Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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GOLF CLUB WITH A UNITIZED STRUCTURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[01] The invention relates generally to golf clubs, including putters and iron
type golf
clubs (such as wedges). Golf clubs in accordance with at least some examples
of the
invention may be constructed without a hosel element and/or with a smooth
transition
between the shaft member and the club head at the junction between these
members.
BACKGROUND
[02] Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players - players of different
genders and players
of dramatically different ages and skill levels. Golf is somewhat unique in
the
sporting world in that such diverse collections of players can play togetlier
in golf
events, even in direct competition with one another (e.g., using handicapped
scoring,
different tee boxes, in team formats, etc.), and still enjoy the golf outing
or
competition. These factors, together with increased availability of golf
programming
on television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and/or other
golf
programming) and the rise of well lcnown golf superstars, at least in part,
have
increased golf's popularity in recent years both in the United States and
across the
world. The number of individuals participating in the game and the number of
golf
courses have increased steadily over recent years.
[03] Golfers at all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lower
their golf scores,
and reach that next performance "level." Manufacturers of all types of golf
equipment have responded to these demands, and recently, the industry has
witnessed
dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range
of
different golf ball models now are available, with some balls designed to
complement
specific swing speeds and/or other player characteristics or preferences,
e.g., with
some balls designed to fly farther and/or straighter, some designed to provide
higher
or flatter trajectories, some designed to provide more spin, control, and/or
feel
(particularly around the greens), etc. A host of swing aids and/or teaching
aids also
are available on the market that promise to help lower one's golf scores.
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[04] Being the sole instruments that set golf balls in motion during play,
golf clubs also
have been the subject of much technological research and advancement in recent
years. For example, the market has seen improvements in putter designs, golf
club
head designs, shafts, and grips in recent years. Additionally, other
technological
advancements have been made in an effort to better match the various elements
and/or
characteristics of the golf club and/or characteristics of a golf ball to a
particular
user's swing features or characteristics (e.g., club fitting technology, ball
launch angle
measurement technology, ball spin rate characteristics, etc.).
[05] Golfers tend to be sensitive to the "feel" of a golf club, particularly
with respect to
putters and wedges. The "feel" of a golf club comprises the combination of
various
component parts of the club and various features associated with the club that
produce
the sensory sensations experienced by the player when a ball is swung at
and/or
struck. Club "feel" is a very personal characteristic in that a club that
"feels" good to
one user may have totally undesirable "feel" characteristics for another. Club
weight,
weiglit distribution, aerodynamics, swing speed, and the like all may affect
the "feel"
of the club as it swings and strikes a ball. "Feel" also has been found to be
related to
the visual appearance of the club and the sound produced when the club head
strikes a
ball to send the ball in motion.
[06] While technological improvements to golf club designs have been made,
because of
the very personal nature of the swing and feels aspects of striking a golf
ball, no
single golf club design is best suited for all players. New designs that
change the look
and feel of the club are welcomed by at least some players.
SUMMARY
[07] The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in
order to
provide a basic understanding of at least some of its aspects. This summary is
not
intended as an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to
identify key
or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the
invention. The
following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a general
form
as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
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[08] Aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs, including putters and
iron type golf
clubs (such as wedges), that include: (a) a golf club head having a ball
striking head
and a shaft connecting member extending from the ball striking head; and (b) a
shaft
member fixed to the shaft connecting member. The shaft member may be fixed to
the
shaft connecting member in a hosel-free manner. Additionally or alternatively,
an
outer surface of the shaft member and an outer surface of the shaft connecting
member may be sized, shaped, and fixed together such that the shaft
member/shaft
connecting member junction (and the area surrounding it) is smooth or
substantially
smooth (e.g., with no abrupt changes in the outer dimensions, shapes, and/or
sizes of
the exterior of the shaft member and/or the shaft connecting member at the
junction, a
visually smooth, constant, and/or continuous appearance, etc.). As examples,
the
shaft connecting member may connect with the shaft member via welding (e.g.,
friction welding, spin welding, etc.), butt-welding, soldering, brazing,
adhesives, other
fusing techniques, mechanical connections or connectors, and the like. In at
least
some examples, the cross sectional shapes and/or dimensions of the shaft
connecting
member and the shaft member (e.g., at least at their junction and/or the
immediately
surrounding areas) may be the same or substantially the same (e.g., within 5%
of one
another).
