CUSTOMIZABLE GRIP IMPROVING DEVICE

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to and/or the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/692,608 filed Sep. 5, 2024. The foregoing application is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for the customization and manufacture of grips for equipment, including, but not limited to, for sports and recreation equipment.

SUMMARY

This invention relates generally to a system, device, and method for the customization and manufacture of grips intended for golf clubs but usable in a variety of circumstances and for a variety of types of equipment. Specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in the figures to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. The present invention may have additional embodiments, may be practiced without one or more of the details described for any particular described embodiment, or may have any detail described for one particular embodiment practiced with any other detail described for another embodiment.

The present invention provides resolution of a long-felt need in the field of customization for sports equipment grips. Presently, conventional sports equipment relies on grips that take “one size fits all” or “a few sizes fit most” approaches, which while potentially adequate for casual use and can work at professional levels, has left a long-felt need for a system that is customizable for each athlete.

The invention herein comprises a system, device, and method for the customization and manufacture of grips intended for hand-operated equipment such as sporting equipment like golf clubs, but usable in a variety of circumstances. Other exemplary fields might include construction or similar fields wherein users hold tools and devices, or the medical field wherein physicians and other professionals hold instruments. Essentially the invention can be applicable in any field where a tool, instrument, device, or similar object is held by a user and the user's ability to grip such object may be benefitted.

In some embodiments, the present invention is comprised of a grip for a golf club wherein the grip is comprised of a substantially square, tubular shape comprised of a lattice. In other embodiments, the grip may be cylindrical or have an alternative polygonal cross-section. The exact length of the grip may vary depending on the embodiment or the user.

The lattice, depending on the embodiment, may be comprised of a network of connected shapes that may be the same or may be repeated and may generally be conceived of as an interstitial material with a plurality of apertures within. The connected shapes may be, but are not limited to, circles, squares, triangles, hexagons, pentagons, or other shapes, whether regular or irregular polygons or similar shapes. The shapes may even be exotic comparatively, such as stars, or such similar complex shapes. In some embodiments, the lattice may be comprised of a plurality of such shapes. The size of each shape, depending on the embodiment, may be uniform, or may vary in an embodiment depending on the needs of the user. For example, an embodiment may utilize hexagons that are a centimeter across, but also triangles that are half a centimeter across or may have mixed sizes of hexagons. The shapes may be comprised of material in their perimeter and be hollow inside, while some may be filled. The amount of material, and by extension the thickness of the perimeters of the shapes and the degree to which they are filled may vary depending on the needs of the embodiment.

In some embodiments, a variety of factors can additionally, but not exclusively, be varied, such as, but not limited to the lattice type, the lattice size, the lattice and interstitial material thickness, and the bulk material utilized. In the case of the lattice type, this may be the base shape as described herein or an algorithmic method that drives the shape of the lattice. In the case of lattice thickness, this may be the x, y, and z dimensions of the lattice pieces, wherein some embodiments may feature larger lattice pieces than others. In the case of lattice thickness, this may be customized in a variety of ways, such as the thickness of the individual beams or lines that make up the lattice pieces, or an offset of each lattice piece from each other. In addition, the material used, as described elsewhere herein, can be customized for each one.

Depending on the needs of the embodiment, the device may vary in thickness of the shapes of the lattice and/or interstitial material or the type of material to increase or decrease the overall density and by extension weight of the lattice. Furthermore, depending on the embodiment, the lattice may be textured, such as having an intentional dimpling, or roughing of an exterior surface of the material in order to further improve user grip. The durability for some embodiments could be between, based on shore durometer measurements, between 0010 and D90, but may exceed those bounds as well.

In some embodiments, the device, including the lattice and/or a skin may be comprised of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, plastics, polymers, metals, composites, hybrid materials, ceramics, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the lattice may be comprised of a plurality of the foregoing or other materials in combination, with some portions being one material (or group of materials) and another being a separate set. Depending on the embodiment, the lattice may be created through a process of 3-D printing wherein small portions of material are deposited and allowed to solidify before additional material is deposited. Alternatively, the lattice may be created through other 3-D printing technologies, such as stereolithography, digital light processing as well as continuous liquid interface production (clip) and multijet modeling; or the device may be constructed using conventional techniques such as, but not limited to, using molds or hand sculpting.

