INTERCHANGEABLE CLUB HEAD SYSTEM

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2025/015607 filed Feb. 12, 2025, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/553,018, filed on Feb. 13, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to golf clubs and more specifically, to golf clubs having an adapter to interchange club heads.

BACKGROUND

Golf clubs are custom constructed to fit to an individual or constructed according to a recipe in mass production to be usable by a broad market. Further, golf clubs are commonly constructed as a unitary body and not designed to adapt to a user. Children entering golf undergo rapid changes in experience levels and size and youth golf clubs can be expensive and quickly outgrown. These recurring costs can become a barrier for parents and children who wish to practice golf.

SUMMARY

In general, an aspect disclosed herein is a golf shaft adapter including a neck having an inner surface defining a first cavity configured to receive a shaft, a receiving column having an outer surface configured to receive a weight and an inner surface defining a second cavity configured to receive a connector, and the neck and the receiving column being arranged at opposing ends and aligned along a central axis of the adapter.

Examples may include one or more of the following features. The adapter may include aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, tungsten, nickel, gold, silver, platinum, alloys thereof, plastic, or carbon fiber. The adapter can have a mass that is less than 30 grams. The adapter can have a tapered profile along a portion of an outer surface of the neck. The adapter can have a recess extending into the tapered profile which is configured to receive a notch from stem of a club head assembled to the adapter. The adapter can have a fin extending radially and parallel with the central axis along the neck. The fin can extend to a height that is less than a maximum diameter of the tapered profile. An outer diameter of the receiving column can be less than an outer diameter of the neck. The first cavity can be straight-sided. The second cavity can be threaded and the connector can be a threaded connector. The outer surface of the receiving column can have an outer diameter that can be less than the outer diameter of the neck.

In general, an aspect disclosed herein is an adapter system for exchanging club heads. The adapter system includes a neck having an inner surface defining a first cavity configured to receive a shaft, a receiving column having a second cavity configured to receive a connector, and the neck and the receiving column being at opposing ends and aligned along a central axis of the adapter; and a weight having a third cavity configured to be disposed around the receiving column of the adapter.

Examples may include one or more of the following features. The weight can have a mass that can be less than 20 grams. The weight can have an inner surface which defines the third cavity. The weight and the inner surface can be cylindrical.

In general, an aspect disclosed herein is an interchangeable club head. The interchangeable club head includes a stem having a cavity extending through the stem, the cavity having a flange defining and channel separating a first portion of the cavity from a second portion of the cavity, the first portion configured to receive an adapter and a weight, the second portion configured to receive a connector; and a body extending from the stem in a direction that is different than a central axis of the stem and having a face.

Examples may include one or more of the following features. The club head may include the connector having a head and a shaft extending from the head, the shaft configured to extend through the channel. The club head may include a gasket configured to be arranged in the first portion of the cavity and to support a shaft of the connector. A head of the connector can have a wider outer diameter than a diameter of the channel. The cavity can be aligned with a central axis of the stem. The stem includes a notch extending from the stem and configured to align and be inserted into a recess in an adapter. The club head provides a putter, a driver, a 1-iron, a 2-iron, a 3-iron, a 4-iron, a 5-iron, a 6-iron, a 7-iron, a 8-iron, a 9-iron, a pitching wedge, a gap/approach wedge, a sand wedge, a lob wedge, a 3-hybrid, a 4-hybrid, a 3-wood, a 5-wood, or a 7-wood.

In general, an aspect disclosed herein is an interchangeable golf club kit. The interchangeable golf club kit includes a set of shafts, each shaft having a grip and an end configured to be inserted into an adapter; a set of adapters, each adapter having an open end and a threaded end, the open end configured to receive the end of one shaft of the set of shafts; a set of weights, each weight configured to receive the threaded end of one adapter of the set of adapters; a set of club heads, each club head having a stem and a striking surface extending from the stem, each stem configured to be reversibly coupled to one adapter of the set of adapters, and each striking surface being different for each club head, where assembling one shaft, one adapter, one weight, and one club head provides a golf club.

