Air grip

Abstract

Applicant's invention comprises an adjustable grip on a sport's racket, paddle, bat, mallet or club, which is made adjustable by having the grip expandable by the introduction of air under the grip over the handle, which is expandable to any size desired.

Description

[0001] This invention is described in my provisional patent application No. 60/280,028, filed Mar. 30, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A number of sports utilize implements that have handles. Golf clubs, tennis rackets, paddle ball rackets, baseball bats, polo mallets, and table tennis paddles are just a few. Having the proper handle size for a player's racket or club is essential for maximum performance. Hands are not created equal and come in all sizes. Every person's hand size if different and rackets and clubs are manufactured in standard sizes. For instance, tennis rackets come in sizes such as 31/2 inches, 35/8 inches, 33/4 inches, etc. In some sports, the sizes are only small, medium or large. None of these may be the optimum size for a particular player, and do not give an exact fit for everyone's comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Applicant's invention comprises an adjustable grip on a racket or club, which is made adjustable by having the grip expandable by the introduction of air under the grip, which is expandable to any size desired. Air pump adjustability already exists in athletic shoes, such as the "Reebok Pump", where the wearer puts on the shoes and pumps the inner cushioning until it fits snugly to his or her foot. Ski boots are also made which can be pumped up with air to provide a snug comfortable fit. This has never before been applied to rackets, clubs, mallets, etc.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable grip for any sport's racket, club, mallet, etc.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a simple method of sizing the grip on any sport's implement having a handle, by the introduction of air to expand the circumference of the grip to the exact size desired by the player.

[0007] These, as well as other objects of the invention, will become obvious from the following description in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of a golf club handle of this invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of the club shown in FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of two golf clubs;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a front view of a tennis racket;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a front view of a paddle ball racket;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a front view of a racketball racket;

[0014] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a baseball bat; and

[0015] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a polo mallet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the handle portion 10 of a golf club. Handle 10 comprises an inner core, such as a central shaft 12, a top 14, an outer handle 16, attached to shaft 12, and grip 18. Grip 18 is wrapped around handle 10. A baseball bat or a polo mallet may not have a central shaft but may have only a solid handle. As shown, grip 18 is wrapped in a spiral, from the top 14 of handle 10 down handle 10 to the desired distance, connected at the creases or seams, such as 26 & 28. Grip 18 can also be a separate layer of material placed over handle 10 and attached to handle 10 at only the top and bottom.

[0017] In the top 14 of handle 10 is an air valve 20 for the introduction of air, which then passes through air duct 22 and out air hole 24. Air hole 24 is located in handle 10 but inside of grip 18. Grip 18 is fastened to handle 10 in an air-tight manner at seams 26, 28, etc. as grip 18 is fastened in a spiral around handle 10. The central portion 30 of grip 18, between the seams 26, 28, is wrapped around handle 10 so that air entering between handle 10 and grip 18 can fill the space and pass down the spiral wrapping of grip 18 (as shown by the arrows) expand the grip but not escape.

[0018] Air is introduced by placing an air needle into air valve 20 and the use of a hand pump, air pressure pump, or by the use of a finger pump, such as the one used on "Reebok Pump" basketball shoes. The finger pump could be permanently attached to the top 14 of handle 10, if desired.

[0019] As air is introduced, the space between handle 10 and grip 18 expands and may be stopped at any point desired by the player, so that the handle size may be adjusted to whatever circumference is desired. An additional benefit of the air grip of this invention is that it provides a cushioned surface, rather than the normal hard surface of standard handles, which is easier on the hands and arms, results in less vibration, and may well help to reduce hand and arm injuries.

[0020] Handle 10 is usually made of a durable rubber material and grip 18 can be made of leather, vinyl, a layer of thin rubber material or any other air-tight, expandable grip material that can be wrapped around handle 10. The grip may be comprised of a long narrow strip of such material, which is spirally wrapped around the handle and sealed to the handle only at the outer edges or seams of the strip, leaving space under the grip for introduction of air. The grip may also be a thin, elongated, circular, solid piece of rubber, leather, vinyl or other material, which is placed over the handle and sealed at the top and bottom only, leaving room under the grip for the introduction of air through air duct 22.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows two complete golf clubs, an iron 30 and a driver 32. Iron 30 has air grip 34 and driver 32 has air grip 36.

[0022] FIG. 4 shows tennis racket 38 with air grip 40.

[0023] FIG. 5 shows paddle ball racket 42 with air grip 44.

[0024] FIG. 6 shows racketball racket 46 with air grip 48.

[0025] FIG. 7 shows baseball bat 50 with air grip 52.

[0026] FIG. 8 shows polo mallet 54 with air grip 56.

[0027] If the player finds that too much air has been introduced into the air grip, he or she can simply let air out and the circumference of the grip will deflate to the comfort of the player's grasp.

Claims

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A sport's implement having a handle, an adjustable air-tight grip attached to the handle, wrapped around the handle, an air valve in the handle, an air duct inside the handle between the air valve and the grip, for inflating the grip to the size desired.

2. The sport's implement of claim 1 in which the grip is spirally wrapped around the handle.

3. The sport's implement of claim 1 in which the grip is an elongated solid piece of material, placed over the handle and sealed to the handle at the top and bottom of the grip.

4. A sport's golf club, racket, bat or mallet having a handle, an adjustable air-tight grip attached to the handle, leaving space between the handle and the grip, an air valve in the handle, an air duct inside the handle between the air valve and the grip, for inflating the grip to the size desired.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the grip is spirally wrapped around the handle.

6. The device sport's implement of claim 4 in which the grip is an elongated solid piece of material, placed over the handle and sealed to the handle at the top and bottom of the grip.

7. The device of claim 4 in which the grip is made of rubber, leather or vinyl.

8. The device of claim 4 further comprising a pump for introducing air into the air valve, said pump being attached to the handle.

9. A sport's golf club, racket, bat or mallet having a handle, an adjustable air-tight grip attached over the handle, but leaving space between the handle and the grip, an air valve in the handle, an air duct inside the handle between the air valve and the grip, for inflating the grip to the size desired, the grip attached to the handle in a manner such that no air escapes from the handle.

10. The device of claim 9 in which the grip is spirally wrapped around the handle.

11. The device sport's implement of claim 9 in which the grip is an elongated solid piece of material, placed over the handle and sealed to the handle at the top and bottom of the grip.

12. The device of claim 9 in which the grip is made of rubber, leather or vinyl.

13. The device of claim 9 further comprising a pump for introducing air into the air valves said pump being attached to the handle.

14. The device of claim 10 in which the grip is attached to the handle only at the outer edges of the spiral strip.