AU735413B2

AU735413B2 - Golf club

Info

Publication number: AU735413B2
Application number: AU70217/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Chin-San You
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-15
Filing date: 1996-10-15
Publication date: 2001-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-15
Also published as: AU7021796A

Description

S F Ref: 353947

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Chin-San You No. 6, Lane 477 Sec. 2, Feng-Shyn Road Feng Yuan City, Taichung Hsien

TAIWAN

Chin-San You Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Golf Club The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845 GOLF CLUB FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a golf club.

r e r BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional golf clubs are generally made of a metal or fiber composite material. The metal golf club is rather heavy and devoid of elasticity. As a result, the metal golf club is eventually eliminated and replaced by the golf club of the fiber material.

The golf club of the fiber composite material is rather expensive. As a result, the makers of the golf club have introduced the golf club made of both metal and fiber materials. In the process of making such a golf club, a metal rod is encircled with a board made of a fiber composite material before the metal rod is arranged in a molding tool in which the air is introduced into the tubular board of the fiber composite material before the molding tool is subjected to a high temperature.

Such a conventional method as described above is defective in design in that the metal rod and the fiber composite material can not be held together intimately, and that the connection portion between the fiber board and the metal rod is reinforced with the fabric, thereby resulting in the formation of a bump which obstructs the closing of the molding tool.

i ee It is the object of the present invention to provide a golf club with improved shock-absorbing properties.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a golf club comprising: a tapered shaft having a small end and a large end; a handle having a connection end attached to said large end of said shaft; and a protruding portion adjacent the connection between said large end of said shaft and said connection end of said handle for reinforcing said connection, the protruding portion having two ends and a midsegment greater in diameter than said two ends.

Preferably, said connection end of said handle and said large end of said shaft are made of different materials.

In one form, said protruding portion is made integrally with said large end of said shaft. In an alternative form, said protruding portion is made integrally with said connection end of said handle. In a further alternative form, said protruding portion is Is formed as a separate component to the shaft and handle.

i Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present i invention.

ig. 2 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line 2-2 as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line 2-2 as 25 shown in Fig. 1 to illustrate a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

g Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 2 for illustrating a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 2 for illustrating a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[I:\DAYLIB\LIBLL]1O978speci.doc:vjp FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a sectional view taken along a line 7-7 as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view taken along a line 9-9 as shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a prespective view of a seventh preferred io embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view taken along aline 11-11 as shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is similar to FIG., 11 for illustrating an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1! FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 11 for illustrating a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a sectional view taken along the axial direction of the handle of an tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is similar to FIG. 9 for illustrating a eleventh preferred -O embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf club 10 of the present invention comprises a shaft 12, a handle 14, and a protruded portion 16.

The shaft 12 is made of a blended material of carbon fiber and thermosetting resin. The shaft 12 is hollow and tapered in shape. The shaft 12 has an axial hole 20, a small end 24, and a large end 26 greater in diameter than the small end 24. The small end 24 is fastened with a head 22, whereas the large end 26 is fastened with the handle 14.

The handle 14 is made integrally of a thermoplastic material and is :provided with a connection end 40 extending downwards, and a grip end 42 extending upwards along the direction of the axis of the handle 14. The grip end 42 is fitted into a protective jacket 44.

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The protruded portion 16 is made integrally with the large end 26 of the shaft 12. The protruded portion 16 is similar in shape to a rugby ball in that its midsegment is greater in diameter than both ends thereof. The portion of the axial hole 20 extending into the protruded portion 16 has an enlarged inner diameter to form a shoulder 60 facing upwards.

In combination, the connection end 40 is coated with an adhesive layer (not shown in the drawings) before it is inserted into the protruded portion 16 such that the connection end 40 is joined with the protruded portion 16 intimately, and that the connection end 42 urges the shoulder This process is rather simple.

In view of the fact that the shaft 14 and the handle 14 of the golf club 10 are made of different materials, the shock wave traveling from the small end 24 to the handle 14 via the large end 26 is partially interrupted.

In addition, the handle 14 is made of a thermoplastic material and is therefore capable of absorbing a portion of the shock wave that is transmitted to the handle 14. It must be noted here that the thermoplastic material is more effective in absorbing the shock wave as compared with the stainless steel material or the carbon fiber composite material.

The protruded portion 16 has an enlarged inner diameter to to accommodate the connection end 40 of the handle 14. As a result, the connection end 40 can be made greater in diameter so as to reinforce its structural strength to alleviate the likelihood of the breakage of the golf club 10 of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the portion located between the 1: connection end 40 and the grip end 42 is less inclined so as to prevent the ooooo concentration of stress in the shoulder 60. The interior profile of the protruded portion 16 must be adjusted accordingly.

.o..oi Referring to FIG. 5, the connection end 40 is shown to have a relatively smaller diameter, thanks to the handle 14 which is made of a .o material that can not be easily broken. However, the wall thickness of the idsegment of the protruded portion 16 is increased in view of the increasing likelihood that the midsegment or the upper end edge 62 of the protruded portion 16 is vulnerable to destruction. In order to prevent the crack or disengagement of the upper end edge 62 of the protruded portion 16, the handle 14 is provided with a protective ring 17, which is fastened with the portion adjacent to the grip end 42 and the upper end edge 62 of the protruded portion 16. In other words, the protective ring 17 is intended to safeguard the structural integrity of the upper end edge 62.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the protruded portion 16 of the golf club 10 of the present invention is made integrally with the lower end of the handle 14 instead of the shaft 12. As a result, the protruded portion 16 has an enlarged connection end 40 which is provided with a hole 41 of a predetermined depth and extending upwards. The hole 41 is intended to receive therein the large end 26 which is coated thereon with an adhesive ,o layer before being inserted into the hole 41. In addition, a portion o. adjoining the lower end edge 64 and the large end 26 is provided with the Sa.

protective ring 17 fastened therew7ith for safeguarding the structural integrity of the lower end edge 64.

