Abstract:
An automated apparatus for installation of a handgrip on a golf club shaft is disclosed herein. The handgrip is installed on the golf club shaft in a dry state. The present invention does not utilize solvents, lubricants or the like for the installation of the handgrip onto the golf club shaft. The apparatus has a taping mechanism for automatically wrapping a double-sided tape onto the butt end of the golf club shaft. The apparatus also has a gripping mechanism for preparing a grip for automated installation on a shaft while in a dry state. The apparatus also has a shaft shuttle mechanism for transferring the golf club shaft from the taping mechanism to the gripping mechanism. The gripping mechanism has means for expanding the handgrip prior to placement on the butt end of the golf club shaft.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/357,694, which was filed on July 20, 1999.  
     
    
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    The present invention relates to installation of a grip on a golf club shaft. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for automatically placing a handgrip on a golf club shaft without the use of a solvent.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0006]    Grips have been used on golf clubs to provide a golfer with a greater ability to grasp the golf club during a swing. Grips were used as early as the 1700s when sheepskin grips were the choice of golfers. In the 1800s, leather grips began to appear on a golf clubs, and soon became the dominant grip. In the 1900s, numerous rubber grips were developed mainly by rubber manufacturers. Presently, grips are composed of synthetic rubbers, plastics, and the like.  
           [0007]    Handgrips are usually placed on the butt end of a golf club shaft at the club manufacturer. This process has for the most part been a manual process, with very little automation. A golf club shaft is manually wrapped with a double-sided tape at its butt end. Next, a solvent or lubricant is sprayed into the hollow interior of the handgrip, through an open end, in order to place the handgrip over the wrapped butt end without deterring from the adhesiveness of the tape. The handgrip is pulled over the shaft until the closed end of the handgrip is flush with the butt end of the shaft. The solvent eventually evaporates allowing for the tape to adhere to the surface of the hollow interior of the handgrip. Thus, it is obvious that this is a highly repetitious process may lead to injuries to some laborers unless remedial steps are taken by the manufacturer. Further, the use of certain solvents and lubricants may be an environmentally unfriendly means of manufacturing. Yet further, the spraying of a solvent or lubricant is an undesirable step which increases the production time.  
           [0008]    The golf industry, and those associated with it, have attempted to automate some of the processes to increase production and lessen injury to laborers. One example is Hsu, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,428 (“the &#39;428 Patent”) for a Golf Club Handle Sleeve Assembling Mechanism. The &#39;428 Patent discloses an assembling mechanism that includes slidable tables, triple acutators with hooks for expanding the front end of the handgrip, an air blower for blowing air into the rear of the handgrip and a fluid hose for delivering a solvent or lubricant to the handgrip for facilitating insertion of the shaft into the handgrip. Another example is Vald&#39;via, U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,026 (“the &#39;026 Patent”) for a Golf Club Grip Installing Apparatus. The &#39;026 Patent discloses the use of a grip lubricating device and a golf club shaft lubricating device. The &#39;026 Patent allows for a controlled amount of lubricant to be applied for facilitated insertion of the shaft into the grip. Another example is Cresse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,706 (“the &#39;706 Patent”) for a System And Method For Installing A Hollow Handgrip Over An Elongated Shaft End. The &#39;706 discloses a system and method for applying a liquid adhesive to an interior surface of the handgrip in substitution for the use of tape on the shaft to adhere the grip. The &#39;706 patent inflates the handgrip prior to insertion of the shaft into the grip. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,815 (the &#39;815 Patent”) for an Apparatus And Method For Aligning A Golf Club For Attaching A Handle Grip. The &#39;815 Patent discloses an alignment assembly for positioning of a club head attached to a shaft prior to placement of a handgrip on the butt end of the shaft.  
           [0009]    The above-mentioned patents fail to provide a fully automated installation of handgrips to golf club shafts, and also still require the need for a solvent or lubricant. Further, the above-mentioned patents require that a club head is attached to the shaft or that shaft is blocked. There still remains a need for a more automated method, one that can grip an open shaft, and one that does not utilize solvents or lubricants.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention fulfills the needs of the golf industry by providing a better automated process and apparatus for installation of a handgrip onto a golf club shaft. The present invention is able to accomplish this while maintaining the handgrip and the butt end of the golf club shaft in a dry state. That is, the present invention does not utilize solvents, lubricants or the like for installation of a handgrip on a golf club shaft.  
