Golf club, kit used with a golf club and method of adjusting a golf club grip

A golf club has a head to strike a golf ball and an elongated shaft with first and second ends, the second end being secured to the head. A grip is connected to the first end of the shaft and includes a plurality of shoulders extending away from the shaft and grooves extending between the shoulders. The shoulders are spaced apart from one another by a distance sufficient to receive fingers in the grooves when gripped by a golfer. A kit is used with a golf club. The kit comprises an elongated pad adapted to provide a plurality of shoulders extending away from a shaft of the gulf club and grooves extending between the shoulders. Also in the kit is apparatus that detachably connects the pad to a grip of the golf club. The grip of a golf club is adjusted by supporting a golf club with its head positioned as if to hit a golf ball. A position where the knuckles of the fingers are located when the club is in this position is then located. An elongated strip of two-sided tape is fastened to the grip where the knuckles of the golfer would be located. An elongated pad of thermoplastic material is fastened to the two-sided tape. The thermoplastic material is heated to a moldable temperature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 This invention relates to golfing equipment, a kit used with golfing
 equipment and a method to obtain improved golfing equipment and, more
 particularly, to a golf club, a kit used with a golf club and a method of
 adjusting a golf club grip.
 In the game of golf, it is well known that when a golf ball is improperly
 hit, the ball can hook, slice or merely roll along the ground. In such
 event, the ball does not carry as far as one desires and the number of
 strokes increased.
 The ball is improperly hit when the hands of the golfer gripping the golf
 club shaft slips or otherwise moves relative to the shaft as the club is
 being swung, and when the hands of the golfer gripping the golf club shaft
 are not properly positioned around the shaft so that the head of the golf
 club approaches the ball at an improper angle.
 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf
 club with a grip that assists the golfer in preventing movement of the
 golfer's hands relative to the golf club shaft as the club is being swung.
 Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club
 with a grip that assists the golfer in properly aligning the golfer's
 hands around the golf club shaft so that the head of the golf club is
 properly maintained as the golf club head strikes the golf ball after the
 club is swung.
 Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a kit that is
 used with a golf club that assists the golfer in preventing movement of
 the golfer's hands relative to the golf club shaft as the club is being
 swung.
 Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a kit that is
 used with a golf club that assists the golfer in properly aligning the
 golfer's hands around the golf club shaft so that the head of the golf
 club is properly maintained so that the golf club head properly strikes
 the golf ball after the club is swung.
 Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of
 adjusting the grip on a golf club to each individual golfer so that
 movement of the hands of the golfer relative to the golf club shaft is
 prevented.
 Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of
 adjusting the grip on a golf club to each individual golfer so that the
 head of the golf club is maintained so that the golf club head properly
 strikes the golf ball after the club is swung.
 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a golf club
 having a head for striking a golf ball. An elongated shaft has a first end
 and a second end that is secured to the head. A grip is connected to the
 first end of the shaft and includes a plurality of shoulders extending
 away from the shaft and grooves extending between the shoulders. The
 shoulders are disposed apart from one another by a distance sufficient to
 receive fingers in the grooves when the grip is gripped by a golfer.
 Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a kit
 that is used with a golf club. The kit comprises an elongated pad adapted
 to provide a plurality of shoulders extending away from a shaft of the
 gulf club and grooves extending between the shoulders. The shoulders are
 disposed apart from one another by a distance sufficient to receive
 fingers in the grooves when gripped by a golfer. Connecting apparatus is
 used to detachably connect the pad to a grip of the golf club.
 Further, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
 method of adjusting the grip of a golf club. The method comprises the
 steps of supporting a golf club with its head positioned as if to hit a
 golf ball. The position on the grip of the club is then located with the
 knuckles of the fingers being located while the club is positioned. An
 elongated strip of two-sided tape is fastened to the position where the
 knuckles of the golfer are to be located. An elongated pad of
 thermoplastic material is then fastened to the two-sided tape. The
 thermoplastic material is heated to a moldable temperature. The grip and
 pad are gripped by the golfer to form shoulders and grooves for the
 fingers of the individual golfer. The thermoplastic material is then
 allowed to set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Turning now to the drawing, there is shown a golf club 10. Club 10 has a
 conventional elongated shaft 12 with an axis of symmetry 14 extending
 coincident with its elongated axis and having a first end 16 and a second
 end 18. A conventional golf club head 20 for hitting a golf ball 21 is
 attached in a conventional manner to second end 18 of shaft 12 and a
 conventional grip 22 is connected in a conventional manner to first end 16
 of shaft 12. Although golf club 10 is shown as an iron, the invention will
 operate when the club is an iron, a wood or any other golf club.
 Disposed along grip 22 from first end 16 of shaft 12 toward second end 18
 are a plurality of shoulders 24 that extend outwardly of shaft 12 (away
 from axis of symmetry 14) and grooves 26 that extend between shoulders 24.
 Shoulders 24 are disposed apart from one another by a distance sufficient
 to receive fingers in grooves 26 when grip 22 is gripped by a golfer. It
 has been determined that a normal golfer requires eight shoulders 24 and
 seven grooves 26 because the little and first fingers of the left and
 right hands normally overlap in one of the grooves and these two fingers
 therefore require only one groove. Also, as clearly shown in FIG. 3,
 shoulders 24 and grooves 26 are disposed to extend in a generally spiral
 direction around shaft 12 to provide comfort to the golfer using club 10
 and to assist in preventing head 20 from rotating around axis of symmetry
 14 relative to the hands of the golfer using club 10.
