Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a golf club and, more particularly, to a golf club with a multi-functional tubular pad. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a cross-sectional view of a conventional golf club including a head  7 , a removable assembly  8  and a shaft  9  is shown. The head  7  has a neck  71 , a through hole  72  extending through the neck  71 , and an annular protrusion  73  protruding inwards from an inner wall defining the through hole  72 , with the through hole  72  forming a top opening  721  at a free end of the neck  71  and a bottom opening  722  close to the heel of the head  7 . The removable assembly  8  includes a sleeve  81  inserted in the through hole  72  via the top opening  721 , a first pad  82  resting on a first side of the annular protrusion  73  facing the top opening  721 , a second pad  83  resting on a second side of the annular protrusion  73  facing the bottom opening  722 , and a fixing member  84  inserted into the through hole  72  via the bottom opening  722  and serially passing through the second pad  83 , annular protrusion  73  and first pad  82  to fix with a bottom of the sleeve  81  by a thread portion  841 . As a result, with the thread portion  841  coupling with the sleeve  81 , the second pad  83  is sandwiched between the annular protrusion  73  and a head portion  842  of the fixing member  84  opposite to the thread portion  841 . Specifically, the first pad  82  is flexible, and the inner diameter thereof is originally smaller than the outer diameter of the thread portion  841 . The shaft  9  is inserted into the sleeve  81  to be combined with the head  7  by the removable assembly  8 . 
         [0005]    With the above structure, undesirable disengagement of the fixing member  84  from the through hole  72  is avoided when the fixing member  84  is uncoupled with the sleeve  81  since an expansion of the first pad  82  for the thread portion  841  to pass through cannot be achieved unless the fixing member  84  is strongly pushed or pulled relatively to the first pad  82 . Besides, the second pad  83  sandwiched between the annular protrusion  73  and the head portion  842  is adapted to disperse the stresses between them and thus prolongs the lives of the annular protrusion  73  and the fixing member  84 . 
         [0006]    However, during the process for arranging the fixing member  84  in the predetermined position, since the first pad  82  is not firmly attached to the first side of the annular protrusion  73  initially, it is difficult to push the first pad  82  to pass though the thread portion  841  unless a tube-shaped tool is used for temporarily receiving the thread portion  841  as well as pushing the first pad  84  toward the annular protrusion  73 . Additionally, not only the process for settling the first pad  82  is complicated but tube-shaped tools of different sizes are necessary if there is a change in the size of the fixing member  84  with a different outer diameter of the thread portion  841 . As a result, it is necessary to improve the conventional removable assembly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is therefore the objective of this invention to provide a golf club with a tubular pad inside to achieve anti-disengagement and protection of a fixing member, while the tubular is settled by an easy and convenient insertion process. 
         [0008]    One embodiment of the invention discloses a golf club, which includes a head, a removable assembly and a shaft. The head has a through hole and an annular protrusion protruding inwardly from an inner periphery defining the through hole, with the annular protrusion serially dividing the through hole into a first section, a narrowed section and a second section, with the narrowed section radially aligned with the annular protrusion. The removable assembly has a sleeve, a tubular pad and a fixing member, with the sleeve received in the first section of the through hole, with the tubular pad received in the through hole, engaging with the annular protrusion and extending from the first section to the second section through the narrowed section, with the fixing member piercing through the tubular pad, coupling with the sleeve by a fixing portion and pressing the annular protrusion via the tubular pad by a head portion. The shaft inserts into and clamped by the sleeve. 
         [0009]    In a preferred form shown, the tubular pad has a front part in the first section of the through hole, a rear part in the second section thereof, and a waist part linking the front and rear parts, with each of the front and rear parts having a largest outer diameter larger than a diameter of the narrowed section, with the front part having a smallest inner diameter smaller than a diameter of the fixing portion. 
         [0010]    In the preferred form shown, the waist part of the tubular pad extends through the narrowed section and has an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the narrowed section. 
         [0011]    In the preferred form shown, a smallest inner diameter of the waist part and an inner diameter of the rear part are larger than the diameter of the fixing portion. 
         [0012]    In the preferred form shown, the front part has an outer incline extending from a free end of the front portion to where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates. 
