Interchangable Golf Shaft Adapters

Abstract

Golf shaft adapters of two different types, a skewed shim shaft adapter and an elemental shaft adapter, are interchangeable in their connection to a head. These interchangeable shaft adapters are particularly useful in retrofitting the elemental shaft adapter to a head which is manufactured to be fitted with the skewed shim shaft adapter. An assemblage, comprising the head, the skewed shim shaft adapter, and the elemental shaft adapter, provides a technician a choice between a skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly comprising the head and the skewed shim shaft adapter, or an elemental shaft adapter and head assembly comprising the head and the elemental shaft adapter. This assemblage allows the technician to choose the shaft adapter which is more beneficial to his customer.

Claims

1. A golf club head assembly comprising: a head, and an elemental shaft adapter, wherein the head comprises a neck which embodies a neck indexing structure, wherein the head is manufactured to be fitted with a skewed shim shaft adapter comprising a skewed shim which embodies a shim indexing structure, wherein the shim indexing structure is engageable with the neck indexing structure, thereby providing for the skewed shim to be restrained from rotation with respect to the neck, wherein the elemental shaft adapter comprises an elemental shaft adapter fitting which embodies an elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure, wherein the elemental shaft adapter is retrofitted to the head with the elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure engaged with the neck indexing structure to restrain rotation of the elemental shaft adapter fitting with respect to the neck, whereby the golf club head assembly, by having the elemental shaft adapter retrofitted to the head rather than having the skewed shim shaft adapter fitted to the head, employs the elemental shaft adapter to secure a shaft to the head rather than employing the skewed shim shaft adapter.

2. The golf club head assembly of claim 1 wherein the skewed shim is a proximal skewed shim and the skewed shim indexing structure is a proximal skewed shim indexing structure, and wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a distal skewed shim, which embodies a distal skewed shim indexing structure, and a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting, which embodies a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure, and wherein, in addition to the proximal skewed shim indexing structure being engageable with the neck indexing structure, the proximal skewed shim indexing structure is also engageable with the distal skewed shim indexing structure, and the distal skewed shim indexing structure is also engageable with the skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure, thereby providing for the skewed shim shaft adapter fitting to be restrained from rotation with respect to the neck.

3. The golf club head assembly of claim 1 wherein the elemental shaft adapter is a skewed axis elemental shaft adapter.

4. The golf club head assembly of claim 1 wherein the elemental shaft adapter is a straight axis elemental shaft adapter.

5. The golf club head assembly of claim 1 wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a fastener which provides for the skewed shim shaft adapter to be fitted to the head, and the fastener is employed to retrofit the elemental shaft adapter to the head.

6. The golf club head assembly of claim 1 wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a first fastener which provides for the skewed shim shaft adapter to be fitted to the head, and the elemental shaft adapter further comprises a second fastener which is employed to retrofit the elemental shaft adapter to the head.

7. The golf club head assembly of claim 2 wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter, when fitted to the head, establishes a distance between a distal end of the skewed shim shaft adapter fitting and a distal end of the neck, and the elemental shaft adapter, when retrofitted to the head, establishes substantially the same distance between a distal end of the elemental shaft adapter fitting and the distal end of the neck.

8. The golf club head assembly of claim 2 wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter, when fitted to the head, establishes a first distance between a distal end of the skewed shim shaft adapter fitting and a distal end of the neck, and the elemental shaft adapter, when retrofitted to the head, establishes a second distance between a distal end of the elemental shaft adapter fitting and the distal end of the neck.

9. The golf club head assembly of claim 8 wherein the second distance is shorter than the first distance.

10. The golf club head assembly of claim 2 wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a first fastener which provides for the skewed shim shaft adapter to be fitted to the head, wherein the elemental shaft adapter further comprises a second fastener which is employed to retrofit the elemental shaft adapter to the head, and wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter and the elemental shaft adapter have substantially equal masses.

11. The golf club head assembly of claim 2 wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a first fastener which provides for the skewed shim shaft adapter to be fitted to the head, wherein the elemental shaft adapter further comprises a second fastener which is employed to retrofit the elemental shaft adapter to the head, wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter has a first mass and the elemental shaft adapter has a second mass, and wherein the first mass is greater than the second mass.

