GB2530901A

GB2530901A - Grip, grip insert and, cricket bat handle

Info

Publication number: GB2530901A
Application number: GB1515003.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Dorian O'neill; Peter John Kermond; Austin Robert Morey
Original assignee: Mark O Neill S Simply Cricket Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Mark O Neill S Simply Cricket Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-22
Filing date: 2015-08-24
Publication date: 2016-04-06
Also published as: GB201515003D0; AU2015215922A1; NZ631735A

Abstract

Cricket bat handle 18 that comprises a grip in which there is a raised guide 22 extending along the grip generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle 18, the guide being arranged to assist in the positioning of a batsmans hands during play. The guide 22 is offset from a plane bisecting the bat 10 lengthways and passing through the spine of the bat blade 12. The guide 22 can be in the form of a protrusion or rib. The guide 22 may be continuous or be formed from a plurality of separate protrusions that are made from an elastomeric material. The guide 22 may be attachable to the bat handle 18 using adhesives. Also disclosed is a sickle shaped rib (Fig 14, 400) and a removable elongate plastic sleeve (Fig 5, 200) that has a rib with a height from 1mm to 5mm. The sleeve can be cylindrical, oval or hexagonal.

Description

Grip, grip insert and, cricket bat handle

Technical Field

[00011 This invention relates to a grip for a handle of a cricket bat, to a grip insert, and also to a cricket bat handle.

Background

[00021 Cricket is a popular team sport which originated in England and is popular in a number of other countries of the world, particularly Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa. The rules of cricket are well known by followers of the game. Cricket is played with bats and balls between two teams of eleven players. The game is played on an oval at the centre of which is a prepared pitch which is 22 yards long. The teams take turns batting and fielding. The batting teams has to score runs while defending their wickets. A bowler from the fielding team bowls a hard leather coated seamed ball at a batsman who defends/protects his wicket from being hit by that ball, using a bat, while trying to hit the ball away from the fielders to score runs. A batsman can be out in a number of ways, including if his or her wicket is hit by the ball when it is bowled and the bails on top of the wickets are dislodged, and if he or she hits the ball to a fielder who catches the ball before it touches the ground.

[0OOI A successful batsman not only needs to have a good eye for the ball and good reflexes but also needs to have his hands placed correctly on the bat for consistent and reliable strokeplay.

[00041 It is generally accepted that the batsman should have their hands together with the "V's", being the "V" shaped section of the batsman's hands created by/between the batsman's thumb and index finger, pointing down the back of the bat generally in line between the splice and the leading edge of the bat, The grip is particularly important as it determines what the batsman is able to do with the bat. The spacing between the hands and the position of the hands up and down the handle is also important as it determines how much control the batsman has over the bat and how much leverage, the positioning being something of a trade-off between the two.

[00051 Teaching beginners and juniors the corect grip is very important as it is fundamental to their ability to play the game and learn to play strokes and shots that they hold the bat correctly and consistently. Hence, for coaches of young players teaching those players to use the correct grip is one of the most, if not the most, important aspect of the game.

[00061 There have been a number of attempts to improve the grip of a cricket bat over the years but few have been successful. Most cricket bat grips are still made of an elastomeric material such as rubber and have a generally uniform textured surface to provide improved grip for the batsman, [00071 One attempt to provide a grip which provides a guide for the placement of a batsman's hands is shown in US 2013/0316860. This patent application describes a moulded grip in the form of a rubber sleeve which can be slid over the handle of a cricket bat. The rubber sleeve defines upper and lower portions which are designed to receive the batsman's top and bottom hands. The upper portion is in the form of upside down U-shaped protrusion for receiving the batsman's top hand. The lower portion is more complex and includes a raised portion, in the form of an irregularly shaped dome, adapted to engage with the palm of the bottom hand to prevent over gripping of the handle. The dome is substantially non-compressible. A further raised portion is provided to engage with the fleshy part of the bottom hand of the batsman between the thumb and index finger, and two further raised portions are also provided for locating the thumb of the batsman and for restricting movement of the thumb.

