GB2364249A

GB2364249A - A protective strap for a handle

Info

Publication number: GB2364249A
Application number: GB0016309A
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: GB0016309D0

Abstract

A protective strap for covering a handle comprises a strap body 12 spirally wound and fastened by an inner surface 16 onto a handle and an outer surface having recesses in which are secured a plurality of granules 14 for enhancing the roughness of the strap body. Optionally the granules may be made of plastics or rubber or sized to pass through a No.30 screen scale. Preferably the strap body is formed from foamed polymer such as polyvinyl chloride, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer or polyurethane. The strap body may comprise woven or nonwoven cloth and polyurethane and the granules may be arranged in a pattern on the outer surface of the strap.

Description

2364249 SKIDPROOF HANDLE PROTECTIVE STRAP

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a protective strap, and more particularly to a skidproof protective strap which is intended to cover the surface of a game racket handle or golf club grip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The handle of a tennis racket or badminton racket is often provided with a protective strap which is wound around the handle. Similarly, the golf club grip is provided with the protective strap. Such protective straps as described above are generally made of a natural leather or synthetic leather.

The U. S. Pat. No. 5,695,418 discloses a protective strap comprising a base layer of a nonwoven cloth, and a polyurethane top layer which is attached to the upper surface of the base layer. The polyurethane (PU) top layer has a high elasticity coefficient and is therefore capable of absorbing shock. This prior art protective strap is used to cover the handle of a game racket for absorbing the shock wave transmitted to the handle at the time when the game racket is impacted on by a ball. The polyurethane top layer is smooth and incapable of absorbing the perspiration. In other words, the PU top layer is not provided with a skidproof means.

A prior art protective strap has a PU top layer which is provided with plush by grinding, so as to bring about a friction force. Another prior art protective strap is provided in the PU top layer thereof with a plurality of small recesses serving to bring about the skidproof effect. There is still another prior art protective strap, which is provided in the underside thereof with a raised slender rib. As the protective strap is spirally wound on a handle, the handle is provided with a spirallyarranged rib serving to prevent the skidding. However, the PU top layer of the protective strap remains smooth, thereby undermining the skidproof effect of the rib. Such prior art protective straps as described above are neither cost-effective nor effective in preventing the skidding of a hand in contact with the protective strap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a handle protective strap with an excellent skidproof effect.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a skidproof protective strap which is simple in construction and is costeffective.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a handle protective strap with a surface which is different in friction coefficient from area to area of the surface.

2 The protective strap of the present invention comprises a strap body and a number of granules. The strap body has an outer surface and an inner surface which is fastened with the surface of a handle. The outer surface is provided with at least one recessed portion in which the granules are disposed for forming a skidproof surface of the protective strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. I 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 shows a top view of the pattern of the granule distribution of the strap body surface of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invpntion.

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

3 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 covering the surface of a game racket handle I I such that the protective strap 10 is spirally wound on the handle 11. The protective strap 10 comprisesa strap body 12 and a number of granules 14..

The strap body 12 is integrally made of a polymer material by foaming. The polymer material includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), or polyurethane (PU). The strap body 12 has an inner surface 16, an outer surface 18, and two inclined longitudinal sides 20. The outer surface 18 is provided along the longitudinal direction with three recessed portions 18a which are arranged at an interval and are formed under heat and pressure by a shaped roller (not shown in the drawings). Before being wound spirally on the handle 11, the inner surface 16 is provided with an adhesive coating or a double- adhesive tape. The inner surface 16 is attached to the surface of the handle 11.

The granules 14 are irregular in shape and are formed of a rubber material. The granules 14 are adhered to the recessed portions 18a by an adhesive containing resin. The granules 14 serve to enhance the surface roughness and the surface elasticity of the recessed portions 18a. The recessed portions 18a are skidproof portions of the present invention. In light of the recessed portions 18a being different in friction coefficient, the outer surface 18 has a soothing effect on a hand which comes in contact with the outer surface 18 of the protective strap 10. The granules 14 may be formed of a plastic material, or other material having a slight elasticity.

The recessed portions 18a are different from one another in terms 4 of the distribution pattern of the granules 14, the density of the granules 14,, and the thickness of the layer of the granules 14. For example, the distribution of the granules 14 takes a predetermined pattern, as shown in FIG. 3.

Now referring to FIG. 4, a protective strap 40 of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise a strap body 42 and a number of granules 44.

The strap body 42 has an inner surface 46 and an outer surface 48. The strap body 42 is formed of a base layer 50 and a top layer 52 superimposing the base layer 50. The base layer 50 is made of a nonwoven cloth and is provided with the inner surface 46 and a top surface 54. The top layer 52 is formed by a polyurethane containing mixture which is coated on the top surface 54 of the base layer 50 and is then foamed, cured, and dried. The outer surface 48 is provided with three recessed portions 48a which are formed at an interval by molding.

The granules 44 are stacked in the recessed portions 48a.

As shown in FIG. 5, a skidproof protective strap 60 of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a strap body 62 and a number of granules 64. The protective strap 60 is different from the protective strap 40 described above in some respects, which are described hereinafter.

The strap body 62 has an inner surface 66 and an outer surface 68. The strap body 62 is formed of a cloth body 70 (woven or nonwoven) which is impregnated with a liquid mixture containing polyurethane. The mixture is foamed, cured, and dried. In light of the strap body 62 containing the cloth body 70, the strap body 62 is provided with a greater textural strength.

The granules 64 are distributed not only in the recessed portions 68a of the outer surface 68 but also in the center of the outer surface 68. 5 As a result, the outer surface 68 of the strap body 62 has a stepped profile with thickness " T ".

According to the results of the tests done by this inventor of the present invention, the granules of the present invention have an optimal size such that the granules are capable of passing through the No. 30 screen scale, or that the head of the stepped profile of the outer surface of the strap body is smaller than 0.5mm. - I.

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Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A skidproof protective strap for covering a handle, said protective strap comprising:

a strap body having an outer surface and an inner surface whereby said strap body is spirally wound on the handle such that said inner surface is fastened with the handle, and that said outer surface serves as a contact surface in contact with a hand holding the handle, said outer surface having at least one recessed portion; and a plurality of granules secured in place in said recessed portion for enhancing a roughness of said outer surface of said strap body.

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

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

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

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

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

7. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said strap body comprises:

7 a nonwoven cloth layer having said inner surface and a top surface; and a polyurethane layer superimposing said top surface of said nonwoven cloth layer to form said outer surface of said strap body.

8. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said strap body is a polyurethane foam body containing a cloth body.

9. The protective strap as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer surface of said strap body is further provided in a predetermined position thereof with said granules whereby said granules are distributed in such a pattern that said outer surface is of a stepped profile.

10. The protective strap as defined in claim 9, wherein the stepped profile of said outer surface of said strap body has a head smaller than 0.5mm.

11. A skidproof protective strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or Figure 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

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