Aerodynamic shaft
First Claim
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1. A shaft comprising:
- a. an elongate core; and
b. a fairing surrounding and attached to said core, said fairing having an aerodynamic cross section, wherein portions of said fairing are spaced from said core so as to define a cavity therebetween and said cavity is filled with a material, the density of which varies, as determined at different locations in the cavity.
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Abstract
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.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A shaft comprising:
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a. an elongate core; and b. a fairing surrounding and attached to said core, said fairing having an aerodynamic cross section, wherein portions of said fairing are spaced from said core so as to define a cavity therebetween and said cavity is filled with a material, the density of which varies, as determined at different locations in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A fairing for a shaft, the fairing comprising:
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a. a wall having an outer surface with an aerodynamic cross section, wherein said wall has a tensile strength of less than 40,000 psi; b. an inner surface defining an elongate opening for receiving the shaft, said inner surface connected to said wall; and c. means for attaching said inner surface to the shaft comprising two or more fingers attached to said wall that define a slot in communication with said opening.
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8. A shaft comprising:
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a. an elongate core; b. a fairing surrounding and attached to said core, wherein said fairing has an aerodynamic cross section and a hollow interior region; and c. fill material positioned in said interior region, wherein the density of said fill material positioned in a first portion of said interior region is different than the density of said fill material in a second portion of the interior region. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A golf club comprising:
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a. a shaft having an elongate, hollow interior with a first region and a second region; b. a grip attached to said shaft so as to surround said first region; c. a head attached to said shaft adjacent said second region; and d. fill material in at least a portion of said interior other than only said first region, wherein the density of said fill material positioned in a first section of said at least a portion of said interior is greater than the density of said fill material in a second section of said at least a portion of said interior, further wherein said fill material positioned in said first section and said second section comprises foam.
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Specification