[09] Club structures in accordance with at least some examples of the
invention further
may include a finish material, e.g., applied at least over a junction area
where the
shaft member is fixed to the shaft connecting member. Examples of suitable
finish
materials include: chrome coating materials, anodized coating materials,
paints, other
coatings, and the like. Finish materials of this type may be used to visually
conceal
the junction area, and in at least some instances, the finish material
combined with the
dimensions of the various parts may make it appear as if the shaft member and
the
shaft connecting member constitute a continuous or one-piece element at least
in the
junction area. In this manner, a visually appealing, less visually distracting
surface
may be provided as the club structure (e.g., as compared with traditional
bonding
shaft/club head joints, hosel-based junctions,.etc.).
[10] Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods for making golf
clubs, e.g., of
the various types described above. Such methods may include, for example:
providing a golf club head (such as a putter head, an iron type club head
(including a
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wedge head), etc.) including a ball striking head and a shaft connecting
member
extending from the ball striking head (e.g., by manufacturing or otherwise
producing
the golf club head, by purchasing or otherwise obtaining the golf club head
from a
manufacturer or other third party source, etc.); and (b) fixing a shaft member
to the
shaft connecting member, for example, in a hosel-free manner and/or in a
manner in
which an outer surface of the shaft member and an outer surface of the shaft
connecting member are sized, shaped, and fixed together such that the shaft
member/shaft connecting member junction is smooth or substantially smooth
(e.g.,
with no abrupt changes in the outer dimensions, shapes, and/or sizes of the
exterior of
the shaft member and/or the shaft connecting member at least at the junction,
having a
visually smooth, constant, and/or continuous appearance, and/or etc). In such
example methods, appropriate sizing and shaping of the shaft member and the
shaft
connecting member, at least at the junction and/or the area around the
junction, may
take place, at least in part, after the two members have been fixed together.
Methods
in accordance with at least some examples of this invention further may
include
various fixing methods and finishing methods, including the more specific
fixing
methods and finishing methods described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[11] A more complete understanding of the present invention and certain
advantages
thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description in
consideration
with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like
features, and wherein:
[12] Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional putter structure including a
conventional hosel
element arrangement for attaching the club shaft to the putter head;
[13] Fig. 2 illustrates an iron type golf club structure including a
conventional hosel
element arrangement for attaching the club shaft to the club head;
[14) Fig. 3 illustrates an example putter structure in accordance with this
invention;
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[15] Fig. 4 illustrates an example iron type golf club structure in accordance
with this
invention;
[16] Figs. 5 through 7 illustrate examples of at least some process steps that
may be used
for producing golf clubs in accordance with at least some examples of this
invention;
[17] Figs. 8A and 8B illustrate another example connection between a shaft
member and a
golf club head structure that may be used in accordance with at least some
examples
of this invention (Fig. 8A is a cross sectional view taken along line 8A-8A in
Fig.
8B); and
[18] Fig. 9 illustrates another example connection between a shaft member and
a golf club
head structure that may be used in accordance with at least some examples of
this
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[19] In the following description of various example embodiments of the
invention,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and
in
which are shown by way of illustration various example structures, systems,
and steps
in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood
that other
specific arrangements of parts, structures, example devices, systems, and
steps may be
utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without
departing
from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms "top,"
"bottom,"
"front," "back," "side," and the like may be used in this specification to
describe
various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used
herein as
a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the
figures.
Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific
three
dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of
this invention.
[20] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a conventional putter structure 100. As
is
conventional, the putter 100 includes a putter head 102 including a ball
striking face
102a and a hosel element 104. The hosel element 104 is a socket type structure
into
which a free end 106a of a shaft element 106 is inserted. Typically, the shaft
element
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106 is fixed to the putter head 102 at the hosel element 104 via adhesive
applied to the
free end 106a of the shaft member 106 and/or to the interior walls of the
hosel
element 104 that engage the sides of the free end 106a of the shaft member
106.