[0008] The grip of US 2013/0316860 is complex and would be relatively expensive to manufacture, Also, the grip would need to be made to suit the hand size of the person using the bat. Indeed, owing to the complexity of the design, it is possible that the grip would need to be custom made to suit the batsman who is to use it, While the patent application suggests that the grip might be suitable for beginners, the compexitv of the proposed solution suggests otherwise.

[00091 GB 2202153 discloses a handle for a cricket bat that defines a series of ridges and indentations along one side of the handle, the indentations receiving the fingers of the batsman's two hands and has decorative v-shaped markings on the opposite side.

Again the grip is quite complex and would need to be made in different sizes to suit the hand size of the user.

[00101 Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

[00111 Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Summary of the Invention

[00121 In a first broad aspect, the present invention provides a handle of a cricket bat including a grip in which there is at least one guide in the form of a raised element such as a protrusion or rib extending along the grip generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle, the guide being arranged to assist in the positioning of a batsman's hands during play wherein the guide is offset from a plane bisecting the bat lengthways and passing through the spine of the bat.

[00131 The protrusion is typically continuous but may be formed from two or more separate protrusions.

[00141 The protrusion acts a guide for the batsman locating the "V" of his or her hands in the webbing where the thumb and index finger meet. The rib should locate in the centre of the V. This ensures that the batsman always holds his or her bat consistently in the same position. While this is advantageous for experienced batsmen, it is also a very useftil when coaching novices and children as the correct and consistent positioning of the hands on the bat is a major issue for younger cricket players.

[001 1 The offset grip is able to formalise the position of the player's V's on both hands to align slightly to the left hand side of the centre of the handle for a right handed player, and to the right hand side of the centre for a left handed phtyer. This contrasts with most cricket coaching manuals which suggest that the position of the V between the thumb and index finger be placed directly on top of the handle pointing straight down the middle of the back of the bat. The offset position allows the batter to take the bat back arid while doing so, open up the face of the bat slightly, This helps the player maintain a controlled grip and influences the swing of the bat to the ball by allowing the hands to make contact with the ball with the hands in a solid position.

[00161 Advantageously, as well as aiding a batsman in the correct positioning of their hands on the bat handle, the protrusion also assists in preventing slipping of the bat in the batsman's hand which can occur at all levels of the game.

[00171 The guide may be provided in a number of different ways.

[00181 Tn one embodiment, the raised portion may be integrated or integral with the grip and the grip is simp'y rolled onto a bat handle with the grip rotated or twisted to ensure that the protrusion is in the correct position for the batsman who is to use the bat, Typically the protrusion will be positioned from 1mm to 5mm away from the centre of the rear face of the bat.

S

[00191 The bat handle may have a cylindrical or oval cross-section although other cross-sections would be possible, such as hexagonal, where permissible under the rules of cricket, [00201 Alternatively the grip may made separately to the bat handle, be stuck in position on the bat handle with adhesive or the like and then covered with a standard sleeve grip.

[0021] In another embodiment the protrusion may be provided by a protmsion or rib defined in the handle itself, which is subsequently covered by a standard annular sleeve/grip.

[0022] In a related aspect, there is provided a grip for a cricket bat comprising an elongate annular sleeve defining a longitudinal axis and an interior surface and an exterior surface, the grip being formed from a plastic or elastomeric material or the like, including a rib extending along the exterior surface of the grip, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip, the rib having a height of from about 1mm to 5mm.

[0023] Typically, the rib has a width of from 4 to 7mm.

[0024] The top of the rib is preferably curved.

