Patent Description:
The more consistent and repetitive a golfer can position their hands on the grip of a golf club, the more consistent the alignment with the golf club head and therefore a more consistent hit to the golf ball. Golf grips may incorporate a variety of technologies to assist a golfer in positioning their hands. For example, golf grips may have lines or other markings painted on the grip surface to guide hand placement. The Professional Golf Association (PGA) rules do allow a raised rib, referred to as a reminder rib. The reminder rib can be used to assist the golfer in consistent hand placement to promote enhanced control and the potential to shoot lower scores. Thus, there continues to be a need for improved reminder ribs to enable a golfer to more easily align the golf grip for better repetition in the golf game.

In <CIT> there is disclosed a golf club grip as it is defined in the preamble of claim <NUM>. Further golf club grips are disclosed in <CIT> and in <CIT>.

The present invention is a golf club grip with reminder rib as it is defined in claim <NUM>. The described golf club grip designs provide improved reminder ribs that protrude without having to be inserted onto a shaft of a golf club. The non-circularity caused by the protruding reminder rib can provide an easily detectable hand alignment mechanism - even when not on a shaft of the golf club.

The golf club grip with reminder rib includes a hollow main body having an inner diameter configured to fit to a shaft, where the hollow main body comprises a protruding feature that extends along a length of the hollow main body, wherein the protruding feature protrudes from an outer surface of the hollow main body without requiring the shaft to be inserted in the hollow main body. Indeed, the hollow main body can engage directly to the shaft and the region having the protruding feature is flush with the surrounding grip core within the hollow main body.

Golf club grips with reminder ribs are provided. The described golf club grip designs provide improved reminder ribs that protrude without having to be inserted onto a shaft of a golf club. The non-circularity caused by the protruding reminder rib can provide an easily detectable hand alignment mechanism - even when not on a shaft of the golf club.

Current designs of reminder ribs tend lead to inconsistencies in rib height dependent on shaft size, layers of tape, etc. The result is that such designs are limited in their effectiveness when in the hands of the player. Some players struggle to feel the reminder at all. Advantageously, the reminder ribs presented herein measure consistently regardless of shaft size and layers of tape, providing a more prominent feel while still conforming to PGA and United States Golf Association (USGA) requirements.

<FIG> illustrate examples, which are not covered by the scope of the protection of the appended claims, of a golf club grip with reminder rib. <FIG> illustrates a side view of the golf club grip; <FIG> shows a top side view of the golf club grip; <FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of the side view of the golf club grip with shaft shown separately; and <FIG> shows a cross sectional view bisecting line A-A' of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a flexible grip <NUM> includes a main body <NUM> and an end cap <NUM> at the distal end of the main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> can have a slightly frustoconical shape. The main body has a protruding feature <NUM> that extends along a length of the main body <NUM>, providing a reminder rib. The end cap <NUM> can include a through hole <NUM> that allows air to escape during install.

The main body <NUM> can also be referred to as a hollow main body as the main body <NUM> has a hollow core with an interior surface <NUM> that couples to a shaft <NUM> of a golf club. The inner diameter of the main body <NUM> is configured to fit to the shaft <NUM> of a golf club such that when the grip <NUM> is installed at the butt end <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> of a golf club, the core size (inside diameter) of the grip <NUM> is sized to correspond to the butt diameter of the shaft <NUM> (by matching or making intentionally oversize or undersize).

According to the invention, the protruding feature <NUM> protrudes from an outer surface <NUM> of the main body <NUM> without requiring the shaft <NUM> to be inserted in the main body <NUM>.

The protrusion of the protruding feature <NUM> may extend lengthwise in a substantially straight line on the outside of the main body <NUM> a desired distance, for example, ranging from approximately <NUM> to <NUM>¾ inches (approximately <NUM> to <NUM>) for a standard grip, which may be substantially the full length of the body of the grip <NUM>. To maintain conformance with PGA rules, the protruding feature <NUM> protrudes above an outer diameter of the main body <NUM> by about <NUM> inches (e.g., about <NUM>). The protruding feature <NUM> is a distinct region within the main body <NUM> (see e.g., <FIG>). In some examples, which are not covered by the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the appended claims, the protruding feature <NUM> may be monolithic with the rest of the main body <NUM> (see e.g., <FIG>).

