Compact. Configurable Golf Club Set

Abstract

Compact golf club set configurable during game play at player discretion prior to shot play, comprising: Adjustable-length shaft 100 in discrete length positions 165 in telescoping handle 110 ; adjustable-length shaft 100 including head interchange mechanism 170; Interchangeable head 200, 300, 400 in adjustable-length shaft 100 , with fixed loft head options 201, 301, 401 ; adjustable loft heads 202, 302 incorporating adjustable loft mechanism 500 a , 500 b , and sole 504 whose geometry 545 keeps adjustable loft heads 202, 302 horizontal on the ground; Interchangeable fixed or adjustable loft head, encompassing: Wood heads 200 : 1-wood 210 , fairway woods 220 , and hybrids; Iron heads 300 : 1- to 9-irons 310, 320 and wedges 330 ; and/or putter head 400.

1 . A compact golf club set configurable at player discretion prior to shot play, NOTED for comprising:
 At least adjustable-length shaft  100  in multiple discrete length positions  165  enabled by telescoping handle  110 ; said adjustable-length shaft  100  includes head interchange mechanism  170 ;   At least interchangeable head  200 ,  300 ,  400  in adjustable-length shaft  100 , with options for fixed loft heads  201 ,  301 ,  401  and adjustable loft heads  202 ,  302  incorporating adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  and sole  504  whose geometry  545  keeps said adjustable loft heads  202 ,  302  horizontal on the ground for each adjusted loft angle  509   a ,  509   b;      Interchangeable head means both fixed and adjustable loft types and/or combinations thereof:   a) Wood heads  200 : 1-wood or driver  210 , fairway woods  220 , and hybrids;   b) Iron heads  300 : 1- to 9-irons  310 ,  320  and wedges  330 : pitch, gab, sand and lob wedges; and/or   c) Putter head  400 .   
     
     
         2 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 1 , NOTED for at least adjustable-length shaft  100  configurable in multiple discrete length positions  165  enabled by telescoping handle  110  and head interchange mechanism  170  comprising:
 a) Shaft  160 , which in turn comprises: 
 a.1) Head interchange section  161  comprising head interchange mechanism  170  located at the head connector end; 
 a.2) Adjustable-length section  163  defined by a constant cross-section which defines adjustment surface  168  and whose end comprises shaft butt section  166  used to attach shaft butt end  167 ; and 
 a.3) Transition section  162  connecting head interchange section  161  to adjustable-length section  163 ; 
 b) Telescoping handle  110 , in turn comprising: 
 b.1) Handle core  122 , comprising a hollow, circular section tube such that its internal diameter matches the external diameter of shaft butt end  167  attached to the shaft butt section of shaft  166 ; 
 b.2) Attached to one end of handle core  122  is locking/unlocking telescoping mechanism  130 , where the locking function consists of at least one lock element  138  tightly entering one of multiple discrete length positions  165  on the surface of adjustable-length section  163 ; 
 b.3) Also attached to handle core  122  is a rubber, leather or cork grip  121  by which player holds telescoping handle  110  and thus adjustable-length shaft  100 . 
 
     
     
         3 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 1 , NOTED for at least an interchangeable head  200 ,  300 ,  400  with adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  comprising:
 a) Club head face  506 ,  506   a ,  506   b  whose back supports adjustable loft mechanism  500 ,  500   a ,  500   b  during game play. 
 b) Hosel loft axis  532   a ,  532   b , comprising: 
 b.1) Hosel section  533   a ,  533   b  connecting to adjustable-length shaft  100 . This is either a female hosel protrusion  534   a ,  534   b  or male hosel protrusion  535   a ,  535   b . The latter is compatible with head interchange mechanism  170 ; 
 b.2) Loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b  holding adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b;    
 b.3) Offset section  536   a  connecting loft axis section  537   a  to hosel section  533   a  on heel side  508   a;    
 c) Modified sole geometry  545 , with a scan section defined by at least three sections  550  where each contains a line along sole  552  cutting across the head volume. Each line is defined when the head rests horizontally  551  on the ground  549  in front of the ball, in position to contact club head face  506 , for at least three adjusted loft angles, one intermediate loft angle  547  and two loft angle ends  548 , corresponding to loft angles for the range of heads corresponding to the adjustable head. 
 