[21] As shown in Fig. 1, the hosel element 104 where the shaft 106 is bonded
to the putter
head 102 produces an enlarged junction area. This enlarged junction area can
be
distracting, at least for some players, e.g., when the player lines up to hit
a putt or
other shot. Moreover, the adhesive joint between the hosel element 104 and the
shaft
106 can create an energy absorbing connection, which can cause an inconsistent
feel
when shots are made, e.g., depending on the force of the shot, swing speed,
etc.
[22] Putters are not the only golf clubs that include hosel elements and/or
other connection
joints that may be enlarged, distracting to the user, and/or contain an energy
absorbing
connection. Fig. 2 illustrates a conventional iron type golf club 200 (e.g., a
wedge in
this example), which includes an iron club head 202 having a ball striking
face 202a
and a hosel element 204. As with the structure shown in Fig. 1, a shaft
element 206 is
fixed to the club head 202 at the hosel element 204 via adhesive applied to
the free
end of the shaft member 206 and/or to the interior walls of the hosel element
204 that
engage the sides of the free end of the shaft member 206. Again, this enlarged
hosel
element or overall junction area can be distracting to users when making a
shot.
Additionally, the adhesive joint between the hosel element 204 and the shaft
member
206 can create an energy absorbing connection, which can cause an inconsistent
feel
when shots are made, e.g., depending on the force of the shot, swing speed,
etc.
[23] At least some example aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs and
methods of
making golf clubs that avoid the use of hosel elements and/or avoid producing
other
enlarged areas around the junction of the shaft member with the ball striking
head. A
general description of aspects of the invention followed by a more detailed
description
of specific examples of the invention follows.
A. General Description of Golf Clubs and Methods According to
Aspects of the Invention
[24] In general, aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs, including,
for example,
putters and iron type golf clubs. Such clubs, according to at least some
examples of
the invention, may include: (a) a golf club head (such as a putter head, an
iron type
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club head (including a wedge club head), etc.) having a ball striking head and
a shaft
connecting member extending from the ball striking head; and (b) a shaft
member
fixed to the shaft connecting member in a hosel-free manner. As examples, a
free end
of the shaft connecting member may connect with a free end of the shaft member
in
any suitable or desired manner, such as via welding (any type of welding
procedure,
e.g., friction welding, spin welding, fusion welding, pressure welding, cold-
press
welding, ultrasonic welding, etc.), butt-welding, soldering, brazing, other
fusing
techniques, adhesives, mechanical connectors, and the like. In at least some
examples
of the invention, the cross sectional shapes and/or dimensions of the shaft
connecting
member and the shaft member may be the same or substantially the same (e.g.,
within
5% of one another), at least in the area of their junction. Additionally or
alternatively,
if desired, the shaft member may be fixed to the shaft connecting member at a
junction area, and an outer size and/or shape of the shaft connecting member
at and/or
near the junction area may be the same or substantially the same as an outer
size and
shape of the shaft member at and/or near the junction area (e.g., sized within
5% of
one another, the same general shape, etc.).
[25] Club structures according to other examples of this invention may
include: (a) a golf
club head (such as a putter head, an iron type club head (including a wedge
head),
etc.) having a ball striking head and a shaft connecting member extending from
the
ball striking head; and (b) a shaft member fixed to the shaft connecting
member at a
shaft member/shaft connecting member junction located exterior to the ball
striking
head. In such structures, an outer surface of the shaft member and an outer
surface of
the shaft connecting member may be sized, shaped, and fixed together such that
the
shaft member/shaft connecting member junction is smooth or substantially
smooth
(e.g., with no abrupt changes in the outer dimensions, shapes, and/or sizes of
the
exterior of the shaft member and/or the shaft connecting member at the
junction, no
distinct edges, ridges, or shoulders, etc.).
