CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present disclosure is a PCT International Application of United States Patent Application No. 63/298,072 filed on 10 January 2022. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/298,072 filed on 10 January 2022. The entire disclosure of the application referenced above is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to golf equipment and more to adapters for joining graphite golf shafts to putter heads.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The background description provided here is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

[0004] Golf shafts are manufactured in various lengths for various different types of golf clubs. Some golf shafts are steel golf shafts, and some golf shafts are graphite golf shafts.

[0005] In golf, golf clubs are used to strike golf balls. An object is to move a golf ball from tee to a hole in a fewest number of strokes. Various types of golf clubs are used, such as woods, irons, wedges, and putters. Golf shafts include a tip end where a golf club head is attached and a butt end where a golf grip is applied.

[0006] Multiple different types of golf club heads are used. For example, a set of golf clubs includes one or more woods, one or more irons and wedges, and a putter. SUMMARY

[0007] In a feature, an adapter to connect a straight golf shaft with a golf club head is described. The adapter includes: a first end that is cylindrical and that is configured to be joined with the golf club head; and a second end that is connected to the first end, that is cylindrical, and that is configured to be joined with a tip end of the straight golf shaft, where an angle between (a) a first plane through a first axis of the first end and (b) a second plane through a second axis of the second end is between 0.5 degrees and 45 degrees.

[0008] A golf club includes: the straight golf shaft; the golf club head; and the adapter, where the first end of the adapter is joined with the golf club head and the second end of the adapter is joined with the tip end of the straight golf shaft.

[0009] In further features, the golf club head is a putter head.

[0010] In further features, the straight golf shaft is a straight graphite golf shaft.

[0011] In further features, the first end of the adapter is fixed to the golf club head via an adhesive.

[0012] In further features, the second end of the adapter is fixed to the tip end of the straight golf shaft via an adhesive.

[0013] In further features, the second end of the adapter is fixed to the tip end of the straight golf shaft via the adapter and the straight golf shaft having been co-bonded.

[0014] In further features, the first end includes a cylindrical recessed portion configured to receive a cylindrical post on the golf club head.

[0015] In further features, the first end includes one or more apertures that extend through the adapter to the cylindrical recessed portion.

[0016] In further features, an outer diameter of the cylindrical recessed portion is between 0.3 inches to 0.4 inches.

[0017] In further features, the second end includes a cylindrical recessed portion configured to receive an outer diameter of the straight golf shaft.

[0018] In further features, the second end includes one or more apertures that extend through the adapter to the cylindrical recessed portion.

[0019] In further features, an outer diameter of the cylindrical recessed portion is between 0.3 inches to 0.4 inches. [0020] In further features: the first end includes a first cylindrical recessed portion configured to receive a cylindrical post on the golf club head; and the second end includes a second cylindrical recessed portion configured to receive an outer diameter of the straight golf shaft.

[0021] In further features: the first end includes a cylindrical outer diameter configured to extend into a cylindrical recessed portion in the golf club head; and the second end includes a cylindrical recessed portion configured to receive an outer diameter of the straight golf shaft.

[0022] In further features, the first end includes a cylindrical outer diameter configured to extend into a cylindrical recessed portion in the golf club head

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

[0024] In further features, an outer diameter of the first end is between 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches.

[0025] In further features, an outer diameter of the second end is between 0.25 inches to 0.75 inches.

[0026] In further features, the straight golf shaft is straight axially and does not include any bends along the axis of the straight golf shaft.

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 includes an example illustration of a golf club shaft;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a left-handed putter head including a cylindrical post;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a right-handed putter head that does not include a cylindrical post and includes a cylindrical recessed portion; [0032] FIG. 4 is a side view of an example adapter configured to allow a straight graphite golf shaft to be joined with a putter head in place of a single bend golf shaft;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a top view of the example adapter of FIG. 4, such as 90 degrees from the point of view of FIG. 4;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a side view of an example adapter configured to allow a straight graphite golf shaft to be joined with a putter head in place of a double bend golf shaft;

[0035] FIG. 7 is a top view of the example adapter of FIG. 6;

[0036] FIGS. 8A-8B include front and side views of an adapter fixed to a putter head with a cylindrical post and a straight graphite golf shaft; and

[0037] FIGS. 9-13 are perspective views of example adapters.

