EP3352864B1

EP3352864B1 - A golf club

Info

Publication number: EP3352864B1
Application number: EP16847875.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vaughan Mason
Original assignee: Bjm Putter Grips Ltd
Current assignee: Bjm Putter Grips Ltd
Priority date: 2015-09-21
Filing date: 2016-07-13
Publication date: 2021-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2036-07-13
Also published as: MX2018003346A; AU2016327234A1; KR20180055812A; JP2018531650A; WO2017049993A2; EP3352864A2; WO2017049993A3; EP3352864A4; ZA201801023B; CA2996224A1; TW201711729A; CN106999755A; CN106999755B

Description

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of sports equipment and, particularly but not exclusively, to a golf club.

Background Art

Like many sports, the sport of golf requires precision at a chain of events which relies heavily on fine control and coordination between the player and the golf club. Traditional golf clubs such as putting clubs, which are also commonly called 'putters', are often equipped with hand grips aimed to improve hand feel, to assist a tighter holding, as well as to facilitate a smoother movement of the hands and arms of the user. For example, most of the traditional putter grips are designed to encourage mobility of the joints in the hands and arms. One typical design is to provide the putter grip with a substantially cylindrical body, and optionally with a flat top surface for the user to position their thumb pads, such those as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This configuration enables the palms of the user to face each other on opposing sides of the grip during a holding action, which is known to allow good mobility of the joints at the hands and arms to enable a full range of motion. Nevertheless, such mobility may also encourage inconsistencies in control, which may result in undesirable rotation of the putter during the holding, and thus misalignment to target and deviation of intended ball path. This is particularly difficult for golfers who suffer from the 'yips' - a movement disorder known to interfere with putting - which is known to be a relatively common movement disorder leading to involuntary joint movements in hands and arms.
Examples on existing arrangements of hand grips or handles for golf clubs as disclosed in patent documents include, for example, US 2004/259655 A1 which relates to a handle of a golf club which is generally oval in cross-section having two flat sides and two rounded ends. US 2012/214610 A1 relates to a grip for a golf putter designed to restore squareness of address of a golf ball by the putter during a swing. The grip may be circular or non-circular in cross-section, and may be tapered along its length. US 2013/225313 A1 discloses a golf grip having a v-shaped forward facing surface and a c-shaped rear facing surface with their contours meet along the sides of the grip to create a substantially tear drop shaped cross section. The entire length of the main grip area of the grip tapers gradually in the proximal-to-distal direction. US 6786835 B1 relates to a putter grip having a size and shape which allow the hands of the player to grasp the club opposite each other during use.

Disclosure of Invention

Solution to Problem

Technical Solution

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved grip for a golf club.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club having a novel grip configured to reduce mobility of the joints at the user's hands and arms in use. A further object of the present invention is to mitigate or obviate to some degree one or more problems associated with known grips for golf clubs.
The above objects are met by the combination of features of the main claims; the subclaims disclose further advantageous embodiments of the invention.
One skilled in the art will derive from the following description other objects of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing statements of object are not exhaustive and serve merely to illustrate some of the many objects of the present invention.
In general, the invention provides a grip for use in a golf club such as, but not limited to, a putting club or putter. Specifically, the grip is configured such that, when being held by a user's hands in use, it guides the user into a specific holding posture which reduces or restricts the degree of movement available at the user's hands and arms. Particularly, the invention provides a grip comprising a gripping member which extends longitudinally along at least a part of the grip. The gripping member comprises a longitudinal base portion and at least two angled side portions extending from the base portion. When the base portion engages medial or central parts of the user's palms when the grip is being held, the user's fingers are guided and encouraged to naturally rest onto the respective base portions of the gripping member. With this specific holding posture, mobility of the joints at the user's hands and arms, and particularly when during a putting and/or a swing, will be substantially reduced or restrict to allow control and consistency over the series of motions required during the play. The limitation to joints movement is particularly beneficial to players who experience involuntary hands and arms movement, such as those who suffer from the yips. Furthermore, the holding posture results in both of the user's palms facing forwards from a back surface of the gripping member, i.e. the palms are not opposed to each other as in a typical putter holding posture, but both facing the same direction.
In a first main aspect, the invention provides a golf club having a shaft and a head with a ball-striking face. The golf club comprises a grip connectable with the shaft. The grip comprises a gripping member having a base portion extending longitudinally along a portion of the gripping member adapted to engage both palms when held by hands of a user, the base portion being arranged at a rear side of the grip relative to a direction of extension of the ball-striking face of the head, and at least two substantially flat side portions extending from said base portion; wherein the gripping member comprises a substantially constant cross-section as defined by the base portion and the two substantially flat side portions along a longitudinal length of the gripping member, wherein the base portion comprises a curved surface, and wherein the at least two substantially flat side portions are inclined towards one another, such that when the base portion is engaged by the palms of the user during a holding, fingers of the user's hands are guided to rest on the at least two substantially flat inclined side portions to thereby reduce or restrict mobility of joints at the user's hands and arms.
In a second main aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a golf club. The method comprises the step of:
providing a shaft, and a head having a ball-striking face; providing a grip; providing a gripping member at the grip, the gripping member having: a base portion extending longitudinally along a portion of the gripping member adapted to engage both palms when held by hands of a user, the base portion being arranged at a rear side of the grip relative to a direction of extension of the ball-striking face of the head, and at least two substantially flat side portions extending from said base portion; wherein the gripping member comprises a substantially constant cross-section as defined by the base portion and the two substantially flat side portions along a longitudinal length of the gripping member, wherein the base portion comprises a curved surface, and wherein the at least two substantially flat side portions are inclined towards one another, such that when the base portion is engaged by the palms of the user during a holding, fingers of the user's hands are guided to rest on the at least two substantially flat inclined side portions to thereby reduce or restrict mobility of joints at the user's hands and arms.
The summary of the invention does not necessarily disclose all the features essential for defining the invention; the invention may reside in a sub-combination of the disclosed features.

Brief Description of Drawings

Description of Drawings

The foregoing and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments which are provided by way of example only in connection with the accompanying figure, of which:

Figure 1 shows the holding at a conventional putter grip in the prior art;
Figure 2 shows the holding at another conventional putter grip in the prior art;
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a grip for a putter according to the present invention;
Figure 4 is a bottom view showing a base portion of the grip of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a top view showing two side portions and a front edge of the grip of Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a side view showing the grip of Figure 3;
Figure 7 is a front view showing a shaft receiving portion of the grip of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a rear view of the grip of Figure 3;
Figure 9 shows the holding of the grip of Figure 3 by a user; and
Figure 10 is a full body view of Figure 9 showing position of the hands and the wrists of the user.

Mode for the Invention

Mode for Invention

The following description is of preferred embodiments by way of example only and without limitation to the combination of features necessary for carrying the invention into effect.
Reference in this specification to 'one embodiment' or 'an embodiment' means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase 'in one embodiment' in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.
The present invention relates to a golf club. Although specific embodiments of putter grips have been described and illustrated in the present description, the present invention is generally applicable to any known type of golf clubs, such as woods, irons and putters, etc. and therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to a grip for use in a putting club, although this is its preferred application.
Referring to Fig. 3, shown is an embodiment of a grip 10 for use in a golf club such as a putting club in accordance with the present invention. The grip 10 comprises a gripping member 20 which extends along at least part of the grip 10 at a distance sufficient to enable a user to place two hands on the gripping member 20 in longitudinal alignment, for example, with one hand behind another along a longitudinal axis of the gripping member 20, or alternatively, with overlapping or partially overlapping hands on the gripping member 20. In one embodiment, the gripping member 20 extends along at least part of the grip 10 a distance of at least about 35.56 cm (14 inches).
It is preferred for the gripping member 20 to be manufactured from a light-weight material such as, but not limited to, one or more of rubber, leather, wood, cork, as well as synthetic polymers such as polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate) (PEVA), etc. Without being limited to the specific materials described above, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other materials which are considered suitable and applicable to the present invention, should also be encompassed.
As shown in Figs. 3 to 6, the gripping member 20 is preferred to comprise a base portion 22 extending longitudinally along a portion of the gripping member 20 adapted to engage one or more palms, and more specifically, medial or central parts of the user's palms, when held by one or more hands of a user during a golf play, and at least two side portions 24 extending from said base portion 22. The at least two side portions 24 are configured to incline towards one another, such that when the based portion 22 is engaged by the one or more palms of the user during a holding, one or more fingers of the or each of the user's hands are guided to rest on the at least two opposed inclined side portions 24 to thereby reduce or restrict mobility of joints at the user's hands and/or arms.
In the embodiment as shown in the figures, the longitudinal base portion 22 of the gripping member 20 is arranged at a rear or bottom side of the grip 10 relative to a direction of extension of a ball striking surface of the golf club or putter head. In addition, the at least two side portions 24 are each configured to extend a sufficient distance away from the base portion 22 such that, where medial or central parts of the user's palms engage the base portion 22 during a holding, one or more finger pads of respective hands of the user are allowed to engage the respective opposed inclined side portions 22. More particularly, the two inclined side portions 24 are arranged suchthat, when the base portion 22 is engaged by medial or central parts of the user's palms during a holding, one or more thumb pads of the respective hands of the user are allowed to engage the respective opposing side portions as on the sides where their respective wrists are located, with the thumbs aligning substantially in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the gripping member 20. In one embodiment, medial or central parts of the user's palms engaging the longitudinal base portion 22 of the gripping member 20 are substantially longitudinally aligned, with the user's thumb pads engaging respective inclined side portions 24 on same sides of the gripping member 20 as their respective wrists.
Specifically, the two side portions 24 are substantially flat and inclined towards each other to meet at a front edge 25 opposing the base portion 22 of the gripping member 20. In one specific embodiment, each of the side portions is of about 2.54 cm (1 inch) in width extending from the base portion 22 towards the front edge 25. The two side portions 24 define an acute angle therebetween, which may range from about 20 deg to about 80 deg, but preferably 25 deg to 50 deg and even more preferably 35 deg to 45 deg.
