Apparatus for manufacturing golf club shafts

• US 6,183,233 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company
• Inventors: Preece, Thomas W., Galloway, J. Andrew, Reyes, Herb
• Primary Examiner(s): Pyon, Harold
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUKHANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/156,301
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 249/189, 264/271.1, 264/273, 264/274, 264/275, 264/313, 425/117, 425/127, 425/468, 425/DIG.44
• US Class Current: 425/117
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/42 for undercut articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 53/821 Mandrels especially adapted for winding and joining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 61/04 Thermal expansion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/30 Shaping by lay-up, i.e. applying fibres, tape or broadsheet on a mould, former or core; Shaping by spray-up, i.e. spraying of fibres on a mould, former or core
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/86 Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, e.g. by winding
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/101 Oriented
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/00 Tubular articles B29L2024/00 takes precedence ; catheters B29L2031/7542
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/044 Rubber mold

Abstract

Improved methods for manufacturing a shaft for a golf club, devices useful in such methods, and golf club shafts manufactured in accordance with such methods. A plug is detachably affixed to a distal end of a mandrel. A plurality of plies pre-preg composite sheet are wrapped around the mandrel and plug and, thereafter, heated causing the resin comprising the various plies to be cured. The mandrel is then removed from the formed shaft, leaving the plug as an integral part of the distal tip of the shaft.

Claims

1. An apparatus for utilization in manufacturing a shaft for a golf club from plies of pre-preg, the apparatus comprising:

a cylindrical mandrel having a shape conforming to an interior cavity of a shaft for a golf club, the mandrel having a flat distal end with a cylindrical extension extending therefrom, the cylindrical extension having a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical mandrel; and

a plug for integration with a shaft to plug the tip end thereof, the plug composed of a thermally expansive foam, the plug having an interior end, an exterior end and a cavity in the interior end for engaging the cylindrical extension of the mandrel, the plug also having at least one hoop ring indentation on an exterior surface of the exterior end for permanent affixation of the plug to the shaft;

whereby the plug is engaged with the mandrel during formation of a shaft from the plies of pre-preg, the mandrel is removed from the plug after formation of the shaft, and the plug remains in the tip end of the shaft.