Title:
NON-SLIPPING HAND GRIP FOR TENNIS RACKET AND THE LIKE
United States Patent 3848871
Abstract:
Handle construction for manually-grasped movable control arm such as machinery lever or handle of bat or tennis racket, provides opposite longitudinal rows of suction cups disposed to be contact-compressed by the user closing his hand about the handle, thus insuring a tighter grip and preventing accidental slippage of hand due to perspiration, dirt, etc. For use on tennis racket, contact cups can be attached to handle by a wrap-around, adhesive surface or by elastic sleeve carrying such cups. Each is formed with series of transverse cut-out areas which overlie wide sides of handle between side-edge rows of suction cups, thus further increasing grip of user and preventing slippage of sleeve.
US Patent References:
/1046562.html
Curley - December 1912 - 1046562
Hand grip for golf clubs
Johnston - February 1926 - 1573612
Hammer handle
Layton - April 1926 - 1581647
Grip
Papin - August 1927 - 1638454
Massaging glove
Wood - November 1932 - 1885572
/1046562.html
Curley - December 1912 - 1046562
Hand grip for golf clubs
Johnston - February 1926 - 1573612
Hammer handle
Layton - April 1926 - 1581647
Grip
Papin - August 1927 - 1638454
Massaging glove
Wood - November 1932 - 1885572
Inventors:
Sweet, Alvin H. (South Gate, CA)
Sweet, Don A. (Los Angeles, CA)
Sweet, Don A. (Los Angeles, CA)
Application Number:
05/352647
Publication Date:
11/19/1974
Filing Date:
04/19/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
473/206, 16/DIG.012, 74/558, 74/551.900
International Classes:
A63B49/08; A63B49/02; B62K21/26; A63B49/00
Field of Search:
273/67DA,68,72R,73J,75,76,81R,81B,81.4,165,166 145/61R,61A-61M 74/558,558.5,551.8,551.9
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Apley, Richard J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Johnson, Howard L.
Claims:
We claim
1. In combination, a sports implement having a longitudinal handle formed with respective wide sides and narrow sides, and a hand grip attachment therefor comprising wrap-around sheet material disposed lengthwise snugly overlying a hand grip portion of the handle and carrying a longitudinal row of manually-compressible suction cups extending only along opposite narrow sides thereof, said sheet material being formed with spaced-apart openings overlying at least one of said wide sides between the rows of suction cups and being of sufficient size to enable a user's grasped hand to directly contact the underlying handle therethrough and thus in conjunction with the opposite rows of manually compressed suction cups to maintain a non-slipping grip on the handle.
2. A sports implement and hand grip attachment according to claim 1 wherein said sports implement is a tennis racket.
3. A handle attachment for providing a non-slipping hand grip on a handle which has respective wide sides and narrow sides such as the handle of a sports implement, said attachment comprising sheet material adapted to wrap around and snugly engage a hand grip portion of such handle, said sheet material being formed with manually compressible suction cups situated solely in two longitudinal rows transversely spaced apart by a width of sheet material dimensioned to locate each row in position to lengthwise overlie one of said narrow sides, the connecting width of sheet material being characterized by spaced-apart openings of sufficient size that a user's grasped hand thereabout may directly contact an underlying handle therethrough when such attachment is mounted on a handle.
4. A handle attachment according to claim 3 wherein said sheet material forms a sleeve of elastomeric material.
1. In combination, a sports implement having a longitudinal handle formed with respective wide sides and narrow sides, and a hand grip attachment therefor comprising wrap-around sheet material disposed lengthwise snugly overlying a hand grip portion of the handle and carrying a longitudinal row of manually-compressible suction cups extending only along opposite narrow sides thereof, said sheet material being formed with spaced-apart openings overlying at least one of said wide sides between the rows of suction cups and being of sufficient size to enable a user's grasped hand to directly contact the underlying handle therethrough and thus in conjunction with the opposite rows of manually compressed suction cups to maintain a non-slipping grip on the handle.
2. A sports implement and hand grip attachment according to claim 1 wherein said sports implement is a tennis racket.
3. A handle attachment for providing a non-slipping hand grip on a handle which has respective wide sides and narrow sides such as the handle of a sports implement, said attachment comprising sheet material adapted to wrap around and snugly engage a hand grip portion of such handle, said sheet material being formed with manually compressible suction cups situated solely in two longitudinal rows transversely spaced apart by a width of sheet material dimensioned to locate each row in position to lengthwise overlie one of said narrow sides, the connecting width of sheet material being characterized by spaced-apart openings of sufficient size that a user's grasped hand thereabout may directly contact an underlying handle therethrough when such attachment is mounted on a handle.
4. A handle attachment according to claim 3 wherein said sheet material forms a sleeve of elastomeric material.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the strenuous exertion occurring in tennis matches, it frequently happens that a player's tennis hand becomes sweaty to such an extent that his grip falters and his racket may even slip entirely from his grasp onto the court. Even without such extreme result, it frequently occurs that at some moment he unconsciously loosens his grip, possibly due to muscular and mental fatigue, as well as a result of skin irritation of his palm pressed against the handle. One consequence is that a ball striking the racket may dislodge it from his loosened grip or he may otherwise fail to score due to his insecure hold.
A comparable problem may be found among workmen operating machinery under humid and/or dusty conditions where at critical moments of stress, the operation may be jeopardised by slippage of the operator's hand in grasping an essential control lever such as that of a crane boom or vehicle brake. Thus in all such situations involving manually engaged handles or control rods, it is highly desirable that some way be found to ensure that the operator's grip does not unconsciously relax, and also--even when consciousness may be focussed upon it-- that it is guarded against accidental slippage such as may result from moisture, dust or other film-forming agent.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing problem is solved in a highly satisfactory and essentially simple manner by the present invention which provides a pattern of contact-compressible, hand-engagable suction cups secured upon the operating handle in position to be grasped by the user's closed hand when manipulating the handle. The presence of such a pattern ensures (a) that the handle cannot be gripped "lightly" or "loosely," since a grip which fails to compress the outward-facing suction cups practically cannot manipulate the handle at all, and the user's sense of touch quickly makes him aware of this, and (b) the firm handgrip required to hold the suction cups ensures that the hand will not slip due to film formation resulting from moisture, dirt or other material interposed accidently between the hand and cup. Such a gripping surface can be formed on the handle cases by a flexible sheet of material carrying one or more suction cups being cemented or adhesively attached conveniently there is provided an elastic sleeve bearing two opposing rows of suction cups, which sleeve can initially be stretched and pulled over the (tennis racket or other) handle to a position of permanent anchorage. The user's grip on such sleeve and handle may is further stabilized or reinforced by provision of transverse cut-out areas of the sleeve along which the user's palm and fingers directly engage the underlying handle surface intermediate the clasped suction cups.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
A specific embodiment of the invention, showing its employment with a free-swinging bat-type handle such as that of a tennis racket is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tennis racket carrying an attachment sleeve with two rows of suction cups thus disposed along oppostie side edges of the hand grip portion of the handle.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the end segment of the handle which carries the sleeve.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the handle segment rotated 90° on its axis from the position of FIG. 2.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken through the handle along the respective lines 4--4 and 5--5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, showing a segment of a non-resilient sheet-type wrap-around construction which is applied to handles of different sizes in place of the preceding sleeve, with two of the band ends bent back to show the adhesive coat.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
FIG. 1 shows a conventional tennis racket 10 having a symmetrical frame 12 which encloses a tight network or cross-strung area 14 and from the center of one end of the frame projects an elongated handle 16. The handle is generally polygonal in transverse section, with two fairly wide, parallel faces 17, 18 which may be considered top and bottom faces, and an opposing pair of narrower (side) faces 19, 20 joined by intermediate strips 21, 22, 23, 24. By the present construction, opposing parallel rows of outward-facing suction cups 26, 28 are located along the narrow side faces 19, 20 extending lengthwise from the butt-end 30 partway along the handle in that segment which is normally grasped by a tennis player in holding or swinging the racket.
The only requirement for the dished or concave cups themselves is that they be sufficiently resilient to bend back under hand-pressure and then return to their original configuration upon release. Rubber-like sheets carrying such cups are commercially available, used for other purposes such as floor mats for bath tub or shower. Sheets of such material can be fused to the handle when the latter is formed of other material.
However, particularly for attachment to already existing handles or tennis rackets, there is provided a resilient sleeve S of elastomeric material such as natural rubber or synthetic plastic (the same material as the cups) which can be stretched a small amount in passing it over the hub-end 30 and which then snugly grips and anchors itself to the handle. Different size sleeves are provided for handles of somewhat different perimeters, and in instances when a snug fit is not produced, a layer of adhesive or cement (31) may be interposed.
As here illustrated, the sleeve S is formed with two parallel, lengthwise strips 32, 34 which when mounted on the handle frictionally overlie the respective side faces 17, 18 and are more-or-less the same width as these narrow faces of the handle. Each strip carries a row of outward-facing suction cups 35, spaced apart a small distance but close enough together so that the user's hand will completely overlie at least two and usually three or more of them. The lengthwise strips 32, 34 are cross-connected to each other by a series of bands 36 of the sheet material which thus overlie the wide (top and bottom) faces 17, 18 of the handle and define cut-out areas 38 along both faces as well as over the intermediate walls 21, 22, 23, 24, through which areas the user's hand can directly engage the handle.
It will be appreciated that when the handle forms one end of a bat or racket of which the other end is unattached or free-swinging, the resulting angular force which must be controlled at the hand grip position is very considerable (upon striking a ball) and hence the suction cups or their supporting sheet material must be very securely anchored. Alternately, when the handle is that of a (machinery) control lever, or even a pry bar, the corresponding grip resistance arising at the handhold position may not be as great, but the importance of preventing hand slippage can be just as critical. Accordingly, instead of a completely encircling sleeve, flexible wrap-around sheet material can be initially provided as a flat piece W provided with handle-attachment means such as an adhesive coating 31 on the face opposite the suction cups; in such case the sheet material itself need not be stretchable or elastomeric. It can even be fastened to the supporting handle by cords wound around it between the suction cups. Also, while the handle here illustrated is polygonal (octagonal), it will be evident that such handle can have a different configuration such as circular, oval, etc., as long as it is dimensioned to be manually grasped.
The wrap-around sheet W of FIG. 6 can be attached to handles of different sizes simply by making the band ends 36a, 36b long enough to meet when brought together about a large perimeter handle; the ends of such bands can then be cut off or shortened (by the user or attacher) so as to join endwise when adhesively attached to a handle of lesser perimeter.
Current tennis rackets usually have their handgrip portions wound with a long leather wrapping strip in order to provide better gripping surface. This wrapper is usually removed before applying the present suction-cup attachment. However particularly with the elastic sleeve construction, the latter can be mounted over the leather wrapping if desired, as long as the leather itself remains firmly anchored to the handle. Adhesive or cement can also be used as an undercoat with the elastic sleeve construction.
With the strenuous exertion occurring in tennis matches, it frequently happens that a player's tennis hand becomes sweaty to such an extent that his grip falters and his racket may even slip entirely from his grasp onto the court. Even without such extreme result, it frequently occurs that at some moment he unconsciously loosens his grip, possibly due to muscular and mental fatigue, as well as a result of skin irritation of his palm pressed against the handle. One consequence is that a ball striking the racket may dislodge it from his loosened grip or he may otherwise fail to score due to his insecure hold.
A comparable problem may be found among workmen operating machinery under humid and/or dusty conditions where at critical moments of stress, the operation may be jeopardised by slippage of the operator's hand in grasping an essential control lever such as that of a crane boom or vehicle brake. Thus in all such situations involving manually engaged handles or control rods, it is highly desirable that some way be found to ensure that the operator's grip does not unconsciously relax, and also--even when consciousness may be focussed upon it-- that it is guarded against accidental slippage such as may result from moisture, dust or other film-forming agent.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The foregoing problem is solved in a highly satisfactory and essentially simple manner by the present invention which provides a pattern of contact-compressible, hand-engagable suction cups secured upon the operating handle in position to be grasped by the user's closed hand when manipulating the handle. The presence of such a pattern ensures (a) that the handle cannot be gripped "lightly" or "loosely," since a grip which fails to compress the outward-facing suction cups practically cannot manipulate the handle at all, and the user's sense of touch quickly makes him aware of this, and (b) the firm handgrip required to hold the suction cups ensures that the hand will not slip due to film formation resulting from moisture, dirt or other material interposed accidently between the hand and cup. Such a gripping surface can be formed on the handle cases by a flexible sheet of material carrying one or more suction cups being cemented or adhesively attached conveniently there is provided an elastic sleeve bearing two opposing rows of suction cups, which sleeve can initially be stretched and pulled over the (tennis racket or other) handle to a position of permanent anchorage. The user's grip on such sleeve and handle may is further stabilized or reinforced by provision of transverse cut-out areas of the sleeve along which the user's palm and fingers directly engage the underlying handle surface intermediate the clasped suction cups.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
A specific embodiment of the invention, showing its employment with a free-swinging bat-type handle such as that of a tennis racket is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tennis racket carrying an attachment sleeve with two rows of suction cups thus disposed along oppostie side edges of the hand grip portion of the handle.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the end segment of the handle which carries the sleeve.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the handle segment rotated 90° on its axis from the position of FIG. 2.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken through the handle along the respective lines 4--4 and 5--5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is an elevational view, similar to FIG. 3, showing a segment of a non-resilient sheet-type wrap-around construction which is applied to handles of different sizes in place of the preceding sleeve, with two of the band ends bent back to show the adhesive coat.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
FIG. 1 shows a conventional tennis racket 10 having a symmetrical frame 12 which encloses a tight network or cross-strung area 14 and from the center of one end of the frame projects an elongated handle 16. The handle is generally polygonal in transverse section, with two fairly wide, parallel faces 17, 18 which may be considered top and bottom faces, and an opposing pair of narrower (side) faces 19, 20 joined by intermediate strips 21, 22, 23, 24. By the present construction, opposing parallel rows of outward-facing suction cups 26, 28 are located along the narrow side faces 19, 20 extending lengthwise from the butt-end 30 partway along the handle in that segment which is normally grasped by a tennis player in holding or swinging the racket.
The only requirement for the dished or concave cups themselves is that they be sufficiently resilient to bend back under hand-pressure and then return to their original configuration upon release. Rubber-like sheets carrying such cups are commercially available, used for other purposes such as floor mats for bath tub or shower. Sheets of such material can be fused to the handle when the latter is formed of other material.
However, particularly for attachment to already existing handles or tennis rackets, there is provided a resilient sleeve S of elastomeric material such as natural rubber or synthetic plastic (the same material as the cups) which can be stretched a small amount in passing it over the hub-end 30 and which then snugly grips and anchors itself to the handle. Different size sleeves are provided for handles of somewhat different perimeters, and in instances when a snug fit is not produced, a layer of adhesive or cement (31) may be interposed.
As here illustrated, the sleeve S is formed with two parallel, lengthwise strips 32, 34 which when mounted on the handle frictionally overlie the respective side faces 17, 18 and are more-or-less the same width as these narrow faces of the handle. Each strip carries a row of outward-facing suction cups 35, spaced apart a small distance but close enough together so that the user's hand will completely overlie at least two and usually three or more of them. The lengthwise strips 32, 34 are cross-connected to each other by a series of bands 36 of the sheet material which thus overlie the wide (top and bottom) faces 17, 18 of the handle and define cut-out areas 38 along both faces as well as over the intermediate walls 21, 22, 23, 24, through which areas the user's hand can directly engage the handle.
It will be appreciated that when the handle forms one end of a bat or racket of which the other end is unattached or free-swinging, the resulting angular force which must be controlled at the hand grip position is very considerable (upon striking a ball) and hence the suction cups or their supporting sheet material must be very securely anchored. Alternately, when the handle is that of a (machinery) control lever, or even a pry bar, the corresponding grip resistance arising at the handhold position may not be as great, but the importance of preventing hand slippage can be just as critical. Accordingly, instead of a completely encircling sleeve, flexible wrap-around sheet material can be initially provided as a flat piece W provided with handle-attachment means such as an adhesive coating 31 on the face opposite the suction cups; in such case the sheet material itself need not be stretchable or elastomeric. It can even be fastened to the supporting handle by cords wound around it between the suction cups. Also, while the handle here illustrated is polygonal (octagonal), it will be evident that such handle can have a different configuration such as circular, oval, etc., as long as it is dimensioned to be manually grasped.
The wrap-around sheet W of FIG. 6 can be attached to handles of different sizes simply by making the band ends 36a, 36b long enough to meet when brought together about a large perimeter handle; the ends of such bands can then be cut off or shortened (by the user or attacher) so as to join endwise when adhesively attached to a handle of lesser perimeter.
Current tennis rackets usually have their handgrip portions wound with a long leather wrapping strip in order to provide better gripping surface. This wrapper is usually removed before applying the present suction-cup attachment. However particularly with the elastic sleeve construction, the latter can be mounted over the leather wrapping if desired, as long as the leather itself remains firmly anchored to the handle. Adhesive or cement can also be used as an undercoat with the elastic sleeve construction.