Patent Publication Number: US-7588500-B2

Title: Golf club swing weight

Description:
FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates to golf club weight systems that may be used to increase the club head weight of a golf club for practice purposes, and more particularly to a golf club swing weight apparatus that is quickly and easily attachable to a shaft of a golf club, and that is secured in such a manner that it is virtually impossible for the apparatus to come loose from the club shaft during swinging of the golf club 
   BACKGROUND 
   The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
   Golf club swing weights have been used to provide additional weight to the club head of a golf club during golf practice sessions, such as when taking practice swings with a golf club, or even when hitting golf balls at a driving range. The additional weight helps to strengthen the golfer&#39;s grip, and arm muscles, in addition to enhancing overall swing mechanics. 
   Typically golf club swing weights have employed some form of weight that is removably secured to the club shaft closely adjacent to the club head. However, with many previously developed swing weights, attaching and/or removing the weight may require external tools, for example screwdrivers, pliers, etc. Thus, many are often cumbersome to attach and/or remove from the golf club. 
   Other forms of golf club swing weights may be secured in ways that are less than optimal, from a safety standpoint. Still other forms of swing weights do not allow for the adjustment of the amount of weight employed. More specifically, they do not enable additional weights to be easily added so that the amount of weight used can be ideally suited to the strength of the individual. This is a particular drawback when the same swing weight is used by a small female golfer and a large male. The ideal weight, for practice purposes, for the female golfer may be considerably less than for the male. However, many swing weight devices do not allow for the addition or removal of individual weights so that the device can be tailored for individuals of widely varying strengths. 
   Still other forms of previously developed swing weights are of relatively complex and costly construction, or may be somewhat bulky and not easily stored in a golf bag. 
   Thus, a number of drawbacks exist with presently available swing weights. 
   SUMMARY 
   The present disclosure is directed to a golf club swing weight apparatus. The apparatus includes a weight having an aperture formed therein. A strap is provided that has a length sufficient to extend through the aperture, around the weight, and around a club shaft so that the strap secures the weight to the club shaft. The strap includes a loop portion affixed to a first end thereof, and a first hook and loop type fastener material at the first end. A second end of the strap includes a stop component fixedly secured to the strap such that the stop component prevents the second end from being completely pulled through the loop. The second end also includes a second hook and loop type fastener material that is engageable with the first hook and loop type fastener material. When the strap is wrapped around the weight and the club shaft, and the first and second hook and loop type fastener materials are engaged, the weight is securely held to the club shaft. The stop and the loop prevent the weight and the strap from being inadvertently released from the club shaft while swinging the golf club. 
   In one embodiment the apparatus includes a pair of weights that each has a pair of apertures. The strap extends through the apertures of each weight and secures the weights against the club shaft. 
   In another embodiment first, second and third weights are included. The strap extends through apertures in each of the first, second and third weights to secure the weights to the club shaft. 
   In another embodiment a plurality of weights are employed, with one of the weights having a narrow slot formed by a pair of tongue portions. The strap can be easily manipulated into and out of the slot, but the tongue portions prevent the weight from being released from the strap and the club shaft during swinging of the golf club. 
   In the various embodiments the stop component positively prevents the second end of the strap from inadvertently opening and allowing the weights to be separated from the strap during swinging of the golf club. The apparatus can be quickly and easily secured to, and removed from, the club shaft of a golf club with no external tools, and without complex assembly/disassembly procedures. The ability to accommodate more than one weight enables the apparatus to be tailored to provide varying amounts of weight as might be needed by golfers of different sizes and strengths. Since the apparatus is compact, it can also be easily stored in a golf bag. 
   Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus secured to a club shaft of a golf club adjacent the head of the golf club; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of just the second weight showing the pair of apertures formed therein; 
       FIG. 4  is an end view showing an embodiment of the apparatus that makes use of three independent weights secured by the strap around the club shaft of the golf club; and 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of another embodiment of a weight that may be used with the apparatus, where the weight includes a narrow slot formed by a pair of tongue portions, and where the slot may be used to receive the strap; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of another embodiment of a weight that may be used with the apparatus, where the weight includes a cutout for enabling the weight to also function as a bottom cap removal tool. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a swing weight apparatus  10  for use with a golf club  12 . The apparatus  10  is ideally suited to be quickly and easily attached to a club shaft  14  of the golf club  12 , adjacent to a club head  16 , for the purpose of adding a controlled amount of weight to the club shaft when an individual is taking swing practice with the golf club. The additional weight helps an individual to build increased club swing speed, as well as a stronger, more fluid golf swing. The apparatus  10  also helps to strengthen a golfer&#39;s grip and arm strength. While the apparatus  10  is shown being used on an iron, it is equally well adapted to be used on a driver or fairway wood. 
   In  FIG. 2  the apparatus  10  can be seen to include a first weight  18 , a second weight  20 , and a strap  22  for securing weights  18  and  20  to the club shaft  14 . However, it will be appreciated that the apparatus  10  could just as easily be used with only a single weight, and thus the illustration of two weights should be understood as simply representing one embodiment of the apparatus  10 . The use of two weights, however, enables the apparatus  10  to be more easily tailored to golfers of different strengths, as will be explained more fully in the following paragraphs. 
   Referring further to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of the weights  18  and  20  has an arcuate shape when viewed end-wise. The weights  18  and  20  may be formed from steel, lead or any other suitable material. An inner surface  18   a  of the first weight  18  may include a first resilient, non-slip material layer  24 . The second weight  20  has an inner surface  20   a  that may include a second resilient, non-slip material layer  26 . The resilient, non-slip material layers  24  and  26  may each be comprised of neoprene or any other suitable material, for example rubber, that has a non-slip texture or quality, and that preferably is slightly resilient or compressible. The material layers  24  and  26  are also preferably shaped in accordance with the curvatures of the weights  18  and  20  such that they can each more positively engage with the outer surface of the club shaft  14 . The first weight  18  also includes a pair of adjacent apertures  28 , while the second weight  20  ( FIG. 3 ) includes a pair of adjacent apertures  30 . The apertures  28  and  30  essentially extend completely through their respective weights  18  and  20 , as well as completely through their respective material layers  24  and  26 . The apertures  28  and  30  essentially form slots that are dimensioned to enable the strap  22  to be looped therethrough. 
   Referring further to  FIG. 2 , the strap  22  includes a first end  32  that includes a terminal end permanently secured (such as by sewing) around a loop element  34 , which may be comprised of any suitable strong material, for example metal or plastic. The first end  32  thus cannot be separated from the loop element  34 . The first end  32  also may include a first section of hook and loop type fastener material  36  secured thereto, while a second end  38  may include a second section of hook and loop type fastener material  40  secured thereto, and a stop component  39  fixedly secured to the second end  38 . The stop component may be formed by a button clasp or any other like element, provided it has a thickness that will not permit the second end  38  of the strap  22 , with the stop component  39  secured thereto, to be pulled through the loop element  34 . Preferably the stop component  39  is formed from metal and secured such as by a rivet or other like means. The hook and loop type fastener materials  36  and  40  may comprise VELCRO® hook and loop type fastener material or any other suitable form of fastener material that effectively secures the two ends  32  and  38  together, but which can still be separated with a moderate of effort by the individual without the need for external tools. 
   The fastener materials  36  and  40  are disposed on opposite surfaces of the strap  22  so that they may engage one another as the second end  38  of the strap is wrapped over the first end  32 . Preferably the length of the second section of hook and loop fastener material  40  is long enough to provide a degree of adjustability when tightening the strap  22  around the club shaft  14  and weights  18  and  20 . In one embodiment the second end  38  of the strap may be formed by a stretchable material, such as an elastic fabric, while the first end  32  may be formed by a non-stretchable material. The two ends  32  and  38  may be secured by stitching or any suitable means, such as at dashed line  42 . Using a stretchable material to form the second end  38  of the strap  22  would provide the strap with an even greater ability to adjust and accommodate different numbers of weights. This feature will be described further in the following paragraphs. 
