SEMITRANSPARENT GRIPS FOR USE WITH ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT
A semitransparent grip can be used on various types of athletic equipment such as golf clubs, baseball bats, hockey sticks, and lacrosse sticks to cover a customizable label while maintaining features such as durability, clarity, lifespan, visibility, tackiness, and durometer, and resisting degradation from weather and chemical factors.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/719,130 filed Oct. 26, 2012, titled SEMITRANSPARENT GRIPS FOR USE WITH ATHLETIC EQUIPMENT.
FIELDThe present disclosure relates to semitransparent grips that can be used with a variety of athletic equipment in order to allow a label to be placed, and to be visible, beneath a weather and chemical resistant grip.
BACKGROUNDCurrently, some athletic equipment, such as golf clubs, baseball bats, hockey sticks, and lacrosse sticks, use grips to increase tackiness and assist the user in maintaining a better hold on the piece of equipment. These grips are frequently opaque. Often, they do not provide customizable features. Additionally, the few grips that are semitransparent lack durability, they deteriorate when exposed to grip solvents, and they decrease quickly in clarity and lifespan due to UV exposure. A better semitransparent grip is needed in order to provide resistance to side effects from grip solvents, extended use, and UV exposure and to assist with visibility of customizable labels.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present disclosure generally relates to grips for use with athletic equipment. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to semitransparent grips for use with athletic equipment such as golf clubs or baseball bats, or any other athletic equipment that may be of a similar shape, such as a lacrosse stick or hockey stick. The semitransparent grip allows a user to place a label underneath the grip and to be able to view the label through the grip. The label may include images or words, or may be an advertisement.
In some embodiments, the semitransparent grip is molded in the form of a tube so as to allow a user to install the grip by sliding the grip over the end of an article of athletic equipment with a uniform shape throughout the length to be covered by the grip, such as the shaft of a golf club. In some embodiments, the semitransparent grip is in the form of a wrap, allowing a user to install the grip on an article of athletic equipment with a non-uniform shape, with a lip or ridge at the end of the article, or with a shape that is wider at the end than at the point where the grip will rest, such as the shaft of a baseball bat or lacrosse stick. In any of the above, the grip can be made of material designed to provide flexibility to the grip.
Reference is made throughout the present disclosure to certain aspects of the grip described herein. Such references to aspects of the presently described grip do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, any examples set forth in this disclosure are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the disclosed grip. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The present disclosure relates to a semitransparent grip for use with an article of athletic equipment, such as a baseball bat or golf club. Various embodiments of the grip will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the grip disclosed herein. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the grip. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover applications or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Referring to
In one embodiment, the materials used to make the grip 210 are comprised of a petroleum-based blend of TPEs. Use of a TPE may have many benefits: clarity of the grip is maintained, the weight can be adjusted to fit the needs of each specific grip manufactured, and the durometer, or hardness factor, can be adjusted to the precise durometer rating required, among other things.
In one embodiment, the synthetic materials may also include a UV protectant, for example, fluoropolymers such as PTFE, FEP, PFA or other extruded resins, to maintain its clarity, durometer rating, and tackiness, and to enhance the finished product. Because UV exposure can cause the clarity, lifespan, and visibility of a grip to deteriorate quickly, one embodiment of the grip 210 disclosed herein includes a UV protectant to maintain clarity of the grip, extend product life and increase visibility of the printed label.
Many grip solvents, which are used to install the majority of grips, will instantly deteriorate the materials used in earlier models of semitransparent grips. Therefore, in one embodiment of the disclosed invention, the TPE used as base material for the grip may include solvent-safe materials so as to allow the use of grip solvents, such as, but not limited to, Mineral Spirits, Acrylic Lacquer Thinner and/or other similar solvents, without destroying the grip. In some embodiments, the molded grip 210 disclosed herein uses a blend of materials, which will stand up to all grip solvents.
Some embodiments of the molded grip 210 may include an anti-leaching agent. Due to the properties of the oil based raw product, the inclusion of an anti-leaching agent, such as pentanediol diisobutyrates, cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid esters, or monostearate derivatives, will prevent the oils from reaching the surface of the grip and ensure the desired tackiness.
The curing stage of the manufacturing process may include an improved cooling method to improve the clear finish and texture of the molded grip 210. Commonly, grips are air cooled at room temperature; a more consistent product can be achieved by using an improved cooling process through the use of, for example, water, air, a combination of water and air, or some other material or combination therefrom, that makes contact with the mold after it is heated.
As illustrated in
Traditionally, other models of grips have a cap that is one piece together with the grip. This one-piece design became a major concern since continually putting a golf club back in the bag may quickly cut a hole in the top of the grip. The grip disclosed herein may include a separate cap piece attached to the grip. The cap 620, an example of which is illustrated in
Referring now to
The artwork sticker or label 310, which is wrapped around an article of athletic equipment 810 (such as a baseball bat, as illustrated in
The wrap grip 820 has a clear, double-sided adhesive (not numbered) attached to an inner side of the wrap grip 820. The clear, double-sided adhesive is covered by a liner 910, as illustrated in
The wrap grip 820 may include a patterned texture with recessed or imprinted markings for improved gripping capability. The recessed or imprinted markings can increase the resistance to slippage when the wrap grip 820 is in use. The label/substrate materials have improved clarity and adhesive characteristics due to production with an industrial printing machine. Resistance to wrinkles and improved adhesive characteristics will ensure continued performance of the wrap grip 820 under normal use.
For a better understanding of the present disclosure, its advantages, and the specified objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosed grip.
Claims
1. A semitransparent, thermoplastic elastomer-based athletic grip capable of maintaining clarity of the semitransparent nature of the grip, being resistant to degradation from UV light, and preventing oils from reaching the surface of the grip.
2. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip is also capable of being resistant to degradation from grip solvents.
3. The grip of claim 2, wherein the grip is in a cylindrical shape that is sufficiently flexible to be slid over the end of a golf club.
4. The grip of claim 3, wherein a cap is attached to the grip at the top of the golf club.
5. The grip of claim 1, wherein the grip is in the form of an adhesive wrap that can be installed on articles of athletic equipment with a non-uniform shape.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 25, 2013
Publication Date: May 1, 2014
Inventor: Mikhail Lewis Novak (Orlando, FL)
Application Number: 14/064,016
International Classification: A63B 59/00 (20060101); A63B 53/14 (20060101);