Interchangeable Golf Shaft Sleeve With Integrated Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf club designs lack an efficient and aesthetically pleasing method for interchanging shafts and club heads, leading to manufacturing complexity and limited customization options for golfers.
Innovation Solution
An interchangeable shaft system that integrates a shaft sleeve with alignment features and a fastener, allowing secure and adjustable connections between the shaft and club head, minimizing additional components and manufacturing difficulty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If traditional threaded fastening members are used to connect shaft and club head, then the connection is secure, but the design produces unaesthetic bulges at the top and bottom of the shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the fastening member and alignment features into a single integrated shaft component. The fastening member includes built-in alignment pins or protrusions that engage with corresponding features in the club head hosel, eliminating the need for separate alignment components and reducing the number of parts while maintaining secure connection and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical fastening through threads, ensures proper alignment through integrated alignment features, and maintains aesthetic appearance by eliminating external bulges. This multi-functional design reduces overall device complexity while achieving all necessary connection requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for shaft and club head connection, then customization options are enabled, but the number of components and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the modular segmented design where the shaft and club head remain separate interchangeable components, enabling customization. The fastening member is segmented into functional zones (fastening portion with threads, alignment portion with pins) that work together to secure the connection while allowing easy assembly and disassembly for customization purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening member acts as an intermediary component between the shaft and club head, providing a standardized interface that enables customization. The alignment features on the fastening member ensure proper positioning during assembly, while the threaded portion provides secure fastening, allowing golfers to interchange shafts and club heads without requiring multiple different connection mechanisms.
3Manufacturing precision
If alignment features are added to the shaft and club head connection system, then proper positioning is ensured, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment features are merged into the fastening member itself rather than being separate components. The fastening member includes integrated alignment pins or protrusions that are formed as part of the same manufacturing process, ensuring precise alignment between shaft and club head while avoiding the complexity of assembling multiple separate alignment components.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening member is designed to provide its own alignment functionality through integrated features. The alignment pins or protrusions on the fastening member automatically engage with corresponding features in the club head hosel during assembly, self-aligning the components without requiring external alignment tools or procedures, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft and a club head. The shaft is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head. The shaft alignment features and a fastening member are integrated into the construction of the shaft.