US20020091013A1 - Shaft enveloping counterweight apparatus and method - Google Patents

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Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B49/00—Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis
  • A63B49/02—Frames
  • A63B49/08—Frames with special construction of the handle
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/007—Putters
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
  • A63B60/06—Handles
  • A63B60/22—Adjustable handles
  • A63B60/24—Weighted handles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
  • B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
  • B25G1/00—Handle constructions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
  • A63B60/06—Handles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
  • A63B60/06—Handles
  • A63B60/08—Handles characterised by the material
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
  • A63B60/06—Handles
  • A63B60/10—Handles with means for indicating correct holding positions
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
  • A63B60/06—Handles
  • A63B60/16—Caps; Ferrules

Definitions

• This invention relates to an improved counterweight for handheld instruments with a shaft.
• this invention relates to a shaft enveloping counterweight for golf clubs.
• the size principle states that, for any muscular motion, muscle fibers are recruited in order from smallest to largest size. In other words, for a motion requiring very little force, only a few, very small, muscle fibers are used. These small muscle fibers are capable of a great deal of precision, both in amount of force applied and in placement. As the force gets larger, successively larger fibers are “roped in” to participate in the motion. These larger fibers are less and less capable of high precision.
• Fitts' law states, among other things, that the amount of precision that can be attained in any movement decreases exponentially with the velocity of the movement. Essentially, the faster the motion, the less time a person has to make changes, and the greater the effect of small deflections, thus leading to a sharp decrease of precision with increasing velocity.
• a drawback to the counterweights known in the art is that they tend to dislodge themselves during use.
• a further drawback in the art is that the known counterweights are useful only in a limited number of applications.
• the shaft enveloping counterweight of the present invention includes an external weight attached to the outside of a hollow shaft.
• An internal weight plug is attached inside the hollow shaft so that the hollow shaft is enveloped between the external weight and the internal weight plug.
• a cap is connected to the internal weight plug.
• the cap includes a top and a base wherein the base is connected to the internal weight plug and the top is connected to the base and forms an overhanging lip.
• the base is connected to the external weight.
• the external weight has a certain length and the internal weight plug extends into the hollow shaft approximately the length of the external weight.
• the handheld instrument with which the shaft enveloping counterweight is utilized is selected from a group including: golf clubs, tennis racquets, badminton racquets, racquetball racquets, lacrosse sticks, and hockey sticks.
• FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the shaft enveloping counterweight of the present invention including the external weight, the internal weight plug with a cap, and a grip core;
• FIG. 2 is a side view of the invention of FIG. 1 showing a hollow shaft inserted into the grip core and with the external weight attached;
• FIG. 3 is a side view showing the internal weight plug inserted inside the hollow shaft and a cap connected to the internal weight plug;
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention with a wrap covering the grip core, the external weight, and the base of the cap.
• the shaft enveloping counterweight 10 of the present invention includes external weight 12 and internal weight plug 14 . Also shown are cap 16 and grip core 18 . A longitudinal hole 20 runs through grip core 18 as well as external weight 12 . Longitudinal hole 20 is conformed to exactly receive shaft 22 (not shown, see FIG. 2).
• Cap 16 includes top 24 and base 26 .
• cap 16 is connected to internal weight plug 14 by means of base 26 , and top 24 forms an overhanging lip 28 , as will be discussed more fully hereafter.
• grip core 18 , external weight 12 and cap 16 are formed with a rounded side 30 and a flat side 32 .
• a golfer's fingers wrap around the curved, rounded side 30 of a putter and the thumbs rest on flat side 32 .
• any suitable form, for any particular handheld instrument with a shaft, is appropriate.
• shaft 22 is shown.
• Shaft 22 may be of any known design. That is, shaft 22 may be solid, hollow, made of steel, graphite or any other now known or hereafter developed design.
• shaft 22 include a working end 34 and a grip end 36 .
