Multi-segment single panel grip

• US 6,843,732 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Issued: 01/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Winn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ben Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Ben
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US10/746,764
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 473300-303, 473/523, 473/549, 473/551, 473/552, 473/568, D21/756, D21/758, 745/519, 814/89, 164/21, 164/30
• US Class Current: 473/300
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2553/02 Shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/02 characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions non-uniform thickness B32B3/263
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 Non-woven fabric

Abstract

A grip for the handle of a golf club having multiple two layer panels that are wrapped about an underlisting sleeve. The edges of the panels are adhesively sealed together. The grip reduces impact and shock and provides a feeling of tackiness in the manner of a spirally wrapped polyurethane-felt grip while allowing the use of multiple color panels and easy instillation onto a golf club shaft.

Claims

1. A grip for the handle of a golf club, said grip comprising:

a resilient underlisting sleeve having an opening at one end sized so that said sleeve is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

said sleeve including a cap and a nipple;

said cap defining a downwardly facing circumferential slot;

said nipple defining an upwardly facing circumferential slot;

a first panel including a polyurethane outside layer bonded to a felt inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, said inside layer defining an inner surface of said first panel;

a second panel including a polyurethane outside layer bonded to a felt inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, said outside layer defining an outer surface of said second panel;

said first panel defining a skived bottom edge having skiving extending from the inside layer to the outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with said inner surface of said first panel;

said second panel defining a skived top edge having skiving extending from the outside layer to the inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with said outer surface of said second panel;

said bottom edge of said first panel abuts and is adhered to said top edge of said second panel;

said first panel and said second panel wrapped about and adhered to said underlisting sleeve so that said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam.

2. The grip of claim 1, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed friction enhancing pattern.

3. The grip of claim 1, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed logo.

4. The grip of claim 1, wherein said outside layer further comprises an inked logo.

5. The grip of claim 1, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

6. A grip for the handle of a golf club, said grip comprising:

a resilient underlisting sleeve having an opening at one end sized so that said sleeve is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

said sleeve including a cap and a nipple;

said cap defining a downwardly facing circumferential slot;

said nipple defining an upwardly facing circumferential slot;

a first panel including a polyurethane outside layer bonded to a felt inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, said inside layer defining an inner surface of said first panel;

a second panel including a polyurethane outside layer bonded to a felt inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, said outside layer defining an outer surface of said second panel;

a third panel including a polyurethane outside layer bonded to a felt inside layer, said third panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge, said outside layer defining an outer surface of said second panel and said inside layer defining an inner surface of said second panel;

said first panel defining a skived bottom edge having skiving extending from the inside layer to the outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with said inner surface of said first panel;

said second panel defining a skived top edge having skiving extending from the outside layer to the inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with said outer surface of said second panel;

said third panel defining a skived top edge having skiving extending from the outside layer to the inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with;

said outer surface of said third panel;

said third panel further defining a skived bottom edge having skiving extending from the inside layer to the outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with said inner surface of said third panel;

said bottom edge of said first panel abuts and is adhered to said top edge of said third panel;

said bottom edge of said third panel abuts and is adhered to said top edge of said second panel;

said first panel and said third panel wrapped about and adhered to said underlisting sleeve so that said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said third panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam;

said third panel and said second panel wrapped about and adhered to said underlisting sleeve so that said bottom edge of said third panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam.

7. The grip of claim 6, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed friction enhancing pattern.

8. The grip of claim 6, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed logo.

9. The grip of claim 6, wherein said outside layer further comprises an inked logo.

10. The grip of claim 6, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

11. A grip for the handle of a golf club, said grip comprising:

a resilient underlisting sleeve having an opening at one end sized so that said sleeve is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

a first panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

a second panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

said first panel defining a skived bottom edge;

said second panel defining a skived top edge;

said bottom edge of said first panel abuts said top edge of said second panel;

said first panel and said second panel wrapped about and adhered to said underlisting sleeve so that said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam.

12. The grip of claim 11, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is secured to said top edge of said second panel.

