US2225839A - Golf club - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, l940. w. R. MOQRE, JR

GOLF CLUB Filed June 1'7, 19258 i ih:

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Patented Dec. 24, 1940 PATENT OFFICE GOLF CLUB William R. Moore,

Application June 17,

3 Claims.

4'Ihis invention relates to improvementsin golf clubs and particularly to those clubs used in the short game or in and around the putting green. In the putting stroke, which differs materially from other strokes in the game of golf, the club is grasped by the left hand (assuming that the vplayer is right-handed) and is usually swung with a pendulum action, the left hand acting as a pivot allowing the club head to swing freely back and forth and the right hand assisting in supporting and guiding the putter. However, due in a large part to the fact that the two hands cannot remain at exactly the center of the pivot without shifting the right-hand or skillfully manipulating the wrist as the club moves through, there is a tendency for the right hand to roll over or under during the stroke, thereby opening or closing the club head at the time of impact. Thus with the conventional putter, a 3 more nearly perfect stroke could be arrived at by the use of the left hand alone, assuming the average player had sufficient strength in the left wrist to wield and simultaneously guide the club, since this would permit the club face to more readilyfollow through in a direction at right angles to a line between the ball and the center of the cup'. In fact, it is known that certain players are more successful with a single handed putter than with a two handed club. However, "O in most instances the right handis required, and the use of this hand is primarily responsible for inaccuracy or misalignment of the club head when the ball is stroked.

With a View towards overcoming the foregoing objections, I provide a grip for a golf club, and particularly a putter, having a rotatable .section so positioned with respect to a rigid or non-ro tatable section as to permit the guiding hand (the right hand in the case of a right-handed player and the left hand in the case of a lefthanded player) to rotate or revolve around the shaft of the putter or club during stroking of the ball, and means are also provided whereby the rotatable section may be accurately braked, or its freedom of rotation controlled or adjusted to obtain the most effective stroking action in accordance with the individual using the club.

The primary object of the present invention therefore is to provide a grip for a golf club, and particularly a putter, which will materially improve the accuracy of the putting stroke, and more specically, a golf cluby having a gripy provided with a rotatable section properly positioned with respect to a non-rotatable or rigid grip and Jr., Hagerstown, Md.

1938, Serial No. 214,332

der `control in accordance with requirements of individual exponents of the game.

Other objects include the provision of a club of the type specified wherein the parts are capa.- ble of manufacture and assembly at a minimum of cost and labor and which when assembled remain in proper position despite long and rigoroususe of the club.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in View of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in substantially central longitudinal section of a golf club handle or grip embodying the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of a putter having the grip of Fig. 1 applied thereto;

Fig. 3 is a broken fragmentary View in substantially central longitudinal section of the hano die or grip of Figs. 1 and 2 provided with brake or friction regulation means;

Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the handle of Fig. 3 with parts of the grip and inner tubular members broken away to more clearly show the brake or friction-adjusting means;

Fig. 5 is a View principally in central longitudinal section of la modification in structure; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a still further modified type of grip or handle.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and rst to Figs. l and 2, the putter is provided with a main shaft 5 having lat the lower end thereof a club head 6, the shaft 5 being of the metal tubular type, although solid steel or wood shaftsmay be used, and the improved handle or grip assembly lbeing connected to the upper end ofthe said shaft.

