Patent Publication Number: US-8540591-B2

Title: Squeeze pressure indicating golf club grip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OF PROGRAM 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention generally relates to golf club accessories, specifically golf club grips. 
     2. Prior Art 
     Golfers of all skill levels experience increased difficulty putting when mental stress level is high and an affliction known as “the yips” is encountered. Characterized by elevated blood pressure, perspiration, pulse and respiratory rates, the yips are commonly triggered by the psychological stress of sinking an important putt, and often result in the failure to execute an otherwise routine stroke. 
     For the sake of describing this invention, “the yips” will refer to mental stress induced mistakes of golf swings both on and off the putting green. 
     During full swings off the putting green, many golfers find themselves swinging too fast or jerky as a result of gripping the club too tightly. Golfers experiencing both the psychological and physiological effects of the yips are often unaware that they are squeezing the club too tightly (or lightly) while swinging, and consequently abandon one of the fundamentals of an accurate golf stroke. 
     This invention is an expanded synthetic rubber golf club grip that employs tactile, audible, and visual methods of indicating when optimum squeeze pressure is applied by both hands of the golfer for maximum control of golf strokes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,607,990 for The Yip Grip is the only prior art as pertains to golf club grips that addresses the yip-afflicted golfer&#39;s need for a means of indicating optimum club squeeze pressure for maximum control of golf strokes. This invention is different, in that there are no inflatable bladders, and hence the optimum squeeze pressure required to feel internal ringed protrusions is pre-set by the manufacturer as a function of the density of the grip&#39;s expanded synthetic rubber construction. Also, unlike the Yip Grip, this invention utilizes adjustable pressure sensors within the grip that activate an audible device and illuminate a light emitting diode (LED) on the butt end of the grip when the optimum squeeze pressure is being applied with both hands by the golfer. The audible device and LED may be disabled by de-energizing or removing the control unit. 
     Objects and Advantages 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:
         (a) a mechanism for training golfers to apply optimum grip squeeze pressure with both hands for maximum stability and control of clubs while executing strokes.   (b) as a training aid, the golfer will feel ribbed protrusions within the grip as a tactile means of determining when optimum squeeze pressure for maximum stability and control is being applied by both hands to the golf club grip.   (c) as a training aid, the golfer will hear a signal from an audible device triggered by adjustable pressure sensors within the grip that optimum squeeze pressure for maximum stability and control is being applied by both hands to the golf club grip.   (d) as a training aid, the golfer will see an LED illuminate when triggered by adjustable pressure sensors within the grip that optimum squeeze pressure for maximum stability and control is being applied by both hands to the golf club grip.   (e) as a training aid, the golfer will be able to disable the audible device and LED by de-energizing or removing the control unit.   (f) as a training aid, the simultaneous triple combination of tactile, audible, and visual indicators have a synergistic effect in training the golfer to recognize when optimum squeeze pressure for maximum stability and control is being applied by both hands to the golf club grip.       

     Further objects and advantages will become apparent from consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with the invention, this squeeze pressure indicating grip comprises a golf club grip with simultaneous tactile, audible, and visual means of enabling the golfer to recognize when optimum club squeeze pressure for maximum stability and control of golf strokes is being applied by both hands to the golf club grip, resulting in a steady, more confident, and accurate stroke. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       Figures 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the invention installed on the shaft of a golf club. 
         FIG. 2  shows a medial sectional view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top sectional view of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Reference Numerals 
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                 10 present invention 
                 11 hollow core 
               
               
                 12 inner wall 
                 13 ringed protrusion of inner wall 
               
               
                 14 pressure sensor 
                 15 expanded synthetic rubber 
               
            
           
           
               
            
               
                 16 removable control unit for pressure sensors, audible device, and LED 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS.  1 , 2 , 3   
     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, reference number  10  represents the golf club grip of synthetic rubber construction, according to the present invention, whereby a hollow center core  11  is to accommodate the club shaft. From center outward are: the inner wall  12 , comprising one-eighth inch circular ringed protrusions  13 , every half inch. The inner wall  12 , and ringed protrusions  13  envelop ten adjustable pressure sensors  14 , and are enveloped, in turn, by expanded synthetic rubber  15 . An audible device and LED are located inside, and are controlled by a removable control unit  16 , that also controls sensitivity adjustment of the pressure sensors,  14 . The invention may also be manufactured without the ringed protrusions  13 , providing audible and visual, but no tactile feedback. 
     Operation 
     FIGS.  1 , 2 , 3   
     In operation, this invention  10  is mounted with its hollow core  11  over the proximal end of a golf club shaft such that, when the golfer applies with both hands optimum grip squeeze pressure for maximum stability and control of stroke, as determined by the manufacturer as a function of the density of the expanded synthetic rubber construction  15 , ringed protrusions  13  of the inner wall  12  are felt and pressure sensors  14  signal a removable control unit  16  to emit a signal from an audible device and illuminate a LED contained therein. The golfer may adjust the sensitivity of the pressure sensors  14  with said control unit  16  and disable the audible device and LED by de-energizing or removing it. The invention may also be manufactured without the ringed protrusions  13 , providing audible and visual, but no tactile feedback.