Flexible Golf Grip Cap With Sensor Cavity And Stiffening Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flexible golf club grips with elastomeric materials face challenges in accommodating electronic sensors or counterweights without increasing lateral deflection or 'wobble', which degrades the grip's feel and stability, especially when a harder elastomer is used to enhance stiffness.
Innovation Solution
The grip design incorporates a cap with a cavity for the sensor or counterweight, featuring an annular flange, extended tubular sleeve, and optional circumferential ribs or fibrous material reinforcement, maintaining the durometer of the body portion while providing increased stiffness without harshening the feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the grip length is extended beyond the end of the club shaft to accommodate the sensor or counterweight, then the space for sensing device is improved, but the resistance to bending is reduced resulting in increased lateral deflection or oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the cap beyond the end of the grip body in the longitudinal dimension to accommodate the sensor and counterweight, rather than increasing the overall grip diameter or length in other dimensions. This allows the sensing device to be housed in the extended cap portion while maintaining the grip's lateral stiffness through the reinforced sleeve structure.
2Strength
If a harder elastomer with higher durometer is used in the cap to reduce lateral deflection, then the resistance to lateral deflection is improved, but the feel of the grip becomes harsher and slip resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local reinforcement to the cap region through the embedded sleeve structure, which provides the necessary lateral stiffness only where needed (in the cap area housing the sensor). The main grip body retains its original softer elastomeric material, preserving the comfortable feel and slip resistance that users expect from the grip surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap is constructed as a composite structure combining the elastomeric material with an embedded sleeve that may be made from a stiffer material. This composite construction provides the required lateral stiffness to prevent wobble while allowing the elastomeric portions to maintain their original softness and tactile properties.
3Measurement precision
If a balance counterweight is included in the cap, then the swing characteristics measurement is improved, but the length beyond the club shaft increases significantly resulting in more wobble
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the counterweight within the extended cap region, utilizing the longitudinal extension beyond the grip body to position the weight. The embedded sleeve structure in this extended region provides the necessary lateral support to prevent wobble, allowing the counterweight to be effectively positioned without compromising grip stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible elastomeric grip for the shaft of a golf club having an end cap with a cavity for receiving a sensor and/or counterweight. The cap has a durometer hardness equal to or greater than the tubular body portion of the grip and a flange sized to match the larger diameter of the body, with a sleeve engaging the inner periphery of the larger end of the tubular body. In one version of the cap, the sleeve portion is extended in length and has stiffening ribs on the outer surface of the sleeve; and, in another version, the sleeve is shorter and may also have stiffening ribs on the outer surface of the sleeve. In another version of the cap, fibrous material is disposed in the flange and sleeve to increase lateral stiffness without increasing durometer.