Grip end bottom weight and grip end bottom weighting structure

Abstract

A weight that is composed of a composite of a soft material and a loading member which is a high specific gravity substance and that is mounted on a grip end bottom of a ball-hitting implement, allowing the loading member to be divided into an internal weighting element and an external weighting element; and a grip end bottom weighting structure that uses this weight, in which the center of gravity is shifted closer to the portion grasped by hand, and the node of vibration on the grip is shifted to the grip fulcrum. When mounted, the loading member is disposed on either side of the grip end member, with soft material region interposed therebetween. The weight is at least flexible enough to be easily mounted and to be adjusted in balance, and it will not come off during play. This makes the ball-hitting implement head-light (grip-heavy) just prior to impact, which improves the player's swing or stroke, and also increases the moment of inertia around the center of gravity at the instant of impact and further suppresses or absorbs (attenuates) the vibration caused by impact.

1 . A grip end bottom weight adapted to protrude from a grip end bottom of a ball-hitting implement, wherein said grip end bottom weight is characterized in that a soft material, capable of absorbing impact vibrations and in composite integration with a loading member composed of a high specific gravity substance, is integral formed so as to have axially symmetric wall thickness in cross section and to be mounted by elastically deforming a body component thereof in a mounting hole formed in a grip end bottom of said ball-hitting implement, with at least half of said body component of said soft material protruding from said grip end bottom when mounted.  
   
   
       2 . The grip end bottom weight according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said composite integration is obtained in said loading member by being incorporated into, embedded in, surrounded by, joined to, compounded with, or dispersedly compounded with, in a matrix of said soft material;    said mounting hole is formed by boring out a bottom surface of a grip end member that includes an end cap or an end rubber; and    said soft material is mounted by being removably fitted, pressed, squeezed, or threaded into said mounting hole by stored elastic energy.    
   
   
       3 . The grip end bottom weight according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein 
 said soft material is non-rotatably restrained in said mounting hole and is balance-mounted, with one half of said body component housed inside a grip via side walls of said mounting hole, and with another half of said body component protruding from said grip end bottom.    
   
   
       4 . The grip end bottom weight according to any one of  claims 1  to  2 , wherein 
 said soft material is molded in an approximate shape of a barrel, and a circumferential groove or flange is provided around a large-diameter middle thereof and fitted to a peripheral edge of said mounting hole, allowing said weight to be removably mounted.    
   
   
       5 . The grip end bottom weight according to any one of  claims 1  to  2  wherein 
 said loading member is disposed inside of two ends of said soft material, with its weight divided into an internal weighting element and an external weighting element when mounted.    
   
   
       6 . The grip end bottom weight according to any one of  claims 1  to  2 , wherein 
 said grip end bottom weight weighs between 10 and 120 g (0.4 to 4.0 oz), thus shifting center of impact (a node of vibration) on a grip to a portion to be grasped by hand (a grip fulcrum).    
   
   
       7 .- 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The grip end bottom weight according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said soft material is molded in an approximate shape of a barrel, and a circumferential groove or flange is provided around a large-diameter middle thereof and fitted to a peripheral edge of said mounting hole, allowing said weight to be removably mounted.    
   
   
       16 . The grip end bottom weight according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said loading member is disposed inside of two ends of said soft material, with its weight divided into an internal weighting element and an external weighting element when mounted.    
   
   
       17 . The grip end bottom weight according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said loading member is disposed inside of two ends of said soft material, with its weight divided into an internal weighting element and an external weighting element when mounted.    
   
   
       18 . The grip end bottom weight according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said grip end bottom weight weighs between 10 and 120 g (0.4 to 4.0 oz), thus shifting center of impact (a node of vibration) on a grip to a portion to be grasped by hand (a grip fulcrum).    
   
   
       19 . The grip end bottom weight according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said grip end bottom weight weighs between 10 and 120 g (0.4 to 4.0 oz), thus shifting center of impact (a node of vibration) on a grip to a portion to be grasped by hand (a grip fulcrum).    
   
   
       20 . The grip end bottom weight according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 said grip end bottom weight weighs between 10 and 120 g (0.4 to 4.0 oz), thus shifting center of impact (a node of vibration) on a grip to a portion to be grasped by hand (a grip fulcrum).    
   
   
       21 . A grip end bottom weighting structure, characterized in that: 
 the grip end bottom weight according to  claim 3  is removably mounted on a grip end of a ball-hitting implement;    moment of inertia around center of gravity is increased at a time a ball is hit; and    an impact vibration is suppressed, absorbed or attenuated.    
   
   
       22 . A grip end bottom weighting structure, characterized in that: 
 the grip end bottom weight according to  claim 4  is removably mounted on a grip end of a ball-hitting implement;    moment of inertia around center of gravity is increased at a time a ball is hit; and    an impact vibration is suppressed, absorbed or attenuated.    
   
   
       23 . A grip end bottom weighting structure, characterized in that: 
 the grip end bottom weight according to  claim 5  is removably mounted on a grip end of a ball-hitting implement;    moment of inertia around center of gravity is increased at a time a ball is hit; and    an impact vibration is suppressed, absorbed or attenuated.