Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02416924 2003-O1-21
WRAP STYLE HAND GRIP
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
(0001 ] The present invention relates in general to a hand grip, and more
particularly to a slip-on hand grip with a multiple material surface suitable
for use
with many tools or items such as a wrap style golf club grip.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
[00021 There are many different types of hand grips used today for a wide
variety of items, including without limitation, tools (hammer handles, etc.),
racquets ( hand ball, badminton, or tennis racquets), bats (baseball or
softball) ,
pool cues, umbrellas, fishing rods, or the like. As employed herein, the term
"hand grip" is meant to include all of these items as well as others even
though
the present invention is particularly suited for use as a golf club grip and
reference is made specifically thereto. It should be immediately apparent that
the present invention is applicable to any of the aforementioned applications
among other applications for a hand grip.
[0003] Slip-on golf club grips made of a molded rubber material or
synthetic plastic are well known in the golf industry. The term "slip-on" as
employed herein refers to a grip made of one type of material that slides on
to a
shaft or handle and is secured by way of an adhesive or the like. Slip-on
grips
are available in many shapes and forms. They can be buffed to leave some cord
through the rubber compound to provide a variety of grip styles and feel.
[0004] Wrap style golf grips are also known in the industry. In the past,
golf club grips were simply leather or cloth wraps around the golf club shaft.
Then, synthetic materials were employed to replace the leather or the cloth.
More recently, the wraps are made from various resilient materials that are
spirally wrapped about the shaft of the golf club, or alternatively about a
sleeve
positioned on the golf club shaft as described, for example, in U.S. Patent
No.
Re. 35,673.
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(0005] Existing wrap styles of hand grips heretofore have all been
constructed of a single surface material throughout the grip, and particularly
where the hands grip the hand grip. By "single surface material", it is meant
that the surface of the grip is the same material. These existing single
surface
material wrap style hand grips are lacking in terms of variation in cosmetic
or
aesthetic appearance and feel throughout the functional length of gripping
surface of the hand grip.
[0006] There still exists a need for an improved hand grip which can offer
the economic and durability advantages of a slip-on hand grip with the styling
and hand feel of a wrap style hand grip. Such a hand club grip would offer a
multiple material surface for improved appearance, and a more positive grip in
all
types of weather and/or playing conditions. The hand grip would be easy on the
hands and provide a superior grip with a longer life.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
(0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an
improved wrap style hand grip with a multiple material surface.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a wrap style
grip that offers the durability of a slip-on hand grip, and yet provides a
good grip
in all weather and/or playing conditions.
[0009] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wrap
style golf club grip with a multiple material surface that has a distinctive
and
pleasant appearance as well as the convenience and economy of a one-piece
slip-on golf grip.
[0010] The above and other objects of the present invention are
accomplished with a wrap style hand grip comprising an elastomeric body having
a generally cylindrical shape. The elastomeric body includes a bore
constructed
to be slidably received on a workpiece. The elastomeric body further includes
a
spiral formed channel extending from an upper portion of the elastomeric body
to a lower portion thereof. A strip of an alternative material to the
elastomeric
body is constructed to be disposed within the spiral formed channel for
forming
the wrap style hand grip with a multiple material surface. The strip may be
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made of a material that includes without limitation polyurethane, leather, a
natural fabric or textile, a synthetic fabric or textile, a synthetic plastic
or rubber
material, a thermoplastic or thermoset material, or any combination thereof.
[00111 The present invention is also directed to a method for making a
wrap style hand grip which includes the steps of providing a generally
cylindrical
body portion made from an elastomer, forming a spiral channel in the
elastomeric
body from an upper portion of the body to a lower portion of the body, and
disposing a strip of an alternative material within the spiral channel to make
the
wrap style hand grip.
(0012] The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are
pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of
this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages, and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to
the
accompanying drawings, and descriptive matter in which a preferred
embodiment of the invention is illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the wrap style hand grip as a
golf club grip in accordance with the present invention;
(0014) FIGURE 2 is a side eievational view showing the elastomeric body
as a golf club grip in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the golf club grip;
[0016] FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the golf club grip;
[0017) FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of the strip in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of a portion of the strip in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
[0019) FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the wrap style golf club
grip.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring to the figures, which are not intended to limit the present
invention thereto, and where like numerals designate like or similar features
throughout the several views, and first in particular to Figure 1, there is
shown a
wrap style hand grip as a golf club grip generally designated $ in accordance
with the present invention. As mentioned previously, the present invention is
applicable to any item employing a slip-on hand grip and is not intended to be
limited to only golf grips. Slip-on golf grips are widely used in the industry
and
may even be considered "conventional golf grips". These grips are typically
made of an elastomeric material like a rubber compound or a synthetic plastic.