13. The grip of claim 12, wherein the first panel defines an inner surface and the skived bottom edge of the first panel has skiving extending from the inside layer to the outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the inner surface of said first panel.

14. The grip of claim 13, wherein the second panel defines an outer surface and the skived top edge of the second panel has skiving extending from the outside layer to the inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the outer surface of the second panel.

15. The grip of claim 11, further comprising a cap having a downwardly facing circumferential slot which receives said top edge of said first panel and a lower nipple having an upwardly facing circumferential slot which receives said bottom edge of said second panel.

16. The grip of claim 11, wherein said top edge of said first panel is generally horizontal and said bottom edge of said second panel is generally horizontal, further comprising a cap having a downwardly facing slot which receives said top edge of said first panel and a lower nipple having an upwardly facing slot which receives said bottom edge of said second panel.

17. The grip of claim 11, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed friction enhancing pattern.

18. The grip of claim 11, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed logo.

19. The grip of claim 11, wherein said outside layer further comprises an inked logo.

20. The grip of claim 11, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

21. A grip for the handle of a golf club, said grip comprising:

an underlisting sleeve sized and having an opening at one end so that said sleeve is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club, said sleeve defining a longitudinal axis;

a first panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

a second panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

said inside layer and said outside layer of said bottom edge of said first panel being skived;

said inside layer and said outside layer of said top edge of said second panel being skived;

said inside layer of said first panel abutting said inside layer of said second panel and said bottom edge of said first panel being secured to said top edge of said bottom panel;

said first panel and said second panel wrapped about and adhering to said underlisting sleeve;

said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperating to form a seam transverse to said longitudinal axis.

22. The grip of claim 21, wherein the bottom edge of said first panel defines a skived bottom edge which is skived from the inside layer to the outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the inner surface of said first panel.

23. The grip of claim 22, wherein the top edge of said second panel defines a skived top edge which is skived from the outside layer to the inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the outer surface of the second panel.

24. The grip of claim 21, further comprising a cap having a downwardly facing circumferential slot which receives said top edge of said first panel and a lower nipple having an upwardly facing circumferential slot which receives said bottom edge of said second panel.

25. The grip of claim 21, wherein said top edge of said first panel is generally horizontal and said bottom edge of said second panel is generally horizontal, further comprising a cap having a downwardly facing slot which receives said top edge of said first panel and a lower nipple having an upwardly facing slot which receives said bottom edge of said second panel.

26. The grip of claim 21, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed friction enhancing pattern.

27. The grip of claim 21, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed logo.

28. The grip of claim 21, wherein said outside layer further comprises an inked logo.

29. The grip of claim 21, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

30. A grip for the handle of a golf club, said grip comprising:

an underlisting sleeve sized and having an opening at one end so that said sleeve is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

a first panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

a second panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

said inside layer and said outside layer of said bottom edge of said first panel being skived from said inside layer to said outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the inner surface of said first panel;

said inside layer and said outside layer of said top edge of said second panel being skived from said outside layer to said inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the outer surface of said second panel;

said bottom edge of said first panel abutting said top edge of said second panel;

said first panel and said second panel wrapped about and adhered to said underlisting sleeve;

said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperating to form a substantially horizontal seam.

31. The grip of claim 30, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is secured to said top edge of said second panel.

32. The grip of claim 31, further comprising a cap having a downwardly facing slot which receives said top edge of said first panel and a lower nipple having an upwardly facing slot which receives said bottom edge of said second panel.

33. The grip of claim 31, wherein said top edge of said first panel is generally horizontal and said bottom edge of said second panel is generally horizontal, further comprising a cap having a downwardly facing slot which receives said top edge of said first panel and a lower nipple having an upwardly facing slot which receives said bottom edge of said second panel.

