US3791647A

US3791647A - Adjustable head golf club for right and left handed players

Info

Publication number: US3791647A
Application number: US00274171A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Verderber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-07-24
Filing date: 1972-07-24
Publication date: 1974-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-12

Abstract

A golf club is provided having an adjustable head which may be moved to a position for use as a putter or any one of eight different irons. It may be used optionally as a right or lefthanded club, has embodied therein novel means for easily and efficiently locking the club head in any of its selected positions in relation to the shaft of the club, and a novel arrangement of readily visible index marks and graduations for enabling the club head to be quickly moved to a selected position, and consists of a minimum number of parts of simple construction, which can be manufactured at low cost, and can be quickly and easily assembled without excessive use of tooling.

Description

Verderber ADJUSTABLE HEAD GOLF CLUB FOR RIGHT AND LEFT HANDED PLAYERS Inventor:

Filed:

Joseph Verderber, 15255 Lake Shore B1vd., Cleveland, Ohio 441 10 July 24, 1972 Appl. No.: 274,171

US. Cl. 273/79 [51] Int. Cl A63b 53/06 [58] Field of Search 273/79, 80.1, 168

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,455,150 11/1948 Verderber 273/79 2,520,701 8/1950 Verderber...., 273/79 2,593,368 4/1952 Verderber 273/79 2,520,702 8/1950 Verderber 273/79 2,329,313 9/1943 Winter 273/79 1,165,559 12/1915 Vories 273/79 1,429,569 9/1922 Craig 273/79 2,847,219 8/1958 Shoemaker... 273/79 2,882,053 4/1959 Lorthiois 273/79 3,601,399 8/1971 Agens 273/79 451 Feb. 12,1974

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 218,423 7/1924 Great Britain 273/73 J Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard J. Apley Attorney, Agent, or Firmlsler & Ornstein [57] ABSTRACT A golf club is provided having an adjustable head which maybe moved to a position for use as a putter or any one of eight different irons. It may be used 0ptionally as a right or left-handed club, has embodied therein novel means for easily and efficiently locking the club head in any of its selected positions in relation to the shaft of the club, and a novel arrangement of readily visible index marks and graduations for enabling the club head to be quickly moved to a selected position, and consists of a minimum number of parts of simple construction, which can be manufactured at low cost, and can be quickly and easily assembled without excessive use of tooling.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE HEAD GOLF CLUB FOR RIGHT AND LEFT HANDED PLAYERS This invention relates generally to golf clubs, but has reference more particularly to a club having an adjustable head, which may be moved to a position for use as a putter, or as any one of eight different irons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf club of the character described, which may be used optionally as a right-handled or left-handled club.

A further object of the invention is to provide a club of the character described, having novel means for easily and efficiently locking the club head in any of its selected positions in relation to the shaft of the club.

A further object of the invention is to provide a club of the character described, having a novel arrangement of readily visible index marks and graduations for enabling the club head to be quickly moved to a selected position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a club of the character described, which consists of a minimum number of parts of simple construction, which can be manufactured at low cost, and can be quickly and easily assembled, without excessive use of tooling.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a golf club embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the club, as viewed from the right side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the club;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the inner end of the collar in FIGS. 4 and 5 which is pinned to the stem of the hosel.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the golf club will be seen to comprise a head, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, a hosel, generally indicated by reference numeral 11, and a shaft 12, which is secured, in any desired manner to the hosel.

The head 10 of the club is symmetrical at both sides of its longitudinal center line or axis, such center line or axis coinciding with the line 44 in FIG. 1 of the drawings. This symmetricity is important because it enables the club to be used as a right-handed club, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or as a left-handed club, by rotating the club head to expose the face 13 of the club in a direction opposite to that seen in FIG. I.

The club head is provided with

rear surfaces

14 and 15 which converge toward each other and extend to a substantially flat rear surface 16, which is substantially parallel with the front face 13 of the head.

The surface 16 is provided with a rearwardly extending protuberance 17 which also extends vertically to the

surfaces

14 and 15, and has formed therein a recess 18 having a semi-cylindrical wall, which serves a purpose to be presently described.

The head is also provided with a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore I9, which is open at the shaft end of the head and is closed at the other end, as by an end wall 20.

The hosel 11 of the club is provided at its lower end with a stem which extends into the bore 19, and consists of three portions, namely, a portion 21 of substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the bore 19,

so as to be slidable along the wall of this bore, a portion 22 of a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the bore 19, and a portion 23 of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the portion 22. The junction of the

portions

22 and 21 provides an annular shoulder 24, while the junction of the

portions

23 and 22 provides an annular shoulder 25.