Examples may include one or more of the following features. The golf club kit may include: a second set of shafts of equal lengths that can be different than the first set of shafts; a second set of adapters that are the same as the first set of adapters; a second set of weights having the same outer dimensions as the first set of weights and a different weight than the first set of weights; and a second set of club heads having the same stem as the first set of club heads and each club head of the second set of club heads having a striking surface that can be different than the striking surface than the first set of club heads. The set of shafts, the set of adapters, the set of club heads, and the set of weights can be configured to provide a swing weight within a desired range when assembled. The set of shafts can be of equal lengths. The set of shafts may include carbon fiber.

Particular implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of the following technical advantages.

The adaptable golf clubs described herein provide a cost affordable “a la carte” option for a set of clubs that grow with the golfer. The adaptable golf clubs interchange longer shafts as the user grows and increases in size thus necessitating only purchasing a part of a new golf club rather than a whole club.

The adaptable golf clubs described herein have shaft-specific weights coupled with shaft length to provide the user with a consistent performance for the duration of using the interchangeable golf clubs.

The adaptable golf clubs described herein beneficially increase performance consistency for a user by maintaining a consistent swing weight as the user grows. This increases the efficiency of training and ease of use for a young golfer.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of a golf club having an interchangeable club head.

FIG. 1B is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of an adapter and club head of the golf club.

FIG. 1C is a schematic illustration of the assembled adapter and club head.

FIG. 2A is a schematic illustration of an exploded cross-sectional view of the adapter and club head.

FIG. 2B is a schematic illustration of a cross-sectional view of the assembled adapter and club head.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a set of shafts progressing with a single club head as provided in a kit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an exploded view of an adapter and club head having a notch.

In the figures, like references indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed herein is a performance-specific adjustable golf club system for golfers. The golf clubs are adjustable by featuring an adaptor attached to a shaft to connect interchangeable club heads. The system allows club heads to remain consistent for a user while exchanging shafts to longer lengths as the user grows. The system is designed to maintain performance characteristics such as swing weight and weight distribution between shafts when exchanged.

An exploded view of a golf club 100 having an interchangeable club head 150 is shown in FIG. 1A. The golf club 100 includes a grip 110 attached to a shaft 120 for handling by a user. The shaft 120 is affixed to an adapter 130 which enables reversibly affixing a club head 150 to the shaft 120. The golf club 100 includes a weight 140 which is affixed to the adapter 130 which is specific to the length of the shaft 120. The golf club 100 using the interchangeable components provide a consistent swing weight to a user when switching the shaft 120 for another having a different length.

Without wishing to be bound by theory, swing weight is a tactile sensation the user experiences when swinging the club, e.g., the dynamic feel of a golf club when swung. In general, four factors are considered when qualifying swing weight: weight of the club head, the grip, the shaft, and overall length of the golf club 100 (e.g., the total length of the assembled grip 110, shaft 120, adapter 130, and club head 150). Examples of the golf club 100 provide a swing weight from A0 to E0.

The golf club 100 provides a user the ability to play golf based on their age, experience level, ability, or size. A user grasps the grip 110 which is affixed to the shaft 120 and swings the golf club 100 to strike a golf ball with the club head 150. The golf club 100 is assembled with a shaft 120 that is sufficiently long for their age and size such that the club head 150 is at a proper distance to play golf. In one example, the shaft 120 is long enough for the club head 150 to touch the ground when the user assumes a golf stance.

The shaft 120 is light weight, flexible, and has a length suited to the user. The flexibility and weight of the shaft are determined by the materials from which the shaft 120 is constructed. Common examples of materials for the shaft are carbon fiber and aluminum though these are not limiting.

As the user grows and continues to play golf, their size, ability, and experience level changes. The golf club 100 is adaptable to their new size and experience level. The golf club 100 provides the user with the ability to interchange the club head 150 and shaft 120. A larger or more experienced user combines a longer shaft 120, while a smaller user combines a shorter shaft 120, with the club head 150.

