Abstract:
A screw based compression unit within a golf grip that fits within a golf club shaft to support a core and rubber grip.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/138,162, filed 25 Apr. 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,452,333 the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention refers to a method of quick placement and quick removal of a golf grip onto a golf club shaft. Quick change of golf grips allow golfers to try different grips on golf clubs before purchasing one. Quick change also allows easy replacement of worn golf grips. Present methods to change a golf grip requires cutting off a golf grip, removing adhesive tape, reapplying adhesive tape, applying a slippery agent such as acetone and sliding on a new grip. 
         [0003]    Previous patent application Ser. No. 15/138,162, filed 25 Apr. 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,452,333, reveals an alternative compression unit with a separate center screw as seen in  FIG. 4 . The compression unit is joined to a core which goes on the outside of the golf shaft to support grip components. The center screw engages a sharp taper or shelf with the center hole of the compression unit to provide instant compression when the screw is engaged. Instant engagement of the compression unit is important to be acceptable to the USGA which is golfs governing body for equipment used in professional play and tournaments. 
         [0004]    The present invention has a screw placed inside a central hole in a compression unit. The central hole in the compression unit is of a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the screw threads. Threads on the screw do not engage compression inner walls prior to engagement. The screw is pressed downward creating compression by forcing legs of the compression unit outward prior to thread engagement. As the screw progresses downward, threads engage and the screw is activated by turning. In the preferred embodiment, threads cut into compression unit material for engagement. Alternatively, the compression unit is threaded in its lower segment to match threads of a screw. Without pressing downward, the screw simply spins in the central hole of the compression unit. 
       Description of Concurrent Art 
       [0005]    Golf grips aid a golfer in holding a golf club. Golf clubs include drivers, woods, irons, wedges and putters. Present grips come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors, materials, textures, tapers, and the like. It is difficult to evaluate which grip fits a golfer&#39;s hand best and works best as a golfer cannot try them on a golf club and strike balls. Presently, a golfer evaluates how a grip feels in their hand with no golf club attached to the grip. If a golfer likes the feel of a grip in their hand, the grip is permanently attached to a club. If grips are attached to a golfer&#39;s clubs and they do not like them, it is an expensive and time consuming process to replace them. 
         [0006]    Present technology to change a golf grip is complex enough that most golfers do not change their own grips but have professionals do it for them. Professional regripping is expensive and time consuming. The process to change a golf grip makes it difficult for a golfer to effectively evaluate grips. 
         [0007]    It would be advantageous to have grips that simply slide onto a shaft and are secured with a simple turn of a component. It would be advantageous to have a technique that allows grips to be placed and removed in seconds for better selection at point of purchase and ease of replacement. It would be further advantageous for a golfer to be able to adjust a grips position as required to perfect alignment with the club head or adjust a club length. 
         [0008]    The United States Golf Association, referred to as the USGA, has specific rules for golf equipment that a golfer must follow for use in tournaments and professional play. USGA rules define specifications for grip shape, size, position and the like. One of the USGA rules is that a golf club and its components cannot easily be adjusted by a golfer during play. To change or adjust components on golf equipment, a special tool is required to adhere to USGA rules. The present invention has an alternative version with unique features created specifically to follow these rules. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The instant apparatus and system, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious, or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. A versatile system, method and series of apparatuses are revealed for creating and utilizing compression techniques to secure golf grips and make them easily interchangeable. 
         [0010]    The proposed golf grip includes a compression unit which enters into a golf club shaft. A golf grip is placed onto a golf club shaft such that a compression unit enters the shaft. When the compression unit is engaged, the grip is secured. 
         [0011]    In the preferred embodiment, a golf grip consists of a core which is surrounded by rubber, plastic or like materials to form a grip. The core is constructed of plastic, metal, rubber, ceramic, wood or any other common materials or combinations of materials. Outside covering materials form the individual shape, texture, color, text, logo, art and the like. The core may be lined with rubber, be inside rubber, or form an outside skeleton to make a grip stiff and provide resistance to twisting. 
