Butt-Mounted Shaft Extension for Golf Clubs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club shafts often require new shafts to be purchased when adjustments are needed, as prior art adjustable length mechanisms are not rigid, secure, or easily fastened, leading to potential inaccuracies in club fitting and performance.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a top piece, a bottom piece bonded into the club shaft, and an inner screw that extends or contracts the shaft length, allowing for adjustable extensions by interchangeable top pieces and a grip with pleated rings for fine-tuning, ensuring secure and precise length adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If prior art adjustable length mechanisms are used, then shaft length can be adjusted, but the adjustment mechanism is not rigid, secure, or easily fastened
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft extension device is divided into three distinct segments: a top piece, a bottom piece, and an inner screw. The bottom piece is bonded into the shaft while the top piece provides the extension, and the inner screw traverses through both pieces to hold them together in a tight unitary structure. This segmentation allows for reliable adjustment while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner screw is nested within the top and bottom pieces, traversing through both components to secure them together. This nested configuration ensures that the adjustment mechanism remains compact, rigid, and secure while enabling easy fastening through the screw mechanism.
2Length of stationary object
If shaft length is extended using prior art mechanisms, then club length can be increased, but the mechanisms are not rigid or secure
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom piece is bonded to the shaft and merged with the top piece through the inner screw mechanism. This merging creates a tight unitary structure that maintains strength and rigidity while allowing for length extension. The combination of bonding and mechanical fastening ensures secure connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom piece is preliminarily bonded into the shaft using glue or epoxy before the top piece is attached. This preliminary action ensures a strong foundation for the extension device, maintaining connection strength while enabling subsequent adjustment and securing operations.
3Measurement precision
If shaft length is adjusted, then club fitting accuracy can be improved, but existing mechanisms require new shafts to be purchased
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft extension device provides dynamic adjustability through the inner screw mechanism that can extend or contract the top piece relative to the bottom piece. This dynamic capability allows for precise club fitting adjustments without requiring new shafts, eliminating material waste while maintaining accurate measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the shaft length parameter through interchangeable top pieces of varying lengths and fine-tuning via inner screw rotation. This parameter adjustment capability enables accurate club fitting while reusing the existing shaft, preventing loss of shaft material.
4Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable top pieces of varying lengths are used, then shaft length variation is maximized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses interchangeable top pieces that can be selected based on desired length variation, providing maximum adaptability. Each top piece is a simple component that attaches to the bottom piece via the inner screw, maintaining relatively simple device structure despite the ability to achieve multiple length variations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and secure length adjustments to the golf club shaft, improving shot consistency and reducing the need for new shafts, with minimal perceivable changes in grip size and ensuring compliance with golf regulations.
Implementation Method 1
The bottom piece is bonded, by glue or epoxy, into the tubular opening in the top of the club shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A device designed for extending a golf club shaft. The device is a three-piece mechanism with a bottom piece bonded into the top end of a tubular golf club shaft, and a plurality of top piece sizes that are connected to the bottom piece and provide a plurality of club lengths. A special golf grip having an accordion like plurality of rings can expand or contract in accordance with the amount of club length adjustment.