JPS63255077A - Improved golf club putter shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to the sport of golf, and more specifically, uses graphite-encased fiberglass and an epoxy exterior finish to address the need for alternative grips. The present invention relates to an improved golf club butter shaft shaped to eliminate vibration.

BACKGROUND ART Background art putter shafts employ a separate outer grip that provides a selected friction surface that absorbs shock and allows finger adjustment while aligning the batter with the ball. Unfortunately, such additional outer grips, which are typically made of rubber-like or leather-like materials, are relatively expensive and time-consuming to install. As a result, they increase the cost of producing butter and ultimately the retail price. Such outer grip materials typically harden, tear, become slippery with age, collect debris, and are sensitive to weather conditions. Therefore, there is a need for a buttery shaft that provides the desired shape as well as material absorption and grip properties of the shaft, thereby eliminating the requirement for a separate external grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention satisfies the aforementioned need by providing a golf club putter shaft that serves the conventional purpose of an alternative outer grip of a basic shaft configuration. More specifically, the invention includes a putter shaft made of graphite-wrapped fiberglass with an epoxy exterior finish. This unique combination of materials and unique structural geometry results in better sensitivity and transfer of "feel" from the putter head to the shaft, a legitimate level of impact reduction, and a greater impact on the bat without disturbing the position of the club relative to the ball. The result is a putter shaft that provides a surface that readily allows for grip adjustments to changes in length, green conditions, and terrain. More importantly, the innovative shaft of this invention is precisely shaped to eliminate a separate outer grip, thus reducing the overall cost of the butter.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an improved golf club butter that eliminates the need for a separate outer grip.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an improved golf club butter having a shaft that includes a graphite-encased fiberglass structure with an epoxy outer layer finish.

An additional object of the invention is to have a shaft adapted to be gripped without a separate external gripping device.
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved golf club butter.

The foregoing objects and advantages, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be more fully understood below from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a golf club putter shaped to provide adequate grip dimensions without the need for a separate external grip. It will be shown that it includes a shaft. The material composition of the shaft allows this advantageous improvement.

More specifically, the putter shaft of the present invention includes graphite-wrapped glass fibers with an epoxy outer layer finish.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment in which the shaft is generally conical in shape with a circular cross section. Figures 3 and 4
The figure illustrates another embodiment in which the shaft combines a conical part and an integral cylindrical part, the latter having a flattened circular cross-section. The shape of the shaft of the grip portion is otherwise not critical, so long as it is appropriate for comfortable standard hand placement.

A novel aspect of this invention resides in the configuration of the butter wall structure. More particularly, a preferred wall construction consists of graphite-wrapped glass fibers, where the construction employs about 50% of the volume of each such material. Typical embodiments of the shaft of this invention have a wall thickness of 25 to 30 thousandths of an inch and at the shaft tip:
It has a maximum outer diameter of about 8/10 of an inch and a maximum outer diameter of about 350/1000 of an inch at the bottom of the shaft. The outer surface is coated with a thin layer of epoxy resin of the same type used to infiltrate the graphite and fiberglass materials (i.e., 1 inch of 1000
Preferably, it can be finished in 1/2).

What has been disclosed here, at least near the top,
It will be appreciated that the present invention includes a novel golf club putter shaft of suitable shape and configuration to eliminate the prior art need for an external gripping device that would otherwise be attached to the external surface of the shaft. This invention therefore allows for superior grip characteristics while emitting more sensitivity through the shaft, thereby giving the golfer a better "feel" of hitting the club and ball.

Those skilled in the relevant art will know that as a result of the teachings disclosed herein, a variety of other suitable materials, such as, Minor modifications and additions will be accepted. Accordingly, all such modifications and additions are deemed to be within the scope of this invention, which is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are a cross-sectional front view and a cross-sectional plan view, respectively, of a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 and 4 are a cross-sectional front view and a cross-sectional plan view, respectively, of a second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (9)

[Claims] (1) A golf club putter shaft that includes a graphite-wrapped fiberglass wall structure with an epoxy exterior finish, thereby eliminating the requirement for a separate external grip. (2) The wall structure is substantially conical in shape.
Putter shaft as described. (3) The wall structure is substantially cylindrical in shape.
Putter shaft as described. (4) The putter shaft according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical shape has a flattened circular cross section. (5) A golf club putter shaft having a bottom end suitable for attachment to a putter head hosel and an upper end shaped to provide a legitimate grip without the need for a separate external gripping device. a golf club putter shaft, the upper end having an outer diameter in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 inches; 6. The putter shaft of claim 5, comprising a hollow wall structure formed of resin-impregnated graphite-wrapped glass fibers and having an epoxy exterior finish. (7) Claim 6, wherein the wall structure is substantially conically shaped.
Putter shaft as described. (8) Claim 6, wherein the wall structure is substantially cylindrical.
Putter shaft as described. (9) The putter shaft of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the cylindrical shape has a flattened circular cross section.