Abstract:
An interactive display holder for a grip includes a backboard with an upper and a lower support. The lower support supports the grip by retaining the grip at its lower end through an opening in the lower end of the grip. The upper support holds the grip through a swivel arm that engages an aperture in the butt end of the grip. While the grip is in the display holder, the grip can be moved away from the holder to allow a prospective customer to handle the grip for feel without opening a package or boxed container. The interactive display holder is particularly suited for handling a golf club grip for the grip feel.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates in general to an interactive display holder for a hand grip, and more particularly to a new and improved interactive display holder for a golf club grip. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There are many forms of grips available on the market today for a wide variety of applications. These applications can range from grips for common tools, like hammer handles, or other hand tools, to sports grips for various sport vehicles, and sport implements like tennis, squash, or racquetball rackets, and golf clubs. While the present invention is particularly suited as an interactive display holder for a golf club grip and described with reference thereto, it should be immediately apparent that the present invention is not intended to be limited thereto, but extends to any sports grip or hand grip that is constructed for a slip-on application. By slip-on application, this term means the grip is constructed to slide on to a handle or shaft and is secured thereon. 
         [0003]    When golf club grips, that is swing grips or putter grips, are sold, they are often offered for sale in some form of a sealed package or box. That does not lend itself well for the customer who wishes to handle the grip to check its feel and have a closer look at the grip. The feel of the grip and the way it fits in the user&#39;s hands are important to a golfer, as well as the look of the grip, and to a customer who plays or works with an implement for that grip. Golfers are particularly knowledgeable about their sport, and what they like or don&#39;t like in a grip, how it feels and appears in their game. Their knowledge of the game and personal likes with the appearance and feel of a grip are motivating factors in their purchasing decision for a particular type of golf club grip. 
         [0004]    There still exists a need for an interactive grip display holder that allows the customer access to the grip for handling the grip without opening a package or box to check the feel of the grip within the customer&#39;s hands and view the overall appearance of the grip. In the event the customer chooses not to purchase the grip, the grip is easily replaced in its original display holder in a presentable form. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0005]    The present disclosure is directed to an interactive display holder for a hand grip. 
         [0006]    The interactive display holder according to the present disclosure includes a backboard extending lengthwise for receiving a grip. The backboard has a lower support attached at a lower end of the backboard for supporting the lower end of the grip. The backboard also includes an upper support attached at an upper end of the backboard. The upper support includes an arm at one end constructed to swivel and releasably engage an aperture at an upper end of the grip. 
         [0007]    The interactive grip display holder of the present disclosure is particularly suited for a golf club grip such as a putter grip. 
         [0008]    The various features of novelty which characterize the present disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding and its operating advantages attained with its use, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, and descriptive matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of an interactive display grip holder according to the present disclosure with a golf club grip shown in phantom line in two positions first resting in the holder and the second capable of being released from the holder for closer examination and grip feel; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the interactive display grip holder according to the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a frontal view of the interactive display grip holder according to the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional side view of the upper portion of the interactive display grip holder retaining a partial sectional side view of the butt end of a golf club grip according to the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a partial sectional side view of the lower portion of the interactive display grip holder with a partial sectional side view of the lower end portion of the golf club grip according to the present disclosure; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a partial frontal view of the upper portion of the interactive display grip holder retaining a partial sectional frontal view of the butt end of a golf club grip according to the present disclosure 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring to the figures, which are not intended to limit the present disclosure and where like numerals designate like or similar features throughout the several views, and first in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an interactive display grip holder generally designated  10  retaining a golf club grip  12  (shown in dashed line) such as a putter grip or a swing grip. Golf club grip  12  is held on a backboard  14  by an upper support  16  with an arm  20  engaging an aperture  12   a  in the grip&#39;s butt end, as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , with the opening  12   b  in the lower or shaft end of the grip  12  resting on a lower support  18 . Backboard  14  may be constructed of a cardboard, layered cardboard, fiberboard, or plastic or polymer material, and has sufficient stiffness for holding and supporting the grip  12  which is loosely and releasably held with the upper and lower supports  16 ,  18 . The backboard&#39;s width and length are sized according to the length and width of the grip that is intended to be held and displayed. The backboard  14  should leave some room for placement of any trademarks, descriptive material, decorative material or promotional material. Backboard  14  may include a handle or hook  22  at its uppermost end for hanging the holder  10  and grip  12  vertically for display. 
