JP2002282403A - Grip for golf club and golf club - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a grip 1 which is excellent in both of wear resistance and anti-slipping performance. SOLUTION: The grip 1 is molded by crosslinking a rubber composition. This rubber composition contains fine powder silica of 5 nm to 30 nm in primary particle size. The compounding ratio of the fine powder silica is 5 to 50 parts per 100 parts base material polymer. The rubber composition contains both or either of a silane coupling agent and a silylating agent. The total compounding ratio of the silylating agent and the silane coupling agent is 1 to 10 parts per 100 parts base material polymer. Grooves of prescribed pattern are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the grip 1. The grip 1 has the excellent anti-slipping performance in a state of the grip wet with rainwater and sweat.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a golf club grip (hereinafter, also simply referred to as "grip") and a golf club equipped with the grip.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A golf club includes a shaft, a head mounted near a front end of the shaft, and a grip into which a vicinity of a rear end of the shaft is fitted. The grip is a part that a golfer swinging the golf club grasps by hand, and plays a very important role when the movement of the golfer is transmitted to the golf club.
Generally, the grip needs to be flexible and is therefore molded from a polymer composition based on rubber or synthetic resin.

When a golf club is repeatedly used, the grip gradually wears due to friction with a golfer's hand (or friction with the glove if the golfer wears gloves). As wear progresses, the hand and grip may become slippery during a swing. If the wear is severe, the grip may be deformed, making it difficult for the golfer to grasp or hindering the swing. Abrasion resistance is one of the important performances required for a grip.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-192276 discloses a grip in which a wear-resistant material is partially provided. This wear-resistant material is obtained by compounding rubber with a reinforcing agent such as carbon black or silica. This wear resistant material increases the durability of the grip. However, since the frictional force generated between the hand and the grip during the swing is extremely large, the effect of improving the durability is not sufficient with a wear-resistant material simply containing a reinforcing agent.

A grip made of a crosslinked rubber molded article containing a reinforcing cord has also been proposed and put to practical use. In this grip, the strength and anti-slip performance (performance of preventing slip between the hand and the grip) are enhanced by the reinforcing cord. However, the manufacturing process of the grip including the reinforcing cord is complicated, so that the grip is generally expensive. In addition, a good feeling when the golfer grips the grip (recognized as “moist feeling”, “comfortable feeling” by the golfer, etc.) may be reduced by the reinforcing cord.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and has as its primary object to provide a grip having excellent strength and abrasion resistance. A second object of the present invention is to provide a grip having excellent anti-slip performance.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The invention made to achieve the above object is to provide a base polymer having a primary particle diameter of 5%.
The present invention is a golf club grip formed from a polymer composition containing silica of not less than 30 nm and not more than 30 nm, and the compounding amount of the silica is not less than 5 parts and not more than 50 parts based on 100 parts of the base polymer.

[0008] Since the polymer composition forming the grip contains a predetermined amount (5 to 50 parts) of silica having a relatively small particle size, the grip is excellent in strength and abrasion resistance. In a golf club using this grip, the frequency of grip replacement is reduced. Silica also contributes to improving the anti-slip performance of the grip. In addition, in this specification, the numerical value shown by "part" means a ratio based on mass.

[0009] Preferably, the polymer composition contains both or one of a silane coupling agent and a silylating agent. The total amount of the silane coupling agent and the silylating agent is 1 part or more and 10 parts or less based on 100 parts of the base polymer. By blending a silane coupling agent or a silylating agent, excellent water repellency is imparted to the grip. Therefore, the moisture existing between the golfer's hand and the grip is repelled, and slippage is prevented. Golf clubs using this grip are easy for golfers to swing.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
The present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a golf club grip 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The grip 1 has a cylindrical shape with its rear end closed, and its outer diameter gradually increases from the front end to the rear end.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a golf club 2 using the grip 1 of FIG. As shown in this figure, the grip 1 has the vicinity of the rear end of the shaft 3 fitted therein. A head 4 is mounted near the front end of the shaft 3. The shaft 3 may be made of stainless steel or carbon fiber reinforced resin. The head 4 may be a wood type head 4 or an iron type head 4. Examples of the material of the head 4 include stainless steel, aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, fiber-reinforced synthetic resin, and persimmon.

