US20170246520A1 - Grip tape - Google Patents
Grip tape Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170246520A1 US20170246520A1 US15/430,047 US201715430047A US2017246520A1 US 20170246520 A1 US20170246520 A1 US 20170246520A1 US 201715430047 A US201715430047 A US 201715430047A US 2017246520 A1 US2017246520 A1 US 2017246520A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- grip
- tape
- substrate
- layer
- elastic
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
- A63B60/06—Handles
- A63B60/14—Coverings specially adapted for handles, e.g. sleeves or ribbons
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25D—PERCUSSIVE TOOLS
- B25D17/00—Details of, or accessories for, portable power-driven percussive tools
- B25D17/04—Handles; Handle mountings
- B25D17/043—Handles resiliently mounted relative to the hammer housing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25G—HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS
- B25G1/00—Handle constructions
- B25G1/10—Handle constructions characterised by material or shape
- B25G1/102—Handle constructions characterised by material or shape the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
- C09J7/00—Adhesives in the form of films or foils
- C09J7/20—Adhesives in the form of films or foils characterised by their carriers
- C09J7/29—Laminated material
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
- G06F1/1656—Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2209/00—Characteristics of used materials
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2209/00—Characteristics of used materials
- A63B2209/10—Characteristics of used materials with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
- C09J2301/00—Additional features of adhesives in the form of films or foils
- C09J2301/10—Additional features of adhesives in the form of films or foils characterized by the structural features of the adhesive tape or sheet
- C09J2301/12—Additional features of adhesives in the form of films or foils characterized by the structural features of the adhesive tape or sheet by the arrangement of layers
- C09J2301/122—Additional features of adhesives in the form of films or foils characterized by the structural features of the adhesive tape or sheet by the arrangement of layers the adhesive layer being present only on one side of the carrier, e.g. single-sided adhesive tape
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
- C09J2400/00—Presence of inorganic and organic materials
- C09J2400/20—Presence of organic materials
- C09J2400/26—Presence of textile or fabric
- C09J2400/263—Presence of textile or fabric in the substrate
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09J—ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES
- C09J2483/00—Presence of polysiloxane
- C09J2483/006—Presence of polysiloxane in the substrate
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
- G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
- G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
- G06F1/1626—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
- H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
- H04B1/3827—Portable transceivers
- H04B1/3888—Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
Definitions
- This specification generally relates to grip tape that may be releasably and non-destructively bonded to an external object.
- Some conventional grip tapes include a substantially flat and flexible sheet of material covered or coated with a non-slip surface material.
- the non-slip surface is typically textured to enhance the coefficient of friction of the tape by incorporating small dimples in the surface, roughening the surface, and/or perforating the surface.
- This specification describes technologies related to grip tapes that may be releasably and non-destructively bonded to an external object.
- a grip tape includes: a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer including a platinum silicone rubber material, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
- the adhesive layer includes a skin-friendly adhesive material. In some examples, the adhesive layer includes a non-destructive removable adhesive material.
- the flexible substrate includes a kinesiology tape that is able to stretch in a single direction.
- the flexible substrate includes a woven structure including a plurality of elastic fibers and a plurality of non-elastic fibers.
- the grip layer has an elastic limit that is greater than or equal to an elastic limit of the flexible substrate. In some examples, the grip layer defines a smooth outer surface, substantially free of surface irregularities. In some examples, the grip layer includes a molded three-dimensional surface feature configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body. In some examples, the molded three-dimensional surface feature defines one or more finger grooves having a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the natural shape of a user's fingers. In some examples, the grip layer has a Shore A hardness of at most about 2 and a 100% elastic modulus of at most about 40 psi.
- the platinum silicone rubber material includes a Platinum-Siloxane Complex.
- a grip tape includes: a flexible, elastic substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer including a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the substrate, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
- the grip layer includes a platinum silicone rubber material. In some examples, the grip layer defines a smooth outer surface, substantially free of surface irregularities. In some examples, the grip layer includes a molded three-dimensional surface feature configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body. In some examples, the molded three-dimensional surface feature defines one or more finger grooves having a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the natural shape of a user's fingers. In some examples, the grip layer has a Shore A hardness of at most about 2 and a 100% elastic modulus of at most about 40 psi.
- the platinum silicone rubber material includes a Platinum-Siloxane Complex.
- the adhesive layer includes a skin-friendly adhesive material. In some examples, the adhesive layer includes a non-destructive removable adhesive material.
- the flexible substrate includes a kinesiology tape that is able to stretch in a single direction.
- the flexible substrate includes a woven structure including a plurality of elastic fibers and a plurality of non-elastic fibers.
- the flexible substrate, adhesive layer, and grip layer define a combined thickness of the grip tape, the thickness being 1.0 mm or less.
- a grip tape includes: a flexible, elastic kinesiology tape having a top surface and a bottom surface, the tape configured to stretch only in a single direction and including a woven pattern of elastic and non-elastic fibers defining the single direction of stretch; an adhesive layer including a skin-friendly adhesive material applied to the bottom surface of the tape; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the tape, the grip layer including a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the tape in the single direction of stretch, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
- a grip tape in still another aspect, includes: a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer including a platinum silicone rubber material, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
- the grip layer includes a molded ergonomic three-dimensional surface feature defining one or more finger grooves having a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the natural shape of a user's fingers. Further, the grip layer defines a smooth outer surface, substantially free of surface irregularities.
- a method of fabricating a grip tape includes: positioning a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface in a substantially flat condition; applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, an adhesive layer only to the bottom surface of the substrate, such that the top surface of the substrate remains substantially free of any adhesive material; and applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, a grip layer including a platinum silicone rubber material to a top surface of the substrate.
- applying the grip layer includes forming an outer surface of the grip layer that is substantially free of surface irregularities.
- applying a grip layer including a platinum silicone rubber material includes depositing a substance that includes a Platinum-Siloxane Complex on the top surface of the substrate.