The portion 21 of the stem is provided adjacent its rear end with an annular recess 26, in which an O-ring 27 is mounted, which has a wiping contact with the wall of the bore 19, whereby to provide a seal against entrance of moisture into the bore 19.

The portion 23 of the stem has secured to its outer end, as by means of a pin 28, an annular collar 29 which has an outer diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the bore 19, whereby the head 10 may be slid axially over the outer surface of the collar 29.

The inner end of the collar 29 is provided with circumferentially-spaced teeth 30 of V-shaped crosssection which extend substantially radially of the said inner end, between the outer and inner surfaces of the collar and have V-shaped recesses 31 therebetween, which serve a purpose to be presently described. The anglebetween the sides of these recesses is approximately 25, or more.

The portion 23 of the stem has slidably mounted thereon an annular collar 32, which has an outer diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the collar 29, and is provided with a recess 33 having a semi-cylindrical wall, the axis of which extends tangentially to the outer wall of the collar 32. ,The collar 32 is secured to the head 10 of the club, as by means of a locking pin 34 which extends through the

recesses

18 and 33.

The outer end of the collar 32 is also provided with circumferentially-spaced teeth 35 of V-shapcd crosssection, which extend substantially radially of the said outer end, between the outer and inner surfaces of the collar, and have V-shaped recesses 36 therebetween, the angle between the sides of these recesses being approximately 25, or more.

With the parts in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, there is a space of about one-eighth inch between the end wall 20 of the bore 19 and the outer end of the collar 29.

A compression coil spring 37 is interposed between the shoulder 24 of the stem and the inner end of the collar 32. This spring normally biases the collar 32 towards the collar 29, thereby causing the teeth 35 of the collar 32 to enter into the recesses or spaces 31 of the collar 29, so as to lock the

collars

29 and 32 to each other, and thereby prevent rotation of the club head 10 relatively to the stern of the hosel.

In FIG. 2, the base of the hosel 11 is shown as provided with nine circumferentially-spaced graduations or markings, while the rear end of the club head is provided with two index marks 0 and O. The index mark 0 is seen as aligned with the graduation which is farthest to the right, thereby designating that the face of the head is in the position of a putter, for a righthanded golfer.

When it is desired to move the head of the club to any other position, that is to say, to a position corresponding to a two iron, three iron, four iron, five iron, six iron, seven iron, eight iron or nine iron, the hosel 11 of the club is held rigidly in the right hand, and the left hand is used to push the club head to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5.

This causes the teeth of the collar 32 to become disengaged from the teeth of the collar 29, and the collar 32 to come into abutment with the shoulder of the stem, which shoulder thus limits the extent of such movement. At this point, the head 10 may be rotated in a @ockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, so as to align the index mark with any one of the graduations to which reference has been made, it being understood that, as seen in FIG. 2, the graduations, reading from right to left correspond respectively to the position of a putter, the two iron, the three iron, the four iron, the five iron, the six iron, the seven iron, the eight iron, and the nine iron.

After such alignment has been completed, the club head is released, causing the spring 37 to again bias the collar 32 into interlocked engagement with the collar 29, and placing the club in condition for use.

When the club is to be used by a left-handed golfer the club head 10 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 2, or from any other position in which it has been placed for use as a right-handed club, in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, until the index mark 0' is aligned with the graduation farthest to the left.

When the club is to be used as a left-handed club, for any of the eight irons, the graduations, beginning with the one next to the one farthest to the left, and continuing from left to right, correspond respectively to the position of the two iron, the three iron, the four iron, the five iron, the six iron, the seven iron, the eight iron, and the nine iron, so that the head may be rotated, in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to align the 0' index mark with any one of such graduations, to bring the head to the selected position.

As an added precaution to prevent the head of the club from being inadvertently pushed into an unlocked position, means have been provided for frictionally locking the head to the stem.

For this purpose, the portion 21 of the stem is provided with an annular area 21a, which is depressed approximately 0.005 inch. The rear surface 16 of the club head is provided adjacent this area 21a with a circular boss 40 cast integrally with the head, which boss is internally threaded for the reception of a safety lock set screw 41, which is also threaded into a threaded opening 42 in the rear portion 16 of the head. This set screw 41 is provided with a handle or lever 43.

When the parts are in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the set screw 41 is in frictional engagement with the area 210, thus providing an additional means of locking the head to the stem.

When the head is to be released from interlocked engagement with the stem, the screw 41 is released, as by turning the handle or lever 43, from frictional engagement with the area 21a, permitting the head to be shifted. After the head has been shifted, and returned to interlocked engagement with the stem, the screw 41 is then again moved into frictional engagement with the area 21a.

