US20220323837A1 - Putter hand grip and related method - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf device for providing an interface for users to hand grip and stroke a putter is disclosed. The device may include a single hand grip, a split hand grip, or interchangeable geometries configured to allow the user to hold the putter in an individualized manner best-suited for producing a reliable, reproducible putting stroke.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCross Reference to Related Application
• This application claims the benefit of a provisional application that is cited in the Application Data Sheet and also incorporates by reference that cited provisional application, which is Ser. No. 63147671, filed on Feb. 9, 2021.
1. The Field of the Invention
• The present invention relates to a hand grip coupled to a golf putter.
2. Background
• Currently available putter hand grips allow for a variety of individualized ways for a user to hand grip the putter. However, due to the design, these putter hand grips do not promote the user to handle the putter with their hands and wrists in a neutral, symmetric position. Traditional positioning of the hands on current putter hand grips requires ulnar deviation of the wrists with some degree of twisting of the wrists away from the position naturally assumed when standing and relaxed. Various golf hand grips have been disclosed in the prior art. See: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,626,768B2, 3,252,706A, 3,606,326A, US20050215347A1, US20080009363A1, US20080132350A1, US20090075747A1, US20090233730A1, US20110165959A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,858,356B2, 8,932,146B2, 9,072,952B2, USD768251S1, USD772361S1, U.S. Pat. No. 9,616,298B1, JP5939744B2, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,438,925A, 3,606,326A, 3,219,348A, 1,677,099A, 4,600,195A, 4,597,578A, 4,272,077A, 5,169,152A, 4,979,743A, 4,878,667A, 4,746,120A, 5,465,967A, 5,542,676A, 5,779,559A, 5,813,920A, 7,481,716B1, 7,563,174B1, 9,174,104B1, and 9,421,439B2.
• A need exists for a firm, comfortable hand grip of the putter that facilitates the positioning of the hands and wrists, of a golfer gripping the hand grip, in a neutral, symmetric position.
SUMMARY
• This summary is not intended to describe every illustrated embodiment or every possible implementation.
• The figures and the detailed description that follow, however, do particularly exemplify these embodiments. The disclosed putter hand grip is configured to allow the user to hand grip the putter with the hands and wrists in a neutral, symmetric position, which may promote an easily reproducible putting stroke.
• In some embodiments, a putter hand grip may include a single hand grip which is couplable to the shaft of a putter. The hand grip may be non-tapered until the inferior portion, at which portion it may be tapered. In the preferred embodiments, the grip may be between 5 inches in length, up to 24 inches in length. The grip may be between 2 inches in length, up to 40 inches in length. The hand grip may taper symmetrically in a rounded shape, forming a hemi-sphere at the interface of the hand grip and putter shaft. As such, the hand grip may be non-tapered from the upper end until the most inferior section. The taper may begin at a distance from the lower end equal to half of the cross-sectional length of the grip. In one embodiment, a grip that has a cross sectional diameter of 1.75 inches, the taper may begin 0.875 inches from the lower end of the grip. This may create a taper with a rounded hemi-sphere which may be suitable for receiving the user's index and middle fingers of his or her lower hand on opposite sides of the shaft, with the contralateral hand being placed higher on the hand grip in accordance with the user's preference.
• According to at least one embodiment, a putter hand grip may have a single hand grip attachment wherein the diameter of the hand grip is maximized per the rules of golf, which currently defines the maximum diameter as the cross-sectional dimension of the grip not exceeding 1.75 inches, with the symmetric, tapering at the inferior edge creating a rounded shape or hemi-sphere at the interface of the hand grip and putter shaft; the diameter of the hand grip at the superior edge would be a narrower diameter than the diameter of the grip more inferiorly. The grip may be tapered from the larger, inferior diameter to the smaller, superior diameter in an even manner. This embodiment may provide the rounded shape at the hand grip and shaft interface for receiving the user's lower hand, while providing a narrower circumference more superiorly to receive the user's contralateral hand to grip the putter.
• In some embodiments, a putter hand grip may include two separate hand grip attachments; one attaching to the end of the putter shaft, being non-tapered until the inferior portion at which point it tapers symmetrically in a rounded manner; the taper beginning at a distance from the most inferior portion equal to half of the longest cross-sectional axis. The secondary hand grip may be attached more inferiorly along the putter shaft, being separated by the superior hand grip by the distance required by the rules of golf, currently defined as at least1.5 inches of separation, also being non-tapered until the inferior portion at which point it tapers symmetrically in a rounded manner. The rounded taper at the inferior portion of the lower hand grip may receive one of the user's index and middle fingers on opposite sides of the shaft in a cupping grasp. The rounded taper at the inferior portion of the upper hand grip may receive the user's other hand in a similar manner. The user's hands would thereby be in a neutral position, similar to the natural position that hands and wrists assume when a user is standing and relaxed, with the plane of both hands in line with the desired putting direction.
