Golf Club Having A Cam-Locked Insert

Abstract

An adjustable customized golf club, e.g., a golf putter, as well as a method for using the club, wherein the club has a head, a striking surface attachment, and one or more lock fittings that positively lock the striking surface attachment to the head. The striking surface attachment is one of several selectable attachments, each with different performance characteristics, e.g., rebound. The one or more lock fittings positively lock the striking surface attachments to the putter head such that the club components are firmly fixed, yet are still quickly removable and replaceable. One embodiment provides a golf club comprising a head that houses a cam for engagement with posts disposed on a striking surface attachment.

1 . A golf club comprising:
 a head having one or more openings in a face thereof;   a rotatable cam disposed within the head and extending generally along the length of the head, the cam having one or more notches configured to be aligned with the one or more openings; and   a replaceable striking surface attachment having one or more posts,   wherein the cam is rotatable to a first position that allows the insertion of the one or more posts into the one or more openings and is rotatable to a second position in which the one or more posts are retained in a locked position in the one or more openings.   
   
   
       2 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more posts has a circular cutout that engages with a non-notched portion of the cam to lock the striking surface attachment onto the head. 
   
   
       3 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the cam has a user-engageable portion to rotate the cam, the user-engageable portion having an interface that engages with a tool. 
   
   
       4 . The golf club of  claim 3 , wherein the interface is a hex key interface. 
   
   
       5 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the cam has a user-engageable portion to rotate the cam, the user-engageable portion having an interface that allows for engagement and rotation by a user either manually or with a golf accessory. 
   
   
       6 . The golf club of  claim 5 , wherein the interface allows for engagement and rotation with any one or more of a ball marker, divot tool, or golf tee. 
   
   
       7 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the striking surface attachment has a non-planar configuration prior to attachment to the head. 
   
   
       8 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the cam, upon rotation, draws the posts into the openings to create a tight fit. 
   
   
       9 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the striking surface attachment comprises a support member and a striking face. 
   
   
       10 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the support member and the striking face are attached to each other by a magnetic fitting. 
   
   
       11 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the cam comprises a slot that engages with a pin such that the rotational motion of the cam is limited to about 180 degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the pin is inserted through a hole in the face of the head to engage with the slot in the cam. 
   
   
       13 . A golf club comprising:
 a head having two openings in a face thereof;   a retaining member disposed within the head; and   a replaceable striking surface attachment having two engagement members, each of the engagement members having a circular cutout configured to engage a portion of the retaining member,   wherein each of the engagement members are retained by the retaining member upon a rotation of the retaining member to thereby hold the replaceable striking surface attachment firmly against the face of the head.   
   
   
       14 . The golf club of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining member is a cylindrical cam having two notched portions that are aligned with the two engagement members of the striking surface attachment. 
   
   
       15 . The golf club of  claim 14 , wherein the cam is rotated to create an interference fit between the two engagement members and two non-notched portions of the cam. 
   
   
       16 . The golf club of  claim 13 , wherein the rotation of the retaining member is limited to about 180 degrees. 
   
   
       17 . The golf club of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining member is configured to be rotated manually. 
   
   
       18 . The golf club of  claim 13 , wherein the retaining member is configured to be rotated with the aid of a golf accessory. 
   
   
       19  A method of attaching a striking surface attachment to a face of a golf club, comprising:
 providing a cylindrical cam within a head of the golf club, the cam extending generally from a heel portion of the head to a toe portion of the head;   placing the striking surface attachment into abutment with the face, the striking surface attachment having at least one cam-engaging portion that extends through at least one opening in the face; and   rotating the cam to engage the at least one cam-engaging portion of the striking surface attachment such that the striking surface attachment is thereby held firmly against the face of the golf club.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one cam-engaging portion is a post having a circular cutout that receives a portion of the cam, upon rotation, to create an interference fit that holds the striking surface attachment firmly against the face of the golf club.