Gripping sleeve

Abstract

A novel gripping sleeve and method of using for enhancing a user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools and implements is disclosed. The gripping sleeve is comprised of an elongated flexible hollow cylindrical sleeve with a lengthwise slit, which allows the gripping sleeve to be wrapped around a range of variously sized handles and handholds. The method of gripping handles and handholds of various tools and implements is comprised of the steps of, first, separating the gripping sleeve along its lengthwise slit, second, sliding the handle or handhold of the tool or implement through the gripping sleeve's lengthwise slit, and, finally, utilizing the gripping sleeve to grip the tool or implement more securely and comfortably.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of gripping sleeves. In particular, the present invention is directed to a gripping sleeve, for enhancing a user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools and implements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have been a number of patents directed to the area of gripping sleeves. U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,885 discloses a slip-on grip with a main thin rubber cylindrical tube and an outer fabric layer dimensioned to fit securely over an existing grip. The outer fabric layer has longitudinal slits along its lower portion of the rubber tube to allow the tube to expand to slide over the existing golf grip during installation. The outer layer is made of cotton or terry cloth or similar material and is integral with the thin rubber tube to provide a non-slip, gripping surface. In a second embodiment, the golf grip has an additional, thickened interior rubber portion which replaces, instead of slipping over, the existing grip. The grip has the combined function of the existing grip and the grip cover providing a grip wide enough to fit in the palm of an adult's hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,199 discloses an apparatus for providing an enhanced grip between a gloved hand and a handle or other object to be gripped. A portion or all of the glove and a portion or all of the handle are provided with selected first and second gripping surfaces, respectively, of the same or different materials, that join together, temporarily or permanently, and provide a stronger hand-to-handle grip that resists slipping. Alternatively, a flexible band, having second and third gripping surfaces on opposite sides, is wrapped around a first object that is to be rotated or otherwise moved relative to a second object, such as a lid and a jar. A gloved hand, having a first gripping surface, grips the flexible band and the first object and forms a strong temporary join between hand, flexible band and first object, allowing the first object to be more easily moved. Various thermoplastic, amorphous polymers, crystalline polymers and rubber-like materials can be used for the gripping surfaces. The invention has application to construction, maintenance, control and extraction work, to sports activities, to repair work around the home and to persons suffering from arthritis and similar diseases that affect an ability to grip an object.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,083 discloses handles to carry luggage that have been made of a variety of materials and in a variety of styles. Some require specially molded, cast, or stamped parts of plastic, rubber or metal. But, such handles tend to be expensive and heavy. Here a handle is constructed from a pair of webbing pieces edge stitched to form an elongated tube into which a specially constructed filler member or core is inserted. This core comprises a central stiffening member of a tempered steel wire rod and a plastic tube. Several layers of foam padding are wound around this member, and the entire assembly is slid into the cavity formed by the edge sewn webbing pieces to form a grip. The lengths of the webbing pieces are such to form integral straps for attaching the grip directly to a luggage case.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,611 discloses a hand grip adapted to be slipped over the metal handles of cooking utensils such as pots and fry pans, having particular application to commercial grade utensils wherein the handles are metal and customarily not provided with a thermally insulating gripping portion. The hand grip is elongated and made of a resilient silicone rubber material having low thermal conductivity so as to remain cool to the touch even though the metal handle becomes quite hot. Extending nearly completely through the grip is a longitudinal opening having a plurality of axial ribs within the opening, which define axial passageways for the flow of air between the metal handle and grip thereby enhancing the insulating qualities of the grip in some circumstances. If desired, the opening may be flat and unobstructed. The grip has suitable durometer and frictional characteristics to remain in place on the metal handle during use.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,078 discloses a handle that includes an elongated grip constructed of a compliant material such as a molded foam rubber or plastic and has a pair of longitudinally extending parallel grooves on an upper surface, one adjacent each of the grip sides. The grip is molded about an elongated rigid member which serves to reinforce the grip throughout its entire length. A half-shell metal frame generally U-shaped in cross-section, has side edges received in the grooves of the grip and otherwise fits about the grip covering the top and part of the lateral sides. Mounting stanchions are provided one for each end of the handle assembly and are affixed to the top surface of a luggage case, beauty case, or the like. Each stanchion includes a stub shaft which is pivotally received through an opening in an end portion of the half-shell frame and reinforcing member.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,241 discloses a handle for a paint roller frame includes an inner core made of a substantially rigid plastic material and an outer grip made of a softer rubber-like material surrounding the inner core and extending part way around both ends thereof. At the outer end of the inner core is an internally threaded opening surrounded by a planar end wall. The outer grip includes an outer end portion overlying the planar end wall which acts like a locking washer, resisting unscrewing of an extension pole from the threaded opening when the extension pole is screwed down tight and a flange at a base of the extension pole threads comes into contact with the outer end portion of the outer grip overlying the planar end wall.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,730,662 discloses a grip for an apparatus having a shaft that 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. One of the parts is encapsulated within rupture-able microcapsules such that when the respective grip sections slide over one another, the microcapsules rupture, resulting in mixing of the epoxy components and the formation of an integral grip upon curing of the epoxy.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,813 discloses a shock absorbing grip for a golf club having a strip formed of a polyurethane layer bonded to a felt layer. The strip is spirally wrapped about the golf club handle with the side edges being formed with recessed reinforcement side edges which are overlapping to form a water retarding joint between the side edges of the strip. The felt layer may be formed with an upwardly extending central groove along its length to form a spiral depression when the strip is spirally wrapped about a handle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,607 discloses a grip for an elongated shaft, especially a golf club, having a main portion with an inner surface, an outer surface opposite to said inner surface, an upper end, a lower end opposite said upper end, a first side, and a second side opposite said first side. Each of the inner and outer surfaces extend between the first and second ends and between the first and second sides. The main portion has a thickness extending between the inner and outer surfaces that gradually tapers in a first direction from a thickened area adjacent the upper end to a thinner area adjacent the lower end. A first fastener is coupled to the inner surface and a second fastener is coupled to the outer surface. The main portion is movable between an open position wherein the first and second fasteners are spaced from each other and a closed position wherein the first and second fasteners are releasably attached. The main portion forms a hollow, substantially tubular member open at both the upper end and the lower end when the main portion is in the closed position. The grip is preferably used on an elongated shaft such as a golf club, and is preferably used in combination with an existing, permanent grip.

