JP2016518227A - Golf club shaft grip and internal weight system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provide a grip for a golf club, including weights. The grip includes an opening having a first threaded portion. The weight includes a second threaded portion configured to engage the first threaded portion of the grip.

Description

  The present disclosure relates to grips for golf clubs, and more particularly to grips that include an internal weight system for golf clubs.

  This section describes background information related to the present disclosure, but is not necessarily prior art.

  In addition to improving the golfer's swing, the weight of the golf club can affect the distance and accuracy of the golf shot. Accordingly, it may be advantageous for the golfer to be able to adjust the weight of the golf club in order to improve and / or complete golf shot distance and accuracy.

<Cross-reference to related applications>
This application claims priority to US Utility Patent Application No. 14 / 281,055, filed on May 19, 2014, and US Provisional Patent Application No. 61, filed May 17, 2013. Claims priority to / 824,662. The entire contents of each of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.

  In one form, the present disclosure provides a golf club grip comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end. The first end is configured to receive a golf club shaft, and the second end includes an opening having a first threaded portion therein.

  In another form, the present disclosure provides a grip system for a golf club that includes a shaft that includes an elongate member having a first member end and a second member end. The first member end includes an opening having a first threaded portion, and the second member end is configured to receive a shaft. The system further comprises a weight having a first weight end and a second weight end. The first weight end includes a second threaded portion configured to engage the first threaded portion of the elongate member.

  In yet another form, the present disclosure provides a golf club comprising a head, a shaft, a grip, and a weight. The shaft has a first shaft end and a second shaft end, and the second shaft end is fixed to the head. The grip has a first grip end and a second grip end. The first grip end includes a first grip opening having a first threaded portion, and the second grip end is configured to receive the first shaft end of the shaft. The weight has a first weight end and a second weight end. The first weight end includes a second threaded portion configured to engage the first threaded portion of the grip.

  From the description herein, further areas of applicability will become apparent. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

  The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of each selected embodiment rather than all possible embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

  Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of each drawing.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary golf club that includes a grip and an internal weight system in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the exemplary golf club also including a shaft and a head. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the grip, the internal weight system, and the shaft. FIG. 3 is another partially exploded perspective view of the grip, the internal weight system, and the shaft. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the internal weight system taken along line 4-4 of FIG. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an insert according to the teachings of the present disclosure in addition to the grip. FIG. 6 is a partially exploded view of a grip cap according to the teachings of the present disclosure, in addition to the grip and shaft.

  The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. For clarity, the same reference numerals are used in each drawing to identify similar components. Each example is provided so that this description will be thorough and will fully convey the scope to those skilled in the art. In order to provide a thorough understanding of each embodiment of the disclosure, numerous specific details are set forth, such as each embodiment of a particular component. Specific details need not necessarily be employed, and each example may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limiting the scope of this description. It will be clear to the contractor. Furthermore, it should be understood that the teachings of the present disclosure may be applied to other applications where it is advantageous and / or desirable to adjust the weight of the device. For example, such applications may include, but are not limited to, tennis rackets, fishing rods and / or hockey sticks.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a golf club 10 having a head 12, a shaft 14, and a grip 16 is shown. The head 12 can be configured to hit golf balls (not shown) from various locations on the golf course. For example, the head 12 may hit a golf ball from a putting green (ie, putter as shown), from a tee box (ie, a driver), or from a fairway, rough, bunker (ie, an iron or wedge). Can be configured.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 6, the shaft 14 is an elongated member extending between the first end 18 and the second end 20. The shaft 14 may be made from a suitable material such as a metal (ie, steel shaft) or carbon fiber (ie, graphite shaft). The first end 18 of the shaft 14 is configured to receive the grip 16, and the second end 20 of the shaft 14 is fixed to the head 12. The shaft 14 may maintain a uniform cross section between the end 18 and the end 20, or the cross section may taper between the first end 18 and the second end 20. Good. The shaft 14 may be hollow across each end 18, 20, or the shaft 14 includes a bore that extends at least partially from the first end 18 toward the second end 20. May be. Thus, the shaft 14 includes an outer surface 22 and at least an inner channel or cavity 24 proximate the first end 18.

