Including Metal Patents (Class 473/320)
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Patent number: 12201883Abstract: A multi-component golf club shaft possessing unique characteristics including flexural and torsional rigidity profiles.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2023Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: BREADTHROUGH GOLF TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Byron H. Adams, Blair M. Philip, Jeffrey T. Halstead, Robert E. Stephens, Trever M. Napier
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Patent number: 11298600Abstract: An example golf club shaft includes an extended body and a core. The core is disposed in the extended body.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Cobra Golf IncorporatedInventor: Bryce W. Hobbs
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Patent number: 11045700Abstract: A multi-material golf shaft having a butt portion joined to a tip portion and possessing unique relationships, including rigidity relationships, which provide beneficial performance characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: BREAKTHROUGH GOLF TECHNOLOGY, LLCInventors: Byron H. Adams, Blair M. Philip, Jeffrey T. Halstead, Robert E. Stephens, Trever M. Napier, James P. MacKay
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Patent number: 10752999Abstract: An article that includes a structured substrate having a macro-porous structure that defines a plurality of pores, and a metallic nano-crystalline coating on at least a portion of the structured substrate, where the metallic nano-crystalline coating defines an average grain size less than about 20 nanometers.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Rolls-Royce CorporationInventors: Edward Claude Rice, Maxwell Layman, Robert F. Proctor, Philip M. Bastnagel, Mark E. Bartolomeo, Jonathan Michael Rivers, Eric Handa, Aaron Martin, Christopher I. Hamilton, Jonathan P. Acker, Nathan J. Cooper
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Patent number: 10596770Abstract: The present invention is a lightweight archery arrow having an arrow shaft with internal bracing, an arrow tip, and a nock. The arrow shaft with internal bracing is a cylindrical tube having a plurality of ribs formed along the length of the cylindrical tube. The ribs increase the bending stiffness of the cylindrical tube without adding additional thickness and weight. Due to the increased bending stiffness of the cylindrical tube provided by the ribs the wall thickness of the cylindrical tube may be reduced while still maintaining the bending stiffness comparable to that of an arrow shaft having a thicker wall. The decrease in wall thickness and the reduction of material reduces the weight of the arrow shaft providing an arrow shaft with an exterior diameter and bending stiffness comparable to that of a standard arrow shaft, but being lighter in weight.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: Aldila Golf CorporationInventor: Stephen Greenwood
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Patent number: 10549266Abstract: A low-platinum catalyst based on nitride nanoparticles and a preparation method thereof. A component of an active metal of the catalyst directly clades on a surface of nitride particles or a surface of nitride particles loaded on a carbon support in an ultrathin atomic layer form. Preparation steps including: preparing a transition-metal ammonia complex first, nitriding the obtained ammonia complex solid under an atmosphere of ammonia gas to obtain nitride nanoparticles; loading the nitride nanoparticles on a surface of a working electrode, depositing an active component on a surface of the nitride nanoparticles by pulsed deposition, to obtain the low platinum loading catalyst using a nitride as a substrate. The catalyst may be used as an anode or a cathode catalyst of a low temperature fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Shijun Liao, Xinlong Tian, Junming Luo, Rong Chen
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Patent number: 10376759Abstract: One object is to provide a golf club equipped with a shaft made of FRP, the golf club being excellent in swing feeling and ball-hitting feeling and capable of stabilizing directional accuracy in ball hitting. The golf club according to the present invention is characterized in that it includes a shaft made of a fiber-reinforced resin mounted to a head, and the shaft is formed so that a variation of a ratio between torsional rigidity and bending rigidity (GIp/EI) is 0.2 or less over an entire length thereof.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: GLOBERIDE, INC.Inventor: Tadashi Toya
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Patent number: 10213666Abstract: A golf shaft having a butt portion joined to a tip portion by a coupler and possessing unique relationships, including rigidity relationships, which provide beneficial performance characteristics including improved stability.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: BREAKTHROUGH GOLF TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Byron H. Adams, Blair M. Philip, Jeffrey T. Halstead, Robert E. Stephens, Trever M. Napier, James P. MacKay
