US3712343A

US3712343A - Hand grips

Info

Publication number: US3712343A
Application number: US00099999A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Sparks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-12-21
Filing date: 1970-12-21
Publication date: 1973-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-23

Abstract

This invention relates to grips for hand operated equipment, especially golf clubs, in which a shaft or rod portion is covered by a sleeve of an elastomeric or plastomeric material. Tubular double grip structures are extruded or molded. Tubular products having recurring double grip structures are programmed so as to be extruded according to a prearranged schedule. From the double grip structure individual grip sections are cut with a length and outside diameter to meet the needs of a particular individual.

Description

United States Patent 11 1 Sparks 1 51 Jan. 23, 1973 1 HAND GRIPS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: William J- Sparks, 5129 Granada 1,142,073 2/1969 Great Britain ..273/81 R Blvd., Coral Gables, Fla. 33146 22 il d; 21 1970 Primary ExaminerSamuel B. Rothberg App]. No.: 99,999

138/DIG. 11; 264/167, DIG. 33; 273/81 R Attorney-Meredith P. Sparks [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to grips for hand operated equipment, especially golf clubs, in which a shaft or rod portion is covered by a sleeve of an elastomeric or plastomeric material. Tubular double grip structures are extruded or molded. Tubular products having [56] References Cited recurring double grip structures are programmed so as UNITED STATES PATENTS to be extruded according to a prearranged schedule. 2,308,147 1/1943 Ballagh ..l38/118 ux Fmm the double grip Structure individual grip Sections 2,994,327 8/1961 Otto et a1. ..l38/D1G, 9 are cut with a length and outside diameter to meet the 3,312,766 4/1967 Stevens ..264/167 needs of a particular individual. 3,317,211 5/1967 Debski ..273/81 R X 3,606,326 9/1971 Sparks et a1. ..273/81 R 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures Y x Y HAND GRIPS This invention relates to grips for hand operated equipment in which a shaft or rod portion is covered by a sleeve of an elastomeric or plastomeric material. The tubular product which forms the sleeve is made by extrusion or molding processes to a predetermined design comprising a pair, or multiple pairs, of grip structures.

The needs and desires for size and shape of grips for a given purpose such as golf clubs, tennis racquets, fishing poles and the like, vary with the individual. Although the description herein, for illustrative purposes, will be for golf club grips, it is understood that the grips of this invention finds application in many fields.

A fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in con 'pnction with the accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional golf club in which the invention may be incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft of a golf club and illustrates the invention being incorporated therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a double grip pair.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of extruded pairs of grip structures which are programmed to a predetermined design.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cap suitable for holding the grip of a golf club in place.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cap with a plurality of downwardly projecting tines for holding a grip in place.

As shown in FIG. 1 a conventional golf club has a head 5 for hitting the ball. The head is connected to a shaft 1 which is generally a hollow tube or a solid rod with a slight downward taper from the top of the shaft to the neck of the head. A grip 2 encircles the shaft 1 at the uppermost portion of the shaft for a distance of from about 10 to 13 inches for conventional clubs, and sometimes for a longer distance, especially in special types of putters. The grip may be molded at the top of the shaft so as to close the end, or the top may be protected by cap 3.

In FIG. 2 the shaft 1 of a golf club is enveloped with a sleeve or grip 2. Alternatively, the upper end of the grip may be folded over the top of the shaft as shown in FIG. 5 and held in place by Cap 7.

FIG. 3 is a pair of grips in mirror image design which may be molded together in one piece, or extruded as in FIG. 4 and then cut in sections to meet the needs of the individual user.

FIG. 4 illustrates a series of recurring units of programmed pairs of grips extruded in predetermined dimensions of thickness and length which are designed to be tapered from the center towards each end. Preferably these grips are cut in pairs as in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectionalview of a cap suitable for holding the grip of a golf club in place when the end of the grip is folded over the end of the shaft. The top may have any desired shape such as flat, rounded, cupped, and the like. The sides may have substantially the same thickness throughout, or the lower rim of the sides may be thickened for causing greater compression in the elastomer grip so as to result in a firmer hold on the shaft.

FIG. 6 has a plurality of tines l3 projectin downwardly between the grip 2 and shaft 1. Both the cap of FIG. 6, and cap 3 which is located at the top of the shaft in FIG. 2, are useful for holding a grip which is cut, for example, at x-x' or x"-x" in FIG. 3.

Extrusion is a classical method of forming soft rubber products. Even when cellular rubber is processed by molding and pressure curing, the mold blanks are generally made by extruding. The extrusion of tubular products having recurring structure may be programmed so that the final form is produced according to a prearranged schedule. This process has been found to be especially useful in making grips such as those for golf clubs, fishing poles and the like, where the grip is tapered and of varying thickness throughout its length. One example is illustrated in FIG. 4. This linear programming followed by continuous curing is especially attractive. Dimensions may be maintained during extrusion by slight internal gas pressure. However, the extrusion designed uncured product can be set by vulcanizing in a steam chamber, or even by molding. In the latter case, the shape and internal stability of the object is maintained by insertion of a mandril or a rod through the hole of the cylindrical object. The grip may be preset and cut to desired dimensions of length, and thickness prior to vulcanization. This is general practice. However, the tubing is preferably cut in such a way as to produce at least two recurring units in each finally vulcanized product, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The individual needs and desires for golf grips, as one example, vary in length and in thickness at the two extreme ties. The thickness of the wall of the tubing (which can be measured by the difference between the bore diameter and the outside diameter) varies from about 0.5 mm to about 25.0 mm. The preferred thickness will vary according to the particular use and also with the individual. The common practice of cutting a finished grip to size makes it necessary for the pro-shop to inventory a great variety of different products to meet individual needs for length and for outside diameter at the extremeties. This need is multiplied when a number of different colors of grips are kept in stock to choose from.