   The manner that the weights  18  and  20  are secured to the strap  22 , and the use of the stop component  39 , provides a very significant safety feature in that the weights cannot inadvertently separate from the strap while swinging the golf club  12  with the apparatus  10  attached thereto. This is so even if the strap  22  is not holding the weights  18  and  20  perfectly tightly to the club shaft  14  during a swing of the golf club  12  (such as if a little excess slack is present in the strap  22 ). The stop component  39  positively prevents the strap  22  from slipping out through the apertures  38  and  40  while the golf club  12  is being swung with the apparatus  10  attached thereto. Thus, in no instance would the weights  18  and  20  be able to slide off the strap  22  during a swing. The length of the strap  22  may further be selected such that even when the first and second ends  32  and  38  are not coupled to each other, the amount of slack in the strap  22  does not allow the apparatus to be readily pulled over the club head  16 , but still is sufficient to enable the apparatus  10  to be easily manipulated into place over the club shaft  14 . The appropriate length selected for the strap  22  will also depend in part on the thickness of the weight(s) employed with the apparatus  10 . 
   Referring further to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in operation the apparatus  10  is secured to the club shaft  14  by sliding it over the handle end  44  while the second end  38  of the strap is free from the first end  32  and slack is present in the strap. The apparatus  10  may be positioned at any point along the length of the club shaft  14 , but in most instances will typically be positioned closely adjacent the club head  16 . Once positioned at the desired spot on the club shaft  14  the strap  22  is tightened and the second end  38  is pressed down over the first end  32 . The two fastener materials  36  and  40  engage to securely clamp the weights  18  and  20  to the club shaft  14 . Since the strap  22  provides a degree of adjustability in the clamping of the weights  18  and  20  by virtue of the lengths of the fastener materials  36  and  40 , the apparatus  10  may be secured at various positions on the club shaft  14  to provide varying degrees of effective weight to the club head  16 . The resilient, non-slip material layers  24  and  26  help to prevent slippage of the apparatus  10  along the club shaft  14  during a swing. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , an end view of an apparatus  100  in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The apparatus  100  in this embodiment is identical to the apparatus  10  with the exception that three weights  102 , 104  and  106  are secured via strap  108  around the club shaft  14 . Loop element  110  and stop component  112  are identical to components  34  and  39 . The construction of the weights  102 ,  104  and  106  is identical to the weights  18  and  20  described above. As a further option, one of the weights, for example weight  106 , could include a pair of facing hook or tongue portions  114 , as shown for weight  106 ′ in  FIG. 5 , rather than a pair of adjacent apertures, to enable it to be completely separated from the strap  108 . However, the spacing of the tongue portions  114  provide only a very narrow slot  116  with an opening that is just wide enough to manipulate the strap  108  into, but still narrow enough to prevent the weight  106  from slipping off the strap  106  while swinging the club  12  with the apparatus  100  clamped thereto. Weight  106 ′ is therefore identical in construction to weight  106 , as well as weights  18  and  20 , with the exception that It includes the slot  116  instead of a pair of apertures (such as apertures  28  and  30  shown in  FIG. 2 ). It will also be appreciated that various other structural designs could be implemented to provide a weight that is securely affixable to the strap  108 , but still easily detachable therefrom without the need for external tools. The use of a removable third weight enables the overall weight of the apparatus  100  to be tailored to meet the practice needs of an even wider range of golfers of varying sizes and strengths. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of a weight  200  is shown that includes a cutout  202 . The cutout  202  is shaped so that it can function as a bottle cap remover. The weight  200  may otherwise be identical in construction to weights  18  and  20 . 
   The present disclosure thus provides a plurality of different embodiments of a swing weight apparatus that are especially well suited for use with a golf club to increase the effective club head weight of the golf club. The various embodiments disclosed herein are all quickly and easily attachable to a club shaft without the need for screwdrivers, pliers or any other external tools. The various embodiments can thus all be quickly and easily detached without the need for any external tools. Importantly, once secured to the club shaft, the various embodiments of the apparatus cannot come inadvertently free from the strap  22  or  108  while swinging the club  12 . Moreover, the various embodiments of the apparatus are all compact and can be easily stored in a golf bag. The various embodiments are all highly cost effective to manufacture and durable. 
   While various embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications or variations which might be made without departing from the present disclosure. The examples illustrate the various embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, the description and claims should be interpreted liberally with only such limitation as is necessary in view of the pertinent prior art.