The grip 1 is formed by crosslinking a rubber composition. Suitable base rubbers for the rubber composition include acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, chloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, acrylic rubber, urethane rubber, natural rubber and the like. Can be These rubbers may be used alone or in combination of two or more. In particular, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber is preferred because of its excellent anti-slip performance. Instead of or together with the rubber, a synthetic resin or a thermoplastic elastomer having a soft segment and a hard segment may be used as the base polymer.

The rubber composition contains, as a filler, silica having a primary particle diameter of 5 nm or more and 30 nm or less (hereinafter also referred to as “fine silica”). Since the fine silica is excellent in the reinforcing effect, the strength and wear resistance of the grip 1 are improved by the addition of the fine silica. The finely divided silica may be one obtained by a wet method or one obtained by a dry method, but wet method silica (hydrous silica) having excellent kneading processability is more preferable.

The amount of the finely divided silica is determined by the amount of the base polymer 10
It is 5 parts or more and 50 parts or less for 0 parts. If the amount is less than 5 parts, the strength and wear resistance of the grip 1 may be insufficient. In this respect, the amount is more preferably equal to or greater than 7 parts, and particularly preferably equal to or greater than 10 parts. If the amount exceeds 50 parts, the kneading processability of the rubber composition may be deteriorated. In this respect, the amount is more preferably equal to or less than 45 parts, and particularly preferably equal to or less than 40 parts.

From the viewpoint of the strength and wear resistance of the grip 1, the primary particle diameter of the finely divided silica is 30 nm as described above.
Or less, more preferably 28 nm or less, particularly preferably 20 nm or less. From the viewpoint of strength and abrasion resistance, the smaller the primary particle diameter of the finely divided silica is, the more preferable,
From the viewpoint of economy and availability, the primary particle diameter is set to 5 nm or more as described above, more preferably 10 nm or more, and particularly preferably 11 nm or more. In addition, the primary particle diameter means the diameter of the particle in a state where aggregation does not occur.

The primary particle diameter of the silica is determined by transmission electron microscope (Transmission Electron M).
(microscope). In the projection view of the transmission electron microscope, the smallest one of the circles containing individual silica is assumed, and the diameter of this circle is defined as the primary particle diameter.

Fillers such as silica (silica having a primary particle diameter exceeding 30 nm), carbon black, calcium carbonate and clay other than finely divided silica may be used in combination with finely divided silica. When used together, the total amount of the filler containing the finely divided silica is preferably not more than 60 parts with respect to 100 parts of the base polymer, from the viewpoint of not impairing the flexibility of the grip 1.

The rubber composition preferably contains a silane coupling agent or a silylating agent. Both the silane coupling agent and the silylating agent have a hydrophobic group in the molecule. The silane coupling agent and the silylating agent impart water repellency to the grip 1 by the action of the hydrophobic group. Accordingly, the anti-slip performance of the grip 1 in a state wet with rainwater or sweat (so-called wet state) is improved.

The silane coupling agent and the silylating agent may be used in combination or only one of them may be compounded. Generally, a silylating agent has a higher ability to impart water repellency than a silane coupling agent. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of the strength and wear resistance of the grip 1, a silane coupling agent that bonds to rubber molecules is preferable. Silane coupling agents are also economical.

The total amount of the silane coupling agent and the silylating agent is at least 1 part per 100 parts of the base polymer.
0 parts or less are preferable. If the amount is less than 1 part, the water repellency of the grip 1 may be insufficient. In this respect, the total amount is particularly preferably 1.5 parts or more. If the amount exceeds 10 parts, not only is the water repellency flattened and uneconomical, but also the silane coupling agent or silylating agent may bleed or bloom on the surface of the grip 1. In this respect, the total amount is more preferably equal to or less than 8 parts, and particularly preferably equal to or less than 5 parts.

The type of the silane coupling agent to be blended is not particularly limited, but preferred examples of the silane coupling agent include those represented by the following chemical formula (I) or (II).

