US20080171611A1

US20080171611A1 - Golf club

Info

Publication number: US20080171611A1
Application number: US11/679,232
Authority: US
Inventors: Young Hun YEO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-11
Filing date: 2007-02-27
Publication date: 2008-07-17

Abstract

The present invention relates to a golf club in which a plurality of air pockets is formed on a grip portion thereof so as to absorb and eliminate the shock produced from a head portion of the golf club when hitting a golf ball.

The golf club comprises a main body having a head portion located at one end thereof and a grip portion located at the other end thereof; and a shock-absorbing means fittingly coupled to the entire outer surface of the grip portion for absorbing a shock produced from the head portion when hitting a golf ball, the shock-absorbing, means having a plurality of air pockets formed therein and being made of a soft rubber or synthetic resin having its cushion force.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club, and more particular, to a golf club in which a plurality of air pockets is formed on a grip portion thereof so as to absorb and eliminate the shock produced from a head portion of the golf club when hitting a golf ball.
2. Background of the Related Art
In general, a head portion of a golf club for a driving shot has a weight of about 200 g. Thus, the shock generated from the head portion of the golf club when hitting a golf ball is directly transmitted to the hands of a golfer while the golfer swings the golf club to hit the golf ball toward a fairway. Although there is a little difference depending on an individual golfer, the shock is susceptible to damage directly to the joints of the hands of the golfer as a consequence of the repeated shock.
Moreover, in case where the golfer inadvertently strikes the ground instead of the golf ball with his or her golf club, the shock generated from the head portion is much larger, thereby significantly damaging the joints of a golfer's hands or arms.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent the forgoing problems, there has been disclosed a golf club in which a sheet-type member made of soft rubber or synthetic resin is provided on a grip portion of the golf club with an expectation of its shock-absorbing effect. However it cannot effectively absorb and eliminate the shock produced from a head portion of the golf club when hitting the golf ball since the golf club is constructed such that the soft rubber or synthetic resin member is in close contact with the grip portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above problems occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club in which a plurality of air pockets is formed on a grip portion thereof, so that the shock produced from a head portion of the golf club when hitting a golf ball can be absorbed therethrough without being directly transmitted to the golfer.
In order to accomplish the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a golf club which comprises a main body having a head portion located at one end thereof and a grip portion located at the other end thereof; and a shock-absorbing means fittingly coupled to the entire outer surface of the grip portion for absorbing a shock produced from the head portion when hitting a golf ball. Here, the shock-absorbing means has a plurality of air pockets formed therein and is made of a soft rubber or synthetic resin having its cushion force.
Preferably, the plurality of air pockets is outwardly protrusively formed on the shock-absorbing means in a generally semi-circular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be opened at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion.
Preferably, the plurality of air pockets is outwardly protrusively formed on the shock-absorbing means in a semi-circular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be closed at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion.
Also, preferably, the plurality of air pockets is formed in a rectangular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be opened at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion, and the top surface of each air pocket is parallel to the shock-absorbing means.
In addition, preferably, the plurality of air pockets is formed in a rectangular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be closed in its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion, and the top surface of each air pocket is parallel to the shock-absorbing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a golf club according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a magnified cross sectional view of a grip portion taken along the line I-I in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of the part indicated by “A” in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a magnified cross sectional view of a grip portion according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a magnified view of the part indicated by “B” in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a magnified cross sectional view of a grip portion according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a magnified view of the part indicated by “C” in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a magnified cross sectional view of a grip portion according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a magnified view of the part indicated by “D” in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, the transparent ornament of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a golf club according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a magnified cross sectional view of a grip portion taken along the line I-I, in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a magnified view of the part indicated by “A” in FIG. 2.
As shown in drawings, the golf club of the present invention includes a main body 100. The main body 100 has a head portion 102 located at one end thereof for hitting a golf ball and a grip portion 110 located at the other end thereof for gripping it with a user's hands.
A shock-absorbing means 120 made of a soft rubber or synthetic resin having its cushion force is fittingly coupled to the entire outer surface of the grip portion 110 so as to allow a golfer to comfortably grip the grip portion 110 as well as absorb the shock produced from the head portion 102 when hitting a golf ball.
Further, the shock-absorbing means 120 has a plurality of air pockets 122 formed therein for absorbing the shock produced from the head portion 102 when hitting the golf ball.
Preferably, the plurality of air pockets 122 of the shock-absorbing means 120 is outwardly protrusively formed on the shock-absorbing means 120 in a generally semi-circular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be opened at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion, as described in a preferred embodiment of the invention. Here, the plural air pockets can be simply formed by outwardly embossing the shock-absorbing means 120.
The golf club of the invention can absorb the shock produced from the head portion 102 when hitting a golf ball by means of the plural air pockets 122, so that the shock transmitted to a golfer's hands is alleviated, thereby protecting the joints of the hands of the golfer. In other words, the shock waves generated from the head portion 102 of the main body 100 when hitting the golf ball is absorbed by means of the plural air, pockets 122, so that the shock is hardly transmitted to the golfer's hands, thereby protecting the joints of the hands of the golfer.
