Push Screw Stabilizing Compression Unit

Abstract

A screw based compression unit within a golf grip that fits within a golf club shaft to support a core and rubber grip.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/138,162, filed 25 Apr. 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,452,333 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention refers to a method of quick placement and quick removal of a golf grip onto a golf club shaft. Quick change of golf grips allow golfers to try different grips on golf clubs before purchasing one. Quick change also allows easy replacement of worn golf grips. Present methods to change a golf grip requires cutting off a golf grip, removing adhesive tape, reapplying adhesive tape, applying a slippery agent such as acetone and sliding on a new grip.

Previous patent application Ser. No. 15/138,162, filed 25 Apr. 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,452,333, reveals an alternative compression unit with a separate center screw as seen in FIG. 4. The compression unit is joined to a core which goes on the outside of the golf shaft to support grip components. The center screw engages a sharp taper or shelf with the center hole of the compression unit to provide instant compression when the screw is engaged. Instant engagement of the compression unit is important to be acceptable to the USGA which is golfs governing body for equipment used in professional play and tournaments.

The present invention has a screw placed inside a central hole in a compression unit. The central hole in the compression unit is of a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the screw threads. Threads on the screw do not engage compression inner walls prior to engagement. The screw is pressed downward creating compression by forcing legs of the compression unit outward prior to thread engagement. As the screw progresses downward, threads engage and the screw is activated by turning. In the preferred embodiment, threads cut into compression unit material for engagement. Alternatively, the compression unit is threaded in its lower segment to match threads of a screw. Without pressing downward, the screw simply spins in the central hole of the compression unit.

Description of Concurrent Art

Golf grips aid a golfer in holding a golf club. Golf clubs include drivers, woods, irons, wedges and putters. Present grips come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors, materials, textures, tapers, and the like. It is difficult to evaluate which grip fits a golfer's hand best and works best as a golfer cannot try them on a golf club and strike balls. Presently, a golfer evaluates how a grip feels in their hand with no golf club attached to the grip. If a golfer likes the feel of a grip in their hand, the grip is permanently attached to a club. If grips are attached to a golfer's clubs and they do not like them, it is an expensive and time consuming process to replace them.

Present technology to change a golf grip is complex enough that most golfers do not change their own grips but have professionals do it for them. Professional regripping is expensive and time consuming. The process to change a golf grip makes it difficult for a golfer to effectively evaluate grips.

It would be advantageous to have grips that simply slide onto a shaft and are secured with a simple turn of a component. It would be advantageous to have a technique that allows grips to be placed and removed in seconds for better selection at point of purchase and ease of replacement. It would be further advantageous for a golfer to be able to adjust a grips position as required to perfect alignment with the club head or adjust a club length.

The United States Golf Association, referred to as the USGA, has specific rules for golf equipment that a golfer must follow for use in tournaments and professional play. USGA rules define specifications for grip shape, size, position and the like. One of the USGA rules is that a golf club and its components cannot easily be adjusted by a golfer during play. To change or adjust components on golf equipment, a special tool is required to adhere to USGA rules. The present invention has an alternative version with unique features created specifically to follow these rules.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant apparatus and system, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious, or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. A versatile system, method and series of apparatuses are revealed for creating and utilizing compression techniques to secure golf grips and make them easily interchangeable.

The proposed golf grip includes a compression unit which enters into a golf club shaft. A golf grip is placed onto a golf club shaft such that a compression unit enters the shaft. When the compression unit is engaged, the grip is secured.

In the preferred embodiment, a golf grip consists of a core which is surrounded by rubber, plastic or like materials to form a grip. The core is constructed of plastic, metal, rubber, ceramic, wood or any other common materials or combinations of materials. Outside covering materials form the individual shape, texture, color, text, logo, art and the like. The core may be lined with rubber, be inside rubber, or form an outside skeleton to make a grip stiff and provide resistance to twisting.

Components are manufactured in the usual manner including injection mold, stamping, bending, CNC, casting, pour molds, fabric infused rubber, 3D printing, blow molding, plastic molding techniques, coating, over molding, joining, laser cutting, pressing, spraying and other common methods. These common methods are categorized as forming, machining, casting, imaging/coating, molding, joining, additive and other. Components are further manufactured in one piece or multiple pieces and are joined by adhesive, snaps, friction, welding or the like.