     
     
         4 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 3 , NOTED for an adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  comprising:
 First vertex pivot  511   a ,  511   b  joined to the head body;   Second joint vertex  512   a ,  512   b  matching and joined to loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b;      Third vertex pivot  513   a ,  513   b  corresponds to the intersection of first connecting rod  514   a ,  514   b  extending from the first vertex pivot  511   a ,  511   b  and second connecting rod  515   a ,  515   b  extending from second joint vertex  512   a ,  512   b;      Second connecting rod  515   a ,  515   b  joined to loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b ; and   The length of at least one of said rods may be modified by changing the relative angle between club head face  506   a ,  506   b  and loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b , thereby changing loft angle  509   a ,  509   b.      
     
     
         5 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 4 , NOTED for an adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  comprising that:
 Length of one of said rods can be modified by means of screw  516   a ,  516   b  whose orientation matches the axis of one of said rods;   One end of screw  516   a ,  516   b  rotates on its axis without axial movement, held by a bearing  524   a ,  524   b  matching one of the pivot vertices; and   The opposite side of screw  516   a ,  516   b  rotates on its axis and moves axially in bearing nut  526   a ,  526   b , matching the pivot vertex opposite.   
     
     
         6 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 5 , NOTED for an adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  comprising:
 A rear head area comprising the rear of face  502   a  and/or face frame  503   b  and/or sole  504   a ,  504   b  and/or shell  505   b , the latter to accommodate adjustable-loft wood heads  202 ;   One end of screw  516   a ,  516   b  comprises a smooth cylindrical section  517   a ,  517   b  rotating in radial bore  525   a ,  525   b  perforated on the surface of bearing cylinder  524   a ,  524   b;      The other end comprises a threaded section  518   a ,  518   b  screwed into female threaded radial bore  527   a ,  527   b  in bearing nut cylinder  526   a ,  526   b;      Bearing cylinder  524   a ,  524   b  is a pivot vertex whose axis is perpendicular to the axis of screw  516   a ,  516   b  and parallel to the normal defining the plane containing adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b , with screw  516   a ,  516   b  prevented from axial movement;   Bearing nut cylinder  526   a ,  526   b  is another consecutive pivot vertex whose axis is perpendicular to the axis of screw  516   a ,  516   b  and also parallel to the normal defining the plane containing adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b;      The normal defining the plane containing adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  is parallel to loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b ; and   Joined connecting rod  540   a ,  540   b  is a fixed-length link matching second connecting rod  515   a ,  515   b.      
     
     
         7 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 6 , NOTED for an adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  comprising:
 In a first configuration, bearing nut cylinder  526   a  corresponds to first vertex pivot  511   a  and is connected to the rear head area. Bearing cylinder  524   a  corresponds to third vertex pivot  513   a  and is connected to joined connecting rod  540   a  and, by means of the opposite end of said rod, is attached to loft axis section  537   a  at second joint vertex  512   a;      In a second configuration, bearing cylinder  524   b  corresponds to first vertex pivot  511   b  and is connected to the rear head area. Bearing nut cylinder  526   b  corresponds to third vertex pivot  513   b  and is connected to joined connecting rod  540   b , which corresponds to second connecting rod  515   b , and by means of the opposite end of said rod, is attached to loft axis section  537   b  at the second joint vertex  512   b;      Screw  516   a ,  516   b  comprises a concentric joint dial  519   a ,  519   b  players can rotate with their fingers; and   For adjustable-loft wood heads  202 , dial  519   b  is at the top of screw  516   b  and above the first vertex pivot  511   b . Said dial  519   b  shows through shell  505   b , with a perforation in shell  554   b  as the preferred solution.   
     
     
         8 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 6 , NOTED for an adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  comprising that:
 a) Loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b  rotates on three concentric pivot brackets whose axis is parallel to the horizontal of the head and stands in the rear head area:
 a.1) The first pivot bracket, i.e., loft axis pivot bracket  529   a ,  529   b , is near heel side  508   a ,  508   b;    
 a.2) A second pair of pivot brackets, i.e., second vertex pivot brackets  530   a ,  530   b , near toe side  507   a ,  507   b , hold the second joint vertex  512   a ,  512   b  and second connecting rod  515   a ,  515   b  joined to loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b , guiding their rotation; 
 a.3) The pair of second vertex pivot brackets  530   a ,  530   b  and loft axis pivot bracket  529   a ,  529   b , and therefore loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b , stand preferably at the bottom of the head, near sole  504   a ,  504   b;    
   b) An additional pair of first vertex pivot brackets  531   a ,  531   b  hold first vertex pivot  511   a ,  511   b  and are joined to the rear head area; and   c) In joined connecting rod  540   a ,  540   b , a pair of third vertex pivot brackets  541   a ,  541   b  hold third vertex pivot  513   a ,  513   b  in any configuration, including bearing cylinder  524   a  or bearing nut cylinder  526   b.      
     
