Grip protector

Abstract

A protection device for the golf club grips includes a compartment adapted to slideably receive the grip and protect the grip from moisture, precipitation and debris. In one embodiment, multiple compartments are combined to create a useful club tote having a strap for carrying and a clip for attaching to a golf-bag. The device advantageously enables the golfer to carry a partial set of clubs on the fairway or green, or during practice at a driving range, protecting the clubs from moisture, precipitation and debris when the unused clubs rest on the ground or lean against an object when not being used.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 249,001 filed on Oct. 12, 2005 titled “Grip Protector” by the same, common inventor.BACKGROUND [0002] This invention relates generally to a protective device for shafts and more specifically to a protective sleeve for golf-club grips. [0003] There are an estimated 26-million golfers in the United States and an estimated 55-million golfers worldwide. And, golf, as both a recreational pastime and professional sport, enjoys increasing popularity. [0004] With this increasing popularity there is a growing demand for improved courses, apparel, equipment, and accessories. For example, the current market supports many products designed to enhance play. Certain products are designed to enhance play during inclement weather and, thus, the market is replete with a variety of umbrellas, wind shirts, rain jackets, and other paraphernalia designed to extend the golfer's ability to play in rainy, cold, and win...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020] To overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and to solve heretofore-unidentified problems and address a gap left by existing technology and create a new market segment, the present invention comprises a golf-club grip protection device that is ideally suited to the rigors of use. The present invention is readily storable, resists moisture penetration, is of light-weight construction, is durable, resists tearing and punctures, provides a surface suitable for featuring a brand name, logo, or other indicia of origin or serve as advertisement for promotional purposes, is readily cleanable, is easy to use, is convenient to carry, is inexpensive to produce, is ergonomically designed, and is easy to store when not in use, for example.

Problems solved by technology

Often, inclement weather causes the golf-club grips to become wet.

And, the grips on golf clubs perform best when they are dry and clean because, to maintain good contact with the club, especially during a swing, the golfer relies on a grip that offers tacky and dry interface between the club and the golfer's hands.

Wet grips also degrade the impact-absorbing feature of golf club grips.

The combined affect of inclement weather and wet grips may result in a poor shot, or in extreme cases, damage to the club or injury to the golfer, other golfers in the group, or spectators as the club unexpectedly and suddenly launches from the hands of the swinging golfer.

However, this solution is not without problems.

For example, during inclement weather maintaining a dry towel in itself is a challenging task.

Also, repeated use during inclement weather diminishes the ability of the towel to absorb water.

Moreover, this towel solution is inadequate even when the weather conditions are ideal.

This practice, while quite common, may inadvertently introduce dirt and debris on the grip.

Frequently, the golfer takes two or more clubs from the bag and carries the clubs to the ball in play because the golfer is not sure which club will be optimal.

And, several common situations that necessitate the extraction of two or more clubs from the bag include an elevated tee box that is not accessible for a motorized cart and not easily accessible for a pull cart, a shot on a fairway between the tee box and green area when motorized carts—by course rules—are prohibited from leaving the cart path, or an approach shot near the green when the golfer also carries the putter in anticipation of the final stroke.

Another situation arises when there is no precipitation, but the ground is wet from previous precipitation or watering.

If there is precipitation or if the ground is wet, they face the same challenges of keeping the grips dry as when they are golfing.

The current method of using a towel to maintain dry grips is problematic because the task of maintaining a dry towel itself is an onerous task, for example.

Also, the towel cannot adequately be utilized as a transport device for a small set of clubs.

Further, the towel does not adequately protect the grips from inadvertent contact from foreign objects.

Existing protection devices for golf clubs do not offer this needed protection and may be classified as head protection devices, combined head and shaft protection devices, or entire club protection devices.

However, each of the devices of the aforementioned patents do not adequately protect the grip from the problems mentioned above.

Moreover, the marketplace, such as sporting-good stores, golf pro-shops, and big-box retailer, plus an observed lack of suitable devices on many golf courses demonstrates a long-felt need that is not being addressed.

Today's golfers do not have any devices adapted to protect the golf-club grip other than the inadequate, but traditional, towel.

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