         [0013]    In the preferred form shown, the waist part has a smallest inner diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of the fixing portion, and wherein the tubular pad further has an inner incline linking where the smallest inner diameters of the front and waist parts locate. 
         [0014]    In another preferred form shown, the tubular pad has a plurality of axial grooves on a free end of the front part, with the axial grooves radially extending from a center passage of the tubular pad to an outer periphery thereof, with the center passage forming the smallest inner diameter of the front part. 
         [0015]    In said another preferred form shown, the axial grooves extend form the free end to positions between where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates and where the waist part links the rear part. 
         [0016]    In said another preferred form shown, the axial grooves extend from the free end to where the waist part links the rear part. 
         [0017]    The said embodiment of the invention also discloses a tubular pad of golf club, which includes a front part, a rear part, a waist part and a center passage. The front part has a largest outer diameter and a smallest inner diameter. The rear part has a largest outer diameter. The waist part links the front and rear parts. The center passage extends through the front, waist and rear parts serially to form the smallest inner diameter of the front part. The front and rear parts are adapted to engage an annular protrusion surrounding the waist part, located between the front and rear parts, and having a circumferential edge defining a diameter smaller than the largest outer diameters of the front and rear parts. 
         [0018]    In a preferred form shown, a smallest inner diameter of the waist part and an inner diameter of the rear part are larger than the smallest inner diameter of the front part. 
         [0019]    In the preferred form shown, the front part has an outer incline extending from a free end of the front portion to where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates. 
         [0020]    In the preferred form shown, the tubular pad further comprises an inner incline linking where the smallest inner diameters of the front and waist parts locate. 
         [0021]    In another preferred form shown, the tubular pad further comprises a plurality of axial grooves on a free end of the front part, with the axial grooves radially extending from the center passage to an outer periphery of the tubular pad. 
         [0022]    In said another preferred form shown, the axial grooves extend form the free end to positions between where the largest outer diameter of the front part locates and where the waist part links the rear part. 
         [0023]    In said another preferred form shown, the axial grooves extend from the free end to where the waist part links the rear part. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0025]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a conventional golf club. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a golf club according to a preferable embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3   a  is a detailed cross-sectional view of an assembly of members around a tubular pad of the said embodiment of the invention, which shows the labels of the members. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3   b  is a detailed cross-sectional view of the assembly of members around the tubular pad, which shows the labels of diameters. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first example of the tubular pad according to the said embodiment of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the first example of the tubular pad. 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second example of the tubular pad according to the said embodiment of the invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the second example of the tubular pad. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third example of the tubular pad according to the said embodiment of the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the third example of the tubular pad. 
       
    
    
       [0035]    In the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the term “first,” “second,” “third,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer” and similar terms are used hereinafter, it should be understood that these terms refer only to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person viewing the drawings, and are utilized only to facilitate describing the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a preferred embodiment of a golf club of the present invention is shown, which includes a head  1 , a removable assembly  2  and a shaft  3 . The head  1  has a neck  11 , a through hole  12  and an annular protrusion  13 . The through hole  12  extends through the neck  11  and forms a first opening  121  at a free end of the neck  11  and a second opening  122  close to the heel of the head  1 . The annular protrusion  13  inwardly protrudes from an inner periphery of the head  1  defining the through hole  12 , and thus the through hole  12  is accordingly divided into a narrowed section S 1 , a first section S 2  and a second section S 3 , wherein the annular protrusion  13  can be in the form of a complete ring or plural blocks spaced out circumferentially. The narrowed section S 1  is in a middle part of the through hole  12  and surrounded by a circumferential edge  131  of the annular protrusion  13 , the first section S 2  extends from the annular protrusion  13  to the first opening  121 , and the second section S 3  extends from the annular protrusion  13  to the second opening  122 . Additionally, the annular protrusion  13  has a first axial face  132  and a second axial face  133  connecting to opposite sides of the circumferential edge  131 , with the first axial face  132  facing the first section S 2  of the through hole  12  and the second axial face  133  facing the second section S 3  thereof. 
         [0037]    The removable assembly  2  has a sleeve  21 , a tubular pad  22  and a fixing member  23 . The sleeve  21  is inserted in the first section S 1  of the through hole  12  and has a compartment  211  and a fixed portion  212 , with the compartment  211  receiving an end of the shaft  3 , and with the fixed portion  212  being disposed at an end of the sleeve  21  extending toward the annular protrusion  13 . The tubular pad  22  is received in the through hole  12 , engages with the annular protrusion  13 , and extends from the first section S 2  to the second section S 3  through the narrowed section S 1 . The fixing member  23  pierces through the tubular pad  22  and has a fixing portion  231 , a shank portion  232  and a head portion  233 . The fixing portion  231  firmly couples with the fixed portion  212  of the sleeve  21 , the shank portion  232  extends through the tubular pad  22 , and the head portion  233  presses the second axial face  133  of the annular protrusion  13  via the tubular pad  22 . Preferably, the fixing portion  231  is made of a screw bolt while the fixed portion  212  has a screw hole, with threads of the screw bolt and screw hole matching each other. 
         [0038]    The shaft  3  inserts into the compartment  211  of the sleeve  21  and is clamped by the sleeve  21 , so as to detachably but firmly combine with the head  1  by the removable assembly  2 . 
         [0039]    Specifically, this preferred embodiment of the present invention is characterized in the tubular pad  22 . Please refer to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b , wherein the shown tubular pad  22  is a first example of the tubular pad of the preferable embodiment. The tubular pad  22  has a front part  221 , a rear part  222 , a waist part  223  and a center passage  224 . The front part  221  is flexible and has a largest outer diameter Df1 larger than the diameter Dn of the narrowed section S 1  of the through hole  12 , and a smallest inner diameter Df2 of the front part  221  is smaller than the diameter Dx of the fixing portion  231 . With the arrangements of the largest outer diameter Df1 and smallest inner diameter Df2 relative to the said diameters Dn, Dx, the front part  221  can be kept in the first section S 2  and prevent the fixing portion  231  from entering the narrowed section S 1  once the tubular pad  22  is settled in the through hole  12 . The rear part  222  also has a largest outer diameter Dr larger than the diameter Dn of the narrowed section S 1  so as to be kept in the second section S 3  and sandwiched between the annular protrusion  13  and the head portion  233  of the fixing member  23 . The waist part  223  links the front part  221  and the rear part  222  and extends through the narrowed section S 1  of the through hole  12 . Besides, an outer diameter Dw1 of the waist part  223  is equal to or, preferably, smaller than the diameter Dn of the narrowed section S 1  for the waist part  223  to easily extend through the narrowed section S 1 . The center passage  224  extends through the front, waist and rear parts  221 ,  223 ,  222  serially so as to form the smallest inner diameter Df2 of the front part  221  and a smallest inner diameter Dw2 of the waist part  223  while an inner diameter of the rear part  222  is preferably equal to the smallest inner diameter Dw2. Accordingly, the tubular pad  22  cannot easily fall out from the through hole  12  via the first opening  121  or second opening  122  since the tubular pad  22  is a single piece member and the annular protrusion  13  is axially engaged between the front and rear parts  221 ,  222 . 
         [0040]    Furthermore, there are still some specific designs of the tubular pad  22 . Please refer to  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b ,  4  and  5 . It is preferable for the front part  221  to have an outer incline  221   a  extending from a free end of the front portion  221  to where the largest outer diameter Df1 locates, so that the outer diameter of the front part  221  gradually increases from the said free end to where the largest outer diameter Df1 locates. Accordingly, with a slight and recoverable deformation of the front part  221 , the outer incline  221   a  can smoothly guide the front part  221  to pass through the narrowed section S 1 . Moreover, it is preferable that the smallest inner diameter Dw2 as well as the inner diameter of the rear part  222  is larger than the diameter Dx of the fixing portion  231 , so that the fixing portion  231  can easily pass through the rear part  222  and the waist part  223  without any obstruction until meeting the front part  221 . Besides, it is preferable that the tubular pad  22  further has an inner incline  225  linking where the smallest inner diameters Df2, Dw2 locate, so that the bore of the center passage  224  is gradually narrowed from where the smallest inner diameter Dw2 locates to where the smallest inner diameter Df2 locates. Additionally, the rear part  222  can further provide an outward abutting face  222   a  facing the front part  221  and abutting against the second axial face  133  of the annular protrusion  13 . Preferably, the whole tubular pad  22  is made of flexible material such as rubber when the tubular pad  22  is a single continuous monolithic piece of a single material. 
