U.S. patent application number 12/322466 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-05 for golf glove with grip pressure reducing means.
Invention is credited to Richard Hunsicker.
Application Number | 20100192279 12/322466 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42396472 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100192279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hunsicker; Richard |
August 5, 2010 |
Golf glove with grip pressure reducing means
Abstract
A golf grip training apparatus for resisting finger and thumb
flexion and for counteracting grip forces is disclosed. The
apparatus assists the golfer in achieving a lighter grip pressure
than would be exerted on the club without its use by providing a
golf glove adapted with means for actively counteracting grip
pressure by creating forces in opposition to those required for
gripping the club handle. The apparatus is used to teach the golfer
to relax the hands and fingers and to hold the club handle more
lightly.
Inventors: |
Hunsicker; Richard; (The
Villages, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Douglas Wm. Massinger. Espuire;MASSINGER LAW OFFICES
887 NE 100 STREET
OCALA
FL
34479
US
|
Family ID: |
42396472 |
Appl. No.: |
12/322466 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/161.2 ;
434/252 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4017 20151001;
A41D 19/002 20130101; A63B 2209/10 20130101; A41D 19/0034 20130101;
A63B 69/0059 20130101; A63B 71/146 20130101; A63B 69/3608
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/161.2 ;
434/252 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00; A63B 69/36 20060101 A63B069/36 |
Claims
1. A golf glove having a hand covering portion, a finger covering
portion and finger covering portions, wherein the improvement
comprises: a. at least one elastic member extending over the backs
of: i. at least a portion of said hand covering portion, and: 1.
each of said finger covering portions; and 2. said thumb covering
portion; and b. means for retaining said at least one elastic
member substantially in place.
2. A golf grip training apparatus for reducing grip pressure on a
golf club handle, the apparatus comprising: a. a golf glove
comprised of a palm covering portion, a plurality of finger
covering portions extending from said palm covering portion to
receive and cover fingers, a thumb covering portion extending from
said palm covering portion to receive and cover the thumb, a back
portion associated with said palm covering portion to form a
chamber, said chamber having an access opening into which a hand is
slipped, said back portion having a slit extending from said access
opening toward said finger covering portions to permit said access
opening to be spread apart for ease of receiving the hand, and a
tab fastened to one side of said slit for adjustable engagement
with an area of said back portion of the glove; b. at least one
elastic member overlying the back of each of said finger covering
portions and at least a portion of said back portion; and c. means
for retaining said at least one elastic member substantially in
place.
3. A method of reducing grip pressure on a golf club handle, the
method comprising the steps of: a. wearing on at least one hand a
golf glove comprised of: i. a palm covering portion, a plurality of
finger covering portions extending from said palm covering portion
to receive and cover fingers, a thumb covering portion extending
from said palm covering portion to receive and cover the thumb, a
back portion associated with said palm covering portion to form a
chamber, said chamber having an access opening into which a hand is
slipped, said back portion having a slit extending from said access
opening toward said finger covering portions to permit said access
opening to be spread apart for ease of receiving the hand, and a
tab fastened to one side of said slit for adjustable engagement
with an area of said back portion of the glove; ii. at least one
elastic member overlying the back of each of said finger covering
portions and at least a portion of said back portion; and iii.
means for retaining said at least one elastic member substantially
in place; b. applying a gripping force to a golf club handle using
said at least one hand thereby causing deformation of said elastic
members and creating a restoring force therein; c. relaxing said at
least one hand until said gripping force is less than said
restoring force; whereby each said elastic member will cause
extension of the wearer's digits, causing them to move away from
the golf club handle thereby creating a lighter golf grip.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject invention relates generally to training devices
for the game of golf, and more particularly to a golf glove adapted
to actively promote a reduction in grip pressure on a golf
club.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Grip pressure (i.e., the force applied by the thumb, fingers
and hands around the grip portion of a golf club shaft) is a
critical factor in the execution of a successful golf swing. Grip
pressure should be as light on the club as possible without
sacrificing control of the club. The golfer must have a firm enough
grip to prevent axial slippage and rotation of the club relative to
the golfer's hands, and yet have a light enough grip to deliver the
clubhead accurately and squarely into the ball. A proper grip
therefore should generate a feeling of controlling the club without
sacrificing the ability to sense the weight of the club head. Grip
pressure should remain constant at all times during the set-up,
back-swing and follow-through.