Some embodiments of the invention may be comprised of a method of preparing a grip for sports equipment for a user wherein the method involves determining the density, weight, length, texture, and other qualities optimal for the user and producing through, for example, a 3D printer or similar device, a version of the lattice-based grip for such user that precisely meets their requirements. In some embodiments, the method may personalize or otherwise customize the grip for the user based on their preferences regarding appearance, weight, material, shape, and grip for such user. Other qualities may be customized as well in other embodiments; for example, hardness of the material used to create the lattice may be altered, which may impact the quality of the grip or other factors. Additionally, factors such as the exact type of lattice, such as the baseline shape or an algorithm driving the design of the lattice, may be customized in some embodiments. The lattice type's size, such as its dimensions in the x, y and z planes, can be customized. The thickness of the lattice can further be customized, wherein the beams that make up the individual parts of the lattice may be varied in thickness. The material used, as described herein, can also be customized based on the needs of the user or embodiment.

In some embodiments, the lattice may be constructed using various forms of printing technology, such as, but not limited to, vision-controlled jetting or digital light synthesis to deposit material in small amounts in order to construct the lattice. In other embodiments, it may be constructed by casting the intended design in a mold, or the lattice may be sculpted by a machine or worker who carves and/or punches the lattice into form. In some embodiments, multiple approaches may be utilized, such as, but not limited to, an initial 3D print followed by fine-tuning by a user.

The invention, depending on the needs of a user or the embodiment itself, may be customizable using a software or similar program wherein a user, aided by a computer, is able to configure a desirable material, shape, weight, and grip, along with any other potential customizable aspects as described herein, and have the computer construct the lattice based on that input wherein the computer analyzes the user's choices and preferences to make determinations of optimal lattice construction. The lattice can then be constructed and shipped to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grip improving device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a grip improving device attached to a golf club, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 3A-C are top views of configurations of a grip improving device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 4A-C are side views of configurations of a grip improving device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a grip improving device being assembled, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a grip improving device with a partially applied skin, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a step diagram showing the method of manufacturing an example of the grip improving device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective, view of a grip improving device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the grip improving device 100, is comprised of substantially tubular lattice 102 comprised of an interstitial material 104 and a plurality of apertures 106 configured to improve grip on the device 100 by a user wherein the device is further configured to be inserted onto the handle component of a piece of equipment.

The exact shape of the apertures 106 of the lattice 102 may vary, as may their width and relative size to each other. For example, some embodiments may feature apertures 106 that are substantially uniform in pattern along the lattice 102, while others may have apertures 106 that vary in size. The apertures 106, along with other features of the grip 100, may serve to create differentials of pressure between the grip 100 and the hand of the user, where the pockets of air created by the apertures 106 have a different pressure than the areas between the interstitial material 104 and the hand of the user, thereby creating a slight suction in some cases, or at least improving friction between the user's hand and grip 100.

The grip improving device 100 may be constructed via a variety of means, with some embodiments being constructed using 3-D printing methods such as, but not limited to, fused deposition modelling or filament freeform fabrication. In such embodiments, the lattice 102 may be a variety of thicknesses. In some embodiments, the device, including the lattice 102 and/or a skin may be comprised of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, plastics, polymers, metals, composites, hybrid materials, ceramics, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the grip 100 may be comprised of a plurality of the foregoing or other materials in combination, with some portions being one material (or group of materials) and another being a separate set.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, view of a grip improving device attached to a golf club, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, the grip improving device 100, is comprised of substantially tubular lattice 102 comprised of an interstitial material 104 and a plurality of apertures 106 configured to improve grip on the device 100 by a user wherein the grip improving device 100 is further configured to be inserted onto the handle 200 component of a piece of equipment 202. As is visible in FIG. 2, the grip improving device 100 is attached at an end of an exemplary equipment 202, a golf putter, supplementing the golf putter's standard handle 200, though some embodiments of the invention may replace the existing grip or handle 200 of the equipment 202, including, without limitation, when used on golf clubs.

Depending on the embodiment and the needs thereof, the grip improving device 100 may be configured to be used for sporting equipment 202, construction tools, military hardware, or any other human-operated mechanical device configured to be held by hand, whether existing or future developed.