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Patent number: 9329093Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for determining torque in a shaft, the apparatus comprising an elongate member with a weakened region partway along its length, and means for securing the member to the shaft either side of the weakened region, preferably adjacent each end of the elongate member. The invention extends to a method of localising the twist a shaft undergoes, comprising securing an elongate member to a shaft, wherein the elongate member comprises a weakened region partway along its length.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Isis Innovation LimitedInventor: Kam S. Chana
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Patent number: 9079083Abstract: A golf club 2 includes a shaft 6 and a head 4. When a shaft full length is defined as Ls, and a distance between a tip end Tp of the shaft and a center of gravity G of the shaft is defined as Lg, a ratio (Lg/Ls) is 0.52 or greater and 0.65 or less. When a club length is defined as X inch and a club weight is defined as Y gram, the golf club 2 satisfies the following relational expression (1). Y??7.62X+635 ??(1) Preferably, the distance Lg is 615 mm or greater and 660 mm or less. Preferably, a shaft weight Ws is equal to or less than 52 g. Preferably, the club length X is equal to or less than 46 inch.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: DUNLOP SPORTS CO. LTD.Inventors: Hiroshi Hasegawa, Takashi Nakano, Yasushi Sugimoto
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Patent number: 9033816Abstract: Disclosed a hybrid golf shaft in which one or more aramid fiber containing prepregs (H) are laminated in a length section of 5 cm or more of the whole length of the golf shaft, and three or more carbon fiber prepregs (C) are laminated in a length section of 50 cm or more of the whole length of the golf shaft. The golf shaft is configured in that aramid prepregs (H1) or hybrid prepregs (H2) with excellent impact absorbability are arranged in a length section of 5 to 50 cm from a thin end of the golf shaft or along the whole length (L) in an axial direction of the golf shaft, to thereby effectively reduce the number of vibrations in the golf shaft when the golf ball is hit.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INCInventors: Tae Kyoung Min, Tae Hwan Ahn, Eun Jung Cho, Jong Hyun Pack, Jae Soo Choi
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Patent number: 8517857Abstract: An object is to achieve a golf club shaft and a method of producing the same, wherein the weight balance in the shaft longitudinal direction can be reproducibly and easily set and wherein the golf club shaft is produced at a low cost and has high durability. The golf club shaft includes a hollow-cylindrical shaft body made of fiber-reinforced resin and a weight-adding cylinder installed in a cylindrical space of the shaft body. At least a part of an outer diameter side of the weight-adding cylinder is embedded in an cylindrical embedded recess that is formed in an inner wall of the shaft body, wherein a grip-side cylindrical end surface of the weight-adding cylinder and a grip-side cylindrical end surface of the cylindrical embedded recess are in contact with each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Fujikura Rubber Ltd.Inventors: Masaki Wakabayashi, Yoshihito Kogawa, Masaki Nakamura
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Patent number: 8491411Abstract: The subject golf clubs have a shaft and clubhead. The shaft has a tip-end coupled to the clubhead, a butt-end, a reduced-EI portion located adjacent the tip-end, and a remaining portion extending between the butt-end and the reduced-EI portion. The portions are coupled together at an interface. The remaining portion exhibits a respective rate of stiffness reduction as a function of distance from the butt-end. The reduced-EI portion is typically shorter than and has less stiffness than the remaining portion. The reduced-EI portion exhibits a respective rate (which can be zero) of stiffness reduction as a function of distance toward the tip-end. These rates can be similar or different. The interface can exhibit a greater rate in stiffness reduction than the other portions.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Drew Tom DeShiell, Todd P. Beach
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Publication number: 20130137530Abstract: A golf club is formed by winding and hardening a plurality of prepregs. High specific gravity materials having a higher specific gravity than carbon fiber are arranged on the butt side of the golf club. Arrangement of the high specific gravity materials is achieved by winding a high specific gravity material containing prepreg containing carbon fiber and a higher specific gravity material than the carbon fiber. Alternatively, the arrangement of the high specific gravity materials may be achieved by winding another high specific gravity material containing prepreg containing a glass fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventor: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
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Patent number: 8246485Abstract: A golf club shaft has a more attractive appearance than a coating of plating and also achieves a rustproofing effect within the shaft, while avoiding the problem of an increase in weight and processing of effluents associated with plated shafts. The golf club shaft has a shaft body, a covering film formed by chemical treatment of an outside surface and an inside surface of the shaft body, a coating film layer formed by electric painting on the covering film of at least the outside surface; and a pigment layer, in which a polarizing powder is dispersed, which is coated on the coating film layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshimitsu Miura, Yoshifumi Nakajima
