Interchangeable shaft system

Abstract

A golf club incorporating an interchangeable shaft system includes a shaft, a shaft sleeve, a club head. The shaft sleeve is coupled to an end of the shaft and is received in a hosel included in the club head. The shaft sleeve is removably coupled to the club head. Hosel and shaft sleeve alignment features provide discreet orientations between the shaft and club head.

1 . A golf club, comprising:
 a golf club head including a hosel having a proximal end;   an elongate shaft defining a longitudinal axis;   a grip coupled to a proximal end of the elongate shaft;   a shaft sleeve coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft, wherein an end surface of a portion of the shaft sleeve complements the proximal end of the hosel;   a rigid extension member including an alignment portion having a first end surface and a second end surface that is parallel to the first end surface, the alignment portion of the extension member being interposed between a portion of the shaft sleeve and the proximal end of the hosel such that the first end surface abuts the shaft sleeve and the second end surface abuts the hosel and so that a distal end of the extension member is distal of the proximal end of the hosel, and wherein the shaft sleeve extends into the extension member, wherein the extension member has a length between about 0.125 inch and about 3.0 inches, wherein the extension member is disposed so that the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft extends through the extension member when installed such that the length of the extension member affects the overall length of the golf club; and   a fastener that releasably couples the shaft sleeve to the club head.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel comprises a plurality of alignment and anti-rotation features that include a plurality of notches disposed at the proximal end of the hosel. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the extension member comprises a plurality of alignment and anti-rotation features that include a plurality of notches disposed at the proximal and distal ends of the alignment portion of the extension member. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of alignment and anti-rotation features disposed on the proximal end of the hosel and a plurality of alignment and anti-rotation features disposed on the proximal end of the extension member are shaped to complement a plurality of alignment and anti-rotation features disposed on the shaft sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the hosel alignment and anti-rotation features, the sleeve alignment and anti-rotation features and the extension alignment and anti-rotation features comprise a plurality notches. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastener extension including a proximal shank portion constructed to be removably coupled to a distal end of the shaft sleeve and a distal head portion constructed to be removably coupled to the fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club of  claim 6 , wherein the shank portion comprises a threaded shank, and the head portion comprises a threaded bore. 
     
     
         8 . A golf club, comprising:
 a club head including a hosel and at least one hosel alignment feature, wherein the hosel defines a sleeve bore;   an elongate shaft;   a shaft sleeve coupled to a distal end portion of the shaft, the shaft sleeve including a sleeve body constructed of a non-metallic material and a threaded insert disposed at a distal end of the sleeve body, wherein the sleeve includes at least one alignment feature that complements the at least one hosel alignment feature; and   a fastener that threads into the threaded insert to releasably couple the shaft sleeve to the club head.   
     
     
         9 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the non-metallic material comprises at least one of nylon, fiber reinforced polymer and polycarbonate. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the non-metallic material of the sleeve body comprises fiber reinforced polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the threaded insert comprises at least one of knurling, a rib, and a flange to securely couple the threaded insert to the non-metallic sleeve body. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the threaded insert is molded into the sleeve body. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one hosel alignment feature comprises a notch that extends through at least a portion of the sidewall of the hosel. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one hosel alignment feature is disposed adjacent a proximal end of the hosel. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sleeve alignment feature extends laterally outward beyond an outer surface of the sleeve body. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one hosel alignment feature is a plurality of notches and the at least one sleeve alignment feature is a plurality of tangs, wherein at least one of the tangs includes tapered side edges that forcibly abut tapered side walls of at least one of the notches. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the non-metallic material has a % elongation at fracture in a range of 20% to 240%. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the non-metallic material as a tensile modulus in a range of 345×10 5  to 1350×10 5  psi. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the non-metallic material has a specific gravity in a range of 1.14 to 1.39. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the non-metallic material has a flexural modulus in a range of 1 to 1400 ksi at 73° F.