Handle device for sports equipment shafts

Abstract

A sports equipment having a shaft connected between a handle for gripping by a user during play and a working end such as head against which a ball may be impacted wherein the handle is formed with a rigid sleeve member adapted to encircle one end of the shaft and an elastic media element positioned between the sleeve member and the applied end of the shaft. Gripping and swinging of the sports equipment by the user when grasping the handle effects longitudinal rocking movement of the sleeve member relative to the applied end of the shaft and thereby provide integrated force of the fingers of the user of the equipment upon the working end thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A sports equipment including a shaft having a longitudinal handle portion at one end for manipulation by a user during playing use of the equipment, the handle portion comprising a sleeve unit arranged around an outer surface of said end of the shaft and adapted for manual gripping by the user of the equipment, said unit including a sleeve member arranged to encircle the outer surface of said shaft end and an elastic media element arranged between said sleeve member and said outer surface of said end, said sleeve member having an inner surface adjacent to and extending along said elastic media element and being spaced from said outer surface of said shaft end and out of contact therewith, said elastic media element being positioned whereby the manipulation of the handle portion during use of the sports equipment produces relative longitudinal rocking movement between said sleeve member and said one end of the shaft, said inner surface of said sleeve member facing said media element and being shaped such that it convex towards the media element and convex .[.at the longitudinal center of the sleeve member.]. .Iadd.along the longitudinal axis of said sleeve member between opposite ends of said sleeve member. .Iaddend. 
     
     
       2. The sports equipment of claim 1 including a cylindrical member between said media element and the outer surface of the shaft of the sports equipment. 
     
     
       3. The sports equipment of claim 1 wherein the sports equipment is a golf club. 
     
     
       4. The sports equipment of claim 1 wherein said sleeve unit is detachable from the shaft of the sports equipment. 
     
     
       5. A sports equipment including a shaft having a longitudinal handle portion at one end for manipulation by a user during playing use of the equipment, the handle portion comprising a sleeve unit arranged around an outer surface of said end of the shaft and adapted for manual gripping by the user of the equipment, said unit including a sleeve member arranged to encircle the outer surface of said shaft end an elastic media element arranged between said sleeve member and said outer surface of said end, said member having an inner surface adjacent to and extending along said elastic media element and being spaced from said outer surface of said shaft end and out of contact therewith, said elastic media element being positioned whereby the manipulation of the handle portion during use of the sports equipment produces relative longitudinal rocking movement between said sleeve member and said one end of the shaft, said shaft being at least partially hollow and said sleeve member and said media element extending into the hollow space inside the shaft.