The present disclosure relates in general to a changeable grip particularly suited for shock imparting implements, and more particularly to a new and improved changeable grip for a golf club.
There are many forms of grips available on the market today for a wide variety of implements. These implements can range from hammer handles or other hand tools to sports implements like tennis, squash, or racquetball rackets, or golf clubs. While the present disclosure is particularly suited for a golf club shaft with a changeable grip and described with particular reference thereto, it should be immediately apparent that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited only to golf and extends to any sports grip or hand grip for a shock imparting implement.
Originally, golf club grips consisted primarily of a leather wrap around a handle. Later, molded rubber slip-on grips became available and are still in wide use today. A recent variation on the molded rubber grip is the concept of using a rubber sleeve or underlisting on the handle with a leather or synthetic leather wrap spirally wrapped around the underlisting, or alternatively a single panel cover over the underlisting. Grips are made today from a wide variety in construction and combinations of materials.
As the market demands a wider range of grips with different colors, weights, and sizes, producing a cost effective grip that meets a wide range of customer requirements is becoming very difficult. There still exists a need for an improved changeable grip that imparts or receives shock or force to or from a shock imparting implement. A changeable grip provides greater flexibility in selecting a specific grip for a given application or for use under a wide variety of conditions. It allows the user to select exactly the type of grip needed under the given conditions for the desired application. It is also desirable for the grip to be constructed in a manner that provides a firm grasp with little or no slippage and with good resistance to torque as well as exhibiting good shock absorbing qualities.
A changeable grip further allows for a wide variety of enhancing features to the grip such as designing the grip weight for swing weight control, or even still multiple types of gripping surfaces with interchangeable gripping sleeves of combinations of various materials. Swing weight control, handle stiffness, flex control, shock absorption are just some of the important factors in improving the impact from the implement. The concept of tailoring a grip to provide the user with multiple options minimizes the need for multiple grips and multiple implements.
Thus, it is desirable to have a changeable grip that allows the user to select the right fit and feel for the handle or shaft of a shock imparting implement or tool to meet the needs of the user in a given application.
The present disclosure describes a changeable grip for a shock imparting implement that offers a wide variety of features.
The changeable grip according to the present disclosure is mounted on a handle sleeve fixedly attached to the handle of a shock imparting implement. The handle sleeve comprises an initial diameter sized to slide onto a handle of a shock imparting implement and be attached thereto. A first end of the handle sleeve at a selected distance has a diameter larger than the initial diameter and includes a bend to form a ledge. The second end terminates in a butt end with a threaded indentation. The gripping sleeve slides on the handle sleeve where a lower end of the gripping sleeve abuts the ledge. A cap with a threaded fastener meshes with the threaded indentation in the butt end of the handle sleeve to compress the gripping sleeve up against the ledge.
The changeable grip is particularly suited for use as a changeable golf club grip. The design of the present disclosure accommodates the U.S. Golf Association (“USGA”) rules requirement for the shaft to extend the full length of the shaft as well as provides a structure that has a simple configuration with reduced parts.
The various features of novelty which characterize the present disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the present disclosure and its operating advantages attained with its use, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and descriptive matter.
Referring to the figures, which are not intended to limit the present disclosure, and where like numerals designate like or similar features throughout the several views, and first in particular to
Referring to
Turning now to
When the gripping sleeve 18 is slid on to handle sleeve 15, the lower end 30 of the sleeve 18 abuts the ledge 28 to hold the lower end 30 of the gripping sleeve 18 in place. The ledge 28 is selectively spaced at a distance from butt end 32 of the handle sleeve 15 to fairly match the desired length of the gripping sleeve 18.
Next referring to
As seen in
In still another embodiment, an optional elongated rod 44 which may be a metal wire, rod, or an elastomeric line or rod is positioned fairly centrally in a slot 45 on one of the ridges 46 in the gripping sleeve 18 between the splines 40, or in a slot in the spline 40 to form a reminder rib 48 in the gripping sleeve 18 for a golfer. A reminder rib 48 is a device known and used by some golfers for facilitating their hand placement on the grip 12. The United States Golf Association rules require a reminder rib 48 not to be greater than about 0.04 inches or about 1 millimeter. The diameter of the rod 44 should be equal to or less than the 0.04 inches or 1 millimeter in order to comply with the golf rules. In an alternate embodiment with a plurality of slots 45, the location of the reminder rib 48 is adjustable by positioning the rod 44 in one of the slots 45 located either in the spline 40 or the channel 42 as seen in
The handle sleeve 15 may be constructed from steel, aluminum, titanium or some other metal or metal alloy, fiberglass or graphite, and can be reinforced with carbon or other material fibers if desired. It can be attached to the handle 14 in a variety of ways in either a fixed or removable attachment that retains the handle sleeve 15 firmly on the handle. An adhesive or epoxy compound may be used to attach handle sleeve 15 to the handle 14. This still allows the gripping sleeve 18 and cap 20 to be removed and replaced as desired.
The gripping sleeve 18 and cap 20 may be made from natural or synthetic rubber, an elastomeric material like a rubber compound, a synthetic plastic, thermoplastic material, silicone material, or mixtures thereof, and may contain fibers or cords imbedded therein for a better gripping. Gripping sleeve 18 may contain on its outer surface indicia for decorative purposes, and/or grooves or notches for gripping purposes.
The gripping sleeve 18 can further comprise one or more layers of a rubber, elastomeric, or thermoplastic material, or combinations of such materials. These layers can be arranged to provide varying durometer values. A durometer value or rating is an international standard for the hardness measurement of rubber, plastic and other non-metallic materials. Durometer values and ratings are described in the American Society for Testing and Material specification ASTM D2240. For example in one embodiment, an inner surface of the sleeve 18 may have a hardness value ranging from approximately twenty-five to approximately fifty Shore A hardness. The outer surface or layer of the sleeve 18 can have a durometer value preferably ranging from approximately twenty-five to approximately ninety Shore A. Any combination of durometer values may be used depending upon the user's desire for a surface grip feel with good frictional qualities and tactile feel coupled with a firmer inner section.
The improved changeable grip 12 of the present disclosure allows the user to select and change grips rapidly based on the optimum weight, feel, look, and moisture absorbency for a given application.
While specific embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of this disclosure, it will be understood that there may be other embodiments based on this without departing from such principles.
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