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Collapsible golf clubRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Practice Swingable Implement Or Indicator Associated With Swingable Implement, Device Attachable To Or Integral With Swingable Implement, Adjustable Swingable Implement, Or Swing Or Position Indicator, Adjustable Implement Or Static Position Indicator (e.g., With Respect To The Golfer, Projectile, Target, Etc.), Adjustable Shaft LengthCollapsible golf club description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070087855, Collapsible golf club. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention is in the field of golf clubs, as may be used for play on any regulation golf course. BACKGROUND [0002] Golf has been called the great game of travel. Golfers look for a better or more challenging course, sometimes seeking to play only on courses with a world-class reputation. Traveling while packing a full set of golf clubs, requires transporting a heavy and cumbersome golf bag, within a covering or travel bag, typically along with the other entire luggage that might be expected in travel, and sometimes with a surcharge for extra baggage. [0003] To reduce the size of the golf club package for travel, golf club sets have been made with collapsible clubs, made in sections for disassembly for travel and reassembly for play. One system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,006, where a golf club is made in two separable systems, which can be fitted one inside the other and then fastened with screws. [0004] One problem with collapsible golf shafts is the reliability of the shaft connections to hold the club head and shaft sections in a fixed relationship, while providing the level or quality of flexibility and shaft temper, needed for providing a "whip," effect important in driving the golf ball and in preventing the club head from a turning axial related movement and a misaligned drive, upon impact of the club head and the ball. Further, with any degree of club head looseness or wobble, plus the torque every time a golf ball was hit any mechanical defect, which could loosen the connection, such clubs might be unsafe. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] This invention relates to and an object of this invention is to provide an improved golf club, or club shaft, that can be collapsed for reducing the club length to a manageable size, for convenient non use in transportation, or the like. [0006] A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improved golf club shaft of three or more sections with interleaved and interlocking parts that axially collapse into each other to reduce the shaft length for travel and which can be axially extended to a full length by extending the interleaved sections to the full extended length where each of the interleaved shaft sections engage in a locked or fixed relationship with the next successive axial section, in the axial direction from the handle to the club head or in reverse from the club head to the handle. [0007] The principles of the invention, as disclosed in a preferred embodiment, are a golf club comprising three or more sections axially aligned and terminated at a first end on a club head, as would be known to those skilled in the art. The disclosed invention may be best understood with reference to a standard golf club, as is well known with a shaft tapering from the handle to the club head, in multiple steps and with each section identifiable from the next successive axial section by a narrower or wider shaft diameter, relative to whether the next section is toward the club head or to the handle, and with a step in the form of an annular step or annular bevel, integral with, and formed in, the shaft section, where the shaft diameter is expanded or reduced, in a step over the axial length of the annular bevel, to the shaft handle or to the club head, respectively. As disclosed in a preferred. [0008] As disclosed in a preferred embodiment, each of the tapered sections at an end where its diameter is at the widest diameter has a section part representing a portion of the axial length of the section, tapering from the widest part, to an annular bevel, where the shaft diameter is narrowed over the axial length of the bevel. [0009] As disclosed in a preferred embodiment, the opposed end of the shaft section, at its narrowest diameter, is terminated at an annular bevel at the end of the shaft where the diameter of the shaft is narrowed to its narrowest diameter. [0010] The shaft sections, as disclosed in a preferred embodiment, are hollow. However, as would be understood by those skilled in the art, the shafts may be filled or made of a composite with an internal structure for balanced strength and flexibility, without departing from the principles of the invention, as disclosed in a preferred embodiment. [0011] In accordance with the principles of the invention, as disclosed in a preferred embodiment, a shaft section of a narrower shaft section is interleaved and interlocked with the next successive wider shaft section, as follows. [0012] As may be seen and as described in a preferred embodiment, each shaft section at its respective wider end, has a stepped widened interlocking shaft end part. As may be seen in a preferred embodiment, relative to the axial length of the shaft section, and in a relative movement from the narrowest end of the shaft section, the shaft width or diameter is widened by a step annular bevel, which serves to widen the shaft at a defined distance from the widest shaft end where the diameter is the largest for that respective section, and forming a receptacle in the shaft section into which the narrowest end or end with the smallest diameter, of the next shaft section, is inserted. [0013] The interlocking axial distance for a preferred embodiment is a function of the shaft section material, resistance of the surface and the flexibility of the shaft when all of the sections are fully assembled. The interlocking or interleaved length, as may be seen in a preferred embodiment, is the length between the narrow end of the next wider shaft section and the annular bevel step axially displaced from the widest diameter part of the next narrower shaft section. [0014] A wider section, for example the section with the golf club handle, receives as an insertion into it, the next narrow section along the axial length of the club by inserting the narrow end of the narrower section into the wider end of the next axially placed wider section in the direction toward the handle. The tapered end of the narrower section is formed to fit into the open tapered widest end of the next wider section with the two sections stopped and interlocked or interleaved, where the beveled annular ring at the end of the wider section abuts the annular step in the next narrower section [0015] The matching tapering diameters of the shafts over the axial interlocking distance, provide a mating coextensive frictional fit which prevents the club head from turning on its axis when striking the ball and prevent wobble in the shaft when the shaft is rotated as in a drive, and when the ball is struck. [0016] As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the interlocking or interleaved sections, would add to the shaft wall diameter by approximated doubling the wall size, and thereby stiffening the shaft, within the interleaved or interlocked sections. As shown in a preferred embodiment, the shaft sections, within the interleaved parts may be varied in material or size to change the flexibility or stiffness of the shaft, along the interlocked or interleaved parts. [0017] As shown for a preferred embodiment, the interlocked or interleaved shaft sections are fitted into each other and locked together at a connection sufficiently strong and rigid to act and feel functionally as a one-piece shaft. [0018] In specifying an interlocking or interleaved axial length, for each of the interlocking or interleaved sections, the respective axial lengths of the section may be extended or reduced to accommodate the varying forces along the shaft. For example, the interleaved or interlocked length may be increased at the lower shaft connections, at the club head where the shaft is narrowest and the torque about the shaft axis produced when the ball is struck, is greatest. [0019] In a similar manner, the length of the interlocking and interleaved sections may be reduced at the larger diameter sections, as the larger diameter section would be more resistant to deformation. [0020] What is shown and described is a collapsible golf club shaft, comprising, at least first second and third means for shaft sections with respective progressively narrowing diameters for nesting the first means within the second means and the second means within the third means, in an extendable coaxial relationship; the first means comprising fourth means and second means comprising fifth means for forming a coextensive interleaving or interlocking joint over a coaxial length, when the first means is spatially displaced from the second means, along the axis; the second means comprising sixth means and the third means comprising seventh means for forming a coextensive interleaving or interlocking joint over a coaxial length, when the second means is spatially displaced from the third means, along the axis; [0021] Shown is the collapsible golf club wherein the respective means for forming a coextensive joint comprised means for forming the coextensive joint with uniform mating surfaces. Continue reading about Collapsible golf club... Full patent description for Collapsible golf club Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Collapsible golf club patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Collapsible golf club or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Water amusement system and method including a self-contained floating marine park Next Patent Application: Golf swing training device Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Collapsible golf club patent info. 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