Adapter for attaching a putter head to a graphite golf shaft

Abstract

An adapter for connecting a straight golf shaft to a golf club head, the adapter comprising: a first end that is cylindrical and configured to be connected to the golf club head; and a second end that is connected to the first end, is cylindrical, and configured to be connected to a tip of the straight golf shaft, wherein an angle between (a) a first plane passing through a first axis of the first end and (b) a second plane passing through a second axis of the second end is between 0.5° and 45°.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This disclosure is a PCT International Application of U.S. Patent Application No. 63 / 298,072, filed January 10, 2022. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 298,072, filed January 10, 2022. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates to golf equipment, and more particularly to an adapter for connecting a graphite golf shaft to a putter head. [Background technology]

[0003] The background discussion provided herein is intended to generally present the context of the present disclosure. To the extent described in this Background section, the work of currently known inventors, as well as aspects of the specification that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are not admitted expressly or impliedly as prior art to the present disclosure.

[0004] Golf shafts are manufactured in a variety of lengths for a variety of different types of golf clubs. Some golf shafts are made from steel and some are made from graphite.

[0005] In golf, golf clubs are used to hit a golf ball. The objective is to get the golf ball from the tee to the hole in the fewest number of strokes. Various types of golf clubs are used, such as woods, irons, wedges, and putters. A golf shaft includes a distal end to which the golf club head is attached and a proximal end to which the golf grip is attached.

[0006] Different types of golf club heads are used, for example a set of golf clubs may include one or more woods, one or more irons and wedges, and a putter. Summary of the Invention

[0007] A feature of the adapter is that it connects a straight-type golf shaft to a golf club head, the adapter including a first end that is cylindrical and configured to be connected to the golf club head, and a second end that is connected to the first end, is cylindrical, and configured to be connected to a tip of the straight-type golf shaft, and the angle between (a) a first plane passing through a first axis of the first end and (b) a second plane passing through a second axis of the second end is between 0.5° and 45°.

[0008] The golf club includes the straight golf shaft, the golf club head, and an adapter, the first end of the adapter being connected to the golf club head and the second end of the adapter being connected to the tip of the straight golf shaft.

[0009] As a further feature, the golf club head is a putter head.

[0010] As a further feature, the straight golf shaft is a straight graphite golf shaft.

[0011] As a further feature, the first end of the adapter is secured to the golf club head by an adhesive.

[0012] As a further feature, the second end of the adapter is secured to the tip of the straight golf shaft by an adhesive.

[0013] As a further feature, the second end of the adapter is secured to the tip end of the straight golf shaft by co-adhering the adapter and the straight golf shaft.

[0014] As a further feature, the first end includes a cylindrical recess configured to receive a cylindrical post on the golf club head.

[0015] As a further feature, the first end includes one or more holes extending through the adapter into the cylindrical recess.

[0016] As a further feature, the outer diameter of the cylindrical recess is between 0.3 inches and 0.4 inches.

[0017] As a further feature, the second end includes a cylindrical recess configured to receive an outer diameter portion of the straight golf shaft.

[0018] As a further feature, the second end includes one or more holes extending through the adapter into the cylindrical recess.

[0019] As a further feature, the outer diameter of the cylindrical recess is between 0.3 inches and 0.4 inches.

[0020] As a further feature, the first end includes a first cylindrical recess configured to receive a cylindrical post on the golf club head and the second end includes a second cylindrical recess configured to receive an outer diameter portion of the straight golf shaft.

[0021] As a further feature, the first end includes a cylindrical outer diameter portion configured to extend into a cylindrical recess in the golf club head and the second end includes a cylindrical recess configured to receive an outer diameter portion of the straight golf shaft.

[0022] As a further feature, the first end includes a cylindrical outer diameter portion configured to extend into a cylindrical recess in the golf club head.

[0023] As a further feature, the adapter is one of steel, aluminum, nickel alloy, resin, graphite, plastic, or metal.

[0024] As a further feature, the first end has an outer diameter between 0.25 inches and 0.75 inches.

[0025] As a further feature, the outer diameter of the second end is between 0.25 inches and 0.75 inches.

[0026] As a further feature, the straight golf shaft is axially straight and does not include a bend along the axis of the straight golf shaft.