U.S. Pat. No. D466,574 discloses a new ornamental design for a tubular grip for a bat, as shown and described.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,398 discloses a vibration dampening grip cover for the handle of an implement that 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.

U.S. Patent Application No. 20030151269 discloses a system to rebound shock as well as hand and wrist fatigue associated with the use of a large wrench, is alleviated by a covering at least the butt end of the wrench with a sleeve, or gripping device, constructed from an pliant and deformable material, such as soft rubber. The gripping device may be provided for attachment to the elongated handle of a tool. It includes a sleeve dimensioned to encircle the tool handle along three sides and to extend along a substantial length of the handle.

The gripping device may be mounted on the tool by means of an internal rib or ribs which lock the tool within the device channel cavity. In another embodiment, the device may include a series of finger size undulation along the outer surface to improve the ability of a person to maintain a grip. Because of its configuration and pliant material, the gripping device readily absorbs the impact forces due to torque applied during operation of the wrench that would otherwise be transmitted through the handle, and thereby provides ergonomic shock protection for the craftsperson's hand. The invention provides security and comfort for the user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel gripping device for holding a handle such as a paint can.

It is another object of the invention to provide a gripping handle which can be easily placed and removed from a can.

These and other objects of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a gripping sleeve for enhancing a user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools and implements comprising: an elongated flexible hollow cylindrical sleeve having a first end, second end, interior wall surface, and exterior wall surface; and a lengthwise slit from said first end to said second end, penetrating through said exterior wall surface to said interior wall surface.

In a further embodiment, a method of using a gripping sleeve to enhance a user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools and implements comprising the step of: separating the gripping sleeve along its lengthwise slit; feeding the handle or handhold of the tool or implement through the gripping sleeve's lengthwise slit; and utilizing the gripping sleeve to grip the tool or implement more securely and comfortably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the present handle affixed to a can.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to the same components across several views, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a gripping sleeve 10 for enhancing a user's grip of the handles and handholds of tools and other implements. The invention can be constructed from neoprene, santoprine or other oil resistant, chemical resistant, flexible and easy to apply material. The gripping sleeve 10 is comprised of an elongated flexible hollow member 12. In a preferred embodiment, said elongated flexible hollow member 12 would be a cylindrical sleeve. In alternate embodiments, said elongated flexible hollow member 12 could be formed into a square, triangular, or polygonal profile.

The elongated flexible hollow member 12 includes a first end 13, second end 14, internal wall surface 16, and external wall surface 17. The elongated flexible hollow member 12 further includes a lengthwise slit 15 extending from the first end 13 to the second end 14. The lengthwise slit 15 perforates the elongated flexible hollow member 12 from its first end 13 to its second end 14, splitting the gripping sleeve open, so a user dividing the lengthwise slit 15 with their hand can expose the elongated flexible hollow member's 12 hollow interior. In a prepared embodiment the slit 15 is offset by about <5 degrees 20. This offset prevents the sleeve 10 from pulling off when it is applied to the can handle.

A preferred method of using a gripping sleeve 10 will now be disclosed. The preferred method of using a gripping sleeve 10 to enhancing a user's grip on the handles and handholds of tools and other implements is comprised of the steps, including, first, splitting the gripping sleeve 10 along its lengthwise slit 15, second, feeding the handle or handhold of the tool or implement through the gripping sleeve's 10 lengthwise slit 15, and, finally, utilizing the gripping sleeve 10 to grip a tool or implement more securely and comfortably.

The present invention is in no way restricted to a particular size or geometric configuration.

The present invention has been described with reference to the above described preferred embodiment. It is to be appreciated that other embodiments fulfill the spirit and scope of the present invention and that the true nature and scope of the present invention will be determined with reference to the claims attached hereto.

Claims

1. A gripping sleeve for enhancing a user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools and implements comprising:

an elongated flexible hollow cylindrical sleeve having a first end, second end, interior wall surface, and exterior wall surface; and

a lengthwise slit from said first end to said second end, penetrating through said exterior wall surface to said interior wall surface.

2. The gripping sleeve of claim 1 where the slit is offset by about 5 degrees.

3. A method of using a gripping sleeve to enhance a user's grasp of the handles and handholds of various tools and implements comprising the step of:

separating the gripping sleeve along its lengthwise slit;

feeding the handle or handhold of the tool or implement through the gripping sleeve's lengthwise slit; and

utilizing the gripping sleeve to grip the tool or implement more securely and comfortably.