It is thus seen that I have provided a golf club which is highly advantageous, from the standpoint that it can be used as a right-handed or left-handed club, has embodied therein locking means for easily and efficiently locking the club head in any selected position in relation to the shaft of the club, has a novel arrangement of easily visible index marks and graduations for enabling the club head to be quickly moved to a selected position, and consists of a minimum number of parts of simple construction, which can be manufactured at low cost, and can be quickly and easily assembled without the use of complicated tooling.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an adjustable head golf club, the combination comprising; a club head including a symmetrical ball engaging playing face portion and rear surface portions including a pair of angularly converging surfaces separated by a rearwardly directed protuberance including a vertical surface substantially parallel to said playing face, means defining a blind cylindrical bore of substantially uniform diameter extending longitudinally of said head, a hosel including a stem portion extending within said bore and including portions of first, second and third diameters, each smaller than its predecessor, said first diameter portion of said stem being dimensioned to extend into said bore and engage the wall thereof to provide a sliding fit therewithin, said portion of said stem of said first diameter terminating in a junction with said portion of said second diameter to define a first shoulder therebetween, said portion of said stem of said second diameter extending further into said bore and terminating in a junction with said portion of said third diameter to define a second shoulder therebetween, said portion of said stem of said third diameter extending still further into said bore, a first collar carried by said third diameter portion of said stern and fixed on the end thereof, said first collar including an outer diameter complementary to said cylindrical bore and terminating at one end in a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth of substantially V-shaped crosssection, a second collar of substantially the same diameter as said first collar and slidably mounted on said third diameter portion of said stem between said first collar and said second shoulder, means securing said second collar to said head and against sliding movement within said bore, but permitting sliding movement of said stem therewithin, said second collar including a complementary toothed portion selectively engageable with the toothed portion of said first collar, spring means encircling said stem between said second collar and said first shoulder urging said collars into engagement with each other, and lock means carried by said I protuberance extending into said bore to selectively secure said head and said stem against relative sliding movement.

- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said lock means consists of a set screw.

3. A golf club, as defined in claim 2, wherein a lever is provided extending substantially parallel with said 6 head and is connected to said set screw, whereby to rostem is provided with an annular groove, and an O-ring tate said screw. is disposed in said groove for preventing access of mois- 4. A golf club, as defined in claim 1, wherein said secture into said bore and for retaining a lubricant which end collar is secured to said head by means of a pin exis interposed between the bore of the head and the tending tangentially to said second collar. 5 outer surface of the stem.

5. A golf club, as defined in claim 1, wherein said

Claims

1. In an adjustable head golf club, the combination comprising; a club head including a symmetrical ball engaging playing face portion and rear surface portions including a pair of angularly converging surfaces separated by a rearwardly directed protuberance including a vertical surface substantially parallel to said playing face, means defining a blind cylindrical bore of substantially uniform diameter extending longitudinally of said head, a hosel including a stem portion extending within said bore and including portions of first, second and third diameters, each smaller than its predecessor, said first diameter portion of said stem being dimensioned to extend into said bore and engage the wall thereof to provide a sliding fit therewithin, said portion of said stem of said first diameter terminating in a junction with said portion of said second diameter to define a first shoulder therebetween, said portion of said stem of said second diameter extending further into said bore and terminating in a junction with said portion of said third diameter to define a second shoulder therebetween, said portion of said stem of said third diameter extending still further into said bore, a first collar carried by said third diameter portion of said stem and fixed on the end thereof, said first collar including an outer diameter complementary to said cylindrical bore and terminating at one end in a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth of substantially V-shaped cross-section, a second collar of substantially the same diameter as said first collar and slidably mounted on said third diameter portion of said stem between said first collar and said second shoulder, means securing said second collar to said head and against sliding movement within said bore, but permitting sliding movement of said stem therewithin, said second collar including a complementary toothed portion selectively engageable with the toothed portion of said first collar, spring means encircling said stem between said second collar and said first shoulder urging said collars into engagement with each other, and lock means carried by said protuberance extending into said bore to selectively secure said head and said stem against relative sliding movement.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said lock means consists of a set screw.

3. A golf club, as defined in claim 2, wherein a lever is provided extending substantially parallel with said head and is connected to said set screw, whereby to rotate said screw.

4. A golf club, as defined in claim 1, wherein said second collar is secured to said head by means of a pin extending tangentially to said second collar.

5. A golf club, as defined in claim 1, wherein said stem is provided with an annular groove, and an O-ring is disposed in said groove for preventing access of moisture into said bore and for retaining a lubricant which is interposed between the bore of the head and the outer surface of the stem.