TWI411458B - Silicone grips for golf clubs and methods of making same - Google Patents

Abstract

Golf grips for golf clubs are provided. The grip comprises an elongated flexible sleeve that slips onto the shaft of a golf club, silicone ink applied to the sleeve surface to form printed indicia thereon, and an elongated flexible panel of silicone material wrapped around and integrally bonded to the sleeve, wherein the printed indicia is visible through the panel.

Description

Silicone resin grip for golf club and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention relates generally to grips, and more particularly to grips for golf clubs.

Many different grips are used today in a variety of items, including golf clubs, tools (hammer handles, etc.), rackets (handballs, badminton or tennis rackets), bats (baseball or softball), and pool clubs. , umbrellas, fishing rods and the like. A sleeve-type golf club grip made of a molded rubber material or synthetic plastic is well known in the golf industry. The term "slip-on" as used in this specification refers to a grip that is sleeved by sliding on a shaft or handle and secured by an adhesive or the like. The pull-on grip has many shapes and styles available.

Golf club grips are traditionally printed with some text, graphics and/or graphics. For example, many golf club grips include the name of the golf club producer and/or include a logo or symbol and/or include one or more patterns/colors. Because of the shape, the put-on golf club grip may be slightly more difficult to print using conventional methods. In addition, the sleeve-type golf club grip for the putter can have a generally irregular shape and configuration making it difficult to print. Moreover, the printed content on conventional golf club grips can be damaged by wear and weather effects.

Silicone rubber is commercially used as an alternative to natural rubber products. Resin rubber has superior properties over natural rubber in terms of durability, flexibility in a wide range of temperatures, and resistance to ozone and ultraviolet attack. Because of these superior qualities, some golf club manufacturers manufacture golf clubs having grips formed of silicone resin. Unfortunately, tantalum resin is a material that is slightly difficult to print on by conventional methods.

Accordingly, a need has arisen for an improved printing method for a put-on golf club grip, particularly a resin grip.

The present invention proposes a grip for a golf club. The grip includes an elongated flexible sleeve that is placed over a golf club shaft, a resin ink applied to the surface of the sleeve to form an imprint thereon, and a wrap around the sleeve and the sleeve An elongated flexible panel of resin-lined material integrally bonded to the barrel, wherein the impression is visible through the panel.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The invention may be embodied in a variety of different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described herein; Familiar with this artist.

The same numbers refer to the same elements throughout the text. In the drawings, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, components or features may be exaggerated for clarity. Dotted lines are illustrative of optional features or operations unless explicitly stated otherwise. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety herein

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to In the present specification, the singular forms "a" and "the" are intended to encompass the plural. It is to be understood that the term "comprising", in this specification, refers to the presence of the features, the whole thing, the steps, the operations, the components, and/or components, but does not exclude one or more other features, The existence or addition of a job, component, component, and/or group of the above. In this specification, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In the present specification, phrases such as "between X and Y" and "between X and Y" should be interpreted to include X and Y. In the present specification, a phrase such as "about between X and Y" means "between about X and about Y." In the present specification, a phrase such as "from about X to Y" means "from about X to about Y".

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. It should be further understood that terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning of the words in the specification and related art, and unless explicitly stated in the text in an idealized or very formal manner. The definition is not a solution. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for simplicity and/or clarity of display.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as "on another element," "an" or "an" It is to be noted that the matter may be directly on another element, attached to another element, to another element, to another element or to another element or to an intermediate element. In contrast, an element is referred to as, for example, "directly on" another element, "directly connected to another element", "directly connected to another element", "directly coupled to another element" or "Direct contact with another component", no intermediate components exist. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that a description of a structure or feature that is disposed "near" another feature is that the structure or feature may have portions that are superimposed or placed underlying adjacent features.

Spatially relative terms such as "bottom", "lower", "lower", "above", "upper" and the like may be used in the specification to mean that one element or feature is to the other element or feature. The description of the relationship is easy to describe. It will be appreciated that spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to the orientation of the device in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned upside down, the elements that are described as "under" or "under" other elements or features are "above" other elements or features. Therefore, the example term "bottom" can cover both "upper" and "bottom" orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptor words described herein are interpreted accordingly. Similarly, "upward", "downward", "upright", "horizontal" and similar terms are used for illustrative purposes only unless otherwise indicated.

It will be understood that the terms "first", "second" and the like may be used in the description to describe the various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or The paragraphs are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the elements, components, regions, layers or sections to another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a "first" element, component, region, layer or section may be referred to as a "second" element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the true scope of the invention. The order of the operations (or steps) is not limited to the order in which the claims or the drawings are presented, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

While embodiments of the present invention are particularly well suited for use as golf club grips and are particularly exemplified herein, it should be immediately appreciated that embodiments of the present invention are applicable to any device/device that requires the use of a hand grip such as a tool (such as a hammer), Ski poles, rackets, and the like.

Referring initially to Figures 1-5, an elongated flexible sleeve 10 or an understand for a grip that is constructed to be worn and secured to a golf club shaft in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The sleeve/grip sleeve 10 has an internal passage 11 that is configured to receive a golf club shaft. The sleeve 10 is shown for use with a push rod and has a generally flat elongated front wall portion 13 and a tapered configuration wherein the circumference of the lower end (proximal end) is less than the circumference of the upper end (distal end) long. However, golf club grips in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention can be designed for use with almost any type of golf club, i.e., for pushers as well as for irons and woods, commonly known as "swing grips." Thus, a sleeve in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can have a variety of different shapes and configurations depending on the type of golf club to which the sleeve is to be attached.

The sleeve 10 shown in the drawings is composed of an elastic polymeric material such as enamel resin, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, and the like. In one embodiment, the sleeve is a two component silicone resin such as that available from Dow, GE Silicone or Wacker. Additionally, the sleeve 10 can comprise a "dual-durometer" material in which the stiffness of the sleeve material differs in different portions of the sleeve. As is known to those skilled in the art, rubber hardness is an international standard for measuring the hardness of rubber, plastic and other non-metallic materials. Rubber hardness is described in ASTM D2240, American Society for Testing Materials. In one embodiment, the sleeve can have a hardness range of about 50 to 70 Shore A rubber hardness.

The sleeve 10 shown therein includes a proximal end 12 and a relatively distal end 14. A mastion 16 is positioned at the proximal end 12. The mastion 16 includes a hole 18 that communicates with the passage 11 and allows a golf club shaft to be inserted therethrough. The mastoid 16 shown in the figures has a tapered peripheral wall portion 20 spaced apart from the body of the mastoid 16 and defining an upward circumferential slot 22 therein. A cap 24 is positioned at the distal end 14 and has a peripheral wall portion 26 spaced from the body of the cap 24. The peripheral wall portion 26 defines a downward circumferential slot 28 as shown. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited to the sleeve 10 shown in the figures.

Referring to Figure 6, the imprint 50 has been applied to the surface 15 of the sleeve 10 of Figure 1 . The imprint 50 is formed by applying a resin ink in any of a variety of methods, such as a squeegee method. Imprint 50 can be applied in one or more steps. For example, the text can be applied in a first step, then the graphic can be applied in a second step, and so on.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the imprint 50 can be applied to the sleeve material in a flat condition prior to being formed in the sleeve 10 shown in the figures.

Referring to Figure 7, a clear, resinous elongated flexible panel 30 constructed to be wrapped and integrally bonded to the sleeve 10 to form a golf club grip is illustrated. The panel may be clear (transparent) or may be translucent. The panel often has a thickness of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.006 inches. The panel 30 shown includes opposing first and second surfaces 32 and 34, opposing first and second edge portions 36 and 38, and opposing proximal and distal end portions 40 and 42. The width of the distal end 42 is greater than the width of the proximal end 40, and the first and second edge portions 36, 38 are pushed outwardly toward the distal end 42 as shown to conform to the shape of the sleeve 10. The panel 30 is shown in a configuration such that when wrapped around the sleeve 10, the opposing first and second edge portions 36, 38 are joined together to define a longitudinal seam.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second edge portions 36, 38 of the panel 30 are matingly engaged. Additional silicone resin can be applied to the first and second edge portions 36,38. Upon heating, the tantalum resin promotes bonding via crosslinking of the first and second edge portions 36,38. In the illustrated embodiment, the insert proximal end 40 is received into the mastoid circumferential slot 22 (Fig. 5) and the panel distal end 42 is received into the cap circumferential slot 28 (Fig. 4) inside.

