Abstract:
A device and method to position a newly installed grip or to verify the position of one previously installed, quantitatively, in relation to the leading edge of a golf club head or any point referenced by the alignment assembly. The invention includes two components. The first component is an alignment assembly, removably attachable to the shaft for identifying the position of the shaft diameter that is substantially parallel to the leading edge of the golf club head. The alignment assembly is comprised of an alignment rod and removable pointer both mounted on a support providing a substantially planar surface. The second component is a shaft rotation gauge, removably attachable to the shaft for measuring the deviation of any point on a grip or shaft from any position referenced by the alignment assembly. The shaft rotation gauge is comprised of an arched ruled indicator surface attached to and radially extended a predetermined distance from the shaft axis.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     (Not Applicable) 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     (Not Applicable) 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     (Not Applicable) 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to golf clubs and more specifically to a device and method to quantitatively position a golf club handle grip. 
     2. Description of Relevant Art 
     Correctly aligning the golf club leading edge in relation to an intended target is a hallmark of golf instruction. Precise placement of the hands on a golf club handle grip is an important extension of the alignment principle. Hand placement on a golf club handle grip can assume many positions in relation to the clubhead. Further, those skilled in the game teach that deviations in hand placement, intentional or not, can influence a golf ball&#39;s flight. In fact, many grips have indicia and raised areas called reminder ribs intended for use as alignment aids to facilitate placement of the hands correctly in relation to the clubhead. 
     Golf club handle grips wear or individual preferences change, consequently, grip replacement occurs several times during the life of a set of golf clubs. Installation of common rubber composite grips generally involves removing the old grip and grip tape and applying double sided adhesive tape to the club handle. Next the tape is activated by wetting with solvent and the new grip is slipped on the handle. The appropriate grip indicia are then positioned in relation to the clubhead&#39;s leading (striking) edge so both form lines that are simultaneously substantially perpendicular to an intended target. 
     Grip installation protocols disclosed by Karner (U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,304), Hsu (U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,428) and Gore (U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,304) include aligning and restraining or clamping the club in the aligned position and finally, installing the grip. All the above disclosed methods for installing grips accomplish the alignment task by using large, relatively complex apparatus. Crooks (U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,655) disclosed an alignment device with a marking template but this system is limited in application. Most wood clubs have their hosels and shafts offset from the face portion of the clubhead. This property of golf clubs will restrict accurate positioning of the device claimed by Crooks. 
     The ability to verify grip installation and quantify and mark preferred positions on a handle grip are beneficial to the golfer. The apparatus of Karner (U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,304), Hsu (U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,428), Gore (U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,304) and Crooks (U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,655) partially satisfy these desirable attributes, but none provide means to quantify preferred positions on a grip. None of the referenced apparatus measure the deviation of any point on a handle grip from an aligned clubhead position. The present invention provides a device and method that fulfill all the attributes mentioned while being suited for use by a larger cross-section of independent clubmakers and golfers who occasionally replace golf club handle grips. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes two components, the first is the alignment assembly removably attachable to the shaft for identifying the diameter of a shaft cross section that is both substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis and substantially parallel to the clubhead leading edge. The alignment assembly includes an alignment rod and removable pointer mounted on a support providing a substantially planar surface. The second is a shaft rotation gauge removably attachable to the shaft for measuring the deviation of any point on a grip or shaft from any position referenced by the alignment assembly. The shaft rotation gauge includes an arched ruled indicator surface attached to and radially extended a predetermined distance from the shaft axis. The present invention overcomes problems of previous apparatus and methods by providing a simple accurate device and method to position a newly installed grip or to verify the position of a previously installed grip quantitatively, in relation to the leading edge of a golf club head. 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     (a) to provide an alignment device and method generally applicable for use with iron and wood style golf clubs. 
     (b) to provide an alignment device and method which also eliminates the need to clamp the clubhead for grip alignment. 
     (c) to provide a device and method which allow the club handle to freely rotate 360 degrees about the alignment device allowing the operator to set other indicia substantially parallel to those which indicate face alignment. 
     (d) to provide a device and method which correctly position a grip in relation to the leading edge of the clubhead. 
     (e) to provide a device alignment rod which also can be used as a template for marking preferred positions on a grip. 
     (f) to provide a device alignment rod which further can be used to reference grip length and therefore, verify correct grip thickness. 
     (g) to provide a device shaft rotation gauge removably attachable to the shaft for measuring the deviation of any point on a grip or shaft from any position referenced by the device alignment assembly and pointer. 
     (h) to provide a device shaft rotation gauge removably attachable to the shaft which further can measure the offset of an iron style golf club. 
