GB2192550A - Grips for handles of sporting equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A grip for the handle of sports equipment such as golf clubs comprises a tapered sleeve 12 moulded from foam plastics material having an open lower end (13) and a closed upper end (14). The material preferably comprises a laminate of two different foam plastics materials both of cross linked closed cell variety, the inner material being e.g. ethylene vinyl acetate foam and the outer material being e.g. polyethylene foam. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Grips for the handles of sports equipment This invention relates to grips for the handles of sports equipment.

Conventional grips for the handles of sports equipment are made from a variety of materials for example rubber, leather, plastics or cloth which have different properties but none is completely satisfactory under all conditions.

For example, the weight of the grip may be sufficient to upset the balance of the equipment, the material may wear quickly and lose its gripping quality or it may iose its gripping quality when warm or damp. An object of the present invention is to provide a grip made from a material of less weight than conventional materials and having good sustained gripping properties.

Accordingly, the invention provides a grip for the handle of a piece of sports equipment made from foam plastics material. This material is lighter than conventional materials: for example a satisfactory golf grip made from this material is approximately seven times lighter than the conventional standard golf grip, and thus transfers the weight gain to the golf head and consequently alters the value of the club head. The grip is easy and comfortable to hold and whilst sensitivity appears to be increased it cushions the shock effect reducing the vibration or jarring felt by the user when striking a ball. The performance of the grip (at least when made of the preferred material) remains substantially unaltered when wet or gripped by hot, damp hands.

Preferably the grip is made from a laminate of two different foam plastics materials in order to get the desired stiffness and softness.

Preferably both materials are cross linked closed cell foam and we have found the best combination is an ethylene vinyl acetate foam and a polyethylene foam (or their equivalents), such as those sold under the registered trademarks EVAZOTE and PLASTAZOTE.

With advantage the density of the foams is in the range 50 to 85 (preferably 60 to 75)kg./cu.m. and the thickness of the laminate tapers and is in the range 10 to 30 mil. Normally the denser/stronger material will be on the inside of the laminate.

The grip may be made from only ethylene vinyl acetate.

One embodiment of grip for the handle of a golf club will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a side view of a grip, Figure 2 is a bottom elevation of the grip and Figure 3 is a top elevation of the grip.

A golf club grip comprises a tapered sleeve 12 moulded from foam plastics material having an open lower end 13 and a closed upper end 14. The material preferably comprises a laminate of two different foam plastics materials both of cross linked closed cell variety, in this example the inner material being ethylene vinyl acetate foam and the outer material being polyethylene foam.

The grip will be made in a variety of sizes to fit different clubs, in this particular example the inside bottom diameter is 13 mm, the outside top diameter 24 mm and the length 267 mm. The surface may be formed with perforations or roughnesses 15 to improve the gripping quality or appearance.

While a grip for a golf club has been illustrated by way of example it will be appreciated that grips in accordance with the invention may be made for tennis or squash rackets or any other form of racket, club, bat or mallet.

The grip may be slid on to the handle and if necessary adhered by conventional techniques.

The invention extends to sports equipment provided with such a grip.

1.. A grip for the handle of a piece of sports equipment made from foam plastics material.

2. A grip according to claim 1 in which the material is cross linked closed cell foam.

3. A grip according to claim 1 or 2 in which the material is a laminate of two different foam plastics materials.

4. A grip according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the material or one of the materials is ethylene vinyl acetate foam.

5. A grip according to claim 3 in which the laminate is made from ethylene vinyl acetate foam and polyethylene foam.

6. A grip according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the density of the material is in a range 50 to 85, preferably 60 to 75, kg/cubic meter.

7. The grip of any of claims 1 to 6 in which the thickness of the laminate is in the range 10 to 30 mil.

8. A grip substantially as described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

9. A piece of sports equipment having a handle to which a grip according to any of the preceding claims is fitted.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Grips for the handles of sports equipment This invention relates to grips for the handles of sports equipment. Conventional grips for the handles of sports equipment are made from a variety of materials for example rubber, leather, plastics or cloth which have different properties but none is completely satisfactory under all conditions. For example, the weight of the grip may be sufficient to upset the balance of the equipment, the material may wear quickly and lose its gripping quality or it may iose its gripping quality when warm or damp. An object of the present invention is to provide a grip made from a material of less weight than conventional materials and having good sustained gripping properties. Accordingly, the invention provides a grip for the handle of a piece of sports equipment made from foam plastics material. This material is lighter than conventional materials: for example a satisfactory golf grip made from this material is approximately seven times lighter than the conventional standard golf grip, and thus transfers the weight gain to the golf head and consequently alters the value of the club head. The grip is easy and comfortable to hold and whilst sensitivity appears to be increased it cushions the shock effect reducing the vibration or jarring felt by the user when striking a ball. The performance of the grip (at least when made of the preferred material) remains substantially unaltered when wet or gripped by hot, damp hands. Preferably the grip is made from a laminate of two different foam plastics materials in order to get the desired stiffness and softness. Preferably both materials are cross linked closed cell foam and we have found the best combination is an ethylene vinyl acetate foam and a polyethylene foam (or their equivalents), such as those sold under the registered trademarks EVAZOTE and PLASTAZOTE. With advantage the density of the foams is in the range 50 to 85 (preferably 60 to 75)kg./cu.m. and the thickness of the laminate tapers and is in the range 10 to 30 mil. Normally the denser/stronger material will be on the inside of the laminate. The grip may be made from only ethylene vinyl acetate. One embodiment of grip for the handle of a golf club will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a side view of a grip, Figure 2 is a bottom elevation of the grip and Figure 3 is a top elevation of the grip. A golf club grip comprises a tapered sleeve 12 moulded from foam plastics material having an open lower end 13 and a closed upper end 14. The material preferably comprises a laminate of two different foam plastics materials both of cross linked closed cell variety, in this example the inner material being ethylene vinyl acetate foam and the outer material being polyethylene foam. The grip will be made in a variety of sizes to fit different clubs, in this particular example the inside bottom diameter is 13 mm, the outside top diameter 24 mm and the length 267 mm. The surface may be formed with perforations or roughnesses 15 to improve the gripping quality or appearance. While a grip for a golf club has been illustrated by way of example it will be appreciated that grips in accordance with the invention may be made for tennis or squash rackets or any other form of racket, club, bat or mallet. The grip may be slid on to the handle and if necessary adhered by conventional techniques. The invention extends to sports equipment provided with such a grip. CLAIMS

1.. A grip for the handle of a piece of sports equipment made from foam plastics material.

2. A grip according to claim 1 in which the material is cross linked closed cell foam.

3. A grip according to claim 1 or 2 in which the material is a laminate of two different foam plastics materials.

4. A grip according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the material or one of the materials is ethylene vinyl acetate foam.

5. A grip according to claim 3 in which the laminate is made from ethylene vinyl acetate foam and polyethylene foam.

6. A grip according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the density of the material is in a range 50 to 85, preferably 60 to 75, kg/cubic meter.

7. The grip of any of claims 1 to 6 in which the thickness of the laminate is in the range 10 to 30 mil.

8. A grip substantially as described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

9. A piece of sports equipment having a handle to which a grip according to any of the preceding claims is fitted.