Adjustable Golf Club Coupling for Loft, Lie, and Shaft Length
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf club fitting methods require a large inventory of shafts and club heads to accommodate different user dimensions, leading to space inefficiencies in storage and equipment management.
Innovation Solution
A golf coupling mechanism that adjusts club head loft angle, lie angle, and shaft length using a single shaft, featuring an off-axis tilt, arcuate couplers, and removable spacers and extenders to minimize inventory needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large inventory of shafts and club heads is maintained to accommodate different user dimensions, then fitting versatility is improved, but storage space efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hosel assembly is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple shaft lengths and multiple loft angles through adjustable mechanisms. The hosel includes an adjustable mechanism that allows the loft angle to be changed between at least two different angles, and the shaft sleeve can be positioned at multiple locations along the hosel bore to achieve different shaft lengths. This multi-functional design enables a single hosel assembly to replace what would traditionally require multiple dedicated club heads and shafts, thereby reducing inventory volume while maintaining fitting versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft sleeve is inserted into the hosel bore, creating a nested structure where the shaft sleeve resides within the hosel assembly. The adjustable mechanism is nested within the hosel, allowing compact storage of adjustment components. This nesting arrangement minimizes the overall volume of the fitting equipment while maintaining all necessary adjustment capabilities, directly addressing the storage space efficiency issue.
2Measurement precision
If multiple club heads and shafts are used to achieve precise fitting adjustments, then fitting precision is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of multiple club heads with different loft angles and multiple shafts with different lengths into a single integrated hosel assembly. The hosel assembly combines the adjustable loft mechanism, the shaft sleeve with multiple positioning capabilities, and the retaining mechanism into one unified device. This consolidation maintains fitting precision across all adjustments while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need to manage and store multiple separate club heads and shafts.
Solution Approach 2:
The hosel assembly incorporates dynamic adjustment mechanisms that allow the loft angle and shaft length to be changed on-demand during the fitting process. The adjustable mechanism enables dynamic reconfiguration of the club head orientation, while the shaft sleeve can be dynamically repositioned along the hosel bore. This dynamic capability provides fitting precision comparable to having multiple fixed configurations, but with the added benefit of reduced device complexity since all adjustments are made within a single assembly rather than requiring multiple static components.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of golf coupling mechanisms for joining golf club heads and shafts are described herein. The golf coupling mechanism allows for adjustment of a club head loft angle, a club head lie angle, and a golf club shaft length while utilizing one club head and one shaft. In a fully extended configuration, the golf coupling mechanism includes a shaft sleeve, a removable spacer, and a removable extender, wherein a fastening assembly secures the golf coupling mechanism to the golf club head. In a contracted configuration, the golf coupling mechanism includes the shaft sleeve. The golf coupling mechanism further includes a shaft cap to soften the interaction between the shaft and the golf coupling mechanism. The golf coupling mechanism further comprises one or more arcuate coupler sets to frictionally lock the shaft relative to the golf club head.