The handle or grip assembly as shown in Figs. 1 and `2, comprises a central tubular handle shaft 'l which extends completely through the handle and at its lower end is connected with the shaft 5 through the medium of a plug 8 having a reduced or ferrule portion 8a adapted to socket into the lower end of the shaft 1. The grip or handle proper comprises fixed or non-rotatable sections S and Il) .and an intermediate relatively rotatable section I I. The sections 9, I0 and Il in the eX- ample illustrated are of the molded type and may r be formed of composition material, such as molded rubber or a phenolic resin or other combination, and a method whereby the handle or grip may be manufactured with a minimum of time and labor and the parts assembled and held in position with accuracy and permanency, is to first insert on the shaft a dividing and bearing ring in the form of a collar I2 which may be comprised of fibrous material, metal or the like and is suitably fixed to the shaft. A tube I3 of suitable material, such as cold rolled steel, brass or analogous metal is then mounted on the shaft 'l and brought up snugly against the collar I2. Another collar I4, which may be similar to the collar I2, is then fixed to the shaft 1 at the opposite end of the tube I3, after which the grip or handle material is molded `as a unit on the parts so assembled. The rotatable section is then severed from the sections 9 and I il. If desired, the collars I2 and |4 may be of a diameter equal to or substantially equal to the diameter of the completed grip or handle so that it may form a line of demarkation as well as a bearing means between the respectivesections. These collars I2 may also be colored in contra-distinction to the. color of the grips, and in short may be designed to improve the efficiency as well asv enhance the appearance of the club.

It will be obvious that this method of manufacture insures a high degree of accuracyand at the same time promotes a structure which retains its efficiency throughout the life of the club.

Vtured andV applied to the club at the time the latter is originally assembled or produced, or it may be manufactured as a separate item and applied to clubs already in use. If desired, the sections 9, I0 and may be made of any desired material, foriexample, they may be made of wood and wrapped with leather, or they may be made of metal. The assembly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, however, is as above noted, particularly adapted for material capable of being molded.

The method of use or operation will be clearly apparent, the left handibeing used to grasp the fixed or non-rotatable section 9 while the right hand grasps therotatable section either in whole or in part in accordance with the methods of use of the respective individuals or players using the club. With the right hand thus free to follow through without any chance of misalignment of the club head with respect to the line of putt, maximum accuracy in the use of the putter is assured.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a grip wherein the rotatable section may be braked or its frictional resistance to rotation accurately adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the individual players. The xed and relatively rotatable grips and tubular'members on which they are ,ited movement through the medium of stud 2| projecting through a slot 22 formed in the wall of the shaft 1a, note particularly Fig. 4( At an intermediate point, afixed bearing and brake anchor block 23 is mounted in the tube la. and anchored through the medium of a stud 24, the said shaft |'I being provided with thrust bearing collars 25 and 26 on opposite sides of the block 23.

A longitudinal brake slot 21 is formed in a portion of the shaft 1a, and a friction or brake member in the form of a piece of spring steel 28 is adapted to have flexing or buckling movement in said slot, said brake member being xed or anchored at its opposite ends to the blocks 2|! and 23 respectively, with the intermediate portion of the brake or spring bowed outwardly and adapted'to frictionally engage the tube |3a which carries the revoluble or rotatable vgrip section Ila. A cap 29 is inserted in the upper end of the handle tube 'Ia and the screw shaft I'| projects therethrough with the cap serving as a centering and bearing member for the outer or upper end of the said shaft.

To adjust the friction resistance to rotation of the revoluble section IIa, it is only necessary to rotate the shaft Il, whereupon the block 2@ is moved either upwardly or downwardly in the tube "la, thereby adjusting the brake 28 with respectto the revoluble section IIa or backing the saine o-i therefrom.V With this assembly, a

fine degree of adjustment may-be conveniently obtained as desired.

,'Fig. 5 shows a rotatable section brake type golf club of simplified construction, the rotatable section being mounted between upper and lower interconnected non-rotatable sections with the parts constructed and arranged so that the central section may be braked by' simply rotating the .upper or top section. In this instance, the top section is indicated at 3U and has connect.-

ed thereto, or formed as an integral part thereof,l a yscrew shaft 3| having its lower end screwthreaded as at 32 and projecting into a lower non-rotatable section 33. The rotatable section, indicated `at 34, is mounted on the shaft 3| between the lowersection 33 and the upper section 3U. It is preferred that the threaded eX- tremity'32 be given a fairly tight threaded fit inthe lower section 33 so that when the upper section isadjusted to frictionally clamp the rotatable section 34 in the desired position between the vnon-rotatable sections, the section 30 and shaft 3| will berretained against rotation.