As the grip improving device 100 is intended to be customizable, the grip improving device 100 may be configured of a plurality of different textures, and the texture of the grip improving device 100 may vary along its length. For example, one embodiment may feature a lattice 102 with relatively large apertures 106 at one end that become finer as they proceed towards the other end, or the lattice 102 may even become solid with no apertures 106 at an end.

Depending on the embodiment, the exact shape of the apertures 106 used to improve grip texture may vary, with some variations calling for circular, square, triangular, hexagonal, irregular, or other polygonal shapes and in some embodiments combinations of the foregoing. Some variants may utilize specific patterns or images as the apertures 106 such as flowers, hearts, or other shapes as desired by the user. Some users may prefer aperture 106 shapes that maximize the grip improvement while others may wish to balance the grip improvement with personal aesthetics. Some embodiments may vary the aperture 106 shapes, using a combination of the shapes mentioned or others. The width of the apertures 106 may vary widely, from fractions of a millimeter, 0.1 mm, in diameter to a 3-4 centimeters wide, or wider depending on the nature of the shape being used to form them. For clarity, such width may be an average or may be the longest or shortest diameter from a center point of the aperture 106. Sometimes the width of the apertures 106 will vary along the length of the lattice 102 or may be consistent. In some cases, the apertures 106 will vary in width in a pattern, such as a gradient, or other pattern as desired by the user. For example, a hypothetical user may find a wider diameter pattern more appealing at the back of a handle 200 of equipment 202, while narrower diameters are more appealing towards the front, thus the apertures 106 will such vary.

In other embodiments, the interstitial material 104 of the lattice 102 between the apertures 106 may have a texture in addition to the interstitial material 104 portion, such as a roughened surface, dimpling, a pattern of embossed or raised portions, sanding, or other types. Depending on the embodiment, the apertures 106 and any texturing may differ from side to side on the grip improving device 100, along its length, a combination thereof, or at any specified portion. For example, some users may prefer to have a texture that only applies in the middle third of the length of the grip improving device 100, while others may want to have a pattern of textured and untextured portions of the grip improving device 100.

The present invention, as described in the foregoing, may be used in a variety of contexts, and as such various embodiments may rely on various thicknesses of the interstitial material 104 of the tubular portion of the grip improving device 100. The grip improving device 100 may vary in thickness as widely as 0.1 millimeter to a centimeter thick, while other variants may exceed this range depending on the materials used to construct them. For example, certain materials may have a tolerance for being thinner without failure and thus may go below the 0.1 millimeter general thickness tolerance.

The shape of the grip improving device 100 may vary, with some variants replacing the handle 200 of the equipment 202 they are used on, others may be inserted over an existing handle 200 or grip in order to supplement the existing component. In some embodiments, the grip improving device 100 may take on a different shape from the existing handle 200 or grip of the equipment 202 to provide a better angle or other improvement to the usage of the equipment 202 in question. There is no requirement that the grip improving device 100 be substantially straight along its long axis, and some variants may be curved and/or bent.

As with the overall shape of the grip improving device 100, the length of the grip improving device 100 may also vary depending on the needs of the user, with some matching the length of the existing grip or handle 200 of the equipment 202, while others may extend beyond the existing grip or handle 200 or be shorter than it. In some cases, it may be preferable for the embodiment to be variable in length, with some sides being longer than others.

FIGS. 3A-C are top views of configurations of a grip improving device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As is visible, the tubular structure, when viewed from above, for certain embodiments, is substantially straight with an opening at a far end. Each embodiment in FIGS. 3A-C demonstrates a different potential top-down configuration, with FIG. 3A showing a roughly irregular pentagon with rounded corners, FIG. 3B showing a wider variant, and FIG. 3C showing a further rounded variant. These variants show versions that may be attached to the golf club in FIG. 1, however other variants might be circular, square, or take on any other shape in cross-section, depending on the existing handle 200 of the equipment 202 the grip improving device 100 is being utilized with. For example, with a hockey stick, the grip improving device 100 may instead utilize a rounded-square shape when viewed from above to match that of the stick, while a baseball bat variant may utilize a substantially circular grip shape when viewed from above.