34. The grip of claim 31, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed friction enhancing pattern.

35. The grip of claim 31, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed logo.

36. The grip of claim 31, wherein said outside layer further comprises an inked logo.

37. The grip of claim 31, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

38. A method of making a grip for the handle of a golf club, such method including the steps of:

providing an underlisting sleeve that is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

providing a first panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

providing a second panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

skiving said bottom edge of said first panel;

skiving said top edge of said second panel;

securing said bottom edge of said first panel to said top edge of said bottom panel;

wrapping said first panel about and adhering said first panel to said underlisting sleeve;

wrapping said second panel about and adhering said second panel to said underlisting sleeve;

whereby, upon completion of said securing step and said wrapping step, said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is secured to said top edge of said second panel before said wrapping steps.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is skived from said inside layer to said outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the inner surface of said first panel.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said top edge of said second panel is skived from said outside layer to said inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the outer surface of said second panel.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising securing said top edge of said first panel into a downwardly facing circumferential slot of a cap and said bottom edge of said second panel into an upwardly facing circumferential slot of a lower nipple.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein said top edge of said first panel is generally horizontal and said bottom edge of said second panel is generally horizontal, further comprising securing said top edge of said first panel into a downwardly facing slot of a cap and said bottom edge of said second panel into an upwardly facing slot of a lower nipple.

44. The method of claim 38, further comprising pressing a friction enhancing pattern into said outside layer.

45. The method of claim 38, further comprising pressing a logo into said outside layer.

46. The method of claim 38, further comprising inking a logo onto said outside layer.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

48. A method of making a grip for the handle of a golf club, such method including the steps of:

providing an underlisting sleeve that is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

providing a first panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

providing a second panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

skiving said inside layer and said outside layer of said bottom edge of said first panel;

skiving said inside layer and said outside layer of said top edge of said second panel;

abutting said inside layer of said first panel to said inside layer of said second panel and securing said bottom edge of said first panel to said top edge of said bottom panel;

wrapping said first panel about and adhering said first panel to said underlisting sleeve;

wrapping said second panel about and adhering said second panel to said underlisting sleeve;

whereby, upon completion of said securing step and said wrapping step, said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is secured to said top edge of said second panel before said wrapping steps.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is skived from said inside layer to said outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the inner surface of said first panel.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein said top edge of said second panel is skived from said outside layer to said inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the outer surface of said second panel.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising securing said top edge of said first panel into a downwardly facing circumferential slot of a cap and said bottom edge of said second panel into an upwardly facing circumferential slot of a lower nipple.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein said top edge of said first panel is generally horizontal and said bottom edge of said second panel is generally horizontal, further comprising securing said top edge of said first panel into a downwardly facing slot of a cap and said bottom edge of said second panel into an upwardly facing slot of a lower nipple.

54. The method of claim 48, further comprising pressing a friction enhancing pattern into said outside layer.

55. The method of claim 48, further comprising pressing a logo into said outside layer.

56. The method of claim 48, further comprising inking a logo onto said outside layer.

57. The method of claim 48, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

58. A method of making a grip for the handle of a golf club, such method including the steps of:

providing an underlisting sleeve that is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

providing a first panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

providing a second panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

skiving said inside layer and said outside layer of said bottom edge of said first panel from said inside layer to said outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the inner surface of said first panel;

skiving said inside layer and said outside layer of said top edge of said second panel from said outside layer to said inside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the outer surface of said second panel;

abutting said bottom edge of said first panel to said top edge of said second panel;

wrapping said first panel about and adhering said first panel to said underlisting sleeve;

wrapping said second panel about and adhering said second panel to said underlisting sleeve;

whereby, upon completion of said securing step and said wrapping step, said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is secured to said top edge of said second panel before said wrapping steps.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising securing said top edge of said first panel into a downwardly facing circumferential slot of a cap and said bottom edge of said second panel into an upwardly facing circumferential slot of a lower nipple.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein said top edge of said first panel is generally horizontal and said bottom edge of said second panel is generally horizontal, further comprising securing said top edge of said first panel into a downwardly facing slot of a cap and said bottom edge of said second panel into an upwardly facing slot of a lower nipple.