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Patent number: 8206238Abstract: A shaft for a golf club comprises a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers. A plurality of circumferentially oriented metal wires are provided at intervals of 1 mm to 4 mm in an axial direction of the shaft having a length in an axial direction of more than 100 mm and less than 300 mm and being centered at a position of 3.25×102 mm from a larger-diameter end of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: MRC Composite Products Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Kaneko, Kouji Shiga, Tetsuya Atsumi, Tsutomu Ibuki
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Patent number: 8157669Abstract: A shaft for a golf club having a total length and a total weight. The shaft includes first and second tubular portions. The first and second tubular portions are formed of first and second materials, respectively. The second tubular portion has a proximal end and a tip end. The tip end has an outside diameter of less than 0.400 inches. The distal end of the first tubular portion is co-cured to the proximal end of the second tubular portion. The shaft has a resistance to twisting about a longitudinal axis of the shaft, when tested under a torsional stability test and measured at an approximate midpoint of the total length of the shaft, of less than 2.0 degrees in a torsional stability test. The shaft when measured from the tip end of the shaft in a balance point test device has a balance point of less than 46 percent.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.Inventors: Richard P. Hulock, Jon C. Pergande, Robert T. Thurman
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Patent number: 7967697Abstract: A precise impact and increased ball drive distance may be achieved due to an increase of elastic force and restoring force of a golf club shaft, when the golf club shaft includes: a first shell portion interiorly disposed in the golf club shaft; at least one elastic member disposed in a length direction on an exterior circumference of the first shell portion; and a second shell portion including carbon and enclosing the first shell portion and the at least one member.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2006Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Inventor: Byung-chun Jung
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Publication number: 20110065526Abstract: A golf club shaft has a function of attenuating the vibration of the shaft at the time of impact and also having a function of stabilizing the struck ball. A shaft has an inner bias layer having a fiber direction that was inclined with respect the shaft axial direction and an outer bias layer having a fiber direction that is inclined with respect to the shaft axial direction in a direction opposite from that of the inner bias layer laminated as a fiber-reinforced resin layer, and a vibration-damping material sheet layer having a vertical-direction length of about 110 mm to about 150 mm disposed between the inner bias layer and the outer bias layer, with region of the position of the end of the grip attachment location as the rear end in the vertical direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: BRIDGESTONE SPORTS CO., LTD.Inventor: Yoshifumi Nakajima
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Publication number: 20100323810Abstract: A shaft for a golf club comprises a plurality of fiber-reinforced resin layers. A plurality of circumferentially oriented metal wires are provided at intervals of 1 mm to 4 mm in an axial direction of the shaft having a length in an axial direction of more than 100 mm and less than 300 mm and being centered at a position of 3.25×102 mm from a larger-diameter end of the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2008Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: MRC COMPOSITE PRODUCTS CO., LTD.,Inventors: Takashi Kaneko, Kouji Shiga, Tetsuya Atsumi, Tsutomu Ibuki
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Publication number: 20100317457Abstract: A shaft for a golf club having a total length and a total weight. The shaft includes first and second tubular portions. The first and second tubular portions are formed of first and second materials, respectively. The second tubular portion has a proximal end and a tip end. The tip end has an outside diameter of less than 0.400 inches. The distal end of the first tubular portion is co-cured to the proximal end of the second tubular portion. The shaft has a resistance to twisting about a longitudinal axis of the shaft, when tested under a torsional stability test and measured at an approximate midpoint of the total length of the shaft, of less than 2.0 degrees in a torsional stability test. The shaft when measured from the tip end of the shaft in a balance point test device has a balance point of less than 46 percent.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2009Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventors: Richard P. Hulock, Jon C. Pergande, Robert T. Thurman
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Patent number: 7497786Abstract: A golf club shaft including a fiber reinforced resin layers and a variety of metal fibers.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Harrison Sports, Inc.Inventor: Michael H. L. Cheng
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Patent number: 7387578Abstract: Articles for automotive, manufacturing and industrial applications including shafts or tubes used, for example, as golf club shafts, ski and hiking poles, fishing rods or bicycle frames, skate blades and snowboards are at least partially electroplated with fine-grained layers of selected metallic materials. Parts with complex geometry can be coated as well. Alternatively, articles such as conical or cylindrical golf club shafts, hiking pole shafts or fishing pole sections, plates or foils and the like can also be electroformed of fine-grained metallic materials on a suitable mandrel or temporary substrate to produce strong, ductile, lightweight components exhibiting a high coefficient of restitution and a high stiffness for use in numerous applications including sporting goods.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2004Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Integran Technologies Inc.Inventors: Gino Palumbo, Iain Brooks, Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos, Klaus Tomantschger, Jonathan McCrea, David Limoges, Uwe Erb
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Patent number: 7354354Abstract: Lightweight articles comprising a polymeric material at least partially coated with a fine-grained metallic material are disclosed. The fine-grained metallic material has an average grain size of 2 nm to 5,000 nm, a thickness between 25 micron and 5 cm, and a hardness between 200 VHN and 3,000 VHN. The lightweight articles are strong and ductile and exhibit high coefficients of restitution and a high stiffness and are particularly suitable for a variety of applications including aerospace and automotive parts, sporting goods, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: Integran Technologies Inc.Inventors: Gino Palumbo, Jonathan McCrea, Klaus Tomantschger, Iain Brooks, Daehyun Jeong, Dave Limoges, Konstantinos Panagiotopoulos, Uwe Erb, Andrew Wang
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Patent number: 7252598Abstract: A device for coupling two shaft members of differing diameters. The device includes a barrel and a reaction mass. The barrel is hollow and includes an outside coupler formed by the exterior surface of an upper portion of the barrel, an inside coupler formed by the inside surface of the barrel, and a reaction mass interface formed by the exterior surface of a lower portion of the barrel. The outside coupler is sized to fit inside a hollow end of the first shaft member. The inside coupler is sized to receive the second shaft member. The reaction mass slides over the second shaft member and into position on the reaction mass interface of the barrel. The parts are secured together with an adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2005Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Balance-Certified Golf, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey L. Lindner
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Patent number: 7128659Abstract: A golf club shaft is formed of an upper segment of a fiber composite material, a lower segment of a metal material, a joint connecting the upper segment and the lower segment, and a sheath of a woody material for covering the upper segment, the lower segment, and the joint.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2003Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Inventor: Ming-Hsien Lee
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Patent number: 7115045Abstract: A hybrid golf club shaft set is provided that includes at least two of the group including a composite shaft subset including shafts formed entirely of composite, a composite/metal shaft subset including shafts formed of composite/metal combination shafts, and a metal shaft subset including shafts formed entirely of metal.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2003Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: True Temper Sports, Inc.Inventors: Graeme Horwood, Scott Cokeing, Kenney Rump
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Patent number: 7041000Abstract: The training golf club is provided with a shaft that has two weights added into the shaft, thereby allowing the club to assist the golfer in producing a golf swing that is in a plane and has a fluid tempo to improve the golf swing effectiveness. A first weight is added internally in the club shaft between the grip and the head end of the shaft, and a second weight is added internally at the head end of the shaft where the shaft attaches to the club head.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2004Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Accel Golf, Inc.Inventor: Trent D. Galloway
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Patent number: 6908401Abstract: A shaft for use in a golf-club or other shaft-based instrument, including a base member and a metal layer, and a method of making the same.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2001Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Inventor: Michael H. L. Cheng
