GB2248785A - Improved golf club construction - Google Patents

Improved golf club construction Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2248785A
GB2248785A GB9022577A GB9022577A GB2248785A GB 2248785 A GB2248785 A GB 2248785A GB 9022577 A GB9022577 A GB 9022577A GB 9022577 A GB9022577 A GB 9022577A GB 2248785 A GB2248785 A GB 2248785A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
shaft
head
golf club
resin impregnated
fibrous material
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9022577A
Other versions
GB9022577D0 (en
GB2248785B (en
Inventor
Kun-Nan Lo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority claimed from AT0209590A external-priority patent/AT396336B/en
Priority to AT0209590A priority Critical patent/AT396336B/en
Priority to SE9003320A priority patent/SE9003320L/en
Priority to GB9022577A priority patent/GB2248785B/en
Priority to NL9002283A priority patent/NL9002283A/en
Priority to AU64787/90D priority patent/AU6478790A/en
Priority to AU64787/90A priority patent/AU621247B1/en
Priority to BE9001004A priority patent/BE1004640A3/en
Priority to CA002028373A priority patent/CA2028373C/en
Priority to DE4034393A priority patent/DE4034393C2/en
Priority to FR9014443A priority patent/FR2669233B1/en
Publication of GB9022577D0 publication Critical patent/GB9022577D0/en
Publication of GB2248785A publication Critical patent/GB2248785A/en
Publication of GB2248785B publication Critical patent/GB2248785B/en
Application granted granted Critical
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
    • A63B53/02—Joint structures between the head and the shaft
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
    • A63B53/002—Clubs made of composite, plastics or rubber materials, with integral head and shaft
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/68—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers, e.g. foam blocks
    • B29C70/86—Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, e.g. by winding
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/68—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers, e.g. foam blocks
    • B29C70/84—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers, e.g. foam blocks by moulding material on preformed parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/52—Sports equipment ; Games; Articles for amusement; Toys
    • B29L2031/5227—Clubs

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Golf Clubs (AREA)

Abstract

In a golf club, the neck 11 between the shaft 20 and the head 10 is strengthened by integrally forming the head and the shaft in a single mold so that the golf club is a one piece molded body. Alternatively, a separate shaft 20' and head 10' can be joined to one another and the joint formed therebetween is wrapped around with a resin impregnated fibrous material 40' which will then be cohesively bonded to the shaft and the head after application of heat. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED GOLF CLUB CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to a golf club construction, and particularly to the neck portion of a golf club which interconnects the head and the shaft of the golf club.
Conventionally, the head of a golf club is connected to the shaft by receiving one end of the shaft in the socket of a neck portion of the head and applying an adhesive to the joint of the neck and the shaft. Generally, the club heads are made of wood, or metals such as stainless steel and other alloys, or composite plastic materials such as fiber reinforced plastics. However, the shafts are never wooden anymore.
Metallic club heads are generally strong, hard and tough. Such heads are connected to composite plastic shaft just by applying an adhesive to the joint of the shaft and the neck of the head as shown in Figure 1.
The strength of the joint depends on the total strength of the adhesive, the neck and the golf shaft.
A wooden or composite plastic head has poorer strength, hardness and toughness than metallic heads.
In order to reinforce the joint of such a head and the shaft, synthetic cords are wound around the neck of the head as shown in Figure 2 after the neck is connected to the shaft. In addition, the neck as well as the socket in the neck should be lengthened so that the shaft can extend more deeply into the head.
The joint formed by the methods mentioned above are generally liable to loosen when subjected to torsion forces created by striking balls. When the neck and the shaft are made of different materials, serious deformation might be caused at the joint. In many cases, the neck or the shaft breaks at their joint.
An object of the invention is to provide a golf club which has a strong part that interconnects the head and the shaft, which strong part is capable of enduring a large torque.
According to the present invention, a golf club construction comprises a club head and a shaft, the club head and the shaft being made of a resin impregnated fibrous material and interconnected integrally by cohesive-bonding.
In one aspect of the invention, the club head and the shaft are separate molded pieces which are joined to one another to form a neck portion therebetween, the neck portion being wrapped around with layers of the resin impregnated fibrous material, the club head, the shaft and the layers of the resin impregnated fibrous material being cohesively bonded together after application of heat.
In another aspect of the invention. the head and the shaft is a one piece molded article made from the resin impregnated fibrous material.
The present exemplary preferred embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows the joint of the head and the shaft of a golf club of the prior art; Figure 2 shows the joint of the head and the shaft of another golf club of the prior art; Figures 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of the invention; and Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the invention.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the first embodiment of the golf club of the invention includes a head 10, a neck 11 and a shaft 20 which are formed simultaneously in a mold by using a resin impregnated fibrous material, such as an epoxy resin impregnated woven or non-woven fabric. The fabric may be made of glass fibers or carbon fibers. In fabrication, the resin impregnated woven fabric layers are wrapped around a core to substantially form the shape of a golf club head including a neck in a conventional way. The shaft 20 is fabricated by wrapping resin impregnated woven fabric layers into a cylinder or other suitable form to fashion a rod continuing from the neck. During the wrapping process, the fibers of the fabric layers are oriented properly so as to achieve the maximum possible strength golf club.The resulting unfinished article is then placed in a suitable mold and heated until the resin impregnated woven fabric layers are cured. The golf club so formed has no joint between the head 10 and the shaft 20 and therefore can endures a large torque.
A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6, having a golf club head 10' with a neck 11' and a shaft 20' which are separate pieces.
The head 10' and the neck 11' are fabricated by using a resin impregnated fibrous material as in the first embodiment. The shaft 20' is also fabricated by using the same material. However, the head 10' and the shaft 20' are respectively cured and formed in two molds.
After the head and the shaft are fabricated, a bore 12' is provided in the neck 11. The shaft is jointed to the neck 11' by fitting the end 21' of the shaft 20' into the bore 12'.
Afterwards, the joint of the shaft 20' and the head 10' are wrapped with a resin impregnated fibrous material 40 which may be the same as the material used to fabricate the head 10' and the shaft 20'. Then, the resin impregnated fibrous material 40 is cured by heating and pressurizing it in a suitable die. The cured resin impregnated fibrous material 40 cohesively bonded to the shaft 20' and the head 10', thereby strengthening the joint between the shaft and the head.