62. The method of claim 58, further comprising pressing a friction enhancing pattern into said outside layer.

63. The method of claim 58, further comprising pressing a logo into said outside layer.

64. The method of claim 58, further comprising inking a logo onto said outside layer.

65. The method of claim 58, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

66. A grip for the handle of a golf club, said grip comprising:

a resilient underlisting sleeve sized and having a top end and a bottom end and being telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

a first panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

a second panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

a third panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said third panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

said first panel defining a skived bottom edge;

said second panel defining a skived top edge;

said third panel defining a skived top edge and a skived bottom edge;

said bottom edge of said first panel abuts said top edge of said third panel;

said top edge of said first panel is positioned adjacent said top end of said sleeve and said bottom edge of said second panel is positioned adjacent said bottom end of said sleeve;

said first panel and said third panel wrapped about and adhered to said underlisting sleeve so that said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said third panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam;

said third panel and said second panel wrapped about and adhered to said underlisting sleeve so that said bottom edge of said third panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam.

67. The grip of claim 66, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is secured to said top edge of said third panel.

68. The grip of claim 67, wherein said bottom edge of said third panel is secured to said top edge of said second panel.

69. The grip of claim 68, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is skived outward from said inside layer to said outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the inner surface of said first panel.

70. The grip of claim 68, further comprising a cap having a downwardly facing circumferential slot which receives said top edge of said first panel and a lower nipple having an upwardly facing circumferential slot which receives said bottom edge of said second panel.

71. The grip of claim 68, wherein said top edge of said first panel is generally horizontal and said bottom edge of said second panel is generally horizontal, further comprising a cap having a downwardly facing slot which receives said top edge of said first panel and a lower nipple having an upwardly facing slot which receives said bottom edge of said second panel.

72. The grip of claim 66, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed friction enhancing pattern.

73. The grip of claim 66, wherein said outside layer further comprises a pressed logo.

74. The grip of claim 66, wherein said outside layer further comprises an inked logo.

75. The grip of claim 66, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.

76. A method of making a grip for the handle of a golf club, such method including the steps of:

providing an underlisting sleeve that is telescopically slippable onto the handle of a golf club;

providing a first panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said first panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

providing a second panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

providing a third panel including a polymeric outside layer bonded to a fabric inside layer, said second panel having a top edge, a bottom edge and two side edges extending between said top edge and said bottom edge;

skiving said bottom edge of said first panel;

skiving said top edge of said second panel;

skiving said top edge and said bottom edge of said third panel;

securing said bottom edge of said first panel to said top edge of said third panel;

securing said bottom edge of said third panel to said top edge of said second panel;

wrapping said first panel about and adhering said first panel to said underlisting sleeve;

wrapping said second panel about and adhering said second panel to said underlisting sleeve;

wrapping said third panel about and adhering said third panel to said underlisting sleeve;

whereby, upon completion of said securing step and said wrapping step, said bottom edge of said first panel and said top edge of said third panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam and said bottom edge of said third panel and said top edge of said second panel cooperate to form a substantially horizontal seam.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is secured to said top edge of said third panel before said wrapping steps.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein said bottom edge of said first panel is skived from said inside layer to said outside layer so as to form an obtuse angle with the inner surface of said first panel.

79. The method of claim 76, further comprising securing said top edge of said first panel into a downwardly facing circumferential slot of a cap and said bottom edge of said second panel into an upwardly facing circumferential slot of a lower nipple.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein said top edge of said first panel is generally horizontal and said bottom edge of said second panel is generally horizontal, further comprising securing said top edge of said first panel into a downwardly facing slot of a cap and said bottom edge of said second panel into an upwardly facing slot of a lower nipple.

81. The method of claim 76, further comprising pressing a friction enhancing pattern into said outside layer.

82. The method of claim 76, further comprising pressing a logo into said outside layer.

83. The method of claim 76, further comprising inking a logo onto said outside layer.

84. The method of claim 76, wherein said grip is a putter grip and said sleeve defines a flat front surface.