US2000295A - Handgrip for golf clubs and the like - Google Patents

Description

May 7, 1935. J. M. OLDHAM I HANDGRIP FOR GOLF CLUBS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 31, 1931 INVENTOR w 6 N NMQW ATTORNEYS Patented May 7, 1935 John M. Oldham, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Leonard A. Young, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 31, 1931, Serial No. 584,171

1 Claim.

My invention relates to. improvements in implement handles and more particularly to the handles or hand-grip portions of golf clubs.

It has been the practiceheretofore to construct golf club grip or handle portions by first spirally winding a strip or strips of cork about the club shaft and subsequently interposing a strip of leather between the convolutions of the spirally wound cork strips. This practice is objectionable in that the finished handle is not uniform in contour and indentations and projections are produced upon the surface of the handle, particularly where the strips of cork join. Moreover extreme care is required in winding the cork so that the convolutions will be in true spaced relation.

With these objections in mind, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a pre-formed sleeve, formed in the making thereof, with a spiral groove in its outer surface, so that a fiat tape-like strip may be laid within this groove after the sleeve-like member has been applied to the golf stick shaft, whereby the surfaces of the sleeve and leather strip will lie flush with each other and produce a grip which is free from indentations or projections.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a hand grip for sporting implements, such as golf clubs, which includes a pre-formed tubular member of yieldable material, such as,

cork, and is such that it may be readily applied to any golf club shaft and when in position thereon, will be firmly held against displacement.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the .construction, arrangement and combination of elements, all as hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein;

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a golf club illustrative of an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view showing the hand grip portion of the club, partly in section and partly in elevation; a

Fig. 3 is a view, in elevation, of a leather strip adapted to form a part of said hand grip of the club; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section substantially upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the invention in detail, a preformed sleeve member 5 of suitable length and thickness, having a tapered lower end 6, is provided. This sleeve may be formed from a sheet of cork or other suitable material possessing the desired yieldable quality, or it may, if found desirable, be formed in a mold to the desired shape, size and form.

For cooperation with this cork'sleeve in providing a frictional hand gripping surface, a fiat tape-like strip, l G of leather or other suitable material, is provided, and this strip is wound within a spiral groove I I formed in the periphery of the sleeve and extending from end to end of the same. As shown in Fig. 2, this strip is of a width and thickness to exactly'fill said spiral groove with the outer surface of said strip lying flush with the periphery of the sleeve, andtherefore the grip surface will be uniform throughout the length of the sleeve as the strip lies flat upon the smooth, flat, continuous bottom of the groove and all indentations or projections at the S111"? face of the grip will be eliminated.

Before winding the-strip ll! into the groove H, the walls of the groove and the contacting side and edges of the strip may be coated with a suitable adhesive, so that the strip will be firmly anchored within the groove, and during this winding of the strip, it is drawn relatively taut so as to compress the wall of the bore of the sleeve and press it against the shaft "1, thereby aiding in the securing of the sleeve in place upon the shaft. If found desirable, the end portion of the shaft to which the sleeve is to be applied may also becoated with a suitable adhesive to aid in securing the sleeve in place.

In order to provide a finish for the outer end of the sleeve and protect the same against wear, a suitable cap I2 is attached to the end of the shaft by a removable fastening l3, and as shown, an'annular flange or skirt I4 may be provided on the cap to surround and overlie the outer end of the sleeve.

By the provision of a hand grip such as herein disclosed the usual gripping qualities of leather and cork are had, andat the same time, a hand grip having a uniform hand grip surface is provided due to the manner in which the cork sleeve is formed and theaccuracy and smoothness with which said strip may be laid within the groove in said sleeve. .It will also be apparent that my invention is an aid in the manufacture of golf clubs, in that the pre-formed sleeve may be readily slipped onto the handle end of the shaft and does not require the skill which is necessary in winding a cork strip and uniformly spacing its convolutions, as with known constructions.

What I claim is:- I A hand grip for golf club shafts comprising a continuous one piece sleeve formed. of cork or other material of limited compressible, disintegratable, and non-slip characteristics in the hand of the player and telescoped over an end portion of the shaft, said sleeve being pre-formed with a spiral groove of extended width in the exterior surface thereof; and a flat strip of a width to fit closely within said groove and of inelastic material having a smooth wear resisting exterior surface, wound about said sleeve within said groove under tension to firmly clamp and hold said sleeve in firm contact with said club shaft and protect the exposed portions of said I,

sleeve between the turns of said groove, said strip being of a thickness to fill said groove flush with the exterior surface of said sleeve between the turns of said strip and being cemented within said groove to firmly hold said strip throughout its entire length flat upon the bottom of said groove, said turns of said strip together providing a smooth wear resisting surface forming an extended portion of the hand grip surface with thenon-slip surface of the sleeve exposed and slightly bulged between said turns by the 10 compression of said sleeve by said strip.

JOHN M. OLDHAM.

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