The outer surface of the grip area may include a design, color, and/or texture on all or part or even none of the protruding feature <NUM>, which can be similar to or distinct from the rest of the outer surface adj acent the protruding feature <NUM>. In some cases, the outer surface <NUM> of the main body <NUM> can include a groove (see e.g., groove <NUM> shown in <FIG>) around the protruding feature <NUM>. The groove may be of any length, width, or depth as desired. As one example, the groove may have a depth ranging from approximately <NUM> to approximately <NUM>. The groove can run the entire perimeter, a portion of the perimeter, or just the length of the protruding feature <NUM>. For example, the grip can include a first groove (not shown) in the outer surface of the main body <NUM> adjacent a first side of the protruding feature <NUM> and a second groove (not shown) in the outer surface of the main body <NUM> adjacent a second side of the protruding feature <NUM>. The groove can be used to assist with the protruding feature <NUM> being more pronounced on the exterior surface of the grip <NUM>.

The protruding feature <NUM> can have a variety of geometry, structure, or shape that may vary or be consistent along the length of the main body <NUM>. Indeed, the protruding feature <NUM> can have a variety of cross-sectional shapes. Examples of various designs are shown in <FIG>-<FIG>, <FIG>-<FIG>, <FIG>-<FIG>-<FIG>, <FIG>-<FIG>and <FIG>.

According to the invention, the protruding feature <NUM> is formed of an elastomeric material having a durometer hardness greater than that of other parts of the hollow main body <NUM>. In the present practice, it has been found satisfactory to form the region of the protruding feature <NUM> of elastomeric material having a durometer hardness of between <NUM> Shore A to <NUM> Shore A. In some cases, protruding feature <NUM> is formed of elastomeric material having a durometer hardness of between <NUM> Shore A and <NUM> Shore A. In some cases, protruding feature <NUM> is formed of elastomeric material having a durometer hardness of at least <NUM> Shore A. In the present practice, it has been found satisfactory to form the other parts of the main body <NUM> of elastomeric material having a durometer hardness in the range <NUM>-<NUM> on the Shore A scale. In some cases, the other parts of the main body <NUM> is formed of elastomeric material having a durometer hardness in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> Shore A.

In some examples, which are not part of the claimed subject-matter, the entirety of the main body <NUM> (including the protruding feature <NUM>) is formed of a same elastomeric material (and hardness); and a wrap of a different material than the main body <NUM> is applied that is fitted about the outer surface <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

As mentioned above, the protruding feature <NUM> is a distinct region within the main body <NUM>. <FIG> illustrate example implementations of a protruding feature within a main body of a grip. Referring to <FIG>, a region <NUM> (in the main body <NUM>) of the protruding feature <NUM> is formed of an elastomeric material having a durometer hardness greater than that of other parts of the hollow main body <NUM>. The elastomeric material of the region <NUM> of the protruding feature extends to the inner diameter (ID) of the hollow main body <NUM>, forming a rib section of the hollow main body <NUM>. In the illustrative example, the protruding feature <NUM> includes a two-tiered structure, with a first tier <NUM> that protrudes a first height from an outer surface <NUM> of the main body <NUM> and a second tier <NUM> that protrudes a second height from the first tier <NUM>, where the first height and the second height can be made no greater <NUM> inches to conform to regulations. Also included in the illustrative example are grooves <NUM> (e.g., providing a first groove and a second groove) adjacent the sides of the protruding feature <NUM>. Accordingly, it should be understood that while the cross-sections shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> do not expressly illustrate a distinct region corresponding to region <NUM>, those protruding features can be implemented similarly to that shown in <FIG> with the protruding feature being part of a distinct region within the main body that extends to the inner diameter of the hollow main body.

According to the invention, the rib section (region <NUM>) is flush with a surrounding inner diameter (e.g., surrounding surface <NUM>) of the hollow main body <NUM>. The flush configuration enables greater control of protrusion height. In an alternative example, such as shown in <FIG>, a rib section <NUM> includes an internal-facing protrusion <NUM> that protrudes from a surrounding inner diameter (e.g., surrounding surface <NUM>) of the hollow main body <NUM>. The internal-facing protrusion <NUM> can be used to provide additional height to the protruding feature after the grip is fitted to a shaft.