12. An assemblage which provides for a golf club head assembly, the assemblage comprising: a head, a skewed shim shaft adapter, and an elemental shaft adapter, wherein the head comprises a neck which embodies a neck indexing structure, wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter comprises a skewed shim which embodies a shim indexing structure, wherein the elemental shaft adapter comprises an elemental shaft adapter fitting which embodies an elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure, wherein the assemblage provides for the golf club head assembly to be a first golf club head assembly which is absent the elemental shaft adapter but comprises the head and the skewed shim shaft adapter, and the skewed shim shaft adapter is secured to the head with the shim indexing structure engaged with the neck indexing structure to restrain rotation of the skewed shim with respect to the neck, and wherein the assemblage also provides for the golf club head assembly to be a second golf club head assembly which is absent the skewed shim shaft adapter but which comprises the head and the elemental shaft adapter, and the elemental shaft adapter is secured to the head with the elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure engaged with the neck indexing structure to restrain rotation of the elemental shaft adapter fitting with respect to the neck, whereby the assemblage allows a technician to choose between the skewed shim shaft adapter and the elemental shaft adapter for securing a shaft to the head.

13. The assemblage of claim 12 wherein the head is manufactured to be fitted with the skewed shim shaft adapter, and therefore, in the second golf club head assembly, the elemental shaft adapter, in being secured to the head, is retrofitted to the head.

14. The assemblage of claim 12 wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting which embodies a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure, and in the first golf club head assembly, in addition to the engagement of the shim indexing structure with the neck indexing structure, the shim indexing structure is also engaged with the skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure, thereby restraining rotation of the skewed shim shaft adapter fitting with respect to the neck.

15. The assemblage of claim 12 wherein the skewed shim is a proximal skewed shim and the shim indexing structure is a proximal shim indexing structure, and the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a distal skewed shim, which embodies a distal shim indexing structure, and a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting, which embodies a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure, and in the first golf club head assembly, in addition to the engagement of the proximal shim indexing structure with the neck indexing structure, the proximal shim indexing structure is also engaged with the distal shim indexing structure and the distal shim indexing structure is also engaged with the skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure, whereby the skewed shim shaft adapter fitting is restrained from rotation with respect to the neck.

16. The assemblage of claim 12 wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a first fastener which is employed in the first golf club head assembly to secure the skewed shim shaft adapter to the head, and wherein the elemental shaft adapter further comprises a second fastener which is employed in the second set of golf club head assembly to secure the elemental shaft adapter to the head.

17. In a golf club head to which a skewed shim shaft adapter is finable, an elemental shaft adapter which is retrofittable to the golf club head, the elemental shaft adapter comprising; an elemental shaft adapter fitting, and an elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure which is embodied in the elemental shaft adapter fitting, wherein the golf club head embodies a head indexing structure, wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter comprises a skewed shim, wherein the skewed shim embodies a shim indexing structure which is engageable with the head indexing structure to restrain their relative rotation, and wherein the elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure is engageable with the head indexing structure to restrain their relative rotation, whereby, in providing for shaft attachment to the golf club head, the elemental shaft adapter is interchangeable with the skewed shim shaft adapter.

18. The elemental shaft adapter of claim 17 wherein the head has a neck and the head indexing structure is embodied in the neck.

19. The elemental shaft adapter of claim 17 wherein the head further comprises a hosel which has an axis, and the shim indexing structure is engageable with the head indexing structure to restrain rotation of the skewed shim with respect to the axis and the elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure is engageable with the head indexing structure to restrain rotation of the elemental shaft adapter fitting with respect to the axis.

20. The elemental shaft adapter of claim 17 wherein the skewed shim is a proximal skewed shim and the shim indexing structure is a proximal shim indexing structure, and wherein the skewed shim shaft adapter further comprises a distal skewed shim, which embodies a distal shim indexing structure, and a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting, which embodies a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure.

Description

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

[0021] Drawings of the invention are as follows:

[0022] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exploded view and an assembled view of a skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly, and

[0023] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an exploded view and an assembled view of an elemental shaft adapter and head assembly.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows an assemblage comprising a head, a skewed axis shaft adapter, and an elemental shaft adapter.

DRAWINGS—REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0025] 1 skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly [0026] 5 shaft [0027] 10 head [0028] 11 heel [0029] 20 hosel [0030] 22 neck [0031] 24 neck indexing structure [0032] 28 hole [0033] 30 skewed shim shaft adapter [0034] 32 skewed shim shaft adapter fitting [0035] 34 skewed shim shaft adapter socket [0036] 36 skewed shim shaft adapter threaded hole [0037] 38 skewed shim shaft adapter fastener [0038] 40 distal skewed shim [0039] 42 proximal skewed shim [0040] 50 skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure [0041] 52 distal shim indexing structure [0042] 54 proximal shim indexing structure [0043] 101 elemental shaft adapter and head assembly [0044] 130 elemental shaft adapter [0045] 132 elemental shaft adapter fitting [0046] 134 elemental shaft adapter socket [0047] 136 elemental shaft adapter threaded hole [0048] 138 elemental shaft adapter fastener [0049] 150 elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure [0050] 200 assemblage; head, skewed shim shaft adapter, and elemental shaft adapter

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 1 and 2—SKEWED SHIM SHAFT ADAPTER AND HEAD ASSEMBLY

[0051] FIG. 1, in an exploded view, and FIG. 2, in an assembled view, show a skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1, along with a shaft 5. Skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1 comprises a head 10 which includes several features, features such as a heel 11, a hosel 20 located in a neck 22 which is positioned near heel 11, a head indexing structure which is neck indexing structure 24, and a hole 28 located in a proximal end of hosel 20. Skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1 further comprises a skewed shim shaft adapter 30 which comprises a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting 32 having a skewed shim shaft adapter socket 34 in its distal end and a skewed shim shaft adapter threaded hole 36 in its proximal end. Skewed shim shaft adapter 30 further comprises a skewed shim shaft adapter fastener 38, a distal skewed shim 40, and a proximal skewed shim 42. Skewed shim shaft adapter fitting 32 embodies a skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 50. Distal skewed shim embodies a distal shim indexing structure 52 having portions on both its proximal and distal sides, and proximal skewed shim 42 embodies a proximal shim indexing structure 54 which likewise has portions on both its proximal and distal sides.

[0052] Skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1 represents prior art in that hosel 20, neck 22, neck indexing structure 24, and skewed shim shaft adapter 30 are similar to what is shown and described in Dacey. In this particular case, head 10 is manufactured to be fitted with skewed shim shaft adapter 30. FIG. 2 shows shaft adapter 30 fitted to head 10, accomplished by inserting skewed shim shaft adapter fitting 32 into hosel 20 with distal skewed shim 40 and proximal skewed shim 42 placed between fitting 32 and neck 22, passing skewed shim shaft adapter fastener 38 through hole 28, and engaging fastener 38 with skewed shim shaft adapter threaded hole 36. Neck indexing structure 24, skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 50, distal shim indexing structure 52, and proximal shim indexing structure 54 are all shown as having a construction which allows each one to engage in any one of four rotational position with respect to its corresponding indexing structure. With skewed shim shaft adapter fitting 32, distal skewed shim 40, and proximal skewed shim 42 in rotational positions with respect to each other and with respect to neck 22 which provide for a desired angular adjustment and which allow for the four indexing structures to progressively engage, skewed shim shaft adapter 30 is secured to head 10 by tightening fastener 38 in threaded hole 36. With skewed shim shaft adapter 30 thus secured to head 10, skewed shim shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 50 engages with distal shim indexing structure 52 which engages with proximal shim indexing structure 54 which engages with neck indexing structure 24. This progressive engagement of these four indexing structures restrains rotation, with respect to neck 22, of skewed shim shaft adapter fitting 32, distal skewed shim 40, and proximal skewed shim 42. Using skewed shim shaft adapter socket 34, skewed shim shaft adapter 30 provides for shaft 5 to be secured to skewed shim shaft adapter fitting 32 and thus to head 10.

DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 3 and 4—ELEMENTAL SHAFT ADAPTER AND HEAD ASSEMBLY

[0053] FIG. 3, in an exploded view, and FIG. 4, in an assembled view, show an elemental shaft adapter and head assembly 101 and shaft 5. As in skewed shim adapter and head assembly 1, elemental shaft adapter and head assembly 101 comprises head 10 with its associated features, particularly hosel 20 with its hole 28 and neck 22 with its neck indexing structure 24. Elemental shaft adapter and head assembly 101 further comprises an elemental shaft adapter 130 comprising an elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 having an elemental shaft adapter socket 134 in its distal end and an elemental shaft adapter threaded hole 136 in its proximal end. Elemental shaft adapter 130 further comprises an elemental shaft adapter fastener 138. Elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 embodies an elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 150.

[0054] Although head 10 is manufactured to be fitted with skewed shim shaft adapter 30 to make skewed shim adapter and head assembly 1, elemental shaft adapter 130 is designed such that it can be retrofitted to head 10 to make elemental shaft adapter and head assembly 101. With skewed shim shaft adapter 30 removed from head 10, elemental shaft adapter 130 is retrofitted to head 10 by inserting elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 into hosel 20, inserting elemental shaft adapter fastener 138 through hole 28 in hosel 20, and engaging fastener 138 with elemental shaft adapter threaded hole 136. Elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 150 is shown as having a construction which allows it to engage with neck indexing structure 24 in any one of four rotational positions with respect neck indexing structure 24 and neck 22. With elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 in a desired rotational position with respect to neck 22 which potentially provides for a desired effect on angular properties and which allows engagement of elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 150 with neck indexing structure 24, elemental shaft adapter 130 is secured to head 10 by tightening fastener 138 in threaded hole 136. With elemental shaft adapter 130 thus secured to head 10, engagement of elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 150 with neck indexing structure 24 restrains rotation of elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 with respect to neck 22. Using elemental shaft adapter socket 134, elemental shaft adapter 130 provides for shaft 5 to be secured to elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 and thus to head 10.

[0055] As indicated above, head 10 is manufactured to be fitted with a shaft adapter of the skewed shim type, namely skewed shim shaft adapter 30. But elemental shaft adapter 130, even though being a different type of shaft adapter, can be retrofitted to head 10 if constructed to be interchangeable with skewed shim shaft adapter 30. This interchangeability places some design constraints on elemental shaft adapter 130. For instance, elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 must be insertable in hosel 20 and elemental shaft adapter fastener 138 must be able to pass through hole 28 in hosel 20 sufficiently to engage elemental shaft adapter threaded hole 136. But perhaps most importantly, elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 150 must be engageable with neck indexing structure 24 to restrain rotation of elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 with respect to neck 22.

[0056] Interchangeability of skewed shim shaft adapter 30 and elemental shaft adapter 130 does not, however, mean that some of their features must be identical. For instance, in skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1, proximal skewed shim indexing structure 54 (the portion located on the proximal side of proximal skewed shim) engages with neck indexing structure 24. But interchangeability does not mean that elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 150 must be identical in shape and size to that proximal portion of proximal skewed shim indexing structure 54. Elemental shaft adapter fitting indexing structure 150 just needs to be engageable with neck indexing structure 24 in a manner sufficient to restrain relative rotation between the two structures. Additionally, even though elemental shaft adapter 130 may be designed to allow elemental shaft adapter fastener 138 to be identical to skewed shim shaft adapter fastener 38, thus not requiring a separate fastener to be supplied when retrofitting, it may be desirable that elemental shaft adapter fastener 138 be different from skewed shim shaft adapter fastener 38. For instance, it may be desirable that elemental shaft adapter fastener 138 and skewed shim shaft adapter fastener 38 have different lengths or even different thread sizes and/or pitches.

[0057] Interchangeability also does not mean that a distance from a distal end of neck 22 to a distal end of skewed shim shaft adapter fitting 32 be identical, or even similar, to a distance from the distal end of neck 22 to a distal end of elemental shaft adapter fitting 132. Because distal skewed shim 40 and proximal skewed shim 42 are not present in elemental shaft adapter 130, the distal end of elemental shaft adapter fitting 132 can potentially be closer to the distal end of neck 22 than the distal end of skewed shim shaft adapter fitting 32. If this is adopted, this allows for elemental shaft adapter 130 to be significantly less massive than skewed shim shaft adapter 30. Mass reduction of 6 grams or more is achievable.

