Patent Grant
9033816
The present invention relates to a hybrid golf shaft, and more specifically to a hybrid golf shaft, in which one or more aramid fiber containing prepreg layers with excellent impact absorbability are laminated near an end portion of the thin side (hereinafter referred to as a “tip end portion”) of the golf shaft or along the whole length in an axial direction of the golf shaft, so that it is possible to remarkably decrease the number of vibrations in the golf shaft when the golf ball is hit.
Hereinafter, “hybrid prepregs” described in the present invention are defined as “prepregs” in which thermosetting resins are impregnated in a fiber laminate and reinforced with carbon fibers and aramid fibers arranged alternately and repeatedly.
There is a risk that a golfer be injured or the accuracy of shot be lowered in case of largely increasing the number of vibrations in a golf shaft when a golf ball is hit with the golf shaft. Therefore, a golf shaft is required to have a characteristic of decreasing the number of vibrations applied thereto when the golf ball is hit.
In order to reduce the weight of a golf shaft, a golf shaft composed of fiber-reinforced resins (also referred to as “prepregs”) is frequently used.
As a conventional prepreg golf shaft, a prepreg golf shaft including triaxial fabric layers which are located at at least one end of the opposite end portions of the golf shaft is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,426.
Also, a carbon fiber golf shaft reinforced with a metal sheet near a tip end portion of the golf shaft is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0404713.
However, although the bending strength and torsional strength are improved in the above-mentioned conventional golf shafts, the effect of decreasing the number of vibrations in the golf shaft when the golf ball is hit is not obtained at all.
Further, although a golf shaft in which prepregs are included in all portions of the whole length in an axial direction of the golf shaft is widely used, the effect of decreasing the number of vibrations in the golf shaft when the golf ball is hit is not obtained at all.
In consideration of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hybrid golf shaft having an excellent effect of decreasing the number of vibrations in the golf shaft when the golf ball is hit.
In order to accomplish the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a hybrid golf shaft including: one or more aramid fiber containing prepregs (H) which are laminated in a length section of 5 cm or more of the whole length of the golf shaft; and three or more carbon prepregs (C) which are laminated in a length section of 50 cm or more of the whole length of the golf shaft.
According to the present invention, it is possible to protect the golfer from injury and provide an accuracy of shot by effectively decreasing the number of vibrations in the golf shaft when the golf ball is hit.
S: golf shaft, S1: tip end portion of golf shaft
L: whole length in axial direction of golf shaft
X: length section of 5 to 50 cm from tip end portion of golf shaft
Y: remaining section of golf shaft excluding the length section of 5 to 50 cm from the tip end portion of golf shaft
M: mandrel, C: carbon fiber prepreg
H: aramid fiber containing prepreg, H1: aramid prepreg
H2: hybrid prepreg, P1: first process
P2: second process, P3: third process
V: hollow portion, Cf: carbon fiber
Af: aramid fiber, W1: arrangement interval of carbon fiber
W2: arrangement interval of aramid fiber.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
A golf shaft S according to the present invention has a structure that one or more aramid fiber containing prepregs (H) are laminated in a length section of 5 cm or more of the whole length of the golf shaft and three or more carbon prepregs (C) are laminated in a length section of 50 cm or more of the whole length of the golf shaft, as shown in
The aramid fiber containing prepreg (H) is an aramid prepreg H1 which includes aramid fibers Af only or a hybrid prepreg H2 which includes aramid fibers Af and carbon fibers Cf.
The hybrid golf shaft according to a first embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which the carbon fiber prepregs C and the aramid prepregs H1 are laminated in a length section X of 5 to 50 cm from a tip end portion of the golf shaft S1.
It is more preferable that the aramid prepregs H1 be of a structure laminated between the carbon fiber prepregs C so as to decrease the number of vibrations in the golf shaft when the golf ball is hit.
The hybrid golf shaft S according to the present invention has a structure in which only the carbon fiber prepregs C are laminated in a remaining section Y of the golf shaft excluding the length section X of 5 to 50 cm from the tip end portion of the golf shaft.
Preferably, the respective number of the aramid prepregs H1 and the carbon fiber prepregs C laminated in the length section X of 5 to 50 cm from the tip end portion of the golf shaft S1 is 1 to 15.
Preferably, the number of carbon fiber prepregs C laminated in the remaining section Y of the golf shaft excluding the length section X of 5 to 50 cm from the tip end portion of the golf shaft S1 is 3 to 30.
Preferably, the carbon fibers contained in the carbon fiber prepregs C and the aramid fibers contained in the aramid prepregs H1 are arranged in unidirection in a resin, respectively.