The base portion 22 is configured with a width ranged from about 2.54 cm (1.0 inch) to about 3.81 cm (1.5 inches), but preferably about 3.175 cm (1.25 inches). Preferably, the base portion 22 comprises a curved surface having a substantially semi-cylindrical surface conforms with the shape of the palm of the user. The semi-cylindrical surface can be configured with a radius of curvature of about 1.27 cm (0.5 inch) to about 1.91 cm (0.75 inch), with the curved surface being positioned substantially symmetrically about a central longitudinal axis or plane of the gripping member 20. In one preferred embodiment, the base portion 22 defines a curved, segmental cross-section having a chord of about 3.175 cm (1.25 inches) in length. In a further embodiment, the gripping member 20 comprises a substantially constant cross- section as defined by the base portion 22 and the two side portions 24 along its length,
with a cross-sectional height of about 1.91 cm (0.75 inch) for the base portion 22, and a total height of about 3.05 cm (1.2 inches) to a maximum of 4.445 cm (1.75 inches), and more preferably, 4.445 cm (1.75 inches) along the central vertical plane. The central axis of the curved base portion 22 is preferably coincident or substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of a golf club shaft. These specific dimensions and configurations allow a user with average sized hands, when closing his or her palms to hold onto the gripping member 20, to naturally rest the thumbs and the other fingers on respective different sides of the opposed inclined side portions 24 and at the same time, to maintain the medial or central parts of the palms facing upwards when the club is in a horizontal orientation and to substantially align with, for example, the front edge 25 of the griping member 20. This guided holding posture reduces rotational movements of the user's hands and/or arms about the central axis of the grip 10, which results in a reduction or restriction of mobility of joints at the user's hands and/or arms. This is in contrast to the holding effect offered by the conventional golf grips, on which palms of the user are encouraged to turn over or rotate sideways to face each other so as to allow a maximum mobility at the joints.
In one embodiment, the grip 10 may further comprise an elongated grip body 12 having a shaft receiving portion 30 as shown in Fig. 7 adapted to receive a shaft of a golf club. The shaft receiving portion 30 may comprise a bore 32 extending longitudinally and at least partially along the grip 10. Preferably, the bore 32 is positioned offset to at least one of a central vertical plane (v-v) and a central horizontal plane (h-h) of the grip 10, as more clearly shown in the figure (Fig. 7), to thereby allow a better sensation of the weight and thus a better recognition of the rotation of the golf shaft when held in the hands.
In one embodiment, the gripping member 20 can be provided in the form of a sleeve capable of permanently or releasably receiving or slipping over the grip body 12. Alternatively, the gripping member 20 can be manufactured integrally with the grip body 12 connectable with a shaft of a golf club. In a further embodiment, the gripping member 20, the grip body 12 and the shaft of the golf club may also be integrally formed in one piece, with the gripping member 20 being arranged to extend in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of a shaft of the golf club.
The gripping member 20 can be formed of oneor more anti-slipping materials and/or provided on the gripping surface with one or more anti-slipping patterns. In one preferred embodiment, the grip 10 can be of a weight less than or equal to about 100 grams. In a further embodiment, a counter weight can be arranged and positioned at a free end of the grip body 12 distal to a head of the golf club. Fig. 8 further shows arear end 14 of the grip body 12. The receiving portion 30 of the grip body 12 may receive the shaft of the golf club all the way to the rear end 14. Alternatively, the shaft may stop a few inches before reaching the rear end 14 to thereby reserve space for positioning a counter weight.
The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a grip 10 for a golf club as described above. The method comprises the step of providing a grip body 12 by any known manufacturing methods such as, but not limited to, molding, 3-dimensional printing, carving, sculpting, etc. The method further comprises the step of providing a gripping member 20 as hereinbefore described.
The present invention is advantageous in that it allows, when the medial or central part of the user's palms engage the base portion of the gripping member during a holding at the golf grip, the user's fingers to be guided and encouraged by the specific configuration of the grip to rest comfortably on the respective inclined base portions of the gripping member, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Fig. 9 shows the holding posture when the golf club is in a horizontal orientation and Fig. 10 shows the holding posture when the club is in an in use orientation, e.g. a putting orientation. Positioning of the palms and the fingers and therefore the corresponding holding posture are naturally guided by the specific configuration of the grip, which keep the palms of the user facing upward when the club is horizontal, i.e. substantially aligned with and facing the front edge of the gripping member during the grip, as shown in Fig. 9. The thumb and the other fingers of one hand are encouraged to rest on the two respective side portions, i.e. the thumb at one side and the other fingers at the other side, with the thumb and the wrist of the same hand being substantially aligned and arranged at the same side and direction, as shown in Fig. 10. The specific dimensions of the grip further assist in reducing rotational movement of the user's palms about the longitudinal axis of the grip. This holding posture, as allowed by the specific configuration of the grip of the present invention, substantially reduces or restricts mobility of joints at the user's hands and arms during a putting and/or a swinging action or a series of actions during a golf play. The restriction in joint movement is particularly beneficial to players who experience involuntary movements at their hands and/or arms, such as those who are suffered from the YIPS.

