Tubular golf shaft of stainless steel

Claim 2

A tubular golf shaft made from a precipitation hardening or maraging stainless steel consisting of about 8% to 12% chromium, about 1.4% to 3.25% molybdenum, about 8% to 11% nickel, the sum of the chromium molybdenum and nickel being at least 18% and not exceeding 25%, at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum and titanium not exceeding 1.30%, carbon in a maximum amount of 0.06%, and manganese 0.50% maximum, and silicon in an amount not exceeding 0.30% maximum, the balance essentially iron and incidental impurities, said steel being in the martensitic form thereof and said shaft exhibiting a 200,000 psi minimum yield strength and toughness of 600 in.-lbs./in. 2 measured at or near the tip of the shaft.

Claim 3

A tubular golf shaft made from a precipitation hardening or maraging stainless steel consisting of about 8% to 12% chromium, about 1.4% to 3.25% molybdenum, about 8 to 11% nickel, the sum of the chromium, molybdenum and nickel being at least 18% and not exceeding 25%, at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum and titanium not exceeding 1.30%, carbon in a maximum amount of 0.06% and manganese 0.50% maximum, and silicon in an amount not exceeding 0.30% maximum, the balance essentially iron and incidental impurities, said shaft having a 200,000 psi minimum 0.02% offset yield strength measured at or near the tip end of the shaft, a 220,000 psi minimum ultimate tensile strength at or near said tip end, and 600 minimum in.-lbs./in. 2 toughness at or near the tip end of the shaft measured in the transverse direction.

Claim 4

A tubular golf shaft made from a precipitation hardening or maraging stainless steel consisting of about 8% to 12% chromium, about 1.4% to 3.25% molybdenum, about 8 to 11% nickel, the sum of the chromium, molybdenum and nickel being at least 18% and not exceeding 25%, at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum and titanium not exceeding 1.30%, carbon in a maximum amount of 0.06% and manganese 0.50% maximum, and silicon in an amount not exceeding 0.30% maximum, the balance essentially iron and incidental impurities, said shaft having a 200,000 psi minimum 0.02% offset yield strength measured at or near the tip end of the shaft, a 220,000 psi minimum ultimate tensile strength at or near said tip end, and 600 minimum in.-lbs./in. 2 toughness at or near the tip end of the shaft measured in the transverse direction.