  The grip 16 is an elongated and hollow member that can be manufactured from a suitable material such as natural or synthetic rubber, or an elastomeric material. The grip 16 includes a first end 26, an opposing second end 28, an inner grip cavity 30, and an outer grip surface 32. The first end 26 of the grip 16 includes an opening 33 configured to receive the insert 34 for attaching the internal weight system 50 to the grip 16. The second end 28 of the grip 16 may include a second opening configured to receive the shaft 14 in the inner grip cavity 30. The shaft 14 may be received within the inner grip cavity 30 such that the first end 18 of the shaft 14 is substantially flush or coincident with the first end 26 of the grip 16. The shape of the inner grip cavity 30 may correspond to the shape of the outer surface 22 of the shaft 14 at least near the first end 18 of the shaft 14. That is, if the outer surface 22 of the shaft 14 is circular or pentagonal at least in the vicinity of the first end portion 18, the inner grip cavity 30 may also be circular or pentagonal, respectively. An adhesive or bonding agent may be applied between the inner grip cavity 30 and the outer surface 22 of the shaft 14, thereby limiting the grip 16 from skidding and / or pivoting relative to the shaft 14. The outer grip surface 32 may be any shape such as a pentagon, a hexagon, or an oval.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the insert 34 is an annular member that can be manufactured from a suitable material, such as a metal or polymeric material. The insert 34 includes an annular flange 36 and an annular body 38. The annular body 38 includes an outer surface 40 and an inner surface 42. The insert 34 can be received in the opening 33 of the grip 16 such that the upper surface 44 of the annular flange 36 is substantially flush with the first end 26 of the grip 16. The plurality of protrusions 46 a, 46 b, 46 c, 46 d extend radially outward from the outer surface 40 of the annular body 38. Each protrusion 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d is configured to engage the inner grip cavity 30 to prevent axial rotation and / or lateral movement of the insert 34 relative to the grip 16. Both threaded portions 48 positioned within the inner surface 42 of the annular body 38 are selectively threadedly attached to the insert 34 with the weight system 50 and grip cap 52 described below, and finally to the grip 16. Configured to attach. In another embodiment, the insert 34 may be overmolded with the grip 16 and may be integrally formed with the grip 16.

  With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the weight system 50 may be selectively inserted into the first end 26 of the grip 16 and into the cavity 24 of the shaft 14 and is threadably engaged with the insert 34. Configured. The weight system 50 includes a weight cap 54, a spacer 56, a weight 58 and a sleeve 60.

  The weight cap 54 is an annular member that can be manufactured from a suitable material, such as a metal or polymeric material. The weight cap 54 includes a first screw portion 62, a second screw portion 64 disposed under the first screw portion 62, and a fixed socket 66 disposed at the upper end 68 of the first screw portion 62. The first screw portion 62 of the weight cap 54 is configured to be screwed with the screw portion 48 of the insert 34, and fixes the weight system 50 to the grip 16. The second threaded portion 64 of the weight cap 54 is configured to be screwed with the spacer 56 as described below. The upper end 68 of the weight cap 54 may be manufactured or overmolded from the same material as the grip 16, thereby providing a “finished” appearance or unity when the weight system 50 is attached to the grip 16. The fixed socket 66 may be a hexagon that can be engaged with a fixed key such as a hexagon key (not shown). The fixed socket 66 may be used to tighten and attach the weight cap 54 and weight system 50 to the insert 34, or alternatively used to loosen and separate the weight cap 54 and weight system 50 from the insert 34. May be.

