GB2169541A

GB2169541A - Hand grips

Info

Publication number: GB2169541A
Application number: GB08600466A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Victor Hymanson; Stuart Laurence Raymo Solomons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-01-12
Filing date: 1986-01-09
Publication date: 1986-07-16
Also published as: GB8600466D0

Abstract

A hand grip, for example, for a hand weapon or a sports implement, is made from a body of malleable material, such as silicone rubber. The malleable material is gripped by an intended user so that the material conforms to the shape of the user's hand. The shaped material can then be used, after hardening, as the hand grip, or it may be used as a model for the formation of the hand grip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hand grips This invention relates to hand grips.

The accuracy with which a person can use a trigger-operated hand weapon, such as a pistol or rifle, can depend on the manner in which the person holds the weapon. To assist in this respect it is common to provide a grip adjacent the trigger which is shaped to define finger guides. However, the problem arises that hand dimensions vary widely and it is not possible to provide guides which are capable of providing accurate finger location and are suitable for all users. The same problem arises with hand grips for other members which need to be accurately gripped, such as handles of golf clubs, tennis racquets and other sports implements.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or at least minimise this problem.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a method of forming a hand grip on a memberto be gripped wherein a body of malleable material is shaped to conform to the hand of an intended user and such shaped body is used as the hand grip or as a model for the formation of the hand grip.

With this arrangement it can be ensured that the hand grip is suited to the accurate location of the user 5 hand.

The malleable material may be applied to the member to be gripped and then shaped in situ.

Alternatively, the malleable material may be shaped whilst applied to a model of the member, the shaped body then being removed for transfer to the member or for use in the formation of the hand grip therefrom as appropriate. Especially where the shaped body is to be used itself as the hand grip, the malleable material may be allowed (or caused) to harden or set after shaping thereof. Suitably the malleable material may comprise a composition, such as a silicone rubber, which is of a thick plastic consistency and which sets to give a self-supporting relatively hard, yet resiliently deformable rubber material. Compositions of this nature are well known and are used for example in dentistry in the production of impressions for false teeth.

The resulting hand grip may be held in position on the member by virtue of the close fit and/or by means of an applied adhesive or otherwise as required. The hand grip may be located detachably or permanently.

With regard to the member this may be a handle of a hand weapon or a handle of a sports implement or any other suitable member.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic side view of part of a hand weapon with a hand grip applied thereto in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The hand weapon shown in the drawing has a rigid metal handle part 1 behind the usual trigger 2 and trigger guard 3. The handle part 1 is generally of narrow rectangular cross-section although its surfaces are not wholly flat but may incorporate structural ribs, small projections and apertures and the like.

A body of malleable material being a settable plastic silicone rubber is made by mixing ingredients. The material is the same as that used in dental work.

The malleable material is kneaded and pressed by hand as to fit smoothly around the handle part 1. The applied material 4 extends up to the stock and the trigger guard and terminates slightly spaced from the free end 5 of the handle part 1.

The user of the gun then holds the covered handle and adopts a gripping position which is best suited to comfortable and accurate usage of the gun. By squeezing the material 4 an impression is made corresponding to the shape of the user's hand, such impression including three finger recesses 6 and a shaped region 7 for the base of the thumb.

The material is allowed to set whereupon it hardens to a resilient rubbery consistency. The gun can now be used with the hardened material 4 acting as a hand grip. It will be appreciated that the hand grip is a tight fit on the handle part 1.

Alternatively the material 4 may be removed, by cutting this away from the handle part 1, and the removed grip may then be used as a model for the casting of a hand grip in a different plastics material.

Particularly with this arrangement, the handle part 1 may be wrapped with e.g. polyethylene sheeting or the like before application of the malleable material 4 so as to define an inner periphery for the set material of smooth surfaced rectangular form not disrupted by projections and recesses, whereby removal of the set material and subsequent mounting of the cast plastics grip can be facilitated.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only.

With regard to the silicone rubber this may be the two-component vinyl polysiloxane material sold by Bayer Ag under the trade name PROVIL.

Claims

1. A method of forming a hand grip on a member to be gripped wherein a body of malleable material is shaped to conform to the hand of an intended user and such shaped body is used as the hand grip or as a model for the formation of the hand grip.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the malleable material is applied to the member to be gripped and then shaped in situ.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the malleable material is shaped whilst applied to a model of the member, the shaped body then being removed for transfer to the member or for use in the formation of the hand grip therefrom.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the malleable material is allowed (or caused) to harden or set after shaping thereof and is then used itself as the hand grip.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the malleable meterial comprises a silicone rubber which is of a thick plastic consistency and which sets to give a self-supporting relatively hard, yet resiliently deformable rubber material.

6. A method according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A member to be gripped when provided with a hand grip in accordance with the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A handle of a hand weapon when provided with a hand grip in accordance with the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A handle of a sports implement when provided with a hand grip in accordance with the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.