The terms "elastomer", "rubber compound", "synthetic plastic",
"thermoplastic", "thermoset material", or simply "rubber" are used herein
interchangeably and are intended to refer to the same material. There are many
rubber compounds known in the industry for making a wide variety of slip-on
hand grips. These materials offer convenience, economy, and durability.
Additionally, the rubber compounds provide good hand feel or grip
characteristics desirable in the industry. The material is easy on the hands
and
yet can provide a positive grip in all types of weather and playing
conditions.
[0021 ] As shown in Figure 1, the body portion 10 of the golf grip is made
of rubber and has a generally cylindrical shape. The body 10 of grip 8
includes a
bore 1 1 therein as seen only in Figure 4. Bore 1 1 has a diameter that
conforms
to the diameter of a shaft or handle, also referred to as a workpiece herein.
Bore
1 1 is adapted to allow the hand grip 8 to be slidably received on the
workpiece.
Preferably, body 10 further includes a taper that conforms to the workpiece,
in
this illustrative example, a golf shaft (a portion shown in dashed lines in
Figure
2) on which the golf grip readily slips on and is adhered thereto with a known
adhesive. Figures 3 and 4 show top and bottom plan views of the tapered golf
club grip. The maintenance and installation of slip-on golf grips is well
known
and requires no detailed explanation here. Grip replacement is a relatively
quick
and inexpensive process and is performed by most golf professionals and/or
professional club makers.
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(0022] The elastomeric body 10 has a spiral formed channel 12 that
extends from an upper portion 14 of the elastomeric body 10 down to a lower
portion 16. An exposed upper surface 17 remains on the elastomeric body 10
as a result of the spiral channel 12. This exposed upper surface 17 is the
first
part of the multiple material surface of the grip 8. The term "multiple
material
surface" as employed herein is meant to refer to the surface of the grip being
made of different types of materials. It should be understood that the terms
"upper portion" and "lower portion" as employed herein are with reference to
the golf club grip 8 in its normal orientation. The "upper portion" for a hand
grip
is that portion nearest the end of the shaft or handle of the workpiece. The
"lower portion" is the opposite end of the grip.
[0023] Spiral formed channel 12 is constructed of a width (w1 ) and a
depth (d) that is sized to accommodate a strip 18 (also referred to as a wrap)
of
alternative material which is positioned within the spiral formed channel 12.
The
term "alternative material" as used herein is meant to refer to a second or
different type of material from the elastomeric body 10. In Figure 1, the
strip 18
is shown in dashed lines and in combination with body 10 forms the wrap style
golf club grip 8 according to the present invention. The elastomer body 10 and
channel 12 may be formed preferably with a two piece mold and core bar, or
alternatively any other suitable molding process. Channel 12 may even be cut
into a molded elastomeric body 10.
[0024) As seen in Figure 1, spiral channel 12 preferably includes a slot 20
adapted to receive a tapered starting end 22 of strip 18 as shown in Figure 5.
Preferably, the tapered starting end 22 of strip 18 is inserted within slot 20
and
strip 18 is positioned within the uppermost end of channel 12 and wound
around body 10 by placing strip 18 within channel 12 all the way down to the
lower portion 16 of the body 10. Strip 18 is secured in channel 12 with an
adhesive known in the art or alternatively, strip 18 may have the adhesive
supplied to the bottom thereof prior to application and covered with a
removable
protective tape known in the art with respect to wrap style golf club grips.
The
trailing end of strip 18 may also be tapered in a similar manner to the
tapered
starting end 22 so that the strip conforms to the lower most end of the
channel
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CA 02416924 2003-O1-21
in the lower portion 16 of the body 10. Alternatively, strip 18 may simply be
cut to fit, and is preferably secured at the bottom of the body 10 with a
piece of
tape similar to a Wrap style golf grip.
