Golf club head with shaft locating device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved connection of a golf club shaft to the head of a golf club and methods for making the improved connection. A golf club according to the present invention includes a club head having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front face wall for impacting a golf ball, a heel portion and toe portion. A bore is disposed in the heel end of the club head and extends from the top surface of the club head toward the bottom surface of the club head. A shaft locating device is inserted into the upper end of the bore. A shaft locating bore, for accurately locating the shaft in a preferred and consistent location, extends through the entire length of the shaft locating device. The tip of a shaft is inserted in and extends through the shaft locating bore and into the bore in the club head.

1 . A golf club comprising: 
 a club head having a top, surface, a bottom surface and a front face wall for impacting a golf ball;    said club head further including a heel end and a toe end, said club head having a bore disposed in said heel end and extending from the top surface of said club head down toward said bottom surface;    said bore having an inner surface;    said inner surface having an upper end and a lower end;    a shaft locating device having an upper portion, a lower portion and an outer peripheral surface conforming to the shape of at least a portion of the inner surface of the upper end of the bore;    said shaft locating device having a shaft locating bore extending through said upper and lower portions thereof;    at least said lower portion of said shaft locating device placed in the upper end of said inner surface of the bore of the club head; and    a shaft having a tip end inserted in and extending through the shaft locating bore in said shaft locating device into said bore in said club head.    
   
   
       2 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein the upper portion of the shaft locating device is substantially flush with the upper end of the bore inner surface.  
   
   
       3 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein the upper portion of the shaft locating device extends upwardly above the upper end of the bore inner surface.  
   
   
       4 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein the shaft locating device is disposed entirely within the bore of the club head.  
   
   
       5 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft locating device is configured to form an interference fit with the inner surface of the upper end of the bore of the club head.  
   
   
       6 . The golf club of claim,  1  wherein at least a portion of the shaft locating bore is configured to form an interference fit with at least a portion of the shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein said head is a golf club iron head.  
   
   
       8 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein said head is a driver head.  
   
   
       9 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein said head is a putter head.  
   
   
       10 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the tip end of the shaft is affixed with an adhesive to at least a portion of the inner surface of the lower end of the bore of the club head.  
   
   
       11 . The golf club of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft locating device is configured to form an interference fit with the inner surface of the upper end of the bore of the club head.  
   
   
       12 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft locating device is affixed with an adhesive to the inner surface of the upper end of the bore of the club head.  
   
   
       13 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein the shaft locating device is formed of plastic.  
   
   
       14 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein a groove is disposed around the upper end of the bore of the club head and at least a portion of the shaft locating device is seated in said groove.  
   
   
       15 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein the shaft locating device has a uniform diameter.  
   
   
       16 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein the lower end of the bore of the ub head has a narrowed portion and the bottom end of the shaft is seated in the narrowed portion.  
   
   
       17 . The golf club of  claim 1  wherein the tolerance between the shaft locating device and the shaft is less than the tolerance between the bore of the club head and the shaft.  
   
   
       18 . A golf club comprising: 
 a club head having a top surface, a bottom surface and a front face wall for impacting a golf ball, said club head having a hosel extending up from the top surface;    said hosel having a bore therein;    said bore having an inner surface;    said inner surface having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of said bore inner surface being adapted for receiving a shaft locating device;    said shaft locating device having an upper portion, a lower portion and an outer peripheral surface conforming to the shape of at least a portion of the inner surface of the upper end of the bore;    said shaft locating device having a bore extending through said upper and lower portions of said shaft locating device;    said lower portion of said shaft locating device placed in the upper end of said inner surface of said bore of said club head; and    a shaft having a tip end inserted in and extending through the shaft locating bore in said shaft locating device into said bore in said club head.    
   
   
       19 . A golf club comprising: 
 a club head having a top surface, a bottom surface and a front face wall for impacting a golf ball, said club head further including a heel end and a toe end, said club head having a bore disposed in said heel end and extending toward said bottom surface;    said bore having an inner surface;    said inner surface having a upper end and a lower end;    a shaft locating device which is integrally attached to the upper end of the bore, said shaft locating device having a shaft locating bore for receiving and locating a shaft; and    said shaft having a tip end inserted in and extending through the shaft locating bore in said shaft locating device into said bore in said club head.    
   
   
       20 . A method of making a golf club comprising the steps of: 
 forming a club head having a top surface, a bottom surface and a front face wall for impacting a golf ball, said club head further including a heel end and a toe end;    forming a bore disposed near said heel end and extending toward said bottom surface, said bore having an inner surface, said inner surface having a upper end and a lower end;    attaching a shaft locating device to the upper end of the bore, said shaft locating device having a shaft locating bore for receiving and locating a shaft; and    inserting a shaft into said shaft locating bore in said shaft locating device so that said shaft is held in a designated location within the bore in the club head.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the tolerance between the shaft locating device and the shaft is less than the tolerance between the bore of the club head and the shaft.  
   
   
       22 . A golf club comprising: 
 a club head having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front face wall for impacting a golf ball and a hosel extending upwardly from said top surface;    said hosel having a bore formed therein and a counterbore adjacent an upper end of said bore;    a shaft locating device having an upper portion, a lower portion and a shaft locating bore extending through said upper and lower portions thereof;    said lower portion of said shaft locating device being disposed in the counterbore in said hosel, and said upper portion of said shaft locating device extending upwardly from said hosel; and    a shaft having a tip end inserted in and extending through the shaft locating bore in said shaft locating device into said bore in said hosel.