         [0016]    The upper support  16  may be separate from and attached with a fastener  24  at an upper end of the backboard  14  as seen in the Figures, or alternatively formed as one piece with the backboard  14  if the backboard is made of a plastic or polymer material. Support  16  extends at an approximate right angle from the backboard  14  as seen in  FIG. 2 , and extends a sufficient distance to allow the grip  12  to loosely hang on the backboard  14 . In one embodiment the upper support  16  has a cylindrical form like a post attached to the backboard  14  jutting away therefrom at an approximate ninety degree angle. The distal end  26  of the upper support, also referred to in this embodiment as the post  16 , includes an arm  20  pivotally attached to the post  16 , and constructed to swivel in an up and down direction as shown by the arrows in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and not side to side. The movement of arm  20  is further illustrated in phantom line in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The arm  20  can swivel approximately one hundred eighty degrees in an up and down or vertical direction on the backboard  14 . Arm  20  movably fits within a channel  28  at the distal end  26  of post  16 . Side pins  30  on arm  20  disposed in a cross passage  32  in the end of post  16  hold arm  20  in channel  28  and allow for the pivotal movement of arm  20 . Arm  20  should be capable of at least pivoting at approximately ninety degrees from the backboard  14  for the grip  12  to swing away from the backboard  14  as seen in  FIG. 1  to allow one to hold the grip. If desired, one can make arm  20  capable of pivoting in a side to side direction, but for the purpose of allowing one to hold the grip for feel and viewing the grip for closer examination, the grip only needs to be pivoted in a vertical or up and down direction. Naturally, arm  20  may pivot to as great an extent as desired. Arm  20  which is movably secured within channel  28  of post  16  has a sufficient length and diameter for entering into aperture  12   a  of the grip  12  and loosely engage and secure grip  12  thereon. The arm  20  may range in length from approximately one to two centimeters, or longer if desired, for holding and retaining the grip  12  when it is swung away from backboard  14  Arm  20  has preferably a cylindrical shape and a diameter sized to slide easily within the aperture  12   a  in the butt end of the grip  12 . When diameter of arm  20  is slightly less than the diameter of aperture  12   a,  grip  12  can rotate thereon for better viewing of the grip. Arm  20  preferably includes one or more spaced annular rounded ridges  34  at the far end  36  of arm  20 . The ridges  34  should be capable of sliding into aperture  12   a  with some difficulty, because the ridges  34  facilitate retention of the grip  12  on arm  20 . When the grip  12  is swung away from backboard  14  and being examined by a prospective customer, the plurality of spaced annular rounded ridges  34  prevent the grip from simply sliding off the arm. 
         [0017]    The opening  12   b  in the lower end of grip  12  rests on lower support  18  to keep the grip in place in the interactive display holder  10  as seen in  FIG. 1  resting in phantom line against the backboard  14 . Lower support  18  may be separate from and attached at a lower end of the backboard  14  with a fastener  24 , or alternatively formed as one piece with the backboard  14  when the backboard is made from a plastic or polymer material. The lower support  18  in one embodiment includes a base  38  at the bottom of the backboard  14  with a cylindrical or conical portion or a pedestal nub  40  positioned on the base  38  and being constructed to receive the opening  12   b  from the shaft end of the grip  12  as best seen in  FIG. 5 . The pedestal nub  40  is positioned approximately in alignment with arm  20  so that the grip  12  can hang from arm  20  and rest on pedestal nub  40 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , pedestal nub  40  may have a conical shape sized to fit within opening  12   b  with its cylindrical portion supporting the grip  12  at its shaft end. The pedestal nub  40  keeps the grip  12  from swinging around when hanging on the interactive display holder. 
         [0018]    The post  16 , arm  20 , hook  22 , fastener  24 , base  38 , and pedestal nub  40  can be made of a plastic material or a polymer, or any suitable material that allows them to function as described, and attached to the backboard  14  with suitable fasteners made from a like material or any suitable material. 
         [0019]    The interactive display grip holder  10  according to the present disclosure allows a prospective customer to not only swing the putter grip away from the backboard for evaluating its grip feel but also to carefully examine the entire grip without opening a box or tearing open a package. The customer can remove the holder  10  from where it hangs, flex the shaft end of the putter grip to move it off of the pedestal nub  40 , and swing the grip away from the backboard  14  using arm  20 . The customer can place both hands on the grip  12  for evaluating the grip. After evaluating the grip, the customer simply swings the grip  12  back against the backboard  14 , flexes the grip  12  to slip the open end  12   b  of the grip  12  back onto pedestal nub  40 , and then hang the holder  10  back on the display rack (not shown). In this manner, the present disclosure allows the prospective customer the opportunity to interact with the merchandise without disturbing the presentation or display of the merchandise for the merchant. 
         [0020]    While the present disclosure made particular reference to a golf club grip, namely, a putter grip, it should be immediately apparent that the present disclosure can find applicability to any type of slip-on grip used for tools, or handle bars for sports vehicles, or other sporting implements using a hand grip, and should not be construed to be only limited to golf club grips. 
         [0021]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the disclosure, it will be understood that the disclosure may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.