[0023]

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[0024]

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Specific examples of suitable silane coupling agents include vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyl-tri (2-methoxyethoxy) silane, vinyltrichlorosilane, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, γ -Methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane,
Bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfen and the like can be mentioned. Two or more silane coupling agents may be used in combination.

The type of the silylating agent to be blended is not particularly limited, but preferred examples of the silylating agent include those represented by the following chemical formula (III).

[0027]

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Specific examples of the silylating agent represented by the above formula (III) include phenyltrichlorosilane, diphenyldichlorosilane, isobutyltriethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane, hexyltrimethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane and the like. Can be

Suitable silylating agents other than the silylating agent represented by the above formula (III) include hexamethyldisilazane, N, O- (bistrimethylsilyl) acetamide,
tert-butyldimethylchlorosilane and the like. Two or more silylating agents may be used in combination.

The crosslinking form of the rubber composition is not particularly limited, but usually sulfur crosslinking is employed, and a vulcanization accelerator is used in combination with sulfur. In this case, the compounding amount of sulfur is about 0.3 to 3.0 parts based on 100 parts of the base rubber. The amount of the vulcanization accelerator is about 1.5 to 5.0 parts based on 100 parts of the base rubber. Two or more vulcanization accelerators may be used.

The rubber composition may optionally contain a softener. As a softener, paraffin oil,
Mineral oils such as naphthenic oil and aromatic oil; and plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, dioctyl sepate, and dioctyl adipate.

In the rubber composition, if necessary, a crosslinking aid,
An appropriate amount of an antioxidant, a coloring agent and the like may be blended.

Although not shown in FIG. 1, a predetermined pattern of grooves is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the grip 1.
Due to this groove, the water film between the golfer's hand (or glove) and the grip 1 is reduced even in a wet state, and the anti-slip performance of the grip 1 is improved.

In the grip 1, since the anti-slip performance is enhanced by the finely divided silica and the silane coupling agent or silylating agent, no reinforcing cord is required. Therefore,
This grip 1 can be manufactured by a simple manufacturing process. Of course, a small amount of reinforcing cord may be used as an auxiliary as long as the gripping feeling is not significantly impaired.

[0035]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the effects of the present invention will be clarified based on examples, but the present invention should not be construed as being limited based on the description of the examples.

[Example 1] Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (trade name "Nipol DN20" of Zeon Corporation)
0 ") 100 parts, 10 parts of silica having an average primary particle diameter of 17 nm (trade name" Ultrasil VN3 "of Degussa),
Dioctyl phthalate as a plasticizer (trade name “DO
P ") 3.0 parts, an antioxidant (trade name" Sunnock N "of Ouchi Shinko Chemical Co., Ltd.) 0.5 part, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4- as another antioxidant Methyl phenol (trade name “Nocrack 20
0 ") 2.0 parts, zinc oxide 3.0 parts, stearic acid 1.
0 parts, sulfur 0.5 parts, 1.3 parts of dibenzothiazyl disulfide (trade name “Noxeller DM” of Ouchi Shinko Chemical Co., Ltd.) as a vulcanization accelerator, and tetrakis as another vulcanization accelerator (2-Ethylhexyl) thiuram disulfide (Ouchi Shinko Chemical Co., Ltd. product name "NOXELLER TOT
-N "), 2.3 parts were kneaded with a Banbury mixer to obtain a rubber composition. This rubber composition was charged into a mold having a known groove pattern on the cavity surface. And 160
A crosslinking reaction was caused in the rubber composition at a temperature of 10 ° C. for 10 minutes to obtain the grip of Example 1.

Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and Example 3 Comparative Examples 1 and 2 and Example 3 were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the amount of silica was varied as shown in Table 1 below.
Got the grip.

Example 2 Bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfene (trade name “Si6 from Degussa”) was added to a rubber composition as a silane coupling agent.
9 ") In the same manner as in Example 1 except that 1.5 parts was compounded,
The grip of Example 2 was obtained.

Example 4 The amount of silica was changed to 45 parts and a silane coupling agent (trade name “Si
69 ") A grip of Example 4 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 4.5 parts was compounded.