As shown in FIGS. 8-12, the protruded portion 16 of the golf club 10 of the present invention is not made integrally with the shaft 12 or the handle 14 and is an independent tubular element. In combination, the protruded portion 16 is fitted over the upper end of the shaft 12 and the lower end of the handle 14, which are respectively coated with an adhesive layer. One or both of the upper end of the shaft 12 and the lower A2o end of the handle 14 may be provided with one or two protective rings 17.

In order to reinforce the structural strength of the portion adjoining the shaft 12 and the handle 14 of the golf club 10 of the present invention, the golf club 10 is provided with a core 18 which is inserted thereinto and may be columnar or tubular in shape. The core 18 is made of a plastic, or fiber composite, or metal material. The core 18 is attached intimately to the large end 26 and the connection end 40 by means of an adhesive agent 7 which is coated on the outer surface of the core 18, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 11. The fastening of the shaft 12 with the handle 14 may be reinforced by a first pin 181 and a second pin 182, which are put through both ends of the protruded portion 16 as well as the corresponding portions of the large end 20 26 and the connection end 40. The first pin 181 may be used to hold together the connection end 40 and the protruded portion 16 as disclosed in FIG. 2.

Now referring to FIG. 13, the core 18 is shown to have in the midsegment thereof a protuberance 185, which is pressed against by the r" large end 26 and the connection end 40. The core 18 is therefore capable of interrupting the transmission of shock wave from the shaft 12 to the handle 14. The core 18 is preferably made of a plastic or foam material.

In addition, the coupling of the shaft 12 with the handle 14 can be further reinforced by a third pin 183 and a fourth pin 184, which are put through both ends of the core 18 as well as the corresponding portions of the large end 26 and the connection end 40. The third pin 183 and the fourth pin 184 are entirely concealed in the interior of the protruded portion 16.

.ooo, As shown in FIGS. 6-13, the protruded portion 16 of the golf club QO 10 of the present invention is structurally independent of the shaft 12 such that the interior of the protruded portion 16 is capable of holding the tapered end of the shaft 12. As a result, the shaft 12 may be made of a metal material, whereas the connection end 40 may be made of a fiber composite material.

a As illustrated in FIG. 14, the handle 14 of the golf club 10 of the present invention may be composed of the connection end 40 and the grip end 42, which are structurally independent of each other. As a result, the connection end 40 may be made of a thermoplastic material, whereas the grip end 42 may be made of a fiber composite material, a metal or wooden S material. The grip end 42 is protected by a protective jacket 44 fitted thereover.

As shown in FIG. 15, the protruded portion 16 of the golf club 10 of the present invention is provided with a recessed portion 66 extending from one end thereof towards the midsegment thereof. A buffer member 68 is received in the recessed portion 66. The buffer member 68 is made of a plastic, rubber or foam material and is intended to alleviate the force exerting on the protruded portion 16 at such time when the shaft 12 is curved by the golf club 10 in action.

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Claims

1. A golf club comprising: a tapered shaft having a small end and a large end; a handle having a connection end attached to said large end of said shaft; and a protruding portion adjacent the connection between said large end of said shaft and said connection end of said handle for reinforcing said connection, the protruding portion having two ends and a midsegment greater in diameter than said two ends.

2. The golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein said connection end of said handle and said large end of said shaft are made of different materials.

3. The golf club as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said protruding portion is made integrally with said large end of said shaft such that said protruding portion extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis of said large end and fits over a portion of said connection end of said handle.

4. The golf club as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein said protruding portion is made integrally with said connection end of said handle such that. said protruding i'o. portion extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis of said connection end and fits over a portion of said large end of said shaft.

5. The golf club as defined in claim 3 further conmprising a protective .0 jacket fitted over at least part of said protruding portion and said connection end of said handle.

6. The golf club as defined in claim 4 further comprising a protective jacket fitted over at least part of said protruding portion and said large end of said shaft.

S7.. The golf club as defined in claim 1 wherein said protruding portion is formed as a separate component to the shaft and handle. 25

8. The golf club as defined in claim 1 or 7, wherein said large end and said connection end are hollow, and wherein said connection end and said large end are provided therebetween with a core engaging said connection end and said large end.

9. The golf club as defined in claim 8, wherein said core is rod-shaped and has a predetermined length and is provided in a midsegment thereof with a protruberance abutting said connection end and said large end.

The golf club as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3 and 7 to 9, further comprising a pin for holding together said protruding portion and said connection end.

11. The golf club as defined in any one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 7 to 9 further i comprising a pin for holding together said protruding portion and said large end. [Ls -1 NT C~ [I:\DAYLIB\LIBLL] I 097 8speci.doc:vjp 11

12. The golf club as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said handle includes a grip end opposite said connection end, said grip end and said connection end being made of different materials and being fastened together by fitting.

13. The golf club as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said protruding portion has a recess extending from one end thereof towards a midsegment thereof along the axis of said protruding portion, said recess having a buffer member therein.

14. A golf club substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. 1o Dated 3 May, 2001 Chin-San You Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON o f [I:\DAYLIB\LIBLL]I 0978specdoc:vjp