Quick disconnect system for coupling a golf club head with a golf club shaft

Abstract

A hosel fitting for connecting a shaft to one of a plurality of club heads comprises a first portion of a tubular structure configured to be affixed to the end of the shaft and a second portion of the tubular structure configured to be received by a bore in a club head. The second portion of the tubular portion can be configured to extend down into the bore. The hosel fitting can also comprise a fastener receiving portion for receiving a fastener configured to affix the hosel fitting to any one of the plurality of club heads.

1 . A hosel fitting for connecting a shaft to one of a plurality of club heads comprising: 
 a first portion of a tubular structure configured to be affixed to the end of the shaft;    a second portion of the tubular structure configured to be received by a bore in a club head, the second portion of the tubular portion extending downwardly into the bore;    a fastener receiving portion for receiving a fastener configured to affix the hosel fitting to any one of the plurality of club heads; and    wherein the bore, hosel fitting, and shaft are always substantially in line.    
   
   
       2 . The hosel fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener receiving portion comprises a female-threaded fastener receiver configured to receive a male-threaded fastener.  
   
   
       3 . The hosel fitting of  claim 2 , wherein the male-threaded fastener comprises a bolt.  
   
   
       4 . The hosel fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener receiving portion comprises a male-threaded fastener receiver configured to receive a female-threaded fastener.  
   
   
       5 . The hosel fitting of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the tubular structure is configured to extend downwardly into the bore until it contacts a base of the bore.  
   
   
       6 . A golf club assembly, comprising: 
 a fastener;    a club head comprising a bore;    a shaft; and    a hosel fitting for connecting the shaft to the club head, the hosel fitting having: 
 a first portion of a tubular structure configured to be affixed to the end of the shaft;  
 a second portion of the tubular structure configured to be received by the bore in the club head, the second portion of the tubular portion extending downwardly into the bore;  
 a fastener receiving portion for receiving the fastener, the fastener configured to affix the hosel fitting the club head, wherein the bore, hosel fitting, and shaft are always substantially in line.  
   
   
   
       7 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener receiving portion comprises a female-threaded fastener receiver, and wherein the fastener is a male-threaded fastener.  
   
   
       8 . The golf club assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the male-threaded fastener comprises a bolt.  
   
   
       9 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener receiving portion comprises a male-threaded fastener receiver, and wherein the fastener comprises a female-threaded fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the bore comprises a base, and wherein the second portion of the tubular structure is configured to extend downwardly into the bore until it contacts the base of the bore.  
   
   
       11 . The golf club assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the bore further comprises an aperture in the base, wherein the fastener is configured to extend through the aperture to mate with the fastener receiving portion.  
   
   
       12 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the bore is configured to orient the shaft properly when the shaft is connected to the club head using the hosel fitting.  
   
   
       13 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the fastener is configured to allow the club head to be exchange with a differnet club head.  
   
   
       14 . The golf club assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the different club head comprises a different center of gravity relative to the first club head.  
   
   
       15 . The golf cub assembly, wherein the fastener allows the shaft to be exchange with a different shaft.  
   
   
       16 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the club head comprises a recess substantially below the bore, the recess configured so that the fastener will not strike the ground when the golf club assembly is swung.  
   
   
       17 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the golf club head is a wood type golf club head.  
   
   
       18 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the golf club head is an iron type golf club head.  
   
   
       19 . The golf club assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the golf club head is a hybrid type golf club head.  
   
   
       20 . A system for fitting a golfer fro a golf club, comprising: 
 at least one club head comprising a bore;    a fastener; and    at least one shaft assembly comprising a shaft and a hosel fitting, the hosel fitting comprising: 
 a first portion of a tubular structure configured to be affixed to the end of the shaft;  
 a second portion of the tubular structure configured to be received by the bore in the club head, the second portion of the tubular portion extending downwardly into the bore;  
 a fastener receiving portion for receiving the fastener, the fastener configured to affix the hosel fitting club head, wherein the bore, hosel fitting, and shaft are always substantially in line.  
   
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the fastener receiving portion comprises a female-threaded fastener receiver, and wherein the fastener is a male-threaded fastener.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the male-threaded fastener comprises a bolt.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the fastener receiving portion comprises a male-threaded fastener receiver, and wherein the fastener comprises a female-threaded fastener.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the bore comprises a base, and wherein the second portion of the tubular structure is configured to extend downwardly into the bore until it contacts the base of the bore.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the bore further comprises an aperture in the base, wherein the fastener is configured to extend through the aperture to mate with the fastener receiving portion.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the bore is configured to orient the shaft properly when the shaft assembly is connected to the club head.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of club heads, each of the plurality of club heads comprising a bore.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the fastener is configured to allow the club head to be exchange with a differnet one of the plurality of club heads.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the different club head comprises a different center of gravity relative to the first club head.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of shaft assemblies.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the fastener allows the shaft assembly to be exchange with a different one of the plurality of shaft assemblies.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the club head comprises a recess substantially below the bore, the recess configured so that the fastener will not strike the ground when the shaft assembly is connected with the club head.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the golf club head is a wood type golf club head.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the golf club head is an iron type golf club head.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the golf club head is a hybrid type golf club head