GRIP TAPE

Abstract

A grip tape includes an elongated tape body defining a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a coating layer of a predetermined sign formed of a coating on the second surfaced of the tape body by dot array printing with a spacer formed between each two adjacent coating spots.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to sporting equipment handle technology, and more particularly, to a grip tape for wound round a grip of a club or racquet that provides breathing and moisture absorbing effects.

2. Description of the Related Art

In normal use, the athletes will wrap their own grip tape on the grip of the club or racquet to increase the friction during grip as well as to improve the feeding of gripping. For the sake of beauty, the grip tape has a variety of colors or designs on its surface. At this stage, these colors or designs are applied to the surface of the grip tape by coating. However, such coating will cover the entire surface of the grip tape, especially when the entire surface is coated with designs, and this surface is for the user's hand to hold, the surface of the grip tape becomes not breathable or hygroscopic due to the presence of the coating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a grip tape, which provides breathing and moisture absorbing effects.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a grip tape comprises a tape body and a coating layer. The tape body is elongated, defining a first surface and a second surface opposite to said first surface. The coating layer provides a predetermined sign formed of a coating on the second surfaced of the tape body by dot array printing with a spacer formed between each two adjacent coating spots.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating the outer appearance of a grip tape in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view, in an enlarged scale, of the grip tape in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a grip tape in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a grip tape in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The grip tape comprises a tape body (10) and a felt layer (15).

The tape body (10) is elongated and defines first surface (11) and a second surface (12) opposite to the first surface (11). The tape body (10) is composed of a long strip of base fabric (13) impregnated with polyurethane (14), so that polyurethane (14) is coated on the base fabric (13).

The felt layer (15) is located on the first surface (11) of the tape body (10). The grip tape can be used by the user by attaching the felt layer (15) to the grip of a club or racket.

The second surface (12) of the tape body (10) is provided with a design by dot array printing. The dot array-printed coating may form a coating layer (16) on the second surface (12) of the tape body (10). As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, since the coating layer (16) is arranged by dot array printing, each dot printed by the coating forms an area with paint, so unlike the conventional immersion or coating method. In the present invention, the second surface (12) of the tape body (10) is not completely covered by the coating in the area where the coating is applied, so that a spacer (17) with little or no coating is formed between each two adjacent coating spots. These spacers (17) can provide space for the tape body (10) to breathe and absorb moisture.

When printing dot arrays, the density of printing is preferably 150,000 to 400,000 coating dots per square inch. The size of each coating spot is preferably between 0.016 and 0.008 mm, so that the grip tape can maintain good water absorption and the color of the coating layer is not too light.

The tape body (10) can be completed after formation of the coating layer (16) on the second surface (12) and implementation of a setting process. The setting process in this case is to set a water-absorbing resin on the coating layer (16). The water-absorbing resin can be set by coating or spraying or dot array printing. The density of the water-absorbing resin is preferably 150,000 to 400,000 coating or printing points per square inch.

In the grip tape of the present invention, the part that is in contact with the hand when the user grips the grip tape is the second surface (12) of the tape body (10). Since the coating is formed on the second surface (12) by dot array printing and distributed over the entire area of the second surface (12) of the tape body (10), the spacers (17) provide a breathable and moisture absorbing effect when the user's hand sweats due to exercise, so that moisture can be attracted to the tape body (10) through the spacers (17) to keep the user's hand dry and to avoid a reduction in friction between the user's hand and the grip tape due to hand sweating.

Referring to FIG. 4, a grip tape in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the above-described first embodiment with the exception that the first surface (11) of the tape body (10) eliminates the aforesaid felt layer (15). In application, the polyurethane (14) is directly attached onto the grip of a club or racket.

Claims

1. A grip tape, comprising:

a tape body (10) in an elongated shape, said tape body (10) defining a first surface (11) and a second surface (12) opposite to said first surface (11); and

a coating layer (16) of a predetermined sign formed of a coating on said second surfaced (12) of said tape body (10) by dot array printing with a spacer (17) formed between each two adjacent coating spots.

2. The grip tape as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tape body (10) is composed of a long strip of base fabric (13) impregnated with polyurethane (14).

3. The grip tape as claimed in claim 2, wherein each dot printed by said coating forms an area with paint.

4. The grip tape as claimed in claim 1, wherein each dot printed by said coating forms an area with paint.

5. The grip tape as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a felt layer (15) located on said first surface (11) of said tape body (10).

6. The grip tape as claimed in claim 5, wherein each dot printed by said coating forms an area with paint.

7. The grip tape as claimed in claim 1, wherein the density of said coating layer (16) is 150,000 to 400,000 coating dots per square inch.

8. The grip tape as claimed in claim 6, wherein the density of said coating layer (16) is 150,000 to 400,000 coating dots per square inch.

9. The grip tape as claimed in claim 1, wherein the size of each said coating spot is preferably between 0.016 and 0.008 mm.