Golf club grip with device housing

• US 9,409,071 B1
• Filed: 04/01/2016
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Golf Company (Puma SE)
• Inventors: Beno, Tim A., Curtis, Andrew, McDonnell, Michael T., Moreira, Scott H., Yagley, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W
• Application Number:
  US15/088,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20160213987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 130 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/219, 473/221, 473/282, 473/300, 473/303
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/14 Coverings specially adapted for handles, e.g. sleeves or ribbons
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3632 Clubs or attachments on clubs, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence; clubs for swinging exercises in general A63B15/00

Abstract

The invention relates to golf clubs, more particularly to mechanisms for fastening accessories to clubs. The invention provides a golf club configured to house an electronic device such as an RFID tag within a recess within the grip, thereby protecting the device from the stress, shock, and exposure that arises when a golf club is used.

Claims

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

a sleeve member with a gripping surface, the sleeve member having a first end and a second end, the first end being open to fit over a shaft of the golf club;

an internal bore sized to complement the shaft of the golf club; and

an RFID tag molded into the grip.

2. The grip of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is surrounded in all directions by a material of the grip.

3. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip comprises an underlisting and an outer grip, and the RFID tag is molded into a material of the underlisting.

4. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip further comprises a recess, and the recess comprises an insert disposed therein, and the RFID tag is disposed within the insert.

5. The grip of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag is about 100 mm long×

12 mm wide×

0.3 mm thick and includes a UHF RFID integrated circuit and the golf club further comprises an additional device disposed at the grip.

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

a sleeve member with a gripping surface, the sleeve member having a first end and a second end, the first end being open to fit over a shaft of the golf club;

an internal bore sized to complement the shaft of the golf club;

a recess dimensioned to receive an insert; and

an insert disposed within the recess of the grip and dimensioned to house an electronic device.

7. The grip of claim 6, wherein the electronic device that the insert is dimensioned to house is an RFID tag.

8. The grip of claim 6, wherein the insert is a case.

9. The grip of claim 8, wherein the case is dimensioned to house the electronic device and at least one additional electronic device.

10. The grip of claim 6, wherein the insert comprises a dampening material.

11. The grip of claim 6, wherein the insert comprises hard plastic and further includes a dampening material.

12. The grip of claim 6, wherein the insert comprises a plastic box.

13. The grip of claim 12, wherein the box comprises a base and a separate lid.

14. The grip of claim 6, further comprising an electronic device housed by the insert and a wire connected to the electronic device and extending through a hole in the insert and the shaft.

15. A grip for a golf club, the grip comprising:

a sleeve member with a gripping surface, the sleeve member having a first end and a second end, the first end being open to fit over a shaft of the golf club;

an internal bore sized to complement the shaft of the golf club; and

an electronic device comprising an RFID tag housed within a recess within the grip.

16. The grip of claim 15, wherein a portion of the grip is configured like a flap that is openable to reveal the contents of the recess.

17. The grip of claim 15, wherein the grip comprises a butt cap formed with a flap of material of the grip.

18. The grip of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is surrounded in all directions by a material of the grip.

19. The grip of claim 15, wherein the electronic device consists of the RFID tag and is about 100 mm long×

12 mm wide×

0.3 mm thick and includes a UHF RFID integrated circuit.

20. The grip of claim 19, further comprising an additional device disposed at the grip.

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

a sleeve member with a gripping surface, the sleeve member having a first end and a second end, the first end being open to fit over a shaft of the golf club;

an internal bore sized to complement the shaft of the golf club; and

an RFID tag affixed within the grip by an adhesive, wherein the RFID tag is smaller than 5 cm in every dimension.

22. The grip of claim 21, wherein the RFID tag has a hole through it.

23. The grip of claim 21, wherein the RFID tag is within a recess with the grip and the recess is an accessible compartment and further wherein a portion of the grip is configured as a flap that is openable to reveal the contents of the recess.

24. The grip of claim 21, wherein the RFID tag comprises an antenna with a squiggle design.