US2429351A - Golf club - Google Patents

Description

Oct? 7- L. R. FETTEROLF GOLF CLUB- Filed Jan. l, 1944 Izzlvf WEB M %rruga Patented Oct. 21, 1947 UNHD STATES PATENT OFFICE GOLF CLUB Application January 1, 1944, Serial No. 5161323 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to an improved golf club which will give a better character of shot and which will have a longer life than clubs constructed as here tofore.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a. golf club which will have a resilient head portion.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club head which will have an improved resistance to impact shocks and which will aid the golfer in making the proper character of shots.

It is a further object of. the present invention to provide a golf club head with which greater distance and better control of the ball can be obtained.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved handle or grip for golf clubs.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the annexed specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understcod from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyin drawing forming part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation of a golf club in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view through the handle or grip portion of the club;

Fig. za i an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the top portion shown in Fig. 2 illustrating certain details of Construction;

Fig. 3 is a top or plan View of a club head in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a side View of the club head shown in Fig. 3 and illustrating the impact face;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken approxi'mately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a, top or plan View of another form of club head in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. '7 is a side View of the club head shown in Fig. 6 and illustrating the impact face;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a top or plan view of another form of club head in accordance with the present in- Vention;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the club head shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectonal view taken approximately on the line l l--l I of Fig. 10.

It will, of course, be understood that the de- 2 scription and drawing herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the golf club, in accordance with the present invention, includes a handle or grip portion [5, a shaft !6, and a head ll. The shaft |6 preferably comprises a hollow metal tube and at the upper end is provided with a helical corrugation [9 with which a coil spring 20 is in tight gripping engage'ment at the interior face thereof. The tube IS, at the gripping portion thereof, preferably is provided with a plurality of perforations 2l. The perforations 2! may be larger at their inner ends. In order to provide a hand grip the upper end of the tube !6 is covered with a, strip of rubber, natural or synthetic, or the like, which is vulcanized in place under heat and pressure in such a manner that the rubber, or the like, is permanently bonded to the metal tube, and provides a homogeneous cover 22 Portions of the rubber, or the like, are forced into the perforations 2l during the vulcanizing operation and aid in maintaining a, permanent adherence of the rubber, or the like, to the metal of the shaft IS. Other portions of the rubber, or the like, also are forced between the convolutions of the coil spring 20 beyond the end of the tube !6, and thus when vulcanized. form a permanently bonded handle or gripping portion 22. The external surface of the cover 22 of rubber, or the like, is preferably finished with suitable grinding wheels so as to have the desired tapered shape and to provide a slightly roughened surface for gripping with the hands. The covering 22 of rubber, or the like, thus provides a firm but resilient grip for the hands of the user.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, the club head l'l has a body portion 38 with a shank portion 3l which is Secured to the shaft lE in any desired manner. The body portion 30 has a forwardly disposed face 32 to which a layer or strip 33 of resilient material, such as rubber, natural or synthetc, or the like, is permanently bonded by vulcanizing or is permanently Secured in any other preferred manner. The layer or strip 33 provides a block of resilient material which substantially covers the forward face 32 of the body portion 30 and extends from the top to the bottom thereof. The layer 33 may have an extension 33a in engagement with the shank 3l. To the forward face of the strip 33 a metal impact plate 34 is permanently bonded by vulcanizing or is permanently secured in any other preferred manner. The metal plate 34 is substantially the same size as the forward face 32 of the body portion 30 and extends in a manner to cover the strip or layer 33 except for the shank engaging portion 33a thereof. The outer or exposed face of the plate 34 serves as an impact surface for contact with the golf ball.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the body portion 30 of the club head ll has a plurality of openings or holes 35 therethrough, and preferably larger at their outer ends, through which the resilient material 33 extends for providing a greater holding ability after the rubber, or the like, has been vulcanized in position. The metal impact plate 34 may also be provided with a plurality of openings or holes 35 therethrough, larger at their outer ends, for providing a greater holding ability as well as for providing a rougher face on the exposed impact face of the plate 34.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the forward plate 34 is omitted, the resilient material 33 bonded to the body portion 30 providing a resilient impact face 33b for contact with the golf ball. The resilient material 33 may also be extended below the body portion 30 as at 36 to provide a wear resisting lower edge in the use of the club.

I claim:

1. In a golf club head, a metallic block having a body portion with a shank extending therefrom for the attachment of a handle, said body portion having a forwardly disposed face extending across substantially the entire front of said body portion, a compressible block of resilient material covering said face and in permanent adherent engagement therewith and wholly supported by adherent engagement with said first named body, and a second metallic block covering the front of said compressible block in permanent adherent engagement therewith and wholly supported by said engagement, said second metallic block having openings therethrough with which resilient material integral with said block is in gripping engagement, and said second metallic block having a forward impact face on which the resilient material in the said openings is exposed.

2. In a golf club head, a metallic block having 'a body portion with a shank extending therefrom for the attachment of a handle, said body portion having a forwardly disposed face extending across substantially the entire front of said body portion, a compressible block of resilient material covering said face and in permanent adherent engagement therewith and wholly supported by adherent engagement with said first named body, and a second metallic block covering the front of said compressible block in permanent adherent engagement therewith and wholly supported by said engagement, each of said metallic blocks having openings therethrough with which resilient material integral with said resilient block is in gripping engagement, said second metallic block having a forward impact face on which the resilient material in the openings in said second block is exposed.

LAYTON R. FETTEROLF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN TS Number Name Date 723,258 'Felton Mar. 24, 1903 819,900 Martin May 8, 1906 1,088,571 Heferman Feb. 24, 1914 1,154,490 Davis Sept. 21, 1915 1,504,326 Cullinan Aug. 12, 1924 1,664,257 McCullough Mar. 27, 1928 1,943,399 Smith Jan. 16, 1934 1,968,626 Young July 31, 1934 1,982,526 Lussky Nov. 27, 1934 2,046,164 Herkner June 30, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,134 Great Britain 1902 431,884 Great Britain July 17, 1935

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