• Working end 34 is shown attached for use with golf clubs, for example, to putter blade 38 .
• at least a portion of grip end 36 of shaft 22 is hollow.
• longitudinal hole 20 is conformed to just receive and engage shaft 22 , in both the grip core 18 and the external weight 12 . As a result, the dimension of longitudinal hole 20 , as illustrated in FIG.
• grip core 18 is a flexible, rubbery, material and grippingly engages the outside 23 of shaft 22 .
• longitudinal hole 20 in external weight 12 is conformed to just receive shaft 22 and grippingly engage the outside 23 of shaft 22 as well. Any known adhesives, such as glue, epoxy, or the like may be used to enhance the adherence of the grip core 18 and external weight 12 to the outside 23 of shaft 22 .
• internal weight plug 14 is shown inserted, on the inside 25 the hollow grip end 36 of shaft 22 .
• shaft 22 is completely enveloped, both inside 25 and outside 23 by the combination of external weight 12 and internal weight plug 14 .
• the shaft enveloping counterweight 10 of the present invention, thereby offers superior counterweight attaching functionality.
• internal weight plug 14 is conformed to a size that is just slightly smaller than the inside 25 dimension of hollow grip end 36 of shaft 22 , and the external weight 12 is just slightly larger than the outside diversion of the outside 23 of shaft 22 , the force fitting insertion of internal weight plug 14 results in an essentially permanent attachment of external weight 12 and internal weight plug 14 to shaft 22 .
• any now known or hereafter means of attachment may be used such as glue, epoxy, welding and so forth.
• base 26 is connected to internal weight plug 14 .
• base 26 is also connected to external weight 12 , by any means known in the art such as epoxy, thereby further securing internal weight plug 14 in place.
• the shaft enveloping counterweight 10 of the present invention is excellent in reducing torsion about the long axis, i.e. shaft, of the club. This reduced torsion is obtained by placing mass anywhere along the shaft 22 . That is, it does not specifically require attachment of the mass such as a counterweight as previously described.
• internal weight plug 14 is extended beyond external weight 12 and down the inside 25 of shaft 22 covered by grip core 18 to point A. In another embodiment, internal weight plug 14 extends beyond grip core 18 and down the inside 25 of shaft 22 to point B or beyond.
• wrap 40 encompasses the outside 23 of shaft 22 , grip core 18 , external weight 12 , and base 26 of cap 16 up to overhanging lip 28 . This further secures shaft enveloping counter weight 10 in place.
• Wrap 40 can be any wrap now known or hereafter developed. In a preferred embodiment, with regard to golf clubs, a standard WINN brand wrap is used.
• the typical putter is 35 inches long.
• the putter is designed to be approximately 1.8 to 2 inches longer than normal.
• the grip core 18 is slightly shorter than typical putters and is placed around the outside 23 of shaft 22 so that grip end 36 of shaft 22 extends approximately 1.8 inches above/beyond the top end of grip core 18 .
• external weight 12 made of lead or any other suitable heavy material, is placed around the outside 23 of shaft 22 and covers the outside 23 of shaft 22 all the way to the top of shaft 22 .
• Internal weight plug 14 extends 1.8 inches into shaft 22 , fits snugly and may be glued in place thereby fully enveloping shaft 22 .
• the preferred total weight of both the external weight 12 and internal weight plug 14 is equal to or greater than 300 grams. Obviously, any desired weight is encompassed by the invention.
• shaft enveloping counterweight 10 of the present invention has been disclosed in particular in connection with use with golf clubs, it should be appreciated that external weight 12 in combination with internal weight plug 14 as well as cap 16 provides an improved counterweight attachment means and method for use with a variety of handheld instruments with shafts. While not exclusive, a list of such instruments includes tennis rackets, badminton rackets, racquetball rackets, lacrosse sticks and hockey sticks. Further, handheld tools such as hoes, scythes, and the like are all benefitted by Applicant's shaft enveloping counterweight 10 . Further, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that external weight 12 and internal weight plug 14 instead of being two separate pieces may be constructed as a single unitary whole and simultaneously attached to shaft 22 . Also, external weight 12 may be of any desired length deemed appropriate.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Golf Clubs (AREA)

Abstract

Description

Claims (20)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=25045467

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (1)

Cited By (4)

• 2001
  • 2001-01-09 US US09/756,887 patent/US20020091013A1/en not_active Abandoned

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