Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Assembling or joining
Patent
1988-09-30
1990-04-03
Coven, Edward M.
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Assembling or joining
273 75, 273735, 273 81R, B23P 1102
Patent
active
049128361
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates generally to grips for sports equipment such as golf clubs, tennis racquets and the like and more specifically, to overgrips or skins which are disposable and readily applied over the original grips of such equipment.
BACKGROUND ART
Sports equipments grips in current use are typically made of leather or molded rubber with various additives such as cork. Unfortunately, these grips wear and harden with use and thus lose their tackiness. Consequently, the entire grip has to be replaced, which involves cutting, scraping, the use of solvents, adhesives and clamps. This process is wasteful, time consuming, inconvenient and expensive. It also exposes a person unnecessarily to petrochemical solvents, fumes and adhesives.
Previous attempts to recover a worn and hardened golf grip have involved the use of various materials in the form of tape but these attempts have presented various problems. For example, they are too troublesome and time consuming, use too thick a material, result in an oversized grip, require using adhesive to keep it in place and prevent peeling and finally, require taping down the tail end of the taped material.
To date, all attempts at recovering have been abandoned for all practical purposes and the only remedy has been to replace the grip. This usually means leaving the racket or clubs at an equipment facility and returning to collect them. It is neither cheap nor convenient and it is a process which has to be repeated at regular intervals.
Thus there has been a long-felt need for a simple, fast, economical and efficient way of regripping a tennis racket, golf club or other sports equipment of the type having a grip. This need has so far remained unsatisfied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art by providing a grip specifically designed to be manufactured by low cost techniques such as latex dipping. It is reliable in use and its installation does not depend on the use of hazardous petrochemical substances. It improves on the original grip by producing a far greater coefficient of friction and it eliminates entirely the need to remove the old grip. It is formed as a conical, hollow tube preferably of thin latex rubber or other flexible material, it is easily slipped over an existing grip and readily conforms to the shape thereof.
The present invention is unique in its concept and design in that it takes full advantage of the properties of the material of manufacture, preferrably latex rubber. The memory character of the material permits stretching over any size grip and conforming to the shape of that grip on contraction. The contraction of the material is of such magnitude that the use of adhesives is unnecessary. One end being closed permits trapping of air, and compressing that air to balloon the material and permit easy placement of the grip over the club and simply inverting the grip inside out, down the shaft of the club being regripped. The ability to manufacture in very thin sheath form permits the use of either surface of the grip by turning the grip inside out. The design also allows easy and frequent removal and reapplication of the grip in different positions to extend appreciably the useful life of the grip. The closed end also prevents entry of water down the shaft of the club and prevents corrosion.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a sports equipment grip which eliminates the time consuming, inconvenient, wasteful and expensive necessity of removing the original grip.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a sports equipment grip which is simple and expedient to install without the use of tools, solvents or adhesives.
It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide a sports equipment grip which readily conforms to the shape of the underlying worn grip.
It is still an additional object of the present invention to provide a sports equipment grip which provides a cus
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patent: 4506430 (1985-03-01), Guzay, jr.
patent: 4685189 (1987-08-01), Palmquist et al.
Coven Edward M.
Stoll William E.
Tachner Leonard
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