Patent Application
20110165957
This invention relates generally to the field of grips for golf clubs and other sporting equipment having a gripping end. In particular, the present invention relates to lightweight oversized grips for articles of sporting equipment having a gripping end, such as putters.
The grip of sporting equipment such as golf clubs provides the contact point via which the user controls the club. As is well known in the art, the grip improves user comfort and provides a secure contact between the golf club and the user's hands. Desirably, the grip will provide a suitable compromise between such user comfort and a level of contact which allows the user to “feel” the shot being struck, i.e., to detect that suitable contact between club and ball has been achieved.
For golf clubs such as putters, it is known to provide oversized grips, that is, grips having an external diameter significantly greater than that of a conventional club grip. The advantages touted for oversized grips for putters include improved stability of hands and wrists, thereby transferring control of the putter stroke to larger, more stable muscle groups such as the chest and torso. Further, an oversized grip reduces the tendency to grip the club too strongly during the putting stroke. These features reduce wrist action during the putting stroke, promoting the desired “pendulum” stroke for a putt and allowing greater putting accuracy.
It is also known to provide a putter having a long grip, that is, a grip that is significantly elongated in comparison to a grip of conventional length. Such grips are often associated with a putter having an overall length that is significantly greater than a conventional putter length, such as a “belly putter” or a so-called “long putter.” These putter types allow a more upright stance and further reduce wrist action during the putting stroke, again promoting the desired “pendulum” stroke. The long grip also provides the user with multiple options for hand positioning, to achieve the most comfortable grip for the particular user.
It is possible to provide an oversized grip, including an oversized long grip, by simply increasing the size and thickness of a grip of conventional design made of conventional materials such as rubber. However, simply increasing the size of a standard rubber grip correspondingly increases the weight of the grip, and thereby the weight of the club as a whole. This increase in grip weight not only alters the club weight, but also undesirably affects the balance and “feel” of a club such as a putter, making it top-heavy. There is accordingly a need in the art for grips for sporting equipment having gripping ends such as golf clubs, which provide an oversized gripping area without undesirably adding weight or altering club balance and feel.
In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, in one aspect there is provided a lightweight, oversized grip assembly for a golf club or other sporting equipment. The grip assembly includes a first grip element defining an open channel for receiving a gripping end of the golf club or other sporting equipment. The assembly further includes a second grip element dimensioned to match a cross-sectional dimension and a longitudinal dimension of the first grip element. The first grip element defines an open channel axially along a longitudinal dimension thereof, the open channel having a width and a depth dimensioned to receive substantially an entirety of a thickness of the gripping end. The second grip element defines a substantially planar cover for capturing the base element and the gripping end between the first grip element and the second grip element. Once assembled, the first grip element and second grip element define a grip having a maximum diameter of up to about 500 mm.
In another aspect, there is provided a lightweight, oversized grip assembly for a golf club or other sporting equipment, having a base element defining a lumen for receiving a gripping end portion of a golf club or other sporting equipment, a first grip element defining an open channel for receiving the base element and gripping end, and a second grip element dimensioned to match a cross-sectional dimension and a longitudinal dimension of the first grip element.
The base element is an elongate sleeve defining a hollow lumen through a longitudinal dimension of the base element, dimensioned to receive the club gripping end snugly therein. The first grip element defines an open channel axially along a longitudinal dimension thereof, the open channel having a width and a depth dimensioned to receive substantially an entirety of a thickness of the base element and the gripping end. The second grip element forms a substantially planar cover, capturing the base element and gripping end between the first and second grip elements. At least one wrapping element, which may be made of any suitable synthetic or natural material, may be provided for wrapping around the assembled gripping end, base element, first grip element, and second grip element to provide a finished grip assembly. An end cap and a grip tip element may be provided, each of which may further include a lip or flange which are disposed on a top surface of the wrapping element.
In still yet another aspect of the invention, a modular, lightweight, elongated, and oversized “long grip” assembly for a putter is provided. The individual elements of the grip assembly are substantially as described above. Specifically, the modular grip assembly includes a plurality of base elements defining a lumen for receiving a gripping end portion of a putter, a plurality of first grip elements defining an open channel for receiving the plurality of base elements and the gripping end, and a plurality of second grip elements dimensioned to match a cross-sectional dimension and a longitudinal dimension of the plurality of first grip elements. Once assembled in sequence, the plurality of base elements, plurality of first grip elements, and plurality of second grip elements define an elongated grip for the putter having a maximum diameter of up to about 500 mm.
In the following description there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention that is illustrative of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention. In the drawings:
a-c show various embodiments of end cap elements according to the present disclosure;
a-d show various embodiments of grip tip elements according to the present disclosure; and
The assembly 10 further includes a first grip element 18 defining an open channel 20 for receiving the base element 12 and the gripping end 16. That open channel 20 extends axially along a longitudinal dimension of the first grip element 18, and typically has a width and a depth dimensioned to receive substantially an entirety of a thickness of the base element 12 and the gripping end portion 16. In the depicted embodiment, the first grip element 18 defines a substantially c-shaped figure. However, the skilled artisan will appreciate that other exterior configurations for the first grip element 18 are contemplated, according to the user's preference.
A second grip element 22 is provided, typically dimensioned to match a cross-sectional dimension and a longitudinal dimension of the first grip element 18. In the depicted embodiment, the second grip element 22 defines a substantially planar cover for capturing the base element 12 and the gripping end 16 between the first grip element 18 and the second grip element 22, thereby defining the exterior dimension of the grip assembly 10. As shown in the drawing figures, the assembled first grip element 18 and second grip element 22 define a substantially d-shaped grip assembly 10, providing a curved rear portion which nests into the users palms/fingers, and a substantially planar front portion on which the user's thumbs may rest. This exterior configuration assists in proper placement of the user's hands during a putting stroke.
Desirably, an end cap 24 and a grip tip 26 are provided as elements of the grip assembly 10 (see
With reference to
Once the wrapping element 30 is in place, the end cap 24 and grip tip 26 may be installed at opposed ends of the grip (see
The first grip element 18 and second grip element 22 will typically be fabricated from any suitable natural or synthetic material (which may be made by any suitable chemical or mechanical means) providing the desired combination of size (i.e., large outer diameter) and light weight. Without intending any limitation, the first and second grip elements 18, 22 may be fabricated from one or more of open cell foams, a closed cell foams, polyurethane foams, silicon foams (formed by any suitable method, including without limitation chemical and mechanical means), and combinations thereof. Any suitable method for fabricating the first and second grip elements 18, 22 is contemplated, including without limitation molding, casting, blow molding, injection molding, extrusion molding, and the like. Once assembled, the gripping end 16, base element 12, first grip element 18, and second grip element 22 define an oversized, lightweight grip assembly 10, typically having a diameter between from about 14 mm to about 500 mm. The grip assembly 10 will typically have a weight of from about 45 grams to about 120 grams.
Advantageously, the grip assembly 10 of the present disclosure may be adapted to form a putter “long grip” as is known in the art. This may be accomplished by simply providing the elements of the grip assembly 10 as described above, elongated to the desired length dimensions of the long grip. Alternatively, as shown in
Accordingly, there is provided a lightweight, oversized grip assembly for a golf club such as a putter, which may be easily adapted to provide a putter “long grip” without unduly increasing club weight or affecting the balance and “feel” of the club. The grip is simple to manufacture, economical, and durable. In particular, the modular long grip assembly 60 as described herein provides a simple, economical means for fabricating a putter long grip, eliminating the need for special molds and/or tooling to provide the long grip. Rather, the manufacturer need only assemble multiple segments of a grip assembly 10 as described herein until a grip assembly 60 of a desired length is achieved, following by finishing the grip assembly 60 with a wrapping element 30. Of course, the length of the grip assembly 60 will be dictated by the putter type being provided. For example, a so-called “belly putter” will have a grip that is greater in length than a conventional short putter, but less in length than a long putter.
The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled. The drawings and preferred embodiment do not and are not intended to limit the ordinary meaning of the claims and their fair and broad interpretation in any way.
