Universal Golf Club

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the game of golf and particularly to a unique golf club construction which may be used by left- and right-handed players wherein the club head can be adjusted to a variety of club head pitch and lie orientations to suit a particular player's needs.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Traditionally in the game of golf, clubs were designed either for a left-handed or right-handed player wherein the pitch of the playing face and the lie angle of the head was preconfigured and fixed with respect to the axis of the shaft. Similarly, the face of the club was also preconfigured to be a standard face or may be fixed in either an open or closed ("hooded") configuration to compensate for a player's swing. As a result, a set of clubs is expected to be suitable for substantially every playing condition. Accordingly, in certain situations the sole of the club is sometime not entirely parallel to the ground or does not compensate for particular swing habits. In such instances, the club face does not fully address the ball and may result in an errant shot.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a golf club wherein the lie angle of the shaft with respect to the head may be adjusted such that the sole, toe and heel of the club may be parallel to the ground. The attachment method of the club head to the shaft also permits adjustment of the shaft for left- or right-handed players and can also be adjusted to adjust for open or closed angles of the head.

The golf club embodying the instant invention may be a driver, iron, or putter, and includes a club head coupled to the shaft by a universal joint which may be rigidly fixed in position to a player's desired configuration. The universal joint is formed by a ball and socket arrangement wherein the ball is attached to the end of the golf club shaft and captured in the golf club head by a clamping arrangement. A spherical ball/socket arrangement permits adjustment of the shaft with respect to the head to accommodate both left- and right-handed players. Additionally, the head may be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the attached grip to create an open or closed configuration of the club face. The angular orientation of the club face or loft of the club may also be adjusted by pivoting the club head by its transverse axis passing through the ball/socket arrangement.

The advantages provided by such an arrangement permit substantially greater flexibility than previously achieved in standard golf club constructions. Additionally, the angular orientation of the shaft with respect to the club head can be quickly changed on the golf course. Previously, such adjustments were required to be made at a golf pro shop and often took weeks to complete. These and other advantages will become apparent to the those skilled in the art upon reading of the specification and in reference to the attached drawing figures.

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of the golf club embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the golf club head shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the golf club head shown in FIG. 2 taken along Line II--II;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the golf club head embodying this invention;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the clamping member;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the clamping member shown in FIG. 5 taken along Line VI--VI;

FIG. 7 is an oblique view of an alternate embodiment of the golf club;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the alternate embodiment of the golf club head shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the alternate embodiment of the golf club head shown in FIG. 7 taken along Line IX--IX; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the alternate embodiment of the golf club head.

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate the various views of one embodiment of a golf club head embodying the invention. Although the following description will be made with reference to a specific golf club head configuration, it is contemplated that the invention can be applied equally as well to other head designs. Referring to the drawing figures, the golf club 10 includes a golf club head 12 coupled to a golf club shaft 14 by a pivoting universal coupler 16 in the form of a ball and socket arrangement. Although the upper portion of the shaft 14 is not shown, the shaft may include a conventional grip having any one of a number of different shapes or reference point to assist the golfer in achieving the proper grip of the club. In this particular instance, the shaft defines a line 18 defined by a plane 20 passing longitudinally through the shaft 14. The golf club head 12 may have any one of a number of configurations depending upon the desired application, such as a driver, an iron, or the putter configuration shown in the drawing figures.

In this particular embodiment, the golf club head or putter head 12 includes a front playing face 22 preferably having a width substantially greater than its height. The putter head 12 also includes a bottom face or sole 24, a back face 26, and a top face or surface 28. Extending generally perpendicularly from the back face 26, and spaced slightly in from the ends 30 are two spaced-apart flanges 32, which with a portion of back face 26, define a generally U-shaped structure. The upper surface 28 of the putter head 12 may also contain features which assist the golfer in using the club. For example, and not by way of limitation, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 illustrate two parallel grooves 34 which extend perpendicular from about the front playing face 22 and extend backward along and parallel to the flanges 32. The grooves 34 aid the golfer in aligning the shot. The lower surface or sole 24 is preferably slightly radiused or rounded with the curvature becoming more prominent toward the ends of the flanges 32 and the ends 30 of the front playing face 22 to enable the club to swing freely through an arc of the stroke without catching the putting surface.

Defined in the back face 26 of the club head 12 intermediate the flanges 32 and at the bottom of the generally U-shaped portion is a depression 40. Depression is preferably semispherical or partly spherical in form having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the ball member 42 therein. More preferably, the depression 40 is compounded, defined by nested depressions wherein the inner depression 41 is of a lesser diameter than the outer depression 40. The inner depression 41 defines an annular spherical portion or annulus 44 which engages the ball member 42 received therein. See FIG. 2.