- applying the grip layer includes depositing a liquid phase substance onto the top surface of the substrate, and the method further includes: before the substance is allowed to set, molding one or more three-dimensional surface features into the grip layer, the three-dimensional surface features configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body.
- molding one or more three-dimensional surface features includes molding one or more finger grooves with a width and depth sufficient to accommodate a natural shape of a user's fingers.
- a method of fabricating a grip tape includes: positioning a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface in a substantially flat condition; applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, an adhesive layer only to the bottom surface of the substrate, such that the top surface of the substrate remains substantially free of any adhesive material; and applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, a grip layer including a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the substrate to a top surface of the substrate.
- applying the adhesive layer includes depositing a substance including a non-destructive, skin-friendly adhesive on the bottom surface of the substrate.
- positioning a flexible substrate further includes placing a woven kinesiology tape that is able to stretch elastically only in a single direction in a unstretched state.
- applying the grip layer includes forming an outer surface of the grip layer that is substantially free of surface irregularities.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a first example grip tape in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a suitable technique of manufacture related to the first example grip tape of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape of FIG. 1 applied to a rear surface of a mobile communications device.
- FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape of FIG. 1 applied to the palm of a human hand.
- FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape of FIG. 1 applied to the fingers of a human hand.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a second example grip tape in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape of FIG. 1 applied to the handle of a hand-held tool.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape of FIG. 1 applied to the handle of a baseball bat.
- One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a removable grip tape that can be used in a wide variety of applications to provide tackiness to the surface of an external object.
- the grip tape can be releasably and non-destructively bonded to the surface, such that if and when the grip tape begins to lose effectiveness or becomes damaged, the user can simply remove and replace it with a fresh piece.
- the grip tape is configured to be particularly well suited for contact with a user's skin.
- an adhesive layer of the grip tape may include a composition that effectively bonds the tape to the user's skin without causing irritation, and a grip layer of the tape may be both smooth and soft, and therefore pleasing to the touch.
- the grip layer includes one or more molded three-dimensional surface features configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of the user's body.
- a grip tape 100 includes a substrate 102 , an adhesive layer 104 , and a grip layer 106 .
- the adhesive layer 104 resides on a bottom surface 105 of the substrate 102 .
- the grip layer 106 resides on a top surface 107 of the substrate 102 .
- the grip tape 100 can be attached to a surface of an external object via the adhesive layer 104 and provide an enhanced frictional quality (e.g., coefficient of friction) to the object via the grip layer 106 .
- the flexible substrate 102 , adhesive layer 104 , and grip layer 106 define a combined thickness “t” of the grip tape. In some examples, the thickness “t” about 1.0 mm or less (e.g., about 0.7 mm or about 0.9 mm).
- the substrate 102 is a substantially uniform structure, providing planar bottom and top surfaces 105 , 107 for carrying the respective adhesive and grip layers 104 , 106 .
- the substrate 102 is sufficiently flexible and pliant to allow the grip tape 100 to bend freely out of the horizontal plane during application to the intended surface. Further, the flexible nature of the substrate 102 allows the grip tape 100 conform to the shape of an irregular, non-planar surface.
- the substrate 102 is substantially rigid and resistant to bending, allowing the grip tape 100 to provide both structural reinforcement and grip enhancement to the applied surface.
- the substrate 102 is sufficiently ductile to permit stretching under the tensile stress applied by a user's hands.
- a user may pull the ends of a strip of the grip tape 100 and stretch the tape beyond its original length.
- the substrate 102 is an elastic structure, capable of returning to its original shape after some degree of deformation (e.g., stretching).
- the degree of elasticity may be defined in terms of an “elastic elongation percentage.”
- the elastic elongation percentage corresponds to the amount of stretching achieved at the substrate's “elastic limit”—the maximum stress before the onset of permanent deformation.
- the elastic elongation percentage relates to the maximum amount of elastic stretching for the substrate material.
- the substrate 102 was provided in the form of a kinesiology tape having an elastic elongation percentage of about 140% (which approximately matches the theoretical elastic elongation percentage of human skin).
- the substrate 102 may be provided in the form of a woven or non-woven web.
- the construction of the substrate 102 at least partially defines its material properties. For instance, the weave pattern of a woven substrate may impart a directionality to its ductility and elasticity.
- the substrate 102 was provided in the form of a kinesiology tape including a woven mesh of both elastic and non-elastic fibers, the weave pattern allowing the substrate to stretch elastically in only a single direction (e.g., a lengthwise direction and not a widthwise direction).
- the adhesive layer 104 is provided in the form of a thin contiguous film applied uniformly across the bottom substrate surface 105 .
- a suitable adhesive layer may include discrete deposits of one or more materials, such as a dot pattern and/or a wave or herringbone pattern.
- the material of the adhesive layer 104 includes a substance capable of securely bonding the grip tape 100 to the surface of an external object.
- the material is a non-destructive removable adhesive, which allows the grip tape 100 to be removed from the surface by hand without inflicting damage to the surface. Thus, one piece of the grip tape 100 can be quickly and easily removed, then replaced with another.
- the material is a skin-compatible adhesive, allowing the grip tape 100 to be bonded directly to a user's skin without causing excessive irritation or trauma when removed.
- a zinc-oxide based adhesive material was used.
- Suitable material compositions for providing a skin-compatible adhesive are described in U.S. Pat. Pub. 2010/0298747, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- the grip layer 106 is provided in the form of a thin contiguous film applied uniformly across the top substrate surface 107 .
- FIG. 2 illustrates an example where a the substrate 102 is positioned in a substantially flat condition (i.e., a substantially even condition, where the substrate is not wrinkled, bent, or folded; note, however, that he term “flat” is not intended to require any specific orientation of the substrate), and a substance 10 suitable for forming the grip layer 106 of FIG. 1 (e.g., a platinum silicone rubber material) is applied to the top surface 107 of the substrate 1022 by pouring the substance as a liquid directly onto the substrate from a container 12 .
