Golf clubs and golf club heads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9440127-B2
Application number	US-201514632829-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2015
Priority date	Apr 28, 2011
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Golf clubs according to at least some example aspects of this disclosure may include a golf club head and a shaft configured to engage with the golf club head which includes a grip engaged with the shaft. Further, the golf club may include a monitoring device, which includes a sensor and a transmitter. Additionally, the monitoring device may be configured to determine data related to the characteristics of a golf swing. Further, the monitoring device may be configured to transmit the data related to the characteristics of a golf swing to a remote computer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
an extension configured to be removably engaged with a grip or distal end of a sports implement, wherein the extension has a receptacle configured to receive an electronic module,
wherein the extension has a first portion having a connector configured to engage the grip or distal end of the sports implement to connect the extension to the grip or distal end of the sports implement and a second portion defining the receptacle,
wherein the first portion has a first maximum dimension measured perpendicular to an axis extending between a fixed end and the distal end of the sports implement, the second portion has a second maximum dimension measured perpendicular to the axis,
wherein the extension further comprises a step between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the step creates a change in dimension between the first maximum dimension and the second maximum dimension.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the extension and the second portion of the extension are integrally formed.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein an interior surface of the connector is configured to engage an outer surface of the grip or distal end of the sports implement.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the connector comprises a protrusion that extends from the second portion and is configured to fit within and extend into the grip or distal end of the sports implement.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension has an opening providing access to the receptacle.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprises a cap configured to cover the opening.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the electronic module received within the receptacle.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the electronic module comprises a sensor configured for sensing a swing parameter of the ball striking device during use.

9. A grip assembly comprising:
a receptacle configured to receive an electronic module and a grip member connected to the receptacle to form the grip assembly as a single, integral piece, the grip member defining a central passage receiving the distal end of a sports implement to connect the grip assembly to the sports implement, wherein the grip assembly is configured to connect to the distal end of the sports implement;
wherein the grip member has a first maximum dimension measured perpendicular to an axis extending between a fixed end and the distal end of the sports implement, the receptacle has a second maximum dimension measured perpendicular to the axis;
wherein the grip assembly further comprises a step between the grip member and the receptacle, wherein the step creates a change in dimension between the first maximum dimension and the second maximum dimension.

10. The grip assembly of claim 9 , further comprising an electronic module received within the receptacle.

11. The grip assembly of claim 10 , wherein the electronic module comprises a sensor configured for sensing a swing parameter of the ball striking device during use.

12. An assembly comprising:
an extension configured to be removably engaged with a grip or distal end of a sports implement, the extension comprising a first portion having a receptacle configured to receive an electronic module, an opening for insertion and removal of the electronic module into and from the receptacle, and a retaining member configured to retain the electronic module within the receptacle, the extension further comprising a second portion having a connection member configured to removably connect the extension to the grip or distal end of the sports implement,
wherein the extension is configured such that the first portion extends distally beyond the grip or distal end of the sports implement,
wherein the first portion has a first maximum dimension measured perpendicular to an axis extending between a fixed end and the distal end of the sports implement, the second portion has a second maximum dimension measured perpendicular to the axis,
wherein the extension further comprises a step between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the step creates a change in dimension between the first maximum dimension and the second maximum dimension.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the grip or distal end of the sports implement is elongated along an axis, and wherein the first portion of the extension extends beyond the grip or distal end of the sports implement in a direction along the axis.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Boggs Joshua M
• Kammerer Brian
• Hadden Jeffrey A
• Kramer Gregory S
• Thornton Douglas A
• Jones Sherry L
• Lua James H
• Wisniewski Daniel F

Classifications

• A63B59/50

  Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball · CPC title

• A63B2053/005

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A63B53/10

  Non-metallic shafts · CPC title

• A63B53/007

  Putters · CPC title

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title