         [0041]    As a result, during the insertion of the tubular pad  22  into the through hole  12  via the second opening  122 , the outer incline  221   a  can guide the front part  221  to slightly deform and to slide through the narrowed section S 1  till the annular protrusion  13  is axially engaged between the front and rear parts  221 ,  222 . In the insertion step of the fixing member  23  after the tubular pad  22  is settled, the fixing portion  231  is guided to a center line of the center passage  224  by the inner incline  225  while the fixing member  23  enters the center passage  224  and moves toward the front part  221 . With a pressure upon the inner cline  225 , the front part  221  can be temporarily and recoverably expanded for the fixing portion  231  to pass through. During the processing of the above step, the tubular pad  22  is kept from totally passing through the annular protrusion  13  since the outward abutting face  222   a  can surely abut against the second axial face  133  to prevent the rear part  222  from entering the narrowed section S 1 . Although the inner cline  225  is useful in the above insertion step, it is not definitely needed since a guidance function can also be achieved by a taper shape of a free end of the fixing portion  231 . 
         [0042]    With the relationship between the diameter Dx and the smallest inner diameter Df2, once the above insertion step is done for the shank portion  232  to axially extend though the whole center passage  224 , the fixing portion  231  can be surely kept in the first section S 2  no matter the fixing portion  231  is engaged with the fixed portion  212  or not. Thus, the front part  221  of the tubular pad  22  can efficiently avoid disengagement of the fixing member  23 . On the other hand, the rear part  222  is sandwiched between the head portion  233  and the second axial face  133  after the fixing portion  231  firmly couples with the fixed portion  212 . Accordingly, stresses between the head portion  233  and the annular protrusion  13  are thus dispersed via the rear part  222  made of the flexible material. Besides, with the waist part  223  integrally links the front and rear parts  221 ,  222 , only one insertion process for settling the tubular pad  22  is needed. 
         [0043]    Now, please refer to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , wherein a second example of the tubular pad of the preferable embodiment is shown and labeled as “ 22 ′.” This tubular pad  22 ′ not only has all the elements of the tubular pad  22  of the first example, but also further provides a plurality of axial grooves  226 ′ on the free end of the front part  221 , with these axial grooves  226 ′ extending form the said free end to positions between where the largest outer diameter Df1 locates and where the waist part  223  links the rear part  222 . Each of the axial grooves  226 ′ radially extends from the center passage  224  to the outer periphery of the tubular pad  22 ′ so as to circumferentially divide the front part  221  into a plurality of pieces. With the above said axial grooves  226 ′, the front and waist parts  221 ,  223  can be made of a first material such as metal that cannot be flexibly and easily bent without these axial grooves  226 ′ and is different from a second material of the rear part  222  such as rubber. Besides, the strength of the waist part  223  is kept since the waist part  223  is still in a ring form and is not cut into several pieces by the axial grooves  226 ′. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a third example of the tubular pad of the preferable embodiment is shown and labeled as “ 22 ″.” In comparison with the tubular pad  22 ′ of the previous example, this tubular pad  22 ″ also has a plurality of axial grooves  226 ″, but the axial grooves  226 ″ extend from the free end of the front part  221  to where the waist part  223  links the rear part  222 , with each of the axial grooves  226 ″ radially extending from the center passage  224  to the outer periphery of the tubular pad  22 ″, so that both of the front and waist parts  221 ,  223  are circumferentially divided into plural pieces. Accordingly, the first material made the front and waist parts  221 ,  223  can be selected from metal more rigid than that used in the second example if the second material made the rear part  222  is soft and flexible enough, such as rubber, for the tubular pad  22 ″ to deform and partially pass through the narrowed section S 1 . 
         [0045]    In sum, each one of the tubular pads  22 ,  22 ′,  22 ″ in the preferable embodiment of the present invention not only can avoid undesirable disengagement of the fixing member  23  from the though hole  12  when the fixing portion  231  is uncoupled with the fixed portion  212  of the sleeve  21 , but also can disperse the stresses between the head portion  233  and the annular protrusion  13 , as well as improves the convenience in assembly by its single piece structure. 
         [0046]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferable embodiments, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Technology Category: a