Shaft enveloping counterweight apparatus and method

Abstract

Shaft enveloping counterweight ( 10 ) includes an external weight ( 12 ) attached to the outside ( 23 ) hollow shaft ( 22 ). An internal weight plug ( 14 ) is attached to the inside ( 25 ) of hollow shaft ( 22 ) so that hollow shaft ( 22 ) is enveloped by and between the external weight ( 12 ) and the internal weight plug ( 14 ). In a preferred embodiment, a cap ( 16 ) includes a top ( 24 ) and a base ( 26 ) wherein the base ( 26 ) is connected to the internal weight plug ( 14 ) and the top ( 24 ) is connected to the base ( 26 ) and forms and overhanging lip ( 28 ). Base ( 26 ) is also connected to external weight ( 12 ). Further, wrap ( 40 ) covers grip core ( 18 ), external weight ( 12 ), and base ( 26 ).

1 . In a handheld instrument with a shaft, with a working end and a grip end, with at least a portion of the grip end comprising a hollow shaft, a shaft enveloping counterweight comprising: 
 (a) an external weight attached to the outside of the hollow shaft; and    (b) an internal weight plug attached inside said hollow shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a cap connected to the internal weight plug, said cap comprising a top and a base wherein the base is connected to said plug and the top is connected to said base and forms an overhanging lip.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said base is connected to said external weight.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said external weight has a certain length and the internal weight plug extends into the shaft approximately the length of the external weight.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the external weight has a certain length and the internal weight plug extends into the shaft beyond the length of the external weight.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a wrap which covers said external weight and said base.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the combined weight of the external weight and the internal weight plug is more than 300 grams.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising a grip core, reduced in length by the cumulative total length of said external weight and said cap, through which said shaft passes.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the grip core is reduced in length so that approximately 2 inches of shaft protrudes beyond the grip core.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the handheld instrument is selected from a group including: golf clubs, tennis racquets, badminton racquets, racquetball racquets, lacrosse sticks and hockey sticks.  
     
     
         11 . In a golf club with a shaft with a bottom connected to a club and a top, with at least part of the top of the shaft hollow, a shaft enveloping counterweight comprising: 
 (a) an external weight attached to the outside of the hollow shaft;    (b) an internal weight plug connected to the inside said hollow shaft so that said hollow shaft is enveloped by and between said external weight and said internal weight plug;    (c) a grip core through which said hollow shaft passes; and    (d) a golf wrap surrounding said grip core and said external weight.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising a cap connected to the internal weight plug, said cap comprising a top and a base wherein the base is connected to said internal weight plug and the top is connected to said base and forms an overhanging lip.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said base is connected to said external weight.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said external weight has a certain length and the internal weight plug extends into the hollow shaft approximately the length of the external weight.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said external weight has a certain length and the internal weight plug extends into the hollow shaft beyond the length of the external weight.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said golf wrap surrounds said grip core, said external weight, and said base.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the combined weight of the external weight and the internal weight plug is more than 300 grams.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said grip core is reduced in length so that approximately 1.8 inches of the hollow shaft protrudes beyond said grip core.  
     
     
         19 . In a golf club with a shaft, with a bottom connected to a club and a top, with at least part of the top of the shaft hollow, a method of counterweighting the golf club comprising the steps of: 
 (a) attaching an external weight to the outside of the hollow shaft; and    (b) attaching an internal weight plug inside said hollow shaft so that said hollow shaft is enveloped by and between said external weight and said internal weight plug.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the steps of: 
 (a) attaching a grip core to said hollow shaft;  
 (b) connecting a cap to said internal weight plug, said cap constructed with a top and a base, the base connected to said internal weight plug and the top connected to said base and formed with an overhanging lip; and  
 (c) covering said grip core, said external weight and said base with a wrap.