           [0011]    One aspect of the present invention is a process for automatically installing a handgrip on a golf club shaft. The handgrip has a hollow interior with a first diameter. The process generally includes maintaining a butt end of a golf club shaft and the hollow interior of the handgrip in a dry state throughout the installation process. The next step of the process is flowing a gaseous medium into the handgrip to expand the hollow interior of the handgrip from the first diameter to a second diameter. The next step is mating the butt end of the golf club shaft with the expanded hollow interior of the handgrip.  
           [0012]    The process may also include expanding an open end of the handgrip with a plurality of jaws prior to mating the butt end of the golf club shaft with the expanded hollow interior of the handgrip. The process may also include wrapping a double-sided tape over the butt end of the golf club shaft. The wrapping includes adhering a middle region of the tape to the butt end, then adhering a first side region of the tape to the butt end, and then adhering a second side region of the tape to the butt end with an end portion of the second side region of the tape overlapping the first side region. The process may also include orienting the handgrip for placement on the butt end of the shaft prior to flowing the gaseous medium into the handgrip. The step of mating the butt end of the golf club shaft with the hollow interior of the handgrip may include moving the hollow interior of the handgrip over the butt end of the golf club shaft. Alternatively, the step of mating the butt end of the golf club shaft with the hollow interior of the handgrip may include inserting the butt end of the golf club shaft into the hollow interior of the handgrip. The process may also include moving the plurality of jaws forward for release from the open end of the handgrip after mating the butt end of the golf club shaft with the hollow interior of the handgrip. The plurality of jaws may include six jaws for engaging with and expanding the open end of the handgrip.  
           [0013]    Another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for automatically applying a handgrip to a butt end of a golf club shaft. The apparatus includes a frame, a tape mechanism, a handgrip assembly and a shaft movement mechanism. The tape mechanism is mounted to the frame. The handgrip assembly is also mounted to the frame. The handgrip assembly has an air injector disposed on a handgrip receiving sleeve, a plurality of jaws movable from a closed position to an expanded position, and a drive mechanism. The shaft movement mechanism is capable of movement from a position on the frame in-line with the tape mechanism to a position on the frame in-line with the handgrip assembly.  
           [0014]    The apparatus may also include a handgrip orientation device disposed on the handgrip assembly. The handgrip orientation device is capable of orienting a handgrip to a predetermined position. The tape mechanism of the apparatus may include a tape dispenser, a tape cutter disposed in proximity to the tape dispenser, a tape roller rotatable about a fixed axis, and a shaft rotation roller disposed in relation to the tape roller. The shaft movement mechanism of the apparatus may include a plurality of shaft guides for retention of a shaft therein during application of a handgrip to the shaft.  
           [0015]    The apparatus may include a shaft orientation device mounted on the frame and in-line with the handgrip assembly. The shaft orientation device includes a shaft aligner and a second air injector.  
           [0016]    Another aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for automatically applying a handgrip to a butt end of a golf club shaft while maintaining the handgrip and the butt end of the golf club shaft in a dry state. The apparatus includes a frame, means for automatically applying a double-sided tape to the golf club shaft, means for receiving and orienting a handgrip, means for expanding a handgrip for placement on the butt end of a golf club shaft while in a dry state, and means for moving a shaft from a position on the frame in-line with the tape means to a position on the frame in-line with the expanding means. The tape application means is mounted to the frame, and the receiving and orienting means is mounted on the frame.  
           [0017]    The apparatus may also include means for receiving a shaft on the apparatus. The apparatus may also include means for orienting a shaft placed in the shaft moving means. The apparatus may also include means for moving a handgrip over a shaft disposed on the shaft moving means.  
           [0018]    Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    There is illustrated in FIG. 1 a top plan view of the automatic grip installation apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0020]    There is illustrated in FIG. 2 an isolated view of a golf club handgrip that may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.  
         [0021]    There is illustrated in FIG. 3 an isolated view of an ungripped golf club shaft with a head thereon that may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.  
