Abstract: An elongated, tapered seamless and hollow tubular member of net shape is disclosed. The tubular member is made by a method comprising providing an elongated, tapered mandrel, applying a composite material consisting of reinforced fibers with a resin on the mandrel, providing a shell having an elongated, tapered bore, inserting the mandrel with the composite material applied thereon into the bore of the shell to provide a mold assembly, heating the mold assembly, displacing the mandrel and shell longitudinally toward each other to compress the composite material of the article being formed by simultaneously applying a tensile force at one end of the mandrel and a compressive force at the other, allowing the mold assembly to cool, and then separating the shell and mandrel from the molded article.

Abstract: A method of molding an elongated, tapered seamless and hollow member or tubular of net shape comprising providing an elongated, tapered mandrel, applying a composite material consisting of reinforced fibers with a resin on the mandrel, providing a shell having an elongated, tapered bore, inserting the mandrel with the composite material applied thereon into the bore of the shell to provide a mold assembly, heating the mold assembly, displacing the mandrel and shell longitudinally toward each other to compress the composite material of the article being formed by simultaneously applying a tensile force at one end of the mandrel and a compressive force at the other, allowing the mold assembly to cool, and then separating the shell and mandrel from the molded article.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using same to form tubular tapered shafts particularly adapted for golf clubs, ski poles, fishing rods and the like. The material used in forming the shafts is a thermo-setting resin sheet that has a number of elongate, laterally spaced, parallel fibers of graphite carbon, boron or like material therein, which fibers have a tensile strength comparable to steel, but are only a fraction of the weight of the latter. The apparatus and method of using the same is characterized by the tubular shaft being formed with exterior and interior cylindrical wall surfaces that are truly concentric, and with the fibers embedded in the polymerized resin being pre-tensioned and spaced from one another.