[0027] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims, and drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 includes an example diagram of a golf club shaft. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a left-handed putter head including a cylindrical post. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a right-handed putter head that does not include a cylindrical post and includes a cylindrical recess. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary adapter configured to allow a straight graphite golf shaft to be connected to a putter head instead of a single bend golf shaft. [Diagram 5] 5 is a top view of the example adapter of FIG. 4, e.g., taken at 90 degrees from the perspective of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary adapter configured to allow a straight graphite golf shaft to be connected to a putter head instead of a double bend golf shaft. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a top view of the example adapter of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 8A and 8B include front and side views of an adapter secured to a putter head with a cylindrical post and a straight graphite golf shaft. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example adapter. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example adapter. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example adapter. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example adapter. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example adapter.

[0029] In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] This application relates to an adapter that allows a straight golf shaft (e.g., a straight graphite golf shaft) to be connected to a golf club head (e.g., a putter head) instead of a golf shaft (e.g., a steel golf shaft) that contains one or more bends. Graphite golf shafts that contain one or more bends can be difficult and expensive to manufacture and can be prone to breakage at or near the bends.

[0031] FIG. 1 includes an example diagram of a golf club shaft 104 prior to coupling of the golf club shaft 104 to a golf club head, such as a putter head. The golf shaft 104 may be a straight graphite golf club shaft. This application provides an example of a straight graphite golf club shaft, but is also applicable to straight steel golf club shafts, straight hybrid steel and graphite golf club shafts, and other types of straight golf club shafts. The golf shaft 104 may include one or more tapered (stepped) outer sections, or may be a continuous shaft. The interior of the golf shaft 104 is hollow. A straight golf club shaft follows a single axis without one or more bends.

[0032] The golf shaft 104 includes a distal end 108 and a proximal end 112. The outer diameter of the proximal end 112 may be greater than the outer diameter of the distal end 108. A golf club head may be attached via the distal end 108 of the golf shaft 104. A golf grip may be secured to the proximal end 112 of the golf shaft 104, the golf grip extending toward the distal end 108. The inner diameter of the golf shaft 104 may decrease moving from the proximal end 112 toward the distal end 108. This decrease may be at least one of gradually through a tapered section and stepwise in the example of a stepped section.

[0033] 2 and 3 include perspective views of an example putter head for a golf club. FIG. 2 includes a left-handed putter head 204 that includes a cylindrical post 208. The cylindrical post 208 is part of the putter head 204 and is provided for mounting a golf shaft through an inner diameter portion of the golf shaft. In other words, the outer diameter portion of the cylindrical post 208 may be fixed to the inner diameter portion of the tip of the golf shaft. The cylindrical post 208 may also be referred to as a spud.

[0034] FIG. 3 includes a right-handed putter head 304 that does not include a cylindrical post. Instead, the putter head 304 includes a cylindrical recess (cup or hole) 308 that is provided for mounting the golf shaft via the outer diameter of the golf shaft. In other words, the outer diameter of the cylindrical recess 308 may be fixed to the outer diameter of the tip of the golf shaft. The cylindrical recess 308 may be approximately 0.350 inches to slightly more than 0.500 inches (e.g., .01 inches or another suitable value) for straight graphite shafts without a tapered tip, and approximately 0.333 inches to slightly more than 0.370 inches for straight graphite golf shafts with a tapered tip. The tip taper ratio of a graphite golf shaft with a tapered tip may be approximately 0.0075 inches of diameter (e.g., outer diameter) per inch in the axial direction to 0.02 inches of diameter per inch in the axial direction, or another suitable taper ratio.

[0035] This application is applicable for use with right-handed putter heads, left-handed putter heads, putter heads with cylindrical posts (e.g., 208), and putter heads with cylindrical recesses (e.g., 308). Also, while this application illustrates example types of putter heads, it is also applicable to other types of putter heads, such as blade-type putter heads, half-mallet-type putter heads, (full) mallet-type putter heads, and other types of putter heads.

[0036] Graphite golf club shafts with bends can be difficult and expensive to manufacture and can be susceptible to damage. Steel golf shafts that include one or more bends in the club shaft can be easier and less expensive to manufacture than straight graphite shafts.

[0037] The present application relates to an adapter that allows a straight graphite golf shaft (and other types of straight golf shafts) to be attached to a putter head instead of using a (e.g., steel) putter shaft with one or more bends. A golf shaft with one bend may be referred to as a single bend golf shaft, and a golf shaft with two bends may be referred to as a double bend golf shaft. The adapter is configured such that neither the loft angle nor the lie angle of the putter head is changed outside of a predetermined range despite the use of a straight graphite golf shaft. An example lie angle may be about 70°±10° relative to flat ground. An example loft angle may be about 2-7° relative to flat ground.

[0038] The adapters described herein may provide the geometry provided by one or more bends over a shorter distance, allowing longer straight golf shafts to be used. The elimination of one or more bends with a longer straight golf shaft may allow for greater shaft torque.

[0039] Figure 4 is a side view of an example adapter 404 configured to couple a straight golf shaft to a putter head instead of a single bend golf shaft. Figure 5 is a top view of the example adapter 404. The adapter 404 may be made, for example, of at least one of steel, aluminum, nickel alloy, one or more resins (e.g., engineering or photopolymer resins), graphite, one or more plastics, one or more metals, and one or more other suitable materials.

[0040] The adapter 404 includes a first end 408 configured to couple to a putter head and a second end 412 configured to couple to a golf shaft, such as a straight graphite golf shaft. The first end 408 may be coupled / secured to the putter head, for example, via an adhesive such as epoxy, or in another suitable manner. The second end 412 may be coupled / secured to the tip of the golf shaft, for example, via an adhesive such as epoxy, co-bonded (e.g., cured with the straight graphite golf shaft while connected to it), or in another suitable manner.

[0041] The first end 408 may be cylindrical. Also, the second end 412 may be cylindrical. The first end 408 may be configured to fit within a cylindrical recess, such as 308 in FIG. 3, in the putter head. An example of such a first end 408 is shown in FIG. 12. In this example, the first end 408 may be solid and cylindrical. In this example, the outer diameter of the first end 408 is fixed to the inner diameter of the cylindrical recess in the putter head. Alternatively, the first end 408 may include a cylindrical recess (cup or hole) 416 configured to receive a cylindrical post, such as post 208 in FIG. 2, within the cylindrical recess.

[0042] In the example of the first end 408 including a cylindrical recess 416, one or more vent holes 420 may extend through the adapter 404 (from the outer diameter) into the cylindrical recess 416. The holes 420 may prevent the cylindrical post of the putter head from being pushed out of the cylindrical recess 416, such as by an adhesive. The holes 420 may be perpendicular to the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical recess 416, for example.

[0043] The second end 412 may be configured to fit within a straight graphite golf shaft such that the outer diameter of the second end 412 is secured to the inner diameter of the straight graphite golf shaft. An example of such a second end 412 is shown in FIG. 13. In this example, the second end 412 may be solid and cylindrical. Alternatively, the second end 412 may include a cylindrical recess 424 (cup or hole) configured to receive the tip of the straight graphite golf shaft within the cylindrical recess 424.

[0044] In the example of the second end 412 including a cylindrical recess 424, one or more vent holes 428 may extend through the adapter 404 (from the outer diameter) into the cylindrical recess 424. The holes 428 may prevent a straight graphite golf shaft from being pushed out of the cylindrical recess 424 by an adhesive or the like. The holes 428 may be perpendicular to the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical recess 424, for example.

[0045] The outer diameter of first end 408 and second end 412 may be, for example, from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches, or may be another suitable diameter. The inner diameter of the cylindrical recess may be, for example, from about 0.3 inches to about 0.4 inches, or may be another suitable diameter.

[0046] A represents a first plane passing through the axis of the first end 408 and the cylindrical recess 416 (if included). B represents a second plane passing through the axis of the second end 412 and the cylindrical recess 424 (if included). X represents the angle between plane A and plane B. The angle X may be, for example, 0.5 to about 45°, such as about 2.5°, about 3°, about 4°, about 5°, about 6°, about 10°, about 15°, about 20°, about 25°, about 30°, about 35°, about 40°, or another suitable angle. The axis of the first end 408 and the axis of the second end 412 are offset by an offset distance between the axes.