• In some embodiments, the inferior hand grip of the two separate hand grips have rounded, symmetric tapering at both the superior and inferior ends of the hand grip, with a non-tapered central portion. The taper at both the superior and inferior ends of the hand grip may begin at a distance from the end equal to half of the longest cross sectional area; the remaining central portion of the grip may be non-tapered. This embodiment provides similar half-spherical shapes at the interface of the hand grip and putter shaft for possible grasping by the user in the above manner. The additional rounded shape of the superior aspect of the hand grip may enhance the hand grip comfort of the user's hand on the lower hand grip.
• In some embodiments, the hand grip or hand grips may be asymmetric, with a rounded anterior half and squared posterior half, or a rounded posterior half and squared anterior half, or any combination of different geometries. Regardless of the superior hand grip's shape, the inferior hand grip may maintain the rounded, symmetric taper. The half-sphere at the inferior portion of the hand grip may allow the user's dominant hand to have a method of grasping the putter whereby the user's arm, wrist and hand are in a position similar to the natural position assumed when the user is standing and relaxed, and the variety of shapes that may be used for superior portion of the putting hand grip provide different grip shapes which may fit different user's hand sizes, as well as different grasping techniques.
• In some embodiments, the hand grip is not directly attached to the putter shaft, but rather attached to a base hand grip that may be detachably coupled to the putter shaft allowing for easy exchange of different putter hand grips. An adhesive, nail, or staple may be used to detachably couple the base hand grip to the putter shaft. In some methods, the putter hand grip is a single piece which attaches to the interface. In other variations, the putter hand grip is split, either in half, quarters, or some other fraction, for attaching different combinations of hand grip shapes or materials to suit each individual user.
• In some embodiments, the hand grip has a non-detachable layer, which is customizable and allows for different images, writing, or colors to be printed onto the hand grip as directed by the user. The desired image, wording, or color is transferred via heat press, direct printing, or an individual's artistic means.
• Other methods, physical features and advantages will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. All such additional methods, physical features and advantages are included within this description, are within the scope of the claimed subject matter, and are protected by the following claims. When physically possible, all numbers and ranges may be increased or decreased by 25%.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the appended drawings. Like designations denote like elements, and:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a putter incorporating a hand grip constructed in accordance with the single hand grip embodiment of the present device;
• FIG. 2 is a front view of the top portion of a putter incorporating a putter hand grip constructed in accordance with the double hand grip embodiment of the present apparatus;
• FIG.3 is an oblique view of the top portion of a putter incorporating a putter hand grip in which the hand grip is formed in a non-cylindrical fashion while maintaining the rounded taper at the lower portion of the hand grip;
• FIG. 4 is an oblique view of the top portion of a putter incorporating a putter hand grip constructed in accordance with the modular embodiment of the present system, again maintaining the rounded shape at the lower portion of the hand grip;
• FIG. 5 is a top-down perspective of the same modular embodiment of the present system.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic showing some measurements and measurement ranges for components of the disclosed embodiments.
• For the single grip variety, the grip may be at the top end of the shaft, as is the current standard installation process of a golf club. The distance between the lower portion of the putter grip and the putter head may be dependent upon the desired length of the golf shaft. Standard putters on the short end may be 30 inches or longer, and therefore, with a 9 inch putter grip, the distance between the putter grip and putter head may be a distance of 19 inches or longer. In some embodiments, the distance between the putter grip and the putter head may be 15 inches.
• For the double grip variety, the distance between the top grip and lower grip may be be 0.5 inches on the short end up to the full length of the shaft (while very non-traditional, some people grip the putter very near the putter head. This is demonstrated with the dotted line drawing on the 2 grip variety). The distance between the lower grip and the putter head hosel may be greater than 0.5 inches.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as substantially described with reference to the drawings herein, could be implemented in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. Unless explicitly stated, the use of “or” means and/or, that is, this the non-exclusive meaning of or.
