US1994556A - Golf club shaft - Google Patents

Description

arch 19,' L' D wlNTERS GOLF CLUB SHAFT Filed Sept. 22, 1952 QN' nesse Patented Mar. 19, 1935 ANITE i My inventicny relates `more partit-ularly tothe construction of the handle orgrip end cfa golf Aclub shaft, Whether the shaft be of woodV or steel; the invention having for its object a con'n struction affording what maybe termed a. natural grip, namely a handle portion .better adapted tov the hands orfgrrip of "the,user;wit h` the handle portion ofv theshaftlso constructed `that rotational movement of the clubfduring the *stroke isimpossible. g i.

Another objectl ofthe inventionis to provide a handle portion of thecharacterjdefined; which is. also so arrangedfrelative to the ,forwardor striking face of the club-head, thatthe` latter' will be properly disposed in addressing the balland therefore a :more accurate shot made than otherwise would be 'the case.

The invention also has for its object the provision of such handle or grip, Whether constructed during manufacture of the shaft or applied to shafts of clubs in use, which will not `interfere with the proper balance of the club.

All of these features and advantages will be readily comprehended from the description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a golf club provided with my invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper end of a steel shaft with my improved grip 0r hand-grasping portion applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View through the grip portion of a steel shaft, provided with the hand grasping portion applied as in Figure 2, and showing a club-head as viewed from above.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to Figure 2, of the upper end of a wood shaft with my improved grip or hand grasping portion applied thereto.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through the grip portion of a Wood shaft, provided with the hand grasping portion applied as in Figure 4, and sho-wing a club-head as viewed looking down.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 5, illustrating the formation of a steel shaft to pro vide my improved hand grasping portion.

My invention involves the provision of a golf club with a hand grasping portion or handle oval or elliptical in cross-section, with the major axis of the hand `grasping portion preferably disposed at a proper or acute angle relative to the forward face of the head of the club, as is more clearly shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6.

This hand grasping portion, indicated at l0 in Figure 1, is of proper prescribedlength and PATENT :emes f preferably tapers `toward''fi-,lille bottom or lower end as shown. 1 In thev particular exemplication Vofthe invention as disclosed inV Figures 2 and 3, my improved handV grasping portion is shown subsequently appliedto a steel golf club shaft l1 of circular` cross-section, see l'igure.v f

The Vsteel;A shaft having been formed in the usual manner and the head ,12 of the club having beenapplied thereto, the hand grasping portion of the shaft 171 is then formed by applyingelongated channel sections or lsegments 13, -13 thereto; the segments being applied in 'any suitable n manner, as for exampleby a suitable adhesive.

, They channel sections or'segrnents 13, 13 are preferablytmadeof alight` material, in order that the balancepffthe-club maybnct be aiected, by using molded rubber, molded cork, aluminum, or a suitable light wood.

Applicant has found that the use of balsa `wood d 4is especially suitable for this use, because of its extreme lightness and spongy or yielding nature.

The channel sections or segments 13, 13 are preferably made with their greatest thickness ind are preferably such that the opposing longitudinal edges of the segments will be in slight spaced relation, thereby somewhat increasing the width of what may be termed the flat sides 16, 16 of the handle 10; althoughthe longitudinal edges may contact each other if desired.

As is more clearly shown in Figure 3, these segments 13, 13 are preferably so secured to the shaft 11 that the major axis of the elliptical or oval handle 10 will be disposed in a direction at an acute angle to the head of the club. The oval or elliptical handle provides a natural grip `for the club; and by having the major or long axis of the handle arranged as shown and described, a proper presentation of the head of the club is ensured and as a result hooking or slicing of the ball is obviated.

After the segments 13, 13 have been secured to the shaft in the manner shown, the segments are then provided with the usual wrapping, namely leather, which may be wound about the segments in the manner-usually employed. With steel shafts, the end of the shaft is generally provided with a small wood core as at 1'7, Figure 2, which also enables the initial end of the leather or wrapping strip 18 to be tacked thereto.

In Figures 4 and 5 I show the application of my invention to a previously constructed Wood shaft 19 of circular cross-section. Like in the steel shaft club shown in Figures 2 and 3, the channel sections or segments 13, 13 are glued or otherwise suitably securedv to the shaft against movement and appliedthereto vso as toA provide the oval or elliptical hand grasping portion having its long or major aXis disposed at an angle`l vto the head 12, as shown in Figure 5. v vy The hand grasping portion 10 of the club is then provided with a suitable covering oir-wrapping 18 in the usual manner. andas previously described.

The invention, as thus described, denes'ex-L emplication of thepprovision of my improved l hand grasping portion to previouslym'ade clubs having the usual shafts of vcircular cross-section. It is apparent, however, that ymy improved natural grip may vbev formed in the' shaft Aduring its manufacture; vvas'forexampl'c'e in Figure' 6*y I show its applicationy to a steelshaft 'wherein the upper or hand grasping portion 20 is compressed'y or somewhat iiattened into ovalA or elliptical form as shown, with the major airis off this oval or hand grasping portion disposed in adirection-'at an angle`to= the 'head 12 or striking face thereof as previously describedl and thus providing the Whererthe channel sections or segments 13 z are made lof metal, such asA aluminum to be" applied to a steel shaft, the segments maybe welded or otherwise suitably secured inlplace;A it being'understood, of course, that Where the,

grip portion' is formed by subsequentlyapplying the segments to the shaft, the segments must be rigidly secured against any possibility of shiit-v A sible and may be made without, however, depart ing from the spirit of my invention.

JVWhatI claim is: K

1. A` golf` club shaft comprisinga club-headv section and an upper;section integral with the club-head section, the upper section being provided with an immovable hand-grasping portion of elliptical cross-sectionwithY the major axis disposed at approximately twenty-twddegrees' rearward relative to a Ahorizontal line lyingj on the strikingvfaceofthe'club-head. I

2'.l A golf crutshaft providedrmth a head ,at

one end and ahand-grasping portion at the other end,'the handgrasping portion being of e11ipti`` K cal' cross-sectionV withthe major axis immovably,

arranged at vapproximately twenty-two degrees rearward relative to a horizontal line lying on the striking'face of the head,'said hand-grasping V'portion involving' elongated segmental portions fixedly secured to diametrically'opposite sides ofthe main body of thesl'iaftfA f 'l LEROY D; WIN'rERs; l

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