Hosel assembly
A putter comprising an adjustable hosel structure is disclosed herein. In particular, the putter comprises a hosel assembly comprising a shaft receiver and two interlocked bars that connect the shaft receiver to the putter head. A plurality of bolts connect the bars to the shaft receiver and the putter head, and these points of connection are joints about which the bars move, and which can be restrained to immobilize the hosel assembly or otherwise reversibly fix it in place so that a longitudinal shaft axis is aligned with a desired portion of the putter head. The hosel assembly preferably is adjustable along a horizontal, heel-to-toe axis, and is partially disposed, and secured, within a pocket on the heel side of the putter head.
1. A golf club head comprising:
a hosel assembly comprising:
a shaft receiver;
a straight bar;
a bent bar; and
first, second, third, and fourth bolts; and
an attachment structure having first and second through-bores,
wherein the straight bar comprises a first end with a third through-bore and a second end with a fourth through-bore,
wherein the bent bar comprises a third end with a fifth through-bore and a fourth end with a sixth through-bore,
wherein the shaft receiver comprises a shaft receptacle and seventh and eighth through-bores,
wherein the first bolt extends through the first through-bore and the third through-bore to connect the straight bar to the attachment structure,
wherein the second bolt extends through the second through-bore and the fifth through-bore to connect the bent bar to the attachment structure,
wherein the third bolt extends through the fourth through-bore and the seventh through-bore to connect the straight bar to the shaft receiver, and
wherein the fourth bolt extends through the sixth through-bore and the eighth through-bore to connect the bent bar to the shaft receiver.
2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first through-bore is disposed slightly higher on the golf club head than the second through bore along a vertical Z axis.
3. The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising at least one mechanical fastener, wherein the at least one mechanical fastener is affixed to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth bolts to reversibly immobilize the hosel assembly.
4. The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein the at least one mechanical fastener comprises first, second, third, and fourth mechanical fasteners, wherein the first mechanical fastener is affixed to the first bolt, wherein the second mechanical fastener is affixed to the second bolt, wherein the third mechanical fastener is affixed to the third bolt, and wherein the fourth mechanical fastener is affixed to the fourth bolt.
5. The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein the at least one mechanical fastener is a locking nut.
6. The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein each of the shaft receiver and the at least one locking nut is composed of a tungsten alloy.
7. The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a shaft, wherein the golf club head comprises a center of gravity, wherein the shaft is disposed within the shaft receptacle, wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal axis, and wherein the hosel assembly can be adjusted so that the longitudinal axis is aligned with the center of gravity.
8. The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the hosel assembly can be adjusted so that the longitudinal axis is offset from the center of gravity along a horizontal Y axis.
9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the hosel assembly comprises a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, carbon composite, and plastic.
10. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the hosel assembly is composed of aluminum alloy.
11. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the hosel assembly comprises a tungsten alloy and an aluminum alloy.
12. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein each of the straight bar and the bent bar is composed of a lightweight material selected from the group consisting of aluminum alloy, stainless steel, carbon composite, and plastic.
13. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the through bores comprises a first ratcheting structure, and wherein at least one of the bolts comprises a second ratcheting structure that mates with the first ratcheting structure.