Appeal No. 97-3003
Application 08/390,403
connection means 18 coupling the club head and shaft in a
manner which allows the angle between the two to be adjusted.
The examiner concedes (see page 3 in the answer) that this
golf club does not meet the limitations in independent claim
11 relating to the socket-type or over-hosel type engagement
between the club head and the distal end of the second
elongated engagement element. Nonetheless, the examiner2
submits that
Cannan teaches a golf club including first and
second elongated engagement elements (23, 21) which
engage the shaft and club head, respectively. Note
column 1, lines 58 and 59 and column 2, lines 2-4 of
Cannan which state that the putter head is adapted
to engage the distal end of the second element.
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary
skill in the art at the time of the invention to
provide the club head of Grant with the connection
taught by Cannan in order to provide a more secure
connection between the two members [answer, page 3].
Cannan, however, actually discloses a golf club having a
“release-jointed shaft for preferential release upon impact
with the ground” (column 1, lines 7 through 9). This
arrangement is intended to alleviate the sometimes painful
2These particular claim limitations will be discussed
further below.
-3-
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Last modified: November 3, 2007