GB2318738A

GB2318738A - Golf club shaft

Info

Publication number: GB2318738A
Application number: GB9622453A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chin-San You
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-10-29
Filing date: 1996-10-29
Publication date: 1998-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-29
Also published as: FR2755617A3; FR2755617B3; GB9622453D0; GB2318738B; DE29618807U1

Abstract

A golf club 10 comprises a tapered hollow shaft 20 made of a plurality of first fiber braids 12 which are interlaced or intertwined. The shaft has a small diametrical end 22 and a large diametrical end 24. The shaft is further composed of a plurality of second fiber braids 14 extending linearly from the small diametrical end 22 towards the large diametrical end 24 for reinforcing the structural strength of the shaft. The structural integrity of the shaft is sustained by the second fiber braids 14 in the event that the first fiber braids 12 are severed.

Description

GOLF CLUB FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a golf club, and more particularly to a strong and safe golf club.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The conventional golf clubs are generally made of a stainless steel material and are therefore relatively strong and durable. However, such conventional golf clubs as described above are defective in design in that they are rather heavy, and that they have a relatively high center of gravity. As a result, they can not be easily carried around or used in the golf course. The golf clubs of the stainless steel material are now replaced with the golf clubs made of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material.

The golf clubs of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material are generally light in weight; nevertheless they are relatively fragile such that their fragments are safety hazards. Such a shortcoming can be overcome by an increase in the fiber content of the golf clubs. The increase in the fiber content results in a substantial increase in the production cost of the golf clubs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a golf club made of a composite material containing an appropriate amount of fiber to enhance the structural strength of the golf club without resulting in an increase in the cost of making the golf club.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved golf club of a fiber material and free from the safety hazards.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide an improved golf club of a fiber material and invulnerable to an incident in which fragments of the broken golf club are subject to spreading all over the places.

In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by an improved golf club having a tapered hollow main body. The main body is composed of a plurality of first fiber braids which are- interlaced or intertwined. The main body has a small diametrical end and a large diametrical end. The main body is charaterized in that it is further provided with a plurality of second fiber braids extending linearly from the small diametrical end towards the large diametrical end for reinforcing the structural strength of the main body. The structural integrity is sustained by the second fiber braids in the event that the first fiber braids are severed.

The foregoing objectives, features, functions and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows an unfolded view taken along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a portion taken along the direction indicated by a line 4-4 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the sectional view being taken along the direction indicated by the line 4-4 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the sectional view being taken along the direction indicated by the line 4-4 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line 8-8 as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the sectional view being taken along the direction indicated by the line 8-8 as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the sectional view being taken along the direction indicated by the line 8-8'as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 11 shows a sectional view of a seventh preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the sectional view being taken along the direction indicated by the line 8-8 as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of an eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a ninth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a front schematic view of a tenth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a sectional view of a portion taken along the direction indicated by a line 15-15 as shown in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A golf club of a fiber-reinforced plastic composite material can be made by two methods. One of the methods is involved in making a platelike fiber composite material containing a plurality of fiber braids and an appropriate amount of thermosetting or thermoplastic resin. The platelike fiber composite material is wound around a tapered rod to form a hollow and tapered tube, which is then covered with a layer of thermoshrinkable film and is then heated to take form. Another method comprises the formation of a hollow tapered tube by winding a plurality of fibers around a tapered rod. The hollow tapered tube is wrapped with a layer of thermo-shrinkable film and is then heated to take form.

The fiber braids of the platelike composite material are parallel to one another. As a result, when the platelike fiber composite material is wound around the tapered rod, the fiber braids are arranged spirally instead of extending linearly along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the tapered rod. The improved method involves the arrangement of the fiber braids in such a manner that the fiber braids are arranged to form an inclination in relation to the axis of the tapered rod, thereby resulting in one fiber braid being arranged linearly and the rest of the fiber braids being arranged spirally.

In order to strengthen the golf club, the fiber braids must be arranged linearly along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the golf club. It is technically difficult to accomplish such a deed. As a result, more fiber braids are used in making a stronger golf club at a higher cost.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a golf club 10 embodied in the present invention is composed of a main body 20 made of a plurality of first fiber braids 12. The main body 20 is covered with a plurality of second fiber braids 14.

The main body 20 is formed of a plurality of the first fiber braids 12 and an appropriate amount of thermosetting or thermoplastic resin.

The main body 20 is hollow and tapered. The main body 20 has a small diametrical end 22 and a large diametrical end 24. The main body 20 is made by the methods described above.

The second fiber braids 14 are adhered to the outer surface of the main body 20 such that the second fiber braids 14 are arranged linearly to extend from the small diametrical end 22 towards the large diametrical end 24.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second fiber braids 14 are in fact arranged in a radiate manner such that when the golf club 10 is rotated along the axis 101, the extending direction of the second fiber braid 14 located at a position 102 corresponding to 12 o'clock is overlapped with a connection line 103 between the position 102 and the axis 101.

As shown in FIG. 3, the periphery of the golf club 10 is unfolded to form a trapezoidal thin piece having second fiber braids 14 which are not parallel to one another and are arranged in a radiate manner from an imaginary center 104 located outside the small diametrical end 22.

