Grip with Torsional Stiffness
The present disclosure relates to an improved hand grip 20,30, 30, 40, 50 for a shock imparting implement, like a golf club grip, that provides a selected portion A of the cap 22, 32, 42, 52 on the grip with a greater hardness than the portion B of the body 24, 34, 44, 54 of the grip. The selected portion A of the cap 22, 32, 42, 52 improves the torsional stiffness to resist twisting during the swing of the implement.
The present disclosure relates generally to a hand grip for a shock imparting implement and, more particularly, to an improved variable hardness golf grip with improved torsional stiffness.
BACKGROUNDThere are many different types of grips used today for a wide variety of items, including without limitation, golf clubs, tools (hammer handles, screwdrivers, etc.), racquets (racquet ball, squash, badminton, or tennis racquets), bats (baseball or softball), pool cues, umbrellas, fishing rods, etc. While particular reference for this disclosure is being made for the application to golf club grips, it should be immediately apparent that the present disclosure is applicable to other grips as well.
Slip-on golf club grips made of a molded rubber material or synthetic polymeric materials are well known and widely used in the golf industry. The term “slip-on” as employed herein refers to a grip that slides on to a shaft or handle and is secured by way of an adhesive, tape, or the like. Slip-on grips are available in many designs, shapes, and forms.
Golf club grips historically have been made from a wide variety of materials such as leather wrapped directly on the handle or leather wrapped on a sleeve or an underlisting that is slipped on to the handle, or more recently made of rubber, polyurethane or other elastomeric materials. Efforts are constantly being made to improve the gripping quality of the grip without sacrificing the torsional resistance of the grip on the handle or club. Currently, there is great interest in the so-called dual durometer grips which are grips that apply two layers of different materials with varying hardness to provide a grip that has good grip feel and still provides good swing performance.
While these dual durometer grips do provide good grip feel over the length of the grip, there are times when the user would like to be more selective on the structure of the grip for improved torsional stiffness for a grip with more stability.
Thus, there still exists a need for a hand grip that provides a variable hardness in the grip to improve the torsional stiffness of the grip to resist twisting during swinging of the implement. This improved grip has greater swing stability for maximizing the responsiveness and effectiveness when swinging the implement with the grip.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present disclosure relates to a hand grip formed from materials to provide a varying hardness in selected sections of the grip for improving the torsional stiffness of the grip for the user. The improved grip may include indicators for the user to easily identify the desired grasp zone of the grip offering improved grip stability and anti-slippery effect when swinging a shock imparting implement.
A more particular aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a golf club grip having an elongated tubular body having a hollow core constructed to slip on to a golf club shaft. The golf grip has a cap at an upper end of the tubular body. At the opposite or lower end of the tubular body there is an open tip end which receives the golf club shaft. The cap includes a portion extending a selected distance in the tubular body and has a hardness value greater than that of the remainder of the tubular body. The selected distance of the cap portion corresponds substantially to a selected zone at the base of an open hand of the user.
In one embodiment, the cap includes one or more annular rings with grooves constructed to receive elastomeric material making up at least a portion of the tubular body for facilitating attachment of the cap to the body. In another embodiment, the cap includes one or more projections constructed for incorporation within the body of the grip to function as stiffening elements for improving torsional stiffness in a selected region of the grip.
The various features of novelty which characterize the present disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the instant disclosure, its operating advantages, and specific objects and aspects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments are illustrated.
The present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings with preferred embodiments illustrated and described. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.
Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the disclosure and the drawings. In the figures, the thickness of certain lines, layers, components, elements or features may be exaggerated for clarity. Broken lines illustrate optional features or operations unless specified otherwise. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Even though the embodiments of this disclosure are particularly suited as golf club grips and reference is made specifically thereto, it should be immediately apparent that embodiments of the present disclosure are applicable to other grips for shock imparting implements.
Referring first to
Referring to
The present disclosure selectively provides a stiffer structure that is harder in the A region or portion of the cap 22 of the golf grip 20 than the B region or portion making up the remainder of the grip 20 including the body 24 with the tip end as seen in
The golf grip 20 of the present disclosure extends the elastomeric cap 22 which may include a first indicia or design 25, for example, the cross indicia, into the body 24 which may also include complementary or differing second indicia or design 27, for example, the U line indicia. Certain of the indicia 25, 27 may be molded or alternatively cut into the cap 22 region or the body 24 portion of grip 20 to a desired depth and width that may differ from the depth and width of other third indicia 29, for example, the diamond design, to allow for a better grip as described later herein. Preferably the body 24 has an elastomeric hollow tubular shape with a hollow core for a swing grip and an elastomeric fairly tubular shape with a hollow core and one side having a fairly flat surface for use as a putter grip. The improved grip 20 according to the present disclosure has improved grip stability as well as structural design. In addition, the improved grip 20 may exhibit greater swing stability and an anti-slippery effect. As used herein the term “swing stability” refers to how easily the grip twists in the golfer's hands during the shock imparting motion associated with the swing and impact of a golf club striking the golf ball. The grip 20 won't twist as easily and exhibits more stability.
