KR20180055812A - Grip for Golf Club - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a grip for a golf club and a method of manufacturing the same. The grip for a golf club includes a gripping member having a base extending longitudinally along a portion of a gripping member adapted to engage one or more palms when gripped by one or more hands of a user, And at least two side portions extending from the base portion. Wherein at least two side portions are inclined toward each other so that when the base portion is engaged with one or more palms of the user while being gripped, the user's hands or one or more fingers of each hand of the user are placed on at least two tilted side portions , Thereby reducing or limiting the mobility of the joints in the user's hands and arms.

Description

Grip for Golf Club

The present invention relates to the field of sports equipment, and more particularly, but not exclusively, to grips for sports equipment such as golf clubs.

Like many sports, the sport of golf requires accuracy in a series of matches that depend heavily on fine control and coordination between athlete and golf club. Often, a conventional golf club (usually called a putter), such as a putting club, is equipped with a hand grip for the purpose of enhancing the feel of the hand and helping to hold it more tightly, as well as facilitating smooth movement of the user's hands and arms have. For example, most conventional putter grips are designed to promote joint mobility in the hands and arms. One exemplary design is to provide a substantially cylindrical body on the putter grip and, optionally, a flat top surface on which a user may place his thumb pad, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This configuration is known to allow good mobility of the joints in the hands and arms to allow full range of motion by allowing the user's palms to face one another on opposite sides of the grip during gripping. Nonetheless, such a motion can also promote a control mismatch, and consequently the putter is undesirably rotated during gripping, thus causing misalignment to the target and also deviating from the intended ball path. This is particularly difficult for golfers suffering from 'yips' (a movement disorder known to interfere with putting, known as a relatively common movement disorder that causes unconscious movements in the hands and arms).

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved grip for a golf club.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf club having a new grip which is configured to reduce the mobility of the joints in the hands and arms of the user in use.

Another object of the present invention is to alleviate or prevent in advance the one or more problems associated with known grips for a golf club.

The above objects are met by a combination of the main claim features and the sub-claims further disclose advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description. Therefore, statements of such purpose are not limiting, but merely represent some of the many objects of the present invention.

Generally, the present invention provides a grip for a golf club such as a putting club or a putter, but is not limited thereto. Specifically, the grip may be configured such that when gripped by a user's hand during use, the grip may direct a user to a particular gripping posture that reduces or limits the amount of movement available in the user's hands and arms, do. In particular, the present invention provides a grip including a longitudinally extending gripping member along at least a portion of said grip. The gripping member includes a vertical base portion and at least two angled side portions extending from the base portion. When the base is engaged with the middle or central portion of the user's palm when the grip is gripped, the user's fingers are guided and facilitated to naturally seat over the respective base of the gripping member. With this particular gripping posture, the mobility of the joints in the user's hands and arms, and especially the mobility of the joints during putting and / or swinging, is substantially reduced to allow control and consistency of the required series of movements during the game Or limited. Restrictions on these joint movements are particularly advantageous for players who experience involuntary movements of the hands and arms, such as those experiencing yips. In this way, the palm of the user faces forward from the back of the gripping member due to the gripping posture, that is, the palms do not face each other as in a general putter gripping posture, and both palms are directed in the same direction.

In a first principal aspect, the present invention provides a grip for a golf club. Wherein the grip comprises a gripping member, the gripping member having a base extending longitudinally along a portion of the gripping member adapted to engage one or more palms when gripped by one or more hands of a user, And at least two side portions extending from the base portion. Wherein the at least two side portions are tilted toward each other such that when the base is coupled to the at least one palm of the user while being held, Of the user's hands and arms, thereby reducing or limiting the mobility of the joints in the user's hands and arms.

In a second principal aspect, the invention provides a golf club comprising a grip according to the first aspect.

In a third principal aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a grip for a golf club. The manufacturing method described above includes the steps of providing the grip body and providing the gripping member. The gripping member having a base extending longitudinally along a portion of the gripping member adapted to engage with one or more palms when gripped by one or more hands of a user and at least two side portions extending from the base, . Wherein the at least two side portions are tilted toward each other such that when the base is coupled to the at least one palm of the user while being held, Of the user's hands and arms, thereby reducing or limiting the mobility of the joints in the user's hands and arms.