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Patent number: 6872151Abstract: A golf club shaft composed of a laminate of prepregs obtained by impregnating reinforcing fibers with a resin, the weight (g) of the golf club shaft per unit length (mm) is less than 0.0385 g/mm. Prepregs, each including a reinforcing fiber having a high tensile modulus of elasticity not less than 300 GPa and a high tensile strength not less than 5000 MPa are disposed as a part of a straight layer in which the reinforcing fibers are parallel with the axial direction of the golf club shaft.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2003Date of Patent: March 29, 2005Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Hitoshi Oyama
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Patent number: 6866593Abstract: A golf club shaft including a fiber reinforced resin layers and a variety of metal fibers.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2000Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Harrison Sports, Inc.Inventor: Michael H. L. Cheng
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Patent number: 6860821Abstract: A golf shaft which features lightness, high crushing strength and high torsion strength with no interlayer peeling, as well as an excellent aesthetic design with a three-dimensional effect which gives the user a sense of depth, and a method for forming the same and a golf club using the same. The golf shaft is produced by baking a plurality of fiber prepreg layers. The shaft is a laminate comprising: a main layer of resin-impregnated high-strength high-elasticity fiber; a metal wire layer laid over the main layer; and a layer of low-elasticity fiber, laid over the metal wire layer, impregnated with resin through which the underlying metal wire layer can be seen.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: March 1, 2005Assignee: Maimiya-OP Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Unosawa, Kazutaka Someno
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Patent number: 6805642Abstract: A hollow golf club shaft of circular cross-section comprises a tubular cover layer formed from an isotropic material and a tubular core layer formed from a non-isotropic material, wherein the cover layer and the core layer coextend substantially the entire length of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2002Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Acushnet CompanyInventor: Jeffrey W. Meyer
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Patent number: 6793590Abstract: A golf club includes a hollow conical middle tube having a first end provided with a head and a second end provided with a grip. The middle tube includes an upper rod and a lower rod. The golf club further comprises a connector mounted between the upper rod and the lower rod, so that the upper rod, the connector and the lower rod are combined to form a conical rod. Thus, the connector can absorb and eliminate the shock produced by the head rapidly and actually, thereby preventing the shock from being directly transmitted to the grip so as to protect the user's hand.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Inventor: Yang Ching Ho
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Publication number: 20040092329Abstract: A hollow golf club shaft of circular cross-section comprises a tubular cover layer formed from an isotropic material and a tubular core layer formed from a non-isotropic material, wherein the cover layer and the core layer coextend substantially the entire length of the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2002Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventor: Jeffrey W. Meyer
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Patent number: 6729970Abstract: A hybrid golf club shaft set is provided that includes a composite shaft subset including shafts formed entirely of composite, a composite/metal shaft subset including shafts formed of composite/metal combination shafts, and a metal shaft subset including shafts formed entirely of metal. The composite shaft subset preferably includes the long irons with the lowest lofts such as the two, three, and four iron shafts. The composite/metal shaft subset preferably includes the middle irons with medium lofts such as the five, six, and seven iron shafts. The metal shaft subset preferably includes the short irons with the highest lofts such as the eight, nine, and wedge shafts.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2002Date of Patent: May 4, 2004Assignee: True Temper Sports, Inc.Inventors: Graeme Horwood, Scott Cokeing, Kenney Rump
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Patent number: 6582320Abstract: A golf shaft for attachment to a hossel of a club head, said shaft comprising: (a) a first section comprising a first material and having a hossel end and a first joint end, said first section having a linear weight no greater than 2.4 g/in; (b) a second section comprising a second material and having a butt end and a second joint end, said second joint end being connected to said first joint end; (c) wherein said second material is less dense than said first material; and (d) wherein said first material has a shear modulus greater than that of said second material.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1999Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Inventor: Edwin B. Fendel
