Patents by Inventor Jerald A. Rolla

Jerald A. Rolla has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method for making a thermoplastic composite tubular member such as a golf shaft
    Patent number: 6261500
    Abstract: A golf club shaft is made from sheets of carbon fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. A method and apparatus are also set forth for making a golf club shaft in a substantially voidless manner. An improvement in vibration dampening is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Phoenixx TPC, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Park, Laurent C. Bissonnette, Jerald A. Rolla
  • Golf club shaft having definable "feel"
    Patent number: 5265872
    Abstract: A golf club shaft is described having a "modified hourglass" shape which provides many predetermined combinations of flex, stiffness and torque (which together are perceived as shaft and club "feel") and which is virtually immune to breakage in normal play. The shaft is formed of a base rod with expanded axial sections: a grip section, an upper flare section, a flex control section, a lower flare section, and a hosel section. The lower flare section increases in diameter from its junction with the flex control section to a maximum diameter at its junction with the hosel section, which when the club is assembled is preferably recessed into the club head hosel. Variation of the relative lengths and/or thicknesses of the flex control section and the lower flare section determine the location of the junction between them, and thus the relative amounts of flex, torque and stiffness which produce the feel desired in the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: UniFiber USA
    Inventors: Richard L. Tennent, Richard G. Tennent, Jerald A. Rolla