GB1356971A - Hand grips for manual implements - Google Patents

Abstract

1356971 Fishing rods W J SPARKS and C E SPARKS 15 July 1971 33334/71 Heading A1A [Also in Divisions A6 B4 and B5] A hand grip for a fishing rod comprises a layer of a foamed cellular vulcanised elastomer having a Shore A hardness from 20 to 50, a thickness from 0.5 mm. to 25 mm. and an apparent density from 16% to 95% of the real density of an unfoamed elastomer of essentially the same composition. The elastomer can have a filler added and the outermost surface of the grip is preferably treated so that it has a multiplicity of very small holes open at said surface and closed at the bottom to produce a vacuum effect when the grip is squeezed. The grip may be used for one hand in conjunction with a second grip of harder material for the other hand or it can be superimposed over a grip of harder material. As shown the grip 2 is applied to a shaft 1 and is of tapered form. The grip may be moulded at the top of the shaft so as to close the end or the top may be protected by a cap 6. In another embodiment the grip is folded over the top of the shaft and an end cap fitted thereover. A method of making such a grip comprises selecting an elastomer composition which will vulcanise at approximate optimum cure without a blowing agent to give a Shore A hardness from 45 to 75, adding from 1% to 5% by weight of a blowing agent and expanding and curing to form a grip having a Shore A hardness from 20 to 50. The grips can be made by extrusion moulding a blank and pressure curing the blank to the required shape. They can be formed in mirror image pairs in recurring form as shown in Fig. 4 according to a prearranged programme and cut to required lengths. The surface of the grip can be mechanically treated or treated in a mould by using an excess of lubricant and suddenly releasing the mould at an elevated temperature so as to produce an outer surface comprising a multiplicity of small cavities in the surface: