GB2364248A

GB2364248A - A protective strap with granular surface

Info

Publication number: GB2364248A
Application number: GB0016308A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mao-Shiu Wang
Original assignee: High Cedar Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: High Cedar Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-07-04
Filing date: 2000-07-04
Publication date: 2002-01-23
Also published as: GB0016308D0

Abstract

A protective strap 40 comprises a strap body 42 and a number of granular objects 44 adhered to the outer surface of the strap to enhance the roughness of that surface. Optionally the granules may be made of rubber or plastics and be sized to pass through No.30 screen scale. Preferably the strap body consists of a foamed polymer such as polyvinyl chloride, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or polyurethane. The strap may be formed of a woven or nonwoven cloth with or in a polyurethane layer. The granules can form a layer less than 0.5mm thick or patterns on the surface of the strap body. The strap may be wound spirally onto a game racquet handle.

Description

2364248 PROTECTIVE STRAP HAVING SKIDPROOF SURFACE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a protective strap, and more particularly to a protective strap having a skidproof surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The handle of a tennis racket, badminton racket, or golf club is generally provided with a protective strap wound thereon. The protective strap is made of a synthetic leather or a natural leather. For example, the U. S. Pat. No. 5,695,418 discloses a protective strap which is made of the synthetic leather comprising a base layer of a nonwoven cloth, and a top layer of a polyurethane (PU) material. The PU top layer is characteristic of high elasticity coefficient and shock absorption; nevertheless it has a smooth surface incapable of absorbing perspiration and susceptible to skidding.

Certain prior art protective straps also have a PU layer which is provided with a plushy surface by grinding, or a plurality of small recesses for enhancing the friction coefficient of the surface of the PU

I layer. In light of additional work that is involved in the formation of the plushy surface or the recessed surface, these prior art protective straps are not cost-effective at best.

A prior art protective strap is provided in the center of the underside thereof with a raised slender rib. As the protective strap is spirally wound on a handle, the upper surface of the protective strap is provided with a spirally-arranged slender bulge serving.to bring about a skidproof effect. This prior art protective strap is not effective in preventing the skidding of a hand in contact with the bulged surface of the protective strap in view of the fact that the PU top layer of the protective strap remains smooth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a protective strap which is simple in construction, cost-effective, and capable of preventing the skidding effectively.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a protective strap with a surface which is provided with different skidding effects on various positions thereof The protective strap of the present invention is formed of a straplike body and a number of granular objects which are adhered to the predetermined positions of the outer surface of the straplike body which is spirally wound on a handle.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a portion taken along the direction indicated by a line 2-2 as shown in FIG-. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing the distribution pattern of the straplike body of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing the distribution pattern of the granular objects on the top layer of the strap body of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. I and 2, a protective strap 10 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is intended for use in winding spirally on a game racket handle I I and is formed of a straplike body 12 and a number of granular objects 14.

3 The straplike body 12 is made of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material by foaming. The straplike body 12 has an inner surface 16 and an outer surface 18, which are provided with two inclined sides 20. The straplike body 12 is spirally wound on the handle I I such that the inner surface 16 is adhered by an adhesive or double-adhesive tape to the outer surface of the handle 11. The straplike body 12 may be made of other polymers, such as polyurethane (PU), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, etc.

The granular objects 14 are irregular in shape and formed of a rubber material. The granular objects 14 are adhered to the predetermined portions of the outer surface 18 of the straplike body 12 for enhancing the roughness of the outer surface 18. The granular objects 14 may be made of a plastic material, or an elastic material.

As shown in FIG. 3,, the roughness of the outer surface 18 of the straplike body 12 is uneven, depending on the distribution pattern and the density of the granular ob ects 14. For example, the granular objects 14 j are distributed in a certain pattern, as shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the outer surface 18 is not uniform in terms of friction coefficient.

As shown in FIG. 5,, a protective strap 40 of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is formed of a strap body 42 and a number of granular objects 44. The strap body 42 has a bottom layer 50 and a top layer 52. The bottom layer 50 is made of a nonwoven cloth. The bottom layer 50 has an inner surface 46 and a top surface 54. The top layer 52 is made of polyurethane by foaming. The granular objects 44 are adhered to an outer surface 48 of the strap body 42 such that they are stacked to have a thickness " T ". The strap body 42 is wound on a handle such that an inner surface 46 of the strap body 42 is adhered to the handle.

As shown in FIG. 6, a protective strap of the fifth pr_ferred 4 embodiment is formed of a strap body 62 of a woven or nonwoven cloth which is impregnated with the liquid polyurethane mixture and is then foamed, cured and dried. The cloth 70 serves to enhance the textural strength of the strap body 62. A number of granular objects 64 are adhered to an outer surface 68 of the strap body 62. The strap body 62 is wound on a handle such that an inner surface 66 of the strap body 62 is adhered to the handle. - The granular objects of the present invention are sized to pass through the No. 30 screen scale. If the granular objects are stacked together on the outer surface of the strap body of the present invention, the thickness of the stacked granular objects is preferably less than 0.5mm.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A protective strap formed of a strap body and a number of granular objects whereby said granular objects are adhered to an outer surface of said strap body for enhancing a roughness of said outer surface of said strap body.

2. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said granular objects are made of a rubber material.

3. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said granular objects are made of a plastic material.

4. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said granular objects are sized to pass through No. 30 screen scale.

5. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said strap body is made of a polymer by foaming.

6. The protective strap as defined in claim 5, wherein the polymer is polyvinyl chloride, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, or polyurethane.

7. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said strap body is formed of a nonwoven cloth having an inner surface and a top surface, and of a polyurethane layer attached to said top surface of said nonwoven cloth to form said outer surface of said strap body.

8. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said strap body is made of a polyurethane foam body and a cloth contained in. said 6 polyurethane foam body.

9. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said granular objects are adhered to said outer surface of said strap body to form a layer having a thickness smaller than 0.5mm.

10. A protective strap substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to Figures 1 and 21 or Figure 3-, or Figure 4, or Figure 5, or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

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