Golf club grip with device housing

• US 9,968,827 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2016
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• 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:
  US15/217,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20160346657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• 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;

a recess within the grip;

an electronic device housed within the recess; and

a secondary material within the recess.

2. The grip of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is seated in the recess surrounded by the secondary material.

3. The grip of claim 2, wherein the secondary material is a vibration dampening material.

4. The grip of claim 3, wherein the electronic device comprises a microchip and an antenna.

5. The grip of claim 1, wherein the electronic device does not come in direct contact with the shaft once the grip is attached to the shaft.

6. The grip of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is held in place within the recess by adhesive.

7. The grip of claim 1, wherein the secondary material comprises a shock-absorbing foam.

8. The grip of claim 1, wherein the secondary material surrounds at least a portion of the electronic device.

9. The grip of claim 1, wherein the secondary material is selected from the group consisting of non-Newtonian, viscoelastic, elastic, pseudo-elastic, thixotropic, rheopectic, plastic, super-elastic, or combinations thereof.

10. The grip of claim 9, wherein the secondary material comprises a viscoelastic dampening material.

11. The grip of claim 1, further comprising a second electronic device.

12. The grip of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a battery, accelerometer, light or moisture detector, memory, processor, piezoelectric material, integrated circuit, other antenna or chip, RFID tag, LED, switch, or combinations thereof.

13. The grip of claim 11, wherein the second electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a battery, accelerometer, light or moisture detector, memory, processor, piezoelectric material, integrated circuit, other antenna or chip, RFID tag, LED, switch, or combinations thereof.

14. The grip of claim 8, wherein the electronic device is surrounded continually in all directions by the secondary material.

15. The grip of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is positioned at the second end.