Golf Club Vibration Dampening Device
A vibration dampening device that can be attached to the shaft and hosel of a golf club to absorb vibrations. The uniquely designed dampening device is positioned to immediately absorb vibrations of a golf club after the club head makes impact with a golf ball. The absorption of impact vibrations helps reduce injury that may be caused by stress from continual exposure to impact vibration. The vibration dampening device allows users to perform golf swing with less vibration during impact.
The current application is a nonprovisional application and claims a priority to the U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/435,972 filed on Jan. 25, 2012.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a device that can be attached to the shaft & hosel of a golf club to dampen vibrations. More specifically, the device comprises of a unique, reversible securing mechanism to prevent shifting of the device when the golf club is in use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTPrior art which relate to the present invention, includes the following patents:
Artus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,423 discloses a striking head having a hosel with an extended shaft fixed to the hosel. A vibration dampening means is fixed on the shaft. The vibration dampening means comprises a viscoelastic later and a rigid tubular sleeve. The rigid tubular sleeve constrains the viscoelastic layer to the shaft. The vibration is additionally integrated into an altered shaft. The present invention introduces a vibration dampener device that is placed over the hosel and shaft of any golf club. Unlike the prior art presented, the present invention has the ability to be removed from a user' club and does not structurally alter a golf club shaft. The present invention allows the golf club to maintain its structural stability.
Ling, U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,113 discloses a golf club that comprises a striking head having a hosel. A shaft is fixed to the hosel of the striking head and a grip. Attached to the shaft are constrained layer dampers. The layer dampers are non-tubular and each layer is constrained independently. Unlike the prior art, the present invention is tubular device that does will not hinder the aerodynamic flow of the shaft while a user is swinging the club. Unlike the non-tubular layer dampers, the tubular design of the present invention ensures and vibrations of shock are passed through the dampening component of the present invention.
Todd, U.S. Pat. No. 6,544,129 discloses a vibration dampening device for use on the shaft of a golf club. The device comprises of a dampening unit including a strip of elastomeric material that encircles the external periphery of a golf club shaft. The strip of elastomeric material comprises a viscoelastic polymer. A clip unit is used to receive both the dampening unit and the periphery of the shaft of a golf club. Unlike the prior art, the present invention utilizes an outer jacket with a reversible fastening system (e.g., latches, hooks, snaps, buttons, straps, hook-and-loops strips, magnets, ties, etc.) to secure the inner dampening component to a golf club.
In reference to U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,155,932; 6,231,456; and 5,294,119, the prior art includes several different vibration dampening devices for golf clubs. While the prior art disclose devices for dampening vibration in a golf club, the prior art fails to isolate vibrations that are close to its source. The present invention is designed to fit over the hosel and shaft of the golf club to immediately dampen the vibrations caused by the striking head. Furthermore, the inner dampening component of the present invention is provided with a release through a block window on the outer jacket. Many of the prior art introduced disclose a vibration dampener that completely constrains the damper component onto the shaft. Viscoelastic materials exhibit both behaviors of viscous materials and elastic materials. However, when a load is placed and released from the material, mechanical energy can still be released from the viscoelastic materials. By binding the viscoelastic materials tightly or embedding the materials directly into the golf clubs, the ability of the material to absorb energy is altered. As a result, the remaining mechanical energy that is not dampened is directed back into the golf club. The present invention introduces an outer jacket window allowing the partial mechanical energy to be released as slight temporary deformations to the inner dampening component.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVibration from golf clubs after impact with a ball is one of the known causes that induce injury to a player. When a user hits a golf ball, vibrations travel from the head of the club, up the shaft, and into the player's arms holding the club. Continuous exposure to vibrations from a golf club can place a large amount of stress on the muscles and joints of a user's arms. Several vibration dampening devices have been developed to combat the vibration resulting from the impact of golf balls. However, many of the existing dampening devices are simple viscoelastic cuffs that are attached in an arbitrary position on the shaft of a golf club. The present invention introduces a new vibration dampening device that is uniquely designed to attach to the base of the shaft and the hosel of the club head. The design of the present invention allows it to lock onto the shaft & hosel of the golf club and immediately dampen vibrations caused by the head after impact with a golf ball. The vibrations originating from the club head can also cause the user to tense up during a swing. This can also disrupt proper swing form of the user and lead to other injuries. The reduction or elimination of these vibrations allows the present invention to allow users to perform proper golf swings consistently and with less vibration during impact.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