[26] As more specific examples, a free end of the shaft connecting member may
connect
with a free end of the shaft member in any suitable or desired manner, such as
via
welding (any type of welding procedure, e.g., friction welding, spin welding,
fusion
welding, pressure welding, cold-press welding, ultrasonic welding, etc.), butt-
welding, soldering, brazing, other fusing techniques, mechanical connectors,
and the
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like. At least some example club structures in accordance with the invention
(including the club structures described above) further may include a finish
material,
e.g., applied at least over a junction area where the shaft member is fixed to
the shaft
connecting member. Examples of suitable finish materials that may be used
include:
a chrome coating inaterial, an anodized coating material, a paint coating
material, an
electroplated coating material, other coating materials, and the like. Finish
materials
of this type may be used to visually conceal the junction area, and in at
least some
instances, the finish material may make it appear as if the shaft member and
the shaft
connecting member constitute a continuous or one-piece element, at least in
the
junction area. This result may be used to provide a visually appealing, less
visually
distracting surface (e.g., as compared with traditional bonding shaft/club
liead joints,
hosel-based junctions, etc.) and/or an overall club handle member having a
visually
smooth, constant, and/or continuous appearance.
[27] Additional aspects of this invention relate to methods for making golf
clubs. Such
methods may include, for example: providing a golf club head (such as a putter
head,
an iron type club head (including a wedge head), etc.) including a ball
striking head
and a shaft connecting member extending from the ball striking head (e.g., by
manufacturing or otherwise producing the golf club head, by purchasing or
otherwise
obtaining the golf club head from a manufacturer or other third party source
or
supplier, etc.); and (b) fixing a shaft member to the shaft connecting member
in a
hosel-free manner.
[28] As another example, methods in accordance with at least some exaniples of
this
invention may include: (a) providing a golf club head (such as a putter head,
an iron
type club head (including a wedge head), etc.) including a ball striking head
and a
shaft connecting member extending from the ball striking head (e.g., in the
example
manners described above); and (b) fixing a shaft member to the shaft
connecting
member at a shaft member/shaft connecting member junction located exterior to
the
ball striking head. In such example methods, an outer surface of the shaft
member
and an outer surface of the shaft connecting member may be sized, shaped, and
fit
together such that the shaft member/shaft connecting member junction is smooth
or
substantially smooth (e.g., with no abrupt changes in the outer dimensions,
shapes,
and/or sizes in the exterior of the shaft member and/or the shaft connecting
member at
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least at the junction, having a visually smooth, constant, and/or continuous
appearance, etc.). Appropriate sizing and shaping of the shaft member and/or
the
shaft connecting member may take place, at least in part, after the two
members have
been fixed together (at least at the junction and its surrounding areas).
[29] The shaft member and the shaft connecting member in the above example
methods
may be fixed together in any suitable or desired manner, such as via welding
(any
type of welding procedure, e.g., friction welding, spin welding, fusion
welding,
pressure welding, cold-press welding, ultrasonic welding, etc.), butt-welding,
soldering, brazing, other fusing techniques, adhesives, mechanical connectors,
and the
like. Methods in accordance with at least some examples of this invention
further
may include applying a finish material to the club shaft and/or shaft
connecting
member, e.g., at least over a junction area where the shaft member is fixed to
the shaft
connecting member. Examples of suitable finish application procedures that may
be
used include: a chrome coating procedure, an anodization coating procedure, a
paint
coating procedure, an electroplating procedure, other coating procedures
and/or
materials, and the like. Finish procedures of this type may be used to
visually conceal
the junction area, and in at least some instances, appropriate application of
the finish
may make it appear as if the shaft member and the shaft connecting member
constitute a continuous or one-piece element, at least in the junction area.
The
resulting club structure may have an overall handle member that is visually
appealing,
with a less visually distracting surface (e.g., as compared with traditional
bonding
shaft/club head joints, hosel-based junctions, etc.).
[30] Specific examples of the invention are described in more detail below.
The reader
should understand that these specific examples are set forth merely to
illustrate
examples of the invention, and they should not be construed as limiting the
invention.
