Golf training aid

Abstract

A golf training aid includes one or more of a movable sound element assembly, an adjustable grip assembly, and a club head assembly. The movable sound element assembly includes a movable sound element that is coupled to a shaft of the club. The movable sound element can be positioned on the club shaft so as to be selectively retained by the movable sound element assembly and can be configured to release from the movable sound element assembly when the club is swung by the user and as a function of the swing speed thereof. The adjustable grip assembly is axially and rotationally movable so as to dispose the assembly in a plurality of different grip positions.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A golf training aid configured as a golf club, comprising
 an elongated shaft extending from a grip end to an opposed club head end,   an adjustable grip assembly coupled to the grip end of the shaft and configured to be axially and rotationally movable relative to the shaft,   a movable sound element assembly for coupling to the shaft between the grip end and the club head end, wherein the movable sound element assembly is configured to retain a sound element and to selectively release the sound element based on a selected swing speed of the golf club, and   a club head assembly coupled to the club head end of the shaft and having a flange element sized and configured for creating a contact surface, wherein the sound element when released from the movable sound element assembly axially moves along the shaft and strikes the contact surface of the flange element.   
     
     
         2 . The golf training aid of  claim 1 , wherein the movable sound element assembly comprises
 a sleeve element for seating about the shaft,   a securing mechanism disposed about the sleeve element and configured to apply a radially inwardly extending force to the sleeve element,   a flange housing sized and configured for retaining the sleeve element and the securing mechanism and having a recess formed therein for seating a magnet, wherein the magnet secures the sound element to the movable sound element assembly, and   a nut housing having an inner surface forming a chamber, wherein the nut housing is configured to be selectively secured to the flange housing, wherein the flange housing and the nut housing house the sleeve element and the securing mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The golf training aid of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve element comprises
 a sleeve main body having an inner surface and an outer surface,   a flange element formed at one end of the sleeve main body that extends outwardly therefrom,   a groove formed in the outer surface of the sleeve main body at an end opposite the flange element, and   a central opening in the sleeve main body and extending therethrough for enabling the sleeve element to be disposed over the shaft.   
     
     
         4 . The golf training aid of  claim 3 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises
 a main body having a central opening extending therethrough and sized and configured to seat the sleeve element, and   a plurality of cut-outs formed in the main body forming a plurality of flexible finger elements,   wherein an end region of each of the plurality of finger elements has a radially inwardly extending surface feature that is sized and configured for seating within the groove formed in the sleeve element.   
     
     
         5 . The golf training aid of  claim 4 , wherein the flange housing includes a main body having
 a flange formed at one end of the main body, and   an extension component that is coupled to and extending outwardly from the flange, wherein the extension component has an inner surface defining a chamber sized and configured for seating the sleeve element and the securing mechanism and an outer surface having threads formed thereon,   wherein the flange has a central opening formed therein that communicates with the chamber of the extension component.   
     
     
         6 . The golf training aid of  claim 5 , wherein the nut housing has a main body forming the inner surface, and wherein the inner surface has threads formed thereon, and wherein the threads on the inner surface of the nut housing are configured to threadingly engage with the threads of the extension component, and wherein when the nut housing is threadingly engaged with the extension component, the nut housing and the flange housing completely enclose the sleeve component and the securing mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The golf training aid of  claim 6 , wherein the movable sound element assembly can be selectively disposed between a secured position where the nut housing is threadingly engaged with the flange housing and an unsecured position where the nut housing is axially separated from and not threadingly engaged with the flange housing. 
     
     
         8 . The golf training aid of  claim 7 , wherein when the movable sound element assembly is disposed in the secured position, the movable sound element assembly can be freely moved axially along the shaft, and wherein when the movable sound element assembly is disposed in the secured position, the movable sound element assembly is secured at a selected axial position along the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The golf training aid of  claim 8 , wherein the shaft has markings formed thereon that correspond to a plurality of swing speed positions. 
     
     
         10 . The golf training aid of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustable grip assembly comprises
 a first stationary subassembly configured to be secured to the grip end of the shaft and is stationary relative thereto, and   a second moveable subassembly configured to be selectively coupled to the first stationary subassembly and sized and configured to be rotationally movable relative to the shaft and axially movable along the shaft.   
     