A core fits over a golf club shaft. In the preferred embodiment, it expands over a shaft as it slides down to a final position. The core is passive in the preferred embodiment to be USGA acceptable, but it can maintain constant compression onto a golf club shaft. The resulting friction stabilizes a grip.

A core is constructed inside or outside a golf grip. It is placed directly onto a golf club shaft. Alternatively, core material is constructed inside a golf grip such that the core material does not touch the shaft. The core provides reinforcement to minimize bending and twisting of grip material. Rubber application is adhered, friction fit, taped, or directly over molded onto a core. A thin layer of printed rubber using polyurethane sheets provides specialized design when desired. These sheets are made of rubber thinly placed onto fabric.

Golf club shafts vary in diameter at the butt end. Common butt end dimensions are 0.560, 0.580, 0.600 or 0.620 inches for different shafts. A shaft is parallel for the first several inches. The diameter of a golf shaft decreases going down toward the club head. In the preferred embodiment, the core expands to fit onto a shaft by material elasticity and or by core structural design.

In an alternative design, an internal support is placed within grip material and not exposed to the outside. It provides stiffness and resistance to movement deformation of shape. A compression unit inside a golf shaft transfers support to a grip through the core. A compression unit is joined to the core.

In an alternative design, core material is placed outside a rubber material such as a polyurethane or silicone. Internal rubber compresses within the core to fit over a larger shaft diameter.

An alternative golf grip expands during placement and remains expanded when fully placed resulting in constant compression. The inside of the golf grip is smaller than the outside diameter of a golf club shaft. The resulting compression provides resistance to movement. Friction onto a golf shaft resulting from grip compression provides resistance to movement. The golf grip fits securely when in compression however it is not secure enough that movement would not occur during use. The grip is fixed securely with a compression unit. Resistance from core compression is weak enough to allow grip placement. A grip is not secure enough to play golf without securing a compression unit. In one alternative, a weak restickable adhesive lines the inside of a core.

A compression component joined to a core extends into a golf club shaft to stabilize a grip. The core and compression unit are difficult to manufacture in a cost effective way as a single unit. Each unit is manufactured separately and joined. The compression component and core provide adequate force to secure a grip to a golf club.

A central hole in a compression outer component accepts a screw in a central hole. The screw is a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the central hole holding it so the treads do not engage. The screw has a top means to engage a turning wrench such as a slot, a hex, a star or other common shapes. A wrench is placed in the hex and pressed downward. The screw moves downward and engages a shelf in the central hole of the compression unit. In the preferred embodiment, the shelf is slightly tapered downward so it deflects outward as the screw advances. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom of the screw has a short tapered section. A small segment on the bottom of the screw may have no threads to aid in compression without thread engagement. When the screw is advanced far enough, threads of the screw engage material and advance resulting in more outward pressure when turned.

The central hole in the compression unit tapers downward after the shelf to provide increased outward force and increased compression. The taper also compensates for any variation of internal shaft diameter. In a preferred embodiment, a second shelf is provided further down for quicker expansion as required by various shaft diameters. The internal diameter may be parallel but tapered is preferred.

As an example of use, a golfer wants to try different grips on a putter to determine which grip is most comfortable and allows them to golf best. A grip is placed onto a putter shaft by pressing it downward and secured with the compression unit by applying quick downward pressure on the screw. The grip is removed and the next one placed. Several grips are quickly changed and tried to determine the best one. Once a decision has been reached, the compression unit is secured. Alternatively, a golfer may cement or adhere with adhesive tape the grip, though this is not preferred.

The present design further allows a golfer to position the grip fully or partially onto a golf club shaft effectively changing golf club length. The internal compression unit must be sufficiently long in a golf club shaft to secure it however, as much as several inches change can be completed by design.

A golf club shaft diameter decreases as one moves down the shaft. The end of a golf grip has a matching smaller internal diameter to the point it will sit on a shaft when placed for use. The grip core may be split into sections at the end to allow expansion. When the end of a golf grip is placed onto a golf club shaft, it expands. The end of the core may have one or many splits for expansion. In the preferred embodiment, the end remains in compression for greater stability.

In the preferred embodiment, a skeleton core outside a grip has a series of splits or windows starting within the top portion and extending down the core. A section of the core at the top butt end is solid without a slot. A rubber insert is placed inside the outside skeleton core. The rubber insert has areas of extended material that fill the windows in the skeleton core. The rubber material squeezes into position when the insert slides into the central hole of the skeleton core. Each component may be parallel or tapered.