B. Specific Examples of the Invention
[31] The various figures in this application illustrate examples of golf
clubs, components
thereof, and methods in accordance with examples of this invention. When the
saine
reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference nuinber is
used
consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or
similar parts
throughout.
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[32] Fig. 3 illustrates an example putter structure 300 that includes and/or
was produced by
various aspects in accordance with this invention. The putter structure 300
includes a
putter head 302 having a ball striking face 302a. A shaft connecting member
304
extends from the putter head 302. The shaft connecting member 304 may be
formed
in any desired manner without departing from the invention, including in
conventional
manners known and used in the art. For example, the shaft connecting member
304
may be mechanically attached to the putter head 302 (e.g., via threads,
adhesives, a
mechanical connector, etc.). As another exainple, shaft connecting member 304
may
be integrally formed as a unitary structure with the remainder of or at least
some
portion of the putter head 302, e.g., by casting, molding, forging, or the
like.
Additionally, while the shaft connecting member 304 is shown extending from
the top
surface of the putter head 302, those skilled in the art will understand that
the shaft
connecting member 304 may extend from any location on the putter head 302, and
it
may be sized, shaped, and extend in any desired manner or direction, without
departing from the invention.
[33] The putter head 302 and the shaft connecting member 304 may be produced
from any
desired materials without departing from the invention, including, for
example,
conventional materials known and used for putter heads in the art. Examples of
such
materials include: metals (e.g., aluminum, steel, copper, copper alloys,
titanium,
titanium alloys, etc.), polymers, mixtures of metals and/or polymers,
composites, etc.
[34] The putter structure 300 of this example further includes a shaft member
306 fixed to
the shaft connecting member 304. As shown in Fig. 3 and as will be explained
in
more detail later in this specification, the shaft member 306 is connected
with the
shaft connecting member 304 in a hosel-free manner. In this exainple structure
(and
as shown in Fig. 3), the shaft member 306 is fixed to the shaft connecting
member
304 at a shaft member/shaft connecting member junction 308 that is located
exterior
to the putter head 302. The outer dimension, size, and/or shape of the shaft
member
306 in this example structure 300 are the same or substantially the same as
the outer
dimension, size, and/or shape of the shaft connecting member 304, at least at
the shaft
member/shaft connecting member junction 308. While this example putter
structure
300 shows a slight bend or direction change of the overall handle member at
the shaft
member/shaft connecting member junction 308, those skilled in the art will
recognize,
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of course, that any shaped overall handle member (e.g., combination of at
least shaft
member 306 and shaft connecting member 304) may be used without departing from
the invention. For example, if desired, the shaft member/shaft connecting
member
junction 308 (and/or the overall handle member) could provide a straight
appearance,
a curved appearance, a more pronounced bend or corner appearance, a less
pronounced bend or corner appearance, etc., without departing from this
invention.
[35] If desired, as further illustrated in the example structure of Fig. 3, at
least the shaft
member/shaft connecting member junction area 308 of the putter structure 300
may
be treated such that the junction area is concealed from eye view in the final
product.
For example, in accordance with at least some examples of this invention, a
finish
material may be applied to the putter structure 300, e.g., at least over the
junction area
308 where the shaft member 306 is fixed to the shaft connecting member 304,
and this
finish material may be used to conceal the junction area 308. In this manner,
the shaft
member 306 and the shaft connecting member 304 (e.g., the overall handle
member)
may appear as a continuous single element, at least in the junction area 308.
Examples of suitable finish materials include a chrome coating material, an
anodized
coating material, paint, etc.
