Wavy composite tubular structures

Abstract

Construction and advantages of tubular structures made from wavy composite, conventional composites, and damping materials is revealed. The use of sinuous or wavy composite structures as a capable replacement for crossply laminates is disclosed. By combining wavy composite laminae in various waveforms, offsets, angular orientations and material combinations, it is possible to provide axial, torsion, or shear properties equivalent to unidirectional materials but without the limitations related to fiber discontinuity, labor costs for fabrication, and weakness at seams where laminates overlap. Several examples of both wavy crossply laminates and unidirectional crossply laminates are analyzed and compared.

What I claim as my invention is:  
     
         1 . A golf club shaft, which comprises: 
 a shaft;    a viscoelastic layer having a side attached to a surface of said shaft; and    a sinuous wavy composite layer attached to said viscoelastic layer on a side opposite to the side of said viscoelastic layer that is adjacent to said shaft.