US1942465A

US1942465A - Method of making shafts for golf clubs and the like

Info

Publication number: US1942465A
Application number: US617719A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leonard A Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-10-30
Filing date: 1932-06-17
Publication date: 1934-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1951-01-09

Description

Jan. 9, 1934.

l.. A. YOUNG METHOD OF MAKING SHAFTS FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 30, 1931 ea/fard /7. 6%

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES METHOD OF MAKING SHAFTS FOR` GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE Leonard A. Young, Detroit, Mich.

Original application Oo 572,111. Divided and tober 30, 1931, Serial No. this application June 17,

1932. Serial No. 617,719

5 Claims.

This application is a division of my application for Letters Patent led October 30, 1931, Serial No. 572,111, for Shafts for golf clubs and the like and method of making.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a method of making shafts for golf clubs and the like which results in a highly satisfactory product and at the same time results in substantial economies.

Second, to provide a method of making metal shafts for golf clubs and the like which permits being made in diameters closely approaching wood shafts as commonly employed and at the same time permits the desired resilience.

Third, to provide a method for making golf club shafts and the like which results in shafts having the desired resilience without the objectionable Whipping quite commonly found in metal shafts. l

Fourth, to provide a method of making shafts for golf clubs and the like which are well adapted to withstand torsional stresses to which they are subjected in use.

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. A structure illustrating the steps and embodying the features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a wood head golf club embodying a shaft produced by my method.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a golf club shaft without the finish or grip thereon made in accordance with my method and illustrating certain,

features thereof.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged cross sections' on lines 3-3 and 4 4 respectively of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a blank from which the shaft proper is formed, no attempt, however, being made to maintain proportions.

, In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a wood golf club head, 2 the shaft and 3 the grip. These parts are shown in Fig. l considerably conventionalized.

My improved golf club shaft is formed of a strip-like blank 7 of sheet metal, preferably tapered toward each end as shown in Fig. 6. This strip has an inwardly offset seam flange 4 formed on one longitudinal edge rolled into a tube with its opposite edge 5 overlapping as shown in Fig. 4. Owing to the opposite taper of the blank the resulting tube is tapered toward each end.

This tube is then spirally twisted as shown in Fig. 2 which results in a spiral positioning of the seam flange and also aspiral positioning of the grain of the metal. After the tube is twisted the overlapping parts are welded together as indicated at 6 and the tube is then properly treated for hardening and tempering. Suitable tempering methods are well understood by those skilled in the art.

With the shaft thus formed it is tapered toward both ends from the point 8. The taper toward the head end 9 of the shaft is about threefourths the length of the shaft, and the taper toward the upper or grip end 10 of the shaft is about one-fourth the length of the shaft. These proportions may be considerably varied. The shaft is preferably of approximately the same diameter at both ends. The overlapped joint parts serve as a torsion member and they are uniformly distributed about the shaft.

The grip 3 comprises a foundation 11 and a covering 12 of leather or other suitable material. The foundation is shown in the drawing as a onepiece internally tapered tube compensating for the upward taper of the grip portion of the shaft. When the grip is in position the shaft has the appearance of the usual type 'of golf club shaft tapered from end to end.

To facilitate the attachment of the grip a wood tip 13 is afxed to the end of the shaft, this tip being adapted to receive the retaining screw 14 for the cap 15by means of which the covering is secured at the outer end of the grip.

With the shaft thus formed there is a substantial yielding or resilience in the grip end of the shaft which is very effective in absorbing the shocks of impact. This also makes it possible to make the shaft of larger diameter, thereby more closely approaching wood shafts in appearance without destroying the `desired resilience. This resilience may be had without resulting in the objectionable whip quite commonly present in metal shafts. Further, the desired'i'lexibility may be had without reducing the thickness at a point where breakage is likely to occur, as is the case with golf shafts now quite largely used which are formed by drawing operations.

Y This method of manufacture results in a very uniform product and also may be very economically practiced. The tapering of the shaft toward each end is, however, a desirable feature when embodied in shafts formed by drawing operations, orit is practical to form a shaft in sections, the

portions

9 and 10 being separately formed and then united by a suitable joint as there is substantially no flexing at the point where the oppositely tapered portions join.

l have not attempted to illustrate the various parts in their relative proportions such as the taper or gage of metal, and these may be considerably varied. It is believed, however, that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what li claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. The method of making shafts for golf clubs consisting of forming a blank tapered toward each end with an inwardly oiset seam ange on one edge, rolling into a tube with one edge overlapping the inwardly offset seam ange on the tempering.

2. The method of making shafts for golf clubs consisting of forming a blank tapered toward each end with an inwardly offset seam flange on one edge, rolling into a tube with one edge overlapping the inwardly offset seam flange on the other edge, spirally twisting, and tempering.

'other edge, spirally twisting, and securing the lapped edges together.

4. The method of making shafts for golf clubs and the like consisting of forming a blank with an inwardly offset seam flange on one edge, rolling into a tube with one edge overlapping the inwardly onset seam flange on the other edge, spirally twisting, welding the overlapped portions, and tempering.

5. The method of making shafts for golf clubs and the like consisting of forming a blank with an inwardly oset seam flange on one edge, rolling into a tube of a single thickness with one edge overlapping the inwardly oset seam ange on the other edge, spirally twisting, and welding the overlapped portions.

LEONARD A. YONG.

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