[0003] The average golfer tends to grip the club too tightly,
exerting excessive force on the club which is detrimental to
accuracy and distance that the golf ball travels. The golfer's
desire to achieve greater shot distance is a primary cause of
overgripping the club. When addressing the ball, there is often a
great deal of anticipation, stress and build up of energy, making
it difficult to relax various parts of the body, especially the
arms and hands. It is a human instinct under such circumstances to
close the hands tightly. This occurs, therefore, in the absence of
conscious awareness or thought. The tendency is often compounded
during the golf swing when the desire to achieve greater shot
distance results in a conscious effort to swing the golf club
faster and strike the ball harder. When doing so, the centrifugal
force of the faster moving golf club (i.e., the force acting from
the grip in the direction of the clubhead) will require the golfer
to grip the club even more firmly to prevent axial slippage. A
conscious or unconscious fear of losing hold of the golf club
results in the tendency to grip the club more than necessary.
Ironically, over gripping the club impedes necessary forearm and
wrist movement which in turn results in diminished clubhead speed,
power loss and inability to deliver the club head to the ball
squarely. By contrast, lighter grip-pressure encourages more
wrist-hinge, which creates a stronger release and increased swing
speed during the downswing.
[0004] Heretofore, there have been various attempts in the art for
creating golf grip pressure training devices to improve a golfer's
play of the game. A first category of inventions are golf club
centric, meaning they involve modification of the golf club rather
than the golf glove. Many of these training aids involve measuring
the golfer's grip. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,138,118 to Lorang, 4,103,896 to
Budney, and 3,323,367 issued Searle, are illustrative. The Budney
reference teaches a golf grip employing strain gauges fixedly
mounted on selected locations of the handle. The strain gauges are
connected to a remote recorder which provides a series of graphs
which can be compared to the graphs produced by an expert golfer.
Lorang teaches a golf grip training apparatus having a switch lever
mounted on one side of the golf club handle. Excessive pressure
exerted by the middle fingers of the off-target hand causes the
lever to close a circuit to activate a signaling device mounted on
the club. Searle teaches a plurality of pressure sensitive sensors
mounted on the handle of a golf club to respond to the grip
pressure of both hands. The sensors are part of a bridge circuit
which indicates grip pressure information on a meter attached to
the club. While these innovations do teach the golfer to be
consciously aware of excessive grip pressure through visual or
audible feedback, they do not actively counteract grip
pressure.
[0005] A second category of inventions, and that to which the
subject invention is directed, are golf glove centric, meaning they
involve modification of the golf glove rather than the golf club.
These innovations are primarily in the form of training gloves
which include a sensory feedback mechanism such as an electronic
pressure pad or other sensory measurement device. Some prior art
pressure recognition devices are connected to an output signaling
device such as a light-emitting lamp or sound alarm. Here again,
these training aids do not actively counteract grip pressure on a
golf club handle, but instead provide the golfer with visual or
audible feedback.
[0006] In view of the shortcomings and limitations of the above
described prior art, it is desirable to have a training device
which will not only cause the golfer to be consciously aware of his
or her grip pressure while holding a golf club, but which also
actively assists the golfer in achieving a lighter grip by
counteracting the golfer's gripping force.