[36] Fig. 4 illustrates an example iron type golf club structure 400 (e.g., a
wedge or other
iron club) that includes and/or was produced by various aspects in accordance
with
this invention. The golf club structure 400 includes a golf club head 402
having a ball
striking face 402a. A shaft connecting member 404 extends from the golf club
head
402 (e.g., at a heel area of the golf club head 402, in this example
structure). The
shaft connecting member 404 may be connected to the club head 402 and/or
formed
in any desired manner without departing from the invention. For example, the
shaft
connecting member 404 may be mechanically attached to the golf club head 402
(e.g.,
via threads, adhesives, a mechanical connector, etc.). As another example,
shaft
connecting member 404 may be integrally formed as a unitary structure with the
remainder of or at least some portion of the golf club head 402, e.g., by
casting,
molding, forging, or the like. The golf club head 402 and the shaft connecting
member 404 may be produced from any desired materials without departing from
the
invention, including, for example, from conventional materials known and used
for
golf club heads in the art, such as metals (e.g., aluminum, steel, copper,
copper alloys,
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titanium, titanium alloys, etc.), polymers, mixtures of metals and/or
polymers,
composites, etc.
[37] The golf club structure 400 of this example further includes a shaft
member 406 fixed
to the shaft connecting member 404. As shown in Fig. 4 and as will be
explained in
more detail later in this specification, the shaft member 406 is connected
with the
shaft connecting member 404 in a hosel-free manner. In this example structure
400
(and as shown in Fig. 4), the shaft member 406 is fixed to the shaft
connecting
member 404 at a shaft member/shaft connecting member junction 408 that is
located
exterior to the golf club head 402. The outer dimension, size, and/or shape of
the
shaft member 406 in this example structure 400 are the same or substantially
the same
as the outer dimension, size, and/or shape of the shaft connecting member 404,
at
least at the shaft member/shaft connecting member junction 408. As shown, the
outer
surface of the shaft member 406 and the outer surface of the shaft connecting
member
404 may be sized, shaped, and fixed together such that the shaft member/shaft
connecting member junction 408 is smooth or substantially smooth.
[38] While this example golf club structure 400 shows a straight connection
between the
shaft member 406 and the shaft connecting member 404 at the shaft member/shaft
connecting member junction 408, those skilled in the art will recognize, of
course,
that any shaped overall handle member may be used without departing from the
invention. For example, if desired, the shaft member/shaft connecting member
junction 408 could provide a curved appearance, a bent or corner appearance,
etc.,
without departing from this invention.
[39] If desired, as further illustrated in the example structure 400 of Fig.
4, at least the
shaft member/shaft connecting member junction area of the club head structure
400
may be treated such that the junction area is concealed from eye view in the
final
product. For example, in accordance with at least some examples of this
invention, a
finish material may be applied to the club structure 400, e.g., at least over
the junction
area where the shaft member 406 is fixed to the shaft connecting member 404,
and
this finish material may be used to conceal the junction area 408. In this
manner, the
shaft member 406 and the shaft connecting member 404 may appear as a
continuous
single element at least in the junction area 408. Examples of suitable finish
materials
include a chrome coating material, an anodized coating material, paint, etc.
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[40] Figs. 5 through 7 illustrate examples of at least some process steps that
may be used
for producing golf clubs in accordance with examples of this invention. While
these
figures illustrate production of a putter structure lilce that shown in Fig.
3, those
skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the same or similar production
techniques
may be used in producing an iron type golf club structure, like that shown in
Fig. 4,
without departing from this invention.
[41] Fig. 5 illustrates an early step in the example golf club production
method, starting
after the club head structure 500 has been prepared and/or otherwise made
available.
As shown in Fig. 5, the club head structure 500 includes a ball striking head
302 and a
shaft connecting member 304 extending from the ball striking head 302. The
club
head structure 500 may be obtained and made available for use in methods
according
to the invention in any desired manner, e.g., by manufacturing it (e.g., using
casting,
molding, forging, or other suitable procedures), by obtaining it from a third
party
vendor, manufacturer, and/or other supplier, etc. While the ball striking head
302 is
shown in Fig. 5 as a blade type putter head, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that
any type of golf club head may be used in methods according to the invention,
including, for example, mallet type putter heads, any other types of putter
heads, iron
type golf club heads, etc.
