| Vibration-absorbing structure for golf club shaft -> Monitor Keywords |
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Vibration-absorbing structure for golf club shaftRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Golf, Club Or Club Support, Shaft, Including Nonmetallic Material Or Vibratory Wave Modifying FeatureVibration-absorbing structure for golf club shaft description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060194643, Vibration-absorbing structure for golf club shaft. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a vibration-absorbing structure. In particular, the present invention relates to a vibration-absorbing structure for a golf club shaft. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a conventional golf club comprising a shaft 10, a head 20, and a grip 30. The shaft 10 is substantially an elongated tubular member with the head 20 coupled to an end thereof and with the grip 30 coupled to the other end thereof. The shaft 10 is made of a material having a high coefficient of restitution. For example, the shaft 10 can be formed by a plurality of windings made of carbon fiber prepreg, graphite fiber prepreg, or fiberglass. Thus, the shaft 10 is highly flexible. The head 20 is used to strike a golf ball and the grip 30 allows firm grip by the golfer. Such a golf club head is disclosed in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,313,541; 4,023,801; 4,135,035; and 5,437,450. [0005] When striking a golf ball, vibration is transmitted upward from the head 20 through the shaft 10 to the grip 30. Each of the head 20, the shaft 10, and the grip 30 absorb a portion of the vibration. However, the vibration could not be completely absorbed, and the unabsorbed vibration is transmitted to the golfer's hands. The hands of a golfer that plays for a long time might feel uncomfortable or numb. The striking accuracy is thus adversely affected. The hands of the golfer might even be injured. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration-absorbing structure for a golf club shaft that provides improved vibration-absorbing effect. [0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a vibration-absorbing structure for a golf club shaft that provides increased gripping comfort. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] A golf club shaft in accordance with an aspect of the present invention comprises a shaft including a tubular wall delimiting an interior space. The shaft includes a first end coupled with a head and a second end coupled with a grip. A light vibration-absorbing member is mounted in the interior space of the shaft. At least a portion of the light vibration-absorbing member is in contact with the tubular wall for absorbing vibration that results from striking a golf ball and that is transmitted from the head to the shaft. [0009] The light vibration-absorbing member may be made of foaming synthetic resin. In an embodiment, the light vibration-absorbing member is made of a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, polyurethane, nylon, polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polyethylene terephthalate, vinyl chloride, and high molecular vibration-absorbing material. Alternatively, the light vibration-absorbing member is integrally formed in the whole interior space of the shaft by injection molding. [0010] Preferably, the light vibration-absorbing member fills the whole interior space of the shaft. [0011] The light vibration-absorbing member may include a hollow portion. Another light vibration-absorbing member may be mounted in the hollow portion and made of a material different from that of the light vibration-absorbing member, providing different damping coefficients for obtaining a composite vibration-absorbing effect. Alternatively, the another light vibration-absorbing member and the light vibration-absorbing member are made of the same material yet filled in the interior space in different compactnesses, providing different damping coefficients for obtaining a composite vibration-absorbing effect. A plurality of protrusions or recessed portions may be formed on an inner periphery of the hollow portion for distributing the vibration. Alternatively, the hollow portion includes a wavy or threaded inner periphery for distributing the vibration. [0012] In another embodiment, the light vibration-absorbing member includes a plurality of protruded sections in contact with the tubular wall and a plurality of recessed buffering sections not in contact with the tubular wall. The protruded sections and the recessed buffering sections are alternatively disposed, providing a multi-stage vibration-absorbing effect. [0013] In a further embodiment, the light vibration-absorbing member is a pre-formed column inserted into the interior space of the shaft and fixed to the tubular wall by adhesive. Preferably, the column is adjacent to the head. [0014] In still another embodiment, the shaft includes a plurality of columns of light vibration-absorbing members mounted in the interior space, providing different damping coefficients for obtaining a composite vibration-absorbing effect. The columns may be made of different materials or of the same material yet filled in the interior space in different compactnesses. [0015] In yet another embodiment, two of the columns adjacent to each other are spaced by a spacer, providing a multi-stage vibration-absorbing effect. [0016] A golf club shaft in accordance with another aspect of the present invention comprises a shaft including a tubular wall delimiting an interior space. A plurality of light vibration-absorbing members are mounted in the interior space of the shaft. The light vibration-absorbing members absorb vibration that results from striking a golf ball and that is transmitted from a head coupled to an end of the shaft to the shaft. [0017] In an embodiment, the light vibration-absorbing members are spaced from one another. [0018] In another embodiment, the light vibration-absorbing members are in contact with one another. [0019] Preferably, the light vibration-absorbing members are fixed in the interior space by adhesive. [0020] In a further embodiment, at least one the light vibration-absorbing members includes a hollow portion. [0021] In still another embodiment, a plurality of protrusions are formed on an inner periphery of the hollow portion for distributing the vibration. Continue reading about Vibration-absorbing structure for golf club shaft... Full patent description for Vibration-absorbing structure for golf club shaft Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Vibration-absorbing structure for golf club shaft 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. 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