| Shaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the same -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Shaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the sameRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Club Or Club Support, ShaftShaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060211511, Shaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS [0001] 1. Field of the Inventions [0002] The present inventions relate generally to shaft-based instruments and, more particularly, to shafts for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Over the years, there have been a variety of attempts to improve shaft-based instruments such as golf clubs, ski poles and hockey sticks. With respect to golf clubs, many substitutes have been introduced for the hard wood shafts originally used in golf club drivers and irons. Early substitute materials included stainless steel and aluminum. More recently, carbon fiber reinforced resin shafts have become popular. Such shafts are typically hollow and consist of a shaft wall formed around a tapered mandrel. The use of fiber reinforced resin has allowed golf club manufacturers to produce shafts having varying degrees of strength, flexibility and torsional stiffness. Carbon fiber reinforced resin shafts have also become popular in other shaft-based instruments. As such, manufacturers are able to produce shafts which suit the needs of a wide variety of applications. [0005] Nevertheless, manufactures of shaft-based instruments are faced with a variety of design issues that have proven difficult to overcome using conventional fiber reinforced resin technologies. One issue associated with shaft design is related to the torsional and longitudinal stiffness of the shafts and, in the golf club shaft context, the attempts of designers to increase torsional stiffness (especially near the club head) in order to improve shot accuracy and increase longitudinal stiffness in order to cope with the ever increasing swing velocities of golfers. Another issue associated with shaft design is the location of the shaft flex point. More specifically, the inability of shaft designers to precisely predict the location of the flex point when designing a shaft without using excessive amounts of composite material, which can lead to weight and thickness issues, can be problematic. Breakage prevention is another important design issue. With respect to golf club shafts, for example, breakage often occurs within the region of the main body section that is adjacent to the club head. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS [0006] The general object of the present inventions is to provide shafts that eliminate, for practical purposes, the aforementioned problems. In particular, one object of the present inventions is to provide golf club shafts and other shafts that have greater torsional and longitudinal stiffness than conventional fiber reinforced resin shafts. Another object of the present inventions is to provide golf club shafts and other shafts which facilitate precise location of the flex point. Still another object of the present inventions is to provide golf club shafts and other shaft that resist breakage. [0007] In order to accomplish these and other objectives, a shaft in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of fiber reinforced resin layers and a metal layer. The metal layer may, for example, be formed from a lightweight, high modulus of elasticity and tensile strength material such as titanium. Such a shaft provides a number of advantages over conventional shafts. For example, the metal layer augments the shafts torsional and longitudinal stiffness. Shaft designers can also adjust the location of the flex point by simply adjusting the length of the metal layer. The metal layer will also prevent breakage. In golf club shafts, for example, the metal layer may extend along the tip section from a point within the club head hosel to a point outside the hosel. This arrangement strengthens the area of the tip section adjacent to the club head that is a frequent area of breakage in conventional golf club shafts and also provides torsional rigidity. [0008] The above described and many other features and attendant advantages of the present inventions will become apparent as the inventions become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the inventions will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. [0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a golf club in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a present invention. [0011] FIG. 2 is a section view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. [0012] FIG. 3 is a partial, exploded view of the portion of the golf club shaft illustrated in FIG. 2. [0013] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of a portion of the golf club shaft illustrated in FIG. 1 with various layers of the shaft cutaway by different amounts to expose the layers. [0014] FIG. 5a is a section view of the tip region of the golf club illustrated in FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 5b is a plan view showing the relative sizes of the metal layer and outer layer in the golf club illustrated in FIG. 5a. [0016] FIG. 5c is a section view of the tip region of a golf club in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a present invention. [0017] FIG. 5d is a section view of the tip region of a golf club in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a present invention. [0018] FIG. 6 is a cutaway, partial section view of the golf club shaft in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 7 is perspective view of a pair of metal layer members in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a present invention. [0020] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a metal layer blank in accordance with a preferred embodiment of a present invention. [0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the metal layer formed by the metal layer blank illustrated in FIG. 8. Continue reading about Shaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the same... Full patent description for Shaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Shaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Shaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the same or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Golf club shaft selecting system and golf club shaft selecting method Next Patent Application: Straight shot golf club Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Shaft for use in golf clubs and other shaft-based instruments and method of making the same patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.19216 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