According to my invention, the grips are made in integral double grip units, wherein each grip of a single unit is tapered from the center toward the end to in clude within its length all degrees of length and thickness. Thus, a section of the double grip can be cut to meet the requirements of a particular individual.

This grip is made in at least double grip sections either by extrusion and air cure; or by molding and curing in the mold. Each half section corresponds to one grip. The two half sections are mirror images and are deliberately made longer and larger toward the center than that of the grip usually sold. Thus in mounting the grips the operator cuts to his predetermined length and top section diameter.

By this method, it is possible to satisfy the varying length and size requirements of every individual golfer with one two-grip section. This, of course, applies to the soft grips described in co-pending applications Ser. No. 773,689, filed Sept. 25, 1968 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,326, and Ser. No. 62,140, filed Aug. 7, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,638,295, issued Feb. 1, 1972. It is equally applicable to the grips having contiguous molding of cap and grip structure.

If it is desirable to produce a tubular grip with offset distortion the inside bore of the rod or mandril is made substantially smaller than the desired inside bore of the shaft on which the grip is to be installed, with the result that during the expansion of the grip material during the vulcanization in the presence of a blowing agent,.

the bore will not close completely, but be distorted in shape and size as to give an offset outside appearance when the grip is mounted on the shaft.

Although most experience has been with cellular elastomer, mirror image, recurring structure, dual golf grips, the processes and products are applicable to all grip structures having recurring patterns capable of programmed extrusions. This is true even though in some cases it may be preferred to mold a single double grip structure which may be cut with varying distances from the center and from the ends to produce two personalized grips having preselected size, shape, and length characteristics.

The programming of an extruder can be brought about in any suitable manner, as is known in the art. For example, the extruder orifice is programmed so as to open or close in greater or lesser degree as the tubing is formed to duplicate a series of tubular structures shown in FIG. 4. This programming is brought about by operating from a control governor in much the same way as a key is cut from a blank, using a master key as a guide.

The preferred composition for the grip is a cellular elastomer having a Shore A durometer hardness of from about to about 45. Shore A hardness is determined with the Shore A durometer in which the probe is forced into the test specimen, as set forth in the ASTM Standards on Rubber Products D3l4-39 (1944). However, other types of elastomeric materials may be used, such as foamed or unfoamed Neoprene, Butyl rubber, polybutadiene-styrene, silicone rubbers or the like, so long as they are capable of extrusion forming on a program. The material may also be a plastomer which is elastic and plastic within reasonable temperature limitations. A plastic material is one that contains as an essential ingredient an organic substance of large molecular weight, is solid in the finished state, and at some stage in its manufacture or in its processing into finished articles, can be shaped by flow. Examples of plastics useful in this invention include polyolefines such as polyethylene, propylene, copolymers of ethylene and propylene; unsaturated polyesters such as polyacrylates; some fluoroplastics; and poly(alkylvinyl) ethers. The materials may be cellular rubbers or plastomers, or mass materials.

When individual grips are cut as sections from recurring double grip pairs as shown in FIG. 4, the installation of the grip may require the use of a cap at the top end of the grip and a cup at the lower end of the grip to hold the grip in place on the club. Suitable caps for this purpose are illustrated in FIG. 2, S and 6. The grips may be anchored at the lower end by any suitable means such as tape, plastic cups, or by winding with thread, as is well known in the art.

It has been the practice to moldsingle grips having identical weight, thickness, length and shape. lf different sizes shapes and length are needed it is necessary to have a special mold for each variation. This greatly complicates the manufacture of individualized grips.

However, the really big disadvantage lies in merchandising. The sales outlet must carry a large inventory to meet the needs of different people. With a double grip, mirror image structure, two grips can be made by cutting the double grip into two sections. Thus, by

cutting from positions varying in distance from the.

center and from the ends, variable size and length is attained. The excess pieces are merely discarded.

Various modifications and variations of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the discovery or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim 1. A body member for making tapered grips for the shaft of a hand operated instrument wherein said body member is an elastomer in a non-flowable condition, and has a predetermined design of one or more recurring units, each unit consisting of an elongated tube open at both ends, having a central bore of circular cross-section and approximately uniform diameter, and an outside wall thickness which substantially diminishes regularly from a point which is approximately the mid-point of the length of said tube to points at opposite ends of said unit in the design, or which substantially enlarges regularly from said mid-point to said end-points, and a length sufficient for cutting into two sections each ten to thirteen inches long, for a conventional golf club, and the wall thickness of said tubing (measured by the difference between the central bore and the outside diameter) varies from about 0.5 mm to about 25 mm wherein each said unit contains two tubular sections, and each section thereof can be trimmed to a length suitable for mounting separatelyv as a grip for said shaft.

Claims

1. A body member for making tapered grips for the shaft of a hand operated instrument wheRein said body member is an elastomer in a nonflowable condition, and has a predetermined design of one or more recurring units, each unit consisting of an elongated tube open at both ends, having a central bore of circular cross-section and approximately uniform diameter, and an outside wall thickness which substantially diminishes regularly from a point which is approximately the mid-point of the length of said tube to points at opposite ends of said unit in the design, or which substantially enlarges regularly from said mid-point to said end-points, and a length sufficient for cutting into two sections each ten to thirteen inches long, for a conventional golf club, and the wall thickness of said tubing (measured by the difference between the central bore and the outside diameter) varies from about 0.5 mm to about 25 mm wherein each said unit contains two tubular sections, and each section thereof can be trimmed to a length suitable for mounting separately as a grip for said shaft.