Preferably, the carbon fiber prepreg C includes 30 to 70 wt % of carbon fibers and 70 to 30% of the thermosetting resin.
The thermosetting resin may include an epoxy resin, etc.
Preferably, the aramid prepregs H1 includes 30 to 70 wt % of aramid fibers and 70 to 30% of the thermosetting resin.
The thermosetting resin may include an epoxy resin, etc.
Preferably, the respective thickness of the carbon fiber prepreg C and the aramid prepreg H1 is 50 to 300 μm.
It is preferable that the fineness of the aramid fiber be 500 to 3,000 deniers and the fineness of the carbon fiber be 3,000 to 12,000 deniers.
Next, one example of manufacturing the hybrid golf shaft according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
First, a first process (P1), in which the above mentioned carbon fiber prepreg C is wound one time in the length section X of 5 to 50 cm from the tip end portion of a mandrel M, is carried out.
Next, a second process (P2), in which the aramid prepreg H1 is wound one time in the length section X of 5 to 50 cm from the tip end portion of the mandrel M, is carried out.
Next, a third process (P3), in which the above mentioned carbon fiber prepreg C is wound one time in the whole section of the mandrel M, that is, both the X section and Y section, is carried out ten times repeatedly, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layer formed on the mandrel are separated after the resin in the prepreg is hardened in a hot-air oven, to manufacture a hybrid golf shaft.
As another example of the manufacturing method, one cyclic process, in which the first process is carried out one time, the second process is carried out one time, and the third process is carried out ten times, is repeated two to five times, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layer formed on the mandrel are separated after the resin in the prepreg is hardened in the hot-air oven, to manufacture a hybrid golf shaft.
The hybrid golf shaft S according to a second embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which three or more carbon fiber prepregs C and one or more aramid prepregs H1 are laminated along the whole length L in an axial direction of the golf shaft, as illustrated in
It is more preferable that the aramid prepregs H1 be of a structure laminated between the carbon fiber prepregs C as illustrated in
Meanwhile, it is preferable that the carbon fiber prepregs C composing the golf shaft, that is, the number of carbon fiber prepregs C laminated along the whole length L in the axial direction of the golf shaft, be 5 to 30.
Further, it is preferable that the number of the aramid prepregs H1 composing the golf shaft be 1 to 10.
Preferably, the carbon fibers contained in the carbon fiber prepregs C and the aramid fibers contained in the aramid prepregs H1 are arranged in unidirection in a resin, respectively.
Preferably, the carbon fiber prepreg C includes 30 to 70 wt % of carbon fibers and 70 to 30% of the thermosetting resin.
The thermosetting resin may include an epoxy resin, etc.
Preferably, the aramid prepregs H1 includes 30 to 70 wt % of aramid fibers and 70 to 30% of the thermosetting resin.
The thermosetting resin may include an epoxy resin, etc.
Preferably, the respective thickness of the carbon fiber prepreg C and the aramid prepreg H1 is 50 to 300 μm.
It is preferable that the fineness of the aramid fiber be 500 to 3,000 deniers and the fineness of the carbon fiber be 3,000 to 12,000 deniers.
Next, an example of manufacturing a hybrid golf shaft according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, a first process, in which the above mentioned carbon fiber prepreg C is wound one time along the whole length L in the axial direction of the mandrel, is carried out two to ten times repeatedly.
Next, a second process, in which the aramid prepreg H1 is wound one time over the carbon fiber prepreg C wound on the mandrel by the first process, is carried out one to ten times.
Next, a third process, in which the above mentioned carbon fiber prepreg C is wound one time over the aramid prepreg H1 wound on the mandrel M by the second process is carried out one to twenty times repeatedly, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layer formed on the mandrel are separated after the resin in the prepreg is hardened in a hot-air oven, to manufacture a hybrid golf shaft.
The hybrid golf shaft S according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a structure, (i) three or more carbon fiber prepregs C and (ii) one or more hybrid prepregs H2 including the carbon fibers Cf and the aramid fibers Af are laminated along the whole length L in the axial direction of the golf shaft, as illustrated in
It is more preferable that the hybrid prepregs H2 be of a structure laminated between the carbon fiber prepregs C as illustrated in
Meanwhile, it is preferable that the carbon fiber prepregs C composing the golf shaft, that is, the number of carbon fiber prepregs C laminated along the whole length L in the axial direction of the golf shaft, be 3 to 30.
Further, it is preferable that the number of the hybrid prepregs H2 composing the golf shaft be 1 to 10.
Preferably, the carbon fibers contained in the carbon fiber prepregs C are arranged in unidirection in a resin.
Preferably, the carbon fiber prepreg C includes 30 to 70 wt % of carbon fibers and 70 to 30% of the thermosetting resin.
The thermosetting resin may include an epoxy resin, etc.
Preferably, the hybrid prepreg H2 includes 30 to 70 wt % of the aramid fibers and the carbon fibers (based on the total weight of the prepreg) and 70 to 30% of the thermosetting resin.
The thermosetting resin may include an epoxy resin, etc.
The carbon fibers Cf and aramid fibers Af contained in the hybrid prepreg H2 are arranged alternately in unidirection as illustrated in
It is preferable that the arrangement interval W1 of the carbon fiber Cf contained in the hybrid prepreg H2 be 2 to 10 mm, and the arrangement interval W2 of aramid fiber Af be 2 to 10 mm.
It is preferable that the thickness of the carbon fiber prepreg C and the hybrid prepreg H2 be 50 to 300 μm.
It is preferable that the fineness of the aramid fiber Af be 500 to 3,000 deniers and the fineness of carbon fiber Cf be 300 to 12,000 deniers.
Next, an example of manufacturing a hybrid golf shaft according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, a first process, in which the above mentioned carbon fiber prepreg C is wound one time along the whole length L in the axial direction of the mandrel, is carried out two to ten times repeatedly.
Next, a second process, in which the hybrid prepreg H2 is wound one time over the carbon fiber prepreg C wound on the mandrel by the first process, is carried out one to ten times.
Next, a third process, in which the above mentioned carbon fiber prepreg C is wound one time over the hybrid prepreg H2 wound on the mandrel M by the second process is carried out one to twenty times repeatedly, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layer formed on the mandrel are separated after the resin in the prepreg is hardened in a hot-air oven, to manufacture a hybrid golf shaft.
Below the present invention will be described more specifically through examples and comparative examples.
However, the scope of the present invention to be protected is not limited to the examples described below.
A first process, in which a carbon fiber prepreg C that contains carbon fibers of 5,000 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 40 wt % of the carbon fiber and 60 wt % of epoxy resin with 150 μm thickness is wound one time in a length section X of 30 cm from the tip end portion of the mandrel M, was carried out.
Next, a second process, in which an aramid prepreg H1 that contains aramid fibers of 1,500 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 35 wt % of the carbon fiber and 65 wt % of epoxy resin with 200 μm thickness is wound one time in the length section X of 30 cm from the tip end portion of the mandrel, was carried out.
Next, a third process, in which the carbon fiber prepreg C used in the first process is wound one time on the whole section of the mandrel, was carried out ten times repeatedly, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layer formed on the mandrel are separated after the epoxy in the prepreg is hardened in a hot-air oven, to manufacture a hybrid golf shaft.
The length section of 2 cm from the tip end portion of the hybrid golf shaft manufactured as described above was made to be fixed by a vibration measuring device and vibration was applied to a thick side end portion (hereinafter referred to as a “butt end portion”) of the golf shaft by a human hand in a vertical direction so as to automatically measure the number of vibrations per minute with the vibration measuring device, and the measured number of vibrations was 218 times/minute.
Except that the length section X, in which the carbon fiber prepreg C and the aramid prepreg H1 are wound from the tip end portion of the mandrel M in the first process and the second process of Example 1, was changed as Table 1, hybrid golf shafts were manufactured in the same way as Example 1.
The results of measuring the manufactured hybrid golf shafts in the same way as Example 1 are as shown in Table 1.
A first process, in which a carbon fiber prepreg C that contains carbon fibers of 5,000 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 40 wt % of the carbon fiber and 60 wt % of epoxy resin with 150 μm thickness is wound one time in a length section X of 30 cm from the tip end portion of the mandrel M, was carried out two times.
Next, a second process, in which the carbon fiber prepreg C that contains the carbon fibers of 5,000 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 40 wt % of the carbon fiber and 60 wt % of epoxy resin with 150 μm thickness is wound one time in the whole section of the mandrel, was carried out ten times repeatedly, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layers formed on the mandrel were separated after the epoxy resin in the prepreg was hardened in a hot-air oven, to manufacture carbon fiber prepreg golf shafts.
The length section of 2 cm from the tip end portion of the carbon fiber prepreg golf shaft manufactured as described above was made to be fixed by a vibration measuring device and vibration was applied to the butt end portion of the golf shaft by a human hand in the vertical direction so as to automatically measure the number of vibrations per minute with the vibration measuring device, and the measured number of vibrations was 227 times/minute.
