US2583198A - Grip structure - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1952 B. J. AxToN, JR

GRIP STRUCTURE Filed July 2, 1948 Eea/anida j 19x '0/7, Jr.

Patented Jan. 22V, 1952 golv-Irenl STATE-s .PAT

Gana srrcrvrr Benjamin-.L Anton., Jr., Holyokef Mass., assignertnlAi. G. Spalding & Bross, Ina, GhieQPlimMaS-o;

aicorpancrer-Delaware; l

Y t 1/K This invention relates to improvements in structures employedas grips or` as foundations for grips for athletic striking imp1ements, particularlyY to such implements as'V rackets such as used in playing squash, badminton andI tennis and for golf clubs andthe-like'striking` devices.

A` factor in. implements obthisV type: is one of weight and Weight distribution.. Accordingly,- it is desired'to keepat aminimum the weight-offthe handgrip thereofrw-hile at thelsame timev main- Vtaining said-grip` suiflcientlyresilient;V firm and resistant to torsionaleiectsasL tol enable-the user tocontrol the implement when a. strikingforce is applied therebyandproduce accurate 1execu tion of plays therewith.

Grips ory grip structuresheretoforey` used were and sometimes.. coveredv with leather". ord other simlar4 material. Structures-madeupLof-ftextile or fiberare relatively: heavy-:.andf are not resilientA andihencetendztotirethe handfof the user-.due

, to theconstant tensingnof.l thehand musclesfin gripping the samer Those made.. of rubberl are relativelyheavyand, ifjmadeoffhard rubber. are

unyielding and tiring. On-the otlfierhand;r if the structure is made of soft rubber so as to be more yeldablei itgcan yielditorsidnally so that a heavy gripping pressure becomes essential to prevent the torsionaldevelopment.A CorkV has been used to meet the requirement of lightness; but it is practically unyielding, thusv` retipiiiringfI ai( heavy tiring gripping Pressure.

The present# invention overcomes these diculties by forming the gripstructures orgfoundation of cork particles in amatrix of spongerubber. `The presencefof'spong ubber between the cork particles, becauseKof-th ids in theisponge, greatly feducesineweignt it .,strucnrebgow those made entirelyofucork2 rubber-:and proto"y preventl tiring `of thed hand in grippingV the Same YThe ,CorkA Particles@ i-Sporisenlbber .fratrix resist torsional strains in-the gripasyzpuld be present in rubberor spong.e .ri,1bber grip foundations so that a iirm, resilient foundation is provided which enables the\piayer toA accurately control v thek implementfw-hen a` striking y. force is applied thereby.

The surface of the grip structure. while generally smooth, is nodulated due to the arrangement of the cork particles in the matrix of rubber. This surface resists slipping of the grip in the hand even when the hand is wet with perspiration.

When a leather or other covering material is ZiClaimS. (C1: 2,1 Y

lil

l .l the handle of the tennis racket errug,v r,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view 'talicnn 1along line 3-3 of Fig; 2.

Fig- 4i is. a fragmentary 1ons1u1dinatsecti0nal view of the grip foundation slioyvnjFig; 3:

Fig. 5 shows an elevationalview oaigolficlub with a grip foundation thereon.

' Fig. 6 is an enlargedview partlyr'i'nl section of the grip portionofrthefgolf club '.cvffig.

In: athletic.V` implements such; as, racketsI of: the

, type: used iny squash@ tennis on badminton; and

golf clubs.A or. A the like instxtlmepts.;` .intended a .for producing,4 a.- strikingJ blow Qzifor-cay Weightdistribution: is an important factor.- ande it;V is desired toifkeep ,as lowas possible theiweishtfintheihandle end ofthe implement-aandiatitheisameitme provideanimplement with sumcicntlrrigidfglinto enableV the. user to execute the technique off a particular 912W Wim) ftllrayf.