[0025] It is preferred that the rib is formed from a compressible material having a Durometer hardness in the range of 30 to 100, most preferably 30 to 40.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a rear view of a plastic cricket bat embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the cricket bat shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view through the handle of the bat shown in Figure 1 illustrating an offset for a right handed batsman; Figure 4 is a sectional view through the handle of the bat shown in Figure 1 iHustrating an offset for a left handed batsman; Figure 5 is a front view of a grip for a cricket bat embodying the present invention; Figure 6 is a side view of the grip of Figure 5; Figure 7 is an end view of the grip of Figure 5; Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view through the grip; Figure 9 is a side view of a handle for a cricket bat; Figure 10 is a front view of the handle shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is an end view of the handle shown in Figure 9; Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a rubber attachment/insert which forms part of the handle; Figure 13 is an enlarged view of the attachment shown in Figure 12; and Figure 14 shows an alternative embodiment of an insert to that shown in Figure 12.

Description of Embodiments

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a moulded plastic cricket bat 10, particularly suitable for use by younger children. The bat may be made by any suitable plastics moulding process. The cricket bat has a body portion or blade 12 having a face 14 which is used to strike the ball and a shoulder 16 where the bat transitions from the blade to a handle 18. The rear of the bat defines a V-shaped ridge 20 which runs down the centre of the rear of the bat typically referred as a spine.

[00261 There is a guide in the fonri of a raised protrusion or rib 22 which runs along the exterior of the handle. The rib 22 starts close to, but not at, the shoulder and terminates some distance from the top end 24 of the handle, typically around 30 to 50mm from the end. The rib 22 is substantially linear and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

[00271 As is best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the rib is slightly offset from the spine/centre of the rear of the bat. Figures 3 and 4 show a plane C-C bisecting the bat lengthways and passing through the spine of the bat. The rib is slightly offset from that plane.

[00281 The degree of offset call be varied but most players will require an offset of from 1mm to 5mm, For a moulded plastic bat, the offset will be fixed during manufacture of the bat and cannot subsequently be easily adjusted. Hence, the offset is typically fixed approximately midway between 1mm and 5mm at 3mm. Other offsets would be possible, however, As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the offset is on one side for a right handed batsman (see Figure 3) and on the opposite side (see Figure 4) for a left handed batsman.

[00291 The height of the protrusion measured from the plane of the handle is typically from 1mm to 10mm, more typically 1mm to 5mm, and depends on the size of the batsman using the bat. For children who are more likely to be using plastic bats, the height range may be from Ito 3mm, with a height range of perhaps I to 2mm for smaller children.

[00301 Typically before the bat is used, a cylindrical rubber sleeve/grip will be rolled over the handle, [00311 In use the rib acts a guide for the player as to where to put their "V' s" and thus enable consistent and accurate placement of the batsman's hands on the handle of the bat. The rib provides an additional advantage in that is assists in preventing the bat from slipping in the batsman's hands.

[0032] Figures 5 to 8 illustrate an alternative way to provide the protrusion on a handle/grip 200 itself. In this embodiment, the protrusion is moulded into the grip itself and the grip is simply rolled onto the traditional existing cylindrical handle of a standard cricket bat (not shown), which handles are typically made from cane wood and twine and some vibration reducing materials such as rubber, As shown in Figures to 8, the grip has a total length of about 285mm and is generally cylindrical, having a generally annular cross-section. The interior of the annulus/grip is smooth. A first portion 202 of the exterior of the grip, defines an array of generally circular protrusions, a second or middle portion 204 defines a series of circumferentially extending ribs and an third or end portion 206 has the same pattern of protrusions as the first portion. There is a guide in the form of a raised protrusion or rib 208 which runs along the exterior of the grip. The rib starts at a first end 210 of the grip and terminates at the junction between the second and third portions of the grip about 45mm from a second end 212 of the grip The rib is substantially linear and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip.