In other embodiments of the present disclosure as seen in
Indicators are valuable guides for the golfer to easily locate the proper position for holding the golf club. These indicators according to the subject disclosure may be decorative as well as being functional and will be more fully described herein. In the present disclosure another embodiment utilizes various indicia that differ in a plurality of width and depth into the grip. For example as seen in
While specific embodiments of the disclosure have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the disclosure, it will be understood that there may be other embodiments without departing from such principles.
Claims
1. A golf club grip, comprising:
- an elongated tubular body having a hollow core constructed to slip on to a golf club shaft, said body further including a cap at an upper end of said body and an open tip at a lower end for receiving the golf club shaft, said cap having a portion extending into said body a selected distance, said cap having a hardness value greater than said body, wherein said selected distance of said extending portion of said cap corresponds substantially to a selected zone at the inner base of an open hand of a user.
2. The grip as recited in claim 1, wherein said extending portion of said cap includes at least one annular groove and at least one annular ring for co-molding said cap with said body.
3. The grip as recited in claim 2, wherein said extending portion of said cap includes a plurality of annular grooves and a plurality of annular rings for co-molding said cap with said body.
4. The grip as recited in claim 1, wherein said material in said cap comprises a hardness value ranging from approximately 60 Shore A to approximately 90 Shore A, and said body including said tip end having a hardness value ranging from approximately 38 to 60 Shore A.
5. The grip as recited in claim 1, wherein said extending portion of said cap comprises a plurality of branch elements constructed to provide stiffness to a selected portion of the grip.
6. The grip as recited in claim 5, wherein said branch elements extend from an inner edge of said cap and have a cylindrical form.
7. The grip as recited in claim 5, wherein said branch elements have a triangular shape constructed to provide stiffness to a selected portion of the grip.
8. A hand grip, comprising:
- a tubular body having a hollow core constructed to slip on to a shaft of an implement, said body further including a cap at an upper end of said body and an open tip at a lower end for receiving the shaft, said cap having a portion extending into said body a selected distance, said cap having a hardness value greater than said body, wherein said selected distance of said extending portion of said cap corresponds substantially to a selected zone at the inner base of an open hand of a user.
9. The grip as recited in claim 8, wherein said extending portion of said cap includes at least one annular groove and at least one annular ring for co-molding said cap with said body.
10. The grip as recited in claim 9, wherein said extending portion of said cap includes a plurality of annular grooves and a plurality of annular rings for co-molding said cap with said body.
11. The grip as recited in claim 8, wherein said material in said cap comprises a hardness value ranging from approximately 60 Shore A to approximately 90 Shore A, and said body including said tip end having a hardness value ranging from approximately 38 to 60 Shore A.
12. The grip as recited in claim 8, wherein said extending portion of said cap comprises a plurality of branch elements constructed to provide stiffness to a selected portion of the grip.
13. The grip as recited in claim 12, wherein said branch elements extend from an inner edge of said cap and have a cylindrical form.
14. The grip as recited in claim 5, wherein said branch elements have a triangular shape constructed to provide stiffness to a selected portion of the grip.
15. The grip as recited in claim 1, further comprising first, second, and third indicia, said first indicia having a first selected width and depth, said second indicia having a second selected width and depth different from said first indicia, and said third indicia having a selected width and depth different from both said first and second indicia.
16. The grip as recited in claim 8, further comprising first, second, and third indicia, said first indicia having a first selected width and depth, said second indicia having a second selected width and depth different from said first indicia, and said third indicia having a selected width and depth different from both said first and second indicia.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 6, 2014
Inventors: Pyng-Jyh Huang (Tainan City), King-Neng Kuo (Tainan City), Michael Luo (Tainan City), Mei-Ling Su (Tainan City), Ellin Wei (Tainan City)
Application Number: 13/597,797
International Classification: A63B 53/14 (20060101); A63B 59/00 (20060101);