         [0022]    There is illustrated in FIG. 4 is an isolated side view of an ungripped golf club shaft engaged within the tape mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention at a first point in time.  
         [0023]    There is illustrated in FIG. 5 is an isolated side view of an ungripped golf club shaft engaged within the tape mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention at a second point in time.  
         [0024]    There is illustrated in FIG. 6 is an isolated top plan view of an ungripped golf club shaft engaged within the tape mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention at an initial adhesion of the tape to the shaft.  
         [0025]    There is illustrated in FIG. 6A a front cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 6.  
         [0026]    There is illustrated in FIG. 7 is an isolated top plan view of an ungripped golf club shaft engaged within the tape mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention at a later adhesion of the tape to the shaft.  
         [0027]    There is illustrated in FIG. 7A a front cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 7.  
         [0028]    There is illustrated in FIG. 8 is an isolated top plan view of an ungripped golf club shaft engaged within the tape mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention at a final adhesion of the tape to the shaft.  
         [0029]    There is illustrated in FIG. 8A a front cross-sectional plan view of FIG. 8.  
         [0030]    There is illustrated in FIG. 9 an isolated top plan view of the shaft orientation mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0031]    There is illustrated in FIG. 10 an isolated rear view of the grip mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0032]    There is illustrated in FIG. 11 a top plan view of the grip mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0033]    There is illustrated in FIG. 12 a front view of the jaw assembly of the grip mechanism of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0034]    There is illustrated in FIG. 13 an isolated front view of an alternative embodiment of the jaw assembly of the apparatus of the present invention engaging a handgrip.  
         [0035]    There is illustrated in FIG. 14 an isolated front view of a jaw of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0036]    There is illustrated in FIG. 15 an isolated top plan view of a jaw of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0037]    There is illustrated in FIG. 16 an isolated side view of a jaw of the apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0038]    There is illustrated in FIG. 17 a top plan view of the grip mechanism with a handgrip being installed on a golf club shaft.  
         [0039]    There is illustrated in FIG. 18 a top plan view of the grip mechanism immediately after a handgrip has been installed on a golf club shaft.  
         [0040]    There is illustrated in FIG. 19 a schematic side view of a handgrip being installed on a golf club shaft at a first point in time.  
         [0041]    There is illustrated in FIG. 20 a schematic side view of a handgrip being installed on a golf club shaft at a second point in time.  
         [0042]    There is illustrated in FIG. 21 a schematic side view of a handgrip being installed on a golf club shaft at a third point in time.  
         [0043]    There is illustrated in FIG. 22 a schematic side view of a handgrip installed on a golf club shaft immediately after installation.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0044]    The apparatus and method of the present invention is directed at a installing a hand grip onto a golf club shaft while maintaining the handgrip and the butt end of the golf club shaft in a dry state. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic grip installation apparatus of the present invention is generally designated  30 . The apparatus  30  generally includes a frame  32 , a shaft shuttle mechanism  34 , a taping mechanism  36  and a grip mechanism  38 . The shaft shuttle mechanism  34 , the taping mechanism  36  and the grip mechanism  38  are all mounted to the frame  32  at specific locations relative to each other. The taping mechanism  36  and the grip mechanism  38  are adjacent each other at one end of the frame  32  while the shaft shuttle mechanism  34  is mounted at the other end of the frame  32 . The shaft shuttle mechanism  34  will transport a shaft  40  from one position in-line with the taping mechanism  36  to another position in-line with the grip mechanism.  
         [0045]    Shafts are fed to the apparatus  30  from a source through conventional means such as a conveyor or the like. The shaft  40  is placed on the shaft shuttle mechanism  34  and transported to the taping mechanism  36  for placement of tape on the shaft  40 . The taped shaft  40  is then transported by the shaft shuttle mechanism to a position in-line with the grip mechanism for installation of a handgrip  42  thereon (without the need of a solvent) and orientation of the shaft  40  by a shaft orientation device  44 .  
         [0046]    As shown in FIG. 2, a handgrip  42  generally has an open end  46  that allows access to a hollow interior  48 . Opposite of the open end  46  is a closed end  50  that has an aperture  52  for additional access to the hollow interior  48  of the handgrip  42 . On a body  54  of the handgrip  42  may be an alignment notch  56  for proper alignment of the handgrip  42  on the shaft  40 .  
