U.S. patent application number 12/219290 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-22 for golf club grip.
Invention is credited to Jack Watson.
Application Number | 20090023512 12/219290 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40265298 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090023512 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Watson; Jack |
January 22, 2009 |
Golf club grip
Abstract
The golf club grip includes an upper portion and a lower
portion. The upper portion has a forward-facing aspect and a
rearward-facing aspect, the forward-facing aspect preferably having
a substantially arcuate contour. The forward-facing aspect is
adapted to support the user's thumb during use. The rearward-facing
aspect includes first and second surfaces joined together at a
vertex, the first and second surfaces being acutely angled with
respect to one another. The first and second surfaces are adapted
for gripping by the user's fingers. The golf club grip has an axial
bore formed therein, and the golf club grip is preferably symmetric
about a plane of symmetry extending between the vertex and a
central point of the forward-facing aspect. The axial receives the
upper end of a golf club shaft.
Inventors: |
Watson; Jack; (Pleasant
Garden, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LITMAN LAW OFFICES, LTD.
POST OFFICE BOX 15035, CRYSTAL CITY STATION
ARLINGTON
VA
22215-0035
US
|
Family ID: |
40265298 |
Appl. No.: |
12/219290 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60929959 |
Jul 19, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/303 ;
473/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/00 20130101;
A63B 69/3632 20130101; A63B 53/14 20130101; A63B 53/007 20130101;
A63B 60/14 20151001; A63B 60/00 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/303 ;
473/340 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04; A63B 53/14 20060101 A63B053/14 |
Claims
1. A golf club grip adapted for attachment to a shaft of a golf
club, comprising: an upper portion having a forward-facing aspect
and a rearward-facing aspect, the forward-facing aspect having a
substantially arcuate contour adapted for supporting a golfer's
thumb, the rearward-facing aspect having first and second surfaces
being joined together at a vertex, the first and second surfaces
forming an acute dihedral angle, the first and second surfaces
being adapted for gripping by the golfer's fingers; and a lower
portion extending from the upper portion, the lower portion
defining an axial bore adapted for forming a friction fit with the
shaft of the golf club.
2. The golf club grip as recited in claim 1, wherein the
substantially arcuate contour of the forward-facing aspect of said
upper portion has a constant radius of curvature.
3. The golf club grip as recited in claim 1, wherein the vertex of
the rearward-facing aspect of said upper portion is rounded.
4. The golf club grip as recited in claim 1, wherein said lower
portion has a circumference less than said upper portion.
5. The golf club grip as recited in claim 1, wherein said golf club
grip is formed from at least one material selected from the group
consisting of rubber, synthetic rubber, leather, imitation leather,
leather wrap, soft wood, plastic, a synthetic polymer, and
polyurethane.
6. The golf club grip as recited in claim 1, wherein said golf club
grip is symmetric about a plane defined by a longitudinal axis
through said upper and lower portions and an axis extending between
the vertex and a central point of the forward-facing aspect.
7. A golf club having a golf club grip according to claim 1
attached thereto.
8. A golf club, comprising: a golf club shaft having opposed first
and second ends; a golf club head attached to the first end of the
golf club shaft; and a golf club grip attached to the second end of
the shaft, the grip having: an upper portion having a
forward-facing aspect and a rearward-facing aspect, the
forward-facing aspect having a substantially arcuate contour
adapted for supporting a golfer's thumb, the rearward-facing aspect
having first and second surfaces being joined together at a vertex,
the first and second surfaces forming an acute dihedral angle, the
first and second surfaces being adapted for gripping by the
golfer's fingers; and a lower portion extending from the upper
portion, the lower portion defining an axial bore adapted for
forming a friction fit with the shaft of the golf club.
9. The golf club as recited in claim 8, wherein the substantially
arcuate contour of the forward-facing aspect of said upper portion
has a constant radius of curvature.
10. The golf club as recited in claim 8, wherein the vertex of the
rearward-facing aspect of said upper portion is rounded.
11. The golf club as recited in claim 8, wherein said lower portion
has a circumference less than said upper portion.
12. The golf club as recited in claim 8, wherein said golf club
grip is formed from at least one material selected from the group
consisting of rubber, synthetic rubber, leather, imitation leather,
leather wrap, soft wood, plastic, a synthetic polymer and
polyurethane.
13. The golf club as recited in claim 8, wherein said golf club
grip is symmetric about a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of
said golf club grip and a lateral axis extending between the vertex
and a central point of the forward-facing aspect of the upper
portion, the lateral and longitudinal axes being orthogonal with
respect to one another.
14. The golf club as recited in claim 13, wherein said golf club
shaft extends along the longitudinal axis.
