Flexible implement grip with randomly oriented cord fibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569147-B2
Application number	US-201816150324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 3, 2018
Priority date	Oct 23, 2017
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A flexible grip for implements to be manually swung with speed and force, particularly golf clubs is disclosed. The grip is formed of elastomeric material die cut into patterns from uncured sheet stock. Discrete non-woven fibers of material having desired moisture absorbency are dispensed in random orientation onto the uncured sheet stock and embedded by rolling into the sheet stock. The pattern sheet stock, with embedded fibers is wrapped onto a mandrel which is inserted into a pre-mold, compressed thereon, removed and transferred to a compression mold, and cured. The mandrel is removed from the mold and the cured grip removed from the mandrel and installed onto the implement grip.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of making a flexible grip for a golf club shaft comprising:
(a) forming a layer of uncured elastomer to a desired configuration;
(b) applying a coating of adhesive to a surface of the layer of uncured elastomer;
(c) applying discrete randomly oriented fibers having a thickness in the range 0.4 to 1.3 mm and length in the range 12 to 38 mm to the adhesive coating in a predetermined surface density;
(d) embedding the fibers into the surface of the uncured elastomer;
(e) disposing the layer into a mold and curing the layer into a generally tubular grip configuration with the fibers adjacent the outer surface; and
(f) removing the cured grip from the mold and applying the grip to the handle golf club shaft.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the embedding includes forcing the fibers into the surface of the uncured elastomer with a roller.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying discrete randomly oriented fibers includes one of (i) spraying, (ii) screening, and (iii) gravity dispersing.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein embedding includes embedding the fibers to a depth in the range of 0 to 2 millimeters from the surface of the uncured layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying discrete randomly oriented fibers includes applying such fibers of material of one of (i) cotton, (ii) polyester, (iii) polyamide, and (iv) natural material.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein disposing in a mold includes wrapping the layer of uncured elastomer onto a mandrel; and, removing the cured grip includes removing from the mandrel.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying discrete randomly oriented fibers includes applying fibers formed of cotton material.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying discrete randomly oriented fibers includes gravity dispensing.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Arrington Andy Allan
• Cavill Gregory William

Classifications

• A63B60/08

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• A63B2102/32

  Golf · CPC title

• A63B53/14 Primary

  Handles · CPC title

• A63B2102/02

  Tennis · CPC title

• A63B49/08

  with special construction of the handle · CPC title