An outside cover grip component is molded directly onto an inner core or manufactured separately and secured with adhesives, tapes, friction or like methods. Components can be constructed with various coatings or layers such as rubber inside and or outside.

Various core configurations can be used including placing the core outside the rubber, within the rubber or inside the rubber. An outside sheet may be added for aesthetics.

The USGA, United States Golf Association, rules state that a golfer cannot adjust components on golf clubs during play. Present compression units revealed in previous patents provide controlled compression with threaded screws. A compression unit using screws can be tightened part way and create enough force to use a golf club but be adjustable. For example, a compression unit is tightened part way on a putter. A screw is turned 10 degrees. There is enough compression for a golfer to putt however; if enough hand force is applied to the grip, it can move and be adjusted. This is in violation of USGA rules. For this reason, the preferred embodiment of this invention uses screw which must be pressed downward causing compression prior to thread engagement.

The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood, and the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. It is of course not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations or permutations are possible. Accordingly, the novel architecture described below is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the versatile push screw stabilizing compression system and series of accompanying systems and apparatuses and embodiments 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 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.

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 operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practice and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the present apparatus will be apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Having thus described the system in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the screw and compression unit of invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a combined cross section and cutout view of the invention showing internal compression unit design.

FIG. 3 illustrates a combined isometric and cross section view of the invention showing screw to compression unit interaction.

FIG. 4 illustrates a combined isometric and cross section view of the invention showing an alternative screw design of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of alternative compression unit slot designs and numbers of slots for the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a combined isometric and cross section view of the invention showing a screw, compression unit and an alternative core design.

FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of the invention within a golf club shaft cross section showing variable compression unit outside taper.

FIG. 8 illustrates a combined isometric and cross section view of the screw, compression unit, core and rubber of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, screw 2 has end 1 which is placed into compression unit 3 through top hole 4. Screw 2 is a smaller diameter than the top central hole called the holding chamber of compression unit 3. Screw 2 is passively placed into compression unit 3. The initial holding chamber in the compression unit or larger diameter is the same length as the screw.

Referring to FIG. 2, a cross section view of screw 5 and compression unit 6 are shown combined in view 7 where screw 11 is placed into compression unit 6. Threaded portion 9 of screw 11 is a small diameter than the holding chamber 17 of compression unit 6. View 8 is a close up and cut open view of the lower section of compression unit 6. The view is as if the compression unit is cut its length in half to view the inside. Screw 11 enters chamber 17 where it is guided to chamber 18 by tapered chamber 16. Chamber 18 is a larger diameter than screw 11 including the thread diameter. Once fully seated, screw 11 has top head 13 stabilizing the upper part of the screw by having the diameter of head 13 similar in size to inner diameter 17 of compression unit 14. Chamber 18 holds and stabilizes end 10 or screw 11 by being a slightly larger diameter than screw 11. At this stage, the screw can spin with no thread engagement of compression unit walls as the inner compression unit diameter is larger than the outer screw diameter.

When screw 11 is pressed downward, it quickly engages shelf 15. Shelf 15 is tapered downward but may be flat or level as seen in view 19. End 10 of screw 11 presses against inner walls of shelf 15 forcing the legs (not shown) outward causing a quick compression. Threads 9 of screw 11 do not engage the walls of chamber 20 until the screw is sufficiently advanced. The screw is turned after advancing to engage compression unit material. Chamber 20 is tapered downward to provide increased force as the screw advances and legs swing outward against inner golf club shaft walls. View 21 shows the use of multiple shelves similar to shelf 15.

Referring to FIG. 3, screw 22 enters compression unit 24. Screw 22 has a non-threaded lower section as seen with tapered section 44 and parallel section 42. The non-threaded end may have just a parallel end or just a tapered end as seen in view 27. Screw 22 is placed into compression unit 24 through chamber 46 and guided into chamber 47. The screw is held in position in a passive non-engaging manner. Screw 22 is pressed downward resulting in non-threaded end 44 engaging internal taper 48 of compression unit 24 pressing the legs outward. The screw continues to advance until it is down far enough for threads 40 to engage chamber side walls 49. View 25, 30 and 32 show cross section of the compression unit and an isometric view of the screw. As the screw advances, compression unit legs are pressed outward. Views 27, 34, and 36 show an isometric view of the screw advancing and legs being press outward.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative design of the invention is shown. Screw 50 is an isometric view while compression unit 57 is shown as a length wise split open view. Screw 50 has head 51, mid-section 60 with no threads, lower end 62 with no threads and upper section 58 with threads. Compression unit 57 has receiving chamber 64, holding chamber 66 with split section 68, tapered chamber 70 and lower tapered section 72. View 52 shows screw 50 placed into a passive position within compression unit 57.