The ball member 42 is preferably retained within the spherical depression 40 by a keeper 46 which may also be referred to herein as a clamping member or jaw member. In the preferred embodiment, keeper 46 is made from a block of rigid material such as metal and having a dimension which substantially spans the space between the flanges 32, yet is allowed to slide therebetween in a direction to and away from the back face 26. The block forming the keeper 46 is also preferably dimensioned so as not to protrude beyond the dimensions of the club head established by the various surfaces or faces.

A front surface 48 of the keeper 46 is oriented towards the back face 26 and includes a spherical depression 50 which is preferably substantially identical in dimension and form to depression 40. Indeed, in the preferred embodiment, the depressions 40 and 50 are aligned so as to engage opposite sides of the ball member 42 and capture it between the keeper 46 and the back face 26 of the golf club head 12. The clamping pressure of the keeper 46 against the ball member 42 is preferably controlled by at least a pair of fasteners such as socket head cap screws 51 or other fasteners extending through passages 52 and received in threaded holes 54 in the back face 26 of the club 12. Although socket head cap screws are described, other fasteners may be used to provide sufficient torque to urge the keeper 46 against the ball member 42 and into the spherical depressions 40 and 50 to fix the desired position of the shaft 14 with respect to the club head 12.

It is preferred that the club head 12 be made from a metallic material such as aluminum, bronze, stainless steel, or other desired material, although it is contemplated that it may also be made from resinous material or other forms of plastics or composites. In the preferred embodiment, and in a prototype of the invention, the club head 12 and keeper 46 were manufactured from bronze, while the ball member 42 and shaft 14 were made from a stainless steel. With respect to the ball member and shaft, other materials may also be used, including graphite, carbon or related materials.

An alternate embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 7 through 10, includes many of the structures described above and are identified by the same reference numbers. The alternate embodiment of the golf club head 12 includes a playing or striking face 22, a bottom face or sole 24, a back face 26, and an upper face or surface 28. Extending from the back face 26 and spaced inwardly from the ends 30 are two spaced-apart sighting flanges 32, the lower reaches of which are interconnected by a web 56. The web 56 preferably also extends to and interconnects the lower portion of the back face 26 to define a generally rectangular or box-like cavity open at one end and at the top for reasons which are apparent below. The lower surface or sole 24, including that portion defined by web 56, preferably has a slight radius or rounded sole 24 with the curvature becoming more prominent toward the ends of the flanges 32 and the ends 30 of the front playing face 22 to enable the club to swing freely through the arc of the stroke without snagging on the ground.

Defined in the back face 26 of the club head 12 intermediate the flanges 32 and above the web 56 is the compound depression 40. As in the prior embodiment, the depression is preferably semispherical or partly spherical in form having a diameter sufficient to receive a portion of the ball member 42 therein. The ball member 42 is retained in the depression 40 by the keeper 46 which, in the alternate embodiment, is made from a block of rigid material such as metal and dimensioned to slide within the generally rectangular or box-like cavity defined by the back face 26, the flanges 32, and the upper surface of the web 56. The keeper 46 slides therein in a direction to and away from the back face 26.

The front surface 48 of the keeper 46 is oriented towards the back face 26 and includes the spherical depression 50 which is aligned to engage the opposite side of the ball member 42 and capture it against the back face 26 of the golf club head 12. The clamping pressure of the keeper 46 against the ball member 42 is controlled by at least a pair of fasteners such as socket head cap screws 51 or other fasteners extending through passages 52 and received in threaded holes 54 in the back face 26 of the club 12.

The club head configuration described above may have a variety of configurations. For example, the keeper 46 may take on other forms which include the backwardly extending flanges 32 instead of them extending from the back face 26 of the club head 12. Other modifications will become apparent to one skilled in the art to make the club appear differently, but function in substantially the same way.

The advantages provided by this invention include the adjustment of the club lie with respect to the shaft as well as the adjustment of the loft or orientation of the club face vertically with respect to the shaft. Accordingly, using this design, the club may be used by left-handed and right-handed players, and be adjusted to be in either open or closed configuration to compensate for a player's swing. The concept described above may also be extended to drivers and other golf club designs by changing the overall or respective dimensions of the components mentioned herein. For example, the outer flanks of the flanges may be more rounded and blend in with the end of the club face and have a more arcuate sole to appear more like conventional drivers, while the keeper may be extended to the back of the club to make a smooth transition. Other advantages and modifications may be more readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reviewing this description.