[Delaware Golf]

There are two hinges:

1. An ordinary door-type hinge (to control the Clubface Motion);

2. A simple 'strap' hinge, i.e., a plain metal bar connecting the 'leaf' hinge to the 'Lever Assembly' (to control the On Plane Clubshaft Motion).

In other words, this is the Dual Hinge arrangement defined in 10-10-D (Dual Horizontal Hinging) and -E (Dual Vertical Hinging). With Horizontal Hinging, the Hinge Pin is positioned vertical to the Horizontal Plane (and produces a 'Closing without Layback' motion of the Clubface). Thus, the second hinge is required to lower the Clubshaft to the Plane. With Vertical Hinging, the Hinge Pin is positioned vertical to the Vertical Plane (and produces a 'Layback without Closing' Clubface motion). Thus the second hinge is required to raise the Clubshaft to the Plane.

The Dual Hinge arrangement is not necessary to reproduce 10-10-C (Angled Hinging). That's because the Hinge Pin is positioned vertical to the Inclined Plane, thereby controlling both the Clubface (and its 'simultaneous Close and Layback' motion) and the On Plane Clubshaft.

I built my model from Homer's own drawings and specifications. Unfortunately, those plans are patented, and I am more than a little certain that I would not be given permission to publish them. I plan on pursuing this and other such matters later this year. Meanwhile, I may put up a close-up photo, and let those so inclined 'make it happen' from there.

Here is the inside scoop on patents coming from the US Patent Office.

The term of the patent shall be generally 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States or, if the application contains a specific reference to an earlier filed application under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 or 365(c), from the date of the earliest such application was filed, and subject to the payment of maintenance fees as provided by law. A maintenance fee is due 3 1/2, 7 1/2 and 11 1/2 years after the original grant for all patents issuing from the applications filed on and after December 12, 1980. The maintenance fee must be paid at the stipulated times to maintain the patent in force. After the patent has expired anyone may make, use, offer for sale, or sell or import the invention without permission of the patentee, provided that matter covered by other unexpired patents is not used. The terms may be extended for certain pharmaceuticals and for certain circumstances as provided by law.

I believe Homer's patent is open to the public, it's been over 20 years. Unless the last sentence applies to this patent. I doubt it.

When I received a patent in the 80's, I believe it was 17 years versus 20.

DG