- a substance 10 suitable for forming the grip layer 106 of FIG. 1 e.g., a platinum silicone rubber material
- the substrate may be maintained in an unstretched state as the adhesive layer 104 and grip layer 106 are applied thereon.
- the substance 10 for forming the grip layer 106 may be applied to the substrate 102 before or after the adhesive layer 104 .
- the grip layer 106 may be formed in multiple stages.
- the first stage may include applying (e.g., pouring a liquid phase substance 10 from a container 12 as shown in FIG. 2 ) the grip layer 106 to the substrate, and a second stage may include molding one or more three-dimensional surface features into the grip layer 106 (as discussed below) before it sets.
- the material of the grip layer 106 provides increased frictional resistance to relative motion between the outer surface 108 of the layer and the surface of another object.
- the grip layer 106 is free of any adhesive material, meaning that, under standard room ambient conditions, the grip layer 106 will not tend to bond with the surface of another object.
- the outer surface 108 is relatively smooth, substantially free of surface irregularities.
- the material of the grip layer 106 may also be relatively soft, having a Shore A hardness of about 2 or less.
- the grip layer 106 while providing enhanced frictional resistance, may be more pleasing to the touch of a user than a similar structure having one or more textured or roughened portions.
- the grip layer 106 may be at least as flexible, elastic and/or ductile as the substrate 102 .
- the material of the grip layer 106 has a 100% elastic modulus of about 40 psi or less.
- the grip layer has an elastic elongation percentage that is greater than or equal to that of the substrate—e.g., about 140% in some examples.
- the elastic properties of the grip layer 106 may be especially significant when the substrate 102 is provided in the form of an elastic kinesiology tape. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the elasticity of kinesiology tape creates a pulling force on the user's skin, which provides the desired therapeutic effect. Thus, providing a grip layer matching or exceeding the elasticity of the kinesiology tape permits the benefit of enhanced frictional resistance without the cost decreased therapeutic effectiveness.
- the grip layer 106 includes a platinum silicone rubber material, which may, for example, include a Platinum-Siloxane Complex.
- a platinum silicone material sold by Smooth-On, Inc. under the trade name Dragon Skin® FX-Pro was used to form the grip layer 106 .
- the Dragon Skin product is known to be particularly well designed for use in creating precision molded special effects, such as prosthetic makeup appliances (e.g., masks and the like).
- the platinum silicone rubber material also provides the above-described combination of advantageous material properties for providing a suitable grip layer—including, for example, softness, flexibility, elasticity, ductility, and enhanced surface friction.
- lower durometer platinum silicone rubbers tend to exhibit higher coefficients of friction.
- platinum silicone rubber is particularly well suited for applications where the grip tape is likely to contact the user's body, because softer compositions, which are more pleasing to the touch, also provide increased grip.
- Platinum silicone is also known to be non-toxic and compatible with human skin, making it particularly suitable for the grip tape applications described herein.
- the platinum silicone rubber exhibits a non-stick and non-wetting surface property.
- the non-stick and non-wetting properties allow the grip layer 106 to deflect fluids (e.g., water, bodily fluids, etc.) away from the grip tape 100 .
- the grip layer 106 may serve a protective function with respect to the substrate 102 and adhesive layer 104 , as well as the surface of the underlying object.
- a grip layer formed from platinum cure silicone rubber, absent colored additives may be substantially translucent.
- a decorative grip tape may be produced by applying a decorative pattern to the substrate 102 before applying the grip layer 106 .
- the translucent nature of the grip layer 106 permits visibility of the decorative substrate 102 .
- Platinum silicone rubbers such as the Dragon Skin product, are particularly well suited for creating molded shapes (as noted above) due to, among other things, their high dimensional stability.
- the moldable nature of platinum silicone can be leveraged in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to form a grip layer (e.g., grip layer 106 ′) having one or more molded three-dimensional surface features configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body.
- FIG. 3 illustrates an example application of the grip tape 100 .
- the grip tape 100 is provided in the form of a wide strip deposited to the rear surface 202 of a mobile communications device 200 (e.g., a cellular smart phone).
- the grip tape 100 is securely bonded to the surface 202 by the non-destructive adhesive layer 104 (see FIG. 1 ), leaving the grip layer 106 exposed for contact with an external object.
- a user operating the device 200 would likely hold the device in hand with his/her fingers wrapped around and straddling the rear surface 202 carrying the grip tape 100 .
- the grip tape 106 would contact the user's fingers and provide increased frictional resistance to slipping, as compared to the device's rear surface 202 .
- the grip layer 106 is both smooth and soft, the outer surface 108 in contact with the user's skin is exceptionally pleasing to the touch.
- the grip tape 100 could be applied to the surfaces of mice, keyboards, writing instruments, eating utensils, cups, bottles, tools, weaponry, gloves, shoes, hand-held controllers, etc.
- FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate further example applications of the grip tape 100 .
- the grip tape 100 is applied directly to a user's skin 300 .
- the adhesive layer 104 features a suitable skin-compatible material composition (e.g., including zinc-oxide).
- the grip tape applications shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B provide an in situ enhanced grip surface that travels with the user. This may be particularly advantageous in situations when it is not feasible to apply the grip tape 100 to any particular external object that will be handled by the user.
- the in situ grip tape configurations may provide a superior alternative to conventional rubber coated grip gloves, which can be bulky, expensive, and tend to wear down over time.
- the grip tape 100 may be applied to the user's skin in a variety of ways to produce different types of grip/protective profiles particularly well suited for specific applications.
- the grip tape can be used as an effective replacement for various types of conventional rubber grip gloves—e.g., weight lifting or football gloves.
- the grip tape 100 is positioned on the palm 302 of the user 300 .