[42] As one step in this example process for making the golf club, a shaft
member 306 is
fixed to the shaft connecting member 304 of the club head structure 500. In
accordance with at least some examples of this invention, the shaft member 306
will
be fixed to the shaft connecting member 304 in a hosel-free manner. As some
more
specific examples, this fixing step may include connecting a free end 304a of
the shaft
connecting member 304 with a free end 306a of the shaft member 306. The two
free
ends may be fixed together in any suitable or desired manner without departing
from
the invention, for example, by welding (e.g., friction welding, spin welding,
etc.),
butt-welding, soldering, brazing, other fusing techniques, and/or by any other
desired
procedures. Fig. 5 illustrates the two free ends 304a and 306a of the shaft
connecting
member 304 and the shaft member 306, respectively, joined together via a butt-
welding procedure. The resulting rough golf club structure is represented in
Fig. 5 by
reference number 520. Notably, as this stage in the example club head
producing
method, the butt-welding joint or junction 510 may have an enlarged bead of
weld
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connection material extending out from it. Any desired welding conditions may
be
used, including conventional conditions known and used for welding procedures.
[43] Shaft members joined with sliaft connecting members by welding (e.g.,
friction
welding, spin welding, etc.), butt welding, brazing, soldering, other fusing
techniques,
threaded connections, and the like can be advantageous, in at least some
examples, by
eliminating the adhesive joint between these parts. In at least some
instances, for at
least some users, this fused or threaded joint can provide a more solid
feeling joint
and/or eliminate the energy absorbing adhesive connection, thereby creating a
more
solid and/or consistent feel for the club head during use.
[44] As a next step in this example procedure, as shown in Fig. 6, the excess
bead of
connection material at the junction 510 may be removed from the rough golf
club
structure 520. This may be accomplished in any suitable or desired manner, for
example, by grinding, sanding, polishing, and/or other procedures known and
used in
the art. The resulting smoothed joint 532 provides the hosel-free connection
in this
example golf club structure 530. Notably, at this time, the outer dimension,
size,
and/or shape of the shaft connecting member 304 at the junction area 532 is
the same
or substantially the same as the outer dimension, size, and/or of the shaft
member 306
at the junction area 532. If desired, while not shown in the specific
structure of Fig. 6,
the overall shaft member 306 and shaft connecting member 304 may be designed,
constructed, and/or connected together in such a manner that an outer surface
of the
shaft member 306 and an outer surface of the shaft connecting member 304 at
their
junction form a smooth or substantially smooth connection (e.g., a straight or
smoothly curved junction), as opposed to the slightly bent, angled, and/or
cornered
connection shown in Fig. 6. Optionally, if desired, this step also may be used
to shape
the junction area 532 into a smoothed or curved appearance, as opposed to the
bent or
cornered appearance of Fig. 6 (e.g., by grinding, sanding, polishing, etc. at
the
junction area 532).
[45] Fig. 7 illustrates another example step in this example golf club
production process.
Specifically, Fig. 7 illustrates a step of applying a finish material at least
over a
junction area 532 where the shaft member 306 is fixed to the shaft connecting
member 304. Of course, any type of finishing procedure may be used without
departing from this invention, or alternatively, if desired, no additional
finishing steps
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are required. Examples of suitable finish application procedures that may be
used, if
any, include conventional golf club finishing procedures known and used in the
art.
More specific examples of finishing procedures that may be used include: a
chrome
coating procedure, an anodization coating procedure, a paint coating
procedure, an
electroplating procedure, and the like. Finishing procedures of this type may
be used
to visually conceal the junction area, as shown in Fig. 7. Additionally, in at
least
some instances, as shown in Fig. 7, the finishing procedure may make it appear
as if
the shaft member 306 and the shaft connecting member 304 constitute a
continuous or
one-piece element, at least in the junction area. This may result in a
visually
appealing, less visually distracting surface (e.g., as compared with
traditional bonding
shaft/club head joints, hosel-based joints, etc.). Optionally, if desired, the
finishing
procedure may be used to change the appearance of the junction from a bent or
cornered appearance to a more smoothed or curved appearance.