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In other embodiments of the present invention, the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12 may have a hinge connection with the plurality of latch loops 113 and the plurality of latches 122 for securing the inner dampening component 2 to a golf club. The plurality of latch loops 113 and the plurality of latches 122 are male and female components of a reversible fastening system 13. The reversible fastening system 13 comprises a male and a female fastener component which is, but not limited to, at least one latch and latch loop, hooks, snaps, buttons, straps, hook-and-loop strips, magnets, or ties. In the preferred embodiment as previously described, the reversible fastening system 13 comprises of a plurality of latch loops 113 and a plurality of latches 122. However, in alternative embodiments, the fastening system is not limited to latches and loops but may be any fastening components capable of securing the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12 together to form the outer jacket 1 which in turn, secures the inner dampening component 2 to the shaft. In yet another embodiment, the reversible fastening system does not comprises of a male and a female fastener component. Instead, the reversible fastening system 13 may be a rubber band or any component which secures the outer jacket 1 or the inner dampening component 2 to the shaft of the golf club. However, it is important to note that the reversible fastening system 13 does not compromise weight and does not comprise aerodynamics of the overall present invention. Furthermore, the reversible fastening system should provide for a certain level of grip and is compatible with the external mass element 25.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the outer jacket 1 can further comprises of external ribbings that are positioned along the length of the top portion 11 and the bottom portion 12. The external ribbings provide the outer jacket 1 with an aesthetic design and can further provide the present invention with a more aerodynamic shape. As a result of the aerodynamic shape, the user will experiences a smoother swing with minimal air resistance.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the outer jacket 1 can be made from a cloth material. In this embodiment, the outer jacket 1 is bound about the inner dampening component 2 by means of adhesives or fastening straps such as hook-and-loop fasteners. The outer jacket can be a single piece or a two piece jacket. The single piece can be made with the loops distributed on an outer side of the outer jacket with the hooks being positioned on one end of the inner side of the outer jacket. This allows the outer jacket to loop around the inner dampening component and hook onto the loops on the outer side. The two piece jacket can be made in a similar fashion where the top portion is made with the loops distributed on the outer side and the hooks distributed on the two ends of the inner side of the bottom portion. In other embodiments of the present invention, the outer jacket can use other means of adhesives to be fastened onto a golf club shaft.
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In one embodiment, the inner dampening element contains an external mass element which protrudes through a block window in the outer jacket. This design allows for the maximal vibration reduction while offering negligible product weight with respect to the total weight of an entire golf club. As a result, the attachment of the present invention will not affect the swing of a user. Instead, by absorbing vibrations from impact, the users are able to swing with more confidence without fearing the pain caused by mishit. In another embodiment, the inner dampening component contains modulated ribbings that focus the vibrational energy into the protruded mass element.
The present invention is also designed to aerodynamically match with the shaft of a golf club to prevent drag or alterations to user's normal golf swing. In one embodiment, aerodynamic grooves are added to the outer jacket. In another embodiment, the aerodynamic grooves are optimized for easy gripping during reversible attachment, since elderly golfers may lack precise hand coordination. Using the present invention, the user is provided with prolonged endurance during practices. This allows the user to further perfect their stroke for an improved golfing experience.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. A golf club vibration dampening device comprises,
- an outer jacket;
- an inner dampening component;
- the outer jacket being tubular and formed by two corresponding semi-tubular pieces; and
- a reversible fastening system.
2. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 1 comprises,
- the outer jacket comprises of a top portion and a bottom portion;
- the inner dampening component being cylindrically shaped and comprises a shaft channel, a slit, an outer ribbing, and an external mass element;
- the top portion comprises a top jacket ribbing, and a block window; and
- the bottom portion comprises a bottom jacket ribbing.
3. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 2 comprises,
- the inner dampening component being made from a visco-elastic material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, buna-N, silicone, EPDM, natural gum, viton, styrene butadiene, vinyl, santoprene, epichlorohydrin, butyl, chlorosulfonated polyethelene, and a non-dilatants newtonian material;
- the outer jacket comprises of an outer element wherein the outer element being a surface modification selected from the group consisting of at least one aerodynamic groove, a gripping element, or a marketing element; and
- the reversible fastening system being a fastener selected from the group consisting of at least one latch and latch loop, hooks, snaps, buttons, straps, hook-and-loop strips, magnets, or ties.
4. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 2 comprises,
- the block window being centered and positioned on the top portion;
- the block window being shaped consistently with the external mass element of the inner dampening component; and
- the top portion being aligned and connected to the bottom portion by means of the reversible fastening system, wherein the engagement of the top portion and the bottom portion forms the outer jacket.
5. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 2 comprises,
- the inner dampening component comprises a hosel channel;
- the shaft channel being a cylindrical hole traversing through the inner dampening component;
- the hosel channel being a cylindrical hole traversing through the inner dampening component;
- the hosel channel being connected to the shaft channel;
- the hosel channel being sized larger than the shaft channel; and
- the slit being an opening positioned along the inner dampening component leading into the hosel channel and shaft channel.
6. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 5 comprises,
- the shaft channel comprises of shaft grip ribbings;
- the hosel channel comprises of hosel grip ribbings;
- wherein the shaft grip ribbings and the hosel grip ribbings can be modified for modulated ribbings;
- the slit comprises of corresponding ledges;
- the corresponding ledges being overlapped;
- the shaft grip ribbings being protruded and patterned along the shaft channel; and
- the hosel grip ribbings being protruded and patterned along the hosel grip.
7. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 5 comprises,
- the outer ribbings being protruded and patterned along the inner dampening component;
- the external mass element being protruded from the inner dampening component, where in the vibrational energy is focused to the external mass element; and
- the external mass element being positioned on the inner dampening component opposite of the slit.
8. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 6 comprises,
- wherein the modulated ribbings provides various spatial frequencies tuned to match a multiple discrete bands of resonant modes of a golf club; and
- wherein the modulated ribbings provide the various spatial frequencies tuned to a continuous band of resonant modes optimized across a plurality of golf clubs.
9. A golf club vibration dampening device comprises,
- an outer jacket;
- an inner dampening component;
- the outer jacket being tubular and formed by two corresponding semi-tubular pieces;
- a reversible fastening system;
- the outer jacket comprises of a top portion and a bottom portion;
- the inner dampening component being cylindrically shaped and comprises a shaft channel, a slit, an outer ribbing, and an external mass element;
- the top portion comprises a top jacket ribbing, and a block window; and
- the bottom portion comprises a bottom jacket ribbing.
10. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 9 comprises,
- the top portion having a first concave side;
- the bottom portion having a second concave side;
- the top jacket ribbing being protruded and distributed along the first concave side;
- the bottom jacket ribbing being protruded and distributed along the second concave side; and
- the outer jacket comprises of an outer element wherein the outer element being a surface modification selected from the group consisting of at least one aerodynamic groove, a gripping element, or a marketing element.
11. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 9 comprises,
- the top portion having first straight edges;
- the bottom portion having second straight edges;
- the block window being centered and positioned on the top portion;
- the block window being shaped consistently with the external mass element of the inner dampening component; and
- the top portion being aligned and connected to the bottom portion by means of the reversible fastening system, wherein the engagement of the top portion and the bottom portion forms the outer jacket.
12. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 9 comprises,
- the inner dampening component comprises a hosel channel;
- the shaft channel being a cylindrical hole traversing through the inner dampening component;
- the hosel channel being a cylindrical hole traversing through the inner dampening component;
- the hosel channel being connected to the shaft channel;
- the hosel channel being sized larger than the shaft channel; and
- the slit being an opening positioned along the inner dampening component leading into the hosel channel and shaft channel.
13. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 12 comprises,
- the shaft channel comprises of shaft grip ribbings;
- the hosel channel comprises of hosel grip ribbings;
- wherein the shaft grip ribbings and the hosel grip ribbings can be modified for modulated ribbings;
- the slit comprises of corresponding ledges;
- the corresponding ledges being overlapped;
- the shaft grip ribbings being protruded and patterned along the shaft channel; and
- the hosel grip ribbings being protruded and patterned along the hosel grip.
14. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 12 comprises,
- the outer ribbings being protruded and patterned along the inner dampening component;
- the external mass element being protruded from the inner dampening component, where in the vibrational energy is focused to the external mass element; and
- the external mass element being positioned on the inner dampening component opposite of the slit.
15. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 13 comprises,
- wherein the modulated ribbings provides various spatial frequencies tuned to match a multiple discrete bands of resonant modes of a golf club;
- wherein the modulated ribbings provide the various spatial frequencies tuned to a continuous band of resonant modes optimized across a plurality of golf clubs;
- the inner dampening component being made from a visco-elastic material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, buna-N, silicone, EPDM, natural gum, viton, styrene butadiene, vinyl, santoprene, epichlorohydrin, butyl, chlorosulfonated polyethelene, and a non-dilatants newtonian material; and
- the reversible fastening system being a fastener selected from the group consisting of at least one latch and latch loop, hooks, snaps, buttons, straps, hook-and-loop strips, magnets, or ties.
16. A golf club vibration dampening device comprises,
- an outer jacket;
- an inner dampening component;
- a reversible fastening system;
- the outer jacket being tubular and formed by two corresponding semi-tubular pieces;
- the inner dampening component being cylindrically shaped and comprises a shaft channel, a slit, an outer ribbing, and an external mass element;
- the top portion comprises a top jacket ribbing, and a block window;
- the bottom portion comprises a bottom jacket ribbing;
- the inner dampening component comprises a hosel channel;
- the shaft channel being a cylindrical hole traversing through the inner dampening component;
- the hosel channel being a cylindrical hole traversing through the inner dampening component;
- the hosel channel being connected to the shaft channel;
- the hosel channel being sized larger than the shaft channel; and
- the slit being an opening positioned along the inner dampening component leading into the hosel channel and shaft channel.
17. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 16 comprises,
- the top portion having a first concave side;
- the bottom portion having a second concave side;
- the top jacket ribbing being protruded and distributed along the first concave side;
- the bottom jacket ribbing being protruded and distributed along the second concave side;
- the outer jacket comprises of an outer element wherein the outer element being a surface modification selected from the group consisting of at least one aerodynamic groove, a gripping element, or a marketing element;
- the top portion having first straight edges;
- the bottom portion having second straight edges;
- the block window being centered and positioned on the top portion;
- the block window being shaped consistently with the external mass element of the inner dampening component; and
- the top portion being aligned and connected to the bottom portion by means of the reversible fastening system, wherein the engagement of the top portion and the bottom portion forms the outer jacket;
18. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 17 comprises,
- the shaft channel comprises of shaft grip ribbings;
- the hosel channel comprises of hosel grip ribbings;
- wherein the shaft grip ribbings and the hosel grip ribbings can be modified for modulated ribbings;
- the slit comprises of corresponding ledges;
- the corresponding ledges being overlapped;
- the shaft grip ribbings being protruded and patterned along the shaft channel; and
- the hosel grip ribbings being protruded and patterned along the hosel grip.
19. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 17 comprises,
- the outer ribbings being protruded and patterned along the inner dampening component;
- the external mass element being protruded from the inner dampening component, where in the vibrational energy is focused to the external mass element; and
- the external mass element being positioned on the inner dampening component opposite of the slit.
20. The golf club vibration dampening device as claimed in claim 18 comprises,
- wherein the modulated ribbings provides various spatial frequencies tuned to match a multiple discrete bands of resonant modes of a golf club;
- wherein the modulated ribbings provide the various spatial frequencies tuned to a continuous band of resonant modes optimized across a plurality of golf clubs;
- the inner dampening component being made from a visco-elastic material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, buna-N, silicone, EPDM, natural gum, viton, styrene butadiene, vinyl, santoprene, epichlorohydrin, butyl, chlorosulfonated polyethelene, and a non-dilatants newtonian material; and
- the reversible fastening system being a fastener selected from the group consisting of at least one latch and latch loop, hooks, snaps, buttons, straps, hook-and-loop strips, magnets, or ties.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 25, 2012
Publication Date: Jul 26, 2012
Inventors: Kerim Antoine KFURI (Silver Spring, MD), Omar Abdul-Baki (Alexandria, VA)
Application Number: 13/358,498
International Classification: A63B 53/00 (20060101);