IP Library Granted Patent US 8,529,367
Granted Patent B2
US 8,529,367 · App. 13/100,140 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Variable length golf club shaft

Inventors: D. Clayton Evans (San Marcos, CA); Tim Goudarzi (San Marcos, CA); Matthew T. Cackett (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,529,367
App. No.
13/100,140
Granted
Sep 10, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A variable length shaft assembly comprising at least one upper shaft portion, a lower shaft portion and a threaded fastener, wherein the threaded fastener removably connects the upper shaft portion to the lower shaft portion, is disclosed herein. The variable length shaft assembly may further comprise at least two upper shaft portions having different lengths so a golfer can adjust the total length of the shaft by removing one upper shaft portion and replacing it with another upper shaft portion having a different length. Methods of adjusting the length of a golf club shaft without damaging any portion of the shaft and variable length shaft kits are also disclosed herein.

Claims (28)

1. A variable length golf club shaft comprising:

a grip assembly comprising a grip and an upper shaft portion;

a lower shaft portion;

a semi-permanent fastener comprising a fastener head;

an upper adapter affixed to a lower, interior surface of the upper shaft portion;

a lower adapter affixed to an upper, interior surface of the lower shaft portion; and

a fastener captivator located within the upper shaft portion,

wherein no portion of the grip is located on the lower shaft portion,

wherein each of the upper and lower adapters comprises a bore,

wherein the upper adapter comprises a flange,

wherein the fastener head is trapped within the upper adapter between the fastener captivator and the flange,

wherein the semi permanent fastener is insertable through the bores of the upper and lower adapters, and

wherein the semi-permanent fastener removably connects the grip assembly to the lower shaft portion.

2. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein the semi-permanent fastener is a screw.

3. The variable length golf dub shaft of claim 1 , wherein the lower shaft portion comprises a hosel connection portion.

4. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 3 , wherein the semi-permanent fastener removably connects the grip assembly to the lower shaft portion along an axis located above the hosel connection portion and below the grip.

5. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 4 , wherein the axis is located no less than 11 inches and no more than 18 inches from a butt end of the grip assembly.

6. The variable length golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the fastener captivator is permanently attached to the upper adapter.

7. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein an exterior portion of the lower adapter comprises splines, wherein an interior portion of the upper adapter comprises splines, and wherein the splines on the exterior portion mate with the splines on the interior portion when the semi-permanent fastener connects the grip assembly to the lower shaft portion.

8. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein the upper shaft portion is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, steel, magnesium, magnesium alloy, plastic, and graphite composite.

9. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein the lower shaft portion is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, steel, magnesium, magnesium alloy, plastic, and graphite composite.

10. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein the upper adapter is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, steel, magnesium, magnesium alloy, plastic, and graphite composite.

11. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein the lower adapter is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, titanium, titanium alloy, steel, magnesium, magnesium alloy, plastic, and graphite composite.

12. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 1 , further comprising an upper o-ring disposed proximate the upper adapter and a lower o-ring disposed proximate the lower adapter.

13. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 1 , further comprising at least two upper shaft portions, wherein the at least two upper shaft portions have different lengths.

14. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 13 , wherein the at least two upper shaft portions differ in length from each other by no less than 0.5 inch.

15. The variable length golf club shaft of claim 13 , wherein the at least two upper shaft portions differ in weight from each other.

16. The variable length golf dub shaft of claim 13 , wherein the at least two upper shaft portions have the same weight.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME 063665/0176 Recorded Jun 1, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY (F/K/A TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.); TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
Reel/Frame 075834/0150 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 17, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 063692/0009 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2023
From: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (FORMERLY CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TOPGOLF INTERNATIONAL, INC.; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC; WORLD GOLF TOUR, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063665/0176 →
RELEASE (REEL 048172 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Mar 17, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: TOPGOLF CALLAWAY BRANDS CORP. (F/K/A CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY); OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 063622/0187 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY; TRAVISMATHEW, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 048110/0352 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2019
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 048172/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2018
From: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF SALES COMPANY; CALLAWAY GOLF BALL OPERATIONS, INC.; OGIO INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERACTIVE, INC.; CALLAWAY GOLF INTERNATIONAL SALES COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 045350/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2011
From: EVANS, D. CLAYTON; GOUDARZI, TIM; CACKETT, MATTHEW T.
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026222/0446 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2011
From: DENTON, SCOTT; BALARDETA, JOSEPH
To: CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026219/0695 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation In Part 13038254 · Mar 1, 2011
Continuation In Part 13008806 · Jan 18, 2011
Provisional Application 61422982 · Dec 14, 2010
Related Publication 20120149485A1 · Jun 14, 2012