As also mentioned above with respect to <FIG>, in some examples which are not covered by the scope of the protection of the appended claims, the protruding feature <NUM> may be monolithic with the rest of the main body <NUM>. <FIG> illustrate example implementations of a protruding feature monolithic with a main body of a grip. Such a golf grip can further include a wrap of a different material than the main body that is fitted about the outer surface of the main body. It should of course be understood that it is possible to apply a wrap to implementations of the protruding feature of different elastomeric material, for example, as described with respect to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a grip <NUM> can include a wrap <NUM> that abuts a protruding feature <NUM> of a main body <NUM> such that the protruding feature <NUM> extends above an outer surface <NUM> of the wrap <NUM>. For implementations having such a wrap, the original height of the protruding feature can be higher than <NUM> inches so long as the difference in height between the outer surface of the wrap and a top of the protruding feature is about <NUM> inches to ensure that the grip conforms to regulations.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a grip <NUM> can include a wrap <NUM> that covers the protruding feature <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. When the wrap covers the protruding feature, a seam (not shown) of the wrap can be aligned at the protruding feature <NUM> such that the seam provides additional texture and/or height. For implementations having such a wrap, the combined height of the seam and the protruding feature can be maintained no higher than <NUM> inches from the outer surface (e.g., outer surface <NUM>) of the wrap (e.g., wrap <NUM>).

As mentioned above, a protruding feature can have a variety of geometry, structure, or shape. <FIG> show perspective and cross-sectional views of a rounded protruding feature for a grip. Referring to <FIG>, a grip <NUM> with protruding feature <NUM> can have a rounded cross-section in a full round shape. The grip <NUM> can also include a groove <NUM>.

<FIG> show perspective and cross-sectional views of a triangular protruding feature for a grip. Referring to <FIG>, a grip <NUM> with protruding feature <NUM> can have a triangular cross-section, forming a V-shape.

<FIG> show perspective and cross-sectional views of a trapezoidal protruding feature for a grip. Referring to <FIG>, a grip <NUM> with protruding feature <NUM> can have a trapezoid cross-section. The draft angle can be, for example, <NUM> degrees. In some cases, the corners of the trapezoid can be eased, reducing the sharp edges.

<FIG> show perspective and cross-sectional views of a square protruding feature for a grip. Referring to <FIG>, a grip <NUM> with protruding feature <NUM> can have a full box cross-section.

<FIG> show perspective and cross-sectional views of a narrow rounded protruding feature for a grip. Referring to <FIG>, a grip <NUM> with protruding feature <NUM> can have a cross-section with a full bead shape.

In some cases, the protruding feature has a two-tiered protrusion, where a second tier of the two-tiered protrusion protrudes from the first tier of the two-tiered protrusion, where both the first tier and the second tier protrude from the outer surface of the hollow main body without requiring the shaft to be inserted in the hollow main body. Here, the combined height of the first tier and the second tier protrudes above an outer diameter of the surrounding grip body by about <NUM> inches.

<FIG> show perspective and cross-sectional views of a two-tiered rounded protruding feature for a grip. Referring to <FIG>, a grip <NUM> can have a two-tiered protrusion <NUM> where the first tier <NUM> has a rounded cross-section, forming a rounded box, and the second tier <NUM> is a bead line.

<FIG> show perspective and cross-sectional views of a two-tiered boxed protruding feature for a grip. Referring to <FIG>, a grip <NUM> can have a two-tiered protrusion <NUM> where the first tier <NUM> has a box cross-section, forming a sharp box, and the second tier <NUM> is a bead line.

As can be seen in <FIG> and <FIG>a second tier can be a single bead along a length of the first tier. However, in some cases, the second tier is formed of at least two beads along a length of the first tier. <FIG> illustrates a grip with multiple beads for a second tier of a protruding feature. Referring to <FIG>, two beads <NUM> are shown on a boxed protruding feature <NUM> for a grip <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A golf club grip (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) with reminder rib, comprising:
a hollow main body (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) having an inner diameter configured to fit to a shaft (<NUM>),
the hollow main body comprising a protruding feature (<NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>; <NUM>) that extends along a length of the hollow main body,
characterized in that the protruding feature protrudes from an outer surface of the hollow main body above an outer diameter defined by the hollow main body without requiring the shaft to be inserted in the hollow main body, wherein the protruding feature is formed of a different elastomeric material having a durometer hardness greater than that of the rest of the hollow main body, wherein the elastomeric material of the protruding feature extends to the inner diameter defined by the hollow main body, forming a rib section (<NUM>; <NUM>) of the hollow main body that is distinct from the hollow main body, wherein the rib section is flush with a surrounding inner diameter defined by the hollow main body.