WO1994000030A1

WO1994000030A1 - Grip enhancer

Info

Publication number: WO1994000030A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/005898
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dorothy S. Garceau-Verbeck
Original assignee: The Securer Plus Corporation
Priority date: 1992-06-22
Filing date: 1993-06-18
Publication date: 1994-01-06
Also published as: AU4642793A

Abstract

A grip enhancer (1) adapted to be worn by a person to enhance the grip that may be applied to a golf club or other article has a panel (2) of such size and configuration as to overlie the palm of the person's hand, at least one restraining loop (6) joined to the panel at its finger end in a position to accommodate at least one finger of a person's hand, an anchor strap (3) joined to the panel at its opposite end and adapted to encircle the person's wrist, and retaining bands (7, 8) extending from the finger end of the panel to the anchor strap (3) and adapted to overlie the back of a person's hand in X-like form so as to retain the enhancer in proper position on the person's hand.

Description

GRIP ENHANCER This invention relates to a grip enhancer adapted for removable application to a person's hand and wrist to enhance the grip that such person may apply to an article such as a golf club.

It is common practice for a golfer to wear a glove on either or both hands to enhance the grip that may be applied to a golf club. One currently available form of golf glove completely encloses the hand, including the thumb and four fingers, whereas another form of glove accommodates the palm and back of the hand and the first joint of the thumb and four fingers. In either case, the palm and back of the hand are poorly ventilated, if at all, with the result that the material from which the glove is made becomes saturated with perspiration, especially on hot, humid days.

A grip enhancer constructed according to the invention provides adequate coverage of the palm and fingers of a person's hand to ensure enhancement of the grip, but is of such construction as to provide adequate ventilation for a person's hand, thereby minimizing the moistening and consequent loss of gripping security to which the device is subjected.

A grip enhancer constructed according to one embodiment of the invention has a panel formed of suitable material and of such size as to overlie the palm and heel of a person's hand. That end of the panel adjacent the heel of the palm has secured thereto an anchor strap forming a loop which may encircle the user's wrist. The opposite end of the panel has one or more restraining loops adapted to accommodate one or more fingers of the person's hand and thereby restrain bunching of the panel. Elastic retaining bands extend from the anchor strap toward that end of the panel at which the restrain¬ ing loop or loops are positioned and overlie the back of the person's hand in X-form, thereby retaining the grip enhancer in proper position on the hand of the user and, at the same time, resisting undesirable bending or flexing of the wrist.

A second embodiment of the invention corresponds to the first-described embodiment, but differs from the latter in that it has tubular extensions for accommodating at least portions of the thumb and forefinger of the user. These extensions not only serve to enhance further the grip that may be applied to a golf club, but also minimize chafing of the person's thumb and forefinger by the golf club.

In either of the embodiments described herein the panel which overlies the palm may be of multiple thicknesses of material and, if desired, a pad may be adhered to the panel. A grip enhancer constructed in accordance with the presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of the back of a person's hand to which an enhancer constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is applied, the hand being shown in phantom; Figure 2 is a plan view of the palm of the hand to which the grip enhancer is applied;

Figure 3 is a view of the grip enhancer removed from a person's hand and in the condition it occupies prior to attachment to a person's hand; and Figure 4 is a palm plan view of a modified embodiment.

A grip enhancer constructed in accordance with the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 is designated generally by the reference character 1 and comprises a panel 2 formed of suitable material such as gabardine or other fabric, leather, or a combination of fabric and leather-like material. The panel is of such width as to span the width of an adult person's hand and of such length as to extend from the juncture of the palm and the person's fingers beyond the heel of the hand to the wrist. The panel, therefore, substantially covers the palm of a person's hand.

To that end of the panel adjacent the wrist is stitched or otherwise suitably secured an anchor strap 3 of such length as to encircle the user's wrist. The strap may be formed as a closed loop of elastic material, but as illustrated in Figures 1-3 it comprises an elongate strap the opposite ends of which are separable and provided with cooperable fastening means 4 and 5 so as releasably to apply the strap in wrist encircling condition. Preferably, the fastening means 4, 5 are adjustable to enable the strap to accommodate wrists of different size. A suitable form of fastener comprises the cooperating hooks and loops of a Velcro fastener.

Stitched or otherwise suitably secured to the opposite end of the panel 2 is at least one loop 6. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 3, there is one loop 6 of such size as to embrace or accommodate two fingers. It is possible, however, to provide a loop for each finger or two loops for two different fingers, and the like. In any case, each loop preferably is open at both ends thereof and formed of elastic material to facilitate the application and removal of the grip enhancer to the person's hand.

To one side of the panel 2 adjacent the finger end thereof is stitched or otherwise suitably secured one end of a retaining band 7 that is adapted to overlie the back of a person's hand. The band spans the width of the panel and extends toward and is stitched or otherwise suitably secured at its opposite end to the anchor strap 3. A similar retaining band 8 is stitched or otherwise secured at one end to the opposite side of the panel adjacent the finger end thereof and also extends toward and is secured at its opposite end to the anchor strap 3. As is best shown in Figure 1, the retaining bands 7 and 8 in use not only overlie the back of the user's hand, but also overlie one another in X-like form. The bands 7 and 8 preferably are formed of elastic material, thereby resisting undesirable bending or flexing of the wrist, but permitting such movements of the wrist when desired.

To apply the grip enhancer to the hand of a person, the anchor strap is unfastened, the ring and middle fingers are thrust through the loop 6, and the anchor strap applied to the wrist so that the panel 2 confronts the person's palm and the retaining bands 7 and 8 cross one another and overlie the back of the hand. The anchor strap 3 then may be secured in encircling relation about the wrist.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 the palm and heel of the person's hand are covered. The material from which the grip enhancer is made thus makes it possible for the person to grip a golf club securely without the application of substantial force, and the grip will be enhanced by the type of material from which the panel is made. In addition, the panel will protect the person's skin against chafing by contact with the golf club and the consequent raising of blisters. The embodiment disclosed in Figure 4 corresponds to that disclosed in Figures 1-3 with the exception that the embodiment shown in Figure 4 includes a tubular sleeve or extension 9 that is adapted to accommodate the person's thumb and an adjacent tubular sleeve or extension 10 that is adapted to accommodate the person's forefinger. These extensions are open at least at one end thereof to enable the thumb and four finger to be accommodated in the respective extensions, and the extension may be of such length as wholly to accommodate the thumb and fore¬ finger. Perferably, however, the extensions are open at both ends to facilitate ventilation of the extensions. The application of the grip enhancer embodiment shown in Figure 4 to the person's hand corresponds to that described in connection with the earlier embodiment, with the exception that the thumb and forefinger are thrust into the extensions 9 and 10 and the remaining fingers are thrust into the respective loops 11-13.

The embodiment of Figure 4 also includes three elastic restraining loops 11, 12, and 13, in lieu of the single loop 6. Each of the loops 11-13 is open at both ends so as to accommodate and encircle a different finger. Preferably, the length of each of these loops is such as to extend to the first joint of the associated finger.

The panel 2 may be formed of one layer of material or a plurality of overlying material. If desired, a pad of cushioning material may be interposed between adjacent layers. Further, the layer of the panel that is adapted to engage an article may be provided with a nubby surface to enhance the gripping characteristics of the panel.

Although the invention has been described primarily with reference to its use for enhancing the grip of a golfer, the grip enhancer may be used by persons engaging in other activities such as rowing, paddling, raking, sweeping, batting, or indeed in any activity wherein it is desirable to enhance the grip a person may exert on an object. The disclosed embodiments are representative of presently preferred forms of the invention, but are intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A grip enhancer for removable application to a person's hand and wrist comprising a panel of such width and length as to extend from one side of the person's palm to the other and from adjacent the person's wrist to the juncture of the person's palm and fingers; a flexible anchor loop at one end of said panel for encircling the person's wrist; at least one elastic restraining loop secured to said panel at that end thereof opposite said anchor strap for the snug accommodation of at least one of the person's fingers; and at least one elastic retaining band joined at its opposite ends at opposite sides of said panel to overlie the back of the person's hand, said restraining loop, said anchor loop, and said retaining band being cooperable with said panel to maintain said panel snugly in overlying relation with the palm and heel of the person's hand.

2. The grip enhancer according to claim 1 wherein said restraining loop is of such size as to accommodate more than one finger of a person's hand.

3. The grip enhancer according to claim 1 wherein said anchor loop is elastic.

4. The grip enhancer accordng to claim 1 wherein said anchor loop comprises a strap having separable fastening means at opposite ends of said strap for facilitating the application to and removal of said anchor loop to and from the person's wrist.

5. The grip enhancer according to claim 4 wherein said fastening means is adjustable.

6. The grip enhancer according to claim 1 including a second, elastic retaining band joined at its opposite ends at opposite sides of said panel and overlying the first-mentioned retaining band in X-like form when said grip enhancer is fitted to the person's hand.

7. The grip enhancer according to claim 6 wherein the second and first mentioned elastic bands extend from adjacent said one end of said panel to said anchor loop.

8. The grip enhancer according to claim 1 wherein said panel is composed of a plurality of overlying layers of pliable material.

9. The grip enhancer according to claim 1 wherein said panel comprises a pair o overlying layers of pliable material and a pad of material between said layers.

overlie and substantially cover the palm of a person's hand; at least one elastic restraining loop joined to said panel adjacent one end thereof in a position to accommodate at least one finger of the person's hand; an anchor strap joined to said panel at is opposite end and being of such length as to encircle the person's wrist; a pair of elastic retaining bands secured at their opposite ends respectively to said anchor strap and opposite sides of said panel in X-like form for overlying the back of the person's hand when the person's hand is interposed between said panel and said pair of bands; and separable fastening means for releasably securing said strap in encircling relation about the person's wrist.