[0033] With reference to Figure 8 the height "h" of the protrusion from the exterior of the grip is about 4mm, The overall width "w" of the protrusion is about 7mm, [0034] The grip is typically moulded in an elastomeric material such as rubber, both for grip and because the protrusion should be compressible and provide some "give" in the hands of the batsman. In tenns of Durometer hardness, measured on the Durometer A scale, a hardness in the range of about 30 to 100 may be suitable, with one preferred range being 30 to 40.

[0035] The grip has an inside diameter of about 29.5mm and an outside diameter of about 31mm to suit the diameter of a cricket bat handle, [00361 The advantage of moulding the protrusion with the grip is that the offset of the protrusion can be easily adjusted by adjusting the position of the grip on the handle.

Once the corect position of the protrusion has been determined for the batsman who is to use the bat, the grip can be fixed in the desired position using glue or the like.

[0037] It will be appreciated that there are many different existing underlying types of grips for cricket bats having different regular patterns intended to provide improved grip for the batsman, including scales, suckers chevrons, grooves, diamonds etc.., which are textured for improved grip and also are often patterned in different colours.

The rib/raised protrusion 208 may be used with different underlying grip patterns.

[0038] Figures 9 to U illustrate a handle 300 for a traditional wooden cricket bat. As shown, the handle defines a generally cylindrical handle portion 310, having an enlarged top end 312 and whose other end is joined to a v shaped portion 314 known as a splice which in use is connected with the body of a bat, not shown, The handle is typically constructed from wood, cane, twine and rubber in the traditional manner.

[0039] There is a guide defined on the exterior of the handle in the form of a raised protrusion or rib 3 6 which runs along the exterior of the handle, The rib starts close to, but not at, the shoulder and terminates some distance from the top end of the hand'e, typically around 30 to 50mm from the end. The rib is substantially linear and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the handle.

[0040] As is best seen in Figures 12 and 13, the rib is formed from a length of elastomeric or compressible material, typically rubber or silicone, or a material with similar properties, The rib is formed separately from the bat and defines a rear surface 3 18 which is curved having a radius of curvature of about 15mm, corresponding to the typical radius of a cricket bat handle. The rib defines two side walls 320 having a height of about 1.9mm and a curved outer surface 322 having a radius of about 4. tmm.

In the centre of the rear surface 318 of the rib there is an insert 324 which is about 1mm wide and 1mm high which locates in a correspondingly sized groove 326 which extends along the surface of the handle 310 parallel to its longitudinal axis, [00411 As is best seen in Figure 12, the groove 326 and hence the rib are slightly offset from the centreline C of the handle which is in line with the spine/centre of the rear of the bat in use. As discussed above, the degree of offset can be varied but most players will require an offset of from 1mm to 5mm, The handle could either be manufactured with a series of predetermined offsets, such as from 1mm to 5mm both side for left and right handers in 1mm increments. Alternatively to reduce the number of different handles that are required, the groove could be formed in the handle post manufacture and sale of the bat, when the degree of offset required for the batsman purchasing the bat was known.

[00421 The handle and rib are covered in a standard rubber grip in the usual way.

[00431 While the above described embodiments all show a single linear protrusion which acts a guide for the batsman's "V's", it is possible that the protrusion may consist of a series of ribs or protrusions with gaps between the protrusions, although a single protrusion is preferred. Also, while the batsman's "V's" of both hands are typically offset by the same amount, it would be possible to have the guides for the batsman's left and right hands slightly offset from one another, should that arrangement suit that batsman's playing style.

[00441 Figure 14 shows and alternative design of insert 400 which can be made by extrusion or any other suitable process. The extruded part 400 has a constant cross-section and may be cut to a suitable size attached to a bat handle with adhesive and covered in a suitable sleeve grip. The cross-section is sickle shaped and has a concave underside 402 which in use is stuck to the bat handle in a line offset by from 1 to 5mm and a convex outer side 404. The maximum thickness t of the extrusion at its centre is about 10mm. The height h of the insert is about 28mm measured from the centre of the concave outer side to the ends of the sickle. Once attached to a bat handle, the insert may then be covered with a standard annular sleeve grip.

