Golf club grip with device housing

• US 9,789,361 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• 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:
  US14/957,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20160089584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 473131, 473219, 473221, 473282, 473300, 473303
• 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 golf club comprising:

a head;

a shaft extending from the head;

a grip disposed at an end of the shaft distal from the head, wherein the grip comprises a recess dimensioned to receive an electronic device, wherein the recess comprises a substantially rectangular perimeter, further wherein the recess is curved co-axially with the shaft; and

an electronic device disposed within the recess.

2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises an RFID tag comprising a flexible sheet of material.

3. A golf club comprising:

a head;

a shaft extending from the head;

a grip disposed at an end of the shaft distal from the head, wherein the grip comprises a recess dimensioned to receive an electronic device, wherein the recess comprises a slot extending through an outer surface of the grip and into a material of the grip; and

an electronic device disposed within the slot.

4. A golf club comprising:

a head;

a shaft extending from the head;

a grip disposed at an end of the shaft distal from the head, wherein the grip comprises a recess dimensioned to receive an electronic device; and

an electronic device disposed within the recess, wherein the electronic device comprises an antenna and an integrated circuit.

5. A golf club comprising:

a head comprising a body with a ball striking face and a hosel;

a shaft extending from the hosel;

a grip disposed at an end of the shaft; and

an electronic device molded into the grip.

6. The golf club of claim 5, wherein the electronic device is surrounded in all directions by a material of the grip.

7. The golf club of claim 5, wherein the grip further comprises a recess, and the recess comprises an insert disposed therein, and the electronic device is disposed within the insert.

8. The golf club of claim 5, wherein the electronic device comprises an RFID tag about 100 mm long×

12 mm wide×

0.3 mm thick with a UHF RFID integrated circuit.

9. A golf club comprising:

a head;

a shaft;

a grip comprising a recess dimensioned to receive an insert;

an insert disposed within the recess of the grip; and

an electronic device housed within the insert.

10. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises an antenna and an integrated circuit.

11. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the insert is a case.

12. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the electronic device comprises once selected from the group consisting of a battery, an accelerometer, a light detector, and a processor.

13. A golf club comprising:

a head comprising a body with a ball striking face and a hosel;

a shaft extending from the hosel; and

a grip disposed at an end of the shaft; and

an electronic device housed within a recess within the grip.

14. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the electronic device comprises an antenna or an integrated circuit.

15. The golf club of claim 14, wherein a portion of the grip is openable to reveal the contents of the recess.

16. The golf club of claim 14, wherein the electronic device is surrounded in all directions by a material of the grip.

17. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the electronic device consists of an RFID tag and is about 100 mm long×

12 mm wide×

0.3 mm thick and includes a UHF RFID integrated circuit.

18. A golf club comprising:

a head;

a shaft;

a grip dimensioned to receive a device; and

a device disposed within the grip, the device comprising a microchip and an antenna.

19. The golf club of claim 18, wherein the device comprises a plastic shell.

20. The golf club of claim 19, wherein the plastic shell defines a case housing the microchip.

21. The golf club of claim 20, wherein the case houses an additional electronic device.

22. The golf club of claim 18, wherein the device is accessible via a part of the grip.

23. A golf club comprising:

a head having a ball-striking face and a hosel;

a shaft connected to the head via the hosel;

a grip covering a distal portion of the shaft; and

an electronic device comprising an antenna and a microchip affixed within the grip, wherein the electronic device is smaller than 5 cm in every dimension.

24. The golf club of claim 23, wherein the electronic device is an RFID tag.

25. The golf club of claim 24, wherein the RFID tag comprises an antenna with a squiggle design.

26. The golf club of claim 23, wherein the electronic device is within a recess within the grip and the recess is an accessible compartment and further wherein a portion of the grip is openable to reveal the contents of the recess.