Releasably attached grip device for shafts

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a releasably attached grip device for shafts, and methods of assembling, detaching and reassembling the same. The grip device comprises a flexible body. The flexible body comprises a butt end and an opposite distal end. The flexible body further comprises a first side end and an opposite second side end extending between the butt end and the opposite distal end. The first side end is structured to be positioned proximate the second side end around the shaft to form an enclosed tubular grip body. The enclosed tubular grip body defines an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface of the enclosed tubular grip body is structured to be gripped by a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grip device which is structured to be releasably coupled to a shaft, the grip device comprising:
 a flexible body, wherein the flexible body comprises:
 a butt end and an opposite distal end; and 
 a first side end and an opposite second side end extending between the butt end and the opposite distal end, wherein the first side end is structured to be positioned proximate the second side end around the shaft to form an enclosed tubular grip body; 
 wherein the enclosed tubular grip body defines an inner surface and an outer surface; and 
 wherein the outer surface of the enclosed tubular grip body is structured to be gripped by a user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The grip device according to  claim 1 :
 wherein the first side end comprises a first coupling portion; and   wherein the second side end comprises a second coupling portion structured to be coupled to the first coupling portion around the shaft to form the enclosed tubular grip body.   
     
     
         3 . The grip device according to  claim 2 , wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are structured to be coupled via a locking mechanism such that the flexible body encloses the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The grip device according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises:
 a locking projection of the first coupling portion at the first side end; and   a locking groove receptor of the second coupling portion at the second side end structured to receive the locking projection therein; and   wherein the locking groove receptor is structured to be releasably coupled to the locking projection.   
     
     
         5 . The grip device according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism is structured such that the outer surface of the tubular grip body proximate the first side end is flush with the outer surface of the tubular grip body proximate the second side end, when the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are coupled via the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The grip device according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism is structured to form a protuberance on the outer surface of the tubular grip body at a junction of the first side end and the second side end, when the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are coupled via the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The grip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface comprises a third coupling portion, wherein the third coupling portion is structured to releasably couple the flexible body to the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The grip device according to  claim 7 , wherein the third coupling portion comprises a dry adhesive component that is structured to releasably couple the flexible body to the shaft two or more times. 
     
     
         9 . A method of reassembling a grip device, wherein the method further comprises:
 releasably assembling the grip device of  claim 7  around the shaft, wherein the second side end comprises a second coupling portion structured to be coupled to the first coupling portion around the shaft to form the enclosed tubular grip body, wherein assembling the grip device comprises:
 coupling the third coupling portion at the inner surface of the flexible body to at least a portion of an outer surface of the shaft; and 
 coupling the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion; 
   detaching the first coupling portion from the second coupling portion of the enclosed tubular grip body;   detaching the third coupling portion at the inner surface of the flexible body from the shaft;   cleaning the grip device; and   reassembling the flexible body to the shaft by (i) releasably coupling the first coupling portion with the second coupling portion around the shaft to form the enclosed tubular grip body, and (ii) releasably coupling the third coupling portion at the inner surface of the flexible body to at least a portion of an outer surface of the shaft.   
     
     
         10 . The grip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the grip device further comprises:
 a cap element provided proximate the butt end of the flexible body, the cap element comprising one or more attachment portions; and   wherein the cap element is structured to releasably enclose the butt end of the tubular grip body via the one or more attachment portions.   
     
     
         11 . The grip device according to  claim 10 , wherein the one or more attachment portions of the cap element are structured to be releasably attached to a portion of the butt end of the flexible body when the first side end and the opposite second side end are coupled around the shaft to form the tubular grip body. 
     
     
         12 . The grip device according to  claim 10 , wherein the cap element is structured to stretch circumferentially around the outer surface of the tubular grip body. 
     
     
         13 . The grip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is a portion of a golf club. 
     
     
         14 . The grip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body is structured such that a first circumference of the enclosed tubular grip body at the butt end is greater than a second circumference of the enclosed tubular grip body at the distal end. 
     
     
         15 . The grip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body is structured such that a first thickness of the flexible body at the butt end is greater than a second thickness of the flexible body at the distal end. 
     
     
         16 . The grip device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body is structured such that a junction of the first side end and the second side end of the enclosed tubular grip body positioned around the shaft extends along a first direction that is non-parallel to an axis of the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . A method for assembly of a grip device and a shaft, comprising:
 positioning an inner surface of a flexible body proximate an outer surface of the shaft, wherein the flexible body comprises:
 a butt end and an opposite distal end; and 
 a first side end and an opposite second side end extending between the butt end and the opposite distal end, wherein the first side end comprises a first coupling portion and the second side end comprises a second coupling portion structured to be coupled to the first coupling portion; and 
 a third coupling portion provided at the inner surface of the flexible body structured to be releasably coupled to the shaft; and 
   forming the flexible body into an enclosed tubular grip body around the shaft by (i) coupling the third coupling portion at the inner surface of the flexible body to at least a portion of the outer surface of the shaft, and (ii) coupling the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein coupling the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion further comprises releasably positioning a locking projection of the first side end within a locking groove receptor of the second side end, thereby forming the enclosed tubular grip body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:
 releasably enclosing the butt end of the tubular grip body and a first end of the shaft with a cap element.   
     
     
         20 . A method of reassembling a grip device, wherein the method comprises:
 releasably assembling a grip device according to the method of  claim 19 ;   disconnecting one or more attachment portions of the cap element of the grip device from the butt end of the grip device;   detaching the first coupling portion from the second coupling portion of the enclosed tubular grip body;   detaching the third coupling portion at the inner surface of the flexible body from the shaft;   cleaning the grip device; and   reassembling the flexible body to the shaft by (i) releasably coupling the first coupling portion with the second coupling portion around the shaft to form the enclosed tubular grip body, (ii) releasably coupling the third coupling portion at the inner surface of the flexible body to at least a portion of an outer surface of the shaft, and (iii) releasably enclosing the butt end of the tubular grip body and the first end of the shaft with the cap element.   
     
     
         21 . A grip assembly comprising:
 a shaft;   a flexible body, wherein the flexible body comprises:
 a butt end and an opposite distal end; and 
 a first side end and an opposite second side end extending between the butt end and the opposite distal end, wherein the first side end comprises a first coupling portion, wherein the second side end comprises a second coupling portion; and 
 wherein the flexible body is in the form of an enclosed tubular grip body around the shaft with the second coupling portion being coupled to the first coupling portion; 
 wherein the enclosed tubular grip body defines an inner surface and an outer surface; 
 wherein the inner surface of the enclosed tubular grip body comprises a third coupling portion that is releasably coupled to an outer surface of the shaft and 
 wherein the outer surface of the enclosed tubular grip body is structured to be gripped by a user.