Fairing for a golf club shaft

• US 8,313,391 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Hale
• Original Assignee: Advanced Surgical Design and Manufacture Limited
• Inventors: Roger, Gregory James, Hale, David Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US12/743,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20110009208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 473/219, 473/223, 473/228, 473/327
• US Class Current: 473/228
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 Metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/006 Surfaces specially adapted for reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/22 Adjustable handles

Abstract

A golf club or implement comprising a grip region (14), a head (15), and a shaft (12) connecting the grip region (14) to the head (16). A fairing (20) is attachable to a trailing edge of the shaft (12). The fairing can reduce drag associated with the shaft (12) during a swing motion of the club or implement. The fairing can, on attachment, extend along a portion of the shaft (12) from a location proximal the head (16) of the club or implement.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a golf club or other implement having a grip region and which is moved in use, the apparatus comprising:

a fairing, the fairing being attachable to a shaft of the golf club or implement to reduce drag associated with said shaft during a swing motion of the club or movement of the implement, and

a plurality of discrete attachment members slidably mounted to the fairing at spaced apart positions of the fairing, the attachment members configured to attach the fairing to the shaft,

wherein on attachment the fairing extends along a portion of the shaft from a location proximal an end of the club or implement that is distal the grip region where the club or implement is normally held towards the grip region.

2. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing is non-removably attached to the shaft.

3. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing is removably attachable to the shaft.

4. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing is attachable to the shaft adjacent the head.

5. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing is attachable to the shaft by a swivel mechanism, such that the fairing is rotatably movable relative to the shaft.

6. The fairing of claim 5, wherein once the fairing is moved to a desired position the fairing can be locked in that position.

7. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing comprises a body that is in the form of an aerofoil.

8. The fairing of claim 1, wherein the fairing has one or more of holes, orifices or indentations provided therein which generate a sound as air passes therethrough or thereover.

9. A golf club or implement comprising:

a grip region;

a head;

a shaft connecting the grip region to the head;

a fairing attached to the shaft to reduce drag associated with said shaft during a swing motion of the club or movement of the implement, wherein the fairing extends along a portion of the shaft from a location proximal the head of the club or implement towards the grip region; and

a plurality of attachment members attaching the fairing to the shaft, wherein the attachment members are slidably mounted to the fairing and the attachment members are attached to the shaft at respective attachment locations along the portion of the shaft, the attachment locations being spaced apart.

10. The golf club or implement of claim 9, wherein the shaft has a region of greater cross-sectional width or diameter relative to the remainder of the shaft.

11. The golf club or implement of claim 9, wherein a portion, a majority or all of the shaft is in the form of an aerofoil.

12. The golf club or implement of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the shaft, head and/or fairing has a surface treatment that modifies the airflow over at least that portion.

13. The golf club or implement of claim 12, wherein the surface treatment comprises a dimpling formed in the surface of said portion.

14. The golf club or implement of claim 9, wherein an upper surface of the head provides at least one airflow path that is shorter than at least one airflow path over a lower surface of the head.

15. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the fairing is attached to the shaft adjacent the head and extends along the shaft away from the head for a length less than half the length of the shaft.

16. The golf club of claim 15, wherein the fairing extends along the shaft from the head for a length about a third of the length of the shaft or less.

17. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the fairing has a maximum thickness that is substantially the same as, or slightly less than the diameter of the shaft.

18. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the fairing is spaced from the shaft.

19. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the width of the fairing is such that it extends backwardly from the shaft farther than the head of the club.

20. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the fairing decreases in width from its lower end to an upper end that is distal the head.

21. The golf club of claim 20, wherein the width of the fairing tapers over some or all of the length of the fairing from its lower end to an upper end that is distal the head.

22. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the fairing is configured to be movable relative to the shaft such that during the swing motion of the club the fairing is free to move relative to the shaft.

23. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the fairing is configured to be movable relative to the shaft between at least two positions.

24. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the fairing comprises a body that in cross-section is wing or blade-shaped.

25. The golf club or implement of claim 9, wherein the implement is:

a paddle, an oar, a baseball bat, a cricket bat, a tennis racquet, a table tennis paddle, or a hammer.

26. The golf club or implement of claim 9, wherein the attachment locations are equidistant apart.

27. The golf club or implement of claim 9, wherein the attachment locations are non-equidistant apart.

28. The golf club or implement of claim 9, wherein one or more of the attachment member extends circumferentially around the shaft at the respective attachment locations.

29. The gold club or implement of claim 9, wherein the attachment members are slidably mounted to the fairing by extending through holes located in the fairing.

30. A golf club or implement comprising:

a grip region;

a head;

a shaft connecting the grip region to the head;

a drag reduction means attached to the shaft to reduce drag associated with said shaft during a swing motion of the club or movement of the implement,

wherein the drag reduction means extends along, a portion of the shaft from a location proximal the head of the club or implement towards the grip region; and

a plurality of spaced apart attachment members attaching the drag reduction means to spaced apart attachment locations along the portion of the shaft, wherein the drag reduction means is slidable relative to the shaft at the respective attachment locations during a swing motion of the club or movement of the implement.

31. The golf club or implement of claim 30, wherein the drag reductions means comprises a fairing.