[0025) Strip 18 in accordance with the present invention is made of a
second or alternative material which is different from the elastomer exposed
upper surface 17 that includes, but is not limited to, a thermoplastic
material, a
thermoset material, a rubber material such as a foamed rubber material,
polyurethane, a synthetic leather, leather, synthetic cork, a textile or
fabric
material like felt, other synthetic materials or fabrics, or combinations
thereof.
Figure 6 depicts a side view of the strip i 8 which includes a polyurethane
layer
24 adhered to a foam rubber layer 26. While strip 18 is depicted as having
straight edges, it should be understood that strip 18 may have edges that are
skived or beveled. In addition, even though spiral formed channel 12 is shown
with straight walls, it should be understood that spiral formed channel 12 may
also have beveled walls that conform with the skiving of strip 18. The width
(w2) of channel 12 and strip 18 are selected to conform within normal molding
tolerances with each other so that strip 18 can be readily placed and secured
within channel 12. For illustrative purposes only, the width of strip 18 is
between about 1 and 2 centimeters (cm) wide, and is preferably about 1.5 cm.
The thickness (t) of strip 18 can be selected as any desired thickness to
provide
a comfortable hand feel or grip. An example of a suitable thickness, again for
illustrative purposes only, is between approximately one and two millimeters
thick (t) and the depth (d) of channel 12 is selected to conform with the
thickness (t) of the strip 18 if it is desired that the wrap lays even with
the
exposed upper surface 17 formed in the elastomeric body 10 by channel 12. An
example of the wrap 18 laying even with the exposed upper surface 17 is
shown in Figure 7. As is shown in Figure 1, the exposed upper surface 17
spirals in an alternating arrangement with strip 18 to provide the multiple
material surface along the full length of the grip. The hand grip has at least
two
different types of material on the surface thereof in an alternating
arrangement
over the full length of the hand grip.
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[0026] Alternate embodiments include having the thickness (t) of the strip
18 selected to be greater than the depth (d) of the channel 12 so that the
wrap
18 is higher than the exposed upper surface 17. Similarly, strip 18 may have a
thickness less than the depth of the channel 12 so that the exposed upper
surface 17 is higher. it should be immediately apparent that changes in the
thickness, depth, and width of the strip 18 andlor channel 12 can be readily
made for a custom feel and design to the wrap style golf grip in accordance
with
the present invention. As mentioned previously, strip 18 may further include
an
adhesive covered with a removable protective tape to allow strip 18 to be
firmly
positioned within channel 12. Alternatively, a separate adhesive may be
applied
to secure strip 18 within channel 12.
[0027] Another feature of the present invention is that it allows strip 18 to
be of any selected color or texture to provide for an aesthetically pleasing
color
and feel combination in addition to providing a multiple material surface. In
addition, the exposed upper surface 17 on body 10 may include depressions 30,
as seen in Figure 2, that are painted to provide even more of a custom design
for
the golf club grip. In this manner, the wrap style golf club grip according to
the
present invention provides broad variation in the cosmetics of the grip as
well as
feel throughout the full functional length of the grip. This allows for a
unique
and pleasingly different appearance and feel characteristic in wrap style
handgrips based on surface construction of multiple materials throughout the
length of the grip.
[0028] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a method for making a wrap style hand grip which comprises the steps
of providing a generally cylindrical body 10 made from an elastomer, forming a
spiral channel 12 in the body 10 so that the channel 12 extends from an upper
portion 14 of the body 10 to a lower portion 16 of the body 10, the body 10
further including a bore 1 1 therein adapted to slide onto an end of a
workpiece,
and disposing a strip 18 of a different material within the channel 12, and
securing the strip 18 within the channel 12. Strip 18 can be pre-wrapped on
the
body 10 to form a one piece, slip-on unit, or alternatively, strip 18 may be
wrapped on body 10 after body 10 is installed on the golf club shaft.
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10029] The elastomeric body 10 preferably includes an integrally formed
cap 32 therewith which includes a central aperture 34. Alternate embodiments
may include providing for a separate end cap that is constructed to be placed
over the elastomeric body 10 and adhered thereto through either an
interference
type fit, or an adhesive, or a combination thereof.
[0030] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the
invention, it
will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without
departing from such principles.
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