[0007] The following additional U.S. patents relating to sports
gloves, orthopedic gloves, exercise gloves, and the like, are
incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,830,360
Orthopedic Exercise glove; 5,453,064 Exercise Glove Incorporating
Rods which Offer Resistance to Movement of Fingers, Hands or
Wrists; 5,708,979 Glove with Elastic Back; 6,415,445 Sports Glove;
7,293,296 Football Glove and Method of Use; 3,918,096 Flexible
Motorcycle Glove; 3,997,922 Glove; 4,146,935 Glove for Hobbling
Grip; 4,675,914 Hard-grip Glove; 4,864,660 Flexible Hand-Conforming
Protective Glove; 5,511,247 Sports Glove with Forefinger Stiffener;
5,628,069 Glove with Bistable Spring Element; 5,758,365 Sport Glove
and Support Insert; 6,543,058 Glove with an Exoskeleton Layer;
6,625,815 Glove with an Exoskeleton Layer; 6,862,744 Athletic
Glove; 6,944,884 Glove with a Web Structure; 5,669,073 Golf Glove
with Grip Positioning Means; 5,742,942 Golf Glove Having
Club-Gripping Strap; 6,889,389 Glove with Padding for Back of Hand;
and 7,234,172 Glove with Support for Hyper-Extension Resistance.
None of these references teach a golf glove designed to actively
counteract grip pressure on a golf club handle.
[0008] All patents, patent applications, provisional applications,
and publications referred to or cited herein, or from which a claim
for benefit of priority has been made, are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety to the extent they are not inconsistent
with the explicit teachings of this specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In order to meet the need in the art, the subject golf grip
training apparatus and method have been created. Several
embodiments of the invention are discussed below.
[0010] The present invention relates generally to a golf glove
possessing means for resisting finger and thumb flexion, that is to
say movement from a substantially straight or extended position to
a bent or flexed position, and for counteracting grip forces. When
properly used in accordance with the methods described herein, the
apparatus assists the golfer in achieving a lighter grip pressure
than would be exerted on the club without its use. The subject
apparatus, therefore, provides a means for bringing the golfer's
attention to his or her grip pressure and for actively
counteracting grip pressure by creating forces in opposition to
those required for gripping the club handle. The apparatus is used
to teach the golfer to relax the hands and fingers and to hold the
club handle more lightly.
[0011] Each embodiment of the subject golf grip training apparatus
is comprised of a conventional golf glove adapted with means for
counteracting grip forces produced by the wearer's fingers, thumb
and hands. The glove shell is made from conventional materials such
as, for example, cloth and/or supple thin natural or synthetic
leather, typically two layers of material. The glove includes an
access opening into which the golfer's hand is inserted and a slit
extending along the back portion of the glove from access opening
to permit the opening to be spread apart for ease of hand
insertion. A tab is fastened, such as by sewing, or integrally
formed with at least a portion of one side of the slit and extends
over the slit to the second side for temporary fastening to the
back portion of the glove. Cooperating hook-and-loop material is
fastened in a conventional manner to the underside of the tab and
across a portion of the back portion of the glove to facilitate
closure. In a preferred embodiment, means for counteracting grip
forces produced by the wearer's fingers, thumb and hands comprise a
plurality of elastic members disposed on the back of the glove with
at least one such elastic member being associated with each digit
of the wearer and extending from approximately the fingertips to
the back of the hand. Each elastic member is capable of reversible
deformation when subjected to force applied by the underlying
digits and hand (such as when gripping the golf club handle), and
of storing potential energy in the process. The deformed elastic
member exerts a force (called a restoring force) against the
overlying digits and hand that is proportional to the amount of its
deformation. When the wearer of the apparatus relaxes enough for
his gripping force to be less than the restoring force, the elastic
member will actively cause digital extension, moving the digits
away from the golf club handle facilitating a lighter grip. Elastic
members with different amounts of rebounding force may be employed
to suit the needs of each user.
[0012] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important components and features of the invention in order that
the detailed description thereof that follows may be better
understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art
may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and
which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is
not limited in its application to the details of construction and
to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following
description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out
in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in
the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out
the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,
therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent
constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and
scope of the present invention.
[0013] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
[0014] It is, therefore, a primary object of the subject invention
to provide a golf grip training aid and method of use that causes
the user to be more aware of his or her grip pressure by exerting
counteracting forces against the user's digits and hands when
gripping the golf club.
[0015] It is another primary object of the subject invention to
provide a method and means for actively causing digital extension,
moving the digits away from the golf club handle, to facilitate a
lighter grip.
[0016] It is also an object of the subject invention to provide a
golf grip training aid in the form of a golf glove which may be
worn during training as well as regular play.