15. The golf club as recited in claim 14, wherein said golf club
head extends along the lateral axis.
16. The golf club according to claim 8, wherein said golf club head
comprises a putter head.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/929,959, filed Jul. 19, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to golf equipment, and
particularly to a golf club grip for providing a golfer with a
better grip on the golf club.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Golf clubs have a shaft with a golf club grip mounted on the
upper end and a golf club head mounted on the lower end. The golf
club grip is provided for increased comfort and for frictional
engagement with the user's hands during use. Golf club grips may be
formed from rubber, leather or other non-slip materials that also
provide cushioning for the user's hands.
[0006] Conventional golf club grips are generally tubular, with an
open shaft end that slides onto the shaft and an end cap at the
opposite end that fits over the butt end of the shaft. The grips
are made of rubber, either natural or synthetic, or leather,
usually imitation, although natural is sometimes used. Leather
grips often are wrapped around a rubber sleeve.
[0007] The rules of authoritative golf organizations, such as the
Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) and the United
States Golf Association (USGA) often include regulations governing
acceptable golf clubs, including the grip. For example, Appendix
II, Section 3 of the USGA rules provides that the grip of clubs
other than putters must be circular in cross section, "except that
a continuous, straight, slightly raised rib may be incorporated
along the full length of the grip." Exemplary raised ribs are shown
in FIGS. 4-6 of International Patent WO 2005/082469, published Sep.
9, 2005, and in FIG. 4 of U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0228929,
published Dec. 11, 2003, the above-cited Figures being incorporated
herein by reference. Conventional grips may also continuously taper
in diameter from one end of the grip to the other.
[0008] USGA rules Appendix II, Section 3, also provides that
putters may have a grip with a non-circular cross section. An
example is illustrated in FIG. VII of the Appendix, with appears to
show a grip with a generally horseshoe shape and a single flat face
along the base of the horseshoe when viewed from the end of the
grip.
[0009] Grips may also vary in size, i.e., in diameter, with typical
sizes including regular, mid-size or jumbo, depending upon the size
of the hand. Grips may also very in texturing, including cording,
wrapping, helical or spiral grooves, perforations, etc.
Nevertheless, the conventional, substantially cylindrical grip can
be difficult to grasp firmly enough to avoid slippage during the
swing, reducing power and altering the angle at which the head
strikes the ball.
[0010] Thus, a golf club grip therefor solving the aforementioned
problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention extends to a golf club grip and to a
golf club having the grip mounted thereon. The golf club includes a
shaft the grip mounted at one end and a golf club head mounted on
the opposite end, and may be a wood, an iron, a putter, or any type
of golf club. The golf club grip, which may be formed from rubber
(natural or synthetic), leather (real or imitation) or the like,
includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion
has a forward-facing aspect and a rearward-facing aspect, with the
forward-facing aspect preferably having a substantially arcuate
contour. The forward-facing aspect is adapted to support the user's
thumb during use. Preferably, the forward-facing aspect has a
constant radius of curvature; i.e., it forms an arc of a
circle.
[0012] The rearward-facing aspect includes first and second side
surfaces joined to form a vertex, with the first and second
surfaces being acutely angled with respect to one another. The
vertex is preferably rounded. The first and second surfaces are
adapted for gripping by the user's fingers, and each preferably has
a substantially planar contour.
[0013] The lower portion of the golf club grip is tubular, and the
golf club grip is further preferably symmetric about a plane of
symmetry extending between the vertex and a central point of the
forward end. The tubular lower portion receives the upper end of
the golf club shaft. The golf club head extends along a direction
substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry of the golf club
grip in order to properly align the user's shot.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment, the upper portion of the golf
club grip has a greater peripheral circumference than the lower
portion, thus creating a notch or recess for further receiving at
least one of the user's fingers. The lower portion preferably is
substantially circular in cross section.
[0015] These and other features of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a golf club
and grip therefor according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side view of the golf club grip according to the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a top view of the golf club grip according to the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a front view of the golf club grip according to
the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the golf club grip according to
the present invention.
[0021] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The present invention relates to a golf club grip 11 and to
a golf club 10 having the grip 11 mounted thereon. As best shown in
FIG. 1, the golf club 10 includes an elongated shaft 14 having the
golf club grip 11 mounted on one end and a golf club head 24
mounted on the opposite end. The type of golf club 10 and golf club
head 24 are not material. The golf club may be an iron, a wood, a
putter, a wedge, a driver, etc. As will be described in greater
detail below, the contouring of the golf club grip 11 allows for
proper alignment of head 24 during a golf swing.
