Modular Golf Club Assembly

Abstract

A modular golf club assembly for facilitating playing the game of golf includes a plurality of golf club shafts. A plurality of couplers is each disposed on a respective one of the golf club shafts. A plurality of golf heads is provided and a respective one of the plurality of golf heads is releasably attachable to a respective one of the golf club shafts. A plurality of engagements is provided and each of the engagements is slidably integrated onto a respective one of the golf heads. Each of the engagements releasably engages a respective one of the couplers on a respective one of the golf club shafts for releasably retaining the respective golf club head on the respective golf club shaft.

Claims

1. A modular golf club assembly having a shaft and a plurality of interchangeable heads, said assembly comprising: a plurality of golf club shafts; a plurality of couplers, each of said couplers being disposed on a respective one of said golf club shafts; a plurality of golf heads, a respective one of said plurality of golf heads being releasably attachable to a respective one of said golf club shafts such that said respective golf head and said respective golf club shaft defines a golf club wherein said golf club is configured to be employed for playing the game of golf; and a plurality of engagements, each of said engagements being slidably integrated onto a respective one of said golf heads, each of said engagements releasably engaging a respective one of said couplers on a respective one of said golf club shafts for releasably retaining said respective golf club head on said respective golf club shaft.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: each of said golf club shafts has a first end and a second end, each of said golf club shafts being elongated between said first end and said second end; and each of said couplers has an upper end, a lower end and an outer wall extending between said upper end and said lower end, said outer wall being continuously arcuate about an axis extending between said upper end and said lower end such that each of said couplers has a cylindrical shape, each of said couplers having a coupler well extending through said upper end toward said lower end, said coupler well in said upper end of each of said couplers slidably receiving said first end of a respective one of said golf club shafts.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein: said outer wall of each of said couplers has a first portion having a diameter being greater than the diameter of a second portion, said upper end being associated with said first portion, said lower end being associated with said second portion; said outer wall corresponding to said second portion has a channel extending inwardly on said second portion, said channel extending around a full circumference of said second portion, said channel having a bounding surface, said bounding surface being concavely arcuate with respect to said outer wall corresponding to said second portion, said channel being positioned closer to a threshold of said first portion than said lower end; and an intersection between said outer wall corresponding to said second portion and said lower end is chamfered.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein each of said golf heads has a hosel extending upwardly from a body of a respective golf head, said hosel having a distal end with respect to said body, said distal end having a hosel well extending toward said body, said hosel well in said distal end of a respective one of said golf heads insertably receiving said lower end of a respective one of said couplers having said threshold of said first portion of said respective coupler abutting said distal end of said hosel of said respective golf head.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: each of said couplers has a lower end and a first portion, said first portion having a lower threshold; and each of said golf heads has a hosel extending upwardly from a body of a respective golf head, said hosel having a distal end with respect to said body, said distal end having a hosel well extending toward said body, said hosel well in said distal end of a respective one of said golf heads insertably receiving said lower end of a respective one of said couplers having said threshold of said first portion of said respective coupler abutting said distal end of said hosel of said respective golf head, said hosel well has a bounding surface.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said hosel has a plurality of openings each extending through said through hosel and through said bounding surface of said hosel well, said openings being spaced apart from each other and being distributed around said hosel, an outer surface of said hosel having a recess extending from said distal end toward said body, said recess having a lower bounding edge.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said engagements comprises a sleeve being slidably positioned around said hosel of said respective golf head, said sleeve having an inside surface, said inside surface having a lip extending away from said inside surface, said lip extending around a full circumference of said inside surface.

8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein: each of said golf heads has a hosel and a body, said hosel on each of said golf heads having a distal end with respect to said body and an outer surface, said outer surface of said hosel having a recess extending from said distal end toward said body, said recess having a lower bounding edge; and each of said engagements comprises a biasing member being positioned between said lip and said lower bounding edge of said recess in said outer surface of said hosel of said respective golf head, said biasing member biasing said sleeve upwardly on said hosel of said respective golf head into a locking position, said sleeve being urgeable downwardly on said hosel of said respective golf head into an unlocked position.

9. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein: each of couplers has a first portion and a second portion, said second portion having a channel extending into said second portion; and each of said engagements includes a plurality of balls, each of said balls being positioned between said lip and a respective one of said openings in said hosel of said respective golf head, said lip urging each of said balls to extend partially through said respective opening when said sleeve is biased into said locking position such that each of said balls engages said channel in said second portion of a respective coupler for retaining said coupler in said hosel well, said lip being displaced from said balls when said sleeve is urged into said unlocking position thereby facilitating said balls to disengage said channel in second portion of said respective coupler to facilitate said respective coupler to be removed from said hosel well.

