Patent Application
20250083009
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for applying a grip to a golf club shaft. More specifically, the invention pertains to a tool that facilitates the installation and replacement of grips on golf club shafts without requiring a stationary vise or workshop.
Golf clubs typically consist of an elongated tapered shaft with a club head affixed to one end and a grip attached to the opposite end. The grip, usually made of rubber, synthetic materials, or a combination thereof, provides a comfortable and secure interface for the golfer to hold the club. However, with regular use, golf club grips wear out, become damaged, or lose their elasticity, necessitating replacement.
The conventional process of replacing golf club grips involves several steps, including cutting off the old grip, cleaning the shaft surface, applying double-sided tape or adhesive, and sliding the new grip over the prepared shaft. Importantly, grip manufacturers often recommend securing the golf club shaft in a stationary vise during installation to ensure proper alignment and a tight fit of the new grip.
While this process is common, it presents challenges for golfers who lack access to a workshop or stationary vise. Many grip replacement kits include protective pads designed to prevent damage to the shaft when clamped in a vise, underscoring the assumption that a vise is necessary for proper installation. As a result, golfers often resort to having grips replaced by professionals, which can be time-consuming and costly, especially for an entire set of clubs.
Various tools and methods have been proposed to address the challenges associated with golf club grip installation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,026 discloses an apparatus that lubricates the interior surface of a grip and the exterior of a shaft to facilitate grip installation. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,761 describes a hand tool that holds a flexible member with a central opening, which can be used to apply adhesive or wrap tape around a golf club shaft. While these inventions provide alternatives to the traditional grip installation process, they do not eliminate the need for a vise or offer a comprehensive solution for easily replacing grips in any setting.
Considering the limitations of the prior art, there remains a need for an improved apparatus and method that enables golfers to efficiently and effectively install and replace golf club grips without relying on a stationary vise or professional assistance. The present invention addresses this need by providing a novel tool and method that simplifies the grip installation process and allows it to be performed in various environments.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for installing a grip onto a golf club shaft. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a gripping tool body comprising an elongated tube with a first open end, a second partially closed end, and a longitudinal slot extending from the first open end. The second partially closed end has an aperture smaller than the internal cross-section of the elongated tube. A resilient gripping bushing is configured to be removably inserted into the first open end of the gripping tool body. The gripping bushing has a longitudinal slit extending along its length, enabling it to resiliently expand to receive a portion of the golf club shaft when urged through the longitudinal slit. The gripping tool body further includes a push plate extending from its outer surface, configured to border against a stable surface to prevent movement during grip installation.
In various embodiments, the elongated tube may be constructed from injection molded aluminum, while the resilient gripping bushing may be made of extruded natural rubber. The longitudinal slot of the gripping tool body can extend from the first open end to a point near the second partially closed end, and the aperture of the second partially closed end may have a diameter between 50-80% of the internal cross-section diameter of the elongated tube. The longitudinal slit of the gripping bushing can extend along its entire length, enabling it to expand between 5-20% to accommodate the golf club shaft portion.
The push plate may be integrally formed with and extend perpendicularly from the outer surface of the elongated tube, configured to border against various stable surfaces such as walls, workbenches, tables, stairways, or vehicle tailgates. The apparatus can further include a replacement golf club grip, with the push plate resisting the force applied during installation onto the shaft positioned within the gripping tool body and bushing. Graduation marks may be provided on the gripping tool body to indicate the insertion depth of the gripping bushing, and the external surface of the bushing can have a high friction material to resist rotation within the elongated tube during grip installation.
A method of installing a replacement grip onto a golf club shaft is also provided. The method includes providing a golf club grip installation tool with an elongated gripping tool body, expanding a cylindrical gripping bushing by applying force to its gap, inserting a portion of a golf club shaft into the bushing, inserting the bushing with the retained shaft into the gripping tool body, bordering the push plate against a stable surface, and applying force to install the replacement grip onto the shaft. The second semi-closed end prevents the bushing from passing completely through the tool body during installation. After installation, the bushing and shaft can be removed from the tool body, allowing for adjustment of the grip alignment on the shaft.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. These and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
The various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, are described in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be used and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.
The following description is provided as an enabling teaching of the present systems, and/or methods in its best, currently known aspect. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the present systems described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present disclosure. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present disclosure can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present disclosure without utilizing other features.
Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present disclosure. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present disclosure and not in limitation thereof.
The terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar references used in the context of describing a particular embodiment of the present invention (especially in the context of certain claims) are construed to cover both the singular and the plural. The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein. each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.
All systems described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (for example, “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the application and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the application otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the application. Thus, for example, reference to “an element” can include two or more such elements unless the context indicates otherwise.
As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance can or cannot occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
The word or as used herein means any one member of a particular list and also includes any combination of members of that list. Further, one should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might.” or “may.” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain aspects include, while other aspects do not include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particular aspects or that one or more particular aspects necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular aspect.
The elongated tube of the gripping tool body 110 may be constructed from injection molded aluminum. The resilient gripping bushing 120 may be constructed from extruded natural rubber. The longitudinal slot 111 of the gripping tool body 110 extends from the first open end 114 to a point proximate the second partially closed end 113. The aperture of the second partially closed end 113 has a diameter between 50-80% of the internal cross-section diameter of the elongated tube. The push plate 112 is integrally formed with and extends perpendicularly from the outer surface of the elongated tube. The push plate 112 is configured to border against a vertical stable surface selected from the group consisting of: a wall, workbench, table, stairway, and vehicle tailgate. The elongated tube further comprises mounting holes configured to enable permanent attachment of the gripping tool body 110 to a stable surface.
The resilient gripping bushing 120 is removable from the elongated tube after installing the replacement golf club grip 130. Removing the resilient gripping bushing 120 from the elongated tube enables adjusting an alignment of the replacement golf club grip 130 on the golf club shaft 140.
The push plate 112 extending from the bottom of the tool body 110 is abutted against a stable surface 150, which may be a work bench, countertop, table against a wall, stairway landing, or truck tailgate. Force is then applied to the replacement grip 130 to push it onto the shaft 140 towards the second semi-closed end of the tool body 110. The gripping bushing stop 113 prevents the bushing 120 from passing through completely.
After installation, the bushing 120 and shaft 140 can be removed from the tool body 110, and the bushing 120 removed from the shaft (140) to allow adjustment of the grip 130 alignment on the shaft 140 if needed. The external surface of the gripping bushing 120 is made of a high friction material to resist rotation in the tool body 110 during grip installation.
The tool body 110 also includes graduation marks near the first open end 114 to indicate the insertion depth of the gripping bushing 120.
The embodiments described herein are given for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention and are not intended to limit the interpretation of the present invention. The respective elements and their arrangements, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, or the like of the embodiment are not limited to the illustrated examples but may be appropriately changed. Further, the constituents described in the embodiment may be partially replaced or combined together.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63472868 | Jun 2023 | US |
