Patent Publication Number: US-2009217631-A1

Title: Anti-flinch collar for use on sports equipment

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This patent disclosure relates generally to anti-flinch devices and features for handles used on sports equipment and, more particularly, to removable and/or adjustable collars having anti-flinch features for installation on handles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Anti-flinch features are ribs or other features formed on surfaces of hand-held devices when a stable grip by the user is desired. Flinching is a reflex involuntary motion of the human hand when a sudden motion is anticipated by the user. Known applications of anti-flinch features are common in handguns, where ribs or notches are formed on the trigger guard of the weapon. These features aid the stable grip on the weapon by the shooter, especially when using both hands to grip the weapon. 
     Even though application of anti-flinch features on weapons relates to safety of the user and of others, a stable grip on a hand-held device or a handle of a device is not practical because of the variable requirements of each user. For example, golf clubs are instruments used in a sport that requires a stable grip and accuracy but, unlike a handgun, most users tend not to grip the handle in a consistent fashion, making use of anti-flinch features difficult. In other words, a positioning of the anti-flinch features that will suit some players may be uncomfortable to others. This holds true even for other sports, for example, baseball, tennis, and so forth, where sports instruments having handles are used in sports requiring considerable degrees of accuracy and a stable grip. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure provides, in one aspect, an anti-flinch collar for use on a handle portion of a sports device. The device includes a collar having a substantially cylindrical shape and forming a bore extending axially therethrough. The bore is adapted to surround a segment of the handle portion and retain the collar. A plurality of anti-flinch features is formed along an outer surface of the collar. The collar is adapted to engage at least one finger of a holder of the handle portion to prevent flinching of the at least one finger thus improving the stability and grip of the user. 
     In another aspect, the disclosure provides a sports instrument, for example, a golf club, racquet, baseball bat, and so forth, that includes an elongate handle. A collar is inserted around a segment of the elongate handle, the location of which is adjustable. A plurality of anti-flinch features is formed along an outer surface of the collar. The anti-flinch features formed on the collar are adapted to engage at least one finger of a holder of the elongate handle to prevent flinching. 
     In yet another aspect, the disclosure provides a method of stabilizing a person&#39;s grip on a handle of a sports instrument. The method includes inserting an anti-flinch attachment around a portion of the handle at an axial location. The user may then grip the handle with both hands such that at least one finger contacts a plurality of features formed externally to the anti-flinch attachment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are outline views from different perspectives of a collar installed on a grip of a golf club in accordance with the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are outline views of a collar in accordance with the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of a collar in accordance with the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 6 through 8  are section views of different embodiments of collars in accordance with the disclosure. 
         FIGS. 9 through 11  are outline views of different sports equipment having collars installed thereon in accordance with the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure relates to a device for use with sports equipment to improve stability and accuracy of their use by a user. The device may be applied to any sports device that incorporates a grip that requires control of rotational accuracy on the part of the user. The device disclosed can be generally characterized as a removable and/or adjustable collar that is insertable or attached on a handle and whose position on the handle may be adjusted to suit the preference of the user. The collar may be made of a pliable material that conforms to the shape and yields to the pressure exerted thereon by the hand of the user as the user grips the handle. The collar also forms external ribs or other features that operate to stabilize the user&#39;s grip by reducing flinching of one or more of the user&#39;s fingers. These anti-flinch features advantageously increase the grip strength and consistency of the handle by the user and improve the user&#39;s performance when using the sports device. The embodiment for a collar disclosed herein relates to use on a handle of a golf club but, as can be appreciated, the collar is suited for use on other instruments as well. A few examples of different uses are described and shown toward the end of the disclosure for purposes of illustration. 
     Two outline views, from different perspectives, of a collar  100  installed onto a lance or grip  102  of a golf club  104  are shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The club  104  is a typical club including a shaft  106 , a portion of which is surrounded by the grip  102 . A head  108  is connected to the shaft  106  and used to strike a ball (not shown) when a user holding the grip  102  swings the club  104 . The grip  102  on a typical club must have a circular cross section according to various rules governing the game of golf. However, the grip  102  may and often tapers from thick to thin along its length. 
     During use of the club  104 , the user holds the grip  102  with both hands and swings the club  104  in a sweeping motion to strike a ball. Steadiness and accuracy of the user&#39;s grasp of the grip  102  is important for an accurate shot. The collar  100  can be installed and used, for example, when the user is practicing. During use, the user may grasp the grip  102  in substantially a typical fashion, but also make use of the anti-flinch characteristics provided by the collar  100 . Specifically, one of the user&#39;s hands may hold the grip  102  along a portion thereof above the collar  100  and make no contact with the collar  100 . The palm of the user&#39;s other hand may then touch the grip  102  in an area just above the collar. The user may then close the fingers of the second hand around at least a portion of the collar  100  such that at least a part of one or two fingers, for example, the index finger and/or the middle finger, come into contact with the various anti-flinch features formed externally on the collar  100 . The one or two fingers of the user may surround the collar  100  at the same time as they surround the grip  102 . This contact between the collar  100  and the user&#39;s fingers creates a tactile sensation to the user that aids in maintaining a steady grip on the club  104 . 
