Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Elements
Patent
1982-01-08
1984-10-16
Thomas, Alexander
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Elements
273 81D, 273 75, 16DIG12, 428167, 428182, B62K 2126, B32B 330, B32B 704
Patent
active
044767420
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to grips for sporting equipment, hand tools and other articles generally gripped by hand during use and to aspects of the preparation thereof. The invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the preferred application to a sporting racquet or the like. However, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to the provision of grips for other applications and the invention is in no way restricted to the example application described hereafter.
It is known to provide a sporting racquet with a grip made of a strip of leather helically wound around a handle portion of the racquet. Prior to the application of such a strip to the handle portion the latter is coated with an adhesive and the edges of the leather strip are bevelled. After the leather strip is wound onto the handle portion the bevelled edges form depressions which extend helically along the handle portion to provide areas to which the fingers of the user may fit to provide a suitable grip. During use such a leather strip tends to deteriorate and absorb moisture.
Another known grip comprises a moulded rubber sleeve which may be slipped over the shaft or handle portion of the racquet. The sleeve is attached to the handle portion by an adhesive. However, it is difficult to apply a tight fitting sleeve over a handle and during use perspiration reduces the surface friction of the outer surface of the sleeve and such prior art grips become slippery.
To overcome these problems it has been proposed to apply a sticky substance to the hands and/or grips or alternatively to wrap a sticky tape around the handle portion of the racquet. These proposals are far from satisfactory and provide only temporary solutions to the problem caused by perspiration during use.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide in one embodiment of the invention an improved grip for handle portions of racquets and like equipment.
It is a further object to provide in another embodiment of the invention tape for forming a hand grip.
It is yet another object to provide in a further embodiment of the invention a method of making tape for hand grips and to provide a cutting tool useful in the method of making the tape.
According to one embodiment, the present invention provides tape for forming a hand grip characterised in that the tape has upper and lower surfaces provided with substantially complementary, longitudinally extending grooves and ridges.
According to another embodiment, the invention provides a hand grip on the handle portion of sporting equipment, a hand tool or other article generally gripped by hand during use characterised in that a length of tape according to the invention is helically wound onto the handle portion and affixed thereto. Preferably a portion of one longitudinal edge of the tape overlaps a portion of the opposite longitudinal edge thereof whereby grooves and ridges on the upper surface of the tape engage complementary ridges and grooves on the lower surface of the tape.
In yet another embodiment the invention provides a method of making tape for hand grips characterised by the steps of providing a disc of tape material and peeling a strip of tape from the outer periphery of the disc by rotating the disc relative to a cutting tool held against the outer periphery of the disc. Whilst it is preferred that the disc be rotated and the cutting tool be stationary, the reverse could also be the case. Alternatively, both the disc and cutting tool may both move.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a serrated cutting tool characterised in that the tool has a front face and a rear face and a serrated cutting edge, the front face having a series of longitudinally extending grooves terminating at the cutting edge to form a plurality of cutting teeth.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the handle portion of a racquet having a grip accord
REFERENCES:
patent: 2671660 (1954-03-01), Goodwin
patent: 3489031 (1970-01-01), Meier
patent: 3779123 (1973-12-01), Chafee
patent: 4152475 (1979-05-01), Haley
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