Sports shaft

Abstract

Provided is an improved sports shaft that includes longitudinal channels running within the interior portion of the substantially hollow shaft. The channels, and more specifically, the channel walls that define the channels, provide additional strength to the sports shaft. The improved sports shaft is better suited to withstand impact forces over a longer period of time than a typical hollow shaft. The improved sports shaft also is also better suited to withstand the variety of non-impact forces that act upon a sports shaft during the course of play. A key advantage of the improved sports shaft is the dramatic increase in strength without the addition of unnecessary weight.

1 . A sports shaft comprising: 
 a shaft, having a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said shaft includes a substantially hollow interior portion, an internal surface and an external surface, and wherein said interior portion includes a plurality of channels, wherein said plurality of channels partially traverse said shaft in a substantially parallel direction from said proximal end to said distal end, and wherein said plurality of channels are defined by at least one channel wall.    
   
   
       2 . The sports shaft of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of channels traverse substantially the entire interior portion of the shaft, from the proximal end of the shaft to the distal end.  
   
   
       3 . The sports shaft of  claim 2 , comprising a plurality of channel walls.  
   
   
       4 . The sports shaft of  claim 2 , comprising a first channel wall and a second channel wall, wherein the first channel wall and second channel wall include a plurality of surface points, wherein said surface points are integral with said internal surface of said shaft, and wherein said first channel wall meets said second channel wall at a node connection point.  
   
   
       5 . The sports shaft of  claim 4 , wherein said first channel wall and said second channel wall meet at said node connection point so as to maximize the cross-sectional area of said plurality of channels.  
   
   
       6 . The sports shaft of  claim 5 , wherein said node connection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that is substantially circular in cross section.  
   
   
       7 . The sports shaft of  claim 5 , wherein said node connection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that is substantially hexagonal in cross section.  
   
   
       8 . The sports shaft of  claim 5 , wherein said intersection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that includes a cross section that is substantially geometrically similar to said shaft cross section.  
   
   
       9 . The sports shaft of  claim 5 , wherein a cross section of said shaft is substantially hexagonal in shape.  
   
   
       10 . The sports shaft of  claim 9 , wherein said external surface of said shaft includes at least one substantially concave portion.  
   
   
       11 . The sports shaft of  claim 2 , comprising a first channel wall, a second channel wall, and a third channel wall.  
   
   
       12 . The sports shaft of  claim 11 , wherein said first channel wall, second channel wall, and third channel wall meet at a node connection point so as to maximize the cross-sectional area of said plurality of channels.  
   
   
       13 . The sports shaft of  claim 12 , wherein said node connection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that is substantially circular in cross section.  
   
   
       14 . The sports shaft of  claim 12 , wherein said node connection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that is substantially hexagonal in cross section.  
   
   
       15 . The sports shaft of  claim 12 , wherein said intersection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that includes a cross section that is substantially geometrically similar to said shaft cross section.  
   
   
       16 . The sports shaft of  claim 2 , comprising a first channel wall, a second channel wall, a third channel wall, and a fourth channel wall.  
   
   
       17 . The sports shaft of  claim 16 , wherein said first channel wall, second channel wall, third channel wall, and fourth channel wall meet at a node connection point so as to maximize the cross sectional area of said plurality of channels.  
   
   
       18 . The sports shaft of  claim 17 , wherein said node connection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that is substantially circular in cross section.  
   
   
       19 . The sports shaft of  claim 17 , wherein said node connection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that is substantially hexagonal in cross section.  
   
   
       20 . The sports shaft of  claim 17 , wherein said intersection point defines an intersection portion, wherein said intersection portion defines an area that includes a cross section that is substantially geometrically similar to said shaft cross section.  
   
   
       21 . The sports shaft of  claim 17 , wherein a cross section of said shaft is hexagonal in shape.  
   
   
       22 . The sports shaft of  claim 21 , further comprising a first hexagonal wall, a second hexagonal wall, a third hexagonal wall, a fourth hexagonal wall, a fifth hexagonal wall, and a sixth hexagonal wall.  
   
   
       23 . The sports shaft of  claim 22 , wherein said first channel wall includes a first interior surface connection point and a fourth interior surface connection point.  
   
   
       24 . The sports shaft of  claim 23 , wherein said first interior surface connection point bisects said first hexagonal wall, and said fourth interior surface connection bisects said fourth hexagonal wall.  
   
   
       25 . The sports shaft of  claim 24 , wherein said second channel wall includes a second interior surface connection point and a fifth interior surface connection point.  
   
   
       26 . The sports shaft of  claim 25 , wherein said second interior surface connection point bisects said second hexagonal wall, and said fifth interior surface connection point bisects said fifth hexagonal wall.  
   
   
       27 . The sports shaft of  claim 26 , wherein said third channel wall includes a third interior surface connection point and a sixth interior surface connection point.  
   
   
       28 . The sports shaft of  claim 27 , wherein said third interior surface connection point bisects said third hexagonal wall, and said sixth interior surface connection point bisects said sixth hexagonal wall.