US2133696A - Grip for golf clubs or the like - Google Patents

Description

Oct 18 1938. E. E. HALL,

GRIP FOR GOLF CLUBS OR THE LIKE Filed June 9 ...1. MM35/www5.

Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFQE 2 Claims.

Among discriminating users of golf clubs, diiiiculty is sometimes experienced in securing a golf club which is provided with a grip or handle of the desired diameter and surface so that it often becomes necessary to specially wrap or nish a golf club, otherwise acceptable, in a special manner to meet the personal demands of the player. The present invention is directed to a removable grip which may be tted to any golf club of the desired weight or character so that the discriminating user will be enabled to make selection of a grip of the desired size, shape and feel and fit the same to any selected club without the use of special tools or appliances, thereby enabling the requirements of the user to be readily and quickly satisfied. Although the invention is one which is particularly designed for use'in connection with golf clubs, it is not the intention to strictly limit the grip features to golf clubs solely, since other implements or devices requiring a special form of grip may be likewise equipped with the devices of the present invention.

Further objects and details will appear from a description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a View partly in section illustrating the upper or handle end of a golf club shaft having tted thereto a grip embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l showing a modified form of the construction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view showing the upper end of the grip tube of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective showing the locking device for the upper end of the shaft of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a View partly in section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1 1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a second modification of the present invention;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective of the locking device of Fig. 8.

In the various forms of construction the Lipper end of a tubular steel golf club shaft is designated by the numeral 20. Within the upper terminus of the shaft is located a locking plug 2l which is rigidly held in place by cross pins 22, or other suitable fastening means. In each of the constructions shown, the locking plug projects beyond the tubular golf shaft, and in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the projecting end of the plug is bifurcated to provide a cross cut notch 23 which receives the inner end of a wedge plug 24 which is configured to afford a bridge 5 which enters the notch, the side walls 2S of the wedge plug being extended to overlap the sides of the golf club shaft. This arrangement serves to engage the wedge plug with the golf club l shaft in such a way as to prevent turning and at 10 the same time to permit the wedge plug to be drawn inwardly toward the shaft by means of a screw 21 which is entered through a smooth bore 28 in the wedge plug and threaded into the end y of the locking plug 2l. l5

The ared side wall of the wedge plug bears against the flared upper end 29 of a grip tube 3l! which is covered with a wrapping 3l and a sheath or hand grip covering 32. The tube 3@ is of a size, weight and taper which best suits the re- 20 quirements of the individual player, and the lower end of the tube is provided with an annular shoulder 32a against which the wrapping and sheath abut and below which is an outward flare 33 which embraces a conical wedge collar 25 34 formed upon or secured to the shaft 25. rThe arrangement is one which permits of variations in the size of the shaft and the grip tube, since the wedging surfaces afforded by the wedge plug and the wedge collar respectively will compensate 30 for such variations in size.

It is preferred to provide holes or perforations 35 in the wall of the tube for the purpose of reducing the weight, and also for the purpose o f affording a more firm and secure connection for 35 the wrapping and grip covering which are applied to the exterior of the tube. By tightening the screw 21, the wedge plug will be drawn inwardly and thereby force the tube into firm wedging contact both with the wedge plug and the wedge 40 collar. so that turning or twisting of the tube with relation to the shaft will be impossible.

The modified construction shown in Fig. 3 operates upon a similar principle, .but in lieu of the wedge plug rst described, a locking member 35 45 is employed which, in the form shown, is provided in its center with a squared aperture 31 which receives a squared stud 3S outwardly protruding from the locking plug 2l. The walls adjacent the aperture 31 are struck upwardly to 50 afford flanges 39, and the locking member is held in position by the provision of a plurality of upwardly and outwardly extending fingers 4&3, each of which is provided with a notch di in its end, which notches are properly positioned to engage teeth 42 formed on the upper end of the tube 30 so that with the teeth and notches in engagement, the locking member will be suspended in interlocked relation with the tube, and in order to more firmly hold the parts in interlocked relation, the member 36 is further provided around its edge with protuberant members 43 which contact the inner wall of the tube at a short distance below the upper terminus thereof.

The parts are held in interlocked relation by the provision of a screw 44 which is entered through a dished cap plate 45, the margin of which bears against the toothed upper edge of the tube 30, so that by turning down the screw, the tube can be forced into wedging relation with the wedge collar 34. The lower end of the tube in the form shown in Fig. 3, instead of being flared is provided with an inwardly tapered collar 46 which wedges upon the surface of the collar 34, The collar 46 may be secured by rivets, brazing, welding, or in any other suitable manner, and affords an abutment for the lower ends of the wrapping and sheath.

The construction shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is similar in all respects to that last described, with the exception that the tube 30 instead of being toothed or serrated at its upper end is provided with a flared terminus 41 which cooperates with a locking member 48 having a flared wall 49 which wedges against the flared surface 41 when the parts are drawn together by the action of the screw 44 entered through the cap plate 45.

In all of the forms shown, a space or clearance is provided between the inner wall of the tube 30 and the surface of the shaft, and the locking members are so constructed and configured as to permit the width of this space to be varied by the substitution of grip tubes of varying diameter to suit the preference of the individual player. The locking devices will function equally well with tubes of different diameter so that a proper fitting or substitution of parts can be effected without difficulty or delay. This enables the player, if he so desires, to carry several different grips in his playing kit and make substitutions if occasion should require.

In each of the forms of construction shown, the locking device is so designed as to firmly and rigidly unite the grip tube with the golf club shaft, so that danger of twisting or slipping of the parts will be completely eliminated.

Although the invention has been described with considerable particularity as to detail, and although three forms of the construction embodying the principles of the present invention have been illustrated as exemplications thereof, it will be understood that other modifications in detail may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a golf club shaft or the like, a locking plug extending outwardly from the upper end of the golf club shaft, a locking member slidably and non-rotatably mounted on the locking plug, a grip tube surrounding the shaft and in spaced relation thereto, the second named locking member being provided with means for maintaining non-rotating engaging relation with the upper end of the grip tube for holding the same in spaced non-rotating relation to the golf club shaft, a closing cap overlying the upper end of the grip tube, a screw entered through said cap and into the first named locking member and adapted to draw the second named locking member into interlocking relation with the tube, and a wedge collar on the shaft positioned to lie within the lower end of the tube to exert a wedging contact therewith when the parts are interlocked.

2. In combination with a golf club shaft or the like, a locking plug secured to the upper end of the shaft and having a squared projecting portion extending outwardly therefrom, a locking member slidably and non-rotatably mounted thereon and provided with upwardly and outwardly extending portions, a grip tube surrounding the shaft and in spaced relation thereto, the upwardly and outwardly extending portions of the locking member having toothed interlocking relation with the upper edge of the tube. a wedge collar mounted upon the shaft and positioned to bear against the lower end of the grip tube, a closing cap adapted to bear upon the projecting portions of the locking member, and a. screw entered through the closing cap and into the plug for drawing the closing cap against the locking member to establish non-rotatable interlocked relation between the shaft and with the upper end of the tube and wedging relation between the shaft and the lower end of the tube.

ERIC E. HALL.

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