10. A modular golf club assembly having a shaft and a plurality of interchangeable heads, said assembly comprising: a plurality of golf club shafts, each of said golf club shafts having a first end and a second end, each of said golf club shafts being elongated between said first end and said second end; a plurality of couplers, each of said couplers being disposed on a respective one of said golf club shafts, each of said couplers having an upper end, a lower end and an outer wall extending between said upper end and said lower end, said outer wall being continuously arcuate about an axis extending between said upper end and said lower end such that each of said couplers has a cylindrical shape, each of said couplers having a coupler well extending through said upper end toward said lower end, said coupler well in said upper end of each of said couplers slidably receiving said first end of a respective one of said golf club shafts, said outer wall of each of said couplers having a first portion having a diameter being greater than the diameter of a second portion, said upper end being associated with said first portion, said lower end being associated with said second portion, said outer wall corresponding to said second portion having a channel extending inwardly on said second portion, said channel extending around a full circumference of said second portion, said channel having a bounding surface, said bounding surface being concavely arcuate with respect to said outer wall corresponding to said second portion, said channel being positioned closer to a threshold of said first portion than said lower end, an intersection between said outer wall corresponding to said second portion and said lower end being chamfered; a plurality of golf heads, a respective one of said plurality of golf heads being releasably attachable to a respective one of said golf club shafts such that said respective golf head and said respective golf club shaft defines a golf club wherein said golf club is configured to be employed for playing the game of golf, each of said golf heads having a hosel extending upwardly from a body of a respective golf head, said hosel having a distal end with respect to said body, said distal end having a hosel well extending toward said body, said hosel well in said distal end of a respective one of said golf heads insertably receiving said lower end of a respective one of said couplers having said threshold of said first portion of said respective coupler abutting said distal end of said hosel of said respective golf head, said hosel well having a bounding surface, said hosel having a plurality of openings each extending through said through hosel and through said bounding surface of said hosel well, said openings being spaced apart from each other and being distributed around said hosel, an outer surface of said hosel having a recess extending from said distal end toward said body, said recess having a lower bounding edge; and a plurality of engagements, each of said engagements being slidably integrated onto a respective one of said golf heads, each of said engagements releasably engaging a respective one of said couplers on a respective one of said golf club shafts for releasably retaining said respective golf club head on said respective golf club shaft, each of said engagements comprising: a sleeve being slidably positioned around said hosel of said respective golf head, said sleeve having an inside surface, said inside surface having a lip extending away from said inside surface, said lip extending around a full circumference of said inside surface; a biasing member being positioned between said lip and said lower bounding edge of said recess in said outer surface of said hosel of said respective golf head, said biasing member biasing said sleeve upwardly on said hosel of said respective golf head into a locking position, said sleeve being urgeable downwardly on said hosel of said respective golf head into an unlocked position; and a plurality of balls, each of said balls being positioned between said lip and a respective one of said openings in said hosel of said respective golf head, said lip urging each of said balls to extend partially through said respective opening when said sleeve is biased into said locking position such that each of said balls engages said channel in said second portion of a respective coupler for retaining said coupler in said hosel well, said lip being displaced from said balls when said sleeve is urged into said unlocking position thereby facilitating said balls to disengage said channel in second portion of said respective coupler to facilitate said respective coupler to be removed from said hosel well.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0011] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular golf club assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a detail view taken from circle 3 of FIG. 2 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded view taken from circle 3 of FIG. 2 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of plurality of golf heads and a plurality of golf club shafts of an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new golf club device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0019] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the modular golf club assembly 10 generally comprises a plurality of golf club shafts 12 that each has a first end 14 and a second end 16. Each of the golf club shafts 12 is elongated between the first end 14 and the second end 16 to a length ranging between approximately 40.0 inches and 45.0 inches. Additionally, each of the golf club shafts 12 has a grip 18 extending from the second end 16 toward the first end 14. The grip 18 on each of the golf club shafts 12 may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material for enhancing comfort while gripping said grip 18.

[0020] A plurality of couplers 20 is each disposed on a respective one of the golf club shafts 12. Each of the couplers 20 has an upper end 22, a lower end 24 and an outer wall 26 extending between the upper end 22 and the lower end 24. The outer wall 26 is continuously arcuate about an axis extending between the upper end 22 and the lower end 24 such that each of the couplers 20 has a cylindrical shape. Each of the couplers 20 has a coupler well 28 extending through the upper end 22 toward the lower end 24. The coupler well 28 in the upper end 22 of each of the couplers 20 slidably receives the first end 14 of a respective one of the golf club shafts 12.