         [0012]    Components are manufactured in the usual manner including injection mold, stamping, bending, CNC, casting, pour molds, fabric infused rubber, 3D printing, blow molding, plastic molding techniques, coating, over molding, joining, laser cutting, pressing, spraying and other common methods. These common methods are categorized as forming, machining, casting, imaging/coating, molding, joining, additive and other. Components are further manufactured in one piece or multiple pieces and are joined by adhesive, snaps, friction, welding or the like. 
         [0013]    A core fits over a golf club shaft. In the preferred embodiment, it expands over a shaft as it slides down to a final position. The core is passive in the preferred embodiment to be USGA acceptable, but it can maintain constant compression onto a golf club shaft. The resulting friction stabilizes a grip. 
         [0014]    A core is constructed inside or outside a golf grip. It is placed directly onto a golf club shaft. Alternatively, core material is constructed inside a golf grip such that the core material does not touch the shaft. The core provides reinforcement to minimize bending and twisting of grip material. Rubber application is adhered, friction fit, taped, or directly over molded onto a core. A thin layer of printed rubber using polyurethane sheets provides specialized design when desired. These sheets are made of rubber thinly placed onto fabric. 
         [0015]    Golf club shafts vary in diameter at the butt end. Common butt end dimensions are 0.560, 0.580, 0.600 or 0.620 inches for different shafts. A shaft is parallel for the first several inches. The diameter of a golf shaft decreases going down toward the club head. In the preferred embodiment, the core expands to fit onto a shaft by material elasticity and or by core structural design. 
         [0016]    In an alternative design, an internal support is placed within grip material and not exposed to the outside. It provides stiffness and resistance to movement deformation of shape. A compression unit inside a golf shaft transfers support to a grip through the core. A compression unit is joined to the core. 
         [0017]    In an alternative design, core material is placed outside a rubber material such as a polyurethane or silicone. Internal rubber compresses within the core to fit over a larger shaft diameter. 
         [0018]    An alternative golf grip expands during placement and remains expanded when fully placed resulting in constant compression. The inside of the golf grip is smaller than the outside diameter of a golf club shaft. The resulting compression provides resistance to movement. Friction onto a golf shaft resulting from grip compression provides resistance to movement. The golf grip fits securely when in compression however it is not secure enough that movement would not occur during use. The grip is fixed securely with a compression unit. Resistance from core compression is weak enough to allow grip placement. A grip is not secure enough to play golf without securing a compression unit. In one alternative, a weak restickable adhesive lines the inside of a core. 
         [0019]    A compression component joined to a core extends into a golf club shaft to stabilize a grip. The core and compression unit are difficult to manufacture in a cost effective way as a single unit. Each unit is manufactured separately and joined. The compression component and core provide adequate force to secure a grip to a golf club. 
         [0020]    A central hole in a compression outer component accepts a screw in a central hole. The screw is a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the central hole holding it so the treads do not engage. The screw has a top means to engage a turning wrench such as a slot, a hex, a star or other common shapes. A wrench is placed in the hex and pressed downward. The screw moves downward and engages a shelf in the central hole of the compression unit. In the preferred embodiment, the shelf is slightly tapered downward so it deflects outward as the screw advances. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom of the screw has a short tapered section. A small segment on the bottom of the screw may have no threads to aid in compression without thread engagement. When the screw is advanced far enough, threads of the screw engage material and advance resulting in more outward pressure when turned. 
         [0021]    The central hole in the compression unit tapers downward after the shelf to provide increased outward force and increased compression. The taper also compensates for any variation of internal shaft diameter. In a preferred embodiment, a second shelf is provided further down for quicker expansion as required by various shaft diameters. The internal diameter may be parallel but tapered is preferred. 
         [0022]    As an example of use, a golfer wants to try different grips on a putter to determine which grip is most comfortable and allows them to golf best. A grip is placed onto a putter shaft by pressing it downward and secured with the compression unit by applying quick downward pressure on the screw. The grip is removed and the next one placed. Several grips are quickly changed and tried to determine the best one. Once a decision has been reached, the compression unit is secured. Alternatively, a golfer may cement or adhere with adhesive tape the grip, though this is not preferred. 
         [0023]    The present design further allows a golfer to position the grip fully or partially onto a golf club shaft effectively changing golf club length. The internal compression unit must be sufficiently long in a golf club shaft to secure it however, as much as several inches change can be completed by design. 
