Modular golf club system and method

Abstract

A modular golf club anchoring system and method for rapidly and conveniently custom fitting individual clubs is suitable for all standard clubs with minimum preparation. A standard hosel may be pre-prepared both to receive and to prevent from rotation a first interconnectable means, by complementary interacting surfaces of such hosel and means. A standard shaft may be pre-prepared to accomplish the same with a second interconnectable means, by adhesive bonding, mechanical fit, or a combination thereof. Shaft and head may be rapidly and removably joined by connecting the two interconnectable means after inserting therebetween wedge means which will interact with the interconnectable means to act like a collet as the connection is tightened, thereby translating the compressive longitudinal forces into expansive transverse forces securing the shaft from separation or further, unwanted rotation. After trial by the intended user, the club head and shaft may be quickly separated by simply unscrewing the shaft from the hosel, and a different head or shaft quickly assembled for another trial. In short order, a user may be custom fitted for each club of a set, and depart with the exact clubs to which he was fitted. An additional benefit is that the area of expansive transverse forces is converted into a node area which substantially eliminates the transmission of vibratory shock forces from club head to shaft.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modular golf club system for custom fitting standard individual golf clubs to individual golfers, comprising: 
 a club head having a hosel, said hosel being adapted to non-deformably receive first interconnectable means interior thereto and having means to prevent rotation between said hosel and said first interconnectable means, and    shaft means adapted to non-deformably receive second interconnectable means interior thereto and having means to prevent rotation between said shaft means and said second interconnectable means,    whereby said club head and said shaft means may be rapidly and removably connected by connecting said first and second interconnectable means.    
     
     
         2 . The modular golf club system of    claim 1   , further comprising means for preventing the longitudinal separation of said club head and said shaft means until desired.  
     
     
         3 . The modular golf club system of    claim 2   , further comprising additional means for preventing the longitudinal separation of said club head and said shaft means until desired.  
     
     
         4 . The modular golf club system of    claim 1   , wherein said club head and said shaft means may be removably connected by rotational movement between said club head and said shaft means.  
     
     
         5 . The modular golf club system of    claim 1   , wherein said means to prevent rotation between said hosel and said first interconnectable means comprises mechanical fit means.  
     
     
         6 . The modular golf club system of    claim 1   , wherein said means to prevent rotation between said shaft means and said second interconnectable means comprises mechanical fit means.  
     
     
         7 . The modular golf club system of    claim 1   , wherein said means to prevent rotation between said shaft means and said second interconnectable means comprises adhesive means therebetween.  
     
     
         8 . The system of    claim 3   , wherein said additional means for preventing undesired separation of said club head and said shaft means comprises adhesive means therebetween.  
     
     
         9 . The system of    claim 2   , wherein said separation preventing means comprises threaded means oriented so as to tighten the connection between said club head and said shaft means, for right-handed clubs, when said club head is rotated clockwise with respect to said shaft means.  
     
     
         10 . The system of    claim 2   , wherein said separation preventing means comprises threaded means oriented so as to tighten the connection between said club head and said shaft means, for left-handed clubs, when said club head is rotated counterclockwise with respect to said shaft means.  
     
     
         11 . A method for custom fitting conventional golf clubs to individual golfers, comprising the steps of: 
 removably and non-deformably connecting to first interior interconnecting means a club head having a hosel, said hosel having means to prevent rotation therebetween;    non-deformably connecting second interior interconnecting means to shaft means having means to prevent rotation therebetween; and    removably connecting said first and second interconnecting means, and testing the fit of said golf club to an individual.    
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11   , further comprising the step of replacing at least one component of said club with a different component based upon said test of said fit.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 11   , further comprising the step of removably securing said components into an assembled golf club.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13   , further comprising the step of applying removable adhesive means between said hosel and said shaft means.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14   , further comprising the step of delivering said assembled golf club to said fitted individual.  
     
     
         16 . A modular golf club system for custom fitting standard individual golf clubs to individual golfers, comprising: 
 a club head having a hosel, said hosel being adapted to non-deformably receive first interconnectable means interior thereto and having means to prevent rotation between said hosel and said first interconnectable means, and    shaft means adapted to non-deformably receive second interconnectable means adjacent thereto and having means to prevent rotation between said shaft means and said second interconnectable means,    whereby said club head and said shaft means may be rapidly and removably connected by connecting said first and second interconnectable means.    
     
     
         17 . The modular golf club system of    claim 16   , further comprising means for preventing the longitudinal separation of said club head and said shaft means until desired.