View 54 shows the compression unit placed into shaft 69. Compression unit outer walls do not touch or touch is a relatively passive mode. Slight compression onto inner shaft walls during initial placement is an alternative but not preferred invention.

View 52 shows the compression unit placed such that compression unit outer walls are pressing against inner shaft walls. View 53 shows screw threads 75 engaging compression unit inner wall 77 as the screw is press downward. Compression unit legs are being press outward and engaging with compression onto the inside of the shaft. View 56 shows the same compression unit as the screw advances more but in a larger shaft diameter. Threads do not engage until the screw is pressed downward almost into full compression.

Referring to FIG. 5, screw 80 drives legs of a compression unit outward to produce compression against golf shaft inner walls. Compression units can have one split or many slots resulting in different numbers of legs. Compression unit 84 has two slots 86 resulting in four legs. Compression unit 82 has six slots 88 resulting in six legs. The preferred embodiment is two legs

Referring to FIG. 6, shows a compression assembly 90 where screw 91 is assembled with compression unit 93 and core 95 which is placed onto golf shaft 97. Rubber material is added inside, outside or both around the core. View 94 is a top view of the screw placed within the compression unit which is joined to a core. A hex hole is placed in the screw top to accept an Allen wrench to turn the screw.

Referring to FIG. 7, compression unit 100 has smaller diameter section 110 and larger diameter section 112 with the beginning of a slot. Increased diameter section 114 is parallel and the same size as the internal diameter of a golf shaft. Lower section 166 is tapered so the outer surface becomes parallel within a larger shaft when the legs swing outward. Contact with a small shaft 122 is seen in view 121 and contact with a larger diameter shaft 125 is shown in view 125 to illustrate the importance of varying amounts of taper between sections.

Cross section 127 of compression unit 100 is round with four slots while cross section 129 has quarter segments created by for slots but the outer shape matches the inner shape of the larger diameter shaft. If a round cross section is used, only a point/line contact would occur when expansion is accomplished.

Compression unit 102 has upper section 104 of smaller diameter. The upper smaller diameter compensates for shaft constriction at the top as occurs from cutting shafts to various lengths with pipe cutters. Section 106 is parallel sided with the beginnings of the slot. The parallel segment allows a better taper of section 107 to match shaft internal walls when expanded outward. Section 108 has an increased taper to match walls of a larger diameter shaft when expanded.

Referring to FIG. 8, components 130 and assembled components 140 included key 132, compression unit 134, outer core 137 and inner rubber 137 which fits onto shaft 138. Outer core 137 provides resistance to twisting and deforming of a rubber component.

Claims

1. A golf club grip includes:

A snap compression unit that enters into a golf club shaft comprises; an inner threaded component; and an outer component; said outer component having a central hole, said outer component having a top section, a mid-section and a bottom section; said top section having an inside diameter of said central hole that is larger than the outer diameter of said threaded component, said mid-section center hole having a shelf of smaller diameter than the outer diameter of said threaded component, said bottom section having side walls of a smaller inner diameter than said threaded screw, said mid and lower section having a through split.

2. The golf club grip of claim 1 wherein said threaded component has a non-threaded end section.

3. The golf club grip of claim 1 wherein said threaded component has a tapered non-threaded end section.

4. The golf club grip of claim 1 wherein said threaded component has a tapered and parallel non-threaded end section.

5. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said outer component has parallel outer walls.

6. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said outer component has tapered outer walls.

7. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said outer component has parallel and tapered walls.

8. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said outer component has more than one inside shelf of smaller diameter than said threaded component.

9. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said outer component inner diameter tapers downward.

10. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said outer component inner central hole has more than one said shelf.

11. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said shelf of said outer component is tapered downward and greater than ninety degrees to the inner walls of said central hole.

12. The golf grip of claim 1 wherein said inside shelf of said outer component is at ninety degrees to said inside walls