Embodiments of the present invention do not require that the proximal end 40 of the insert be disposed within the circumferential slot 22 of the mastoid, nor does the distal end 42 of the insert be disposed within the circumferential slot 28 of the cap. The panel distal end 42 may extend all the way to the sleeve distal end 14 in accordance with some embodiments, and/or the panel proximal end 40 may extend all the way to the sleeve proximal end 12 in accordance with some embodiments.

The flexible panel in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can have any desired shape and configuration depending on the shape and configuration of one of the sleeves desired to be wrapped. However, embodiments of the invention are not limited to the shape and configuration of the panel 30 shown in the figures. In addition, the panel 30 has been described as being wrapped around the sleeve 10; another option can be overmolded onto the sleeve 10 by conventional overmolding techniques. The panel may have a hardness range of from about 5 to 50 Shore A rubber hardness.

In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the exposed panel surface 32 may be smooth or may contain a pattern/indentation formed therein. It should be understood that the flexible sleeve 10 may separately comprise a pattern/indentation formed therein. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the panel 30 can be clear, translucent, or can have one or more colors and/or graphics/patterns thereon. The panel 30 is made of, for example, a resin rubber produced by Dow, GE Silicone or Wacker. Referring to Figure 8, a golf club grip 60 formed by integrally joining the panel 30 of Figure 7 to the sleeve 10 of Figure 6 is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the indicia 50 applied to the sleeve surface 15 is visible through the panel 30 with which it is bonded. Grip 60 can have a total hardness range of about 20 to 80 Shore A rubber hardness.

Referring now to Figure 9, there is illustrated an operation for forming a grip for a golf club or other item in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. A flexible sleeve is formed into a shape of a grip of a golf club with an elastic material such as rubber or silicone (block 100). The flexible material can be formed into a shape of a grip in a variety of ways, with non-limiting features including molding, injection, and the like. The flexible material can also be molded or subjected to other treatments to impart an indentation/pattern therein.

A resin ink is applied to the surface of the flexible sleeve to form an imprint thereon (block 110). The resin ink component is available from Rhodia Silicone, Dow Corning, and GE Silicone, and may be based on vinyl functionalized polydimethyl methoxyane (PMDS). The imprint can include text, graphics, graphics, colors, and the like, and can be applied to the surface of the sleeve in a variety of ways. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the sleeve material can be printed with silicone ink prior to forming a sleeve from the material (i.e., the operations of blocks 100 and 110 can be reversed).

The sleeve is then wrapped with a resin flexible panel (block 120). One surface of the flexible panel is in face-to-face contact with the surface of the panel, and the first and second edge portions of the flexible panel are joined together to define a longitudinal seam. The insert and sleeve are then subjected to a treatment sufficient to integrally bond the insert to the sleeve without the use of an adhesive material (block 130).

One or more additional layers of resin can be applied to the grip for appearance (block 140). This resin is available from Dow, GE Silicone or Wacker. For example, one or more additional layers can provide a shiny appearance, a flat appearance, a pattern, abrasion resistance, UV protection, and the like.

The above is illustrative of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention. Although a few exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, the equivalents of which are also included.