[00451 The insert is typically moulded in an elastomeric material such as rubber. In terms of Durometer hardness, measured on the Durometer A scale, a hardness in the range of about 30 to 100 may be suitable, with one preferred range being 30 to 40, [00461 The person skilled in the art will appreciate that there are a number of other ways that a guide could be provided in the grip of a cricket bat, including inserting a length of solid tubing, such as a silicon tube or even a length of string, in the correct position between the wooden handle of the bat and the covering grip. The cross-sectional shape of the rib could be varied although the shape of the rib should be comfortable for the batsman to play with over a long period of time.

[00471 The offset grip is able to formalise the position of the player's V's on both hands to align slightly to the left hand side of the centre of the handle for a right handed player, and to the right hand side of the centre for a left handed player, This contrasts with most cricket coaching manuals which suggest that the position of the V between the thumb and index finger be placed directly on top of the handle pointing straight down the middle of the back of the bat. The offset position allows the batter to take the bat back and while doing so, open up the face of the bat slightly, This helps the player maintain a controlled grip and influences the swing of the bat to the ball by allowing the hands to make contact with the ball with the hands in a solid position, [0048] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,

Claims

CLAIMS: 1 A handle of a cricket bat including a grip in which there is at least one guide in the form of a raised element such as a protrusion or rib extending along the grip generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle, the guide being aranged to assist in the positioning of a batsman' s hands during play wherein the guide is offset from a plane bisecting the bat lengthways and passing through the spine of the bat.
2. A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the guide is offset from the plane by a distance of from 1 to 5mm.
3. A handile of a cricket bat as claimed in claim I or 2 wherein the protrusion or rib is continuous.

4, A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the guide is formed from two or more separate protrusions.

5, A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in claim 5 wherein the protrusions are generally collinear, 6. A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in claim 5 wherein there are two protrusions which are not collinear, but are offset from one another.7, A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the of the rib projects from the handle by from 1mm to 5mm, preferably from 2 to 4mm, 8. A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rib temiinates at least 3 0mm, and preferably at least 40mm, from the free end of the handle, 9. A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rib is formed from a compressible material having a Durometer hardness in the range of 30 to 100, most preferably 30 to 40, in 1.) 10. A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the top of the rib is rounded and the rib has a width of from 3 to 7mm.A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the guide is a raised portion or rib defined by or attached to the handle of the cricket bat.12, A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rib is made from an elastomeric material and is attached in position on the handle of the bat using adhesive or the like.3. A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in claim 12 wherein the rib is generally sickle shaped having a concave surface for attachment to the bat handle and a convex outer surface.14. A sickle shaped rib having a constant cross-section made from an elastomeric material having a concave surface for attachment to a handle of a bat and a convex outer surface.15. A handle of a cricket bat as claimed in any one of claims ito 10 wherein the rib or guide is part of a removable grip in the form of a sleeve and the grip is placed onto a cylindrical bat handle with the grip rotated or twisted to ensure that the protrusion is in the correct position for the batsman who is to use the bat.6. A grip for a cricket bat comprising an elongate annular sleeve defining a longitudinal axis and an interior surface and an exterior surface, the grip being formed from a plastic or elastomeric material or the like, including a rib extending along the exterior surface of the grip, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the grip, the rib having a height of from about 1mm to 5mm.17. A grip for a cricket bat as claimed in claim i6 wherein the rib has a width of from 4 to 7mm.18. A grip for a cricket bat as claimed in claim 16 or 17 wherein the top of the rib is curved.9, A grip for a cricket bat as claimed in claim 16 or 17 or 18 wherein the rib is formed from a compressible material having a Durometer hardness in the range of 30 to 100, most preferably 30 to 40.20. A grip for a cricket bat as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 19 wherein the sleeve is cylindrical.2L A grip for a cricket bat as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 19 wherein the sleeve is oval or hexagonal.