DESCRIPTION—FIG. 5—ASSEMBLAGE; HEAD, SKEWED SHIM SHAFT ADAPTER, AND ELEMENTATL SHAFT ADAPTER

[0058] FIG. 5 shows an assemblage 200, comprising head 10, skewed shim shaft adapter 30, and elemental shaft adapter 130, which would be of benefit to a golf club technician. Assemblage 200 provides for skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprising head 10 and skewed shim shaft adapter 30 but excluding elemental shaft adapter 130, or elemental shaft adapter and head assembly 101, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprising head 10 and elemental shaft adapter 130 but excluding skewed shim shaft adapter 30.

[0059] Previous discussions stated that skewed shim shaft adapter 30 is “fitted” to head 10, thereby making skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1, and that elemental shaft adapter 130 is “retrofitted” to head 10, thereby making elemental shaft adapter and head assembly 101. Use of the words “fitted” and “retrofitted” imply a temporal priority of skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1 relative to elemental shaft adapter and head assembly 101. This temporal priority exists if head 10 was originally manufactured to be exclusively fitted with skewed shim shaft adapter 30, and elemental shaft adapter 130 is subsequently provided in order to be retrofitted to head 10. But this temporal priority is not necessarily applicable in assemblage 200. A manufacturer can adopt this concept of interchangeability between shaft adapter types and initially design head 10, skewed shim shaft adapter 30, and elemental shaft adapter 130 in order that the shaft adapters can interchangeability be employed to provide for shaft attachment to head 10.

[0060] If a technician has assemblage 200 at his disposal, he can initially choose either shaft adapter to make either assembly depending on his customer's particular needs. For a less accomplished golfer who perhaps is not sure of the angular parameters he needs in his club, the technician might choose skewed shim shaft adapter 30 to make skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly 1 in order to take advantage of the adjustment features of this skewed shim type of shaft adapter. This golfer also typically will have a lower swing speed, and the inherent weakness in the connection of skewed shim shaft adapter 30 to head 10 is therefore not as detrimental as it is for a more accomplished golfer with a higher swing speed. For the more accomplished golfer with the higher swing speed, the technician might choose elemental shaft adapter 130, thus making elemental shaft adapter and head assembly 101, thereby taking advantage of the connection rigidity of shaft adapter 130. Also, if elemental shaft adapter 130 is designed such that it is less massive than skewed shim shaft adapter 30, this allows the technician to provide more discretionary mass in head 10 or to increase shaft mass, both of which are important to the more accomplished golfer.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

[0061] Accordingly, the reader will see that herein described are interchangeable shaft adapters of two different types, a skewed shim shaft adapter and an elemental shaft adapter. In a special case in which a head is manufactured to be fitted with the skewed shim shaft adapter, thereby making a skewed shim shaft adapter and head assembly, this interchangeability allows for the elemental shaft adapter to be retrofitted to the head, thereby making an elemental shaft adapter and head assembly. Also, an assemblage, comprising the head, the skewed shim shaft adapter, and the elemental shaft adapter, allows a technician to select the shaft adapter type which is more suitable for his customer.

[0062] Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of it. For instance, the elemental shaft adapter is described as potentially being less massive than the skewed shim shaft adapter, but in some cases it may be desirable that the two shaft adapters have substantially the same mass. Also, because the elemental shaft adapter does not contain any skewed shims, this allows for its distal end to be closer to the head's neck than a distance allowed by the skewed shim shaft adapter, but in some cases it may be desirable that the two shaft adapters have the same, or similar, distances from their distal ends to the head's neck. Also, the elemental shaft adapter can be either a straight axis elemental shaft adapter or a skewed axis elemental shaft adapter. The necks, fittings, and shims are shown as having indexing structures which allow them to engage with a corresponding indexing structure in any one of four relative rotational positions, but other numbers, such as two, six, or eight, are possible. The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.