Tapered grip for sensors

Abstract

Embodiments of a golf club grip configured to house a sensor are described herein. The golf club grip comprises a grip body and an end cap configured to house a sensor. The grip body defines a gripping surface where the golfer is encouraged to grip the body at a point that does not interact with the endcap. The end cap is integrally formed or otherwise secured to the grip body. The end cap comprises an upper portion having a first cavity that receives the sensor. The upper portion is tapered to define a non-gripping surface that guides a golfer's grip toward the gripping surface without interacting or having the endcap interfere with this grip thereby providing a more stable and repeatable grip and/or swing. The end cap further comprises a lower portion configured to couple with the grip body.

1 . A golf club grip comprising:
 a butt end, a tip end, a grip body, and an end cap;
 wherein the grip body comprises a first end, a second end, and one or more receiving arms;
 wherein the first end is opposite the second end, the first end is proximate to the butt end, and the second end is proximate to the tip end; 
 wherein the receiving arms are formed near the first end; 
 
 wherein the end cap comprises an upper portion, a lower portion, a floor wall, and an outer diameter;
 wherein the floor wall comprises an upper surface, proximate to the upper portion, and a lower surface, proximate to the lower portion; 
 wherein the floor wall defines a boundary between the upper portion and the lower portion; 
 wherein the upper portion comprises a first circumferential wall, the upper surface, a non-gripping surface, and a lip;
 wherein the upper surface is recessed into the upper portion via the first circumferential wall to form a first cavity that harbors a sensor; 
 
 wherein the lower portion comprises a second circumferential wall, the lower surface, and one or more flanges,
 wherein the lower surface is recessed into the lower portion via the second circumferential wall to form a second cavity; 
 wherein the one or more flanges are received within the one or more receiving arms to form a connection between the end cap and the grip body. 
 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more receiving arms and the one or more flanges have complimentary geometries that form a tight connection to secure the end cap to the grip body. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more receiving arms can be 1 receiving arm, 2 receiving arms, 3 receiving arms, 4 receiving arms, or any suitable number of receiving arms. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more flanges can be 1 flange, 2 flanges, 3 flanges, 4 flanges, or any suitable number of flanges. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein a maximum outer diameter of the end cap further defines the boundary between the upper portion and the lower portion. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein a surface between the first end and the second end defines a gripping surface, and a non-gripping surface is defined by the end cap. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving arms form an outer circumference of the connection between the end cap and the grip body. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is secured with an adhesive, or through a mechanical means, such as press-fitting. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the grip body and the end cap are formed integrally, secured together with an adhesive, or otherwise connected to form the golf club grip. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first cavity comprises a first cavity diameter; and   the lip is above the first cavity, and the lip comprises a lip diameter smaller than the first cavity diameter to secure the sensor in place.   
     
     
         11 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface comprises a plurality of depressions to allow an adhesive to flow around the sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club grip of  claim 11 , wherein the depressions radiate outward from a center of the upper surface. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the non-gripping surface can be tapered, rounded, chamfered, or otherwise reshaped. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the golf club grip has a longitudinal axis through a geometric center of the golf club grip; wherein the non-griping surface defines a tangent plane and a taper angle that is measured between the longitudinal axis and the tangent plane, and the taper angle is between 15 degrees and 80 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the end cap has a greater Shore A hardness than the grip body. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the golf club grip has a longitudinal axis through a geometric center of the golf club grip; wherein the first cavity defines a cavity height measured along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the cavity height is between 0.3 inches and 0.4 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is harbored within the upper portion of the end cap. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club grip of  claim 1 , wherein the end cap further defines a maximum outer diameter, wherein the maximum outer diameter is offset from the butt end of the golf club grip by distance between 0.2 inch to 0.8 inch, and the non-gripping surface has a taper from the maximum outer diameter to a smaller outer diameter toward the butt end. 
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a golf club grip comprising:
 forming an end cap, the end cap comprising an upper portion having a plurality of depressions, and a lower portion comprising one or more flanges;   forming a grip body, the grip body comprising a first end, a second end, and one or more receiving arms, proximate to the first end;   coupling the one or more flanges with the one or more receiving arms to form a secure connection between the end cap and the grip body;   inserting a shaft into the grip body and the lower portion of the end cap;   securing a sensor within the upper portion; and
 wherein the sensor is secured with an adhesive, or through a mechanical means, such as press-fitting. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing of the golf club grip of  claim 19 , wherein the sensor securing step further comprises allowing the adhesive to flow around the sensor via the plurality of depressions.