Hosel construction

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hosel for connecting a shaft to a club head. In one aspect of the invention, the hosel comprises a body having an undercut, wherein the undercut has a maximum cross section which tapers to a minimum cross section and increases to the maximum cross section immediately adjacent the club head. The hosel further comprises a flange section below the hosel and hosel bore above the undercut, the hosel bore section having a length of at least one inch. In another aspect of the invention, the hosel tapers in diameter from a maximum to a minimum width, and has a maximized interior mold line (IML) to improve bendability and weight savings.

1 . A hosel for connecting a shaft to a club head, the hosel comprising:
 a body having an undercut; and   a hosel bore,   wherein the hosel bore is located above the undercut,   wherein the hosel bore has a length of at least one inch, and   wherein the undercut has a maximum cross section which tapers to a minimum cross section and increases to the maximum cross section immediately adjacent the club head.   
     
     
         2 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , wherein the undercut extends a full 360 degrees around the body. 
     
     
         3 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , wherein the undercut extends only partially around the body. 
     
     
         4 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical length of the undercut is from 0.025 to 1.500 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , further comprising a split collar sized to mask the undercut. 
     
     
         6 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , wherein the club head comprises a flange section located immediately below the hosel. 
     
     
         7 . The hosel according to  claim 6 , wherein the flange section has a thickness of 0.020 to 0.050 inch. 
     
     
         8 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , wherein the club head comprises an interior hollow section that is separated from the hosel bore by a barrier. 
     
     
         9 . The hosel according to  claim 8 , wherein the interior hollow section extends upwards into the hosel towards the hosel bore. 
     
     
         10 . The hosel according to  claim 8 , wherein the barrier is approximately 0.040 inch thick. 
     
     
         11 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , wherein the undercut has a curved cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         12 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , wherein the undercut has a polygonal cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         13 . A hosel for connecting a shaft for a club head, the hosel comprising:
 a body having a maximum diameter and a minimum diameter; and   a hosel bore,   wherein the hosel bore has a length of at least one inch, and   wherein the hosel bore is encircled by a portion of the body having the minimum diameter.   
     
     
         14 . The hosel according to  claim 13 , wherein the club head comprises a flange section located immediately below the hosel. 
     
     
         15 . The hosel according to  claim 14 , wherein the flange section has a thickness of 0.020 to 0.050 inch. 
     
     
         16 . The hosel according to  claim 13 , wherein the club head comprises an interior hollow section that flanks the hosel bore on first and second sides, and wherein the interior hollow section is separated from the hosel bore by a barrier on the first and second sides. 
     
     
         17 . The hosel according to  claim 16 , wherein the barrier flanking the first side is approximately 0.040 inch thick 
     
     
         18 . The hosel according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier flanking the second side is approximately 0.029 inch thick. 
     
     
         19 . The hosel according to  claim 13 , wherein the maximum diameter is approximately 0.50 inch and the minimum diameter is approximately 0.47 inch. 
     
     
         20 . The hosel according to  claim 13 , wherein the hosel bore is approximately 1.53 inches in length.