     
         11 . The golf training aid of  claim 10 , wherein the first stationary subassembly comprises a hub element having a main body having
 a circular tab portion having an outer circumferential surface having a plurality of teeth formed thereon and a stop element, and   a shaft extension element coupled to and extending outwardly from the circular tab portion and configured to be secured to the grip end of the shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The golf training aid of  claim 11 , wherein the tab portion has an end face having a plurality of markings formed thereon representative of a plurality of different grip positions. 
     
     
         13 . The golf training aid of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft extension portion is sized and configured to seat within an internal passage formed in the shaft or to couple to an outer surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The golf training aid of  claim 11 , wherein the second moveable subassembly comprises
 a support element for seating about the shaft,   an outer grip element for seating about the support element, and   a securing assembly for securing the second moveable subassembly to the shaft.   
     
     
         15 . The golf training aid of  claim 14 , wherein the support element has a main body having an axially extending and elongated support extension portion that terminates in a flange portion that is configured to have a basket like shape forming a chamber, wherein the support element has a central passage formed therein that has a diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the shaft, and wherein an inner surface of the chamber has a second plurality of teeth formed therein, wherein the second plurality of teeth are configured to engage with the first plurality of teeth when the tab portion is mounted within the chamber formed by the flange portion. 
     
     
         16 . The golf training aid of  claim 15 , wherein the inner surface of the chamber has a portion or region that is free of teeth to form a stop region, wherein the stop region forms an arc having a selected arc length. 
     
     
         17 . The golf training aid of  claim 16 , wherein the stop element of the hub element is aligned with and seats within the stop region of the chamber when the tab portion is mounted within the chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The golf training aid of  claim 15 , wherein the securing assembly comprises
 a second sleeve element for seating about the shaft,   a second securing mechanism disposed about the second sleeve element and configured to apply a radially inwardly extending force to the second sleeve element,   a second flange housing sized and configured for retaining the sleeve element and the securing, and   a second nut housing having an inner surface forming a chamber, wherein the nut housing is configured to be selectively secured to the flange housing, and wherein the flange housing and the nut housing house the sleeve element and the securing mechanism.   
     
     
         19 . The golf training aid of  claim 10 , wherein the club head assembly comprises
 a club head having a club face and a neck portion having a neck passage formed therein,   a hosel flange element for coupling to the neck portion of the club head and having a flange portion forming a contact surface for selectively contacting the sound element and a hosel extension element, wherein the hosel flange element includes a central flange passage for seating the shaft and the hosel extension element is sized and configured for seating within the neck passage.   
     
     
         20 . The golf training aid of  claim 19 , wherein the club head assembly further comprises a stiffening element for seating at least partly within the passage formed in the shaft to provide support to the shaft. 
     
     
         21 . The golf training aid of  claim 20 , wherein the shaft has a uniform outer diameter. 
     
     
         22 . A golf training aid configured as a golf club, comprising
 an elongated shaft extending from a grip end to an opposed club head end,   a movable sound element assembly for coupling to the shaft between the grip end and the club head end, wherein the movable sound element assembly is configured to retain a sound element and to selectively release the sound element based on a selected swing speed of the golf club, and   a club head assembly coupled to the club head end of the shaft and having a flange element sized and configured for creating a contact surface, wherein the sound element when released from the movable sound element assembly axially moves along the shaft and strikes the contact surface of the flange element.   
     
     
         23 . The golf training aid of  claim 22 , wherein the movable sound element assembly comprises
 a sleeve element for seating about the shaft,   a securing mechanism disposed about the sleeve element and configured to apply a radially inwardly extending force to the sleeve element,   a flange housing sized and configured for retaining the sleeve element and the securing mechanism and having a recess formed therein for seating a magnet, wherein the magnet secures the sound element to the movable sound element assembly, and   a nut housing having an inner surface forming a chamber, wherein the nut housing is configured to be selectively secured to the flange housing, wherein the flange housing and the nut housing house the sleeve element and the securing mechanism.   
     
     
         24 . The golf training aid of  claim 23 , wherein the sleeve element comprises
 a sleeve main body having an inner surface and an outer surface,   a flange element formed at one end of the sleeve main body that extends outwardly therefrom,   a groove formed in the outer surface of the sleeve main body at an end opposite the flange element, and   a central opening in the sleeve main body and extending therethrough for enabling the sleeve element to be disposed over the shaft.   
     
     
         25 . The golf training aid of  claim 24 , wherein the securing mechanism comprises
 a main body having a central opening extending therethrough and sized and configured to seat the sleeve element, and   a plurality of cut-outs formed in the main body forming a plurality of flexible finger elements,   wherein an end region of each of the plurality of finger elements has a radially inwardly extending surface feature that is sized and configured for seating within the groove formed in the sleeve element.   
     