[0021] The outer wall 26 of each of the couplers 20 has a first portion 30 that has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of a second portion 32. The upper end 22 is associated with the first portion 30 and the lower end 24 is associated with the second portion 32. The outer wall 26 corresponding to the second portion 32 has a channel 34 extending inwardly on the second portion 32 and the channel 34 extends around a full circumference of the second portion 32. The channel 34 has a bounding surface 36 and the bounding surface 36 is concavely arcuate with respect to the outer wall 26 corresponding to the second portion 32. The channel 34 is positioned closer to a threshold 38 of the first portion 30 than the lower end 24. Additionally, an intersection between the outer wall 26 corresponding to the second portion 32 and the lower end 24 is chamfered.

[0022] A plurality of golf heads 40 is provided and a respective one of the plurality of golf heads 40 is releasably attachable to a respective one of the golf club shafts 12. In this way the respective golf head 40 and the respective golf club shaft 12 defines a golf club 42 that can be employed for playing the game of golf. Each of the golf heads 40 has a hosel 44 extending upwardly from a body 46 of a respective golf head 40. Furthermore, the plurality of golf heads 40 includes a set of iron golf heads 48, a set of wedge golf heads 50 and a set of driver golf heads 52. The body 46 of each of the iron golf heads 48 is structured in the convention of a respective iron ranging between a four iron and a nine iron. The body 46 of each of the wedge golf heads 50 is structured in the convention of a respective one of a pitching wedge, a gap wedge, a sand wedge and a lob wedge. The body 46 of each of the driver golf heads 52 is structured in the convention of a respective one of a three wood, a five wood and a driver.

[0023] The hosel 44 of each of the golf heads 40 has a distal end 54 with respect to the body 46 and the distal end 54 has a hosel well 56 extending toward the body 46. The hosel well 56 in the distal end 54 of a respective one of the golf heads 40 insertably receives the lower end 24 of a respective one of the couplers 20 having the threshold 38 of the first portion 30 of the respective coupler 20 abutting the distal end 54 of the hosel 44 of the respective golf head 40. The hosel well 56 has a bounding surface 58 and the hosel 44 has a plurality of openings 60 each extending through the through hosel 44 and through the bounding surface 58 of the hosel well 56. The openings 60 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed around the hosel 44. An outer surface 62 of the hosel 44 has a recess 64 extending from the distal end 54 toward the body 46 and the recess 64 has a lower bounding edge 66.

[0024] A plurality of engagements 68 is provided and each of the engagements 68 is slidably integrated onto a respective one of the golf heads 40. Each of the engagements 68 releasably engages a respective one of the couplers 20 on a respective one of the golf club shafts 12 for releasably retaining the respective golf head 40 on the respective golf club shaft 12. Each of the engagements 68 comprises a sleeve 70 is slidably positioned around the hosel 44 of the respective golf head 40. The sleeve 70 has an inside surface 72 and the inside surface has a lip 74 which extends away from the inside surface 72 and which extends around a full circumference of the inside surface 72.

[0025] Each of the engagements 68 includes a biasing member 76 that is positioned between the lip 74 and the lower bounding edge 66 of the recess 64 in the outer surface of the hosel 44 of the respective golf head 40. The biasing member 76 biases the sleeve 70 upwardly on the hosel 44 of the respective golf head 40 into a locking position. Conversely, the sleeve 70 is urgeable downwardly on the hosel 44 of the respective golf head 40 into an unlocked position. Each of the engagements 68 includes a plurality of balls 78 that is each of the balls 78 is positioned between the lip 74 and a respective one of the openings 60 in the hosel 44 of the respective golf head 40. The lip 74 urges each of the balls 78 to extend partially through the respective opening when the sleeve 70 is biased into the locking position such that each of the balls 78 engages the channel 34 in the second portion 32 of a respective coupler 20 for retaining the respective coupler 20 in the hosel well 56. Conversely, the lip 74 is displaced from the balls 78 when the sleeve 70 is urged into the unlocking position thereby facilitating the balls 78 to disengage the channel 34 in the second portion 32 of the respective coupler 20 to facilitate the respective coupler 20 to be removed from the hosel well 56.

[0026] In use, the coupler 20 on a respective one of the golf club shafts 12 is inserted into the hosel well 56 in the hosel 44 of a respective one of the golf heads 40. In this way a single golf club shaft 12 can be employed in conjunction with any of the golf heads 40. Thus, a full set of conventional golf clubs does not need to be carried during the game of golf, but rather only the plurality of golf heads 40 and the golf club shafts 12. The plurality of golf heads 40 is interchangeable on the golf club shaft 12, depending on the type of golf club 42 that is required for a particular golf shot. In this way the plurality of golf heads 40 and the golf club shafts 12 facilitate all types of golf shots to be accomplished during the game of golf.

[0027] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0028] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.