[0023] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the golf club grip 11, which may
be formed from rubber (either natural or synthetic), leather
(either genuine or imitation), or composites or combinations of
different materials, including natural or synthetic rubber, genuine
or imitation leather or leather wrap, soft woods, plastics and
synthetic polymers (such as polyurethane), or the like, includes an
upper end 20, an upper portion 12 and a lower portion 18. As best
shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the upper portion 12 has a forward-facing
aspect 27 and a rearward-facing aspect, with the forward-facing
aspect 27 preferably having a substantially arcuate contour. The
forward-facing aspect 27 is adapted to support the user's thumb
during use. Preferably, the forward-facing aspect 27 has a constant
radius of curvature; i.e., it forms an arc of a circle.
[0024] It should be understood that the particular size and
dimensions of the golf club grip 11 may depend upon the particular
type of club the grip 11 is applied to, and further upon the size
of the user's hands. Further, although illustrated as having a
conventional spiral or helical groove formed therein, along with a
plurality of friction-enhancing depressions or apertures, it should
be understood that the surface features of the golf club grip 11
are shown for exemplary purposes only, that the grip 11 may have
any desired texture.
[0025] The rearward-facing aspect of the upper portion 12 has first
and second side surfaces 23, 25, which join together at a vertex
22, with the first and second surfaces 23, 25 being preferably
acutely angled with respect to one another. The vertex 22 is
preferably rounded, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The first and second
surfaces 23, 25 are adapted for gripping by the user's fingers, and
each preferably has a substantially planar contour. As shown in
phantom in FIG. 1, in use, the joints of the user's fingers are
positioned along vertex 22.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, the lower portion 18 of the golf club
grip 11 is hollow or tubular, defining an axial bore 28, and the
golf club grip 11 is further preferably symmetric about a plane of
symmetry 30 extending between the vertex 22 and a central point of
the forward-facing aspect 27 of the upper portion 12. The axial
bore 28 forms a friction fit with the butt end of the shaft 14,
which may be wrapped with an adhesive grip tape. As shown in FIG.
1, the golf club head 24 preferably extends along a direction
substantially parallel to the plane of symmetry 30 of the golf club
grip 11 in order to properly align the user's shot.
[0027] In the preferred embodiment, the upper portion 12 of the
golf club grip 11 preferably has a peripheral circumference greater
than the lower portion 18, with a notch 26 or recess (shown in FIG.
2) being formed at the junction of the upper portion 12 and the
lower portion 18 on the rearward-facing aspect for receiving at
least one of the user's fingers. For users who like to vary their
grip on the golf club 10, or for particular shots, the user may
hold the golf club grip 11 at a lower position than that shown in
FIG. 1, thus taking advantage of notch 26. Preferably, both upper
portion 12 and lower portion 18 each have a tapered profile, as
shown, and the lower portion 18 preferably is substantially
circular in cross section.
[0028] It will be understood that surfaces 23 and 25 do not define
a slightly raised ridge protruding from an otherwise circular or
substantially cylindrical grip, but form a dihedral angle with
surfaces extensive enough to engage a substantial portion of the
golfer's palm and fingers to ensure a secure grip on the club 10.
For example, the surfaces 23 and 25 may subtend an arc of about
180.degree.. Alternatively, the upper portion 12 may be described
as being triangular in transverse cross section, with the base of
the triangle being arcuate and the apex being rounded.
[0029] It will be understood that the golf club grip 11 may be
formed in many different ways. The upper portion 12 may be entirely
solid, molded in one piece with the tubular lower portion 18 in a
unitary body from natural or synthetic rubber. The upper portion 12
and the lower portion 18 may both be tubular and the upper end 20
may comprise a discrete end cap fixed to the upper portion 12 by
adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or other joining techniques, the
upper portion 12 defining an axial bore continuous with the axial
bore 28 in the lower portion 18 for insertion of the shaft 14 as
far as the end cap. The upper portion 12 may be formed with a solid
or hollow, cylindrical or triangular rod, form, or shim defining
the planar sides 23 and 25 of the rearward-facing aspect of the
grip 11. The grip 11 may be formed from a cylindrical rubber sleeve
having an elongated wedge or other form taped thereto, the upper
and lower portions being wrapped with leather wrap. The upper
portion of the shaft 14 may be formed in the desired shape of the
grip 11, the grip 11 then being a molded sleeve having a continuous
bore through the upper portion 12 and the lower portion 18
conforming to the upper portion of the shaft 14. The above
enumeration is not intended to be exhaustive, as other methods of
forming the golf club grip 11 described herein may occur to those
skilled in the art, the foregoing enumeration being exemplary.
[0030] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *