Golf club with improved weight distribution

• US 9,937,397 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Barksdale, Dustin A., Bone, Donald S., Arch, Chad, Knutson, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US14/958,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20160082325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0056 for statistical or strategic analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0608 Eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/075 with variable weights , e.g. weight systems with weight selecting means for bar-bells or dumb-bells
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/08 anchored at one end
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/24 Angular displacement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/24 Weighted handles
• 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

Abstract

A system for optimizing weight distribution of a golf club, including a weight receiving grip, wherein the weight receiving grip comprises a generally tubular member comprising a shaft bore configured to surround a proximal portion of the shaft, wherein the weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention portion at a proximal end of the weight receiving grip, the weight retention portion configured to engage a weight member; wherein the weight retention portion of the weight receiving grip further comprises an enlarged bore portion proximal the shaft bore, wherein the weight retention portion of the weight receiving grip further comprises a cavity proximal the enlarged bore portion, and wherein the diameter of the cavity is greater than the diameter of the enlarged bore portion and the diameter of the enlarged bore portion is greater than the diameter D1 of the shaft bore.

Claims

1. A system for optimizing weight distribution of a golf club, comprising:

a weight receiving grip, said weight receiving grip configured to be affixed to an end of a golf club shaft;

wherein said weight receiving grip comprises a generally tubular member comprising a shaft bore configured to surround a portion of said shaft, wherein said weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention portion at an end of said weight receiving grip, said weight retention portion configured to engage a weight member;

wherein said shaft bore comprises a diameter D1;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip further comprises an enlarged bore portion, said enlarged bore portion having a diameter D2;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip further comprises a cavity, said cavity having a diameter D3;

wherein said diameter D3 of said cavity is greater than said diameter D2 of said enlarged bore portion and said diameter D2 of said enlarged bore portion is greater than said diameter D1 of said shaft bore;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention lip, said weight retention lip configured to limit said weight member from dislodging from said weight receiving grip longitudinally;

wherein said weight retention lip is deformable, said weight retention lip configured to allow for installation of said weight member when said weight retention lip is in a deformed state; and

wherein said enlarged bore portion comprises a shelf;

wherein said weight retention lip is located at said end of said weight receiving grip extending inwardly, said cavity is located between said enlarged bore portion and said weight retention lip, wherein said enlarged bore portion is located between said cavity and said shelf, and wherein said shelf is located between said enlarged bore portion and said shaft bore.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said shelf of said weight receiving grip is configured to align flush with said end of said golf club shaft.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said weight receiving grip is configured to receive a grip installation tool, said grip installation tool having a diameter substantially similar to said enlarged bore portion, said grip installation tool configured to abut said shelf and force said weight receiving grip onto said golf club shaft until said tool abuts said end of said golf club shaft.

4. A system for optimizing weight distribution of a golf club, comprising:

a weight receiving grip, said weight receiving grip configured to be affixed to an end of a golf club shaft;

wherein said weight receiving grip comprises a generally tubular member comprising a shaft bore configured to surround a portion of said shaft, wherein said weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention portion at an end of said weight receiving grip, said weight retention portion configured to engage a weight member;

wherein said shaft bore comprises a diameter D1;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip further comprises an enlarged bore portion, said enlarged bore portion having a diameter D2;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip further comprises a cavity, said cavity having a diameter D3; and

wherein said diameter D3 of said cavity is greater than said diameter D2 of said enlarged bore portion and said diameter D2 of said enlarged bore portion is greater than said diameter D1 of said shaft bore;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention lip, said weight retention lip configured to limit said weight member from dislodging from said weight receiving grip longitudinally;

wherein said weight retention lip is located at said end of said weight receiving grip extending inwardly, and said cavity is located between said enlarged bore portion and said weight retention lip.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said weight retention lip is deformable, said weight retention lip configured to allow for installation of said weight member when said weight retention lip is in a deformed state.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein said enlarged bore portion comprises a shelf wherein said enlarged bore portion is located between said cavity and said shelf, and wherein said shelf is located between said enlarged bore portion and said shaft bore.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a weight member, said weight member configured to be installed within said weight receiving grip, said weight member comprising a grip engaging member configured to reside within said cavity.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said shelf of said weight receiving grip is configured to align flush with said end of said golf club shaft, and said weight receiving grip is configured to maintain a gap between a lower most surface of said grip engaging member of said weight member and said end of said golf club shaft.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said weight receiving grip is configured to receive a grip installation tool, said grip installation tool having a diameter substantially similar to said diameter D2 of said enlarged bore portion, said grip installation tool configured to abut said shelf and force said weight receiving grip onto said golf club shaft until said tool abuts said end of said golf club shaft.

10. A system for optimizing weight distribution of a golf club, comprising:

a weight receiving grip, said weight receiving grip configured to be affixed to an end of a golf club shaft;

wherein said weight receiving grip comprises a generally tubular member comprising a shaft bore configured to surround a portion of said shaft, wherein said weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention portion at an end of said weight receiving grip, said weight retention portion configured to engage a weight member;

wherein said shaft bore comprises a diameter D1;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip further comprises an enlarged bore portion, said enlarged bore portion having a diameter D2;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip further comprises a cavity, said cavity having a diameter D3;

wherein said diameter D3 of said cavity is greater than said diameter D2 of said enlarged bore portion and said diameter D2 of said enlarged bore portion is greater than said diameter D1 of said shaft bore; and

a weight member, said weight member configured to be installed within said weight receiving grip, said weight member comprising a grip engaging member configured to reside within said cavity;

wherein said weight retention portion of said weight receiving grip comprises a weight retention lip, said weight retention lip configured to limit said weight member from dislodging from said weight receiving grip longitudinally;

wherein said weight retention lip is located at said end of said weight receiving grip extending inwardly, and said cavity is located between said enlarged bore portion and said weight retention lip.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said weight retention lip is deformable, said weight retention lip configured to allow for installation of said weight member when said weight retention lip is in a deformed state.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said enlarged bore portion comprises a shelf wherein said enlarged bore portion is located between said cavity and said shelf, and wherein said shelf is located between said enlarged bore portion and said shaft bore.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said shelf of said weight receiving grip is configured to align flush with said end of said golf club shaft, and said weight receiving grip is configured to maintain a gap between a lower most surface of said grip engaging member of said weight member and said end of said golf club shaft.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said weight receiving grip is configured to receive a grip installation tool, said grip installation tool having a diameter substantially similar to said diameter D2 of said enlarged bore portion, said grip installation tool configured to abut said shelf and force said weight receiving grip onto said golf club shaft until said tool abuts said end of said golf club shaft.