[46] If desired, the shaft connecting member 304 may be fixed with the shaft
member 306
in a wide variety of other ways without departing from this invention. For
example,
rather than butt-welding the free ends together, a side edge welding technique
may be
used, e.g., like that shown in Figs. 8A and 8B. More specifically, as shown in
the
example of Figs. 8A and 8B, the free ends 304a and 306a of the shaft
connecting
member 304 and the shaft member 306, respectively, may be provided with side
edge
surfaces that may be arranged to face one another, and a weld joint 800 (or
other
appropriate connection material, such as solder, brazing material, adhesives,
or the
like) may be provided to join the two members 304 and 306 together. Notably,
in this
illustrated example connection, the free end 304a of the shaft connecting
member 304
and the free end 306a of the shaft member 306 fit together such that a
constant or
substantially constant outer dimension, size, and/or shape is provided through
the
junction area when the joined product is obtained (i.e., in this example, the
outer
dimension, size, and/or shape of the overall handle member at the junction
area 800
across the free ends 304a and 306a is the same or substantially the same as
the outer
dimensions, sizes, and/or shapes of the shaft connecting member 304 and the
shaft
member 306 adjacent their respective free end areas, and a smooth or
substantially
smooth junction is obtained along the shaft length between these two members
304
and 306). If desired, finish materials like those described above may be
applied, e.g.,
to visually conceal the junction 800.
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[47] Still other ways of connecting the shaft member 306 to the shaft
connecting member
304 may be used in accordance with other examples of this invention. In at
least
some examples of these connections, an outer dimension, size, and/or shape of
the
shaft connecting member 304 at the junction area will be the same or
substantially the
same as an outer dimension, size, and/or of the shaft member 306 at the
junction area
when the final product is obtained. Therefore, in accordance with at least
some of
examples of this invention, the free ends 304a and 306a of the shaft
connecting
member 304 and the shaft member 306, respectively, may include threaded
engagement elements or other mechanical connectors such that, when joined
together,
the outer dimension, size, and/or shape of the shaft connecting member 304 at
the
junction area is the same or substantially the same as the outer dimension,
size, and/or
of the shaft member 306 at the junction area. As still another example, as
shown in
Fig. 9, if desired, the free end 304a of the shaft connecting member 304 may
include
an open chamber that receives the free end 306a of the shaft member 306. Then,
when the free end 306a of the shaft member 306 is fully inserted into the open
end
304a of the shaft connecting member 304, the outer dimension, size, and/or
shape of
the shaft connecting member 304 at the junction area will be the same or
substantially
the same as the outer dimension, size, and/or of the shaft member 306 at the
junction
area. The ends 304a and 306a may be held togetlier in any desired manner
without
departing from the invention, e.g., by adhesives, other fusing techniques,
threads,
other mechanical connectors, etc.
[48] As also shown in Fig. 9, when constructed in this manner, the outer
surface of the
shaft member 306 and the outer surface of the shaft connecting member 304 are
sized,
shaped, and fixed together such that the shaft member/shaft connecting member
junction is smootli or substantially smooth. Of course, if desired, the open
end may
be provided in the shaft member 306 and the insert portion may be provided on
the
shaft connecting member 304 without departing from this invention. Also, if
desired,
a finish material as described above may be applied after the shaft connecting
member
304 and the shaft member 306 are connected together, e.g., to visually conceal
the
junction.
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CONCLUSION
[49] Of course, many modifications to the golf club structures and/or methods
for making
the golf clubs may be used without departing from the invention. For example,
with
respect to the structures, grips, aiming indicia or markings, other indicia or
markings,
different types of putter heads, different types of club heads, various shaft
curvatures
and/or shapes, various shaft connecting member shapes, and/or other structural
elements may be provided and/or modified in the structure without departing
from the
invention. With respect to the methods, additional production steps may be
added,
various described steps may be omitted, the steps may be changed and/or
changed in
order, and the like, without departing from the invention. Therefore, while
the
invention has been described with respect to specific exainples including
presently
preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will
appreciate
that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described
structures
and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed
broadly
as set forth in the appended claims.
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