Patent ID: 6877201
Filing Date: 2005-04-12
Classification: A63B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for positioning and holding a golf club for installation of a golf club grip, the golf club comprising a golf club head attached to a golf club shaft, the golf club shaft having a longitudinal axis and the golf club head comprising a sole, a face portion and a rear portion, said apparatus comprising: a frame, said frame having a first end and a second end; a shaft cradle attached to said frame, said shaft cradle comprising a bracket having a surface adapted to receive the golf club shaft with the longitudinal axis of the golf club shaft oriented along a first axis; a shaft clamp attached to said frame proximal said first end of said frame, said shaft clamp being capable of moving from an open position in which the golf club shaft is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis to a closed position in which the golf club shaft is held stationary with respect to said frame; an actuator for moving said shaft clamp between said open position to said closed position; and a positioning device mounted to said frame proximal said second end of said frame, said positioning device comprising a platen adapted to abut the sole of the golf club head when the golf club is received in said apparatus, said platen being moveable along a second axis lying in a plane normal to the first axis, said positioning device further comprising a fixed stop mounted to said platen and an opposing moveable ram also mounted to said platen, said fixed stop having a stop surface adapted to engage and hold the face portion of the golf club head in a predetermined angular orientation relative to the first axis, said ram being moveable into and out of engagement with the golf club head to rotate the golf club about the longitudinal axis of the shaft until said face portion abuts said stop surface; and an actuator for moving said ram into and out of engagement with the golf club head when the golf club head is received in the apparatus.