[0038] In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The present application involves an adapter that allows for connection of a straight golf shaft (e.g., a straight graphite golf shaft) to a golf club head (e.g., a putter head) instead of a golf shaft (e.g., a steel golf shaft) that includes one or more bends. Graphite golf shafts including one or more bends are difficult and costly to manufacture and may be susceptible to breaking at or near a bend.

[0040] FIG. 1 includes an example illustration of a golf club shaft 104 prior to joining the golf shaft 104 with a golf club head, such as a putter head. The golf shaft 104 may be a straight graphite golf club shaft. While the example of a straight graphite golf club shaft is provided, the present application 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 portions or may be a stepless shaft. An interior of the golf shaft 104 is hollow. The straight golf club shaft does not include one or more bends and remains along one axis.

[0041] The golf shaft 104 includes a tip end 108 and a butt end 112. The outer diameter of the butt end 112 may be greater than the outer diameter of the tip end 108. A golf club head can be attached via the tip end 108 of the golf shaft 104. A golf grip can be fixed at the butt end 112 of the golf shaft 104 and extend toward the tip end 108. An interior diameter of the golf shaft 104 may decrease moving from the butt end 112 toward the tip end 108. The decreasing may be gradual via tapered portions and/or stepwise in the example of stepped portions.

[0042] FIGS. 2 and 3 include perspective views of example putter heads for golf clubs. FIG. 2 includes a left-handed putter head 204 including a cylindrical post 208. The cylindrical post 208 is part of the putter head 204 and is provided for attachment of a golf shaft via an inner diameter of the golf shaft. In other words, an outer diameter of the cylindrical post 208 may be fixed to an inner diameter of the tip end of a golf shaft. The cylindrical post 208 may be referred to as a spud.

[0043] FIG. 3 includes a right-handed putter head 304 that does not include a cylindrical post. Instead, the putter head 304 includes a cylindrical recessed portion (cup or bore) 308 that is provided for attachment of a golf shaft via an outer diameter of the golf shaft. In other words, an outer diameter of the cylindrical recessed portion 308 may be fixed to an outer diameter of the tip end of a golf shaft. The cylindrical recessed portion 308 may be slightly larger than (e.g., .01 ” larger or another suitable value) approximately 0.350” to 0.500” for straight graphite shafts that do not have a tapered tip end and slightly larger than approximately 0.333” to 0.370” for straight graphite golf shafts that have a tapered tip end. The taper rate of tip ends of graphite golf shafts having tapered tip ends may be approximately 0.0075 inches diameter (e.g., outer) per inch axially to 0.02 inches diameter per inch axially or another suitable taper rate.

[0044] The present 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 recessed portions (e.g., 308). Also, while example types of putter heads are illustrated, the present application is also applicable to other types of putter heads, such as blade putter heads, half mallet putter heads, (full) mallet putter heads, and other types of putter heads.

[0045] Bent graphite golf club shafts are difficult and costly to manufacture and may be susceptible to damage. Steel golf shafts including one or more bends club shafts may be more easily manufactured and be less costly than even straight graphite shafts.

[0046] The present application involves an adaptor 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. Golf shafts with one bend may be referred to as single bend golf shafts, while golf shafts with two bends may be referred to as double bend golf shafts. The adaptor is configured to not change the loft angle or the lie angle of the putter head outside of predetermined ranges despite the use of a straight graphite golf shaft. Example lie angles may be approximately 70 degrees +/- 10 degrees with respect to a flat ground surface. Example loft angles may be approximately 2 to 7 degrees with respect to a flat ground surface.

[0047] The adapters described herein may provide the geometry provided by one or more bends in a shorter distance than the one or more bends, which allows for a longer straight golf shaft to be used. The adapter may enable more shaft torque given the longer straight golf shaft and the lack of one or more bends.

[0048] FIG. 4 is a side view of an example adapter 404 configured to join a straight golf shaft with a putter head in place of a single bend golf shaft. FIG. 5 is a top view of the example adapter 404. The adapter 404 may be made of, for example, steel, aluminum, a nickel alloy, one or more resins (e.g., engineering or photopolymer), graphite, one or more plastics, one or more metals, and/or one or more other suitable materials.

[0049] The adapter 404 includes a first end 408 that is configured to be joined with a putter head and a second end 412 that is configured to be joined with a golf shaft, such as a straight graphite golf shaft. The first end 408 may be joined with/fixed to the putter head, for example, by via an adhesive such as an epoxy or in another suitable manner. The second end 412 may be joined with/fixed to the tip end of the golf shaft via an adhesive such as an epoxy, co-bonded (e.g., cured with the straight graphite shaft while connected to the straight graphite golf shaft), or in another suitable manner.

