US20200023252A1

US20200023252A1 - Removable Golf Grip Jacket

Info

Publication number: US20200023252A1
Application number: US16/438,976
Authority: US
Inventors: Tom Zmuda
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-06-12
Filing date: 2019-06-12
Publication date: 2020-01-23

Abstract

A golf grip jacket configured to be removably securable over an existing golf club grip. The golf grip jacket includes a sleeve having an interwoven mesh lining along the inner surface of the jacket wherein the outer surface comprises a friction enhancing material and tread pattern for an improved gripping capability. A zipper assembly is operably attached to the mesh mechanism and runs longitudinally from a top end of the sleeve to a bottom end of the sleeve. The zipper assembly is configured to tighten or loosen the interwoven mesh for a secure fit over an existing golf club grip as the zipper assembly is opened or closed. The golf grip jacket is configured to provide a larger grip size and an alternative grip surface without having to professionally change the existing golf club grip. The exterior of the golf grip jacket is adapted to resemble any normal golf club.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/683,760 filed on Jun. 12, 2018. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf club grips. More specifically, the present invention relates to a removably attachable golf grip jacket designed to fit over the existing grip of a golf club.
Grips for golf clubs tend to be a matter of personal preference that changes between persons and varies from one golfer to the next. Often the grips that come preinstalled on clubs with be unsatisfactory for a golfer with a particularized need or preference. However, the process of regripping a golf club is expensive and time consuming. The process of regripping also typically requires a trained professional to carry out the work. Changing grips requires the grips to be cut off the shaft, soaked in a solution, the shaft has to be re-taped and then a new grip can be put on. This process may be prohibitive to a casual golfer or one that likes to change grips as the situation calls for.
Many golfers prefer to use nonstandard grips that they feel may improve their game based on personal preference. This typically includes thicker grips that provide a better feel of the club and control of the movement. Golfers also have preferences for grip material and tread patterns. However, golf club fitting companies around the world use standard grips for golf club fittings, which can make it difficult for golfers to experience a comfortable club fitting. Golfers that prefer a non-standard club grip are forced to either pre-purchase clubs with their preferred grips or take the clubs to replace the standard grips after the purchase. This is a time-consuming and potentially cost-prohibitive process which could also lead to incorrect fittings. Accordingly, a device is needed to provide a different grip design for any individual that does not use standard golf grips.
Devices have been disclosed in the known art that relate to sleeves configured to be secured over an existing golf club grip. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. One of these devices relates to an elongated strip that securely attaches to an existing grip. Another device relates to a one-piece grip attachment which rolls down over the existing grip. The devices in the known art, however, fail to disclose a sleeved grip attachment that is operably connected to a mesh mechanism that is configured to tighten or loosen the sleeve around the existing golf club grip as the zipper mechanism is opened or closed.
In light of the devices disclosed in the known art, it is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing removable golf club grip sleeves. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of removable golf grips now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new removable golf grip jacket wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when desiring a thicker grip for greater control and command of their club.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved removable golf grip jacket that has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. The present system comprises a unitary body of a tubular shape enclosing an interior volume having a first end which is capped and a second end which is open, wherein the device can be fit over an existing grip of a golf club such that the inner lining of the body frictionally engages the existing grip while the outer lining of the body is adapted for gripping in a user's hands.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a removable golf grip jacket wherein the inner lining of the body comprises an interwoven mesh mechanism configured to tighten or loosen the frictional engagement with the existing golf club grip as desired by the user.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a removable golf grip jacket wherein a slit running longitudinally along the tubular body from a first capped end through a second open end is adapted to be enveloped over an existing golf club grip and tightened in place using a zipper mechanism.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a removable golf grip jacket wherein the outer lining of the tubular body is adapted to selectively adjust the thickness of the grip such that a user may chose a setting most appropriate for their preferences or circumstances.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a removable golf grip jacket wherein the outer lining of the tubular body is adapted to selectively adjust the material and tread pattern as the user desires.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket next to a club with an existing standard grip attached.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket removably attached to a golf club over an existing standard grip.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket in an open position.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket in an open position with the interwoven mesh interior lining shown.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket with the attached zipper mechanism in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the removable golf grip jacket. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for installing over a preexisting standard grip attached to a golf club. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting in any respect.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket next to a club with an existing standard grip attached and a perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket removably attached to a golf club over an existing standard grip, respectively. The removable golf grip jacket 11 comprises an elongated tubular body 12, which defines an interior volume, having a first end 13 and a second end 14. The first end 13 of the tubular body 12 is closed with a cap 15, and the second end 14 of the tubular body 12 is open. A slit 16 in the tubular body 12 runs longitudinally from the first end 13 through the second end 14 such that the device may be fit over and received on the existing grip of a golf club. When removably installed over an existing golf club grip, the closed first end 13 of the tubular body 12 abuts the golf club such that the cap 15 of the first end 13 rests over the end of the golf club, which is disposed within the interior volume of the removable golf grip jacket 11. The open second end 14 of the tubular body 12 rests flush along the shaft of the golf club when the removable golf grip jacket 11 is installed. When installed, the removable golf grip jacket 11 allows a user to have a thicker grip for more control and better feel while utilizing an exterior lining 18 having tread and grip patterns to increase to the frictional engagement while in a user's hands.
Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket in an open position and a close-up perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket in an open position with interwoven mesh interior lining showing, respectively. The tubular body 12 of the removable golf grip jacket 11 comprises an interior lining 17 as well as an exterior lining 18. The interior lining 17 of the tubular body 12 comprises an interwoven mesh material designed to frictionally engage an existing grip on a golf club. When installed, the interior lining 17 of the tubular body 12 envelopes and lays flush against the existing grip of a golf club within the interior volume of the tubular body 12. The exterior lining 18 of the tubular body 12 comprises a gripping surface of varying width to provide the user with larger surface area to hold.
Referring now to FIG. 5, there is shown a close-up perspective view of an embodiment of the removable golf grip jacket with the attached zipper mechanism in a closed position. The removable golf grip jacket 11 further includes a means of closing the slit 16 running longitudinally along the tubular body 12 from the closed first end 13 through the open second end 14. In the preferred embodiment, the means of closing the slit 16 comprises a zipper assembly 19 wherein a closed position for the jacket 11 is defined when the zipper assembly 19 is pulled from a base 20 around the closed first end 13 of the tubular body 12 fully toward the open second end 14. An open position for the removable golf grip jacket 11 is defined when the zipper assembly 19 is at its base 20 so as to allow the slit 16 to be pulled apart and opened and a golf club to be placed within the interior volume of the tubular body 12. The jacket 11 can be adjustably tightened on the golf club by engaging the zipper assembly 19 towards a closed position, such that the interwoven mesh of the interior surface 17 of the tubular body 12 increases its frictional engagement with the existing grip of a golf club. The interweaving mesh more effectively secures to the existing grip of the golf club by creating a plurality of frictional contact points.
Other embodiments of the removable golf grip jacket 11 comprise an exterior surface 18 of the tubular body 12 including tread patterns for additional friction between a user's hands and the jacket 11. In some embodiments, the exterior surface 18 can include ridges and ergonomic grooves to help a user with proper hand placement and grip technique. In other embodiments of the removable golf grip jacket 11, the means for closing the slit 16 running longitudinally along the tubular body 12 include other fastening mechanisms, such as hook and loop assembly or snap fasteners.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1) A removable golf grip jacket, comprising:

a unitary body comprising a tubular shape enclosing an interior volume having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is capped and the second end is open;

a slit in the unitary body running longitudinally from the first end of the tubular body through the second end of the tubular body;

a fastener configured to selectively open or close the slit in the tubular body from the first end through the second end;

wherein an inner lining of the body comprises a material configured to frictionally engage an existing grip on a golf club enveloped within the interior volume of the body;

wherein an outer lining of the body comprises a surface configured to frictionally engage the hands of a user.

2) The removable golf grip jacket of claim 1, wherein the inner lining of the body is composed of an interwoven mesh which provides a plurality of contact points configured to frictionally engage with the existing grip on a golf club.

3) The removable golf grip jacket of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of ridges and indentations disposed on the outer lining of the tubular body to assist a golfer in proper placement of their hands on the grip jacket.

4) The removable golf grip jacket of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a zipper assembly configured to selectively close the slit in the tubular body starting from the cap of the first end through to an edge of the second end wherein the inner lining of the removable golf grip jacket is configured to tighten its frictional engagement with the existing grip of the golf club as the zipper assembly moves from an open position to a closed position.

5) The removable golf grip jacket of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop assembly configured to selectively close the slit in the tubular body from the first end through the second end.