GB2062479A - Sporting implements - Google Patents

Abstract

A grip for a sporting implement comprises a tape 3 wound about the grip and provided with dimples 6 on its surface in suitable array so as to prevent slip from occurring between the grip and the palm of the hand. In an alternative embodiment, the tape is provided with both dimples and projections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in sporting implements The present invention relates to improvement in sporting implements, e.g. a sporting implement for use in a ball game and provided with a grip, such as a tennis racket, golf club or baseball bat.

In ball games such as tennis, golf and baseball, it is of paramount importance to hit the ball with accuracy in a desired direction and to a desired distance, and one of the basic requirements for such accurate hitting of the ball is to prevent slip from occurring between the palm of the hand and the grip of such an implement.

For this reason, it has been common practice to spirally wind a tape round the grip of an implement to prevent slipping. Conventional tapes in general use for this purpose are made of leather with a width of approximately 2 cm and some of them are provided with innumerable small holes with a diameter of approximately 1 mm.

However, a sporting implement having its grip wound with these conventional tapes has some drawbacks. The first drawback is that the tape becomes slippery as it wears with use. Further, because some cutaneous fibers of the leather are cut by the small holes, the tensile strength of the tape is weakened to a great extent. Consequently, it often happens that a conventional tape splits along a transverse row of the small holes if it is tightly wound round the grip of an implement. In order to prevent conventional tape from splitting, such conventional tape has to be loosely wound round the grip of an implement at the risk of becoming looser in the course of use.

Another drawback is that the small holes provided in a conventional tape do not catch the palm of the hand and do not have sufficient effect in preventing slip. Still another drawback is that the periphery of a small hole is apt to crack and, as a consequence, the conventional tape does not stand long use and has to be replaced with a new one after a short period of time.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce and solve the above-described drawbacks. Another object is to provide a sporting implement having a grip wound with a tape having improved resistance to slipping. Yet another object is to provide a sporting implement having a grip wound with a tape of excellent tensile strength so that the tape may be tightly wound round the grip and will not become loose even after long use. Still another object is to provide a sporting implement having a grip wound with a tape which is less liable to crack and consequently does not have to be replaced with a new one over a long period of time.

The invention consists in a sporting implement including a grip which comprises a tape wound about the grip and having a plurality of dimples on its surface. In a modification the tape comprises both dimples and a plurality of projections on its surface.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a tennis racket embodying the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of a golf club embodying the invention, Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one form of tape to be wound round the grip of a sporting implement according to the present invention, Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of another form of tape to be wound round the grip of a sporting implement according to the present invention; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Atennis racket 1 shown in Fig. 1 as a first embodiment ofthis invention has its grip 2 wrapped with a grip tape 3. Similarly, a golf club 4 shown in Fig. 2 as a second embodiment of this invention has its grip 5 wrapped with the same grip tape 3.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, thetape 3 to be used for a sporting implement in accordance with the present invention is made of a strip of leather and provided with dimples 6 on its surface in a suitable arrangement or array.

As shown in Fig. 3, the dimples 6 are formed in a circular or round shape with a suitable diameter.

They are formed by partially hot-pressing a leather tape. For effective slip prevention, it is preferable that the dimples 6 are arranged at longitudinally and transversely equal intervals on the surface of the tape 3.

The effect of preventing slip depends on the depth of the dimples 6. The depth may be freely decided so long as the cutaneous fibers of the tape 3 are not cut.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, a tape 3' to be used for a sporting implement in accordance with the present invention is made of a strip of leather and provided with a plurality of dimples 6 and projections 7 on its surface in a suitable arrangement. As shown in Fig. 5, the dimples 6 and projections 7 are formed in a round shape with suitable diameter. They are formed by partially hot-pressing the leather tape. To form the dimples 6, hot-pressing dies are applied to the upper side of the leather tape. To form the projections 7, they are applied to the reverse side of the leather tape. For effective slip prevention, the dimples 6 and projections 7 are preferably arranged at longitudinally and transversely equal intervals on the surface of the tape 3', with the rows of dimples 6 and projections 7 disposed alternately.

The effect of preventing a slip depends on the depth of the dimples 6 and the height of the projections 7. However, these factors may be decided at will so long as the fibers of the tape 3 are not cut.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the tapes 3, 3' can be spirally wound round the grip 2 of a tennis racket 1 and the grip 5 of a golf club 4 in such a manner that the longitudinal edges of the tape overlap. In order to prevent the overlapping portion from becoming too thick, the edge portions of the back of the tape may be beveled.

The tape 3, 3' wound round the grip of a sporting implement obviates the necessity of applying a strong grasping power for the prevention of slip.

The sporting implement in accordance with the present invention has an advatage that because either dimples 6 alone or both dimples 6 and projections 7 on the surface of the tape are formed by partially hot-pressing a leather tape, the dimpled and projecting portions ofthe leather tape harden and lose stretchability. As a consequence, the tape is prevented from becoming loose even after long use.

Furthermore, the tape is durable enough to stand use for prolonged period and is less liable to be severed even if it is tightly wound round the grip of an implement.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the dimples and the projections formed on the surface of a grip tape will prevent a slip effectively because they increase the abarasiveness ofthe tape.

Although only a tennis racket and a golf club have been shown as embodiments, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to them.

Claims (6)

1. A sporting implement including a grip which comprises a tape wound about the grip and having a plurality of dimples on its surface.

2. A sporting implement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tape includes a plurality of projections on its surface.

3. A sporting element as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the dimples and/or projections is of round or circular shape in plan.

4. A sporting implement as claimed in claim 1, 2 or3, wherein the dimples and/or projections are arranged longitudinally and transversely at equal intervals.

5. A sporting implement as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or4, wherein the dimples and/or projections are formed by partially hot-pressing a leather tape.

6. A sporting implement including a grip which comprises a tape substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.