US-12616880-B1 - Triune quick release assembly and connection golf club system

US12616880B1US 12616880 B1US12616880 B1US 12616880B1US-12616880-B1

Abstract

A triune quick release assembly and connection golf club system is disclosed herein. The quick release golf club has an improved assembly, disassembly, and connection between the club shaft to allow the golfer to effortlessly change the club grip and/or club head. The triune quick release assembly and connection golf club system includes a quick release connection between the club shaft and the club grip, and also includes a quick release connection between the club shaft and the club head.

Inventors

J.T. Wilkins

Assignees

J.T. Wilkins

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20221122

Claims (9)

1 . A triune quick release connection system for a golf club, the golf club comprising a club grip, a club head, and a club shaft intermediate of the club grip and the club head, the triune quick release connection system comprising: a first quick release connection between an upper terminal end of the club shaft and a lower terminal end of the club grip, the first quick release connection comprising: a tapered engagement insert with a shape capable of preventing rotation when engaged; a spring-loaded spherical ball engagement; and a rotational locking twist knob; and a second quick release connection between a lower terminal end of the club shaft and a hosel of the club head, the second quick release connection comprising: a tapered engagement insert with a shape capable of preventing rotation when engaged; a spring-loaded spherical ball engagement; and a locking ring; wherein the first quick release connection further comprises: a shaft-side engagement piece with a shape that is a mating inverse of the tapered engagement insert of the first quick release connection, where the shaft-side engagement piece is connected to the club shaft; and an internal draw rod with a lower threaded section capable of drawing the tapered engagement insert of the first quick release connection and the shaft-side engagement piece together.
2 . The triune quick release connection system of claim 1 wherein the tapered engagement insert of the first quick release connection has a multi-conic shape.
3 . The triune quick release connection system of claim 1 wherein the tapered engagement insert of the second quick release connection has a square shape.
4 . The triune quick release connection system of claim 1 where the first quick release connection further comprises a coupler, where a top section of the internal draw rod is capable of passing through the coupler and being retained with a clip ring.
5 . The triune quick release connection system of claim 4 wherein the spring-loaded spherical ball engagement of the second quick release connection comprises one or more springs and one or more balls and where the second quick release connection further comprises: detents in a top face of the coupler, where the detents are capable of receiving the one or more balls; and an end plate capable of retaining the one or more balls and the one or more springs within the rotational locking twist knob against the detents.
6 . A triune quick release connection system for a golf club, the golf club comprising a club grip, a club head, and a club shaft intermediate of the club grip and the club head, the triune quick release connection system comprising: a first quick release connection between an upper terminal end of the club shaft and a lower terminal end of the club grip, the first quick release connection comprising: a tapered engagement insert with a shape capable of preventing rotation when engaged; a spring-loaded spherical ball engagement; and a rotational locking twist knob; and a second quick release connection between a lower terminal end of the club shaft and a hosel of the club head, the second quick release connection comprising: a tapered engagement insert with a shape capable of preventing rotation when engaged; a spring-loaded spherical ball engagement; and a locking ring; wherein the spring-loaded spherical ball engagement of the second quick release connection comprises one or more springs and one or more balls and where the second quick release connection further comprises: a post bonded into the club shaft, where the post terminates in the tapered engagement insert; a shoulder; and a retainer ring capable of being threaded onto the post to capture the one or more springs and the one or more balls between the retainer ring and the shoulder.
7 . The triune quick release connection system of claim 6 wherein the second quick release connection further comprises: a socket with an interior that corresponds to the tapered engagement insert of the post, such that the tapered engagement insert is capable of being received within the socket such that post cannot rotate; the locking ring capable of being rotated until the socket and post are captured, such that the one or more balls are engaged into detents on the retainer ring and the one or more springs prevent the retaining ring from turning.
8 . The triune quick release connection system of claim 7 wherein the second quick release connection further comprises a compression disk and slip ring.
9 . The triune quick release connection system of claim 7 wherein the socket is bonded to the club head.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/057,346 filed Mar. 1, 2016 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/177,034, filed Mar. 6, 2015, which are incorporated herein in their entireties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to a triune quick release assembly and connection golf club system, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a quick release golf club with an improved assembly, disassembly, and connection with the club shaft to allow the golfer to effortlessly change the club grip and/or club head. 2. Description of the Related Art Golf is a popular game played worldwide by professionals and amateurs. It requires a great deal of concentration and precision. Since its inception, golf equipment manufacturing has evolved into a highly technical field. The two main pieces of equipment needed are a golf club and a golf ball. The golf club is probably the most important piece of equipment needed to master the game. A club consists of three components: the head, the shaft, and the grip. The head of the club, also called the “wood” or “iron” is located at the bottom of the shaft and the grip is located at the top. Today, most heads are made using advanced materials such as titanium, graphite, and zirconia. With so many technological capabilities, there are a number golf component parts available today. There are also multiple club variations such as in the loft angle, lie angle, offset features, and weighting. Club heads can be combined with different shafts based on flex or kick points for example. Considering the available variations in shafts and club heads, there are literally hundreds of different club head/shaft combinations available to the golfer. A club fitter can assist the golfer with the best combination for his swing characteristics and needs. Traditional golf heads were permanently mounted to shafts using cements or adhesives. Therefore, to enable a golfer to test a variety of head/shaft combinations, the golfer had to carry several combinations of clubs, which are heavy and take up a lot of space. The rules of golf require players to utilize fourteen (14) clubs during the game. However, carrying this number of standard clubs can be cumbersome. Customization of golf clubs will always be a compelling need for a golfer regardless of his skill level. Golfers need to make a quick decision as to what type of iron they are going to use for the next shot. There is a definite need for a golfer to be able to use the shaft he is most comfortable with and quickly change the iron/wood or grip based on his preference. In addition, golfers have a limited time to make the next shot and often times the pins and release tools of prior golf clubs are difficult to align and lock thereby causing delay. Some release tools require several minutes to align, insert, and lock which may cause frustration for the golfer, thereby causing him to lose his concentration for the next shot. With the game of golf becoming more and more popular each year, golfers of any skill level will demand a customized full set of clubs that are easily transportable, yet offer the same functionality as a weighty and cumbersome traditional 14-bag set. Standard clubs, however, cannot fit in the overhead compartments on airplanes. Therefore, the traveling golfer would benefit from a compact carrying case which holds a standard shaft (driver), a standard putter, two grips: one for the driver and one for the putter; and preference as to the number of woods, irons, and wedges to form a complete set. Notwithstanding, in an already crowded field of golf clubs with quick release heads and grips, there exists a continuing need for a new and improved golf club assembly and disassembly to easily and quickly change the desired head and grip, while offering travel portability. It is therefore desirable to provide a quick release golf club with an improved assembly, disassembly, and connection with the club shaft to allow the golfer to effortlessly change the club grip and/or club head. It is further desirable to provide a triune quick release assembly and connection golf club system that does not utilize pins, screws or release tools like the latest clubs on the market, because such adaptations are not necessarily as “quick” as claimed. It is still further desirable to provide a triune quick release assembly and connection golf club system that is invaluable to the business traveler who desires to use personal yet portable clubs when he travels, because the weight and bulk of common design standard golf bags along with a full set of clubs are extremely cumbersome when navigating through airports. Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the claims. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the invention relates to a triune quick