[0017] Another object of the subject invention is to provide a golf
grip training aid which is relatively simple in design and
therefore capable of rapid construction at relatively low
costs.
[0018] Still another object of the subject invention is to provide
a golf grip training aid which is customizable to the needs of the
individual user.
[0019] These together with other objects of the invention, along
with the various features of novelty which characterize the
invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its advantages and the specific
objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is
illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention will be better understood and objects other
than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration
is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a back perspective view of the golf training glove
of this invention with the closure tab in the open position;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the golf training glove
with the closure tab in the closed position;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an elastic member of the
subject apparatus in its neutral, non-deformed condition;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a thumb side view of the subject golf glove worn
by a golfer gripping a golf club handle; and
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an elastic member of the
subject apparatus when in its tensioned, deformed condition as in
FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] Reference is first made to FIG. 1 in which there is
illustrated a back perspective view of the subject golf grip
training aid designated generally by reference numeral 10. Glove 10
is made from cloth and/or supple thin natural or synthetic leather,
typically with two layers of material. The glove is comprised of a
palm covering portion 12, a plurality of finger covering portions
14 extending from the palm covering portion 12 to receive and cover
fingers, a thumb covering portion 16 extending from the palm
covering portion 12 to receive and cover the thumb, a back portion
18 associated with palm covering portion 12 to form a chamber 20,
the chamber having an access opening 22 into which the hand is
slipped, the back portion 18 having a slit 24 extending from access
opening 22 toward the finger covering portions 14 to permit opening
22 to be spread apart for ease of receiving a hand, at least one
elastic member 26 having a variable resistance to bending and being
sized and configured to extend approximately from the distal end 28
of a finger covering portion 14 (or thumb covering portion 16) past
and over the metacarpophalangeal joint ("MPJ") region 30 of the
back portion 18 terminating at a point between MPJ region 30 and
opening 22, means for removably retaining the at least one elastic
member 26 substantially in place as herein described, a tab 32
fastened, such as by sewing, at one side of slit 16 (the ulnar
side) and extending over slit 24 to the second side (the radial
side), and cooperating hook-and-loop material 34 fastened to the
underside of tab 32 and across an area of back portion 18 of the
glove to facilitate closure.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, elastic members 26 are thin
elongate bodies comprised of a material capable of deformation
(i.e., bending) when subjected to force applied by the underlying
fingers, thumb and hand, and further capable of then returning to
their original shape when the force is no longer applied. The
elastic members, therefore, are subject to elastic deformation, a
deformation which is reversible. Soft thermoplastics and metals
have moderate elastic deformation ranges and are therefore
preferred. Thermoplastics in particular are desirable because of
their light weight relative to metals, their considerable longevity
in terms of extension/flexion cycles and because they can be
impregnated with antimicrobials. The elastic members 26 of the
subject invention may be fabricated to varying dimensions to afford
different flexural strengths and therefore varying resistance to
finger, thumb and hand flexure. When caused to bend by forces
applied by the wearer's digits and hands, elastic members deliver
counteracting forces causing digital extension if the wearer
reduces their gripping force such that it less than the
counteracting force. It is contemplated that more than one elastic
member 26 may be associated with a particular digit of the user's
hand to provide increased flexural resistance and counteracting
force.
[0028] Elastic members 26 are preferably but not essentially
oriented relative to back portion 18 of glove 10 in substantial
alignment with the extensor tendons of the wearer's hand when
inserted into the glove in conventional fashion. This coaxial
alignment between the levers of the hand and finger (or hand and
thumb) on the one hand, and the elastic member 26 on the other
hand, assures that all muscles that work these levers for extension
and flexion are uniformly counteracted by the resisting force of
the overlying elastic member 26. Note that the elastic members 26
that are associated with the index finger, middle finger and ring
finger substantially converge at their proximal ends 36. The
elastic member 26 associated with the pinky finger, by contrast, is
oriented so that its proximal end 38 is at a distance from the
proximal end 36 of the elastic member 26 associated with the ring
finger sufficient to accommodate slit 24 there between. Note
further that the length of elastic members 26 associated with the
index, middle and ring fingers will naturally be longer than those
associated with the pinky finger and thumb. Accordingly, it is
contemplated that elastic members 26 be provided in different
lengths ranging from approximately 3 inches to 6 inches, or be
provided in the maximum desired length, but capable of being
trimmed as needed. Elastic members 26 may be scored, preferably on
their palmer facing side, to facilitate trimming. Elastic members
26 will have a width of approximately 5-10 mm. Thickness will
depend on such characteristics as tensile strength, yield strength
and breaking strength of the material selected. A Thickness of
approximately 24 mm is preferred. The elastic members may be
tapered in proportion to the size of the underlying bone (and
corresponding muscle strength) having wider and/or thicker
dimensions proximate to the MPJ and tapering down in size
distally.