         [0047]    Although one type of handgrip  42  has been illustrated and described, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that most if not all types of handgrips may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.  
         [0048]    As shown in FIG. 3, the shaft  40  has a golf club head  58  attached thereon at a tip end  60  of the shaft  40 . The tip end  60  is inserted through a bore  62  of the golf club head  58 . The handgrip  42  is placed over a butt end  64  of the shaft  40 . At the butt end  64  is an opening  66  to a hollow interior  68  of the shaft  40 . Generally, the butt end  64  has a greater circumference than the tip end  60 . The shaft  40  may be composed of a graphite material, a steel material or the like. The shaft may come in various lengths depending on the golf club. The golf club may be an iron, a wood, a driver or a putter. Although one type of shaft  40  has been illustrated and described, those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that most if not all types of shafts may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention.  
         [0049]    The application of a double-sided tape (adhesive on both sides) to the butt end  64  of a shaft  40  at the taping mechanism  36  is illustrated in FIGS. 4-8 (including  6 A,  7 A and  8 A). A shaft  40  is positioned at the taping mechanism  36  by the shaft shuttle mechanism  34 . The butt end  64  of the shaft  40  is positioned in relation to a length of tape  70  that is dispensed from a roll of tape  72  on a tape dispenser  74 . The tape  70  is positioned by a tape shuttle  76  over the butt end  64  of a shaft  40 . The tape shuttle  76  also assists in the removal of a backing  78  of the double-sided tape  70 . The tape shuttle  76  moves from an extended position as shown in FIG. 4 to a retracted position as shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0050]    The tape  70  is partitioned at a tape cutting assembly  80 . The tape cutting assembly  80  generally includes a blade  82  and a drive mechanism  84 . The drive mechanism  84  may be any conventional means such as a pneumatic cylinder or a servomotor. The blade  82  cuts the tape  70  to a predetermined length that has a portion extending further than the butt end  64  of the shaft  40 . However, a tape roller  86  first presses the tape  70  against the butt end  64  of the shaft  40  for adhesion of one side of the tape  70  thereto. Then, the blade  82  cuts the tape to a predetermined length. The tape roller  86  may have a silicone rubber surface which does not adhere to the tape  70 , thus allowing for the application of one side of the tape  70  to the butt end  64  of shaft  40  while maintaining the adhesiveness of the other side of the tape  70 . The tape roller  86  may alternatively have a surface composed of a material with similar non-adhesive properties. During the application of the tape to the butt end  64  of the shaft  40 , the shaft  40  is held in place by a plurality of shaft guides  90   a-d , and the shaft is rotated by a plurality of shaft rollers  88   a-b.    
         [0051]    The application process is generally performed in following steps. First, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, the middle  70   a  of the length of the tape  70  is applied to butt end  64  of the shaft  40 . Next, the blade  82  cuts the tape to the predetermined length. Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A, a first side region  70   b  of the length of the tape  70  is applied by rotating the shaft  40  by the shaft rollers  88   a-b . In a preferred embodiment, a shaft  40  is rotated approximately one-hundred ninety degrees. The shaft  40  is rotated in a reverse direction, and a second side region  70   c  of the tape  70  is applied to the butt end  64  of the shaft  40  which an end portion of the second side region  70   c  overwrapping an end portion of the first side region  70   b . A wheel, not shown, larger than the tape roller  86  and located in proximity to a butt end of the tape roller  86 , rolls the end of the tape  70  over the butt end  64  of the shaft  40  to provide a leading edge to assist in placing the handgrip  42  over the shaft  40 . The tape roller  86  applies the tape  70  at a uniform pressure to conform the tape  70  to possible uneven surfaces of the shaft  40 .  
         [0052]    Once the butt end  64  of the shaft  40  is wrapped with the tape  70 , the wrapped shaft  40  is transported to a position in-line with the grip mechanism  38 . In a preferred embodiment, the transport of the shaft  40  is along a horizontal plane. However, the transport of the shaft  40  may take other non-horizontal paths. In addition to being in-line with the grip mechanism  38 , the shaft  40  is also in-line with the shaft orientation device  44  which is opposite the grip mechanism  38 .  