- the skin-compatible adhesive layer 104 (see FIG. 1 ) is pressed against the skin of the user 300 and releasably bonds the grip tape 100 in place.
- the grip layer 106 remains exposed, facing outward from the user's palm 302 for contacting external objects.
- the grip tape 100 is also fortified by an optional piece of securing tape 304 , which may, or may not, include a grip surface.
- Such applications may be particularly useful for providing grip and protection for the user's palm when performing physical activities, such as weight lifting, sports (e.g., gymnastics or baseball), driving, etc., where the user grasps a cylindrical external object (e.g., a bar or a bat) with an over, under, or neutral-hand grip.
- the grip tape 100 is applied in separate strips to each of the user's fingers 306 . Similar to the example of FIG. 4A , the skin-compatible adhesive layer (see FIG.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a grip tape 100 ′ similar to the grip tape 100 of FIG. 1 , including a substrate 102 ′ and an adhesive layer 104 ′ residing on a bottom surface 105 ′ of the substrate 102 ′.
- the grip layer 106 ′ residing on the top surface 107 ′ of the substrate 102 ′ is a non-planar structure, featuring an outer surface 108 ′ defining a plurality of molded three-dimensional surface features 110 ′.
- the three-dimensional surface features 110 ′ may be configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body, meaning that they are appropriately shaped and sized to accommodate the natural (unstressed) body shape of the user.
- the three-dimensional surface features 110 ′ are provided in the form of transitioning convex 112 ′ and concave 114 ′ surface contours that form ergonomic finger grooves.
- the width “w” and depth “d” of the concave contours 114 and the height “h” of the convex contours 112 ′ are sufficient to accommodate the natural shape of a user's fingers.
- the outer surface 108 ′, including the surface features 110 ′ is relatively smooth, substantially free of surface irregularities. The smoothness of the grip layer's outer surface 108 ′ may be pleasing to the touch.
- the smooth, yet contoured outer surface 108 ′ may be achieved by a molding process.
- platinum silicone rubbers which unexpectedly provide an advantageous combination of material properties for providing a suitable grip layer, are also particularly well suited for accurate creating molded shapes due to, among other things, their high dimensional stability. These properties converge advantageously in the present embodiment to provide smooth, molded ergonomic features on a soft, flexible, and highly frictional grip tape.
- FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an example application of the grip tape 100 ′.
- the grip tape 100 ′ is applied to the handle 402 , 502 of a hand-held tool 400 (a hammer in this example) and a baseball bat 500 .
- the adhesive layer 104 (see FIG. 5 ) is pressed against the surface of the handle 402 , 502 to securely bond the grip tape 100 thereon, while the grip layer 106 ′ is exposed for contact with the user's hand.
- the enhanced frictional quality of the grip layer 106 ′ combined with the molded ergonomic finger grooves allows the user to grasp the handle 402 and manipulate the tool 400 with a secure grip.
- top and bottom throughout the specification and claims is for describing the relative positions of various components of the system and other elements described herein. The use of such terminology does not imply a particular position or orientation of the system or any other components relative to the direction of the Earth gravitational force, or the Earth ground surface, or other particular position or orientation that the assembly or other elements may be placed in during operation, manufacturing, and/or transportation.
- the mobile communication device described with reference to FIG. 3 could be any portable object manipulated by the user and/or a stationary surface or object.
- the ergonomic finger grooves described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7 could be modified or replaced with other ergonomic features (e.g., ergonomic features for accommodating the palm, heel, toes, etc. of the user).
- the hand-held tool or the baseball bat described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 could be any object that a user may manipulate by a handle, including, for example, a golf club.
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- Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
- Golf Clubs (AREA)
- Adhesive Tapes (AREA)
Abstract
A grip tape includes: a flexible, elastic substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer including a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the substrate, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
Description
- This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/293,531, entitled “Grip Tape,” filed Feb. 10, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- This specification generally relates to grip tape that may be releasably and non-destructively bonded to an external object.
- Some conventional grip tapes include a substantially flat and flexible sheet of material covered or coated with a non-slip surface material. The non-slip surface is typically textured to enhance the coefficient of friction of the tape by incorporating small dimples in the surface, roughening the surface, and/or perforating the surface.
- This specification describes technologies related to grip tapes that may be releasably and non-destructively bonded to an external object.
- In one aspect, a grip tape includes: a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer including a platinum silicone rubber material, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
- In some examples, the adhesive layer includes a skin-friendly adhesive material. In some examples, the adhesive layer includes a non-destructive removable adhesive material.
- In some examples, the flexible substrate includes a kinesiology tape that is able to stretch in a single direction. In some examples, the flexible substrate includes a woven structure including a plurality of elastic fibers and a plurality of non-elastic fibers.
- In some examples, the grip layer has an elastic limit that is greater than or equal to an elastic limit of the flexible substrate. In some examples, the grip layer defines a smooth outer surface, substantially free of surface irregularities. In some examples, the grip layer includes a molded three-dimensional surface feature configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body. In some examples, the molded three-dimensional surface feature defines one or more finger grooves having a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the natural shape of a user's fingers. In some examples, the grip layer has a Shore A hardness of at most about 2 and a 100% elastic modulus of at most about 40 psi.
- In some examples, the platinum silicone rubber material includes a Platinum-Siloxane Complex.
- In some examples, the flexible substrate, adhesive layer, and grip layer define a combined thickness of the grip tape, the thickness being about 1.0 mm or less. In another aspect, a grip tape includes: a flexible, elastic substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer including a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the substrate, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
- In some examples, the grip layer includes a platinum silicone rubber material. In some examples, the grip layer defines a smooth outer surface, substantially free of surface irregularities. In some examples, the grip layer includes a molded three-dimensional surface feature configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body. In some examples, the molded three-dimensional surface feature defines one or more finger grooves having a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the natural shape of a user's fingers. In some examples, the grip layer has a Shore A hardness of at most about 2 and a 100% elastic modulus of at most about 40 psi.
