Set of golf club shafts

• US 6,343,999 B1
• Filed: 09/26/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Adams Golf Incorporated (Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adams Golf Incorporated (Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Johansen, Brian W., Bush, Robert, Murtland, Richard H., Boyd, Robert M., Adams, Byron H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/671,324
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 473/287, 473/288, 473/289, 473/299, 473/320, 473/321, 473/316
• US Class Current: 473/289
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/026 loft angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 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: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

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. The second member progressively decreases in length as the plurality of golf clubs extend from the lower lofted golf clubs to the higher lofted golf clubs.

Claims

1. A set of golf clubs, comprising:

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, wherein 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 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;

wherein the second member progressively decreases in length as the plurality of golf clubs extend from the lower lofted golf clubs to the higher lofted golf clubs; and

wherein the first member is formed from a rigid material offering mechanical consistency and the second member is formed from a vibration absorbing material which absorbs undesirable vibrations resulting from an individual striking a golf ball.

2. The set of golf clubs according to claim 1, wherein the first member is formed from a rigid material offering mechanical consistency and the second member is formed from a material controlling the bending and torsional stiffness at the distal end of the golf club shaft upon striking a golf ball to thereby stabilize a golf club head secured to the distal end of the golf club shaft.

3. The set of golf clubs according to claim 1, wherein the second member is formed from a synthetic chemical compound.

4. The set of golf clubs according to claim 3, wherein the second member is formed from a fiberglass reinforced resin.

5. The set of golf clubs according to claim 3, wherein the second member is formed from a carbon fiber reinforced resin.

6. The set of golf clubs according to claim 1, wherein the first member is formed from steel.

7. The set of golf clubs according to claim 1, wherein the second member is approximately 6.25 inches in length for the lowest loft golf club and the second member is approximately 3 inches for the highest loft golf club.

8. The set of golf clubs according to claim 1, wherein the second member is a solid core construction.

9. The set of golf clubs according to claim 1, wherein said second member of each golf club shaft is progressively longer as the overall length of the golf club increases.