  The spacer 56 is an elongated member that can be manufactured from an appropriate material such as metal, graphite, or a polymer material. The spacer 56 includes a first end portion 70 and a second end portion 72 disposed to face each other. In the first end portion 70, the spacer 56 includes a first threaded portion 74 configured to threadably engage with the second threaded portion 64 of the weight cap 54. At the second end 72, the spacer 56 includes a second threaded portion 76 configured to threadably engage the weight 58 as described below. The spacer 56 has various lengths, thereby providing the user with the ability to customize the position of the center of gravity of the golf club 10 relative to each end 18, 20 of the shaft 14. For example, the user can use a longer spacer that approximates the position of the center of gravity of the golf club 10 to the head 12, or alternatively, can use a shorter spacer that approximates the position of the center of gravity of the golf club 10 to the grip 16. it can.

  The weight 58 is an elongated member that can be manufactured from a suitable material such as metal or brass. The weight 58 includes a first end portion 78 and a second end portion 80 disposed so as to face each other. At the first end 78, the weight 58 includes a first threaded portion 82 configured to threadably engage with the second threaded portion 76 of the spacer 56. At the second end 80, the weight 58 may include a second threaded portion (not shown) for attaching a further weight (not shown). The weight 58 can have various weight amounts, and provides a user with a function of customizing the weight amount added to the golf club 10.

  The sleeve 60 is an elastically compressible member that can be manufactured from a suitable material such as foam or polymeric material. The sleeve 60 is configured to extend over the weight 58 and may alternatively be formed integrally with the weight 58. The sleeve 60 may be configured to be larger than the cavity 24 of the shaft 14 such that when the weight system 50 is inserted into the grip 16 and into the cavity 24 of the shaft 14, the sleeve 60 contracts and strongly engages the cavity 24. . In this regard, the sleeve 60 is less susceptible to the axial and / or radial movement of the weight 58 and weight system 50 within the cavity 24, so that the weight 58 and weight system 50 may bump against the cavity 24 during use. And / or no vibration.

  An exemplary method of attaching the weight system 50 to the grip 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. A weight 58 that is a desirable additional weight amount for the golf club 10 can be selected. The sleeve 60 may be mounted on the weight 58. A spacer 56 having a length for positioning the center of gravity of the golf club 10 at a suitable position between the head 12 and the grip 16 can be selected. The first screw portion 82 of the weight 58 and the second screw portion 76 of the spacer 56 may be screwed together. A fixing adhesive such as Loctite (registered trademark) can be applied between the screw portion 82 and the screw portion 76 so as not to release the screw engagement between the weight 58 and the spacer 56. The first screw portion 74 of the spacer 56 and the second screw portion 64 of the weight cap 54 may be screwed together. A fixing adhesive such as Loctite (registered trademark) can be applied between the screw portion 74 and the screw portion 64 so that the screwing between the spacer 56 and the weight cap 54 is not released. The weight system 50 may be inserted into the opening 33 of the grip 16 or may be inserted into the cavity 24 of the shaft 14. A fixing key may be used to screw the fixing socket 66 of the weight cap 54 into the first threaded portion 62 of the weight cap 54. A fixing adhesive such as Loctite (registered trademark) can be applied between the screw portion 62 and the screw portion 48 so that the screw cap between the weight cap 54 and the insert 34 is not released. It will be appreciated that once installed, the second end 80 of the weight 58 coincides with the second end 28 of the grip 16. Alternatively, the second end 80 of the weight 58 can be positioned somewhere between the end 26 and end 28 of the grip 16, for example, close to the first end 26 as shown in FIG. is there.

  The weight system 50 may be removed from the grip 16 by removing the threaded portion 62 of the weight cap 54 from the threaded portion 48 of the insert 34. The fixing key may engage with the fixing socket 66 of the weight cap 54 to loosen the engagement between each screw portion 62 and the screw portion 48. Accordingly, the weight system 50 can be separated from the grip 16.