     In this embodiment, the collar  100  is made of a flexible or elastic material that can conform to the tapering shape of the grip  102  along any axial location thereof. Alternatively, the collar may be made of a non-flexible or inelastic material having any shape that appropriately affixes itself onto a handle of a particular article of sports equipment. Moreover, the collar  100  may advantageously have an inner diameter that is smaller than an outer diameter of the grip  102  such that it can contract around any segment of the grip  102  and retain its position thereon. The collar  100  includes a core portion  110  used internally to attach the collar  100  to the grip  102  and externally to form anti-flinch features  112  arranged to contact one or more fingers of the user when the user is holding the grip  102 . 
     The anti-flinch features  112  may be any type of protrusion from the handle that will create an “anti-flinch” tactile sensation on the hand of the user that is at least slightly different than the expected tactile sensation created by the handle or grip of the sports equipment on the rest of the hand and/or the other hand of the user. This tactile differentiation helps the user maintain awareness of his grip and concentrate on holding the handle, which yields an overall more stable grip. In some instances, for example, where a user practices using the sports equipment often, different collars having different anti-flinch features  112  creating different tactile sensations may be used, in an alternating fashion, to retain the anti-flinch effectiveness on the user. 
     Various outline views and a cross section of the collar  100  are shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 . The collar  100  has a hollow cylindrical shape that forms a central opening  202 . Even though the collar  100  as shown has a continuous cylindrical shape, alternative embodiments can include collars having gaps or openings along their periphery. Such collars may peripherally surround only a segment of the handle&#39;s outer surface at any cross section along the handle. 
     Here, the central opening  202  has a circular cross section that accommodates the grip  102  when the collar  100  is installed onto the club  104 . Handles having differently shaped cross sections may have collars used thereon having differently shaped central openings such that an adequate fit is maintained between the collar and the respective handle. The core portion  110  surrounds the central opening  202  along a wall or internal surface  204 . An outer surface  206  of the core portion  110  forms a plurality of anti-flinch features  112 . In this embodiment, the anti-flinch features  112  are a plurality of ribs or ridges  208  that protrude from the outer surface  206  by a height, h, and occupy a segment, s, of the periphery of the outer surface  206 . As can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 3 , each ridge  208  extends generally axially along the length of the collar  100  but follows a curved or helical path. Alternatively, of course, the ridges  208  could extend parallel to each other along a centerline, C, of the collar  100 . 
     Even though the collar  100  in the illustrated embodiment is made of an elastic material that contracts around the handle for retention, repeated use may cause the collar to move or “walk” along the handle. For this reason, additional and/or different features may be used to help the collar remain on the handle at the installed position during use. Three alternative embodiments for retention features formed on collars are shown in  FIGS. 6 through 9 . In the description of these embodiments, like reference numerals are used to describe the same or similar features as the embodiment of the collar  100  described thus far and shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , for the sake of simplicity. 
     A first alternative embodiment for a collar  600  is shown in  FIG. 6 . The collar  600  forms at least one positioning and/or retaining feature  602  on the internal surface  204 . In this embodiment, the retaining feature  602  is a protrusion that is unitarily formed with the collar  600  and protrudes radially inward toward the centerline C. The retaining feature  602  is arranged to mate with a receiver feature  604  formed in the grip  606  of a club. In this embodiment, the receiver feature  604  is a shallow opening or hole formed in the grip  606 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the grip  606  forms a series of receiver features  604  along its length that are spaced apart and arranged to accept the retaining feature  602  to allow for alternative placements of the collar  600  on the grip  606  by the user. When the retaining feature  602  is disposed within the receiver feature  604 , the collar  600  is retained onto the grip  606  in a manner that resists twisting and/or axial motion of the collar  600  relative to the grip  606 . 
     A variation on the grip  606  for this embodiment is shown in  FIG. 6A . In this alternative embodiment, the grip  608  of the club has leather or another suitable material woven onto the grip in a manner improving the hold of the user on the club as well as creating a more aesthetic appeal. For example, the grip  608  shown here emulates a leather-bound weaving pattern commonly found on the handles of Japanese swords. In this embodiment, a weave is used that includes an inner layer  610  of material having an uneven texture, for example, stingray skin. The inner layer  610  is wrapped around the shaft  611  of the club. The inner layer may be a sheet of material that is wrapped around the club or may, alternatively, be a sock or tubular piece of material that is worn over the grip portion of the shaft  611 . 