FIGS. 4A-C are side views of configurations of a grip improving device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As is visible in FIGS. 4A-C, the lattice 102 of the grip improving device 100 may take a variety of configurations depending on the needs of the embodiment. For example, in FIG. 4A is depicted a variant with substantially ovular apertures 106 arranged in a pattern, with the aperture 106 sizes varying at the top and bottom. In FIG. 4B is depicted a variant with substantially square apertures 106 and a relatively small amount of interstitial material 104 between each aperture 106, though depending on the embodiment and needs of a user the interstitial material 104 may be increased or decreased. Lastly, in FIG. 4C is depicted a variant akin to a mesh with extremely small apertures 106 and small interstitial material 104. What drives the choice of configuration will vary based on the user, equipment the invention is being used on, and/or materials the invention is constructed from.

For some examples of the invention it may be further equipped with a skin that is applied to either the outer face of the lattice 102, an inner face, or both. In the case of an inner-facing skin, it may help (or in some cases hinder) adherence of the lattice 102 to the equipment it is attached to, modify the frictional interaction thereof, or potentially provide cushioning or some other benefit to the user. In the case of an outer-facing skin it may provide the same foregoing benefits. The composition of the skin may vary depending on the needs of the user and embodiment; in some cases it may be comprised of the same material as the lattice 102, while in other cases it may be preferable for it to be comprised of different materials, or a combination of the same and different materials. The skin itself may be the same size as the lattice 102, or in some cases it may be shorter or longer, depending on the specific embodiment. Depending on the embodiment, the skin may range in ductility from flexible to rigid and may vary across the applicable embodiment. Some variations of the skin may be configured as sheath that covers the lattice 102, while others may take the form of a wrapping or tape that is coiled or otherwise wrapped around the lattice 102.

As is visible in FIG. 4A, some embodiments of the invention may be comprised of more than a 2-dimensional lattice 102 comprised of interstitial material 104 and apertures 106, but may instead be a 3-dimensional one, which while still comprised of interstitial material 104 and apertures 106, the structure of the lattice 102 may be porous when viewed from the outside, with a network of tunnel-like apertures 106 working through it. Such designs may be desirable to improve resilience or grip, depending on the embodiment. The exact shape of each lattice 102, in the 3-dimensional configuration, may vary widely depending on the desired aperture 106 sizes and interstitial material 104 configurations.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a grip improving device 100 being assembled, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The grip improving device 100 may be constructed by a 3-D printer 500 or similar fabrication device by having it print the lattice 102 component as in this example, though may also be constructed via die or form casting, or may be constructed using hand or similar tools by a worker, depending on the needs of the embodiment in question. Depending on the embodiment, the grip improving device 100 may be constructed in layers by applying layers of material over each other until the desired result is achieved; in some embodiments this may involve repeating substantially the same layer over and over, while in others the layers may vary depending on the angle the grip improving device 100 is being constructed from and/or the desired structure of the lattice 102. For example, some lattice 102 configurations may be 3-dimensional in shape, which may necessitate that each layer be different, though notably in some situations even three-dimensional shapes may be constructed using largely the same shape of layer stacked on itself at various angles.

For some examples of the invention, the construction of the device may take the first step of scanning or otherwise measuring certain parameters of the to-be user's hands; this may involve having the user simulate their grip on the piece of equipment the grip improving device 100 is intended for, or may be agnostic of such simulation and focus primarily on the hand-shape, extrapolating as needed. The scan may involve a variety of approaches, such as radiological scans, pressure testing, or the use of plasters, plastics, resins, molds, foams, or other means of mechanically replicating the hands and/or grip of the user. From there, the result would be input into the appropriate system, which for some examples might involve the use of computer software to interpret the scan result to recommend a grip improving device 100 structure. Depending on the embodiment, the user may make determinations on their own, may be able to adjust the recommendation provided by the system, or may have the system make a new recommendation based on user input, or some combination thereof.