     
         9 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 8 , NOTED for adjustable an loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b  comprising that:
 Joined connecting rod  540   a ,  540   b  is attached to loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b  by means of a male/female assembly;   Loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b  inserts into second joint vertex  512   a ,  512   b  an end of its axis in a male shape  538   a ,  538   b , at right angles to joined connecting rod  540   a ,  540   b . Relative rotation is avoided by means of a pin comprising an eccentric pin  539   a ,  539   b  parallel to loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b , sharing the radial perimeter of said guide pin  539   a ,  539   b  between loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b  and joined connecting rod  540   a ,  540   b . Said guide pin  539   a ,  539   b  is confined to the width of joined connecting rod  540   a ,  540   b  between second vertex pivot brackets  530   a ,  530   b ; and   Loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b  avoids axial head movement by means of snap ring  544   a ,  544   b  attached to loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b  and supported on the inner face of loft axis pivot bracket  529   a ,  529   b . Loft axis section  537   a ,  537   b  also abuts second vertex pivot bracket  530   a ,  530   b , closest to toe side  507   a ,  507   b.      
     
     
         10 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 3 , NOTED for an adjustable loft mechanism  500   b  comprising, for adjustable-loft wood heads  202  on the outer surface of face frame  503   b  on heel side  508   b , a heel concavity  553   b  partially housing hosel section  533   b , allowing for loft angles of the range of heads corresponding to the adjustable head. 
     
     
         11 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claims 2  and  3 , NOTED for a head interchange mechanism  170  comprising:
 Pin lock  173 , internal interchange cylinder  177  and external interchange cylinder  186 , all sliding against each other. Internal interchange cylinder  177  houses pin lock  173 . Internal interchange cylinder  177  is joined to shaft head interchange section  161 . Internal interchange cylinder  177  and external interchange cylinder  186  can be of various concave and/or convex geometries, such as hexagons; 
 Pin lock  173  is permanently installed in hollow cylindrical protrusion  198  of standard hosel  199  and is thus joined to fixed loft head  201 ,  301 ,  401 . In other words, said pin lock can be configured to be properly installed in any commercially-available fixed-loft angle head to turn it into an interchangeable head. Pin lock  173  may also be permanently installed in female hosel protrusion  534   a ,  534   b  of hosel section  533   a ,  533   b  and thus joined to adjustable loft heads  202 ,  302 ; 
 Pin lock male protrusion  174  rising from hosel section  533   a ,  533   b  or standard hosel  199  has torque-resistant geometry. The geometry of the inner surface of internal interchange cylinder  178  matches the geometry of the outer surface of pin lock male protrusion  174 ; 
 Internal interchange cylinder  177  houses in surface radial bores  182  at least one lock element  183 ; 
 Pin lock male protrusion  174  includes on its surface at least one pin lock dent  175  housing lock elements  183 ; 
 In coupled position  171 , lock elements  183  slide radially to be confined in pin lock dents  175 , said radial bores  182 , and the inner surface of external interchange cylinder  187 ; and 
 In uncoupled position  172 , player slides external interchange cylinder  186  through decoupling recesses  188  on the inner surface of external interchange cylinder  187 , allowing lock elements  183  to radially slide, releasing them from pin lock dents  175 . 
 
     
     
         12 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 11 , NOTED for a pin lock male protrusion  174  disposing a smaller end section that is inserted into internal interchange cylinder  177  and expands into hosel section  533   a ,  533   b  or standard hosel  199 . Said pin lock male protrusion  174  is a concave or convex polygon with at least a distinctive geometry enabling unique assembly orientation. Pin lock hosel protrusion  176  inserted into hosel section  533   a ,  533   b  or standard hosel  199  has a hollow cylindrical geometry of such size as to allow attachment by traditional methods of a standard shaft to hosel section  533   a ,  533   b  or standard hosel  199 . 
     
     
         13 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 12 , NOTED for a pin lock  173  disposing in pin lock hosel protrusion  176  inserted into hosel section  533   a ,  533   b  or standard hosel  199  the ability to use traditional attachment methods analogous or equivalent to those of the standard shaft replaced by pin lock  173 , including contact cement, cured epoxy resin, locking sleeves, compression cones, interference adjustment, expansion joints, axial clamping screws, side clamping screws, bolted or riveted joints and/or any technical equivalent. 
     
