US2991082A - Golf club - Google Patents

Description

GOLF CLUB 2 SheetsShee 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1957 July 4, 1961 w. J. HANDZLIK, JR

GOLF CLUB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1957 MN WM 3/ [Z7VEI7ZUF 1 WALTER d. HA/wzu va aw, a; 5

GOLF CLUB Walter-J. Handzlik, In, Detroit, Micln, assignor to Lyon Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporationof 'Delae.

Filed no.7, 1957, Ser; No. 688,622.

3 Claims, or. 273-464) head, That place on the ,club face which is thus in line with the centerof mass is commonly referred to; among 7 golf enthusiasts as the sweet spot? Itis fesp'ecially-im portant in putting that the golfball'be stroked'by the sweet spot of the putter face.

Asgolf clubs have heretofore been made, and especially putters, much practice has been required to -attain utmost skill in the use of the particular club, especially to locate and make use of the sweet spot of any particular club'in order to attain expert playing results. With putters, this isextremelyimportant because of the great accuracy in travel of the golf ball over the green to the cup required for scoring.

It is accordingly an important object of the present invention to provide an improved golf club whichisnot' only well balanced, but is provided with means for visual indexing of the sweet spot with reference'to the golf ball.

Another object of the invention is to'providefan improved golf club having novel means for indexing; the I proper point of stroke impact with the ball for accurate propulsion thereof.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an proved golf club of especiallyuniformly balanced con struction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved golf club having a novel distribution of mass affording a substantial range of impact point variance from the sweet spot with nevertheless attainment of reasonable accuracy of propulsion of the ball during a'stroke of the club.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an improved golf club which is especially suitable-to be used ambidextrously.

It is also an'object of the invention to provide a golf club in which the shaft and head are assembled in a novel manner.

In this connection, it is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved method of assembling a shaft with a golf club head.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a golf club but with only that portion of the shaft adjacent to the head of the club showing;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational View of the golf club;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the golf club;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional detail view taken substantially on the line IVIV of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing certain steps in the method of assembling the golf shaft with the head;

FIGURE 6 is atop plan view of a'modification of the golf club;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevationalviewv of the golfclub: '01: FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of the Same; and

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on the line IX--.-IX of FIG URE 6.

A golf club'10 (FIGS. 1-4) embodyingthe invention includes a head 11 and a shaft 12. While the .golf club head-11 is'preferably substantially solid and made from a material of substantial density such as suitable metal, the

shaft 12 is preferably of tubular form and of suitable material. such as steel. head 11 is of the'putter type.

"sweet spot with substantialaccuracy. To this end; the

club head massis'equally disposedjo'n opposite isides of 7 a longitudinal median plane as bestseen' in-FIGURES 1 and'21to afford"equalopposite side' playing faces 13:

Left-hand or right-hand players'can thus' use theclub- Y with equal proficiency. I

By locating a pair of major 'mass portions'of the club head 11- forwardly and rearwardly of a predetermined sweet spot location,identified at S between spaced pai"al-" lel vertical dot dash lines inFIGURE Z, substantial advantages are attained. A majorexte'nt ofthe elongated club head projects forwardly from the sweet spot area rear mass portion disposed to project upwardly for no't" only shortening the rear portion of theclub rearwardl'y of; the sweet spot area S, but also for providing anupwa-rdly' elongated club shaft receiving boss of 1eg18.;' The club head His thus of generally L-shape insideelevational profile. The combined mass of the 'rearportion 18"of the club head and the associated portion of the shafl l'z including all of the club head rearwardly erth-e eweet spot area S-"substantially' equals all of the club head forwardly from the sweet spotarea S.

As will be observed, the forward *faceof the upstand ing'rear portion 18 of theclub head provides a downwardly and forwardly sloping surfacelSlwhich converges ina transverse groove 20 aligned withthe sweet spot S with.

a rearwardly and downwardly slopingsurface 21 of the forward mass hump portion 14. Both of the upstanding mass portions 14 and 18 are thus prominentlydelineated by the'intervening groove 20 whichthus serves as a con-- venient sweet spot index which is equally applicable. to both of the faces13 of the golfclub head. Thus astbest,

seen in FIGURE 1, accurate orientation or indexing of the club head withrespect to a golf ball, as indicated by the circular dash outline B to center the sweet spot on the golf ball is conveniently visually accomplished through the medium of the indexing groove 20.