The contents of the present invention do not necessarily disclose all features essential to the invention, but the invention can be in a subcombination of the disclosed features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and additional features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, given by way of example together with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.
Fig. 1 is a view showing a conventional grasping of a putter grip in the prior art.
Fig. 2 is a view showing gripping of a conventional other putter grip in the prior art.
3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a putter grip according to the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a bottom view showing the base of the grip of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a plan view showing two side portions and a front edge portion of the grip of Fig. 3;
Figure 6 is a side view of the grip of Figure 3;
7 is a front view showing a shaft receiving portion of the grip of Fig. 3;
Figure 8 is a rear view of the grip of Figure 3;
Figure 9 shows the user holding the grip of Figure 3.
FIG. 10 is a view showing the entire body of the user of FIG. 9 showing the position of the user's hand and wrist.

The following description sets forth a preferred embodiment without limiting the combination of features necessary to practice the invention by way of example only.

Reference in the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that the detailed features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Although the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places throughout this specification is not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or mutually exclusive embodiment or alternative embodiment. In addition, various features that can be represented by certain embodiments but can not be represented by other embodiments will be described. Similarly, several requirements that may be requirements for certain embodiments, but which may not be requirements for other embodiments, are described.

The present invention relates to a grip for a hand grip or a golf club. Although specific embodiments of the putter grip are described and illustrated herein, the present invention is generally applicable to any known type of golf club, such as wood, iron, and putter, Although not limited to club grips, the preferred application is a putting club grip. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the grip of the present invention is applicable to other types of sports equipment requiring manual gripping by the user, unless such application is within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the context of this description, any description of the size of the grip, the grip and / or the components of the golf club in one or more embodiments will generally be based on an exemplary average size of such items or items, It refers to a standard size suitable for use by a user having a body height. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any proportional change based on the size described for fitting to a user smaller than the average palm size, such as a child or a teenager, also includes reducing the overall size of the grip and / or the golf club.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown an embodiment of a grip 10 for a golf club, such as a putting club, in accordance with the present invention. The grip 10 may be attached to the gripping member 20 at a sufficient distance such that the user can place both hands on the gripping member 20 in longitudinal alignment, for example, along the longitudinal axis of the gripping member 20, Or gripping members 20 extending along at least a portion of the grip 10, with or without overlapping the two hands on the gripping member 20. In one embodiment, the gripping member 20 extends along at least a portion of the grip 10 at a distance of at least about 14 inches.

The gripping member 20 may be made of one or more of synthetic polymers such as polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyvinyl acetate (PEVA), as well as lightweight materials such as rubber, leather, wood, It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific materials described above and that many other materials which are well known to those skilled in the art are deemed to be suitable and applicable to the present invention should also be included.

As shown in FIGS. 3-6, when the gripping member 20 is gripped by one or more hands of a user during a golf game, it may be engaged with one or more palms, more particularly with the middle or central portion of the user's palm A base portion 22 extending longitudinally along a portion of the gripping member 20 adapted to engage the base portion 22 and at least two side portions 24 extending from the base portion 22. At least two side portions 24 are configured to be tilted toward each other such that when the base portion 22 is coupled to one or more palms of the user during gripping, one or more fingers of the user's hands or each of the user's hands, Such that the mobility of the joints in the user's hands and / or arms is reduced or limited.

In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal base 22 of the gripping member 20 is disposed on the back or bottom surface of the grip 10 relative to the direction of extension of the ball striking surface of the golf club or putter head. In addition, when the middle or central portion of the user's palm is engaged with the base 22 during gripping, one or more finger pads of each hand of the user can engage with each of the opposing sloped side portions 22 At least two side portions 24 extend from the base portion 22, respectively, by a sufficient distance. More specifically, when the base portion 22 is coupled to the middle or central portion of the user's palm during gripping, one or more thumb pads of each hand of the user may be positioned on each side The two inclined side portions 24 are arranged so that the thumb is substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction of the gripping member 20. [ In one embodiment, the middle or central portion of the user ' s palm, which engages the longitudinal base 22 of the gripping member 20, is substantially longitudinally aligned and the user's thumb pad is positioned on the same side of each wrist Engages each of the angled side portions 24 on the same side of the gripping member 20.

In particular, the two side portions 24 are substantially flat and are inclined toward each other so as to meet at the front edge portion 25 opposed to the base portion 22 of the gripping member 20. In one specific embodiment, each of the side portions is about 1 inch wide extending from the base portion 22 toward the front edge portion 25. [ An acute angle is formed between the two side portions 24 and may range from about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees, preferably from 25 degrees to 50 degrees, more preferably from 35 degrees to 45 degrees.