     
         14 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 11 , NOTED for a head interchange mechanism  170  including hexagonal pin lock  173  comprising:
 Hexagonal pin lock male protrusion  174 ; 
 At least one hexagonal face has a distinctive geometry enabling a unique assembly position; 
 Lock elements  183  are balls; 
 Locking ball(s)  183  are emplaced in one or more conical, equidistant radial bores  182  in an area corresponding to a hexagonal section of the inner surface of internal interchange cylinder  178 ; 
 Pin lock dents  175  are recessed semispheres of a diameter at their widest point not exceeding that of locking balls  183 ; 
 Pin lock dents  175  are emplaced in hexagonal pin lock  173  and match the position of said radial bores  182  and thus of locking balls  183  when head interchange mechanism  170  is in the coupled position. 
 
     
     
         15 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 14 , NOTED for pin lock dents  175  providing a configuration alternative comprising an area whose geometry is a revolving circular section whose axis of rotation matches the pin lock axis and its widest section is of a size not exceeding that of locking balls  183 . 
     
     
         16 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 11 , NOTED for an internal interchange cylinder  177  housing on outer surface  179  a coupling spring  184 , which when extended pushes external interchange cylinder  186  into coupled position  171 . The depressed coupling spring  184  pushes external interchange cylinder  186  into uncoupled position  172 . Player motion on external interchange cylinder  186  and thus on coupling spring  184  may be axial, torsion, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 11 , NOTED for head interchange mechanism  170  alternatively including decoupling spring  185  at the bottom of internal interchange cylinder  177 , which remains depressed against the tip of pin lock male protrusion  174  when in coupled position  171 . 
     
     
         18 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 11 , NOTED for pin lock  173  being alternatively replaced by male hosel protrusion  535   a ,  535   b  compatible with head interchange mechanism  170 , formed during manufacture of hosel loft axis  532   a ,  532   b  and equivalent to pin lock male protrusion  174  of previously described pin lock  173  rising from hosel section  533   a ,  533   b  or standard hosel  199 . 
     
     
         19 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 11 , NOTED for head interchange mechanism  170  alternatively including guide pin  181  traveling on guide slot  180 , limiting travel of external interchange cylinder  186 . Said guide pin  181  is joined to and passes through external interchange cylinder  186 . Said guide slot  180  of the width of guide pin  181  proceeds in lengthwise recess parallel to the axis and over the outer surface of internal interchange cylinder  177 . 
     
     
         20 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 2 , NOTED for a telescoping mechanism  130  comprising:
 Internal telescoping cylinder  136  and external telescoping cylinder  133  sliding against each other. Internal telescoping cylinder  136  slides over adjustable-length section  163  and is joined to handle core  122  and thereby to handle  120 . One or more lock radial bores  137  on the surface of internal telescoping cylinder  136  house at least one lock element  138 . Internal telescoping cylinder  136  and external telescoping cylinder  133  can be of various concave and/or convex geometries, such as hexagons; 
 Discrete length positions  165  are developed by means of at least one shaft dent  165  on adjustment surface  168 . Said dents house lock elements  138 . The said adjustment surface has torque-resistant geometry; 
 In locked position  131 , lock element(s)  138  slide radially until confined in shaft dents  165 , in the said lock radial bores  137 , and in the inner surface of external telescoping cylinder  134 ; 
 In unlocked position  132 , player slides external telescoping cylinder  133  through unlock recesses  135  on the inner surface of external telescoping cylinder  134 , allowing lock element(s)  138  to radially slide, releasing them from shaft dents  165 . 
 
     
     
         21 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 20 , NOTED for an adjustment surface  168  including a series of surface shaft dents  165  built as a continuous surface relative to the surface of shaft  160 . In other words, said dents do not cause abrupt discontinuity of surface material as they are not holes in the shaft. 
     
     
         22 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 21 , NOTED, if shaft  160  is built in composite material, for shaft dents  165  of the surface of adjustable-length section  163  including that the entire area around shaft dents  165 , as well as the area comprising shaft dents  165 , do not break fiber continuity. If shaft  160  is built in polycrystalline material such as steel, the entire area around shaft dents  165 , as well as the area comprising shaft dents  165 , do not break crystalline structure continuity. 
     
     
         23 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 22 , NOTED for a shaft  160  of mixed materials, where the body of shaft  160 , in all sections, is built in composite material. However, the outer surface of adjustment surface  168  is built using a thin sheet of material harder than the composite, such as steel, attached to the inner composite material layers. A variant has the said harder sheet covering only the outer surface part containing the sequence of shaft dents  165 . 
     