- In some examples, the platinum silicone rubber material includes a Platinum-Siloxane Complex.
- In some examples, the adhesive layer includes a skin-friendly adhesive material. In some examples, the adhesive layer includes a non-destructive removable adhesive material.
- In some examples, the flexible substrate includes a kinesiology tape that is able to stretch in a single direction. In some examples, the flexible substrate includes a woven structure including a plurality of elastic fibers and a plurality of non-elastic fibers.
- In some examples, the flexible substrate, adhesive layer, and grip layer define a combined thickness of the grip tape, the thickness being 1.0 mm or less.
- In yet another aspect, a grip tape includes: a flexible, elastic kinesiology tape having a top surface and a bottom surface, the tape configured to stretch only in a single direction and including a woven pattern of elastic and non-elastic fibers defining the single direction of stretch; an adhesive layer including a skin-friendly adhesive material applied to the bottom surface of the tape; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the tape, the grip layer including a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the tape in the single direction of stretch, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
- In still another aspect, a grip tape includes: a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and a grip layer applied to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer including a platinum silicone rubber material, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material. The grip layer includes a molded ergonomic three-dimensional surface feature defining one or more finger grooves having a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the natural shape of a user's fingers. Further, the grip layer defines a smooth outer surface, substantially free of surface irregularities.
- In still another aspect, a method of fabricating a grip tape includes: positioning a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface in a substantially flat condition; applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, an adhesive layer only to the bottom surface of the substrate, such that the top surface of the substrate remains substantially free of any adhesive material; and applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, a grip layer including a platinum silicone rubber material to a top surface of the substrate.
- In some examples, applying the grip layer includes forming an outer surface of the grip layer that is substantially free of surface irregularities. In some examples, applying a grip layer including a platinum silicone rubber material includes depositing a substance that includes a Platinum-Siloxane Complex on the top surface of the substrate.
- In some examples, applying the grip layer includes depositing a liquid phase substance onto the top surface of the substrate, and the method further includes: before the substance is allowed to set, molding one or more three-dimensional surface features into the grip layer, the three-dimensional surface features configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body. In some examples, molding one or more three-dimensional surface features includes molding one or more finger grooves with a width and depth sufficient to accommodate a natural shape of a user's fingers.
- In still another aspect, a method of fabricating a grip tape includes: positioning a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface in a substantially flat condition; applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, an adhesive layer only to the bottom surface of the substrate, such that the top surface of the substrate remains substantially free of any adhesive material; and applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, a grip layer including a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the substrate to a top surface of the substrate.
- In some examples, applying the adhesive layer includes depositing a substance including a non-destructive, skin-friendly adhesive on the bottom surface of the substrate.
- In some examples, positioning a flexible substrate further includes placing a woven kinesiology tape that is able to stretch elastically only in a single direction in a unstretched state.
- In some examples, applying the grip layer includes forming an outer surface of the grip layer that is substantially free of surface irregularities.
- The details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
-
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a first example grip tape in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a suitable technique of manufacture related to the first example grip tape ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape ofFIG. 1 applied to a rear surface of a mobile communications device. -
FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape ofFIG. 1 applied to the palm of a human hand. -
FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape ofFIG. 1 applied to the fingers of a human hand. -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a second example grip tape in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape ofFIG. 1 applied to the handle of a hand-held tool. -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the grip tape ofFIG. 1 applied to the handle of a baseball bat. - One or more elements of the drawings may be exaggerated to better show the features, process steps, and results. Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings may indicate like elements.
- One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a removable grip tape that can be used in a wide variety of applications to provide tackiness to the surface of an external object. The grip tape can be releasably and non-destructively bonded to the surface, such that if and when the grip tape begins to lose effectiveness or becomes damaged, the user can simply remove and replace it with a fresh piece. In some embodiments, the grip tape is configured to be particularly well suited for contact with a user's skin. For example, an adhesive layer of the grip tape may include a composition that effectively bonds the tape to the user's skin without causing irritation, and a grip layer of the tape may be both smooth and soft, and therefore pleasing to the touch. Further, in some embodiments, the grip layer includes one or more molded three-dimensional surface features configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of the user's body.