         [0053]    As shown in FIG. 9, the shaft orientation device  44  generally includes a shaft gas injector  92  having a tip  94 , and an optional head to shaft alignment member  96 . The shaft orientation device  44  may be moved toward the shaft  40 , or alternatively, the shaft  40  may be moved toward the shaft orientation device  44 . In one embodiment, the club head  58  is placed on the shaft  40  subsequent to the installation of the grip  42  on the shaft  40 . In an alternative embodiment, the club bead  58  is placed on the shaft  40  prior to the shaft  40  being fed to the apparatus  30 . Yet, in a further embodiment, the club head  58  is placed on the shaft  40  at the shaft orientation device  44 . As mentioned previously, the shaft  40  is placed through a bore  62  of the club head  58 .  
         [0054]    With or without a club head  58 , the shaft orientation device  44  orients the shaft  40  for placement of the handgrip  42  thereon. The tip  94  of the shaft gas injector  92  is inserted through the opening of the tip end  60  of the shaft  40 . The tip  94 , along with the alignment member  96 , positions the shaft  40 . If air is not flowed through the tip end  60  of the shaft  40 , then the tip end  60  may be blocked to maintain the air pressure inside the handgrip  42  as further described below.  
         [0055]    Referring now to the grip mechanism  38 , handgrips  42  are fed to the apparatus  30  from a source through conventional means such as a conveyor or the like. Each handgrip  42  is placed on a receiving sleeve  100  of the grip mechanism  38  as shown in FIG. 10. The handgrip  42  is actually placed in a channel  101  of the receiving sleeve  100 . The closed end  52  of the handgrip  42  is facing outward while the open end  46  is facing toward a grip mechanism housing  102 . Once in the receiving sleeve  100 , the handgrip  42  is oriented by a handgrip orientation device  104 . The orientation of the handgrip  42  may be performed simultaneously with the wrapping of tape  70  on the butt end  64  of the shaft  40 . The handgrip orientation device  104  generally includes a grip rotator  106  and a notch lever  108  with an engagement tip  110 . The grip rotator  106  rotates the handgrip  42  within the channel  101  until the engagement tip  110  engages the notch  56  of the handgrip  42 . Although the handgrip orientation device  104  as described may be applicable to many handgrips, those skilled in the art will recognize that other orientation devices such as laser alignment devices could be used for other handgrips that do not have a notch  56 .  
         [0056]    Once the handgrip  42  is oriented properly, a grip gas injector  112  having a tip  114  engages the handgrip  42  through the aperture  52  of the closed end  50  of the handgrip  42 . The grip gas injector  112  is moved toward the handgrip  42  by a drive mechanism  116 . The drive mechanism  116  may be a pneumatic cylinder, a servomotor, or the like. The grip gas injector  112 , with the tip  114  inserted through the aperture  52 , pushes the handgrip  42  into the grip mechanism housing  102  for the expansion process. Once in the grip mechanism housing  102 , the handgrip  42  is ready for expansion. The grip mechanism housing  102  has a chamber  103  with a predetermined volume that limits the amount of expansion of the handgrip  42 . The chamber  103  ensures that the handgrip is not over expanded which might result in damage to the handgrip.  
         [0057]    As shown in FIG. 12, a jaw assembly  120  is located on the opposite side of the grip mechanism housing  102 . The jaw assembly  120  generally includes a plurality of jaws  124   a-f  which have individual drive mechanisms  122   a-f . The individual jaw drive mechanisms  122   a-f  may be pneumatic cylinders, servomotors, or the like. In FIG. 12, the jaw assembly  120  has six jaws  124   a-f  while in FIG. 13 an alternative jaw assembly  120 ′ has three jaws  124   a′-c ′. As shown in FIG. 13, the jaws  124   a′-c′ engage the open end  46  of the handgrip  42  to expand the open end  46  for placement of the shaft  40  therein.  
         [0058]    As shown in FIGS. 14-16, each jaw  124  has an elongated body  126  and an engagement member  128 . The engagement member  128  enters the hollow interior  48  of the handgrip  42  through the open end  46  in order to exert an outward force on the interior of the handgrip  42  for expansion of the open end  46 .  