     (i) to provide an alignment device and method generally applicable for use with left or right handed golf clubs. 
     (j) to provide a device which can also be used to assist positioning shaft indicia of iron type golf clubs. 
     Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the accompianing drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the alignment assembly and shaft rotation gauge. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the alignment assembly in perspective partially broken away prior to being releasably attached to the golf club shaft. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the alignment rod prior to being releasably attached to the alignment assembly. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the shaft rotation gauge with radius r. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the arched ruled indicator surface partially broken away. 
     FIG. 6 is a front plan view taken along lines  6 — 6  of FIG. 1, showing the clubhead leading edge substantially parallel to the reference plane. 
     FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the aligned position of FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring in detail to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the alignment assembly  10  and shaft rotation gauge  12  attached removably to the shaft  24  of a conventional iron type golf club  14 . The golf club  14  includes a clubhead  16  mounted on the tip end of the shaft  24  and a handle grip  26  with alignment indicia  28  mounted on the handle end of the shaft  24 . The clubhead  16  includes a leading or striking edge  18  in contact with a substantially planar surface  66 , grooves known as score lines  20  substantially parallel to the leading edge  18  and a hosel  22  through which the clubhead  16  connects to the shaft  24 . The handle grip center hole  30  is located at the butt end of the shaft  24 . The alignment rod  42  is shown with its tip end  64  inserted in the handle grip center hole  30 . The alignment rod  42  and pointer  34  are removably attachable to the alignment assembly  10  by wing nuts  40  and  32  or other securement means allowing adjustable tightness without requiring tools. Corner braces  44  and  48  are joined to form the alignment assembly  10  support base which is substantially parallel to and rests on the substantially planar surface  66 . 
     A tension clip  62  attaches the shaft rotation gauge  12  removably to the shaft  24  below the alignment assembly  10  so the pointer  34  is just above the indicia on one side of the arched ruled indicator surface  54 . Details of a preferred alignment assembly  10  are shown in FIG. 2. A stove bolt  38  or other suitable mounting and retention means passes through an aperture in the tension clip  50 , apertures in corner braces  44  and  48  and loop ends in the alignment rod  42  and pointer  34 . The tension clip  50  and washer  76  are installed to move freely about the stove bolt  38  axis without unnecessary wobble. Corner braces  44  and  48  are joined using hex nuts  72  and  74  or other suitable securement means such that the substantially vertical segments are superimposed and the substantially horizontal segments form a support base substantially parallel to the substantially planar surface  66 . Corner braces  44  and  48  also have apertures  46  on the substantially horizontal segments to optionally make the alignment assembly  10  removably attachable to the substantially planar surface  66 . Washers  68  and  70  installed on the stove bolt  38  on either side of the the alignment rod  42  provide substantially flat surfaces against the loop end of the alignment rod  42 . The alignment rod is adjustably secured by means of a wing nut  40 . A hex nut  36  or other adjustable securement means limits the distance the pointer  34  can travel down the stove bolt  38 . The distance of the pointer  34  from the shaft  24  is slightly greater than that of the arched ruled indicator surface  54  shown in FIG.  1 . The pointer  34  can be a specifically machined part or merely can be metal with approximately 1½ inch×1 mm thick tapering to a point of less than approximately 0.25 mm with a loop fashioned at the end opposite the point. 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the alignment rod  42  which illustrates in detail the loop end  78 , angle bends  80  and  82  and the tip end  64 . In the preferred embodiment, the alignment rod  42  is a rigid, malleable, ductile material such as brass, piano wire steel or an alloy of various types of metals. However, materials such as plastic, capable of being molded into the prescribed shape are also acceptable. The angle bend  82  is approximately 90 degrees and designed to bring the alignment rod  42  quickly toward the shaft  24 . The angle bend  80  is approximately 5 degrees and designed to move the alignment rod  42  gradually away from the shaft  24  as it approaches the butt end of the shaft. All points on the alignment rod from the tip end  64  up to and including two points on the loop end  78  lie substantially in the same plane. The plane formed is substantially perpendicular to the loop end  78  and intersects substantially at its center. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the shaft rotation gauge  12  with radius r. The tension clip  62  is attached removably to the shaft  24  establishing the radius r. The stove bolt  58  passes through an aperture in the tension clip  62  and is secured by means of a hex nut  60  or other means of securement. In the preferred embodiment, a stop nut  56  limits the movement of the arched ruled indicator surface  54  of the shaft rotation gauge  12 . A hex nut  52  secures the arched ruled indicator surface  54  to the stove bolt  58 . 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the arched ruled indicator surface  54  of the shaft rotation gauge  12 . Many materials will produce the same effect, however, in the preferred embodiment, the arched ruled indicator surface  54  is a steel rule with {fraction (1/36)} inch and {fraction (1/64)} inch scales. The ruled surface is curved to substantially match the circumference of a circle with radius r shown in FIG.  4 . 