- Referring first to
FIG. 1 , agrip tape 100 includes asubstrate 102, anadhesive layer 104, and agrip layer 106. Theadhesive layer 104 resides on abottom surface 105 of thesubstrate 102. Thegrip layer 106 resides on atop surface 107 of thesubstrate 102. As described in detail below, thegrip tape 100 can be attached to a surface of an external object via theadhesive layer 104 and provide an enhanced frictional quality (e.g., coefficient of friction) to the object via thegrip layer 106. Theflexible substrate 102,adhesive layer 104, andgrip layer 106 define a combined thickness “t” of the grip tape. In some examples, the thickness “t” about 1.0 mm or less (e.g., about 0.7 mm or about 0.9 mm). - The
substrate 102 is a substantially uniform structure, providing planar bottom andtop surfaces substrate 102 is sufficiently flexible and pliant to allow thegrip tape 100 to bend freely out of the horizontal plane during application to the intended surface. Further, the flexible nature of thesubstrate 102 allows thegrip tape 100 conform to the shape of an irregular, non-planar surface. In some alternative embodiments, thesubstrate 102 is substantially rigid and resistant to bending, allowing thegrip tape 100 to provide both structural reinforcement and grip enhancement to the applied surface. - In some examples, the
substrate 102 is sufficiently ductile to permit stretching under the tensile stress applied by a user's hands. Thus, for example, a user may pull the ends of a strip of thegrip tape 100 and stretch the tape beyond its original length. In some examples, thesubstrate 102 is an elastic structure, capable of returning to its original shape after some degree of deformation (e.g., stretching). The degree of elasticity may be defined in terms of an “elastic elongation percentage.” The elastic elongation percentage corresponds to the amount of stretching achieved at the substrate's “elastic limit”—the maximum stress before the onset of permanent deformation. Thus, the elastic elongation percentage relates to the maximum amount of elastic stretching for the substrate material. In some implementations, thesubstrate 102 was provided in the form of a kinesiology tape having an elastic elongation percentage of about 140% (which approximately matches the theoretical elastic elongation percentage of human skin). Thesubstrate 102 may be provided in the form of a woven or non-woven web. In some examples, the construction of thesubstrate 102 at least partially defines its material properties. For instance, the weave pattern of a woven substrate may impart a directionality to its ductility and elasticity. In some implementations, thesubstrate 102 was provided in the form of a kinesiology tape including a woven mesh of both elastic and non-elastic fibers, the weave pattern allowing the substrate to stretch elastically in only a single direction (e.g., a lengthwise direction and not a widthwise direction). - In this example, the
adhesive layer 104 is provided in the form of a thin contiguous film applied uniformly across thebottom substrate surface 105. However, other suitable configurations are also within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a suitable adhesive layer may include discrete deposits of one or more materials, such as a dot pattern and/or a wave or herringbone pattern. The material of theadhesive layer 104 includes a substance capable of securely bonding thegrip tape 100 to the surface of an external object. In some examples, the material is a non-destructive removable adhesive, which allows thegrip tape 100 to be removed from the surface by hand without inflicting damage to the surface. Thus, one piece of thegrip tape 100 can be quickly and easily removed, then replaced with another. In some examples, the material is a skin-compatible adhesive, allowing thegrip tape 100 to be bonded directly to a user's skin without causing excessive irritation or trauma when removed. In some implementations a zinc-oxide based adhesive material was used. Suitable material compositions for providing a skin-compatible adhesive are described in U.S. Pat. Pub. 2010/0298747, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. - Similar to the
adhesive layer 104, thegrip layer 106 is provided in the form of a thin contiguous film applied uniformly across thetop substrate surface 107.FIG. 2 illustrates an example where a thesubstrate 102 is positioned in a substantially flat condition (i.e., a substantially even condition, where the substrate is not wrinkled, bent, or folded; note, however, that he term “flat” is not intended to require any specific orientation of the substrate), and asubstance 10 suitable for forming thegrip layer 106 ofFIG. 1 (e.g., a platinum silicone rubber material) is applied to thetop surface 107 of the substrate 1022 by pouring the substance as a liquid directly onto the substrate from acontainer 12. In implementations where the substrate is an elastically stretchable structure, the substrate may be maintained in an unstretched state as theadhesive layer 104 andgrip layer 106 are applied thereon. In various examples, thesubstance 10 for forming thegrip layer 106 may be applied to thesubstrate 102 before or after theadhesive layer 104. Further, in some examples, thegrip layer 106 may be formed in multiple stages. For example, the first stage may include applying (e.g., pouring aliquid phase substance 10 from acontainer 12 as shown inFIG. 2 ) thegrip layer 106 to the substrate, and a second stage may include molding one or more three-dimensional surface features into the grip layer 106 (as discussed below) before it sets. - Referring back to
FIG. 1 , the material of thegrip layer 106 provides increased frictional resistance to relative motion between theouter surface 108 of the layer and the surface of another object. Thegrip layer 106 is free of any adhesive material, meaning that, under standard room ambient conditions, thegrip layer 106 will not tend to bond with the surface of another object. As shown, theouter surface 108 is relatively smooth, substantially free of surface irregularities. The material of thegrip layer 106 may also be relatively soft, having a Shore A hardness of about 2 or less. Thus, thegrip layer 106, while providing enhanced frictional resistance, may be more pleasing to the touch of a user than a similar structure having one or more textured or roughened portions. Thegrip layer 106 may be at least as flexible, elastic and/or ductile as thesubstrate 102. In some examples, the material of thegrip layer 106 has a 100% elastic modulus of about 40 psi or less. Further, in some examples, the grip layer has an elastic elongation percentage that is greater than or equal to that of the substrate—e.g., about 140% in some examples. The elastic properties of thegrip layer 106 may be especially significant when thesubstrate 102 is provided in the form of an elastic kinesiology tape. As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the elasticity of kinesiology tape creates a pulling force on the user's skin, which provides the desired therapeutic effect. Thus, providing a grip layer matching or exceeding the elasticity of the kinesiology tape permits the benefit of enhanced frictional resistance without the cost decreased therapeutic effectiveness. - In some examples, the
grip layer 106 includes a platinum silicone rubber material, which may, for example, include a Platinum-Siloxane Complex. In some implementations, a platinum silicone material sold by Smooth-On, Inc. under the trade name Dragon Skin® FX-Pro was used to form thegrip layer 106. The Dragon Skin product is known to be particularly well designed for use in creating precision molded special effects, such as prosthetic makeup appliances (e.g., masks and the like). Unexpectedly, however, the platinum silicone rubber material also provides the above-described combination of advantageous material properties for providing a suitable grip layer—including, for example, softness, flexibility, elasticity, ductility, and enhanced surface friction. Further, lower durometer platinum silicone rubbers tend to exhibit higher coefficients of friction. Thus, platinum silicone rubber is particularly well suited for applications where the grip tape is likely to contact the user's body, because softer compositions, which are more pleasing to the touch, also provide increased grip. - Platinum silicone is also known to be non-toxic and compatible with human skin, making it particularly suitable for the grip tape applications described herein. In some examples, the platinum silicone rubber exhibits a non-stick and non-wetting surface property. The non-stick and non-wetting properties allow the