The base 22 is configured to have a width of about 1.0 inch to about 1.5 inches, preferably about 1.25 inches. Preferably, the base portion 22 includes a curved surface having a substantially semi-cylindrical surface coinciding with the shape of the palm of the user. The semi-cylindrical surface may be configured with a radius of curvature of about 0.5 inches to about 0.75 inches, and the curved surface is positioned substantially symmetrically about the longitudinal center axis or plane of the gripping member 20. In a preferred embodiment, the base 22 forms a curved segmented cross section with a chord of about 1.25 inches in length. The gripping member 20 includes a substantially constant cross-section as defined by the base 22 and the two side portions 24 along its length and is about 0.75 inches < RTI ID = 0.0 > Sectional height and has a total height of about 1.2 inches to 1.75 inches, more preferably 1.75 inches along the central vertical plane. Preferably, the central axis of the curved base 22 is coincident or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the golf club shaft. This specific size and configuration may be used to maintain the middle or central portion of the palm upward when the club is in a horizontal orientation and to substantially align the front edge portion 25 of the gripping member 20, , When a user with an average sized hand touches his / her palm to grip the gripping member 20, the thumb and other fingers are placed on different sides of each of the sloping side portions 24 facing each other At the same time, it is possible to put it naturally. This guided gripping posture reduces or limits the mobility of the joints in the user's hands and / or arms by reducing the rotational movement of the user's hands and / or arms in the vicinity of the central axis of the grip 10. This is in contrast to the gripping effect provided by a conventional golf grip, which is facilitated to sideways turn or rotate sideways so that the user's palms face each other on the golf grip to allow maximum movement in the joints.

In one embodiment, the grip 10 may include an elongated grip body 12 having a shaft receiving portion 30 adapted to receive a shaft of a golf club, as shown in FIG. The shaft receiving portion 30 may include a bore 32 extending longitudinally and at least partially along the grip 10. Preferably, the bore 32 is offset relative to at least one of the central vertical plane vv and the central horizontal plane hh of the grip 10, as more clearly shown in the Figure (Figure 7) The weight is better perceived and thus the rotation of the golf shaft is better perceived when gripped in the hand.

In one embodiment, the gripping member 20 may be permanently or releasably received in the grip body 12, or may be provided in the form of a sleeve that can slide over the grip body 12. [ Alternatively, the gripping member 20 may be integrally formed with a grip body 12 connectable to the shaft of the golf club. In another embodiment, the gripping member 20, the grip body 12, and the shaft of the golf club may be integrally formed as a single portion, and the gripping member 20 may be substantially integral with the shaft of the shaft of the golf club. As shown in Fig.

The gripping member 20 may be formed of one or more anti-slipping materials and / or one or more non-slip patterns may be provided on the gripping surface. In one preferred embodiment, the grip 10 may weigh less than about 100 grams. In another embodiment, the counter weight may be located and positioned at the free end of the grip body 12 remote from the head of the golf club. Figure 8 further illustrates the rear end 14 of the grip body 12. The receiving portion 30 of the grip body 12 can receive the shaft of the golf club up to the end of the rear end portion 14. [ Alternatively, the shaft may stop a few inches before reaching the rear end 14 to secure a reserve space for positioning the counterweight.

The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the above-described grip 10 for a golf club. This manufacturing method includes providing the grip body 12 by a known manufacturing method such as molding, three-dimensional printing, carving, sculpting and the like. This manufacturing method further comprises providing the gripping member 20 as described above.

9 and 10, when the middle or central portion of the user's palm is engaged with the base of the gripping member while grasping the golf grip, the user's fingers are moved by a specific configuration of the grip Is advantageously guided and facilitated to be comfortably resting on each tilted base of the gripping member. Fig. 9 shows the gripping posture when the golf club is in the horizontal direction, and Fig. 10 shows the gripping posture when the club is in the use direction, for example, the putting direction. As shown in Fig. 9, the palm and fingers are positioned so that the corresponding gripping postures are naturally guided by the specific configuration of the grips, so that when the club is horizontal, that is, toward the front edge portion of the gripping member, The user's palm is held upward. As shown in FIG. 10, the thumb of one hand and the other finger are promoted to be placed on the respective two side portions, i.e., one thumb and the other finger on the other side, and the thumb and wrist of the same hand are on the same side And is disposed substantially aligned with the direction of the arrow. The particular size of the grip additionally assists the user's palm to reduce rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the grip. This gripping posture substantially reduces or limits the mobility of the joints in the user's hands and arms during a putting and / or swinging action or series of actions during a golf game, as the particular configuration of the grip of the present invention allows. Limitations of joint exercises are particularly beneficial for athletes experiencing unconscious movements in the hands and arms, such as those suffering from YIPS.