FIG. 4 is a magnified cross sectional view of a grip portion according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a magnified view of the part indicated by “B” in FIG. 4.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the second embodiment, the golf club has an identical configuration and operational effect to that of the first embodiment, except that there is a difference in the formation of the air pockets. In other words, the plurality of air pockets 122 of the second embodiment of the invention has a similar configuration to that of the first embodiment in that it is outwardly protrusively formed on the shock-absorbing means 120 in a semi-circular shape in its cross section, but, it has a different configuration from that of the first embodiment in that the plurality of air pockets 122 is closed at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion. That is, the plurality of air pockets 122 is formed inside the shock-absorbing means 120 in a closed semi-circular shape in its cross section.
The plurality of air pockets 122 according to the second embodiment has an identical effect to that of the first embodiment as described above, so that the shock waves generated from the head portion when hitting the golf ball can be absorbed by means of the air pockets 122, thereby protecting the joints of the a golfer's hands.
FIG. 6 is a magnified cross sectional view of a grip portion according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 2, and FIG. 7 is a magnified view of the part indicated by “C” in FIG. 6.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in the third embodiment, the golf club has an identical configuration and operational effect to that of the forgoing embodiments, except that there is a difference in the formation of the air pockets. In other words, the plurality of air pockets 122 of the third embodiment of the invention is formed in a rectangular shape in its section in such a manner as to be opened at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion. At this time, the top surface of each air pocket 122 is parallel to the shock-absorbing means 120.
The plurality of air pockets 122 according to the third embodiment has an identical effect to that of the forgoing embodiments as described above, so that the shock waves generated from the head portion when hitting the golf ball can be absorbed by means of the air pockets 122, thereby protecting the joints of the a golfer's hands.
FIG. 8 is a magnified cross sectional view of a grip portion according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the same direction as in FIG. 2, and FIG. 9 is a magnified view of the part indicated by “D” in FIG. 8.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the fourth embodiment, the golf club has an identical configuration and operational effect to that of the forgoing embodiments, except that there is a difference in the formation of the air pockets. In other words, the plurality of air pockets 122 of the fourth embodiment of the invention has a similar configurations to that of the third embodiment in that it is formed in a rectangular shape in its cross section and the outer surface of the shock-absorbing means 120 is parallel to the outer surface of the grip portion, but it has a different configuration from that of the third embodiment in that the plurality of air pockets 122 is closed at its lower end facing the outer surface of the grip portion. That is, the plurality of air pockets 122 is formed inside the shock-absorbing means 120 in a closed rectangular shape in its cross section.
The plurality of air pockets 122 according to the fourth embodiment has an identical effect to that of the forgoing embodiments as described above, so that the shock waves generated from the head portion when hitting the golf ball can be absorbed by means of the air pockets 122, thereby protecting the joints of the a golfer's hands.
According to the forgoing embodiments, the respective embodiments are different from only in the formation of the air pockets 122. That is, according to the first and second embodiments, the air pockets 122 are outwardly protrusively formed on the shock-absorbing means 120 in a semi-circular shape in their cross section. According to the third and fourth embodiments, the air pockets 122 are formed in a rectangular shape in their cross section, and the top surface of each air pocket 122 is parallel to the shock-absorbing means 120.
Further, according to the first and third embodiments, the plurality of air pockets 122 is opened at its lower end facing the outer surface of the grip portion. According to the second and fourth embodiments, the plurality of air pockets 122 is closed at its lower end facing the outer surface of the grip portion.
The plurality of the air pockets 122 according to the forgoing embodiments has an identical operation and effect. That is, the air pockets 122 may readily absorb the shock waves generated from the head portion when hitting the golf ball, thereby protecting the joints of the golfer's hands.
In particular, according to the golf club of the invention, the golf club can be used only by fittingly coupling the shock-absorbing means 120 having the air pockets 122 formed therein to the golf club. That is, in case where a golfer trains a lot with his or her golf club, the shock generated when hitting a golf ball is increased. At this time, the shock is effectively absorbed by means of the plurality air pockets 122, thereby protecting the joints of the golfer's hands. Accordingly, the golf club of the invention can effectively alleviate the shock increased in proportion to a training amount, thereby protecting the joints of the golfer's hands.
As described above, according to the invention, the golf club has an effect in that the shock generated from the head portion when hitting a golf ball is absorbed so as to alleviate the shock transmitted to the golfer's hands, thereby protecting the joints of the golfer's hands.
While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising;

a main body having a head portion located at one end thereof and a grip portion located at the other end thereof; and

a shock-absorbing means fittingly coupled to the entire outer surface of the grip portion for absorbing a shock produced from the head portion when hitting a golf ball, the shock-absorbing means having a plurality of air pockets formed therein and being made of a soft rubber or synthetic resin having its cushion force.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of air pockets is outwardly protrusively formed on the shock-absorbing means in a generally semi-circular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be opened at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion.

3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of air pockets is outwardly protrusively formed on the shock-absorbing means in a semi-circular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be closed at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion.

4. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of air pockets is formed in a rectangular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be opened at its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion, and the top surface of each air pocket is parallel to the shock-absorbing means.

5. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of air pockets is formed in a rectangular shape in its cross section in such a manner as to be closed in its lower end which faces the outer surface of the grip portion, and the top surface of each air pocket is parallel to the shock-absorbing means.