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Patent number: 6514156Abstract: The tube (6) comprises a wall which is composed of a plurality of layers (2; 3; 5; 4). Longitudinally extending wires (3) are provided in the wall. At least one layer (2, 4) which is wound over the circumference of the tube (6) is present inside and/or outside with respect to the longitudinally extending wires (3).Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2000Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Inventor: Silvano Zorzi
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Patent number: 6354960Abstract: A golf club shaft is formed with an elongated body using a combination of fiber-reinforced plastics and metal-coated fibers to obtain the optimally characterized golf club for a particular player. In one embodiment, a sheet-rolled or filament wound core is covered by a filament wound outer layer having at least one ply including metal-coated fibers. The fibers can be metal-coated with metals such as: nickel, titanium, platinum, zinc, copper, brass, tungsten, cobalt, gold or silver. The use of metal-coated fibers allows the use of combinations of fiber reinforced plastic and metal-coated fibers in producing golf shafts with optimum performance properties. For example, the use of metal-coated fibers allows the addition of weight to the shaft without significantly influencing its longitudinal or torsional rigidity.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1999Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Rapport Composites U.S.A., Inc.Inventors: Michael W. Perryman, Patrick C. T. Hsu
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Patent number: 6343999Abstract: The invention relates to a set of golf clubs employing a two-piece golf club shaft wherein the lengths of the first and second shaft members vary as the loft of the golf club varies. The set of clubs includes a plurality of golf clubs having varying lofts extending from lower loft golf clubs to higher loft golf clubs, wherein each golf club includes a club head and a shaft having a distal end and a butt. Each shaft includes a first member having a first end located at the butt end of the golf club shaft and a second end positioned slightly short of the distal end of the golf club shaft. A second member is secured to the second end of the first member. The second member extends from the second end of the first member to the distal end of the golf club shaft and includes a first end securely coupled to the second end of the first member and a second end which is ultimately secured to a golf club head.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2000Date of Patent: February 5, 2002Assignee: Adams Golf IP LPInventors: Richard H. Murtland, Robert M. Boyd, Brian W. Johansen, Robert Bush, Byron H. Adams
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Patent number: 6302806Abstract: A golf club shaft is provided with a weighted segment located at the tip end thereof for lowering the position of center of gravity of the golf club shaft, a reinforced segment located near the butt end thereof, and a flexing segment located between the weighted segment and the reinforced segment for confining the position of the flexing point of the golf club shaft.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1999Date of Patent: October 16, 2001Inventor: Patrick C. T. Hsu
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Patent number: 6273829Abstract: Formed tubular sporting articles subjected to repeated flexure such as golf club shafts are made from metal matrix composite materials (MMCs) in which a metal alloy matrix is discontinuously reinforced with undissolved particles or platelets in proportions to result in an article having a variable wall thickness, and a minimum modulus of elasticity of 10.4 and a minimum yield strength and minimum modulus of elasticity related by the equation: Y=71+6.84(E−10.4) where Y is yield strength in KSI and E is modulus of elasticity in units×106 psi. The sporting articles are lighter than conventional and have a modulus of elasticity substantially less than that of ordinary MMCs.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1999Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Jas. D. Easton, Inc.Inventors: Larry Carlson, Kirk Litzinger
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Patent number: 6257993Abstract: Tubular golf club shaft made from composite materials comprising layers of fibers impregnated with plastic resin and provided over its length with at least one are of enlargement (6) and or narrowing. The curve of generation of the internal diameter of the shaft as a function of its length beginning at the point of the smallest internal diameter and extending to at least one of the ends of the shaft incorporates at least one decreasing portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 1999Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Morell, Jean-Marc Banchelin