This isI accomplished ibyf, the: present invention by providing ya .grip` structure Hit' which; mari or may` not.: `rae-covered :byffthe usual-1 cover;4 ofi-leather or the, like, covering material; not.- shown; and which is adapted to be secured to the handleV Ixliof theiracket; v

The grip -z foundation. of: the presentsinventlon comprises essentially. aipluralitylof cork particles embedded in a, mai-,rirey of; sponge rubber.- The voids l in. the, sponge rubber-i1 greatly@ reducer. the

weight 1 of-Y the foundation over those; heretofore i usedn and the sponge-rubber@ between the; cork 'granules provides-1 aVv mores resilient foundation thania'cork foundation. The corklparticlesinthe matrix produce stability in the foundation against torsional eiects between the hand and shaft as may be set up at the instant the striking force is produced by the implement.

The grip foundation as shown in Figs. 2 to 4 comprises a liner or core I2 which comprises a spiral wind of fabric tape preferably having the edges overlapped as at I3 and on which is molded a unitary tubular structure I4 of cork particles and sponge rubber. The grip structure is blown and cured in a mold and secured to the fabric tape core. This tape core provides a proper base for the cork and sponge rubber matrix.

The mold is usually formed so as to provide the required shape or surface on the grip structure as itis blown and cured. For example, the grip structure shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is generally elliptical for the major portion of its length and tapers 01T at the front end at I0a and has an enlarged butt at lb at its other end. In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the grip structure 20 which ts over shaft 2| is generally round in cross-section and tapers for substantially its full length and has an enlarged butt 20a at its upper end.

In carrying out the inventionl the grip structure is preferably formed from a composition, the principal ingredients of which are cork particles of material size as distinguished from dust, rubber, rubber processing ingredients and a blowing material. A representative composition of such material is as follows:

Materials; Parts by weight Smoke sheet 16.40 Reclaim 6.10 vStearic acid 1.50 Calcene 2.70 Fossil flour (mineral) 3.90 Whiting 1.50 Agerite powder 1.00 White substitute (factice) 1.05 Zinc oxide .75 Bicarbonate of`soda 3.30 Tuads (accel.) .08 D P G (accel.) .08 Aero AC (accel.) (Di-o-tolylguanidine and -zinc chloride); .22 Sulphur .81 Cork particles 20.00

out breaking down the cork content, calendered and a strip severed from the calendered sheet. rEhe strip is wrapped over a textile covered mandrel and positioned in a' mold wherein it is blown and iinally vulcanized into nal grip form. After the grip foundation is molded, it is removed from the mandrel and the foundation then assembled with the handle of the racket or the shaft of the golf club.

The outer surface of the foundation is generally smooth but has small nodules thereon formed by the cork particles embedded in the sponge rubber. If used uncovered as a grip, these nodules resist slipping of the hand on the grip even when the hand is wet with perspiration. If the grip structure is used as a foundation and l is covered in the usual manner by a leather or other type of covering material, the surface pro- 4 vides means for securely connecting a coverthereto so as to in effect become a part thereof.

The grip structure or foundation of the present invention while being exceedingly light still is of such texture that the racket may be gripped without heavy gripping pressure being applied thereon to unduly tire a player. The coaction between ,the cork particles and sponge rubber therebetween is such that it resists torsional movement of the racket or golf club at the time of impact so that control over the racket or club may be had throughout the playing with the same, irrespective of the point of impact of the ball with the racket or club head.

While the foundation is herein disclosed as being formed on a mandrel it is to be understood that the shaft or handle of the implement may be employed 'as a mandrel and a foundation formed .directly thereon ii desired.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the imprpvements may be used without others.

I claim: v

1. A tubula-r unitary hand grip member for handles of athletic implements comprising a textile tubular base to be secured to the handle and having a body thereon consisting essentially of cork particles embedded in a matrix of sponge rubber to provide a structure resistant to displacement under torsional strain, said grip having a nodulated non-slip surface formed by cork particles projecting slightly from said surface and having a thin covering of the rubber thereover and said grip being characterized by its lightness of weight and resiliency.

2. A tubular unitary hand grip member for handles of athletic implements comprising a textile tubular base to be secured to the handle and having a body thereon consisting essentially of cork particles embedded in a matrix of sponge rubber, said matrix of sponge rubber being anchored to the textile base and the rubber and cork particles being in substantially equal parts by weight to provide a structure resistant to displacement under torsional strain.

BENJAMIN J. AXTON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATlEIiS.v PATENTS Great Britain A. D.V1907

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