10. . . Sleeve

11. . . Internal channel

12. . . Proximal end

13. . . Roughly flat long front wall portion

14. . . Distal end

15. . . Sleeve surface

16. . . Mastoid

18. . . hole

20. . . Conical outer peripheral wall

twenty two. . . Upward circumferential slot

twenty four. . . Cap

26. . . Peripheral wall portion

28. . . Downward slot

30. . . Insert

32. . . First surface

36. . . First edge part

38. . . Second edge portion

40. . . Proximal end

42. . . Distal end

50. . . Imprint

60. . . Golf club grip

1 is a perspective view of a flexible sleeve for a golf club grip in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the flexible sleeve of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of Figure 1 taken along line 3-3.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of Figure 2 taken along line 4-4.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sleeve of Figure 2 taken along line 5-5.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the flexible sleeve of Figure 1 with imprinted in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a plan view of a flexible resin insert that is constructed to be wrapped around a flexible sleeve of Figure 6 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a front elevational view of a golf club grip in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, wherein the flexible panel of Figure 7 has been wrapped and integrally joined to the flexible sleeve of Figure 6.

9 is a flow diagram of a process for forming a grip for a golf club or other item in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

10. . . Sleeve

12. . . Proximal end

13. . . Roughly flat long front wall portion

14. . . Distal end

16. . . Mastoid

twenty four. . . Cap

Claims (18)

A grip for a golf club comprising: an elongated flexible sleeve that is placed over a shaft of a golf club; a resin ink applied to the surface of the sleeve to form an imprint thereon; and a resinous material elongated flexible panel having opposite first and second surfaces and having a first edge portion and a second edge portion joined together to define a longitudinal seam, the resin The material flexible panel is wrapped and integrally bonded to the sleeve without the use of an adhesive material, and wherein the print is visible through the panel. The grip of claim 1 wherein the first and second edges of the panel are joined together in a mating relationship. The grip of claim 2, wherein the first and second edges of the panel are joined together to form a lap joint. The grip of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a resin material. The grip of claim 1, further comprising a mastoid at a proximal end of the sleeve, wherein the mastoid portion includes an upward circumferential slot, and wherein a proximal end of the panel is received In the slot. A grip of claim 1 further comprising a cap at a distal end of the sleeve, wherein the cap includes a downward circumferential slot, and wherein a distal end of the insert is received therein Inside the slot. A method of forming a grip for a golf club, the method comprising: applying a resin ink to a surface of a flexible sleeve, the sleeve being configured to be worn over a golf club Body, where the resin The ink forms an imprint on the surface of the sleeve; a flexible resin material flexible panel is wrapped around the sleeve, wherein the imprint is visible through the insert; and the insert and the sleeve are sufficient to allow the inlay The sheet is integrally bonded to the sleeve without the use of an adhesive material. The method of claim 7, wherein the sleeve comprises a resin material. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second edges of the panel are joined together in a mating relationship. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second edges of the panel are joined together to form a lap joint. The method of claim 7, wherein the sleeve includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the insert includes a proximal end and a distal end, wherein a mast is positioned in the sleeve The proximal end includes an upward circumferential slot, and wherein the step of wrapping the insert to the sleeve includes inserting the proximal end of the insert into the slot. The method of claim 7, wherein the sleeve includes a proximal end and a relatively distal end, wherein the insert includes a proximal end and a relatively distal end, wherein a cap is positioned distally of the sleeve The side end includes a downward circumferential slot, and wherein the step of wrapping the insert to the sleeve includes inserting the distal end of the insert into the slot. A method of forming a grip for a golf club, the method comprising: applying a resin ink to a surface of a flexible material pattern, wherein the resin ink forms an imprint on the surface; The flexible material pattern is formed into a grip that is configured to be worn over a shaft of a golf club. The method of claim 13, further comprising: wrapping a flexible resin material flexible panel on the grip, wherein the imprint is visible through the insert; and subjecting the insert and the grip to sufficient The panel is integrally bonded to the handle without the use of an adhesive material. A method of forming a grip for a golf club, the method comprising: applying a resin ink to a surface of a flexible sleeve, the sleeve being configured to be worn over a golf club The body, wherein the resin ink forms an imprint on the surface of the sleeve. The method of claim 15, further comprising applying a coating of a resin material to the surface of the sleeve. A grip for a golf club comprising: an elongate flexible sleeve that is placed over a shaft of a golf club; and a resin ink applied to the surface of the sleeve to form an imprint thereon. The grip of claim 17, wherein the sleeve comprises a resin material.