  Referring to FIG. 6, if it is not desirable to add additional weights to the golf club 10 via the weight system 50, the grip cap 52 can be threaded onto the insert 34 instead. The grip cap 52 is an annular member that can be manufactured from a suitable material, such as a metal or polymeric material. The grip cap 52 includes a threaded portion 86 and a fixed socket 88 disposed at the upper end 90 of the threaded portion. The threaded portion 86 is configured to be screwed with the threaded portion 48 of the insert 34 when the weight system 50 is not attached to the grip 16. The upper end 90 of the grip cap 52 may be manufactured or overmolded from the same material as the grip 16, thereby providing a “finished” appearance or unity when the grip cap 52 engages the insert 34. The fixed socket 88 may be hexagonal using a fixed key such as a hexagon key (not shown), for example, and the threaded portion 86 of the grip cap 52 and the threaded portion 48 of the insert 34 are screwed together and tightened. May be. A fixing adhesive such as Loctite (registered trademark) can be applied between the screw portion 86 and the screw portion 48 so that the screw cap between the grip cap 52 and the insert 34 is not released.

  The grip cap 52 may be removed from the grip 16 by removing the threaded portion 86 of the grip cap 52 from the threaded portion 48 of the insert 34. The locking key may be used to engage the gripping cap 52 with the locking socket 88 to loosen the threads 86,48. Accordingly, the grip cap 52 can be separated from the grip 16.

  Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the present disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Thus, although the present disclosure includes specific embodiments, other variations will become apparent to a skilled practitioner based on a review of the drawings, the specification, and the claims that follow. The exact range should not be limited.

Claims (20)

A golf club grip comprising an elongated member having a first end and a second end,
The golf club grip, wherein the first end is configured to receive a golf club shaft, and the second end includes an opening having a first threaded portion therein.   The golf club grip of claim 1, further comprising an insert received in the opening, wherein the insert comprises the first threaded portion.   The golf club grip according to claim 2, wherein the elongated member is made of a first material, and the insert is made of a second material different from the first material.   The golf club grip of claim 2, wherein the insert includes at least one protrusion that engages the opening of the elongate member.   The golf club grip of claim 2, wherein the insert comprises a flange, and an upper surface of the flange is flush with the second end of the elongate member when the insert is received in the opening. . A grip system for a golf club including a shaft, the system comprising:
An elongated member having a first member end and a second member end, wherein the first member end includes an opening having a first threaded portion, and the second member end receives the shaft. An elongated member configured to:
A weight comprising a first weight end portion and a second weight end portion, wherein the first weight end portion is a second screw portion configured to engage with the first screw portion of the elongated member. A system comprising weights provided.   The system of claim 6, wherein the weight is received within the elongate member such that a first weight end is flush with the first member end of the elongate member.   The system of claim 7, further comprising an insert having a flange, wherein the flange and the first weight end are coplanar with the first member end of the elongate member.   The system of claim 6, wherein the first weight end has a fixed socket.   The system according to claim 6, further comprising a fixing adhesive disposed between the first screw portion and the second screw portion. Head,
A shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end, the second shaft end being fixed to the head;
A grip having a first grip end and a second grip end, wherein the first grip end includes a first grip opening having a first threaded portion, and the second grip end is A grip configured to receive the first shaft end of the shaft;
A first weight end portion and a second weight end portion, wherein the first weight end portion includes a weight including a second screw portion configured to engage with the first screw portion of the grip. A golf club provided.   The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the head includes one of a putter, a wedge, and a driver.   The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the weight is received in the grip such that the second weight end is flush with the second grip end.   The golf club according to claim 11, further comprising an insert attached to the first grip opening, wherein the insert includes the first threaded portion.   The golf club of claim 14, wherein the insert includes at least one protrusion that engages the first grip opening.   The golf club according to claim 14, wherein the insert includes a flange, and an outer surface of the flange is flush with the first grip end when the insert is attached to the first grip opening.   The golf club according to claim 16, wherein the first weight end is flush with the outer surface of the insert.   The golf club according to claim 14, wherein the grip is manufactured from a first material and the insert is manufactured from a second material different from the first material.   The golf club according to claim 11, wherein the first weight end includes a fixed socket.   The golf club according to claim 11, further comprising an adhesive disposed between the first screw portion and the second screw portion.

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