         [0024]    A golf club shaft diameter decreases as one moves down the shaft. The end of a golf grip has a matching smaller internal diameter to the point it will sit on a shaft when placed for use. The grip core may be split into sections at the end to allow expansion. When the end of a golf grip is placed onto a golf club shaft, it expands. The end of the core may have one or many splits for expansion. In the preferred embodiment, the end remains in compression for greater stability. 
         [0025]    In the preferred embodiment, a skeleton core outside a grip has a series of splits or windows starting within the top portion and extending down the core. A section of the core at the top butt end is solid without a slot. A rubber insert is placed inside the outside skeleton core. The rubber insert has areas of extended material that fill the windows in the skeleton core. The rubber material squeezes into position when the insert slides into the central hole of the skeleton core. Each component may be parallel or tapered. 
         [0026]    An outside cover grip component is molded directly onto an inner core or manufactured separately and secured with adhesives, tapes, friction or like methods. Components can be constructed with various coatings or layers such as rubber inside and or outside. 
         [0027]    Various core configurations can be used including placing the core outside the rubber, within the rubber or inside the rubber. An outside sheet may be added for aesthetics. 
         [0028]    The USGA, United States Golf Association, rules state that a golfer cannot adjust components on golf clubs during play. Present compression units revealed in previous patents provide controlled compression with threaded screws. A compression unit using screws can be tightened part way and create enough force to use a golf club but be adjustable. For example, a compression unit is tightened part way on a putter. A screw is turned 10 degrees. There is enough compression for a golfer to putt however; if enough hand force is applied to the grip, it can move and be adjusted. This is in violation of USGA rules. For this reason, the preferred embodiment of this invention uses screw which must be pressed downward causing compression prior to thread engagement. 
         [0029]    The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood, and the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. It is of course not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations or permutations are possible. Accordingly, the novel architecture described below is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
         [0030]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the versatile push screw stabilizing compression system and series of accompanying systems and apparatuses and embodiments in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0031]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0032]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0033]    To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practice and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]    The advantages of the present apparatus will be apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Having thus described the system in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0035]      FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric view of the screw and compression unit of invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  illustrates a combined cross section and cutout view of the invention showing internal compression unit design. 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  illustrates a combined isometric and cross section view of the invention showing screw to compression unit interaction. 
           [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a combined isometric and cross section view of the invention showing an alternative screw design of the invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates an isometric view of alternative compression unit slot designs and numbers of slots for the invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 6  illustrates a combined isometric and cross section view of the invention showing a screw, compression unit and an alternative core design. 
           [0041]      FIG. 7  illustrates an isometric view of the invention within a golf club shaft cross section showing variable compression unit outside taper. 
           [0042]      FIG. 8  illustrates a combined isometric and cross section view of the screw, compression unit, core and rubber of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , screw  2  has end  1  which is placed into compression unit  3  through top hole  4 . Screw  2  is a smaller diameter than the top central hole called the holding chamber of compression unit  3 . Screw  2  is passively placed into compression unit  3 . The initial holding chamber in the compression unit or larger diameter is the same length as the screw. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a cross section view of screw  5  and compression unit  6  are shown combined in view  7  where screw  11  is placed into compression unit  6 . Threaded portion  9  of screw  11  is a small diameter than the holding chamber  17  of compression unit  6 . View  8  is a close up and cut open view of the lower section of compression unit  6 . The view is as if the compression unit is cut its length in half to view the inside. Screw  11  enters chamber  17  where it is guided to chamber  18  by tapered chamber  16 . Chamber  18  is a larger diameter than screw  11  including the thread diameter. Once fully seated, screw  11  has top head  13  stabilizing the upper part of the screw by having the diameter of head  13  similar in size to inner diameter  17  of compression unit  14 . Chamber  18  holds and stabilizes end  10  or screw  11  by being a slightly larger diameter than screw  11 . At this stage, the screw can spin with no thread engagement of compression unit walls as the inner compression unit diameter is larger than the outer screw diameter. 