     In use, referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 for right hand style clubs, the golf club  14  is placed on a substantially planar surface  66  so the leading edge  18  is nearer the operator than the hosel  22 . The alignment assembly  10  is placed on the substantially planar surface  66  between the operator and the club shaft  24  with the tension clip  50  nearest the shaft  24 . The alignment assembly wing nut  40  is loosened so that the alignment rod  42  moves freely. The tip end of the alignment rod  64  is inserted into the center hole  30  of the handle grip  26  and placing thumbs on the alignment assembly  10  and fingers on the club shaft  24 , the operator gently squeezes to engage the tension clip  50  to the shaft  24 . Next the wing nut  40  is finger tightened. The tension clip  62  of the shaft rotation gauge  12  is attached removably to the shaft  24  approximately one inch closer to the clubhead  16  than the alignment assembly  10 . Using the wing nut  32  and hex nut  36 , or suitable adjustment means, the pointer  34  is positioned approximately parallel to the club shaft  24  so that its tapered tip end is just above one set of indicia on the arched ruled indicator surface  54 . The operator uses one hand to hold the alignment assembly  10  against the substantially planar surface  66  and the other to rotate the golf club  14  until its leading edge  18  and score lines  20  are substantially parallel to the substantially planar surface  66 . In an alternate embodiment an optional cylindrical spirit level approximately one inch long by three-eighths inch in diameter is fixed on the clubface substantially parallel to the score lines  20  using double sided tape to facilitate this step. The operator lifts the golf club  14  to a substantially vertical position and facing the alignment rod  42  correctly positions indicia  28  on a newly installed handle grip  26  or using the alignment rod as a template, marks the aligned position on an existing handle grip  26 . Using only the alignment assembly  10  the operator can accomplish the above tasks, however to measure the deviation of any point on the handle grip  26  from any position referenced by the alignment assembly  10 , the shaft rotation gauge  12  is used. The operator notes the value on the shaft rotation gauge  12  referenced by the pointer  34  and rotates the alignment assembly  10  clockwise or counterclockwise the desired distance. The pointer  34  indicates the number of inches of arc and therefore, degrees the alignment rod  42  has rotated from its initial position. If the operator begins with the clubhead leading edge  18  in the aligned position and holds the alignment assembly  10  against a substantially planar surface  66 , then the number of degrees rotation of the shaft rotation gauge  12  is equal to the number of degrees the clubhead leading edge  18  is open or closed to the aligned position. In the preferred embodiment, inches of arc measured by the arched ruled indicator surface  54  is converted to degrees rotation by a mathematical relationship. In an alternate embodiment degrees rotation can be the unit of measure on the arched ruled indicator surface  54 . 
     Clubhead offset for iron style golf clubs  14 , or the separation between the leading edge  18  of the clubhead  16  and hosel  22  can be measured. Offset is the measured distance on the shaft rotation gauge  12  arched ruled indicator surface  54  from when the leading edge  18  of the clubhead  16  and hosel  22  are at rest on the substantially planar surface  66  to when the leading edge  18  of the clubhead  16  is substantially parallel to the substantially planar surface  66 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, in the aligned position, the alignment assembly corner braces  44  and  48  rest on the substantially planar surface  66 . The stove bolt  38 , scorelines  20  and leading edge  18  of the clubhead  16  are substantially parallel to the substantially planar surface  66 . The stove bolt  38  indicates the position of the diameter SD of a shaft  24  cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis SA. The stove bolt  38  and shaft diameter SD are both substantially parallel to the leading edge  18  of the clubhead  16 . The alignment rod  42  indicates the position of all such diameters from the position referenced by the stove bolt  38  to the butt end of the handle grip  26 . 
     The aligned position is illustrated schematically in FIG.  7 . Corner braces  44  and  48  are at rest on the substantially planar surface  66 . The stove bolt  38  indicates the position of the diameter SD of a shaft  24  cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to the shaft axis SA. The stove bolt  38  and shaft diameter SD are both substantially parallel to the leading edge  18  of the clubhead  16 . The pointer  34  indicates the aligned position on the arched ruled indicator surface  54 . The arched ruled indicator surface  54  describes a circle with radius r a predetermined distance from the shaft axis SA. Degrees rotation from the aligned position is mathematically related to the distance travelled along the arched ruled indicator surface  54 . 
     Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that variations may be made within the scope of the appended claims.