[0050] The first end 408 may be cylindrical, and the second end 412 may be cylindrical. The first end 408 may be configured to fit within a cylindrical recessed portion of the putter head, such as 308 of FIG. 3. An example of such a first end 408 is shown in FIG. 12. In this example, the first end 408 may be solid and may be cylindrical. In this example, an outer diameter of the first end 408 is fixed to an inner diameter of the cylindrical recessed portion of the putter head. Alternatively, the first end 408 may include a cylindrical recessed portion (cup or bore) 416 that is configured to receive within the cylindrical recessed portion 416 a cylindrical post, such as the post 208 of FIG. 2.

[0051] In the example of the first end 408 including the cylindrical recessed portion 416, one or more vent apertures 420 may extend through the adapter 404 (from an outer diameter) to the cylindrical recessed portion 416. The aperture(s) 420 may prevent the cylindrical post of the putter head from being pushed out of the cylindrical recessed portion 416, such as by an adhesive. The aperture(s) 420 may be, for example, perpendicular to the cylindrical walls of the cylindrical recessed portion 416.

[0052] The second end 412 may be configured to fit within the straight graphite golf shaft such that an outer diameter of the second end 412 is fixed to an 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 recessed portion (cup or bore) 424 that is configured to receive within the cylindrical recessed portion 424 the tip end of the straight graphite golf shaft.

[0053] In the example of the second end 412 including the cylindrical recessed portion 424, one or more vent apertures 428 may extend through the adapter 404 (from an outer diameter) to the cylindrical recessed portion 424. The aperture(s) 428 may prevent the straight graphite golf shaft from being pushed out of the cylindrical recessed portion 424, such as by an adhesive. The aperture(s) 428 may be, for example, perpendicular to the cylindrical walls of the cylindrical recessed portion 424.

[0054] The outer diameter of the first and second ends 408 and 412 may be, for example, approximately 0.25 inches to approximately 0.75 inches or another suitable diameter. The inner diameters of the cylindrical recessed portions may be approximately 0.3 inches to approximately 0.4 inches or another suitable diameter.

[0055] A denotes a first plane through an axis of the first end 408 and the cylindrical recessed portion 416 (when included). B denotes a second plane through an axis of the second end 412 and the cylindrical recessed portion 424 (when included). X denotes the angle between the planes A and B. The angle X may be, for example, 0.5 to approximately 45 degrees, such as approximately 2.5 degrees, approximately 3 degrees, approximately 4 degrees, approximately 5 degrees, approximately 6 degrees, approximately 10 degrees, approximately 15 degrees, approximately 20 degrees, approximately 25 degrees, approximately 30 degrees, approximately 35 degrees, approximately 40 degrees, 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 two axes.

[0056] FIG. 6 is a side view of an example adapter 604 configured to join a straight (e.g., graphite) shaft with a putter head in place of a double bend golf shaft. FIG. 7 is a top view of the example adapter 604. The point of view of FIG. 7 may be 90 degrees from the point of view of FIG. 6. The adapter 604 may be made of, for example, steel, aluminum, a nickel alloy, one or more resins (e.g., engineering or photopolymer), graphite, one or more plastics, one or more metals, and/or one or more other suitable materials.

[0057] The adapter 604 includes a first end 608 that is configured to be joined with a putter head and a second end 612 that is configured to be joined with a golf shaft, such as a straight graphite golf shaft. The first end 608 may be joined with/fixed to the putter head, for example, by via an adhesive such as an epoxy or in another suitable manner. The second end 612 may be joined with/fixed to the tip end of the golf shaft via an adhesive such as an epoxy, co-bonded (e.g., cured with the straight graphite shaft while connected to the straight graphite golf shaft), or in another suitable manner.

[0058] The first end 608 may be cylindrical, and the second end 612 may be cylindrical. The first end 608 may be configured to fit within a cylindrical recessed portion of the putter head, such as 308 of FIG. 3. In this example, the first end 608 may be solid. An outer diameter of the first end 612 is fixed to an inner diameter of the cylindrical recessed portion of the putter head. Alternatively, the first end 608 may include a cylindrical recessed portion (cup or bore) 616 that is configured to receive within the cylindrical recessed portion 616 a cylindrical post, such as the post 208 of FIG. 2.

