U.S. patent application number 12/008013 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-26 for grip for golf club.
Invention is credited to Min-Jeong Nam, Min-Woo Nam, Sang-Ki Nam, Seong-Woo Nam.
Application Number | 20090082128 12/008013 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40472272 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090082128 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nam; Sang-Ki ; et
al. |
March 26, 2009 |
Grip for golf club
Abstract
A golf club of which hand grip part is built-in with advertising
print layer, which can be viewed easily, protected from damage,
wherein its image is enhanced for clearer view. A grip member is
formed with a hole and combines with shaft top. A print layer
displays advertisement on the outside of the grip member. A
transparent layer covers and shows the print layer.
Inventors: |
Nam; Sang-Ki; (Jeollanam-do,
KR) ; Nam; Min-Jeong; (Jeollanam-do, KR) ;
Nam; Seong-Woo; (Jeollanam-do, KR) ; Nam;
Min-Woo; (Jeollanam-do, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLAKELY SOKOLOFF TAYLOR & ZAFMAN LLP
1279 OAKMEAD PARKWAY
SUNNYVALE
CA
94085-4040
US
|
Family ID: |
40472272 |
Appl. No.: |
12/008013 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/14 20130101;
A63B 60/00 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/300 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/14 20060101
A63B053/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 20, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0095830 |
Claims
1. A golf club grip characterized by being comprised of; a grip
body (10) formed with an air vent hole (11) and combined with top
part of a golf club; print layer (20) which is directly printed on
said grip surface (10) to show ads, and etc.; and transparent layer
(30) which is formed over the entire surface of said print layer
(20).
2. A golf club grip in accordance with claim 1, wherein, the said
grip body (10) is characterized by being made of elastic
rubber.
3. A golf club grip in accordance with claim 1, wherein, the print
layer (20) is formed with elastic and viscous material.
4. A golf club grip in accordance with claim 1, wherein, the print
layer (20) is formed with additional fluorescent material.
Description
FIELD OF THE ART
[0001] This invention relates to a golf club of which hand grip
part is built-in with advertising or PR-related print layer, which
can be viewed easily, protected from damage, and its image is
enhanced for clearer view.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
[0002] Golf is a game for players to grip golf clubs to hit golf
balls to drive the balls into small holes at a certain distance and
location. A golf club consists of a head to hit ball, a shaft made
with metal or other material, and a grip which covers the end of
shaft for the player to hold the club. Since the grip needs to be
suitable for holding and not slippery, it is usually formed by
winding and layering long strip made of rubber or plastic material
around the shaft spirally, or formed with plastic material as a
single body with the shaft.
[0003] However, conventional grips formed in above described
methods require time, labor, and cost. In addition, layering method
requires to prepare the layer material at appropriate length to
prevent shortage or excess.
[0004] In golf games, players drive balls with golf clubs, holding
the club tightly wearing gloves. Therefore, players' hands sweat,
and golf club grips are subject to contamination and deterioration
by sweat. Therefore, grips are commonly formed opaquely, in dark
colors such as black or deep blue.
[0005] Since golf club grips attract players' eyes, golf club
manufacturers print or engrave company logos, brands, or other
advertising signs.
[0006] Golf club grips not only attract eyes but also are touched
with hands most frequently. Therefore, conventional methods of
printing signs or marks on grips are liable to be contaminated with
sweat and/or dust, and erased by friction with hand.
[0007] Depressed or relieved engravings are not so distinctive to
eyes, and printing ends in being detached or giving unpleasantness
by adhesive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment in accordance
with the invention
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment in accordance
with the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a structure in
accordance with the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a reference drawing which show manufacturing
process of the golf club grip in accordance with the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the market inserted
in the golf club grip in accordance with the invention.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention is intended to solve above described
problems by providing a golf club grip which has good sense of grip
without damaging printed layer of advertisement, and enhance the
visibility of the printing.
METHOD OF ACHIEVING THE OBJECT
[0014] In order to achieve the said object, the present invention
provides a golf club grip which is formed with rubber or plastics
and combined with club shaft, and ad sign can be printed on the
surface of the grip member, which is then covered with a
transparent over-layer of which material is transparent rubber or
plastic.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The golf club grip in accordance with the present invention
is not affected by sweat from hands or other external environments,
maintaining the print layer for a long time of use, therefore,
suitable for advertisement for various purposes. And said grip is
not slippery when wet with sweat, giving good sense of grip
preventing twist at the time of impact, preventing golf elbow
syndrome. In addition, the grip is very easy to join with club
shaft.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The functions and effects of the said members set forth and
described herein above are described herein below with
drawings.