The structural strength of the main body 20 of the golf club 10 is effectively enhanced by a few linearly-arranged second fiber braids 14 without increasing the thickness of the main body 20 or the number of the first fiber braid 12. The main body 20 is less vulnerable to severance caused by the bending of the golf club 10.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second fiber braids 14 can be also arranged linearly in the inner wall of the hollow main body 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the main body 20 of the golf club 10 of the present invention comprises an inner layer 26 and an outer layer 28, which are tapered hollow tubes independent of each other such that the inner layer 26 is fitted into the outer layer 28, and that the second fiber braids 14 are arranged linearly between the inner layer 26 and the outer layer 28. The inner layer 26 and the outer layer 28 are formed by the winding of the fiber plates of the first fiber braid 12. The inner layer 26 and the outer layer 28 may be formed by different methods.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the golf club 10 of the present invention may comprise a plurality of third fiber braids 18 which are arranged linearly to extend from the midsegment of the main body 20 towards the large diametrical end 24. The third fiber braids 18 are intended to reinforce the structural strength of the large diametrical end 24 of the main body 20. As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the second fiber braids 14 and the third fiber braids 18 may be arranged linearly in both outer wall and inner wall of the hollow main body 20 such that they are parallel to one another, and that they are separated equidistantly. In a similar manner, the second fiber braids 14 and the third fiber braids 18 may be arranged separately and alternately in the inner wall and the outer wall of the main body 20.

As shown in FIG. 12, the third fiber braids 18 may be arranged in a specific area of the main body 20 to reinforce the structural strength of the specific area of the main body 20.

In order to avert the concentration of stress, the third fiber braids 18 may be different in length, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The third fiber braids 18 are arranged such that the ends of the third fiber braids 18 are not flush.

The second fiber braids 14 and the third fiber braids 18 are made of a carbon fiber material, a boron fiber material, or a glass fiber material.

The first fiber braids 12, the second fiber braids 14 and the third fiber braids 18 may be made of the same material or different materials. It is suggested that the second fiber braid 14 and the third fiber braid 18 are made of the Dyneema fiber made by DSM Company of Holland, or the Kevlar fiber made by the du Pont Company of the United States. Such tough fiber composite materials as referred to above are capable of preventing the incident in which the severed part of the golf club 10 becomes a safety hazard, in view of the fact that the second fiber braids 14 and the third fiber braids 18 are stronger than the first fiber braids 12.

The third fiber braids 18 may be arranged selectively in an area vulnerable to severance. The third fiber braids 18 may be shorter than the second fiber braids 14, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. Moreover, the second fiber braids 14 and the third fiber braids 18 may be separated at the same interval or different intervals.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a head 30 is fastened with the small diametrical end 22 of the golf club 10, whereas a second fiber braid 14' of a carbon fiber material is arranged in the direction facing the ballstriking face 32 of the head 30 for affording a golf ball (not shown in the drawing ) a greater head speed. In the meantime, the second fiber braids 14" of a tough material are arranged in the direction away from the ballstriking face 32 for making the golf club 10 safer. In addition, the main body 20 may be coated with a polishing layer 16 for enhancing the esthetic effect of the golf club 10.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising: a tapered hollow main body having a small diametrical end and a large diametrical end, and formed of a plurality of first fiber braids which are interlaced or intertwined; and two or more second fiber braids secured to said main body such that said second fiber braids are arranged linearly to extend from said small diametrical end of said main body towards said large diametrical end of said main body, and that said second fiber braids are arranged in a radiate manner from an axis of said main body.

2. The golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein said second fiber braids are located in an outer wall of said hollow main body.

3. The golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein said second fiber braids are located in an inner wall of said hollow main body.

4. The golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein said hollow main body comprises an inner tube, an outer tube fitted over said inner tube, and at least one second fiber braid sandwiched between said inner tube and said outer tube.

5. The golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein said main body is further composed of a plurality of third fiber braids which are shorter than said second fiber braids and are arranged linearly in a predetermined portion of said main body.

6. The golf club as defined in claim 5, wherein said second fiber braids and said third fiber braids are located respectively in an inner wall and an outer wall of said hollow main body.

7. The golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein said second fiber braids are greater in toughness than said first fiber braids.

8. The golf club as defined in claim 5, wherein said third fiber braids are greater in toughness than said first fiber braids.

9. The golf club as defined in claim 5, wherein said third fiber braids are different in length.

10. The golf club as defined in claim 5, wherein said third fiber braids are arranged such that ends of said third fiber braids are not flush.

11. The golf club as defined in claim 7, wherein said main body is coated with a polishing layer; and wherein said second fiber braids are located between said polishing layer and said main body.

12. The golf club as defined in claim 8, wherein said main body is coated with a polishing layer; and wherein said third fiber braids are located between said polishing layer and said main body.

13. The golf club as defined in claim 1, wherein said small diametrical end of said main body is fastened with a head having a ballstriking face; and wherein at least one of said second fiber braids is located in said main body such that said one second fiber braid extends in a direction facing said ball-striking face.

14. The golf club as defined in claim 13, wherein at least one of said second fiber braids is made of a tough composite material and is located in said main body such that said one second fiber braid extends in a direction away from said ball-striking face.

15. The golf club as defined in claim 8, wherein said small diametrical end is fastened with a head having a ball-striking face; and wherein at least one of said third fiber braids is located in said main body such that said one third fiber braid extends in a direction away from said ball-striking face.

16. A golf club substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to one or more of the figures of the accompanying drawings.