• Putting is often considered the most important aspect of a golfer's skill set, as demonstrated by the adage “Drive for show, putt for dough.” While seemingly a simple task, rolling the ball into the hole from comparatively short distances with a short stroke, proficiency at putting is often elusive. Many training aids, as well as different designs of putters and putter grips have been attempted to help golfers be able to start the golf ball rolling on the intended line with the intended speed. A putter hand grip is the sole contact point between the golfer and the putter, and therefore, the means whereby a golfer can manipulate the golf club to provide force to the ball to ultimately get the ball in the hole. One problem with putter hand grips is that current designs require golfers to bend or twist their hands, wrists or arms away from neutral positions, making control of the putter more difficult. It is the object of this invention to provide an improved putter grip which allows the user to hold the grip with hands, wrists and arms in a more neutral position, akin to the position that arms naturally hang, which will in turn enhance the ability of the user to complete a putting stroke with enhanced control and feel of the putter head.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of aputter100, which is conventional in construction except for incorporating a hand grip constructed in accordance with a single hand grip embodiment of the device. Theputter100, includes ahead120, ashaft110, and theputter hand grip130.
• Thehead120 may be any commercially available or customized putter head. Theshaft110 may also conventional, and may be tubular, and may be formed from graphite, steel, or other common materials. Thehand grip130 may cover the upper 1% to 70% of theshaft110, but preferably the upper 10% to 35% of theshaft110, and theshaft110 may extend to the top of theputter head120.
• One embodiment of the hand grip includes asingle hand grip130 that is substantially cylindrical in shape, with a circumference of the cylinder that is larger than theshaft110. In the preferred embodiments, thesingle hand grip130 may be9 inches but may range between2 inches in length to30 inches to length. The diameter of the hand grip may be constant; in some preferred embodiments the diameter of the hand grip may be constant for the upper portion of thehand grip130 and then the diameter of the hand grip may be tapered at an inferiorrounded taper131 of thehand grip130, such that the inferiorrounded taper131 of thehand grip130 may be tapered and located at the lower end of thegrip130, wherein the inferiorrounded taper131 may be a shape having at least one rounded surface, a spherical cap, or an ellipsoidal cap. For purposes of this application, a spherical cap is an upper portion of a sphere that is formed when a plane divides a sphere into an upper portion of a sphere and a lower portion of the sphere. For purposes of this application, an ellipsoidal cap is the upper portion of an ellipsoid that is formed when a plane divides the ellipsoid into an upper portion of a sphere and a lower portion of the ellipsoid. Thetaper131 ends in an opening portion131b defining an aperture that allows a user to slide the hand grip to slide over the shaft; thetop end132 of the hand grip may have a small hole in the center to permit air to escape during hand grip installation.
• The lower end of the putter hand grip may form at least one three-dimensional gripping structure, such as a hemisphere, rounded taper, spherical cap or ellipsoidal cap.
• In the preferred methods of use, a user may engage the hand grip with one hand at thetaper131, with either the index and middle finger being separated by theshaft110, or with the shaft being disposed between the middle and ring finger. When the user uses a lead arm, the dorsum of the user's lead arm hand may be in line with the face of the putter head; when the trail arm is utilized in this manner, then the palm of the hand may be aligned with the putter head. The contralateral hand be positioned in any number of other hand grip positions along thehand grip130 above the inferiorrounded taper131 of the hand grip.
• In another embodiment, thehand grip130 may be substantially cylindrical having a substantially constant diameter throughout the upper length; although not shown inFIG. 1, the top end of thehand grip132 may have a smaller diameter than the middle portion of the hand grip, and the inferiorrounded taper131 may also have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the central portion of thehand grip130. The maximum cross-sectional length of thehand grip130 may be at the lower end of thehand grip130 that is adjacent to the inferiorrounded taper131. The taper may begin at a distance from the lower end of the grip substantially equal to half the cross sectional length of the largest cross sectional length. In a preferred embodiment the relationship between the cross-sectional diameter the diameter of the cross-section is a 1.75 inch diameter, and the taper begins at 0.875 inches from the lower end of the grip. In one embodiment the cross-sectional diameter at the location where the taper beings to taper is between a diameter of 0.25 inches and 4 inches, and in one embodiment, the taper may begin between 0.25 inches and 3 inches from the lower end of the grip. The upper end of the grip may have a cross sectional diameter of between 0.25 inches and 3 inches (preferably 1.25 inches), and may have a reverse taper, that is a taper that substantially gradually tapers from the larger diameter at the lower end to the upper end of the grip. In some preferred embodiments of the hand grip, the taper tapers along the whole length of the grip. In some embodiments the main body of the hand grip is cylindrical with a 4 inch diameter at the bottom and a diameter of 3 inches at the top; in some embodiments, the taper beings immediately at the bottom and gradually decreases until the other end where it converges with the top. The presence of a reverse taper may permit the upper portion of the hand grip to allow for additional hand gripping techniques by the user's hand.