Example 5 The amount of silica was 45 parts, and decyltrimethoxysilane (trade name “KBM3103C” manufactured by Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.) was used as a silylating agent.
A grip of Example 5 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 0 part was blended.

Example 6 The amount of silica was changed to 45 parts, and a silane coupling agent (trade name “Si
69 ”) and a silylating agent (the above-mentioned trade name“ KBM ”).
3103C ") and a grip of Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 2.0 parts of the grip was blended.

[Examples 7 and 8] The average primary particle diameter was 1
A grip of Example 7 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 1 nm silica (Nipsil HD-2, trade name of Nippon Silica Kogyo Co., Ltd.) was used. In addition, the average primary particle diameter is 2
Except for using 8 nm silica (trade name “Nipsil E-200” of Nippon Silica Industry Co., Ltd.),
The grip of Example 8 was obtained.

[Comparative Examples 3 and 4] The average primary particle diameter was 3
Comparative Examples 3 and 4 were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1 except that 6 nm silica (Nipsil RS-150, trade name of Nippon Silica Kogyo Co., Ltd.) was used and the compounding amount was as shown in Table 2 below. Got the grip.

[Comparative Examples 5 and 6] Instead of silica, calcium carbonate (trade name “Shiroenka CC” of Shiraishi Industry Co., Ltd.) 10
A grip of Comparative Example 5 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the parts were blended. A grip of Comparative Example 6 was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1, except that 10 parts of clay (trade name: "Hard Clay Crown" manufactured by Southeastern Corp.) was used instead of silica.

[Evaluation of processability] In the above-mentioned kneading step, the kneading processability of the rubber composition was determined. A sample having no problem with kneading was marked with "O", and a sample with difficulty in kneading was marked with "X".
The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.

[Evaluation of Abrasion Resistance] A test piece was cross-linked and molded using the same rubber composition as that used for molding each grip, and this test piece was subjected to Akron abrasion according to JIS-K-6264. Tested. The measured wear capacity is
It is shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.

[Evaluation of anti-slip performance] Each grip was attached to a shaft to produce a golf club. The grip is dipped in water to make the golf club wet.
It was used by 0 golfers, and the anti-slip performance was evaluated on a 5-point scale from "1" to "5". The one that caused the least slippage was “5”, and the one that easily caused the slippage was “1”. 10
The average of the evaluation values of the first-name golfers is shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.
Is shown in

[0048]

[Table 1]

[0049]

[Table 2]

As shown in Tables 1 and 2, the grips of each embodiment are excellent in all of workability, wear resistance and anti-slip performance. From the evaluation results, the superiority of the present invention is apparent.

[0051]

As described above, the grip of the present invention is excellent in both abrasion resistance and anti-slip performance. This grip lasts a long time. A golf club equipped with this grip is easy for a golfer to swing. In this golf club, the frequency of grip replacement is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a golf club grip according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a golf club using the grip of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Grip 2 ... Golf club 3 ... Shaft 4 ... Head

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A polymer composition comprising a base polymer and silica having a primary particle diameter of 5 nm or more and 30 nm or less, wherein the amount of the silica is 5 parts or more and 50 parts or less based on 100 parts of the base polymer. Golf club grip molded from. 2. The polymer composition contains a silane coupling agent or a silylating agent, and the total blending amount of the silane coupling agent and the silylation agent is
The golf club grip according to claim 1, wherein the amount is 1 part or more and 10 parts or less with respect to 00 parts. 3. A shaft, a head mounted near a front end of the shaft, and a grip into which a vicinity of a rear end of the shaft is fitted. The grip has a base polymer and a primary particle diameter of 5 nm. A golf club formed from a polymer composition containing silica of at least 30 nm and not more than 30 nm, and the compounding amount of the silica is not less than 5 parts and not more than 50 parts based on 100 parts of the base polymer. 4. The polymer composition contains a silane coupling agent or a silylating agent, and the total blending amount of the silane coupling agent and the silylating agent is
The golf club according to claim 3, wherein the amount is 1 part or more and 10 parts or less with respect to 00 parts.