Golf shaft

Application filed August :

My invention relates to shafts for sporting striking implements, such as golf shafts and the like and relates particularly to golf shafts.

⁵ In my previous application for patent, Serial No. 167112, filed February 10, 1927, I disclose therein an improved metallic tubular shaft made of integrally joined sections ot progressively different decreased diameter 10 according to their disposition relative to the handle portion of the shaft and in the said application I showed a golf shaft wherein all portions intermediate the handle and the head were preferably of the same length, 15 and wherein the reduction in diameter as between adjacent sections was uniform.

I find, however, that much of the objection heretofore had by players using the cont inuously tapered tubular metallic shafts pre20 viously proposed, wherein the taper is uniform throughout the length of the flexing portion of the shaft, is due to the fact that it is impossible in such shafts to so distribute the flexure that there will be sufficiently more 25 flexure in the portion of the shaft more nearly adjacent the head than in those portions relatively more remote therefrom.

' An object of the present invention, therefore, is to accomplish the production of a 30 tubular metallic golf shaft, wherein the rate of change of diameter may be varied in different parts of its length so that, for instance, those players who wish to have relatively more’flexure in-the. portion of the 35 shaft more nearly adjacent the head may have this to a degree in excess of that increased flexure which might be had in shafts tapering uniformly throughout their length. In other words some players desire a certain 40 amount of “whip” action to give the required degree of “snap” to the blow imparted to the ball and it is an object of my invention, therefore, to accomplish this “snap” action.'

In a broad way, however, the object of mv 45 invention is not alone limited to the attainment of a shaft wherein the rate of change of diameter is thus increased toward the head end of a golf shaft, as I contemplate making any beneficial change that may be desired and which is capable of being accom7, 1927. Serial No. 213,467.

plished by varying the rate of change of diameter of the shaft.

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an k, embodiment thereof and in which description reference will be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate the said embodiment.

Referring to the drawings: ₆„ is a side elevational view of an embodiment of my invention, approximately one-fourth the size of the actual device illustrated; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal me- ₆₅dial sectional view, the view being drawn approximately to full scale.

Referring to all of the figures of the drawings, in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, at 10, I show ₇₀a golf club shaft formed of seamless tubular steel composition material, at 11, a handle, and at 12, a head; in the present illustration the head 12 being that of a “wooden” type, such as are commonly termed “drivers” 75 “brassies,” or “spoons.” ’.

The handle of the shaft may preferably be supplied with the usual spirallv wrapped leather grip, secured thereto bv a” wrapping ot thread 14 with a metallic cap 15 affixed to the end of the handle. ⁸⁰ . The head 12 may be formed with the usual hosel 16 having a bore 17 therein into which one end of the shaft is projected and secured by a transversely disposed pin 18. A suitable thread wrapping 19, in accordance ⁸⁵with the common practice, may be placed at the junction of the hosel and the shaft 10.

The shaft comprises a plurality of integrally joined preferably substantially cylindrical tempered steel sections, disposed in ⁰⁰stepped relation, comprising an enlarged handle end section 5, about which tlie handle grip is wrapped, a head and/or tip section 6 of less diameter than the handle section tele- Q. scoped within the bore of the hosel and se- ⁵cured therein, and a plurality of intermediate sections indicated at 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 of progressively less and less diameter and of successively increased thicknesses of wall, 100

1,670,631 a less distributed “whip” action but with a “snap” action limited to a smaller length at the club end of the shaft. Such variations from the embodiment illustrated in the drawings depending upon individual 70 preference, are herein contemplated, as a part of this invention broadly considered.

I find that a golf shaft having the num,ber of sections illustrated and proportioned as described and having the intermediate 75 inclined tubular junctions, best shown in Fig. 2 at 42, possesses certain advantages not had in tubular shafts with fewer sections and without including the intermediate inclined tapered tubular junctions. Among 80 such advantages are the inability of the shaft to transmit mechanical vibrations of high frequency from the head to the handle, such vibrations being of a rate sufficiently high as to create, in other constructions, 85 “ringing . .

It will be noted that in the shaft illustrated, the tip section 32 is really of greater length than the adjacent sections, but since most of the section^y32 is enclosed in the head »0 of the club, the free portion of the section 32 is not of substantially greater length, but is preferably of lesser length than the adjacent sections, since the portion encased by the head is not free to yield to the stresses #5 embodied on the free portion of the shaft intermediate the handle and club end. .