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the top part of aputter100, with another embodiment where there is anupper hand grip200 and alower hand grip210 adhered to theputter shaft110. Theupper hand grip200 and thelower hand grip210 are separated by a distance determined by the user's preference, and may range between 0.1 inches to 30 inches, but in preferred embodiments is between 0.25 inches and 1 inch. Theupper hand grip200 may be similar to the singleputter hand grip130 outlined inFIG. 1, but the length of theupper hand grip200 may be shorter than thehand grip130 in the single grip embodiment. In some embodiments, the upper hand grip is substantially cylindrical in shape, having an equal diameter the length of the hand grip until the rounded taper of theupper hand grip220. Thelower hand grip230 similarly has an equal diameter the length of the hand grip, with a rounded taper at thelower portion230 of thelower hand grip210. Thetop portion240 of thelower hand grip230 may be rounded or may be flat. The center of thelower hand grip230 may be hollow throughout the length oflower hand grip230, with acentral opening240aat theupper end240 of thelower hand grip210 and a central opening230aat thelower end230 of thelower hand grip210. Thecentral opening240aand the central opening230amay allow thelower hand grip210 to be installed on the shaft by a user by slidinglower hand grip210 over the shaft during installation and affixing thelower hand grip210 in a semi-permanent fashion for the duration of the life of the grip, such as by an adhesive. Thecentral opening240aand the central opening230amay permit the shaft to communicate with the upper hand grip and the putter head.
• Another embodiment is disclosed inFIG. 3, which shows a perspective oblique view of aputter hand grip130, which has the asymmetrical top portion of aputter100, with one length having asemi-circle cross section300 and an opposing length having arectangular shape310. At the taper of the hand grip is again a rounded taper ending at the opening where the hand grip slides over theshaft110. While the rounded taper of the lower part of thehand grip131 may not be a perfect hemisphere due to the asymmetry shape of the body of the hand grip, the rounded taper provides a similar means of hand gripping the putter as described previously. When installing the hand grip, the user has the ability to align the hand grip with the putter face in whatever orientation the user finds to be most advantageous.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective oblique view of another embodiment in which theputter100 has abase hand grip400 that allows for modular customization of theputter hand grip130 shape. Thebase hand grip400 attaches to the shaft, with an opening at the lower end of the hand grip to allow theshaft110 to enter the hand grip. Once thebase hand grip400 is adhered, thesupport wings430 may provide the interface whereupon the modular hand grip halves410,420 are attached to thebase hand grip400. There are multiple attachment methods. One attachment method is via constructing thesupport wings430 with ferromagnetic materials and the modular hand grip halves410420 with thin magnets along the length of the middle edge. Another attachment method for attaching modular pieces or modular wings to a putter shaft, may be via a tongue and groove mechanism, whereby thesupport wings430 interface with the modular hand grip halves410,420.FIG. 4 depicts a rectangular modularhand grip half410 and a semi-circular modularhand grip half420, but any variety of shapes may be utilized as each individual modular hand grip half, including, but not limited to triangular, elliptical, oval, square, hexagonal, etc. The lower end of each modular hand grip half may have a rounded taper as demonstrated inFIG. 4, or a flat edge. Additionally, thebase hand grip430 in some embodiments have four support wings, enabling the modular hand grip pieces to be in quarters as opposed to halves.
• FIG. 5 depicts an oblique/top down view of the modular embodiment of theputter hand grip130 demonstrated with thebase hand grip400 and the modular hand grip halves410420 slightly separated. Thebase hand grip400 is attached via the large opening at the lower portion of the base hand grip. The hole in the top of thebase hand grip500 allows for air to escape as the base hand grip is installed. Thesupport wings430 may be connected to the modular hand grip halves by either a tongue and groove mechanism or magnetic force via the modular hand grip interface510.FIG. 5 depicts a rectangular modularhand grip half410 and a semi-circular modularhand grip half420, but the modular embodiment of the putter hand grip may be any combination of shapes as described above. Additionally, whileFIG. 5 depicts only two support wings, other embodiments may include four support wings, which would interface with modular quarter hand grip pieces, as opposed to modular half hand grip pieces. The reversible attachment between the base hand grip and the modular hand grip pieces could be via a tongue and groove mechanism or magnetic force.
• In the preceding description, various aspects of a method and apparatus of a putter hand grip have been disclosed. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, examples, and configurations were set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding. However, it is apparent to one skilled in the art that the described method and apparatus may be practiced without the specific details. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the present invention in its broader aspects. While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

