Metal and composite golf club shaft

Abstract

A golf club shaft is provided including a metal tip section and a composite butt section. The butt section includes a reduced diameter portion telescopically received within an axial bore of the tip section. An adhesive is disposed between the tip section and the butt section to secure the two together. An insulating layer may be disposed between the tip section and the butt section to prevent galvanic corrosion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shaft comprising: 
 a tip section formed of a metal material and having a length between about 6 and about 12 inches and a diameter at an upper end thereof between about .0.385 and about .0.415 inches; and    a butt section formed of a composite material coupled to said tip section.    
     
     
         2 . The shaft of claim I wherein said tip section has a lower end, a diameter of said lower end being about 0.335 inches or about 0.350 inches.  
     
     
         3 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein said tip section has a wall thickness between about 0.0125 and about 0.0175 inches.  
     
     
         4 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein said butt section has a wall thickness between about 0.025 and about 0.125 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The shaft of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an adhesive disposed between said tip section and said butt section.  
 
     
     
         6 . The shaft of  claim 5  wherein said adhesive has a thickness between about 0.003 and about 0.006 inches.  
     
     
         7 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein said butt section has a plug telescopically received within said tip section.  
     
     
         8 . The shaft of  claim 1  wherein said tip section overlaps said plug over a length of about 0.75 to about 1.5 inches.  
     
     
         9 . The shaft of  claim 1  further comprising a plastic ferrule disposed between said tip section and said butt section.  
     
     
         10 . The shaft of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an insulating layer disposed between said tip section and said butt section.  
 
     
     
         11 . The shaft of  claim 10  wherein said insulating layer further comprises one of a plurality of insulating spacers disposed between said tip section and said butt section, and a glass layer formed as an outboard part of said tip section so as to be located proximate said butt section.  
     
     
         12 . A shaft comprising: 
 a tip section formed of a metal material; and    a butt section formed of a composite material and having a plug extending from one end thereof telescopically received within said tip section, said tip section overlapping said plug by a length between about 0.75 and 1.5 inches.    
     
     
         13 . The shaft of  claim 12  wherein said tip section has a length between about 6 and about 12 inches.  
     
     
         14 . The shaft of  claim 12  wherein said butt section has a wall thickness between about 0.025 and about 0.125 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The shaft of  claim 12  wherein said tip section has a wall thickness between about 0.0125 and about 0.175 inches.  
     
     
         16 . The shaft of  claim 12  wherein said tip section has an upper end and a lower end, a diameter of said lower end being about 0.335 inches or about 0.350 inches.  
     
     
         17 . The shaft of  claim 12  wherein said tip section has an upper end and a lower end, a diameter of said upper end being between about 0.385 inches and about 0.415 inches.  
     
     
         18 . The shaft of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 an adhesive disposed between said tip section and said butt section.  
 
     
     
         19 . The shaft of  claim 18  wherein said adhesive has a thickness between about 0.003 and about 0.006 inches.  
     
     
         20 . The shaft of  claim 12  further comprising a plastic ferrule disposed between said tip section and said butt section.