GB2194159A

GB2194159A - Golf clubs

Info

Publication number: GB2194159A
Application number: GB08717482A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Swash
Original assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co Taichung Branch
Current assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co Taichung Branch
Priority date: 1986-07-26
Filing date: 1987-07-23
Publication date: 1988-03-02
Also published as: EP0255324A3; GB8618300D0; EP0255324A2; GB8717482D0

Abstract

A golf club head and shaft connection to provide a feel different from that provided by an all steel golf club has a material different from that of the head and shaft interposed therebetween. The material is in the form of a ferrule 2 of plastics material having a spigot formation 2A at one end to fit a socketed golf club head 3, and a deep socket or through-bore at or from its other end to take a golf club shaft 1 capable of extending into said spigot formation. The shaft may be accommodated wholly within the ferrule or the end of the shaft may extend through the ferrule into a bore in the golf club head. <IMAGE>

Description

GB2194159A 1

SPECIFICATION embodiment.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, the shaft 1 is Golf clubs con " venientiy of conventional tubular steel con struction and the hed 3 can also be of steel.

The invention relates to golf clubs with parti- 70 The ferrule 2 is of nylon-based material and cular but not necessarily exclusive application accommodates extension IA of the shaft 1 to putters. thereinto, actually therethrough as shown.

These days, most golf clubs, including put- End 2A of the body of the ferrule 2 is of ters, have steel shafts, indeed are usually of spigot formation entrant a socket 3A of the all-steel construction. At least for putters, 75 putter head 3. The other end 2B of the body however, some golfers still prefer a wooden of the ferrule 2 which takes the tubular steel shaft for its different feel when striking a golf shaft 1 right into the head socket 2A is ball. Given such preferences, it is believed to shown tapered, and may be so to whatever be useful to seek, if possible, to provide other transitional shape is required or desired.

ways of adjusting or altering the feel from that 80 The ferrule material constituting the socket of the conventional all-steel golf club. 2A is, of course, sandwiched between the Accordingly, it is an object of this invention shaft extension]A and the head socket 3A in to provide a construction of golf club affording a construction of inherently high structural in such possibilities. tegrity, but offering a modification of---feel- Accordingly, in one aspect, this invention 85 dependent on the material of the ferrule 2 and provides for connection of a golf club head whether or not same is compressed, if so, to and shaft which connection includes inter- what degree.

posed material different from that of the shaft It will be evident that the material for the and that of the head, typically as a ferrule ferrule body must serve to secure the head reinforced by extension of the shaft and sur- 90 and the shaft but, whether or not with further rounding said material into a socket of the provision for improving interlocation of parts, head. can provide a useful range of variation of its In one embodiment, the interposed materi- cushioning effect.

al/ferrule forms direct interconnection between Referring now to Figure 2, a shaft 11 con- the shaft and the head and is the only means 95 veniently of tubular steel construction is of interconnection other than adhesive means shown jointed to a head 13 which can also used in conunction therewith, whereas in be of steel. The head 13 has a stepped dia another preferred embodiment, an end portion meter blind bore formed therein with stepped of the shaft is received in a bore in the head, parts 15, 17, the latter being of larger dia preferably secured therein by adhesive means, 100 meter than the former.

whilst the interposed material/ferrule is dis- Disposed around the shaft 11 is a ferrule 12 posed around the shaft spaced from the said which is of plastics material such s nylon end portion and adjacent the opening to the based material. End 12A of the ferrule 12 is head. of spigot formation and received in stepped Ferrules of plastics material are readily 105 part 17 of said bore in the putter head. An moulded to the required shape and can pro- end portion 11 A of the shaft 11 is received in vide required strength and other physical char- the bore 15 for joining the shaft 11 to the acteristics. A nylon based material interposed head. Epoxy resin or other adhesive means is and/or connecting a steel shaft gives the feel conveniently used to form the connection, al of a much softer strike of the golf ball in a 110 though other fixing techniques may be em way that should be much appreciated by ployed.

many golfers. By the above means variation of By locating the end 11 A of the shaft 11 in feel on strike of the ball is achieved by the the head and interposing the ferrule 12 be cushioning effect of the nylon bush. tween the shaft and the end opening of the Another aspect of this invention concerns 115 bore 17 in the head the desired variation of the fe rrule itself as a body with a spigot for- feel on striking the ball is achieved by virtue mation at One end to fit a socketed golf club of the cushioning effect of the ferrule. It will head and a deep socket or through-bore at or be appreciated that the resilience of the shaft from its other end to take a golf club shaft, allows flexing thereof, which flexing is cush then capable of extending into said spigot for- 120 ioned by the ferrule. Positive retention of the mation. head to the shaft is assured with the embodi- The present invention will now be described ment of Figure 2, whilst a thinner diameter further, by way of example only, with refershaft can also be utilised.

ence to the accompanying diagrammatic draw

Claims

ings; in which:- 125 CLAIMS

Figure 1 shows a shaft 1 joined to a putter 1. A golf club head and shaft connection head 3 by a ferrule 2 shown partly in section comprising interposed material different from according to one embodiment, and that of the shaft and the head as a ferrule Figure 2 shows joint between a shaft 11 reinforced by extension of the shaft and sur- and a putter head 13 according to another 130 rounding said material into a socket of the 2 GB2194159A 2 head.
2. A connection as claimed in claim 1 in which the interposed material/ferrule forms di rect interconnection between the shaft and the head and is the only means of interconnection other than optional adhesive means used in conjunction therewith.
3. A connection as claimed in claim 1 in which an end portion of the shaft is received in a bore in the head, whilst the interposed material/ferrule is disposed around the shaft spaced from said end portion and adjacent the opening to the head.
4. A connection as claimed in claim 3 in which the shaft is secured in said bore in the head by adhesive means.
5. A connection as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the interposed materi al/ferrule is of plastics material.
6. A connection as claimed in claim 5 in which the plastics material is a nylon.
7. A golf club head and shaft connection constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of Figure 1 or Figure 2. -
8. A ferrule for use in connection of a golf club head and shaft comprising a body with a spigot forma ion at one end to fit a socketed golf head and a deep socket or through bore at or from its other end to take a golf club shaft then capable of extending into said spi got formation.
9. A ferrule constructed and arranged sub- stantially as hereinbefore described with refer enGe to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of Figure 1 or Figure 2.
10. A putter having a connection between the putter head and the shaft comprising inter posed material different from that of the shaft and the head.
11. A putter as claimed in claim 10 in which the interposed material comprises a fer- rule reinforced by extension of the shaft and surrounded by a socet in the head.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66/71 High Holborn, London WC 1 R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BF15 3RD.

Printed by Burgess & Son (Abingdon) Ltd. Con, 1/87.