 Shoulders 24 and grooves 26 are provided on an elongated pad 28 that is
 detachably connected to grip 22 and is disposed to extend from the outer
 end of grip 22 substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry 14 and along
 shaft 12 toward second end 18. While connected to grip 22, pad 28 becomes
 a part of grip 22. Pad 28 has a length sufficient to position all of the
 fingers of the normal golfer in grooves 28 on pad 24 to prevent an
 inconsistently sized grip for the normal golfer using the club 10. Also,
 to prevent discomfort to the normal golfer using club 10, pad 28 has a
 width sufficient to extend across each knuckle of the fingers of the
 normal golfer using the club and is tapered so that the fingers of a
 golfer using club 10 flow over its elongated sides 30 and 32.
 It is preferred that elongated pad 28 is made from a thermoplastic material
 that sets at a temperature above the hottest temperature of the
 environment in which golf club 10 is to be used. Also, it is preferred
 that elongated pad 28 is made from a thermoplastic material that is
 moldable at a temperature chosen to be below a temperature that would burn
 a golfer. It is more preferred that elongated pad 28 is made from a
 thermoplastic material that is moldable at a temperature chosen to be
 below a temperature that would burn a golfer and sets at a temperature
 above the hottest temperature of the environment in which the golf club is
 to be used. It is preferred that elongated pad 28 is made from a
 thermoplastic material that sets at a temperature of about 125.degree. F.
 and becomes moldable at a temperature of about 212.degree. F. It is most
 preferred, however, that elongated pad 28 be made from a thermoplastic
 material that sets at a temperature of about 140.degree. F. and becomes
 moldable at a temperature of about 200.degree. F. A thermoplastic material
 has been discovered and is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,734,979, to Koles,
 which is a discloses a material used in making a mouth guard. The
 thermoplastic material taught in this patent comprises an ethylene/vinyl
 acetate copolymer and a thermoplastic polycarprolactone having a molecular
 weight of 10,000-100,000, optionally with polyvinyl acetate, colorants and
 perfumes.
 Detachable connecting apparatus 34 is used to detachably connect pad 28 to
 grip 22 connected to shaft 12. It is preferred that connecting apparatus
 34 is a conventional two-sided adhesive tape to permit easy connection and
 disconnection for adjustment of pad 24 radially around shaft 12 so that
 pad 24 may be properly positioned for the hands of each individual golfer
 using club 10. If desired, after pad 28 is properly positioned on shaft
 12, it may be more securely attached by additional connecting apparatus,
 such as that obtained by using conventional single-sided adhesive or
 friction tape. Alternatively, pad 28 may be permanently attached, after
 its proper position has been determined, by glue or other adhesive.
 To adjust the grip of golf club 10, shaft 12 is rotated relative to the
 support of golf ball 21 and head 20 positioned as when hitting golf ball
 21 at the angle of attack for the selected golf club. A line 36 is then
 drawn radially of axis of symmetry 24 to extend generally along head 20.
 Another line 38 is then drawn radially of axis of symmetry 24 to extend
 generally through where pad 28 is bisected. A tangent line 40 is then
 drawn from the outer surface of pad 28 with an angle .THETA. being formed
 between lines 36 and 40. The position on grip 22 is located where the
 knuckles of the fingers of the golfer are properly positioned on club 10
 while head 20 is held at angle .THETA. in this position. An elongated
 strip of two-sided adhesive tape 34 is fastened at the position where the
 knuckles of the golfer should be located. Elongated pad 28 of
 thermoplastic material is then fastened to two-sided tape 34. The
 thermoplastic material in pad 28 is heated to its moldable temperature.
 While at the moldable temperature, grip 22 and pad 28 are grasped by the
 golfer to form shoulders 24 and grooves 26 for his fingers. While being
 grasped, the thermoplastic material of pad 28 is allowed to set. Thus,
 shoulders 24 and grooves 26 are formed in a spiral direction toward head
 20 around shaft 12 for use by the individual golfer using club 10. Pad 28
 is then secured to grip 22.
 To insure a proper grip by the golfer, individual golfer hits golf ball 21
 with club 10. If the golfer is not satisfied that pad 28 is properly
 positioned on club 10, then pad 28 is re-positioned or adjusted by
 removing elongated pad 28 and two-sided adhesive tape 34 from club 10. A
 new or corrected position (a new angle .THETA.) is determined or located
 radially around grip 22 of club 10 to the position that the golfer selects
 the knuckles of his fingers are to be re-located. Elongated strip of
 two-sided tape 34 and elongated pad 28 of thermoplastic material are then
 re-fastened to club 10. The golfer again hits golf ball 21 with club 10 to
 test the positioning of pad 28 relative to shaft 12 for the individual
 golfer. If the golfer is still not satisfied, then the previous steps are
 repeated to reposition pad 28 until he is satisfied. After the golfer is
 satisfied that pad 28 is properly positioned, pad 28 may be more securely
 fastened to grip 22 as with additional tape.
 If desired, a new grip may be formed with elongated pad 28 incorporated
 therein and the new grip rotated around symmetrical axis 14 of shaft 12
 until the golfer is satisfied.