Back to results
US 8,506,414 B2Granted
Golf club sleeve and golf clubs for use therewith
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsJeremy Snyder, Michael G. Taylor, Byron Cole Slaughter, John T. Stites
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A golf club sleeve for use with various golf club structures is presented. The golf club sleeve may have an airfoil shaped cross section and may extend over at least a portion of the shaft of the golf club to reduce drag associated with the shaft during a golf swing, thereby increasing swing speed. The golf club sleeve may be rotatable relative to the shaft of the golf club to orient itself during a swing in order to improve air flow over the sleeve.
Claims33
A golf club, comprising:
- a golf club head;
- a shaft having a first end connected to the golf club head at a hosel;
- a golf club sleeve extending over the shaft and surrounding the shaft, the golf club sleeve having a drag-reducing airfoil shaped geometry, a closure mechanism for securing the golf sleeve to the shaft, and being formed of a substantially rigid material, the golf club sleeve being freely rotatable relative the shaft;
- and
- a reduced-friction transition surface connecting the golf club sleeve to the hosel.
2 more elements
A golf club, comprising:
- a golf club head;
- a shaft having a first end to which the golf club head is connected;
- and
- a golf club sleeve extending over the shaft and surrounding the shaft, the golf club sleeve having a cross-section corresponding to a drag-reducing airfoil and extending outward from the shaft, the golf club sleeve being removably connected to the golf club with at least one closure mechanism and rotatable relative to the shaft.
1 more element
A golf club sleeve, comprising:
- a sleeve body having an airfoil shaped cross section and a closure mechanism, the sleeve body including a leading edge, a trailing edge and a mid-section extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, wherein a thickness of the sleeve body in at least a portion of the midsection is greater than a thickness of the sleeve body at the leading edge and the trailing edge;
- and
- an aperture extending through the airfoil shaped sleeve body, the aperture being sized to correspond to a shaft of a golf club.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.