         [0045]    When screw  11  is pressed downward, it quickly engages shelf  15 . Shelf  15  is tapered downward but may be flat or level as seen in view  19 . End  10  of screw  11  presses against inner walls of shelf  15  forcing the legs (not shown) outward causing a quick compression. Threads  9  of screw  11  do not engage the walls of chamber  20  until the screw is sufficiently advanced. The screw is turned after advancing to engage compression unit material. Chamber  20  is tapered downward to provide increased force as the screw advances and legs swing outward against inner golf club shaft walls. View  21  shows the use of multiple shelves similar to shelf  15 . 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , screw  22  enters compression unit  24 . Screw  22  has a non-threaded lower section as seen with tapered section  44  and parallel section  42 . The non-threaded end may have just a parallel end or just a tapered end as seen in view  27 . Screw  22  is placed into compression unit  24  through chamber  46  and guided into chamber  47 . The screw is held in position in a passive non-engaging manner. Screw  22  is pressed downward resulting in non-threaded end  44  engaging internal taper  48  of compression unit  24  pressing the legs outward. The screw continues to advance until it is down far enough for threads  40  to engage chamber side walls  49 . View  25 ,  30  and  32  show cross section of the compression unit and an isometric view of the screw. As the screw advances, compression unit legs are pressed outward. Views  27 ,  34 , and  36  show an isometric view of the screw advancing and legs being press outward. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an alternative design of the invention is shown. Screw  50  is an isometric view while compression unit  57  is shown as a length wise split open view. Screw  50  has head  51 , mid-section  60  with no threads, lower end  62  with no threads and upper section  58  with threads. Compression unit  57  has receiving chamber  64 , holding chamber  66  with split section  68 , tapered chamber  70  and lower tapered section  72 . View  52  shows screw  50  placed into a passive position within compression unit  57 . 
         [0048]    View  54  shows the compression unit placed into shaft  69 . Compression unit outer walls do not touch or touch is a relatively passive mode. Slight compression onto inner shaft walls during initial placement is an alternative but not preferred invention. 
         [0049]    View  52  shows the compression unit placed such that compression unit outer walls are pressing against inner shaft walls. View  53  shows screw threads  75  engaging compression unit inner wall  77  as the screw is press downward. Compression unit legs are being press outward and engaging with compression onto the inside of the shaft. View  56  shows the same compression unit as the screw advances more but in a larger shaft diameter. Threads do not engage until the screw is pressed downward almost into full compression. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , screw  80  drives legs of a compression unit outward to produce compression against golf shaft inner walls. Compression units can have one split or many slots resulting in different numbers of legs. Compression unit  84  has two slots  86  resulting in four legs. Compression unit  82  has six slots  88  resulting in six legs. The preferred embodiment is two legs 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , shows a compression assembly  90  where screw  91  is assembled with compression unit  93  and core  95  which is placed onto golf shaft  97 . Rubber material is added inside, outside or both around the core. View  94  is a top view of the screw placed within the compression unit which is joined to a core. A hex hole is placed in the screw top to accept an Allen wrench to turn the screw. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , compression unit  100  has smaller diameter section  110  and larger diameter section  112  with the beginning of a slot. Increased diameter section  114  is parallel and the same size as the internal diameter of a golf shaft. Lower section  166  is tapered so the outer surface becomes parallel within a larger shaft when the legs swing outward. Contact with a small shaft  122  is seen in view  121  and contact with a larger diameter shaft  125  is shown in view  125  to illustrate the importance of varying amounts of taper between sections. 
         [0053]    Cross section  127  of compression unit  100  is round with four slots while cross section  129  has quarter segments created by for slots but the outer shape matches the inner shape of the larger diameter shaft. If a round cross section is used, only a point/line contact would occur when expansion is accomplished. 
         [0054]    Compression unit  102  has upper section  104  of smaller diameter. The upper smaller diameter compensates for shaft constriction at the top as occurs from cutting shafts to various lengths with pipe cutters. Section  106  is parallel sided with the beginnings of the slot. The parallel segment allows a better taper of section  107  to match shaft internal walls when expanded outward. Section  108  has an increased taper to match walls of a larger diameter shaft when expanded. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , components  130  and assembled components  140  included key  132 , compression unit  134 , outer core  137  and inner rubber  137  which fits onto shaft  138 . Outer core  137  provides resistance to twisting and deforming of a rubber component.