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Patent number: 6203447Abstract: The present invention includes an athletic apparatus such as a golf shaft that includes a first tubular segment, a second tubular segment, and a bond apparatus to couple the first and second tubular segments. The first segment includes an inner surface defining a passage. The second segment includes a shoulder and projection extending axially from the shoulder. The projection defines a bonding surface and extends into the passage. The bond apparatus is between the bonding surface and the inner surface of the first segment. The bond apparatus includes an adhesive coupling the first tubular segment to the second tubular segment and a separation element engaging the inner surface of the first segment and the bonding surface of the second segment to maintain at least a predetermined separation distance between the inner surface and bonding surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1999Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: True Temper Sports, Inc.Inventor: Terry W. Dillard
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Patent number: 6139444Abstract: A golf club shaft having a hollow body comprised of a fiber and resin composite and a tube-shaped stiffener substantially surrounding a lower portion of the body which comprises a material other than a fiber and resin composite. The stiffener is preferably a metal and comprises a pre-formed sheath.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1997Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Philippe Renard, Todd Beach, Eric Zedelmayer
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Patent number: 6126557Abstract: An improved shaft for a golf club and methods of manufacturing the same. One or more layers of a loaded film are used to define in part the overall weight, swing weight, and/or balance point of a golf club shaft, without significantly affecting the flexibility and/or torsional characteristics of the shaft. A set of plies of pre-preg composite fiber sheet and loaded film may be wrapped in a predetermined manner around a mandrel, placed in a mold, and heated for a predetermined period of time to form a shaft for a golf club.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1997Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Callaway Golf CompanyInventors: Thomas W. Preece, Herb Reyes
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Patent number: 6088947Abstract: In order to provide a member for a fishing or sport tool with light weight property and excellent exterior, the member is constructed by a body; a film formed directly on the body of the member or through an intermediate layer; and a single-color forming coating film formed on the outside of the film and capable of transmitting or reflecting only components in a wavelength region included in a specific range among incident light beams.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 1997Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Daiwa Seiko, Inc.Inventors: Hiroyasu Suzue, Mamoru Koike, Eiji Sugaya, Mitsuo Imai
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Patent number: 5961396Abstract: Tubular golf club shaft made from composite materials comprising layers of fibers impregnated with plastic resin and provided over its length with at least one are of enlargement (6) and or narrowing. The curve of generation of the internal diameter of the shaft as a function of its length beginning at the point of the smallest internal diameter and extending to at least one of the ends of the shaft incorporates at least one decreasing portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1998Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Morell, Jean-Marc Banchelin
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Patent number: 5921870Abstract: A shaft having an outer surface with an aerodynamic cross-sectional configuration. In one series of embodiments, the shaft (20) includes a central core (22) and a fairing (24) surrounding the core. In another embodiment, the shaft does not include a central core. Instead, the shaft (500) includes a central portion (502) that provides structural rigidity and has an outer surface with an aerodynamic cross-sectional configuration. Separate end members (540, 550) are attached to the central portion. The invention includes golf clubs (600, 700) incorporating the aerodynamic shafts and a golf club (800) having a special aerodynamic shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1996Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Inventor: James P. Chiasson
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Patent number: 5913734Abstract: With respect to the cross-sectional profile of the shaft, the grip and the socket of a golf club in the direction perpendicular to the center axis line thereof, the inside portion which is located inwardly from the center axis line is formed of a material having a larger specific gravity than the outside portion (at the head side) which is located outwardly from the center axis line to provide a weight difference between the outside and inside portions of each of the shaft, the grip and the socket with making no variation to the shape of the cross-sectional profile. The weight difference is set to such a value that when the shaft, the grip or the socket is rolled on the horizontal plane, each is stopped with the same portion placed face down. More specifically, the weight difference between the outside (upper) portion and the inside (lower) portion with respect to the center axis line is set to 2 g or more for the shaft, 3 g or more for the grip and 0.1 g or more for the socket.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 1997Date of Patent: June 22, 1999Assignees: Hidetaka Tanaka, Fujikura Rubber Ltd.Inventor: Hidetaka Tanaka