Fig.Y 6 illustrates a further type of rotatable section brake type grip assembly whereby the central rotatable section may be braked or its z frictional resistance accurately adjusted in accordancewith requirements of individual playing a bearing for a rotatable tubular member 3l whichv carries a rotatable grip section 38, the

latter being mounted between' an upper non-rotatable grip 39 vand a lower non-rotatable grip 40. v rThe grips 38, 39 and 4D haveY their contiguous end faces beveled, forming extended-bearingsurfaces therebetween as indicated at 4| and 4|a. yTheupper grip section 39 is mounted on a ytubular member42 which at its upper end is peened over into an annular recess 43 adjacent the upper end ofthe main handle shaft 35. The inner Wall of the upper end of the shaft 35 is threaded and therein is inserted an adjustable screw plug 44 having thereon a cap 44a, the lat- ,ter carrying a ring portion which defines'the upper boundary of recess 43. By.v slightly rotating the cap 44a, the respective. bearing faces 4| and 4|@ are brought into the requiredfrictional relation. By beveling the contacting faces of the respective sections 38, 39 and 40, extended upper ends together.

bearing surfaces areprovided which promote a more efficient braking action.

In cases where my improved handle or grip is to be applied to a club already in use, I preferably pursue the following method of attachment in order to insure a rugged and lasting connection between the grip and club shaft:

The grip is laid parallel and adjacent the club to which the grip is to be applied, keeping the The upper end of the club shaft 5 is then marked and nicked or ground circumferentially, permitting the shaft to be parted or broken on a true cross sectional diameter. 'Ihe `yferrule portion 8a, of the plug 8 is then inserted Vin the handle shaft 'I and tapped in until the shoulder 8b abuts against the lower end of said latter shaft. The opposite end of the plug may now be planed down and rendered smooth by filing or sanding while rotating the plug soy that an accurate socket engagement between the plug and shaft 5 is provided. The shaft 5 may then be indented with a center punch if desired and the club is ready for use.

In the event of wooden shafts, the plug 8 may be dispensed with and the end of the shaft turned down or otherwise reduced to a point where a press fit is had with respect to the handle shaft 1.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a grip or handle for golf clubs, particularly for putters and clubs used in the short game capable of carrying out the objects heretofore stated with a maximum of efficiency and wherein the parts are capable of long life and rigorous use without impairment of efficiency.

It will be understood that certain changes in structure and design may be' adopted in my improved grip assembly without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as dei-ined by the appended claims.

40 I Claim.

1. A golf club having a handle comprised of upper and lower fixed or non-rotatable sections and an intermediate rotatable section, a central tubular shaft on which said sections are mounted, said shaft being formed with an opening or slot therein, a brake member adapted for movement outwardly and inwardly through said slot, and an adjusting member projecting into the center of said shaft from the upper end of said handle and operatively connected to said brake member whereby the latter may be projected through said slot and exert varying frictional resistance on said rotatable section.

2. A golf club having a handle made up of upper and lower or non-rotatable sections and an intermediate section which is rotatable with respect to said first-named sections, a tubular shaft on which said sections are mounted, said shaft being formed with an opening or longitudinal slot therein, a braking member formed of spring steel positioned in said shaft and adapted to be projected through said slot, means supporting said braking member whereby the latter may be ilexed or bowed outwardly and inwardly through said slot, and an adjusting rod projected through the upper end of said shaft and operatively connected to said supporting means.

3. A golf club having a, handle or grip made up of xed or non-rotatable upper and lower sections and an intermediate rotatable section, a tubular shaft on which said sections are mounted, said shaft being formed with a longitudinal slot therein, a brake member in the form of a strip of spring steel positioned in said shaft adjacent said slot, anchor blocks to which the opposite ends of said strip are secured, at least 35 one of said blocks being mounted for longitudinal movement in said shaft, and a threaded adjusting rod projected into the upper end of said shaft and having its threaded end connected to said movable block.

` WILLIAM R. MOORE, JR.

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