     After the inner layer  610  has been installed, an outer layer  612  is installed to finish the grip  608 . The outer layer  612  may be constructed from a strip of material or “Ito” that is made of a pliable material, for example, leather, cotton, or silk, and that is woven around the inner layer  610  to form a pattern. The pattern forms knots leaving a plurality of openings or notches  614  that extend through the outer layer  612  and expose segments  616  of the inner layer  610 . These notches  614  advantageously define the receiver features  604  along the length of the grip  608  that mate with the retaining feature  602  of the collar  600 , and may also improve the firmness of the holders grip. An exemplary pattern includes, but is not limited to, a criss-cross lacing pattern (See  FIG. 6A ). As can be appreciated, other styles of Japanese sword handle constructions or weaves having notches defined therein are possible. 
     A second alternative embodiment for a collar  700  is shown in  FIG. 7 . The collar  700  forms at least one positioning and/or retaining feature  702  on the internal surface  204 , which in this embodiment is a cylindrical ring that is unitarily formed with the collar  700  and protrudes radially inward toward the centerline C along the entire circumference of the central opening  202 . The retaining feature  702  is arranged to mate with a receiver feature  704  formed in the grip  706  of a club, which in this embodiment is a shallow channel or recess formed in the grip  706  that extends peripherally around an entire segment of the grip  706 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the grip  706  forms a series of receiver features  704  along its length that are spaced apart and arranged to accept the retaining feature  702  to allow for alternative placements of the collar  700  on the grip  706  by the user. When the retaining feature  702  is disposed within the receiver feature  704 , the collar  700  is retained onto the grip  706  in a manner that resists axial motion of the collar  700  relative to the grip  706 , but may permit at least some twisting motion therebetween. 
     A third alternative embodiment for a collar  800  is shown in  FIG. 8 . In the embodiments described thus far, the collars were constructed as unitary structures made of an elastic or deformable material. Hence, the ribs or anti-flinch features  112  formed thereon were made of the same material. As a matter of personal taste, some users prefer or find it more effective to have a more rigid feel to the anti-flinch features formed on the collar. For this reason, the collar  800  includes both a flexible portion, to accommodate for the tapering of the grip, as well as a rigid portion that forms rigid anti-flinch features. 
     The collar  800  includes an inner core  802 , which is made from an elastic or collapsible material, and an outer ring  804  made from a resilient material, for example, thermoset plastic or metal. The outer ring  804  forms a series of shallow grooves  806  on its outer surface that act as the anti-flinch features. The grooves  806  may take on any desired or appropriate shape, for instance, helical, parallel or perpendicular to the centerline C, and may even be formed in a crosshatch pattern. 
     Optionally, the collar  800  can be adapted for a more permanent installation onto the grip  102 . In this embodiment, the outer ring  804  forms a threaded hole  808  that accommodates a setscrew  810 . The setscrew  810  can access the grip  102  through an opening  812  formed through the inner core  802  such that, when the setscrew  810  is tightened, the collar  800  is rigidly engaged with the grip  102 . Use of a setscrew or any other retention device advantageously makes the collar  800  suitable for use on any type of grip because no additional retention features are required. Of course, the setscrew or any of the other retention features disclosed herein may be replaced, for example, by adhesives or epoxies that can create a more permanent bond between a grip and a collar. 
     The disclosure above uses a golf club as one exemplary application of an anti-flinch collar used on sports equipment. As can be appreciated, however, other sports and their related equipment are suited for use of collars as well. Three examples of various other applications of sports equipment suited for accommodating anti-flinch collars are shown in  FIGS. 9 through 11 . These examples are not meant to represent an exhaustive list of equipment, but are merely shown for illustration. 
     A racquet  900  is shown in  FIG. 9 . The racquet  900  includes a handled frame  902  with an open hoop  904  across which a network of cord  906  is stretched. The racquet  900  is of the type used for striking a ball in such games as squash, tennis, racquetball, badminton, and so forth. A handle  908  formed on the handled frame  902  is held by a player during play. To improve the stability of the player&#39;s grip on the handle  908 , an anti-flinch collar  910  having features similar to the collars described thus far can be adjustably and removably inserted around a segment of the handle  908 . 
     In a similar fashion, an anti-flinch collar  1010  is shown inserted around a segment of a handle portion  1002  formed on a baseball bat  1000 . An additional example of a collar  1   110  is shown inserted over a segment of a brake bar  1102  that is part of a bicycle handle  1100 . One can appreciate that other applications are possible where stability of a user&#39;s grip is desired. The ease of installation and effectiveness of such collars having anti-flinch features makes them suitable for any application. 
     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.