[0029] Means for retaining elastic members 26 in the above
described orientations relative to the back portion 18 of glove 10
are preferably comprised of a plurality of sleeves 40 within which
at least one elastic member 26 may be inserted. Each finger portion
14 and thumb portion 16 includes a sleeve 40 associated therewith
and attached via stitching, for example. Each sleeve 40 extends
approximately from the distal end 28 of a finger covering portion
14 (or thumb covering portion 16) past and over the
metacarpophalangeal joint ("MPJ") region 30 of back portion 18 and
terminates at a point between MPJ region 30 and opening 22. A
sleeve opening 42 is associated with each sleeve 40 for insertion
of elastic members 26. That portion of each sleeve 40 underlying
tab 32 when in its closed position may include Those skilled in the
art will recognize other means for retaining elastic members 26 in
place such as by adhering them to glove 10 using suitable adhesives
or attaching them via other mechanical means such as elastic bands
or rivets.
[0030] By way of mechanics, each elastic member 26 when in a
neutral, unbent condition biases the wearer's finger (or thumb)
into a substantially extended position. When acted upon by gripping
forces exerted by the fingers and thumb as they grasp the golf club
handle 100 (FIG. 4), the elastic members resist deformation in the
form of bending. With regard to the method of the instant
invention, therefore, each elastic member 26 is capable of
reversible deformation when subjected to force applied by the
underlying digits and hand (such as when gripping the golf club
handle), and of storing potential energy in the process. Each
deformed elastic member 26 exerts a restoring force against the
underlying digits and hand that is proportional to the amount of
its deformation. This restoring force may be sensed by the wearer
of the apparatus thereby causing consciousness of grip pressure and
encouraging the wearer to reduce same through relaxation of the
hands. When the wearer of the apparatus relaxes enough for his
gripping force to be less than the restoring force, the elastic
member will actively cause extension of the wearer's digits,
causing them to move away from the golf club handle 100 as
illustrated by the directional arrows of FIG. 4, thereby
facilitating a lighter grip.
[0031] Elastic members 26 with different amounts of rebounding
force may be employed to suit the needs of each user. For example,
grip pressure from the last three fingers of the non-dominant hand
control the golf swing during the transition from backswing to
downswing. It is the primary controlling part of the grip for
substantially the entire swing, and these three fingers grip the
club slightly more firmly than the rest of the fingers. There is a
natural tendency for the dominant side to try to hit the ball
harder than the non-dominant side is capable of controlling. A
common problem encountered by golfers is they allow the dominant
hand to overpower those three fingers on the non-dominant hand. To
counteract this occurrence, it may be helpful to use more (or
stronger) elastic members 26 on the dominant hand to compensate.
The increase in restoring force exerted by such additional or
stronger elastic members 26 will make it more difficult for the
dominant hand to over grip the club handle.
[0032] In another example, individual digits may require more or
less restoring forces to act on them in order to achieve a more
uniform grip. Some golfers may tend to apply excessive or
inadequate force with one or more digits. The golf grip training
glove of the subject invention may be customized to compensate for
these deviations by assigning elastic members with greater or
lesser flexural strength to each digit of the hand. By making these
corrections, the amount of golf grip pressure needed to swing the
club while still maintaining control may be achieved.
[0033] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the particular embodiments herein set forth, it is
understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of
example and that numerous changes in details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited
by the foregoing specifications, but rather only by the scope of
the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *