GB2332871A

GB2332871A - Hand tool for replacing sleeve grips

Info

Publication number: GB2332871A
Application number: GB9800198A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Morgan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-01-06
Filing date: 1998-01-06
Publication date: 1999-07-07
Also published as: GB9800198D0

Abstract

A hand tool 10 is provided for fitting a tubular hand grip (30 Fig 2) to the shaft (40 Fig 2) of a golf club. The tool includes a pair of opposed jaws which can he moved apart by manually pressing together a pair of arms 16 coupled together by a pivot 12. The jaws comprise opposed elongated guide parts 20 which project transversely to the path of movement of the jaws. The guide parts are inserted into the leading end (32 Fig 2) of the tubular grip and the leading end of the grip is expanded in response to actuation of the manually operable arms to facilitate the fitting of the grip onto the shaft.

Description

TOOL FOR REPLACING HAND GRIPS This invention relates to a hand tool used for fitting tubular hand grips onto the handles or shafts of sports equipment, tools or like implements.

Repetitive use of a hand grip composed of a suitable friction material, such as rubber, inevitably abrades the grip and eventually the grip surface is wom away rendering it ineffective. In these circumstances, the worn tubular hand grip, for example of a golf club, may be stripped off the shaft or handle and a new tubular grip may be manually fitted so as to avoid having to replace the whole club. Such tubular hand grips are composed of resilient material which is designed to expand, slide onto the shaft and then contract so as to be an interference fit with the shaft. Typically, a replacement hand grip is fitted onto a shaft by simply forcing the leading end of the grip over the end of the shaft to which it is to be applied and sliding it down the length of the shaft for the full length of the grip, all by hand. Prior to fitting, a coating of suitable adhesive, which also serves as a lubncant, may be applied to the outer surface of the end portion of the shaft. After the grip is correctly fitted on the shaft, the lubricant evaporates allowing the adhesive to cure and the grip is left secured to the shaft.

The manual operation of fitting a tubular hand grip onto a shaft or handle can be made particularly difficult by the fact that, often, the shaft or handle tapers so that the smaller leading end of the tubular hand grip must be initially expanded to fit onto the larger free end of the shaft. Consequently, the fitting of a replacement tubular grip requires some degree of technique and is time consuming. Because of this, the fitting operation is generally undertaken by a person who is used to performing the service, rather than the regular user of the implement, and involves the latter in undesirable expense.

According to the present invention there is provided a hand tool for fitting a tubular hand grip to the handle or shaft of a sports item, tool or like implement, in which a pair of opposed jaws are movable apart by manually operable means and comprise opposed elongated guide parts projecting transversely to the path of movement of the jaws for inserting into the leading end of the tubular grip, whereby the leading end of the grip is expanded in response to actuation of the manually operable means to facilitate fitting of the grip onto the handle or shaft. The manually operable means may comprise a pair of pivoted arms which are manually pressed together to move the jaws apart. These manually operable arms may be coupled together by the pivot and the jaws may be formed on extensions of the arms disposed on the opposite side of the pivot to the manually operable arms.

The invention facilitates the fitting of a tubular hand grip onto a handle or shaft by providing a manually operable tool for expanding the leading end of a grip so that it can be easily fitted to the free end of the shaft and for manually pulling the grip along the shaft to its final position. This means that the grip can be fitted by a less experienced person and makes the fitting process less awkward and therefore less time consuming. The tool enables the user of an implement to replace a worn tubular grip himself, saving the user the expense of having to use the services of a person who has the necessary skill.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an isometric front view of the hand tool, and Figures 2 to 4 illustrate successive steps in the operation of fitting a tubular grip to the shaft of a golf club with the aid of the tool.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the hand tool 10 comprises a pair of members 14 pivotally coupled together adjacent one end by a pivot structure 12. The longer of the resulting opposed pairs of lever arms 16 serve as the operating handles for the tool 10 whilst the shorter arms form the jaws 18 of the tool. The longer lever arms 16 are of slightly arcuate shape to provide for comfortable gripping in one hand and the shorter lever arms or jaws 18 have elongated guide parts 20 projecting transversely to the path of movement of the jaws 18. The guide parts 20 are part cylindrical in shape and have mutually opposed concave surfaces 22. When the longer arms or handles 16 are squeezed together, the jaws 18 are moved apart and vice versa.

Reference will now be made to Figures 2 to 4 in order to explain how the tool 10 is used. more particularly, for fitting a replacement tubular grip 30 to the shaft 40 of a golf club.

Essentially the golf club shaft 40 is of cylindrical cross section and tapers from its free end 42. In order to fit a replacement tubular grip 30 to the handle of the shaft using the hand tool 10 of the invention, the handles 16 are opened and the projecting guide parts 20 are inserted into the open, leading end 32 of the grip 30 (Figure 2). The handles 16 of the tool are then squeezed together which causes the guide parts 20 to move apart and expand the leading end 32 of the grip 30 preparatory to fitting over the free end 42 of the shaft 40 (Figure 3).

Having first applied a suitable adhesive to the shaft 40, the free end 42 of the shaft 40 is then easily inserted between the expanded guide parts 20 and into the expanded end 32 of the grip 30 (Figure 4) whereafter, with the grip still held by the tool, the grip and shaft can be slid relatively to one another to fully position the grip on the end 42 of the shaft. When fully positioned, with the closed end 34 of the grip abutting the free end 42 of the shaft, it is a simple matter to extract the guide parts 20 from the tubular grip and remove the tool from about the shaft in order to leave the grip in its current position, where it is secured upon curing of the adhesive.

Whilst a particular embodiment has been described it will be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermore whilst the invention has been particularly described in relation to replacing the tubular grip on a golf club shaft, it will be apparent that the hand tool may also be used for replacing the tubular grips on the handles of other sports items, such as, racquets, bats and sticks , as well as the handles of manually operated work tools.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A hand tool for fitting a tubular hand grip to the handle or shaft of a sports item, tool or like implement, in which a pair of opposed jaws are movable apart by manually operable means and comprise opposed elongated guide parts projecting transversely to the path of movement of the jaws for inserting into the leading end of to tubular grip, whereby the leading end ofthe grip is expandable in response to actuation ofthe manually operable means to facilitate the fitting of the grip onto the handle or shaft.
2. The hand tool claimed in claim 1, wherein the manually operable means comprises a pair of pivoted arms which are manually pressed together to move the jaws apart.
3. The hand tool claimed in claim 2, wherein the manually operable arms are coupled together by a pivot and the jaws are formed on extensions of the arms disposed on the opposite side of the pivot to the manually operable arms.
4. The hand tool claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the guide parts are part cylindrical in shape and have mutually opposed concave surfaces.
5. A hand tool constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.