     
         24 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 20 , NOTED for an adjustment surface  168  including at least one discontinuity as a guide slot for telescoping mechanism  130 . Such discontinuity has torque-resistant geometry. In particular, the guide slot may be at least a flat surface  164  or U- or V-shaped relative to the shaft surface. The inner surface of internal telescoping cylinder  139  matches said adjustment surface  168 . 
     
     
         25 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claims 21  and  24 , NOTED for an adjustment surface  168  having a circular section and another section made up of two opposing, 180° flat surfaces  164 . The flat surfaces house shaft dents  165 . Dents may be recessed semispheres in opposing, 180°-pairs located on the opposing flat surfaces. As such, lock elements  138  are spheres whose radius matches said dents. 
     
     
         26 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claims 23  and  25 , NOTED for the fact that opposing flat surfaces  164  housing shaft dents  165  may on their outer surface and thus on their surface finish be built in individual sheets of thin polycrystalline material such as steel and affixed to the composite body of shaft  160 . Construction of said sheets of crystalline structure material includes shaft dents  165 . 
     
     
         27 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 20 , NOTED for an internal telescoping cylinder  136  housing on its outer surface lock spring  142 , which when extended pushes external telescoping cylinder  133  into locked position  131 . When depressed, lock spring  142  pushes external telescoping cylinder  133  into unlocked position  132 . Player motion on external telescoping cylinder  133  and thus on spring  142  may be axial, torsion, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 20 , NOTED for an internal telescoping cylinder  136  including position radial bore  144  containing position ball pointer  140  partially entering shaft dents  165 . The ball is radially pressed against the shaft by means of ring-type spring  141  covering said ball  140  and the outer surface of said internal telescoping cylinder  136 . 
     
     
         29 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 20 , NOTED for an internal telescoping cylinder  136  including travel stopper  143  for external telescoping cylinder  133 . Said stopper is a small tab at the start of the outer surface of internal telescoping cylinder  136  that clicks into unlock recess  135  on the inner surface of external telescoping cylinder  134  and sets the limits of travel. 
     
     
         30 . A compact, configurable golf club set per  claim 2 , NOTED for a shaft butt section  166  comprising shaft butt end  167 , which guides and constrains maximum length of telescoping handle  110 . 
     
     
         31 . Method for assembly of a club in the compact, configurable golf club set of  claim 1 , based on interchangeable head  200 ,  300 ,  400  with adjustable loft option  202 ,  302 , NOTED for comprising the following steps to be performed by player prior to shot play:
 Connect said adjustable loft head  202 ,  302  to adjustable-length shaft  100  by means of head interchange mechanism  170 ; 
 Adjust loft angle  509   a ,  509   b  of said adjustable loft head  202 ,  302 ; 
 Extend or retract adjustable-length shaft  100  by means of telescoping mechanism  130  in telescoping handle  110 ; and 
 Verify club configuration and horizontal rest of attached head by placing sole  504  on the ground in striking position in front of the ball. 
 
     
     
         32 . Method for assembly of a club in the compact, configurable golf club set of  claim 1 , based on interchangeable head  200 ,  300 ,  400  with fixed loft option  201 ,  301 ,  401 , NOTED for comprising the following steps to be performed by player prior to shot play:
 Connect said fixed loft head  201 ,  301 ,  401  to adjustable-length shaft  100  by means of head interchange mechanism  170 ; 
 Extend or retract adjustable-length shaft  100  by means of telescoping mechanism  130  in telescoping handle  110 ; and 
 Verify club configuration and horizontal rest of attached head in striking position in front of the ball. 
 
     
     
         33 . Method for assembly of the compact, configurable golf club set in  claims 11 ,  31  and  32 , NOTED for the fact that the step of coupling interchangeable head  200 ,  300 ,  400  by means of head interchange mechanism  170  requires players to shift external interchange cylinder  186  from coupled position  171  to uncoupled position  172 . 
     
     
         34 . Method for assembly of the compact, configurable golf club set in  claims 7  and  31 , NOTED for the fact that the step of adjusting loft angle  509   a ,  509   b  requires players to turn dial  519   a ,  519   b  in adjustable loft mechanism  500   a ,  500   b.    
     
     
         35 . Method for assembly of the compact, configurable golf club set in  claims 20 ,  31  and  32 , NOTED for the fact that the step of extending or retracting adjustable-length shaft  100  requires players to shift external telescoping cylinder  133  from locked position  131  to unlocked position  132 , sliding telescoping handle  110  over adjustable-length section  163  to the desired position and releasing said external telescoping cylinder  133  so it returns to locked position  131 .