Except that the length section X in which the carbon fiber prepreg C is wound from the tip end portion of the mandrel M in the first process of Comparative Example 1 is changed as Table 1, hybrid golf shafts were manufactured in the same way as Comparative Example 1.
The results of measuring the manufactured hybrid golf shafts in the same way as Comparative Example 1 are as shown in Table 1.
A first process, in which a carbon fiber prepreg C that contains carbon fibers of 5,000 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 40 wt % of the carbon fiber and 60 wt % of epoxy resin with 150 μm thickness is wound one time along the whole length L in the axial direction of the mandrel, was carried out three times repeatedly.
Next, a second process, in which an aramid prepreg H1 that contains aramid fibers of 1,500 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 35 wt % of the aramid fiber and 65 wt % of epoxy resin with 200 μm thickness is wound one time on the carbon fiber prepreg C wound on the mandrel by the first process, was carried out only two times.
Next, a third process, in which the carbon fiber prepreg C used in the first process is wound on the aramid prepreg H1 wound on the mandrel by the second process, was carried out two times repeatedly, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layer formed on the mandrel were separated after the epoxy in the prepreg was hardened in a hot-air over, to manufacture a hybrid golf shaft illustrated in
The length section of 2 cm from the tip end portion of the hybrid golf shaft manufactured as described above was made to be fixed by a vibration measuring device and vibration was applied to the butt end portion of the golf shaft by a human hand in the vertical direction to automatically measure the number of vibrations per minute, and the result was 219 times/minute.
Except that the number of times of carrying out the first process of the third process of Example 11 was changed as Table 2, hybrid golf shafts were manufactured in the same way as Example 11.
The results of measuring the manufactured hybrid golf shafts in the same way as Example 11 are as shown in Table 2.
A first process, in which a carbon fiber prepreg C that contains carbon fibers of 2,000 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 40 wt % of carbon fiber and 60 wt % of epoxy resin with 150 μm thickness is wound one time along the whole length L in the axial direction of the mandrel, was carried out three times repeatedly.
Next, a second process, in which a hybrid prepreg H2 that contains aramid fibers of 1,500 deniers and carbon fibers of 2,000 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 35 wt % of the aramid fibers/carbon fibers (based on the total weight of the prepreg) and 65 wt % of epoxy resin with 200 μm thickness is wound one time on the carbon fiber prepreg C wound on the mandrel by the first process, was carried out only one time.
Next, a third process, in which the carbon fiber prepreg C used in the first process is wound one time on the hybrid prepreg H2 wound on the mandrel by the second process, was carried out two times repeatedly, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layer formed on the mandrel are separated after the epoxy in the prepreg is hardened in an hot-air oven, to manufacture a hybrid golf shaft as illustrated in
The length section of 2 cm from the tip end portion of the hybrid golf shaft manufactured as described above was made to be fixed by a vibration measuring device and vibration was applied to the butt end portion of the golf shaft by a human hand in the vertical direction to measure the number of vibration per minute and the result was 217 times/minute.
Except that the number of times of repeatedly carrying out the first process and the third process of Example 15 was changed as Table 3, hybrid golf shafts were manufactured in the same way as Example 15.
The results of measuring the manufactured hybrid golf shafts in the same way as Example 15 were as shown in Table 3.
The process, in which a carbon fiber prepreg C that contains carbon fibers of 5,000 deniers arranged in unidirection and includes 40 wt % of the carbon fiber and 60 wt % of epoxy resin with 150 μm thickness is wound one time in the whole section of the mandrel, was carried out ten times repeatedly, and then the mandrel and the prepreg laminated layer formed on the mandrel were separated after the epoxy in the prepreg was hardened in hot-air oven, to manufacture carbon fiber prepreg shafts.
The length section of 2 cm from the tip end portion of the carbon fiber prepreg golf shaft manufactured as described above was made to be fixed by a vibration measuring device and vibration was given by a human hand in the vertical direction to the butt end portion of the golf shaft to automatically measure the number of vibrations per minute, and the result was 227 times/minute.
The present invention is so excellent in impact absorbability that the number of vibrations in the golf shaft can be remarkably decreased when the golf ball is hit by the golf shaft, so it can be used as a golf shaft.
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| 10-2010-0132409 | Dec 2010 | KR | national |
| 10-2011-0107007 | Oct 2011 | KR | national |
| 10-2011-0107020 | Oct 2011 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2011/009905 | 12/21/2011 | WO | 00 | 6/13/2013 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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