Interchangeable shaft for a golf club

Abstract

A golf club ( 20 ) having a club head ( 22 ) with an interchangeable shaft ( 40 ) is disclosed herein. The golf club ( 20 ) includes a tube ( 44, 144 ) mounted in the club head ( 22 ), and a sleeve ( 46, 146 ) mounted on a tip end ( 50 ) of the shaft ( 40 ). The tube ( 44, 144 ) includes a tapered portion ( 60, 160 ) and a rotation prevention portion ( 62, 162 ). The sleeve ( 46, 146 ) has a frustoconical portion ( 72, 172 ) and a keyed portion ( 74, 174 ) that are respectively received in the tapered portion ( 60, 160 ) and the rotation prevention portion ( 62, 162 ) of the tube ( 44, 144 ). The golf club ( 20 ) further includes a mechanical fastener ( 48, 148 ) for removably securing the shaft ( 40 ) to the club head ( 22 ).

1 . An interchangeable shaft for connection to a golf club head, the interchangeable shaft comprising:
 a shaft body having a tip end; and   a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft body, the sleeve having a multi-piece construction comprising a cap composed of a non-metal material and a second part composed of an aluminum alloy material, the second part comprising a tubular section and a lower section, the lower section having a length ranging from 0.6 inch to 1.0 inch, the lower section comprising a frustoconical portion and a keyed portion, the frustoconical portion positioned between the keyed portion and the tubular section, the cap adhesively secured over the tubular section, wherein the shaft body includes at least one feature provided about the circumference of the shaft body proximate the tip end, the at least one feature facilitating centering of the shaft body in an opening formed in an upper end of the sleeve;   wherein the sleeve is adapted to be mounted in a tube in the golf club head, such that the frustoconical portion of the sleeve is adapted to be received in a tapered portion of the tube, and the keyed portion of the sleeve is adapted to be received in a rotation prevention portion of the tube to prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the golf club head.   
   
   
       2 . An interchangeable shaft for connection to a golf club head, the interchangeable shaft comprising:
 a shaft body having a tip end; and   a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft body, the sleeve having a multi-piece construction comprising a cap composed of a non-metal material and a second part composed of a titanium alloy material, the second part comprising a tubular section and a lower section, the lower section having a length ranging from 0.6 inch to 1.0 inch, the lower section comprising a frustoconical portion and a keyed portion, the frustoconical portion positioned between the keyed portion and the tubular section, the cap adhesively secured over the tubular section;   wherein the sleeve is adapted to be mounted in a tube in the golf club head, such that the frustoconical portion of the sleeve is adapted to be received in a tapered portion of the tube, and the keyed portion of the sleeve is adapted to be received in a rotation prevention portion of the tube to prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the golf club head.   
   
   
       3 . An interchangeable shaft for connection to a golf club head, the interchangeable shaft comprising:
 a shaft body having a tip end; and   a sleeve adhesively secured on the tip end of the shaft body, the sleeve having a multi-piece construction comprising a cap composed of a non-metal material and a second part composed of an aluminum alloy material, the second part comprising a tubular section and a lower section, the lower section having a length ranging from 0.6 inch to 1.0 inch, the lower section comprising a frustoconical portion and a keyed portion, the frustoconical portion positioned between the keyed portion and the tubular section, the cap adhesively secured over the tubular section;   a compression nut mounted on the shaft body above the sleeve and capable of movement along a portion of the shaft body;   wherein the sleeve is adapted to be mounted in a tube in the golf club head, such that the frustoconical portion of the sleeve is adapted to be received in a tapered portion of the tube, and the keyed portion of the sleeve is adapted to be received in a rotation prevention portion of the tube to prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the golf club head.