[0047] Figure 6 is a side view of an example adapter 604 configured to couple a straight (e.g., graphite) shaft to a putter head instead of a double bend golf shaft. Figure 7 is a top view of the example adapter 604. The perspective of Figure 7 may be 90 degrees from the perspective of Figure 6. The adapter 604 may be made of, for example, at least one of steel, aluminum, nickel alloy, one or more resins (e.g., engineering resins or photopolymer resins), graphite, one or more plastics, one or more metals, and one or more other suitable materials.

[0048] The adapter 604 includes a first end 608 configured to couple to a putter head and a second end 612 configured to couple to a golf shaft, such as a straight graphite golf shaft. The first end 608 may be coupled / secured to the putter head, for example, via an adhesive such as epoxy, or in another suitable manner. The second end 612 may be coupled / secured to the tip of the golf shaft, for example, via an adhesive such as epoxy, co-bonded (e.g., cured with the straight graphite golf shaft while connected to it), or in another suitable manner.

[0049] The first end 608 may be cylindrical. The second end 612 may also be cylindrical. The first end 608 may be configured to fit within a cylindrical recess, such as 308 in FIG. 3, in the putter head. In this example, the first end 608 may be solid. An outer diameter of the first end 612 is secured to an inner diameter of the cylindrical recess in the putter head. Alternatively, the first end 608 may include a cylindrical recess (cup or hole) 616 configured to receive a cylindrical post, such as post 208 in FIG. 2, within the cylindrical recess.

[0050] In the example of the first end 608 including a cylindrical recess 616, one or more vent holes 620 may extend through the adapter 604 (from the outer diameter) into the cylindrical recess 616. The holes 620 may prevent a cylindrical post of a putter head from being pushed out of the cylindrical recess 616, such as by an adhesive. The holes 620 may be perpendicular to the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical recess 616, for example.

[0051] Second end 612 may be configured to fit within a straight graphite golf shaft such that the outer diameter of second end 612 is secured to the inner diameter of the straight graphite golf shaft. In this example, second end 612 may be solid. Alternatively, second end 612 may include a cylindrical recess 624 (cup or hole) configured to receive the tip of a straight graphite golf shaft within cylindrical recess 624.

[0052] In the example of second end 612 including a cylindrical recess 624, one or more vent holes 628 may extend through adapter 604 (from the outer diameter) into cylindrical recess 624. Holes 628 may prevent a straight graphite golf shaft from being pushed out of cylindrical recess 624 by an adhesive or the like. Holes 628 may be perpendicular to the cylindrical wall of cylindrical recess 624, for example.

[0053] The outer diameter of first end 608 and second end 612 may be, for example, from about 0.25 inches to about 0.75 inches, or may be another suitable diameter. The inner diameter of the cylindrical recess may be, for example, from about 0.3 inches to about 0.4 inches, or may be another suitable diameter.

[0054] A represents a first plane passing through the axis of the first end 608 and the cylindrical recess 616 (if included) in the direction of view of FIG. 6. B represents a second plane passing through the axis of the second end 612 and the cylindrical recess 624 (if included) in the direction of view of FIG. 6. X represents the angle between plane A and plane B. The angle X may be, for example, 0.5 to about 45°, such as about 2.5°, about 3°, about 4°, about 5°, about 6°, about 10°, about 15°, about 20°, about 25°, about 30°, about 35°, about 40°, or another suitable angle. The first end 608 and the second end 612 are offset by a certain offset distance between the plane of the first end 608 and the plane of the second end 612.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 7, A represents a first plane passing through the axis of the first end 608 and the cylindrical recess 616 (if included) in the direction of view of FIG. 7. C represents a third plane passing through the axis of the second end 612 and the cylindrical recess 624 (if included) in the direction of view of FIG. 7. Y represents the angle between A and C. The angle Y may be, for example, 0.5 to about 45°, such as about 2.5°, about 3°, about 4°, about 5°, about 6°, about 10°, about 15°, about 20°, about 25°, about 30°, about 35°, about 40°, or another suitable angle. In the example of the adapter 404, the angle Y may be 0.

[0056] 8A and 8B include front and side views, respectively, of the adapter 404 secured to a putter head 804 with a cylindrical post 808 and a straight graphite golf shaft 812.

[0057] Adapters 404 and 604 provide a shaft offset distance, which may refer to the distance that a straight golf shaft is in front of or behind (axially) the putter face when looking down the straight golf shaft from base to tip. Thus, the adapter geometry defines three parameters: the centerline angles X and Y discussed above, and the offset distance.

[0058] 9-11 are perspective views of example implementations of the adapter 404. As shown, at least one of the first end 408 and the second end 412 may be shorter or longer than shown. Shortening one or both of the first end 408 and the second end 412 may allow for a longer straight golf shaft to be used, which may increase the stiffness of the golf club head and reduce twisting. The length of the first end 408 and the second end 412 may also affect the shaft offset distance. As shown, the tip 904 of one or both of the first end 408 and the second end 412 may be tapered at a fixed or variable ratio. Non-linear (variable ratio) tapering is shown in FIGS. 9-11. The illustrations of the example adapters 404 and 604 may be to scale.

[0059] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be embodied in various forms. Thus, while the disclosure includes specific examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited, since other modifications will become apparent upon study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps in a method may be performed in a different order (or in parallel) without altering the principles of the disclosure. Furthermore, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure may be implemented in the features of any of the other embodiments and / or combined with the features of any of the other embodiments even if the combination is not expressly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more of the embodiments with each other remain within the scope of the disclosure.

[0060] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms including "connected," "engaged," "coupled," "near," "next to," "on top of," "on," "under," and "disposed." In the above disclosure, in describing a relationship between a first element and a second element, unless expressly described as being "direct," the relationship may be a direct relationship where there are no other intervening elements between the first element and the second element, but may also be an indirect relationship where there are one or more intervening elements (either spatially or functionally) between the first element and the second element. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be interpreted to mean a logic using a non-exclusive logical OR (A OR B OR C), and not to mean "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C."

Claims

1. An adapter for connecting a straight golf shaft to a golf club head, a first end configured to be coupled to the golf club head; a second end connected to the first end, the second end being cylindrical and configured to be coupled to a tip of the straight golf shaft; Including, An adapter, wherein an angle between a first plane (a) passing through a first axis of the first end and a second plane (b) passing through a second axis of the second end is between 0.5° and 45°.

2. A golf club, The straight type golf shaft; The golf club head; An adapter according to claim 1; Including, a golf club, the first end of the adapter being connected to the golf club head, and the second end of the adapter being connected to the tip of the straight golf shaft.

3. 3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein the golf club head is a putter head.

4. 3. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the straight golf shaft is a straight graphite golf shaft.

5. 3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein the first end of the adapter is secured to the golf club head by an adhesive.

6. 3. The golf club of claim 2, wherein the second end of the adapter is secured to the tip of the straight golf shaft by an adhesive.

7. 3. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the second end of the adapter is fixed to the tip of the straight golf shaft by co-adhering the adapter and the straight golf shaft.

8. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first end includes a cylindrical recess configured to receive a cylindrical post on the golf club head.

9. The adapter of claim 8 , wherein the first end includes one or more holes extending through the adapter into the cylindrical recess.

10. 9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the outer diameter of the cylindrical recess is between 0.3 inches and 0.4 inches.

11. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the second end includes a cylindrical recess configured to receive an outer diameter portion of the straight golf shaft.

12. The adapter of claim 11 , wherein the second end includes one or more holes extending through the adapter into the cylindrical recess.

13. 12. The adapter of claim 11, wherein an outer diameter of the cylindrical recess is between 0.3 inches and 0.4 inches.

14. 2. The adapter of claim 1, the first end including a first cylindrical recess configured to receive a cylindrical post on the golf club head; The adapter, wherein the second end includes a second cylindrical recess configured to receive an outer diameter portion of the straight golf shaft.

15. 2. The adapter of claim 1, the first end includes a cylindrical outer diameter portion configured to extend into a cylindrical recess in the golf club head; The adapter, wherein the second end includes a cylindrical recess configured to receive an outer diameter portion of the straight golf shaft.

16. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first end includes a cylindrical outer diameter portion configured to extend into a cylindrical recess in the golf club head.

17. 10. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the adapter is made of one of steel, aluminum, nickel alloy, resin, graphite, plastic, or metal.

18. 2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the first end is between 0.25 inches and 0.75 inches.

19. 2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the second end is between 0.25 inches and 0.75 inches.

20. 2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the straight golf shaft is axially straight and does not include a bend along the axis of the straight golf shaft.

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