Interchangeable head putter apparatus

Abstract

A golf club apparatus includes a head member which includes a ball striking portion and a shaft connection portion which is attached to the ball striking portion. The shaft connection portion includes head-mounted connector portion. A club shaft includes a shaft-mounted connector portion for connection to the head-mounted connector portion. A force-sensing-to-illumination-producing system is supported by the club shaft. The force-sensing-to-illumination-producing system senses a ball-striking force on the ball striking portion and provides an illumination signal on the club shaft which is representative of the ball striking force on the ball striking portion. A plurality of interchangeable head members, having different weights, can be selectively connected to the club shaft.

1 . A golf club apparatus, comprising: 
 a head member which includes a ball striking portion and a shaft connection portion connected to said ball striking portion, wherein said shaft connection portion includes head-mounted connector portion,    a club shaft which includes a shaft-mounted connector portion for connection to said head-mounted connector portion, and    a force-sensing-to-illumination-producing system supported by said club shaft, wherein said force-sensing-to-illumination-producing system senses a ball-striking force on said ball striking portion and provides an illumination signal representative of said ball striking force on said club shaft.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said head-mounted connector portion includes external threads on said shaft connection portion, and    said shaft-mounted connector portion includes internal threads in said club shaft.    
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said force-sensing-to-illumination-producing system includes: 
 a force sensor/transducer assembly which senses force transmitted from said ball striking portion when a golf ball is struck and transduces said sensed force into electrical signals,    a signal processor/light source driver assembly electrically connected to said force sensor/transducer assembly for receiving said electrical signals from said force sensor/transducer assembly and for providing illumination control signals,    sequential illumination means supported by said club shaft and electrically connected to said signal processor/light source driver assembly and controlled by said illumination control signals, and    a battery power source electrically connected to said signal processor/light source driver assembly for powering said signal processor/light source driver assembly and said sequential illumination means.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said sequential illumination means include a sequential array of light sources supported by said club shaft and electrically connected to said signal processor/light source driver assembly and electrically powered by said battery power source.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said sequential array of light sources can include LEDs.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said battery power source includes individual batteries retained in a battery-reception chamber inside said club shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said force sensor/transducer assembly includes: 
 a bias spring contained in said club shaft a floating sensor assembly having a top side in contact with said bias spring, and    an anvil portion of said shaft connection portion which presses up against a bottom side of said floating sensor assembly, whereby said floating sensor assembly is sandwiched between said bias spring and said anvil portion.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a plurality of interchangeable head members which can be selectively connected to said club shaft.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said plurality of interchangeable head members includes: 
 a lightest weight interchangeable putter head member, an intermediate weight interchangeable putter head member, and    a heaviest weight interchangeable putter head member.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a handle grip portion attached to a top portion of said club shaft.