US5294119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibration-damping device for a golf club
Assignee: TaylorMade Golf Co Inc
•
Filing: 1992-09-28
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Granted: 1994-03-15
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Expires: 2012-09-28
Abstract
Abstract A device for selectively damping golf club vibrations by controlling their frequencies through optimal positioning at the point of maximum deformation energy for the vibration modes excited after impact. The device may be located at either or both of upper and lower intermediate sections of the club shaft, and is constituted by at least one layer of rigid material joined to the shaft surface by an intermediate layer of resilient material.
Inventors
- 👤 Benoit Vincent
- 👤 Frederic de Fouchier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:12
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B53/00; A63B53/10; A63B60/00; A63B60/54; A63B60/002; A63B60/06; A63B60/08; A63B60/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
Golf club shaft formed by a unitary tubular structure having a total length (L) and comprising an upper part (70) adapted to receive a club grip and extended downward by an upper intermediate section (15), followed by a central section (10), then a lower intermediate section (16), and finally, a lower part (60) adapted for insertion in a club head, and comprising at least one distinct vibration damping device (8, 8', 8") positioned in at least one of said upper and lower intermediate sections (15, 16) and constituted by at least one rigid layer joined to a surface of said shaft by means of an intermediate layer of viscoeleastic material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
Golf club shaft formed by a unitary tubular structure having a total length (L) and comprising an upper part (70) adapted to receive a club grip and extended downward by an upper intermediate section (15), followed by a central section (10), then a lower intermediate section (16), and finally, a lower part (60) adapted for insertion in a club head, and comprising at least one distinct vibration damping device (8, 8', 8") positioned in at least one of said upper and lower intermediate sections (15, 16) and constituted by at least one rigid layer joined to a surface of said shaft by means of an intermediate layer of viscoeleastic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Golf club shaft (1) as according to claim 1, said lower part (60) incorporating a head (2) and said upper part (70) incorporating a grip (3).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 1, wherein said lower intermediate section (16) and said lower part (60) have a length equal to 20% of said total length (L) of said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 1, comprising a damping device (8, 8"i) located in said lower intermediate section (16).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 1, wherein said damping device (8, 8', 8") is structure (100), 101) of said shaft (1).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 1, wherein said upper intermediate section (15) has a length L4 equal to 20% of said total length (L) of said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 6, wherein said upper intermediate section (15) is positioned at a length (L2) from an upper end (7) of said shaft equal to 20% of said total length L of said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 1, comprising a damping device (8, 8"s) positioned in said upper intermediate section (15).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 8, comprising an upper damping device (8"a) located in said upper intermediate section (15) and a lower damping device (8"i) located in said lower intermediate section (16).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 8, wherein the length (L1) of said damping device is between 1 and 20% of the total length (L) of said shaft.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 9, wherein the length (L2) of said damping device is between 1 and 20% of the total length (L) of said shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 1, wherein said damping device (8, 8', 8") is positioned on an outside of said shaft structure (1).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 12, wherein said damping device (8, 8', 8") is positioned on an outer surface (10) of said shaft (1).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 12, wherein said damping device (8, 8', 8") is placed on an internal surface of an inside of said shaft (1).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 1, wherein said damping device (8, 8', 8") is constituted by a ring (11) made of a flexible material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 15, wherein said ring (9) is attached to said club shaft (1) by means of an intermediate layer (11) made of a viscoelastic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 16, wherein said intermediate layer (11) is made of a rubber or thermoplastic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 16, wherein said intermediate layer (11) made of a flexible material is bonded both to said rigid ring (9) and to said club shaft (1).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 18, wherein said intermediate layer (11) has a thickness "e2" of between 1 and 4 millimeters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 19, wherein said intermediate layer (11) made of a flexible material is tubular.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 20 wherein said intermediate layer (11) made of a flexible material is constituted by several intermediate elements (110, 111, 112, 113).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 1, wherein said damping device (8, 8', 8") is constituted by a ring (9) made of a rigid material and attached to said golf club shaft (1) by a flexible connector (11).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 22, wherein said intermediate layer (11) is made of aramid fibers having damping properties.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 22, wherein said rigid outer ring (19) is composed of several adjacent portions (190, 191, 192, 193, 194) separated by longitudinally extending grooves (e).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 22, wherein said rigid ring (9) is made of steel, aluminum, or a composite material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
Golf club shaft according to claim 25, wherein said rigid ring (9) has a thickness "e1" of between 0.3 and at least two millimeters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-03-14 | 1997-09-13 | 1998-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-14 | 2001-09-13 | 2002-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-14 | 2005-09-13 | 2006-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |