Abstract: An attachment for a ball bat having a proximal knob end includes a member having first and second opposing surfaces. The first surface is configured to be fixedly attached to the knob end of the bat. The member has a predetermined weight that is sufficient to adjust the performance of the bat.

Abstract: A Little League sized baseball bat of nominal cost to manufacture with an adult baseball bat simulated gripping handle providing the appearance of a cost prohibitive spirally wound tape, but consisting actually of an elastomeric sleeve about the gripping handle with spiral grooving, to thusly contribute to the nominal cost, and simulating the appearance of applied tape.

Abstract: A vibration dampening grip cover for the handle of an implement is preferably of multilayer laminate form having an inner vibration dampening layer and an outer gripping layer. A further inner force dissipating stiffening layer is included in the laminate. In a variation of the invention a grip cover is in the form of a sleeve which fits over the end of an implement handle. The sleeve terminates in a peripherally outward knob. The sleeve may be of a single layer made from vibration dampening material or may be a multilayer laminate.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A bat has an elongate tubular striking member of a first material, and an elongate handle member of a second material. The handle may be of composite material laid up in selected layers and orientation to produce selected weight distribution, strength, and stiffness and improved batting capabilities. The striking member and handle member may have juncture sections which are substantially rigidly interconnected through mating configurations.

Abstract: A grip for minimizing sting in a hand held swinging athletic contacting making article such as a bat, racquet, club or stick is secured to the handle of the article. The grip is a multilayer laminate having an inner layer made from an elastomeric material having high energy absorption and vibration damping characteristics. The laminate also includes an exposed outer layer made from an elastomeric material having a high coefficient of friction and being pliable. In addition, the laminate includes force dissipating material having the characteristics of absorbing and redirecting vibrational energy.

Abstract: A grip adapted for attachment to an implement including a handle is disclosed. The grip includes a longitudinally extending tubular shell having an inner surface shaped and dimensioned for attachment to the handle of the implement and an outer surface. The grip further includes a viscoelastic hand surface secured about the outer surface of the tubular shell.

Abstract: A vibration dampening grip cover for the handle of an implement is preferably of multilayer laminate form having an inner vibration dampening layer and an outer gripping layer. A further inner force dissipating stiffening layer is included in the laminate. In a variation of the invention a grip cover is in the form of a sleeve which fits over the end of an implement handle. The sleeve terminates in a peripherally outward knob. The sleeve may be of a single layer made from vibration dampening material or may be a multilayer laminate.

Abstract: A hand grip attachment has, a generally cylindrical member with an enhanced gripping surface on the exterior surface and an inner surface defining a mounting bore extending end to end through the cylindrical member to enable the hand grip attachment to be mounted on the handle end of a piece of sporting equipment, a wall of selected thickness is formed between the exterior surface and the interior surface and at least one or more elongated bores are formed in said wall for operative coaction with a filler such as hollow or solid stiffening rods made of any suitable material to establish the firmness and feel of the hand grip attachment.

Abstract: A variable hand placement sports equipment handle, such as a lacrosse stick handle, hockey stick handle, or field hockey stick handle, that includes a shaft and at least one overlay attached to the shaft at a location of frequent hand placement. The overlays are specially located and structured to provide the shaft with structural and tactile features that correspond to and accommodate the way in which a player moves his hands along the shaft and grips the shaft. The structural and tactile features, such as ribs, grooves, and hourglass and conical shapes, are located on the shaft to enhance a player's control of the shaft when performing various skills.

Abstract: A new and improved baseball batting system for abating accidental release of a bat from a player's hand following a swing is provided. An attachment member includes a ring which has an interior aperture adapted to be located on the gripping area end of a bat adjacent to the knob. The ring has a short radial projection which extends outwardly therefrom and a long axial projection which extends parallel with the axis of the bat as an extension of the short projection remote from the ring. This configuration defines a region between the bat and the short and long projections for the receipt of a batter's hands.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a control fascia adapted to be attached to one side of the blade of an ice hockey or street hockey stick. Ridges having a vertical component extending above the control fascia surface enable improved puck or ball control while offering freedom from unraveling, and minimum weight. The control fascias can be easily manufactured at low cost and are suitable for bearing logos or advertisements.

Abstract: The invention provides a grip for a handle or shaft including (a) core means (10) adapted to be fitted to the handle or shaft, and (b) a strip of material (22) to form the outer surface for the grip, to be wound around the handle or shaft and/or said core (10) to provide, in use, a wound grip. The core means (10) has a first end (16) and a second end (11) and a body (14) therebetween. The core means also has a peripheral flange at the second end (11) in the form of a skirt (12) which is adapted, in use, to be flexed over the wound strip (22) to prevent unwinding thereof from the handle or shaft and/or the core means (10).

Abstract: A bat that has shock absorbing and vibrational damping properties as well as enhanced strength and flexibility and method of manufacturing. Such properties are imparted by laminating under pressure a biaxially braided tubular overlay member formed from a hybrid of carbon fibers and aramid fibers to the handle portion of the bat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ball bat including an elongated tubular metal body having a barrel portion at one end and a handle portion at an opposite end. The handle portion terminates a knob that includes a metal collar that extends from the handle portion and a plug that is retained in an opening in the collar. Preferably, the opening in the collar is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated tubular metal body and has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the handle portion. The plug is preferably retained in the opening by means of a snap-fit connection between an edge that defines the opening and a groove in the plug or by means of a bayonet coupling between the plug-and the collar. A portion of the exposed surface of the plug can be used to provide an extended gripping surface.

Abstract: A slip control article including a backing layer having a first surface with an array of at least 100 upstanding stems per square inch and a second surface. At least a portion of the upstanding stems is an elastomeric material and the stems have an aspect ratio of at least 1.25. The first surface has a static coefficient of friction when dry of at least 0.6 and a static coefficient of friction when wet within 20% of the static coefficient of friction when dry. The first surface has a peel strength and a tensile strength of substantially zero when engaged with another slip control article. The first surface has a relatively high shear strength when engaged with another slip control article. The high shear forces are due primarily to the frictional properties of the elastomeric materials, not a mechanical interlock of the stems, such as on a mechanical fastener.

Abstract: A finger supporting structure (F) includes a grip portion and a finger supporter (T) formed thereto. The grip portion is of an elongated bar shape and has adequate length and thickness for a hand to grasp. The grip portion is either all or part of a grasping member of an implement or all or part of a gripping member (G) having internal hole to receive the grasping member of an implement. The finger supporter (T) is a laterally extending projection rigidly formed, in one piece, on the grip portion. The finger supporter (T) is angled to be inclined with respect to the axis (X) of the grip portion in order that the resultant force of the muscles of the digits and hand can be generated and exerted to the optimal. The finger supporting structure (F) is embodied in the grasping members of various implements and thereby provides gripping parts (H) having finger supporter (T) of the implements.

Abstract: A resilient tapered grip for pulling over a ball bat handle to provide a gripping reference and to reduce bat sting. The grip is configured to provide a taper from the handle to the edge of the knob. Two devices can be used to provide a tapered gripping reference at a position higher on the handle.

Abstract: An expandable baton having a grip cap attached to the outer end of the handle. The grip cap has a cylindrical head adapted to mate with and attach to the cylindrical outer end of the baton handle. A stop member extends outwardly from one side of the cylindrical head of the grip cap and an arm extends upwardly from the outer end of the stop member. The handle, stop member, and arm form a U-shaped finger receptacle adapted to receive a finger of the baton user to thereby provide a firm grip.

Abstract: An artificial bat end device for temporarily adjusting the length of a bat by using an adjustable ring having a thickness sufficient to simulate the butt end of a bat with the ring also having the capability to conform to the handle of a bat and be forcibly held in place on the bat's handle.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket of a game racket handle comprises a foundation layer and a top layer which is adhered to the upper surface of the foundation layer and is provided with one or more shock-absorbing sections and skidproof sections arranged alternately with the shock-absorbing sections. The shock-absorbing sections are made of polyesters, whereas the skidproof sections are made of a mixture containing a plurality of plastic or rubber granules and a binder.

Abstract: A new and improved baseball batting system for abating accidental release of a bat from a player's hand following a swing is provided. An attachment member includes a ring which has an interior aperture adapted to be located on the gripping area end of a bat adjacent to the knob. The ring has a short radial projection which extends outwardly therefrom and a long axial projection which extends parallel with the axis of the bat as an extension of the short projection remote from the ring. This configuration defines a region between the bat and the short and long projections for the receipt of a batter's hands.

Abstract: A redundant locking system for reliably securing a weldless knob to the handle of a metal baseball or softball bat to prevent the risk of a detachement of the knob from the handle and the possibility of injury to nearby persons and property in response to pulling forces applied to the knob during use of the bat. A first locking feature includes a high strength anaerobic adhesive bond that is established at the interface of the bat handle and the knob when the handle is received within a longitudinal cavity formed in the knob. A back-up locking feature includes a resilient locking ring that is located in a circumferential channel of the knob to surround the handle. The locking ring is relocated from the circumferential channel to a tapered ring retention chamfer of the knob to be clamped around the handle and thereby prevent the detachment of the knob from the handle should the adhesive bond fail when the pulling forces are applied to the knob.

Abstract: A mesh panel for throwable and/or grippable objects such as footballs, baseballs, basketballs, baseball bats, etc. The mesh panel is formed from polyvinylchloride (PVC) and includes a plurality of openings surrounded by a plurality of connecting portions. The outer surface of the mesh panel is such that each of the connecting portions includes a plurality of rib portions which further enhance the ability to grip the mesh panel. The inside surface of the mesh panel has an adhesive coating which bonds to an outer surface of the object to which the mesh panel is attached when heat is applied to the mesh panel. The heating of the mesh panel also causes a sticky, resin-like outer surface to be formed. The mesh panel enables various objects such as footballs, baseballs, basketballs, baseball bats, etc. to be much more easily grasped, thrown and caught by individuals of all ages and sizes, and particularly by individuals such as small adults and children having relatively small hands.

Abstract: A hand held article, such as a golf club, includes an elongated handle with an inner support structure mounted to the handle and a vibration absorbing material mounted around the inner support structure. The inner support structure includes a plurality of spaced rigid projections which extend into the vibration absorbing material to a location inwardly of the outer surface of the vibration absorbing material. In one embodiment the inner support structure is integral with the shaft of the handle. In another embodiment a sleeve is heat shrunk onto the shaft and the inner support structure and vibration absorbing material are mounted over the sleeve.

Abstract: An adjustable apparatus handle having a shaft, a grip sleeved onto the shaft, and a butt cap fixedly fastened to one end of the grip, wherein the shaft has a front part of polygonal cross section, a rear part of reduced diameter, and a piston endpiece at one end of the rear part remote from the front part; the grip has a front part fitting over the front part of the shaft, a rear part fitting over the rear part of the shaft and defining an air chamber between the piston endpiece of the shaft and the butt cap; the butt cap having an air hole disposed in communication between the air chamber and the atmosphere, and a control valve moved in the air hole between a first position where the air hole is closed and the air chamber is maintained in an air tight status to stop the shaft from an axial movement in the grip, and a second position where the air hole is opened and air is allowed to pass between the air chamber and the atmosphere, permitting the shaft to be moved axially in the grip.

Abstract: A grip tape 11 for applying to a handle 94 generally comprises an elongate tape having a top portion 60 comprised of shock absorbing and compressible material, such as polyurethane, bonded to a shock absorbing bottom portion 90, such as of open-pored textile material, such as of felt. The top includes a central portion 62, a right densified portion 70 adjacent the right side 50 and a left densified portion 80 adjacent the left side 40. Preferably, the tops 75, 85 of densified portions 70, 80 are below the top 65 of the central portion 62 by at least 10% of the thickness of the tape. Preferably, bottom bevels 77, 87 underlie densified portions 70, 80. Tape 11 is spiral wrapped around handle 94 such that right side 50 overlies top 85 of left densified portion 80 of the previous turn, preferably such that top 75 of right densified portion 70 is disposed below top 65 of central portion 62 of the succeeding wrap.

Abstract: A mesh panel for throwable and/or grippable objects such as footballs, baseballs, basketballs, baseball bats, etc. The mesh panel is formed from polyvinylchloride (PVC) and includes a plurality of openings surrounded by a plurality of connecting portions. The outer surface of the mesh panel is such that each of the connecting portions includes a plurality of rib portions which further enhance the ability to grip the mesh panel. The inside surface of the mesh panel has an adhesive coating which bonds to an outer surface of the object to which the mesh panel is attached when heat is applied to the mesh panel. The heating of the mesh panel also causes a sticky, resin-like outer surface to be formed. The mesh panel enables various objects such as footballs, baseballs, basketballs, baseball bats, etc. to be much more easily grasped, thrown and caught by individuals of all ages and sizes, and particularly by individuals such as small adults and children having relatively small hands.

Abstract: A ball bat grip for improving the gripping action of a batter for baseball or softball, which is useful for left handed or right handed players and which allows the grip to be comfortably adjusted for alignment of the knuckles. The grip includes independent upper and lower grip portions, manually moveable, made of a vinyl, rubber, or rubber-like material for aiding in the gripping power and frictional engagement with a bat surface, whether wood or aluminum bat. The upper and lower grip portions may be installed at the factory or provided with slots for joining the segments onto an existing bat. Finger channels may be included in both the upper and lower grip portions, with the upper grip portion longer, to allow a player to choke up or move the upper hand away from the end of the bat during batting. In an alternative embodiment a single elongated grip is used that can accommodate and receive both hands of the batter.

Abstract: A shock absorbing grip for a golf club having a strip formed of a polyurethane layer bonded to a felt layer, and a resilient sleeve which is applied to a golf club handle. The strip is spirally wrapped about the golf club handle with the side edges being formed with recessed reinforcement side edges which are tightly butted together. The starting end of the strip is skived to provide a smooth configuration of the strip around the upper end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A golf club grip having a spirally-cut resilient underlisting sleeve which is spirally wrapped about the grip-receiving portion of a golf club shaft, and an elongated felt and polyurethane strip which is spirally wrapped and adhered onto the exterior of the shaft-mounted sleeve.

Abstract: A grip for an apparatus having a shaft comprises an elongate hollow sleeve adapted to be slidably inserted on to the shaft and is shrinkable upon the application of heat at a preselected temperature range so that the sleeve contracts and surroundingly attaches to the shaft. A tubular member is adapted to be slidably inserted over the sleeve such that the sleeve and the tubular member together form an easily attachable grip. In a further aspect of the invention the sleeve and/or the tubular member are provided with an adhesive. The adhesive may take the form of a two part curable adhesive such as an epoxy. One of the parts is applied to the outer surface of the sleeve and the other part is applied to the interior surface to the tubular member such that the parts mix upon sliding of the grip sections upon one another. In another embodiment of the invention, the two part adhesive is applied to either the exterior of the sleeve or the interior of the tubular member.

Abstract: An improved gripping sleeve for enhancing a hand grip of a shank portion of an object, which provides a tube member having interior and exterior wall surfaces in which the interior wall surface is for engaging the shank portion of the object and an abrasive surface disposed on the interior wall surface of said tube member; including a method for gripping a shank portion of an object having the steps of providing a gripping sleeve (10) comprising a tube member having interior and exterior wall surfaces and having an abrasive surface disposed on said interior wall surface, engaging the interior wall surface of said tube member to the shank portion of the object and gripping the exterior wall surface (20) of the tube member to exert a force (F) onto the shank portion of the object through the interior wall surface of the tube member.