Claims

A golf club comprising:
a shaft and a head with a ball-striking face;

a grip (10) connectable with the shaft, the grip (10) comprises a gripping member (20) having a base portion (22) extending longitudinally along a portion of the gripping member (20) adapted to engage both palms when held by hands of a user, the base portion (22) being arranged at a rear side of the grip (10) relative to a direction of extension of the ball-striking face of the head, and at least two substantially flat side portions (24) extending from said base portion (22);

wherein the gripping member (20) comprises a substantially constant cross-section as defined by the base portion (22) and the two substantially flat side portions (24) along a longitudinal length of the gripping member (20), wherein the base portion (22) comprises a curved surface, and wherein the at least two substantially flat side portions (24) are inclined towards one another, such that when the base portion (22) is engaged by the palms of the user during a holding, fingers of the user's hands are guided to rest on the at least two substantially flat inclined side portions (24) to thereby reduce or restrict mobility of joints at the user's hands and arms.
The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the grip (10) is integrally formed with the shaft and wherein the gripping member (20) is integrally formed with the grip (10) and the shaft.
The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the curve surface of the base portion (22) comprises a central axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the at least two side portions (24) define an acute angle therebetween and wherein the acute angle is ranged from about 20 deg to about 80 deg.
The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the at least two side portions (24) meet at a front edge of the gripping member (20) relative to the base portion (22) and wherein the base portion (22) is of a width ranged from about 2.54 cm (1.0 inch) to about 3.81 cm (1.5 inch).
The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the curved surface comprises a substantially semi-cylindrical surface having a radius of curvature of about 1.27 cm (0.5 inch) to about 1.91 cm (0.75 inch).
The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the at least two substantially flat side portions (24) are inclined towards a central vertical plane of the gripping member (20), and wherein the gripping member (20) is of a height of about 3.05 cm (1.2 inches) to about 4.32 cm (1.7 inches) along said central vertical plane.
The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the gripping member (20) is configured substantially symmetrically along a longitudinal central plane.
The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the gripping member (20) is formed of one or more anti-slipping materials and/or provided with one or more anti-slipping patterns and wherein the grip (10) is of less than or equal to about 100 grams in weight and further comprises a counter weight positioned at an end distal to the head of the golf club.
The golf club according to claim 7, wherein the grip (10) comprises a shaft receiving portion (30) for receiving the shaft of the golf club.
The golf club according to claim 10, wherein the shaft receiving portion (30) comprises a bore (32) extending longitudinally and at least partially along the grip (30) and wherein the bore (32) is arranged to offset from at least one of the central vertical plane and a central horizontal plane of the gripping member (20).
The golf club according to claim 10, wherein the grip (10) further comprises an elongated grip body (12) comprising the shaft receiving portion (30) and the gripping member (20).
The golf club according to claim 12, wherein the elongated grip body (12), the shaft receiving portion (30) and the gripping member (20) are integrally formed.
A method of manufacturing a golf club, the method comprising:
providing a shaft, and a head having a ball-striking face;

providing a grip (10);

providing a gripping member (20) at the grip (10), the gripping member (20) having:
a base portion (22) extending longitudinally along a portion of the gripping member (20) adapted to engage both palms when held by hands of a user, the base portion (22) being arranged at a rear side of the grip (10) relative to a direction of extension of the ball-striking face of the head, and

at least two substantially flat side portions (24) extending from said base portion (22);

wherein the gripping member (20) comprises a substantially constant cross-section as defined by the base portion (22) and the two substantially flat side portions (24) along a longitudinal length of the gripping member (20), wherein the base portion (22) comprises a curved surface, and

wherein the at least two substantially flat side portions (24) are inclined towards one another, such that when the base portion (22) is engaged by the palms of the user during a holding, fingers of the user's hands are guided to rest on the at least two substantially flat inclined side portions (24) to thereby reduce or restrict mobility of joints at the user's hands and arms.