The present description illustrates the principles of the present invention. Thus, although not explicitly described or shown herein, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications may be devised which implement the principles of the invention and are included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Furthermore, all statements herein reciting the principles, aspects and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. In addition, such equivalents are intended to encompass not only the currently known equivalents but also any equivalents to be developed in the future, i.e., any element that performs the same function regardless of structure.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, it is to be understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only, and is not to be considered limiting in any way, It will be understood. It will be appreciated that any of the features described herein may be used with any embodiment. The illustrative embodiments are not mutually exclusive or otherwise exclusive of other embodiments described herein. Accordingly, the present invention also provides embodiments that include combinations of one or more of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Modifications and variations of the invention herein disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and thus only those limitations as indicated by the appended claims should be imposed.

In the claims of this document, any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to include any manner of performing that function. The invention as defined by these claims resides in the fact that the functions provided by the various means described above are combined and combined in the manner desired by the claims. Accordingly, any means capable of providing these functions is considered to be equivalent to the means provided herein.

In the following claims and the preceding description of the present invention, variations such as the word 'comprise' or 'comprising' are used in a generic sense, unless the context requires otherwise because of the language of expression or necessary implication That is, used to specify the presence of stated features, but does not preclude the presence or addition of other features in various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (29)

As grips for golf clubs,
Comprising a gripping member,
Wherein the gripping member comprises:
A base extending longitudinally along a portion of said gripping member adapted to engage with one or more palms when gripped by one or more hands of a user,
At least two side portions extending from the base portion
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the at least two side portions are inclined toward each other such that when the base is coupled to the at least one palm of the user while being held, the user's hands or one or more fingers of each hand of the user are tilted Wherein the grip is guided to rest on a lateral side of the grip, thereby reducing or limiting the mobility of the joint in the user's hands and arms. The method according to claim 1,
And an acute angle is formed between the at least two side portions. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the acute angle ranges from about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the at least two side portions meet at a front edge portion of the gripping member with respect to the base portion. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the base has a width of about 1.0 inch to about 1.5 inches. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the base includes a curved surface. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the curved surface comprises a substantially semi-cylindrical surface having a radius of curvature of about 0.5 inches to about 0.75 inches. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the at least two side surfaces of the at least one side surface of the at least one side surface of the at least one side surface of the at least one side surface, Is extended a sufficient distance from the base. The method according to claim 1,
Such that when the base is coupled to the palm of the at least one user while being gripped, one or more thumb pads of each hand of the user may engage the respective side portions on the same side of the respective wrist, A grip for a golf club, wherein at least two side portions are disposed. The method according to claim 1,
Said at least two side portions being substantially flat. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the at least two side portions are inclined toward a central vertical plane of the gripping member and the height of the gripping member is from about 1.2 inches to about 1.75 inches along the central vertical plane. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the gripping member comprises a substantially constant cross-section along its length. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the gripping member is configured substantially symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal center plane. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the gripping member is formed of at least one anti-slip material and / or at least one anti-slip pattern is provided at the gripping member. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the length of the gripping member is at least about 14 inches. The method according to claim 1,
A shaft receiving portion for receiving the shaft of the golf club
And a grip for a golf club. 17. The method of claim 16,
Wherein the shaft receiving portion includes a bore extending longitudinally and at least partially along the grip. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the bore is offset from at least one of a central vertical plane and a central horizontal plane of the grip. 19. The method of claim 18,
And an elongated body including the shaft receiving portion and the gripping member
And a grip for a golf club. 20. The method of claim 19,
Wherein the elongated body, the shaft receiving portion, and the gripping member are integrally formed. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the gripping member is disposed in a direction substantially parallel to an axis of the shaft of the golf club. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the weight of the grip is less than or equal to about 100 grams. The method according to claim 1,
A counterweight located at an end remote from the head of the golf club,
And a grip for a golf club. As a golf club,
A grip according to any one of claims 1 to 23
A golf club comprising: 25. The method of claim 24,
Wherein the grip is formed integrally with a shaft of the golf club. 25. The method of claim 24,
Wherein the gripping member is formed integrally with a grip and a shaft of the golf club. 25. The method of claim 24,
Wherein the base of the gripping member of the grip is located behind the grip with respect to the direction of extension of the ball striking surface of the head of the golf club. 25. The method of claim 24,
Wherein the base includes a curved surface having a central axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the golf club. A method of manufacturing a grip for a golf club,
Providing a grip body;
Providing a gripping member
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the gripping member comprises:
A base extending longitudinally along a portion of said gripping member adapted to engage with one or more palms when gripped by one or more hands of a user,
At least two side portions extending from the base portion
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the at least two side portions are tilted toward each other such that when the base is coupled to the at least one palm of the user while being held, the user's hands or one or more fingers of each hand of the user are tilted Wherein the grip is guided to rest on the lateral side of the grip to reduce or limit the mobility of the joint in the user's hands and arms.

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