     
         26 . The golf training aid of  claim 25 , wherein the flange housing includes a main body having
 a flange formed at one end of the main body, and   an extension component that is coupled to and extending outwardly from the flange, wherein the extension component has an inner surface defining a chamber sized and configured for seating the sleeve element and the securing mechanism and an outer surface having threads formed thereon,   wherein the flange has a central opening formed therein that communicates with the chamber of the extension component.   
     
     
         27 . The golf training aid of  claim 26 , wherein the nut housing has a main body forming the inner surface, and wherein the inner surface has threads formed thereon, and wherein the threads on the inner surface of the nut housing are configured to threadingly engage with the threads of the extension component, and wherein when the nut housing is threadingly engaged with the extension component, the nut housing and the flange housing completely enclose the sleeve component and the securing mechanism. 
     
     
         28 . The golf training aid of  claim 27 , wherein the movable sound element assembly can be selectively disposed between a secured position where the nut housing is threadingly engaged with the flange housing and an unsecured position where the nut housing is axially separated from and not threadingly engaged with the flange housing. 
     
     
         29 . The golf training aid of  claim 28 , wherein when the movable sound element assembly is disposed in the secured position, the movable sound element assembly can be freely moved axially along the shaft, and wherein when the movable sound element assembly is disposed in the secured position, the movable sound element assembly is secured at a selected axial position along the shaft. 
     
     
         30 . The golf training aid of  claim 29 , wherein the shaft has markings formed thereon that correspond to a plurality of swing speed positions. 
     
     
         31 . A golf training aid configured as a golf club, comprising
 an elongated shaft extending from a grip end to an opposed club head end,   an adjustable grip assembly coupled to the grip end of the shaft and configured to be axially and rotationally movable relative to the shaft, and   a club head assembly coupled to the club head end of the shaft.   
     
     
         32 . The golf training aid of  claim 31 , wherein the adjustable grip assembly comprises
 a first stationary subassembly configured to be secured to the grip end of the shaft and is stationary relative thereto, and   a second moveable subassembly configured to be selectively coupled to the first stationary subassembly and sized and configured to be rotationally movable relative to the shaft and axially movable along the shaft.   
     
     
         33 . The golf training aid of  claim 32 , wherein the first stationary subassembly comprises a hub element having
 a circular tab portion having an outer circumferential surface having a plurality of teeth formed thereon and a stop element, and   a shaft extension element coupled to an extending outwardly from the circular tab portion and configured to be secured to the grip end of the shaft.   
     
     
         34 . The golf training aid of  claim 33 , wherein the tab portion has an end face having markings formed thereon for conveying information associated with a plurality of different grip positions. 
     
     
         35 . The golf training aid of  claim 34 , wherein the shaft extension portion is sized and configured to seat within an internal passage formed in the shaft or to couple to an outer surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         36 . The golf training aid of  claim 35 , wherein the second moveable subassembly comprises
 a support element for seating about the shaft,   an outer grip element for seating about the support element, and   a securing assembly for securing the second moveable subassembly to the shaft.   
     
     
         37 . The golf training aid of  claim 36 , wherein the support element has a main body having an axially extending and elongated support extension portion that terminates in a flange portion that is configured to have a basket like shape forming a chamber, wherein the support element has a central passage formed therein that has a diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the shaft, and wherein an inner surface of the chamber has a second plurality of teeth formed therein, wherein the second plurality of teeth are configured to engage with the first plurality of teeth when the tab portion is mounted within the chamber formed by the flange portion. 
     
     
         38 . The golf training aid of  claim 37 , wherein the inner surface of the chamber has a portion or region that is free of teeth to form a stop region, wherein the stop region forms an arc having a selected arc length. 
     
     
         39 . The golf training aid of  claim 38 , wherein the stop element of the hub element is aligned with and seats within the stop region of the chamber when the tab portion is mounted within the chamber. 
     
     
         40 . The golf training aid of  claim 39 , wherein the securing assembly comprises
 a second sleeve element for seating about the shaft,   a second securing mechanism disposed about the second sleeve element and configured to apply a radially inwardly extending force to the second sleeve element,   a second flange housing sized and configured for retaining the sleeve element and the securing, and   a second nut housing having an inner surface forming a chamber, wherein the nut housing is configured to be selectively secured to the flange housing, and wherein the flange housing and the nut housing house the sleeve element and the securing mechanism.