is, more surface area of the clubface  111  is available to hit the golf ball and the hosel  120  is out of the way of the striking surface of the clubface  111 . In addition, by integrating the hosel  120  at an elevated point on the clubhead  110 , swing energy is transferred to a position at the rear of the clubhead  110 . With conventional clubs, swing energy is transferred to the leading edge where the hosel joins the clubhead. Consequently, the swing energy transferred with the present clubs provides a player with additional golf ball travel distance in response to the same swing magnitude. Accordingly, a player does not feel the desire to over swing. 
         [0024]    Now referring to  FIG. 10   b , a chart  200  details two measurements (A)  210  and (B)  220  in millimeters and an angle (C)  230  in degrees (as identified in  FIG. 10   a ) for an exemplary set of irons (i.e., 4 iron through pitching wedge)  240  in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. The chart  200  shows that (A)  210  and (b)  220  have an inverse relationship. That is, as (A)  210  increases from the 4 iron to the pitching wedge, (B)  220  decreases. Angle (C)  230  decreases from the 4 iron to the pitching wedge. Consequently, a width of the sole of the club increases from 4 iron to PW. 
         [0025]      FIG. 11   a  shows a chart  300  detailing iron dimensions, including an offset  310 , for an exemplary set of irons (i.e., 4 iron through pitching wedge). The offset  310 , as shown in  FIG. 11   b , is measured from a leading edge  320  of the hosel  120  and a leading edge  330  of the clubface  111 . A positive offset  310  signifies that the leading edge  320  of the hosel  120  is ahead of the leading edge  330  of the clubface  111  while a negative offset signifies that the leading edge  320  of the hosel  120  is behind the leading edge  330  of the clubface  111 . 
         [0026]    The offset hosel  120  of the present clubs helps players maintain their hands in the proper position through the hitting zone, including at time of impact. Hand position is a significant problem faced by all golfers. The offset hosel  120  of the embodiments of the present invention keeps a player&#39;s hands in a forward position thus causing the player to release and square up their hand position as their swing progresses through the hitting zone. The additional useful surface area of the clubface  111  and the proper hand position not only reduces shanks, it also, through repetition, teaches a player a more consistent and proper swing. Also, the hosel  120  orientation further brings the energy of the clubhead  110  to a center-point on the clubface  111  rather than conventional clubs which, based on their hosel orientation, direct energy closer to a toe than the heel. As disclosed above, the back side of the clubs of the embodiments of the present invention include cavities  115  for distributing weight differently to fully utilize the benefits of the hosel  120 . 
         [0027]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.

Technology Category: 1