Oval Compression Unit for Interchangeable Golf Grip

Abstract

A key includes an out of round cross section which rotates to expand a compression unit in a golf club shaft. The top of the key has an extension which moves in a slot within the compression unit to define the maximum active and inactive positions.

Claims

1. A golf club grip that includes: a snap compression unit that enters into a golf club shaft comprises: an inner component which is an internal key, and said internal key has a bottom section being out of round such that it is of greater diameter in one direction than another, and said internal key has an upper section, said upper section includes a means to limit the amount of rotation; and an outer component with a variable internal hole cross section, said internal hole cross section in a second direction is of the same or greater diameter than the greatest diameter of the said bottom section of said internal key and less than the greatest diameter of the said bottom section of said internal key in a different direction than the second direction, said variable internal hole cross section with a varying diameter results in expansion of the outer surface of the outer component and thus compression of the outer component when the outer surface contacts the inner wall of a shaft when said internal key is rotated.

2. The golf grip of claim 1, wherein the internal key is turned 90 degrees to cause full compression.

3. The golf grip of claim 1, wherein the internal key is turned less than 90 degrees to cause full compression.

4. The golf grip of claim 1, wherein an extension is added to said upper section of said internal key, and said extension moves in a slot added to upper section of said outer component.

5. The golf grip of claim 1, wherein cross section of said upper section of said internal key is out of round and cross section of said internal hole of said upper section of said outer component is out of round.

6. The golf grip of claim 5, wherein said internal key amount of rotation is limited by the cross section shape of said upper section of said internal key interacting with cross section shape of the internal hole of said upper section of said outer component.

7. The golf grip of claim 4, wherein said internal key extension engages an extension in the inside hole of the upper section of the outer component, said extension engagement results in compression to snap from an inactive position to an active position.

8. The golf grip of claim 1, wherein said outer component outside cross section is oval in the lower half.

9. The golf grip of claim 1, wherein a core is attached to said compression unit.

10. The golf grip of claim 9, wherein said core has a central hole with an oval cross section in the upper section.

11. The golf grip of claim 8, wherein said core has a central hole with an oval cross section in the upper section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] 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:

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric and a cross section view of the golf grip of this invention.

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates and isometric view of an alternative of this invention.

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates top views of alternative key and compression units of this invention.

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of the components of this invention.

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates an isometric view of an alternative of this invention.

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section view of the components of this invention.

[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric and a cross section view of the golf grip of this invention.

[0046] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section view of alternative key and outer component shapes.

[0047] FIG. 9 illustrates isometric and cross section views of an alternate compression unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, view 2 shows components used while view 4 shows the same components assembled and placed on golf shaft 12. Key 6 fits inside outer component 8, which fits inside and is joined to core 10. When placed on golf shaft 12, outer component 8 with key 6 in it and joined to core 10 fits inside the shaft while core 10 slides outside shaft 12. A rubber component not shown is place onto core 10. Extension 14 seen at cross section 11 limits rotation of key 6 while oval cross section 17 shows oval shape 17 of key 6 lower section which produces outer component expansion when turned

[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, top view 21, side view 32 and bottom view 39 shows a compression unit in the active and inactive position. Illustrations on the left side are in the inactive position while those on the right side are in the active position. Key 22 with hex drive hole 24 is placed into outer component 20. Key 22 rotates when a hex shaped driver turns the key. Key 22 has extension 29 attached. Extension 29 slides in slot 27 of outer component 20. In the inactive position, extension 29 strikes wall 30 of slot 27 to stop further rotation. In the active position, extension 29 strike wall 25 of slot 27 to stop further rotation as seen on the right side view. Legs 34 of outer component 20, spread apart as key 22 is turned. End view 37 shows the oval shaped key expanding the compression unit as a result of engaging a decrease diameter.

[0050] The lower section of the key is oval. The lower internal diameter of the compression unit is oval resulting in a decreased inner diameter of a cross section view when compared horizontal to vertically measured. Rotating the key causes the larger key dimension to engage the decreased inner outer component central hole diameter forcing it outward. Initial engagement of the key onto inside outer component walls creates forces pressing the key back to its original position. At some point friction balances the forces wanting to return the key back to its original position. The more elongated an oval cross section of the key and compression unit a more degree turn is required to reach this position.

