Patent ID: 7494423

Claim:
An insert assembly for use with a golf club shaft having an inner surface, a shaft butt end defining an outer diameter and a shaft tip end defining an inner diameter and an outer diameter that is less than the shaft butt end outer diameter, the insert assembly comprising: a tapered shaft insert including a tapered outer surface, an insert butt end defining an outer diameter and an insert tip end defining an outer diameter that is less than the insert butt end outer diameter and is greater than the shaft tip end inner diameter; and an insert lock, associated with the insert butt end, including a base permanently secured to the tapered shaft insert, an expandable member configured to move between an expanded state, which secures the insert lock to the inner surface of the golf club shaft while the tapered outer surface engages the inner surface of the golf club shaft, and an unexpanded state, and a longitudinally and rotatably movable member associated with the base and the expandable member such that movement of the movable member in a first longitudinal direction results in expansion of the expandable member and movement of the movable member in a second direction results in contraction of the expandable member.