[0017] The grip for golf club in accordance with the present
invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, is characterized by being
formed with; a grip member (G) formed with a hole (11) and combined
with top of club shaft(S); a print layer (20) showing ads formed on
outer surface of said grip member (G); and a transparent layer (30)
formed over the exterior of said print layer (20).
[0018] Here, the golf club grip in accordance with the present
invention is comprised of grip member (G), a print layer (20) and a
transparent layer (30), a part of golf club held by user, and is
mounted at top portion of a golf club shaft (S). On the bottom of
said shaft (S) is a head (H) which hits ball.
[0019] Said grip member (G) is combined with shaft (S) inserted
through the hole (11) of the grip (10) which has an extension (13)
at center of which is formed with a hole (11) for the shaft and to
discharge air when the shaft(S) is inserted in.
[0020] On the extension (13) of said grip member (10) has a marker
(14), as shown in FIG. 5, which can be made of various materials
including, but not restricted to, rubber, PVC, plastics, aluminum,
steel, copper, or other metals, in diverse colors, sizes, and
weight, for distinctive view.
[0021] Said marker (14) is prepared with harder and stronger
material than grip member (10), and processed by placing the marker
(14) on mold and injecting molten rubber or plastics which is the
material for grip body to protect the marker from being
damaged.
[0022] In addition, at the top center of said marker (14) is formed
with a hole (15), as a single body with the grip body, and the hole
(15) is in line with the vent hole (11) formed on the top extension
(13) so that the air in the grip body can be exhausted when
assembling shaft (S) with grip member (G).
[0023] Here, said grip member (10) is made of elastic rubber or
plastics, transparent or opaque, or may have desired colors.
[0024] The materials for said grip member (G) are synthetic rubber
and silica (SiO2) as filler. A preferable composition of the
material is 55-63% (weight) of butadiene rubber, 12-20% of styrene
butadiene rubber, 12-18% of isoprene rubber, and 11-18% of silica
(SiO2).
[0025] Butadiene rubber is a kind of synthetic rubber produced by
polymerizing butadiene. It has excellent elasticity, were
resistance, low heat capacity, strong against cold, and used for
producing tires, drive belts, plastics blender and etc. When the
butadiene rubber is blended by less than 55%, elasticity and
transparency of grip is degraded, and if more than 64%,
workability, tensile strength, and tear strength are degraded,
though elasticity and were resistance become better. Therefore,
preferred blending ratio of the butadiene rubber is 55-63%.
[0026] Styrene butadiene rubber is a copolymer of butadiene and
styrene polymerized in low temperature. It is a commonly used
synthetic rubber due to a number of merits such as were and heat
resistance, stable scorch properties, and workability including
injection and extrusion moldings. It is used car parts, shoes,
hose, and as modifier or adhesive for plastics. If the ratio by
weight of styrene butadiene rubber is 12% or less, grip becomes
slippery due to degraded wet traction by sweat or moisture, and if
more than 20%, transparency is degraded. Therefore, desirable mix
ratio of styrene butadiene rubber is 12-20%.
[0027] Isoprene rubber is stereoregular polyisoprene having cis-1,4
bond by more than 90%. It is called synthetic natural rubber
because it has the same structure as stereo rubber or natural
rubber. It is produced by polymerizing isoprene solution using
Ziegler or alkyl lithium catalyst, of which properties are similar
to natural rubber, and when vulcanized, elongation and resistance
against tear are better than natural rubber, less heat generation,
and has excellent tensile strength, anti-aging, electrical
properties and especially superb workability. However, elasticity
is a little low, slippery in rain when processed into tires, and
expensive.
[0028] If the mix ratio of isoprene rubber is 12% or less, tensile
and tear strength is weak, therefore, grips made with such material
is liable to be torn by strong impact in golf game, and it the
ratio is more than 18%, transparency is degrades. Therefore,
preferred mix ratio of isoprene rubber is 12.about.18%.
