Patent Application
20220323837
This summary is not intended to describe every illustrated embodiment or every possible implementation.
The figures and the detailed description that follow, however, do particularly exemplify these embodiments. The disclosed putter hand grip is configured to allow the user to hand grip the putter with the hands and wrists in a neutral, symmetric position, which may promote an easily reproducible putting stroke.
In some embodiments, a putter hand grip may include a single hand grip which is couplable to the shaft of a putter. The hand grip may be non-tapered until the inferior portion, at which portion it may be tapered. In the preferred embodiments, the grip may be between 5 inches in length, up to 24 inches in length. The grip may be between 2 inches in length, up to 40 inches in length. The hand grip may taper symmetrically in a rounded shape, forming a hemi-sphere at the interface of the hand grip and putter shaft. As such, the hand grip may be non-tapered from the upper end until the most inferior section. The taper may begin at a distance from the lower end equal to half of the cross-sectional length of the grip. In one embodiment, a grip that has a cross sectional diameter of 1.75 inches, the taper may begin 0.875 inches from the lower end of the grip. This may create a taper with a rounded hemi-sphere which may be suitable for receiving the user's index and middle fingers of his or her lower hand on opposite sides of the shaft, with the contralateral hand being placed higher on the hand grip in accordance with the user's preference.
According to at least one embodiment, a putter hand grip may have a single hand grip attachment wherein the diameter of the hand grip is maximized per the rules of golf, which currently defines the maximum diameter as the cross-sectional dimension of the grip not exceeding 1.75 inches, with the symmetric, tapering at the inferior edge creating a rounded shape or hemi-sphere at the interface of the hand grip and putter shaft; the diameter of the hand grip at the superior edge would be a narrower diameter than the diameter of the grip more inferiorly. The grip may be tapered from the larger, inferior diameter to the smaller, superior diameter in an even manner. This embodiment may provide the rounded shape at the hand grip and shaft interface for receiving the user's lower hand, while providing a narrower circumference more superiorly to receive the user's contralateral hand to grip the putter.
In some embodiments, a putter hand grip may include two separate hand grip attachments; one attaching to the end of the putter shaft, being non-tapered until the inferior portion at which point it tapers symmetrically in a rounded manner; the taper beginning at a distance from the most inferior portion equal to half of the longest cross-sectional axis. The secondary hand grip may be attached more inferiorly along the putter shaft, being separated by the superior hand grip by the distance required by the rules of golf, currently defined as at least 1.5 inches of separation, also being non-tapered until the inferior portion at which point it tapers symmetrically in a rounded manner. The rounded taper at the inferior portion of the lower hand grip may receive one of the user's index and middle fingers on opposite sides of the shaft in a cupping grasp. The rounded taper at the inferior portion of the upper hand grip may receive the user's other hand in a similar manner. The user's hands would thereby be in a neutral position, similar to the natural position that hands and wrists assume when a user is standing and relaxed, with the plane of both hands in line with the desired putting direction.
In some embodiments, the inferior hand grip of the two separate hand grips have rounded, symmetric tapering at both the superior and inferior ends of the hand grip, with a non-tapered central portion. The taper at both the superior and inferior ends of the hand grip may begin at a distance from the end equal to half of the longest cross sectional area; the remaining central portion of the grip may be non-tapered. This embodiment provides similar half-spherical shapes at the interface of the hand grip and putter shaft for possible grasping by the user in the above manner. The additional rounded shape of the superior aspect of the hand grip may enhance the hand grip comfort of the user's hand on the lower hand grip.
In some embodiments, the hand grip or hand grips may be asymmetric, with a rounded anterior half and squared posterior half, or a rounded posterior half and squared anterior half, or any combination of different geometries. Regardless of the superior hand grip's shape, the inferior hand grip may maintain the rounded, symmetric taper. The half-sphere at the inferior portion of the hand grip may allow the user's dominant hand to have a method of grasping the putter whereby the user's arm, wrist and hand are in a position similar to the natural position assumed when the user is standing and relaxed, and the variety of shapes that may be used for superior portion of the putting hand grip provide different grip shapes which may fit different user's hand sizes, as well as different grasping techniques.
In some embodiments, the hand grip is not directly attached to the putter shaft, but rather attached to a base hand grip that may be detachably coupled to the putter shaft allowing for easy exchange of different putter hand grips. An adhesive, nail, or staple may be used to detachably couple the base hand grip to the putter shaft. In some methods, the putter hand grip is a single piece which attaches to the interface. In other variations, the putter hand grip is split, either in half, quarters, or some other fraction, for attaching different combinations of hand grip shapes or materials to suit each individual user.
In some embodiments, the hand grip has a non-detachable layer, which is customizable and allows for different images, writing, or colors to be printed onto the hand grip as directed by the user. The desired image, wording, or color is transferred via heat press, direct printing, or an individual's artistic means.
Other methods, physical features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. All such additional methods, physical features and advantages are included within this description, are within the scope of the claimed subject matter, and are protected by the following claims. When physically possible, all numbers and ranges may be increased or decreased by 25%.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings. Like designations denote like elements, and:
FIG.3 is an oblique view of the top portion of a putter incorporating a putter hand grip in which the hand grip is formed in a non-cylindrical fashion while maintaining the rounded taper at the lower portion of the hand grip;
For the single grip variety, the grip may be at the top end of the shaft, as is the current standard installation process of a golf club. The distance between the lower portion of the putter grip and the putter head may be dependent upon the desired length of the golf shaft. Standard putters on the short end may be 30 inches or longer, and therefore, with a 9 inch putter grip, the distance between the putter grip and putter head may be a distance of 19 inches or longer. In some embodiments, the distance between the putter grip and the putter head may be 15 inches.
For the double grip variety, the distance between the top grip and lower grip may be be 0.5 inches on the short end up to the full length of the shaft (while very non-traditional, some people grip the putter very near the putter head. This is demonstrated with the dotted line drawing on the 2 grip variety). The distance between the lower grip and the putter head hosel may be greater than 0.5 inches.
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as substantially described with reference to the drawings herein, could be implemented in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. Unless explicitly stated, the use of “or” means and/or, that is, this the non-exclusive meaning of or.
Putting is often considered the most important aspect of a golfer's skill set, as demonstrated by the adage “Drive for show, putt for dough.” While seemingly a simple task, rolling the ball into the hole from comparatively short distances with a short stroke, proficiency at putting is often elusive. Many training aids, as well as different designs of putters and putter grips have been attempted to help golfers be able to start the golf ball rolling on the intended line with the intended speed. A putter hand grip is the sole contact point between the golfer and the putter, and therefore, the means whereby a golfer can manipulate the golf club to provide force to the ball to ultimately get the ball in the hole. One problem with putter hand grips is that current designs require golfers to bend or twist their hands, wrists or arms away from neutral positions, making control of the putter more difficult. It is the object of this invention to provide an improved putter grip which allows the user to hold the grip with hands, wrists and arms in a more neutral position, akin to the position that arms naturally hang, which will in turn enhance the ability of the user to complete a putting stroke with enhanced control and feel of the putter head.
The head 120 may be any commercially available or customized putter head. The shaft 110 may also conventional, and may be tubular, and may be formed from graphite, steel, or other common materials. The hand grip 130 may cover the upper 1% to 70% of the shaft 110, but preferably the upper 10% to 35% of the shaft 110, and the shaft 110 may extend to the top of the putter head 120.
One embodiment of the hand grip includes a single hand grip 130 that is substantially cylindrical in shape, with a circumference of the cylinder that is larger than the shaft 110. In the preferred embodiments, the single hand grip 130 may be 9 inches but may range between 2 inches in length to 30 inches to length. The diameter of the hand grip may be constant; in some preferred embodiments the diameter of the hand grip may be constant for the upper portion of the hand grip 130 and then the diameter of the hand grip may be tapered at an inferior rounded taper 131 of the hand grip 130, such that the inferior rounded taper 131 of the hand grip 130 may be tapered and located at the lower end of the grip 130, wherein the inferior rounded taper 131 may be a shape having at least one rounded surface, a spherical cap, or an ellipsoidal cap. For purposes of this application, a spherical cap is an upper portion of a sphere that is formed when a plane divides a sphere into an upper portion of a sphere and a lower portion of the sphere. For purposes of this application, an ellipsoidal cap is the upper portion of an ellipsoid that is formed when a plane divides the ellipsoid into an upper portion of a sphere and a lower portion of the ellipsoid. The taper 131 ends in an opening portion 131b defining an aperture that allows a user to slide the hand grip to slide over the shaft; the top end 132 of the hand grip may have a small hole in the center to permit air to escape during hand grip installation.
The lower end of the putter hand grip may form at least one three-dimensional gripping structure, such as a hemisphere, rounded taper, spherical cap or ellipsoidal cap.
In the preferred methods of use, a user may engage the hand grip with one hand at the taper 131, with either the index and middle finger being separated by the shaft 110, or with the shaft being disposed between the middle and ring finger. When the user uses a lead arm, the dorsum of the user's lead arm hand may be in line with the face of the putter head; when the trail arm is utilized in this manner, then the palm of the hand may be aligned with the putter head. The contralateral hand be positioned in any number of other hand grip positions along the hand grip 130 above the inferior rounded taper 131 of the hand grip.
In another embodiment, the hand grip 130 may be substantially cylindrical having a substantially constant diameter throughout the upper length; although not shown in
Another embodiment is disclosed in
In the preceding description, various aspects of a method and apparatus of a putter hand grip have been disclosed. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, examples, and configurations were set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding. However, it is apparent to one skilled in the art that the described method and apparatus may be practiced without the specific details. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the present invention in its broader aspects. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention.
This application claims the benefit of a provisional application that is cited in the Application Data Sheet and also incorporates by reference that cited provisional application, which is Ser. No. 63147671, filed on Feb. 9, 2021. The present invention relates to a hand grip coupled to a golf putter. Currently available putter hand grips allow for a variety of individualized ways for a user to hand grip the putter. However, due to the design, these putter hand grips do not promote the user to handle the putter with their hands and wrists in a neutral, symmetric position. Traditional positioning of the hands on current putter hand grips requires ulnar deviation of the wrists with some degree of twisting of the wrists away from the position naturally assumed when standing and relaxed. Various golf hand grips have been disclosed in the prior art. See: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,626,768B2, 3,252,706A, 3,606,326A, US20050215347A1, US20080009363A1, US20080132350A1, US20090075747A1, US20090233730A1, US20110165959A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,858,356B2, 8,932,146B2, 9,072,952B2, USD768251S1, USD772361S1, U.S. Pat. No. 9,616,298B1, JP5939744B2, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,438,925A, 3,606,326A, 3,219,348A, 1,677,099A, 4,600,195A, 4,597,578A, 4,272,077A, 5,169,152A, 4,979,743A, 4,878,667A, 4,746,120A, 5,465,967A, 5,542,676A, 5,779,559A, 5,813,920A, 7,481,716B1, 7,563,174B1, 9,174,104B1, and 9,421,439B2. A need exists for a firm, comfortable hand grip of the putter that facilitates the positioning of the hands and wrists, of a golfer gripping the hand grip, in a neutral, symmetric position.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63147671 | Feb 2021 | US |