What is claimed is:

1. A putter hand grip comprising:

an upper hand grip comprising an

elongated body of substantially uniform diameter along the length, having an upper end and a lower end with a central opening at the lower end to be slidable over the upper end of a putter shaft; wherein the lower end of the putter hand grip comprises at least one three-dimensional gripping structure.

2. The putter hand grip ofclaim 1 wherein the three-dimensional gripping structure comprises a hemisphere.

3. The putter hand grip ofclaim 1 wherein the three-dimensional gripping structure comprises a rounded taper.

4. The putter hand grip ofclaim 1 wherein the three-dimensional gripping structure comprises a spherical cap.

5. The putter hand grip ofclaim 1 wherein the three-dimensional gripping structure comprises an ellipsoidal cap.

6. The putter hand grip ofclaim 1 further comprising:

a lower hand grip disposed a distance from the upper hand grip, wherein the upper hand grip is a shape selected from the group consisting of a hemisphere, a spherical cap, a rounded taper, and an ellipsoidal cap, wherein the lower hand grip is a shape having an upper rounded taper and a lower rounded taper.

7. A putter hand grip comprising:

an upper hand grip comprising an

elongated body having a length, an upper end, and a lower end with a central opening at the lower end slidable over the upper end of a putter shaft; wherein the lower end of the putter hand grip comprises at least one three-dimensional gripping structure.

8. The putter hand grip ofclaim 7 wherein the elongated body comprises a reverse taper.

9. The putter hand grip of claim ofclaim 7 wherein an upper cross-section of the upper hand grip comprises a semi-circle and a rectangular prism.

10. The putter hand grip ofclaim 9 wherein a lower of portion of the rectangular prism comprises a rounded taper.

11. A method of swinging a putter comprising

providing a golf putter comprising a shaft, a putter head, a upper hand grip, and a lower hand grip, wherein the upper hand grip is disposed around the shaft, wherein the lower hand grip is disposed around the shaft,

wherein the lower hand is grip disposed a distance from the upper hand grip, wherein the upper hand grip is a shape selected from the group consisting of a hemisphere, a spherical cap, a rounded taper, and an ellipsoidal cap, wherein the lower hand grip is a shape having an upper rounded taper and a lower rounded taper;

placing a first hand on the upper hand grip;

placing a second hand on the lower hand grip; and

swinging the putter towards a golf ball.

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