grip layer 106 to deflect fluids (e.g., water, bodily fluids, etc.) away from thegrip tape 100. Thus, thegrip layer 106 may serve a protective function with respect to thesubstrate 102 andadhesive layer 104, as well as the surface of the underlying object. Further, a grip layer formed from platinum cure silicone rubber, absent colored additives, may be substantially translucent. Thus, a decorative grip tape may be produced by applying a decorative pattern to thesubstrate 102 before applying thegrip layer 106. In this configuration, the translucent nature of thegrip layer 106 permits visibility of thedecorative substrate 102. Platinum silicone rubbers, such as the Dragon Skin product, are particularly well suited for creating molded shapes (as noted above) due to, among other things, their high dimensional stability. As discussed in detail below with reference toFIGS. 5-7 , the moldable nature of platinum silicone can be leveraged in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure to form a grip layer (e.g.,grip layer 106′) having one or more molded three-dimensional surface features configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body. -
FIG. 3 illustrates an example application of thegrip tape 100. In this example, thegrip tape 100 is provided in the form of a wide strip deposited to therear surface 202 of a mobile communications device 200 (e.g., a cellular smart phone). Thegrip tape 100 is securely bonded to thesurface 202 by the non-destructive adhesive layer 104 (seeFIG. 1 ), leaving thegrip layer 106 exposed for contact with an external object. For example, a user operating thedevice 200 would likely hold the device in hand with his/her fingers wrapped around and straddling therear surface 202 carrying thegrip tape 100. In this example, thegrip tape 106 would contact the user's fingers and provide increased frictional resistance to slipping, as compared to the device'srear surface 202. As such, the user would be less likely to mishandle and drop thedevice 200. Further, because thegrip layer 106 is both smooth and soft, theouter surface 108 in contact with the user's skin is exceptionally pleasing to the touch. Of course numerous other examples of applying theremovable grip tape 100 to devices or structures likely to contact a user's skin are also contemplated by the present disclosure. For example, thegrip tape 100 could be applied to the surfaces of mice, keyboards, writing instruments, eating utensils, cups, bottles, tools, weaponry, gloves, shoes, hand-held controllers, etc. -
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate further example applications of thegrip tape 100. In these examples, thegrip tape 100 is applied directly to a user'sskin 300. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 104 (seeFIG. 1 ) features a suitable skin-compatible material composition (e.g., including zinc-oxide). The grip tape applications shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B provide an in situ enhanced grip surface that travels with the user. This may be particularly advantageous in situations when it is not feasible to apply thegrip tape 100 to any particular external object that will be handled by the user. Thus, the in situ grip tape configurations may provide a superior alternative to conventional rubber coated grip gloves, which can be bulky, expensive, and tend to wear down over time. In fact, thegrip tape 100 may be applied to the user's skin in a variety of ways to produce different types of grip/protective profiles particularly well suited for specific applications. Thus, the grip tape can be used as an effective replacement for various types of conventional rubber grip gloves—e.g., weight lifting or football gloves. For example, referring first toFIG. 4A , here thegrip tape 100 is positioned on thepalm 302 of theuser 300. The skin-compatible adhesive layer 104 (seeFIG. 1 ) is pressed against the skin of theuser 300 and releasably bonds thegrip tape 100 in place. Thegrip layer 106 remains exposed, facing outward from the user'spalm 302 for contacting external objects. In this example, thegrip tape 100 is also fortified by an optional piece of securingtape 304, which may, or may not, include a grip surface. Such applications may be particularly useful for providing grip and protection for the user's palm when performing physical activities, such as weight lifting, sports (e.g., gymnastics or baseball), driving, etc., where the user grasps a cylindrical external object (e.g., a bar or a bat) with an over, under, or neutral-hand grip. In the example application shown inFIG. 4B , thegrip tape 100 is applied in separate strips to each of the user'sfingers 306. Similar to the example ofFIG. 4A , the skin-compatible adhesive layer (seeFIG. 1 ) is pressed against the skin of theuser 300, releasably bonding thegrip tape 100 in place. Thegrip layer 106 remains exposed, facing outward from the user'sfingers 306 for contacting external objects. Such applications may be particularly useful in the context of football, where players tend to wrap their fingers in conventional athletic tape for injury prevention and/or improved grip. -
FIG. 5 illustrates agrip tape 100′ similar to thegrip tape 100 ofFIG. 1 , including asubstrate 102′ and anadhesive layer 104′ residing on abottom surface 105′ of thesubstrate 102′. In this example, however, thegrip layer 106′ residing on thetop surface 107′ of thesubstrate 102′ is a non-planar structure, featuring anouter surface 108′ defining a plurality of molded three-dimensional surface features 110′. The three-dimensional surface features 110′ may be configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body, meaning that they are appropriately shaped and sized to accommodate the natural (unstressed) body shape of the user. In this example, the three-dimensional surface features 110′ are provided in the form of transitioning convex 112′ and concave 114′ surface contours that form ergonomic finger grooves. Thus the width “w” and depth “d” of theconcave contours 114 and the height “h” of theconvex contours 112′ are sufficient to accommodate the natural shape of a user's fingers. Notably, like thegrip tape 100′, theouter surface 108′, including the surface features 110′, is relatively smooth, substantially free of surface irregularities. The smoothness of the grip layer'souter surface 108′ may be pleasing to the touch. The smooth, yet contouredouter surface 108′ may be achieved by a molding process. As noted above, platinum silicone rubbers, which unexpectedly provide an advantageous combination of material properties for providing a suitable grip layer, are also particularly well suited for accurate creating molded shapes due to, among other things, their high dimensional stability. These properties converge advantageously in the present embodiment to provide smooth, molded ergonomic features on a soft, flexible, and highly frictional grip tape. -
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an example application of thegrip tape 100′. In these examples, thegrip tape 100′ is applied to thehandle FIG. 5 ) is pressed against the surface of thehandle grip tape 100 thereon, while thegrip layer 106′ is exposed for contact with the user's hand. The enhanced frictional quality of thegrip layer 106′ combined with the molded ergonomic finger grooves allows the user to grasp thehandle 402 and manipulate thetool 400 with a secure grip. - The use of terminology such as “top” and “bottom” throughout the specification and claims is for describing the relative positions of various components of the system and other elements described herein. The use of such terminology does not imply a particular position or orientation of the system or any other components relative to the direction of the Earth gravitational force, or the Earth ground surface, or other particular position or orientation that the assembly or other elements may be placed in during operation, manufacturing, and/or transportation.