[0059] In the example of the first end 608 including the cylindrical recessed portion 616, one or more vent apertures 620 may extend through the adapter 604 (from an outer diameter) to the cylindrical recessed portion 616. The aperture(s) 620 may prevent the cylindrical post of the putter head from being pushed out of the cylindrical recessed portion 616, such as by an adhesive. The aperture(s) 620 may be, for example, perpendicular to the cylindrical walls of the cylindrical recessed portion 616.

[0060] The second end 612 may be configured to fit within the straight graphite golf shaft such that an outer diameter of the second end 612 is fixed to an inner diameter of the straight graphite golf shaft. In this example, the second end 612 may be solid. Alternatively, the second end 612 may include a cylindrical recessed portion (cup or bore) 624 that is configured to receive within the cylindrical recessed portion 624 the tip end of the straight graphite golf shaft.

[0061] In the example of the second end 612 including the cylindrical recessed portion 624, one or more vent apertures 628 may extend through the adapter 604 (from an outer diameter) to the cylindrical recessed portion 624. The aperture(s) 628 may prevent the straight graphite golf shaft from being pushed out of the cylindrical recessed portion 624, such as by an adhesive. The aperture(s) 628 may be, for example, perpendicular to the cylindrical walls of the cylindrical recessed portion 624.

[0062] The outer diameter of the first and second ends 608 and 612 may be, for example, approximately 0.25 inches to approximately 0.75 inches or another suitable diameter. The inner diameters of the cylindrical recessed portions may be approximately 0.3 inches to approximately 0.4 inches or another suitable diameter.

[0063] A denotes a first plane in the direction of the point of view of FIG. 6 through an axis of the first end 608 and the cylindrical recessed portion 616 (when included). B denotes a second plane in the direction of the point of view of FIG. 6 through an axis of the second end 612 and the cylindrical recessed portion 624 (when included). X denotes the angle between the planes A and B. The angle X may be, for example, 0.5 to approximately 45 degrees, such as approximately 2.5 degrees, approximately 3 degrees, approximately 4 degrees, approximately 5 degrees, approximately 6 degrees, approximately 10 degrees, approximately 15 degrees, approximately 20 degrees, approximately 25 degrees, approximately 30 degrees, approximately 35 degrees, approximately 40 degrees, or another suitable angle. The first end 608 and the second end 612 are offset by an offset distance between the faces of the first and second ends 608 and 612.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 7, A denotes a first plane in the direction of the point of view of FIG. 7 through the axis of the first end 608 and the cylindrical recessed portion 616 (when included). C denotes a third plane in the direction of the point of view of FIG. 7 through an axis of the second end 612 and the cylindrical recessed portion 624 (when included). Y denotes the angle between A and C. The angle Y may be, for example, 0.5 to approximately 45 degrees, such as approximately 2.5 degrees, approximately 3 degrees, approximately 4 degrees, approximately 5 degrees, approximately 6 degrees, approximately 10 degrees, approximately 15 degrees, approximately 20 degrees, approximately 25 degrees, approximately 30 degrees, approximately 35 degrees, approximately 40 degrees, or another suitable angle. In the example of the adapter 404, the angle Y may be 0. [0065] FIGS. 8A and 8B includes front and side views, respectively, of the adapter 404 fixed to a putter head 804 with a cylindrical post 808 and a straight graphite golf shaft 812.

[0066] The adapters 404 and 604 provide a shaft offset distance, which may refer to the distance that the straight golf shaft is (axially) in front of or behind putter face a viewed down the straight golf shaft from the butt end to the tip end. The adapter geometry therefore defines 3 parameters: the centerline angles X and Y discussed above and the offset distance.

[0067] FIGS. 9-11 are perspective views of an example implementation of the adapter 404. As illustrated, the first end 408 and/or the second end 412 may be made shorter or longer than illustrated. Shortening one or both of the first and second ends 408 and 412 may allow for a longer straight golf shaft to be used, which may increase rigidity and decrease twisting of the golf club head. The lengths of the first and second ends 408 and 412 may also affect the shaft offset distance. As illustrated, tips 904 of one or both of the first and second ends 408 and 412 may be tapered at a fixed or variable rate. Non-linear (variable rate) tapering is illustrated in FIGS. 9-11. Illustrations of the example adapters 404 and 604 may be to scale.

[0068] 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 implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, 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 can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0069] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including “connected,” “engaged,” “coupled,” “adjacent,” “next to,” “on top of,” “above,” “below,” and “disposed.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship can be a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, but can also be an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”