[0029] Silica (SiO2) is used as a filler, which determines hardness
of grips, and improves physical properties of grip materials. If
its mix ratio is less than 11%, grip becomes softer, and if more
than 18%, grip becomes too hard. Therefore, preferred mix ratio of
silica is 11.about.18%.
[0030] Said grip body (10) is formed with rubber, etc., at
temperature of 120.about.200.degree. C. and pressure of
150.about.400 psi, for 3.about.15 minutes. The preferred forming
temperature of grip is 120.about.200.degree. C., because at
temperature lower than 120.degree. C., rubber grains in the raw
material are not fully fused, and if higher than 200.degree. C.,
the rubber is hardened and becomes brittle, giving poorer grip
feeling.
[0031] Preferred forming pressure of grip body (11) is
150.about.400 psi. If the pressure is lower than 150 psi, grip
surface is not smooth due to particle lines which may require extra
process to be removed. If the pressure is higher than 400 psi, grip
surface appears food but energy consumption becomes too much.
[0032] Generally, the time for forming grip body (10) is 3.about.15
minutes. It the time is shorter than 3 minutes, the forming
temperature has to be raised for full integration of material. If
the time is longer than 15 minutes, productivity is lowered.
Therefore, preferred time for forming grip is 5.about.9
minutes.
[0033] To form golf grips, equivalent vulcanization conditions,
which is a total heat capacity (Q) is required. This total heat
capacity (Q) is determined by; Q=Temperature (T).times.Time (t).
Therefore, if temperature is high, the time can be shortened, and
vice versa.
[0034] Said print layer (20), which is directly printed on the
surface of grip body (10) to display ads, is printed using elastic
or viscous material. The ads may be events, tour sites, brand or
manufacturer's name, owner's name or contact information, picture,
diagram, or character.
[0035] A preferred embodiment in accordance with the present
invention is characterized by the said print layer (20) is added
with fluorescent material to enhance visibility in the dark.
[0036] In addition, the print layer is formed using elastic and/or
viscous material. This is because, when grip body is deformed, then
the print layer also has to follow the deformation so that it is
not isolated from the grip body, as well as to prevent damage over
a long-term use.
[0037] Said transparent layer (30) is formed to overlap the print
layer (20), made of transparent rubber or plastics to show the
print layer clearly. Its material needs to be elastic and abrasion
resistant to absorb impact and endure long-term use, and soft to
provide users with good grip feeling.
[0038] A brief description on the manufacturing process of the golf
club grip (G) in accordance with the present invention, with
reference to FIG. 4, is given herein below. First, grip body (10)
is formed with elastic rubber material, print layer is formed by
printing on the outer surface of said grip body (10), and
transparent layer (30) is formed over the exterior of said print
layer (20).
[0039] According to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, said print layer (20) is formed with elastic and viscous
material added with fluorescent material.
[0040] The golf club grip (G) in accordance with the present
invention shows print on the print layer (20) clearly through
transparent layer (30) and maintains the print layer (20) firmly
between the grip body (10) and transparent layer (30), against
impact.
[0041] In addition, golf players are liable to golf elbow syndrome,
which is caused by excessive impact on the muscles and tendon below
the elbow during golf swing and hitting. Excessively strong stroke
in golf may damage muscles and tendon of elbow. Golf elbow is very
harmful to arm, taking time and money for treatment. To prevent
golf elbow, select appropriate golf club and correct swing
method.
[0042] Golf elbow is difficult to treat, and even cured, relapse
rate is more than 50%. It is recommended to use golf clubs which
have shock absorbing grips to prevent golf elbow. Due to the
elasticity of said transparent layer (30), swing impact can be
greatly absorbed to prevent golf elbow.
[0043] The transparent layer (30) of the grip (G) in accordance
with the present invention has lower rubber hardness and higher
maximum static friction coefficient, compared with conventional
grips, giving netter grip feeling. Good grip feeling prevents twist
at impact providing better orientation. In addition, the
transparent layer (30) in accordance with the present invention can
reduce shock transmitted to user greatly due to its lower rubber
hardness and high tensile strength.
[0044] The preferred embodiments of the present invention set forth
and described herein above are only exemplary, and the
applicability and scope of the present invention is not limited to
the description herein above, but can be implemented in various
shape and functionalities. In addition, it has to be clarified that
the grip in accordance with the present invention can be
implemented in the same manner in the grips for tennis rackets
too.
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