The golf club 100 includes a weight 140 that is specific to each shaft 120. The weight 140 is designed to balance the length of the shaft 120 to provide a consistent swing weight as the user interchanges the shaft 120 with the club head 150. A longer shaft 120 is heavier than a short shaft of the same material and is therefore combined with a lighter weight 140 to achieve the desired swing weight, and vice versa.

Exploded views of the club head 150 and adapter 130 are shown in FIG. 1A and an assembled view is shown in FIG. 1B. Referring to FIG. 1A and 1B, the adapter 130 provides a means to reversibly couple the club head 150 to the shaft 120. When the user desires to change the club head 150, the user disassembles the club head 150 from the adapter 130. The user may then couple the club head 150 to a different shaft, e.g., a longer or shorter shaft, or the adapter 130 to a new club head.

A stem 152 of the club head 150 is placed over the neck 132 of the adapter 130 to install the club head 150 to the adapter 130. The stem 152 may be termed a hosel. See FIG. 1B in which the tapered portion 134 extends from the stem 152, but the neck 132 is hidden within the stem 152. The receiving column 136 extends into the stem 152 into a position to receive a connector 160.

The weight 140 is arranged between the adapter 130 and the club head 150 when the club head 150 is assembled to the adapter 130. This arrangement achieves the proper swing weight for the combination of the adapter 130 and the club head 150. As longer shafts are combined with the club head 150, the associated weight 140 is lighter to compensate for a longer, e.g., heavier, shaft 120. The length of the shaft 120 is between 20 inches and 46 inches, and the adapter 130 has a mass that is less than 30 grams.

The club head 150 is affixed to the adapter 130 with a connector 160. The connector 160 is inserted into the cavity 156 and is received by the receiving column 136. In some examples, the user operates a tool to install the connector 160 to ensure proper stability of the connection. In one example, the user operates a torque wrench to tighten the connector 160 within the receiving column 136 to achieve a desired, or minimum, torque.

A gasket 142 is arranged between the weight 140 and the stem 152. When assembled, the connector 160 extends through the gasket 142 when the club head 150 is assembled to the adapter 130. The gasket 142 grips the connector 160 within the stem 152 such that when the club head 150 is disassembled from the adapter 130, the connector 160 is maintained within the cavity 156. The gasket 142 serves to reduce instances in which the connector 160 exits the cavity 156 during disassembly and may become lost by the user.

In general, the adapter 130 provides the means to interchange the shaft 120 and the club head 150. The adapter 130 is affixed to the shaft 120 such that the club head 150 can be installed or removed. The adapter 130 being constructed of lightweight materials facilitates achieving a consistent swing weight between shaft 120 and club head 150 combinations. The shaft 120 and adapter 130 are affixed using standard means, which can include the use of polymer welding, epoxy, or adhesive.

The adapter 130 includes a neck 132 for receiving the shaft 120 and facilitate installing the stem 152 onto the adapter 130. The adapter 130, weight 140, and club head 150 are aligned along a central axis 122 such that when the club head 150 is fit onto the neck 132 of the adapter, the stem 152 aligns with the shaft 120 to provide the golf club 100.

The club head 150 assembled onto the adapter 130 is shown in FIG. 1C. The club head 150 includes a face 154 which provides a striking surface which contacts the golf ball when the golf club 100 is swung. The face 154 is angled with respect to the axis 122 to achieve different loft angles. The club head 150 shown is an iron, e.g., a 9-iron. This is exemplary and the club head 150 may assume the characteristics of other club heads used in golf (e.g., size, shape, weight, balance, lie angle, or loft angle).

Other examples of the club head 150 provide a putter, a driver, a wedge, a wood, or a hybrid. In some examples, the club head 150 provides a 1-iron, 2-iron, 3-iron, 4-iron, 5-iron, 6-iron, 7-iron, 8-iron, a pitching wedge, a gap/approach wedge, a sand wedge, a lob wedge, a 3-hybrid, a 4-hyrid, a 3-wood, a 5-wood, or a 7-wood.

A cross-sectional view of the disassembled club head 150 and adapter 130 aligned along the central axis 122 is shown in FIG. 2A. The adapter 130 is a rigid body functional to withstand the forces generated during use and installation of the club head 150. The adapter 130 is constructed from durable, lightweight materials such as metals, or polymers. Examples of the materials include aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, tungsten, nickel, gold, silver, platinum, alloys thereof, plastic, or carbon fiber.

The neck 132 has an inner surface 133 defining a cavity 135 into which the shaft 120 is received. The inner surface 133 is shaped to receive the shaft 120, e.g., is straight-sided and has a cylindrical profile. In the example shown, the receiving column 136 includes threads for receiving the threaded connector 160. Different examples of connectors and mating between the receiving column 136 and connector 160 may be used instead of threads.

The neck 132 has a tapered portion 134. In some embodiments, the tapered portion 134 has a tapered profile which gradually increases the diameter of the tapered portion 134 from the shaft 120 to the stem 152 of the club head 150. In one example, the largest diameter of the tapered portion 134 is the same diameter as the stem 152. A tapered profile of the tapered portion 134 provides clean visuals and an aerodynamic profile when the user swings the golf club 100. The tapered profile can be a linear profile, or curved, e.g., convex or concave.

The neck 132 includes a fin 137 on the outer surface of the neck 132. The fin 137 is on a portion of the neck 132 between the receiving column 136 and the tapered portion 134. The fin 137 is configured to be received by a canal in the inner wall of the stem 152 to provide rotational stability for the club head 150 when assembled to the adapter 130.

The fin 137 is aligned, e.g., parallel with, the central axis 122. The fin 137 extends from the outer surface of the neck 132 by a height that is less than the thickness of the stem 152 and less than the maximal distance the tapered portion 134 extends from the neck 132. One fin 137 is shown, though in some examples, the adapter 130 includes more than one fin 137 at different radial positions around the neck 132. A visual marker 139 is shown on the tapered portion 134 positioned to align with the fin 137 along the central axis 122. The visual marker 139 provides a visual alignment aid for the user when assembling the club head 150 onto the adapter 130.

The adapter 130 has a receiving column 136 extending from the neck 132. The receiving column 136 is configured to receive a connector 160. When the connector 160 is coupled to the receiving column 136, the connector 160 maintains assembly between the club head 150 and the adapter 130. The column 136 has a narrower diameter than the neck 132 and is configured to receive a weight 140, e.g., the receiving column 136 has a shape that fits within the weight 140. For example, the weight 140 surrounds the receiving column 136 between the stem 152 and the receiving column 136 when assembled.

The adapter 130 and weight 140 are rotationally symmetric such that the club head 150 can be assembled to the adapter 130 along a central axis 122. Assembling the adapter 130 and club head 150 along the central axis 122 serves to maintain the stem 152 parallel with the shaft 120.

In the example of FIG. 2A, the weight 140 is configured to encircle the receiving column 136 when assembled, e.g., the weight 140 has a central void 144 shaped to encircle the receiving column 136, e.g., the receiving column 136 and void 144 are cylindrical. The outer dimensions of the weight 140 are consistent for any material of which the weight 140 is constructed. To achieve different masses, the inner dimensions of the weight 140 can be modified along with a different material.

The club head 150 includes a flange 153 within the cavity 156 which defines a channel 158. The channel 158 allows the threads of the connector 160 to progress into the stem 152 past the flange 153. The flange 153 prevents the head, e.g., the non-threaded portion, of the connector 160 from moving further into the stem 152. Said another way, the flange 153 extends from the stem 152 into the cavity 156 to a distance such that the channel 158 is narrower than the head but wider than the threads.

A cross-sectional view of the assembled club head 150, shaft 120, and adapter 130 aligned along the central axis 122 is shown in FIG. 2B. As shown, the threaded end of the connector 160 is connected with the receiving column 136. The gasket 142 is arranged within the stem 152 between the weight 140 and the connector 160. When assembled, the stem 152 fits around the adapter 130 up to the tapered portion 134. The gasket 142 fits within the weight 140, e.g., is sized to fit between the connector 160 and the weight 140 when the connector 160 is connected to the receiving column 136.

The progression of a club head 350 through a series of shafts 320 in a golf club kit 300 is shown in FIG. 3. In general, the kit 300 provides a set of shafts 320, a set of adapters 330, a set of weights 340, and a set of club heads, e.g., one or more of club head 350. The kit 300 can be provided fully assembled, partially assembled, or unassembled as separate components. The kit 300 provides a complete set of golf clubs with interchangeable shafts 320 and club heads 350 for a user. The combinations of club heads 350, weights 340, adapters 330, grips 310, and shafts 320 provide a user with a consistent swing weight as the user grows.

The kit 300 may provide a number of golf clubs to provide the user with sufficient for their experience level and physicality. The kit 300 may provide between two and fifteen golf clubs, e.g., three, six, nine, or twelve golf clubs. For example, the kit 300 includes three golf clubs with three different club heads 350 for a young user having little to no experience. In another example, the kit 300 includes six golf clubs with six different club heads 350 for an older user having a beginning experience level.

A younger user combines a short shaft, e.g., shaft 320a, with a heavier weight, e.g., weight 340a, and a club head, e.g., head 350a. An older user that has grown combines a longer shaft, e.g., shaft 320b, with a lighter weight, e.g., weight 340b, and either the same club head, e.g., head 350a, or a different club head 350b.

The kit 300 provides a set of shafts 320 having one or more shaft each at a different length. The shafts 320 shown includes shafts 320a, 320b, 320c, and 320d, each having a different length. In one example, the set of shafts 320 provides three shafts at each different length, e.g., three of shaft 320a, three of shaft 320b, three of shaft 320c, and three of shaft 320d. Each of the shafts 320 include respective grips 310, e.g., shaft 320a includes grip 310a.

The kit 300 provides a set of adapters 330, one adapter per shaft. The adapters 330 allow the user to interchange the shafts 320 with different club heads 350. In some examples, the adapters 330 are affixed to the shafts 320 when received by the user. In other examples, the user affixes the adapters 330 to the shafts 320 after the kit 300 is received.

The kit 300 provides the weights 340, one weight per adapter. The weights 340 have a mass that when combined with the mass of the shafts 320, the grips 310, the adapters 330, and the club heads 350, provide a consistent swing weight for the user. In some examples, weights 340 are pre-affixed to the adapters 330. In other examples, the users affix the weights 340 to the adapters 330.

One club head 350 of the kit 300 is shown which can provide the interchangeable club heads for the kit 300 and can be provided by any club head described herein. Some examples of the kit 300 provide a basic set of club heads for an inexperienced user, e.g., a putter, a 9-iron, and a 3-wood. Other examples of the kit 300 provide a complete set of club heads 350 for an experienced user, e.g., twelve different club heads 350.

The club heads 350, weights 340, adapters 330, grips 310, and shafts 320 can be provided by the club head 150, weight 140, adapter 130, grip 110, and shaft 120 described herein.

The adapter 130 is a flexible tool for interchanging one element with another. While a golf club 100 is described herein, the adapter 130 and/or the weight 140 may be used in other sports which may require ease of producing different combinations. In one example, the adapter 130 is configured for coupling to an arrow shaft and different arrow heads may be reversibly coupled to the adapter 130. In another example, the adapter 130 may be configured for coupling a tennis racquet head to a handle.

In some examples, the adapter 130 and weight 140 can be provided to the user as premade components. In other examples, digital instructions for producing the adapter 130 and weight 140 can be provided to the user for production. The digital instructions are code that when executed by a production machine, cause the production machine to produce the adapter and/or weight 140 from the materials available to the production machine, e.g., a 3D printing machine.

In one example, the stem 152 includes a notch 440 which extends from the surrounding stem 152 as shown in FIG. 4. The notch 440 is received by a recess 472 in the tapered portion 134 of the adapter 130. The user assembling the stem 152 with the notch 440 aligned with the recess 472 provides a specific alignment for the combination of club head 150 and shaft 120 which can be beneficial for the user to achieve the desired swing performance and swing weight.

While this specification contains many details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular examples. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be combined. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.