Smart Golf Club Shaft

Abstract

A unique and innovative shaft for a golf club significantly enhances stability and shock absorption during golf swings. Taking advantage of the excellent flexibility, surface strength and shock absorption of a bamboo pole, the shaft is designed following the physical structure of the bamboo pole, thus helping facilitate vibration damping and absorption, stability during golf swings, supersymmetry and balance. The shaft comprises a plurality of connectors, each of which is a solid material and connects a plurality of links into an elongated member of the present invention. The plurality of connectors may be attached to the inside wall of the elongated member when designed as a tube. By varying the positions of connectors across the elongated member, the bamboo-inspired shaft can be configured to feature desired levels of flexibility and corrective/reversible torsion at one or more points on the shaft, thus help any golf player achieve substantial performance improvements.

Claims

1. A shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings comprising: an elongated member; the elongated member comprising a plurality of links and a plurality of connectors; each of the plurality of connectors comprising a solid material; the solid material comprising varying density and stiffness from interior to the exterior; and the plurality of links being interconnected by one of the plurality of connectors.

2. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises an exterior taper.

3. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 2 comprising: the elongated member comprising a tip and a grip end; the tip being terminally positioned on the elongated member; the tip being connected to a golf clubhead through a hosel; the grip end being terminally positioned on the elongated member opposite the tip; and the exterior taper being formed through a gradual outside diameter (OD) decrease from the grip end to the tip.

4. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1 comprising: the elongated member comprising a plurality of layers; and the plurality of layers comprising a varying density and stiffness.

5. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 4, wherein an inner layer of the plurality of layers of the elongated member comprises a density smaller than that of outer layer of the plurality of layers.

6. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises a uniform three-dimensional mass distribution centered along the center of gravity (COG) thereof.

7. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a hollow tube.

8. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a constant outside diameter.

9. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a constant length.

10. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a varying length.

11. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of connectors comprises a cross-sectional area smaller than that of an adjacent link of the plurality of links.

12. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the plurality of links and plurality of connectors comprise a smart material.

13. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the plurality of links and plurality of connectors comprise a memory shape material.

14. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the plurality of links and plurality of connectors comprise a thermoplastic.

15. A shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings comprising: an elongated member; the elongated member being a tube; the elongated member comprising a plurality of connectors; each of the plurality of connectors comprising a solid material; the solid material comprising varying density and stiffness from interior to the exterior; the plurality of connectors being positioned inside the elongated member; and each of the plurality of connectors being attached to the inner wall of the tube of the elongated member.

16. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 15, wherein the distance between an arbitrary connector of the plurality of connectors and an adjacent connector has a constant value.

17. The shaft for golf clubs to provide stability and shock absorption during golf swings as claimed in claim 15, wherein the distance between an arbitrary connector of the plurality of connectors and an adjacent connector has a varying value.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention with a tapered elongated member.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a left-side view of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention, wherein a plurality of connectors is positioned inside the elongated member.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0013] All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0014] The present invention provides a unique and innovative shaft designed for significant stability and shock absorption of a golf club during golf swings. The shaft of the present invention is made of alternative materials to those traditionally used for conventional golf shafts. The shaft is modeled after the pattern of a bamboo pole and shares some characteristics with such a pole that help facilitate unique features, including, but not limited to, vibration damping and absorption, stability during golf swings, super symmetry and balance, etc. These design features, in conjunction with specialist alternative materials such as Sorbathane, can absorb and dissipate the energy from impact, reducing forces required and further enhancing the shock absorption properties.

[0015] As can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the golf club shaft of the present invention comprises an elongated member 10 and an exterior hosel 30, which is not part of the present invention. The elongated member 10 can be configured in such a way as to be attached to a golf club through the hosel 30 for connecting one end of the elongated member to a clubhead. The elongated member 10 can be of any suitable cross-sectional shape, including, but not limited to, circular.

[0016] As can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elongated member 10 comprises a plurality of links 11, a plurality of connectors 12, an exterior taper 14, a tip 15, and a grip end 16. The plurality of links 11 is interconnected by one of the plurality of connectors 12 to form the elongated member 10 that comprises physical characteristics and properties similar to those of a bamboo pole. Additionally, each of the plurality of connectors 12 comprises a solid material 21. The solid material 21 comprises varying density and stiffness from interior to the exterior. As can be seen in FIG. 2, in one alternative embodiment, the elongated member 10 may comprise the exterior taper 14. More specifically, the tip 15 is terminally positioned on the elongated member 10 and connected to a golf clubhead through the hosel 30. The grip end 16 is terminally positioned on the elongated member 10 opposite the tip 15, and the exterior taper 14 along the entire length of the elongated member 10 is formed through a gradual outside diameter (OD) decrease from the grip end 16 to the tip 15. The elongated member 10 may also be straight along the length, with parallel links of the plurality of links 11, which have parallel outer surfaces or may include a combination of such links. The length of the elongated member 10 is selected based on the desired length of the golf club and the configuration of the hosel 30. Further, the elongated member 10 comprises a uniform three-dimensional mass distribution centered along the center of gravity (COG) thereof. In some embodiments, the elongated member 10 may be designed based on a holographic principle with periodic design. In other embodiments, the design of the shaft may create space memory and supersymmetry by activation of a center pressure point. This symmetric design ensures that the shaft will have accurate linear momentum through the shaft's trajectory from launch to finish of a golf swing. Even distribution of weight on all sides from the CG relative to all axes of the shaft creates supersymmetry and balance, ensuring the precision of mass properties essential to linear momentum, thus maximizing the opportunity of the clubhead's returning to a position perpendicular to the target line at impact and helping a golfer/user achieve an optimal swing result.

[0017] As can be seen in FIG. 3, in some embodiments of the present invention, the elongated member 10 of the shaft comprises a plurality of layers 13, and the plurality of layers 13 has a varying density and stiffness. Thus, the shaft can provide different levels of strength, stiffness, vibration absorption, and damping. Additionally, an inner layer of the plurality of layers of the elongated member 10 comprises a density smaller than that of outer layer of the plurality of layers 13. Further, the inner layers may be made of various materials having progressive hardness and stiffness, with the inner being softer than the outer, and the degree of such variation can be determined by the impact and shock forces exerted on the shaft. The elongated member 10 can be made of various materials, including, but not limited to, smart materials, memory shape materials, metal, or thermoplastic or combinations thereof. Alternatively, the elongated member 10 may be made of a mono-, duo-, or multi-material that may include, but is not limited to, nickel, copper, silver, and titanium, etc.

[0018] As can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, the plurality of links 11 of the elongated member 10 comprises a hollow tube that may be spaced at substantially equal distances throughout the length of the elongated member 10 to provide longitudinal strength. In some embodiments of the present invention, each of the plurality of links 11 may comprise a constant outside diameter. In some other embodiments, each of the plurality of links 11 comprises a constant length. In yet other embodiments, each of the plurality of links 11 may comprise a varying length.

[0019] As can be seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 to FIG. 4, the plurality of connectors 12 comprises a cross-sectional area smaller than that of an adjacent link of the plurality of links 11. Each of the plurality of connectors 12, which provides substantial vibration-dampening function, is configured to connect or close off adjacent links of the plurality of links 11 of the shaft in a tubular form and is solid. Additionally, each of the plurality of connectors 12 may be installed via various methods, including, but not limited to, screws, springs, and glue, or may be integral and fixed in the manufacture of the shaft. The distance between the connecting sections along the length of the elongated member 10 may be of any desired length, including, but not limited to, equidistant. In some embodiments of the present invention, both the plurality of links 11 and plurality of connectors 12 comprise a material including, but not limited to, smart material, memory shape material, thermoplastic, metal, composites, polymer, plastic, etc. Further, the elongated member 10 may include a bamboo-inspired design that resembles a bamboo structure, and by varying the positions of the plurality of connectors 12 across the elongated member 10, the shaft can be configured to feature desired levels of flexibility and corrective/reversible torsion at one or more points on the elongated member 10 of the shaft.

[0020] As can be seen in FIG. 4, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the elongated member 10 may be a tube, which may or may not have a taper 14. More specifically, the elongated member 10 comprises a plurality of connectors 12. Each of the plurality of connectors 12 comprises a solid material 21, which comprises varying density and stiffness from interior to the exterior. Additionally, the plurality of connectors 12 is positioned inside the elongated member 10 and is attached to the inner wall of the tube of the elongated member 10. Further, the distance between an arbitrary connector of the plurality of connectors 12 and an adjacent connector 12 may include, but is not limited to, a constant value, and/or varying value.

[0021] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.