[0051] A large amount of force is required to turn the key as compression increases onto the inside walls of a golf club shaft. When the force releases as the key gets closer to 90 degrees, the key is forces quickly beyond 90 degrees. To stop the excess turning, stops are created.

[0052] It is important for the key to be in an inactive position so the compression unit can slide into a golf club shaft. If the compression unit is not in the inactive position, the increased compression unit diameter blocks it from entering the shaft. Again a stop is created to define the inactive position.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 3, various compression unit and key designs are viewed from the top. Compression unit 40 is shows positions as active on the right and inactive on the left. Key 44 is positioned in outer component 42. Extension 48 of key 44 must snap past extension 46 of outer component 42 to get to an active compression position. The snap provides a more definitive boundary between active and inactive positions.

[0054] Compression unit 49 shows round extensions in the inactive position while compression unit 50 shows the same unit in the active position. Extensions snap over each other in this design.

[0055] Compression units 52, 54 and 57 show alternative designs of this invention. Compression unit 55 shows the use of multiple snaps to define multiple positions.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 4, golf grip 60 consists of key 62 that slides into outer component 64. Outer component 64 slides into and is fixed to core 69. Core 69 slides into and is fixed to rubber 66.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 5, compression unit 70 has key 72 that slides into outer unit 74. The lower end 77 of key 72 is slot shaped while inner hole 76 of outer unit 74 is oval shaped. Cross section 78 shows the key in an inactive position while cross section 79 shows the key in an active position resulting in expansion of the compression unit. Cross section 71 shows a slot shaped key and a slot shaped inner hole of an outer unit. A combination of various shapes may be combined.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 6, golf grip 80 has compression unit 81 joined to core and outer grip 83 with central hole 85. Golf Club shaft 88 enters golf grip 80 through hole 85 such that outer grip 83 remains on the outside of the shaft and compression unit 81 enters into the shaft.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 7, golf grip 90 has key 91 that enters into outer component 93 that enters into core 95 which is placed onto shaft 97. Cross section 96 shows oval shaped key 99 and oval shaped inner hole of compression unit 93. Cross section 94 shows midsection snap 98 placed in the midsection instead of the upper section. Alternatively, cross section unit 92 is placed in the midsection 94.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 8, cross section 100 shows a rotation series of a wide oval key rotating inside a matching shaped outer component resulting in compression unit expansion. A wide oval creates earlier friction than a narrow oval. This results in less snap back force applied to the key. Depending on the desired snap back and required dimensions for strength affects final design. Each turn shown produces different amounts of expansion such that the compression unit will fit multiple shaft diameters such as 0.560, 0.580, 600 and 0.620 inch golf shafts.

[0061] Cross section 111 shows expansion caused by narrow oval key 112 inside a matching shaped outer component 114. Ledge 116 created by a differential diameter cross section of the inside of outer component 114 and stops key 112 from rotating beyond 90 degrees.

[0062] Cross section series 101 shows key 102 with ledge 107 and outer component 104 with ledge 110 limiting rotation of said key to 90 degrees.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 9, an isometric view 120 shows an inactive compression unit on the left and an active compression unit on the right. Outer component 122 has a central hole with different cross section diameters and shapes. A central hole holds out of round key 125.

[0064] Cross section view 126 shows key 125 inside an outer component which is inside shaft 128. Outer component lower cross section outer shape is oval and wider than the shaft diameter. For example, the inner shaft diameter is 0.540 inches and the largest diameter dimension of the outer component is 0.550 inches. A slot done the lower section of the outer component allowing expansion also allows the legs to squeeze closer together when pressed into a shaft. Outer unit 120 shows the legs of the outer unit squeezed together. Oval outer component 130 shows the same leg of the outer component separating and distorting the shaft to become oval. When outer component 133 is fully active by key 125 turning 90 degrees, the shaft distorts to form a similar oval shape. Shaft distortion aids in resisting rotational forces as mechanical resistance is applied and not just friction. To aid shaft distortion and minimize adverse forces from the surrounding core, core 135 has a matching oval central hole 140 which further resists rotational movement of the grip on the shaft.