Golf club grip with device housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968827-B2
Application number	US-201615217170-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 11, 2012
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to golf clubs, more particularly to mechanisms for fastening accessories to clubs. The invention provides a golf club configured to house an electronic device such as an RFID tag within a recess within the grip, thereby protecting the device from the stress, shock, and exposure that arises when a golf club is used.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grip for a golf club, the grip comprising:
a sleeve member with a gripping surface, the sleeve member having a first end and a second end, the first end being open to fit over a shaft of the golf club;
an internal bore sized to complement the shaft of the golf club;
a recess within the grip;
an electronic device housed within the recess; and
a secondary material within the recess.

2. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is seated in the recess surrounded by the secondary material.

3. The grip of claim 2 , wherein the secondary material is a vibration dampening material.

4. The grip of claim 3 , wherein the electronic device comprises a microchip and an antenna.

5. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device does not come in direct contact with the shaft once the grip is attached to the shaft.

6. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is held in place within the recess by adhesive.

7. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the secondary material comprises a shock-absorbing foam.

8. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the secondary material surrounds at least a portion of the electronic device.

9. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the secondary material is selected from the group consisting of non-Newtonian, viscoelastic, elastic, pseudo-elastic, thixotropic, rheopectic, plastic, super-elastic, or combinations thereof.

10. The grip of claim 9 , wherein the secondary material comprises a viscoelastic dampening material.

11. The grip of claim 1 , further comprising a second electronic device.

12. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a battery, accelerometer, light or moisture detector, memory, processor, piezoelectric material, integrated circuit, other antenna or chip, RFID tag, LED, switch, or combinations thereof.

13. The grip of claim 11 , wherein the second electronic device is selected from the group consisting of a battery, accelerometer, light or moisture detector, memory, processor, piezoelectric material, integrated circuit, other antenna or chip, RFID tag, LED, switch, or combinations thereof.

14. The grip of claim 8 , wherein the electronic device is surrounded continually in all directions by the secondary material.

15. The grip of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device is positioned at the second end.

Assignees

• Cobra Golf Inc

Inventors

• Beno Tim A
• Curtis Andrew
• Mcdonnell Michael T
• Moreira Scott H
• Yagley Michael S

Classifications

• A63B2208/0204

  Standing on the feet · CPC title

• A63B53/14

  Handles · CPC title

• A63B60/42

  Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand · CPC title

• A63B24/0062 Primary

  Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance · CPC title

• A63B53/00

  Golf clubs · CPC title