- A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions. As one example, the mobile communication device described with reference to
FIG. 3 could be any portable object manipulated by the user and/or a stationary surface or object. As another example, the ergonomic finger grooves described with reference to the embodiment ofFIGS. 5-7 could be modified or replaced with other ergonomic features (e.g., ergonomic features for accommodating the palm, heel, toes, etc. of the user). Further, the hand-held tool or the baseball bat described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7 could be any object that a user may manipulate by a handle, including, for example, a golf club.
Claims (20)
1. A grip tape, comprising:
a flexible, elastic substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface;
an adhesive layer applied to the bottom surface of the substrate; and
a grip layer applied to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer comprising a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the substrate, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
2. The grip tape of claim 1 , wherein the grip layer comprises a platinum silicone rubber material.
3. The grip tape of claim 2 , wherein the platinum silicone rubber material comprises a Platinum-Siloxane Complex.
4. The grip tape of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a skin-friendly adhesive material.
5. The grip tape of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a non-destructive removable adhesive material.
6. The grip tape of claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a kinesiology tape that is able to stretch in a single direction.
7. The grip tape of claim 6 , wherein the flexible substrate comprises a woven structure including a plurality of elastic fibers and a plurality of non-elastic fibers.
8. The grip tape of claim 1 , wherein the grip layer defines a smooth outer surface, substantially free of surface irregularities.
9. The grip tape of claim 1 , wherein the grip layer comprises a molded three-dimensional surface feature configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body.
10. The grip tape of claim 9 , wherein the molded three-dimensional surface feature defines one or more finger grooves having a width and depth sufficient to accommodate a natural shape of a user's fingers.
11. The grip tape of claim 1 , wherein the grip layer has a Shore A hardness of at most about 2 and a 100% elastic modulus of at most about 40 psi.
12. The grip tape of claim 1 , wherein the flexible substrate, adhesive layer, and grip layer define a combined thickness of the grip tape, the thickness being about 1.0 mm or less.
13. A grip tape, comprising:
a flexible, elastic kinesiology tape having a top surface and a bottom surface, the tape configured to stretch only in a single direction and comprising a woven pattern of elastic and non-elastic fibers defining the single direction of stretch;
an adhesive layer comprising a skin-friendly adhesive material applied to the bottom surface of the tape; and
a grip layer applied to the top surface of the tape, the grip layer comprising a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the tape in the single direction of stretch, and the top surface being substantially free of any adhesive material.
14. The grip tape of claim 13 , wherein the grip layer defines a smooth outer surface, substantially free of surface irregularities.
15. The grip tape of claim 13 , wherein the grip layer comprises a molded three-dimensional surface feature configured to ergonomically engage with a portion of a user's body, and wherein the molded three-dimensional surface feature defines one or more finger grooves having a width and depth sufficient to accommodate a natural shape of a user's fingers.
16. The grip tape of claim 13 , wherein the grip layer has a Shore A hardness of at most about 2 and a 100% elastic modulus of at most about 40 psi.
17. The grip tape of claim 13 , wherein the grip layer comprises a platinum silicone rubber material.
18. The grip tape of claim 17 , wherein the platinum silicone rubber material comprises a Platinum-Siloxane Complex.
19. The grip tape of claim 13 , wherein the kinesiology tape, adhesive layer, and grip layer define a combined thickness of the grip tape, the thickness being about 1.0 mm or less.
20. A method of fabricating a grip tape, the method comprising:
positioning a flexible substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface in a substantially flat condition;
applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, an adhesive layer only to the bottom surface of the substrate, such that the top surface of the substrate remains substantially free of any adhesive material; and
applying, while the substrate is in the substantially flat condition, a grip layer to the top surface of the substrate, the grip layer comprising a non-slip material having an elastic limit that is at least as great as an elastic limit of the substrate.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US15/430,047 US20170246520A1 (en) | 2016-02-10 | 2017-02-10 | Grip tape |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
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US201662293531P | 2016-02-10 | 2016-02-10 | |
US15/430,047 US20170246520A1 (en) | 2016-02-10 | 2017-02-10 | Grip tape |
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US20170246520A1 true US20170246520A1 (en) | 2017-08-31 |
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ID=59678852
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US15/430,047 Abandoned US20170246520A1 (en) | 2016-02-10 | 2017-02-10 | Grip tape |
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US (1) | US20170246520A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150247066A1 (en) * | 2012-09-18 | 2015-09-03 | John C. Ramirez | Sports patches and sports tapes configured to be adhered to the skin of a user |
US20180271192A1 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2018-09-27 | Pocket Stopper, LLC | Anti-slip pocket liners |
US10245497B2 (en) * | 2016-04-19 | 2019-04-02 | WOD Solutions Inc | Apparatus for hand protection and method thereof |
-
2017
- 2017-02-10 US US15/430,047 patent/US20170246520A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20150247066A1 (en) * | 2012-09-18 | 2015-09-03 | John C. Ramirez | Sports patches and sports tapes configured to be adhered to the skin of a user |
US10245497B2 (en) * | 2016-04-19 | 2019-04-02 | WOD Solutions Inc | Apparatus for hand protection and method thereof |
US10953308B1 (en) * | 2016-04-19 | 2021-03-23 | WOD Solutions Inc. | Apparatus for hand protection and method thereof |
US20180271192A1 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2018-09-27 | Pocket Stopper, LLC | Anti-slip pocket liners |
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