Claims (4)

CLAIMS:
1. A golf club construction comprising a club head and a shaft, said club head and said shaft being made of a resin impregnated fibrous material and being interconnected integrally by cohesive-bonding.
2. A golf club construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said club head and said shaft are separate molded pieces which are joined to one another to form a neck portion therebetween, said neck portion being wrapped around with layers of said resin impregnated fibrous material, said club head, said shaft and said layers of said resin impregnated fibrous material being cohesively bonded together after application of heat.
3. A golf club construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said club head and said shaft is a one piece molded article made from said resin impregnated fibrous material.
4. A golf club construction as substantially described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9022577A 1990-10-17 1990-10-17 Improved golf club construction Expired - Fee Related GB2248785B (en)

Priority Applications (10)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT0209590A AT396336B (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-17 METHOD FOR PRODUCING A GOLF CLUB
SE9003320A SE9003320L (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-17 FOERBAETTRAD CONSTRUCTION OF GOLF CLUB
GB9022577A GB2248785B (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-17 Improved golf club construction
NL9002283A NL9002283A (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-19 GOLFCLUB.
AU64787/90D AU6478790A (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-19 Improved golf club construction
AU64787/90A AU621247B1 (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-19 Improved golf club construction
BE9001004A BE1004640A3 (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-23 Construction for improved golf club.
CA002028373A CA2028373C (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-23 Golf club construction
DE4034393A DE4034393C2 (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-29 Method of making a golf club
FR9014443A FR2669233B1 (en) 1990-10-17 1990-11-20 IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION FOR GOLF ROD.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT0209590A AT396336B (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-17 METHOD FOR PRODUCING A GOLF CLUB
GB9022577A GB2248785B (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-17 Improved golf club construction
BE9001004A BE1004640A3 (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-23 Construction for improved golf club.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9022577D0 GB9022577D0 (en) 1990-11-28
GB2248785A true GB2248785A (en) 1992-04-22
GB2248785B GB2248785B (en) 1994-08-03

Family

ID=27148246

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9022577A Expired - Fee Related GB2248785B (en) 1990-10-17 1990-10-17 Improved golf club construction

Country Status (3)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2248785B (en)
NL (1) NL9002283A (en)
SE (1) SE9003320L (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1201648A (en) * 1967-12-20 1970-08-12 Carlton Sports Company Ltd For Improvements in or relating to golf clubs
US4664383A (en) * 1984-11-05 1987-05-12 Daiwa Golf Co., Ltd. Iron-type golf club head
WO1987007514A1 (en) * 1986-06-06 1987-12-17 Fiber-Speed International, Inc. Golf club shaft and method of manufacture

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1201648A (en) * 1967-12-20 1970-08-12 Carlton Sports Company Ltd For Improvements in or relating to golf clubs
US4664383A (en) * 1984-11-05 1987-05-12 Daiwa Golf Co., Ltd. Iron-type golf club head
WO1987007514A1 (en) * 1986-06-06 1987-12-17 Fiber-Speed International, Inc. Golf club shaft and method of manufacture

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL9002283A (en) 1992-05-18
GB9022577D0 (en) 1990-11-28
SE9003320L (en) 1992-04-18
GB2248785B (en) 1994-08-03
SE9003320D0 (en) 1990-10-17

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19971017