It may be noted that although ideally stroking of the 1 ball B is through the sweet'sp'ot S asin'dexed by the index means groove 20, the advantageousforward and rearward weight distribution relative to the sweetspot' affords a substantial range of reasonably accurate 'stroking forwardly and rearwardly from the sweet spot as in dicat'ed by the two extreme respectively forward and rearward locations of the ball outline Bin FIGURE'Zr In other words, there is little tendency for the club head to twist on impact of the club face with theball aslong as it; is within the range tothe sweet sport side of avertical; plane transversely'through the peak 14iand the topmost Patented July 4, 1961 Byway of example, the golf club projection of the shaft boss mass 18. The present club structure is therefore highly stable in play, and because of its substantial sweet spot range, greatly reduces the margin of error with respect to direction of propulsion of the golf ball stroked thereby. 1 2

Assembly of the shaft 12 with the club head 11 is effected with respect to the shaft boss rear mass portion 18 in such a manner as to coact with such mass boss to afford a balanced mass distribution relative to the mass of the club head forwardlyfrom the index groove 20. To this end, the club shaft extends on an axis diagonally forwardly down through the upstanding boss 18 with the lower end portion of the shaft fixed within a bore 22. In the present instance, the bore 22 extends entirely from the top of the boss 18 through the bottom surface 17 of the club. To facilitate drilling of the bore 22 on the proper diagonal angle, the top of the boss 18 is provided with a crown surface in a rearwardly sloping plane which is normal to the desired axis of the bore 22. As is customary, the tube of the club shaft 12 is tapered downwardly. This is taken advantage of in effecting assembly of the shaft with the club head. The bore 22 is made of a cylindrical diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of a portion of the shaft '12 that is encompassed by the upper end of the club head boss 18 when the shaft is projected into the bore 22 from the top end thereof and to the bottom of the bore. In this relationship, as best seen in FIG. 5, the outside diameter of the shaft 12 diverges to a smaller diameter at the bottom of the bore 22 than the bottom end portion of the bore. Assembly of the lower end portion of the shaft 12 into the bore is thus effected without resistance.

Following initial assembly of the shaft 12 into the bore 22, the portion of the shaft encompassed within the bore is expanded and locked into thorough frictional engagement with the wall of the bore throughout the length of the bore. In a convenient manner, this is accomplished by driving an elongated cylindrical interlock member 24 longitudinally down through the lower end portion of the tubular shaft. The diameter of the plug member 24 is less than the inside diameter of the shaft 12 above the bore encompassed portion of the shaft, but is of a diameter less than the diameter of the bore 22 equivalent to the thickness of the tubular material of the shaft. Thereby, after the shaft has been preliminarily assembled within the shaft bore 22, or before the shaft is so assembled, the plug member 24 is dropped into the shaft from the upper end thereof and will lodge above the end of the shaft lower end portion where the normal inside diameter of the shaft becomes smaller than the diameter of the plug member. Then, with the lower end portion of the shaft inside the tube 22, longitudinal downward pressure by means of a suitable tool or driving mandrel applied to the upper end of the plug member 24, drives the same down the lower end portion of the shaft, causing such shaft end portion to expand into tight engagement with the wall of the bore and until the plug member 24 has been driven to the bottom of the shaft and by preference with the lower end portion of the plug member projecting beyond the bottom face 17 of the club head. Any projecting lower end portion of the plug member and possibly also of the shaft is ground off flush with the bottom face 17. As a result of the assembly operations described, the outside diameter of the lower end portion of the shaft 12 is thoroughly frictionally grippingly engaged with the entire length of the bore 22. This taken together with the locked condition maintained by the plug 24 as seen in FIG. 4, clampingly gripping the lower extremity portion of the shaft between the plug member and the wall of the bore assures thorough retention of the club head on the shaft.

Moreover, in a putter flexibility in the club shaft should be minimized, and the substantial length of the shaft incased in the elongated upstanding boss portion.

18 of the club substantially contributes to the non-flexing efliciency of the shaft for this purpose.

In the modified form of club 25 shown in FIGURES 6-9, similar structure functioning in a similar manner as in the club 10 is provided, with certain refinements. To this end, the club 25 which is also preferably in the form of a putter type of club, comprises a club head 27 carried by a tubular shaft 28. In this instance, the club head 27 is of elongated form similarly as the club head 11, but club faces 29 on the opposite longitudinal sides of the club head, enabling the club to be used ambidextrously, are of convex form vertically for enabling more even roll of the stroked ball and thus permitting truer line or straight propulsion of the ball over the green. By preference, the club faces 29 merge on smoothly rounded contour with a bottom surface face 30 which is convexed transversely and also preferably slightly convexed longitudinally as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8.

For better balance and location of sweet spot S, a forward and rearward mass distribution along generally similar lines as in the club head I11 and for the same purpose is provided in the club head 27. For this purpose, the tip of the club head provides a forward projection 31 along the lower forward side of the club head. An upwardly projecting mass ridge 32 on the forward and longer end portion of the club head balances out with respect to an upwardly projecting mass and club shaft receiving boss portion 33 on the shorter rear end portion of the club head. A forwardly and downwardly sloping forward face 34 on the boss portion 33 converges into a groove 35 with a rearwardly and downwardly sloping surface 37 on the ridge portion 32. The groove 35 is indexingly coincident with the sweept spot area S and extends transversely across the top of the club head.

In order to emphasize the groove 35 for indexing purposes, it is preferably formed as a flat horizontal surface in a plane 'with longitudinally running upper marginal surfaces 38 along each side of the top of the club head along the bases of the ridge 32 and the boss 33 and providing a generally elongated H-shaped top surface as best seen in FIG. 6.

In this instance, the rear upstanding boss portion 33, which similarly as the boss portion 18 alfords a generally L-shaped side elevational profile for the club head, is of relatively smaller m-ass than the boss portion 18 and to compensate for this the rear end portion of the club head 27 is projected rearwardly beyond the boss portion 33 as a heel portion 39.

In balancing the mass of the portion of the club head 27 rearwardly relative to the sweet spot area S, the lower end portion of the shaft 28 is disposed at a proper predetermined angle diagonally downwardly and forwardly in the boss portion 33, being anchored within a bore 40 by means of a driven plug 41 assembled therewith similarly as described in connection with the plug 24, even though the bore 40 is blind end as shown as contrasted to the through bore arrangement in the club head 11.

With respect to both of the club heads 10 and 27, the converging sloping surfaces forwardly and rearwardly from the respective indexing grooves may be finished to enable visual concentration upon the indexing groove. For example, with respect to the club head 11, where the converging surfaces 19 and 21 are of polished or plated metal, high lights and shadows afforded thereby emphasize the intermediate transverse groove 20. With respect to the club head 27, contrasting coloration of the flat faced groove 35 with respect to the converging surfaces 34 and 37 affords a desirable attention arresting and concentration aid. Desirable effect may also be had by differentiating coloration of all of the surfaces of the ridge 32 and the boss 33. For example, where the surfaces of the ridge 32 including the face 37 and the surfaces of the boss 33 including the face 34 are finished.

in a flat black color as compared to white coloration of the surface of the groove 35 and the surfaces 38 joining the same, a highly contrasting attention arresting, focusing and indexing concentration effect is provided.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be efiected without depanting from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A golf club structure including a generally horizontally elongated club head of generally greater height than width and having a rear upwardly projecting shaft boss mass portion, a shaft secured in and projecting upwardly from said boss mass portion, an upwardly projecting mass hump ridge portion on the club head forwardly from said boss mass portion and substantially balancing said boss mass portion and the portion of the shaft therein, said mass portions having converging surfaces meeting substantially in line with the center of mass of the club head and defining therebetween a mass separating groove visible from above to identify the sweet spot area of the club face, said mass portions having the centers thereof disposed substantially spaced longitudinally of the club head from said groove and said sweet spot and thereby substantially stabilizing impact force on the club face forwardly and rearwardly from the sweet spot as indexed by said groove and between said mass centers so as to avoid tendency of the club head to twist on impact of the club face with a ball as long as such impact is within a range to the sweet spot side of a vertical plane transversely through the centers of said masses.

2. A golf club structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said groove has a flat horizontal surface adapted for contrasting coloration with respect to said converging surfaces to afford an attention arresting and concentration aid.

3. A golf club structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the top of the golf club head has along the bases of the mass portions longitudinally running upper marginal surfaces providing with said groove surface a generally H-shape and also adapted for contrasting coloration for attention arresting, focusing and indexing concentration effect.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 163,083 Belline et a1. May 1,1951 1,525,137 Lawton Feb. 3, 1925 1,530,952 Lawton Mar. 24, 1925 1,660,126 Heeter Feb. 21, 1928 1,792,852 Mat-tern Feb. 17, 1931 2,007,377 Link July 9, 193-5 2,174,212 Newsome Sept. 26, 1939 2,472,978 Mahon June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 473,088 Great Britain 1937

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