In the event that the invention features a skin or similar component, that component may, in some cases, be manufactured in tandem with the lattice 102 itself, such that it envelopes the lattice 102 as an external layer that may or may not be bonded to the lattice 102. Some examples of the skin may be constructed in tandem with the lattice 102 but separately and then applied after the completion of the lattice 102.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a grip improving device 100 with a partially applied skin 600, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As is visible in FIG. 6, the grip improving device 100 may, in some embodiments, be covered with a skin 600 component. Depending on the needs of the embodiment, the skin 600 component may be comprised of the same or different materials as the skin 600, may or may not be textured or comprised of the same lattice 102 configuration, and may cover some or all of the grip improving device 100. For example, some embodiments may call for a relatively thin skin 600 whereby the texture created by the apertures and lattice 102 of the grip improving device 100 may be perceptible through the skin 600. The skin 600 may be manufactured in parallel with the lattice 102, or may be manufactured before or after, depending on the desired method of construction, and may or may not be constructed in the same way. Some embodiments may feature a skin 600 that is different in durability or other qualities from the lattice 102.

For some examples of the invention it may be further equipped with a skin 600 that is applied to either the outer face of the lattice 102, an inner face, or both. In the case of an inner-facing skin 600, it may help (or in some cases hinder) adherence of the lattice 102 to the equipment it is attached to, modify the frictional interaction thereof, or potentially provide cushioning or some other benefit to the user. In the case of an outer-facing skin 600 it may provide the same foregoing benefits. The composition of the skin 600 may vary depending on the needs of the user and embodiment; in some cases it may be comprised of the same material as the lattice 102, while in other cases it may be preferable for it to be comprised of different materials, or a combination of the same and different materials. The skin 600 itself may be the same size as the lattice 102, or in some cases it may be shorter or longer, depending on the specific embodiment. Depending on the embodiment, the skin 600 may range in ductility from flexible to rigid and may vary across the applicable embodiment. Some variations of the skin 600 may be configured as sheath that covers the lattice 102, while others may take the form of a wrapping or tape that is coiled or otherwise wrapped around the lattice 102 or may be sprayed or painted onto it.

FIG. 7 is a step diagram showing the method of manufacturing an example of the grip improving device, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, a method of creating a grip improving device comprises: selecting a piece of equipment intended to be gripped by an intended user 700; obtaining at least one piece of information relating to the intended user 702, such as, but not limited to, their grip, hand structure, or other features; determining an improved grip configuration for a substantially tubular lattice grip improvement device comprised of apertures of at least one size based on the information relating to the intended user 704; and fabricating a substantially tubular lattice grip improvement device based on the improved grip configuration 706. Depending on the situation and embodiment, additional steps of modifying the improved grip improving device may be based on adjusting to meet preferences of the intended user, testing the resultant grip improvement device to determine whether it is suitable for the task, and/or other reasons such as aesthetics 708.

The step of obtaining information relating to the grip of the user 702 may be accomplished in a myriad of ways such as the use of radiological scans, pressure testing, or the use of plasters, plastics, resins, molds, foams, or other means of mechanically replicating the hands and/or grip of the user. In some embodiments, it may be preferable to display the results of such information gathering on a computer or similar media, and to permit an intended user to modify the data to correct inaccuracies or adjust preferences. Once the data is gathered, the user can on their own or using assistance such as a computer to determine an improved grip configuration. Notably, what constitutes an “improved” grip configuration may vary depending on the needs of the user. For example, for some users that may mean improved ability to hold the applicable equipment, while for other users it may mean allowing for different friction levels which may allow the equipment to move in their hand more easily except under certain circumstances. Naturally, the exact needs will vary depending on the purpose the equipment is used for.

Depending on the embodiment, the information regarding the user may not be related to their specific hand or grip, but may be based on other factors relevant to the user and the intended use of the device being gripped, such as a user's form and/or posture used when golfing (which may be derived from or influenced by their height, weight, sex, or other conditions). So, by way of example, if the user is shorter than average, the customized grip for that user may take into account their height and how that may impact the way they use the equipment in question relative to someone that is taller.

When reaching the last, optional step of modifying the improved grip based on preferences, testing, or use 708, a variety of factors can be considered, and it is not necessarily required that the improved grip be tested at all or in any particular condition prior to modification. For example, a user may find it aesthetically displeasing and make modifications based on a proposed design rather than the manufactured one.

As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the terms “a” and “an” are taken to mean “one”, “at least one” or “one or more”. Unless otherwise required by context, singular terms used herein shall include pluralities and plural terms shall include the singular.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural and singular number, respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” and “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of the application.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of these preferred and alternate embodiments. Instead, the invention should be determined by reference to the claims that follow.