         [0059]    As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the grip mechanism  38 , with a handgrip  42  therein, is moved by a drive mechanism  130 , not shown, toward the shaft  40  which has previously been aligned by the shaft orientation device  44 . The drive mechanism  130  may be a pneumatic cylinder, a servomotor, or the like. Alternatively, the shaft  40  may be moved by the shaft shuttle mechanism  34  toward the grip mechanism  38 . Once the wrapped butt end  64  of the shaft  40  engages the open end  46  of the handgrip  42 , the grip gas injector  112  flows a gaseous medium, preferably air, into the hollow interior  48  of the handgrip  42  to expand the hollow interior  48  from a first diameter to a second diameter. While the handgrip  42  is placed over the shaft  40 , the jaws  124   a-f  engage the open end  46  of the handgrip  42  in an expanded state. The expansion of the open end  46  and the hollow interior  48  allows for the handgrip to be placed over the butt end  64  of the shaft  40  in a dry, solventless state. More specifically, there is no need for a solvent, an aqueous medium or lubricant in order to place the handgrip  42  onto the butt end of the shaft  40 . Thus, the entire operation may be performed in a dry state which is beneficial for a safe and environmentally friendly workplace. The dry state operation is also provides a tremendous costs savings.  
         [0060]    Once the handgrip  42  is in place on the shaft  40 , the plurality of jaws  124   a-f  move forward from the open end  46  of the handgrip  42 . This allows the open end  46  to fit tightly on the shaft  40 .  
         [0061]    [0061]FIGS. 19-22 schematically illustrate the installation process. As shown in FIG. 19, the wrapped butt end  64  (wrapped with tape  70 ) of the shaft  40  is moved toward the open end  46  of the handgrip  42 . The plurality of jaws  124   a-f  expand the open end  46  of the handgrip  42 . As shown in FIG. 20, the wrapped butt end  64  of the shaft  40  meets the open end  46  of the handgrip  42  and acts as a barrier to the outward flow of the gaseous medium from the hollow interior  48 . The hollow interior  48  is receiving the gaseous medium from tip  114  of the grip gas injector  112  which is inserted through the aperture  52  of the closed end  50  of the handgrip  42 . The gaseous medium may also be flowing through the hollow interior  68  of the shaft  42  from the tip  94  of the shaft gas injector  92  which is inserted through the tip end  60  of the shaft  42 . The counter-flow of the gaseous medium from the shaft gas injector  92  also acts as a barrier to flow of the gaseous medium from the grip gas injector  112 . The blockage of flow of the gaseous medium results in the expansion of the hollow interior  48  of the handgrip  42  from a first diameter to a second diameter. For example, the first diameter may be 1.3 cm while the second diameter is 3.0 cm. The second diameter must be large enough to accommodate the wrapped butt end  64  of the shaft  40  without substantial contact between the interior surface of the handgrip  42  and the tape  70 . It is the expansion that allows for the installation process to occur in a dry state. Alternatively, instead of a counter-flow of gaseous medium, the tip end  60  of the shaft  40  may be blocked to prevent the outflow of the gaseous medium from the grip gas injector  112 . The gaseous medium is preferably air, however, those skilled in the art will recognize that other gaseous mediums such as nitrogen, helium, and the like may be used as the gaseous medium for the present invention. Yet another alternative would have a grip mechanism housing  102  that evacuates air within it to create a vacuum to allow for the outward pressure and expansion of the hollow interior  48  of the handgrip  42 .  
         [0062]    As shown in FIG. 21, the wrapped butt end  64  of the shaft has engaged the interior of the closed end  50  of the handgrip  42  resulting in the cessation of the flow of the gaseous medium into the hollow interior  48  and thereby resulting in the cessation of the expansion of the hollow interior  48 . Thus, the interior surface of the hollow interior  48  of the handgrip  42  contacts the tape  70  wrapped on the butt end  64  of the shaft  40 . As shown in FIG. 22, the jaws  124   a-f  move forward from the open end  46  of the handgrip  42 , and the gas injectors  112  and  92  disengage from contact with the newly gripped golf club shaft  40 . The gripped shaft  40  is then discharged from the apparatus for further processing.  
         [0063]    From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.