U.S. patent number 3,614,100 [Application Number 04/786,794] was granted by the patent office on 1971-10-19 for perspiration absorbant sleeve for a racquet handle.
Invention is credited to Harvey D. Spitz.
United States Patent |
3,614,100 |
Spitz |
October 19, 1971 |
PERSPIRATION ABSORBANT SLEEVE FOR A RACQUET HANDLE
Abstract
A removable sleeve for a racquet handle comprises a form
fitting, elastic, perspiration absorbent body. The body may be
comprised of an inner tube surrounded by an outer tube. The inner
tube is elastic so that it may be stretched over the racquet
handle. The outer tube is of terrycloth and has a longitudinal
split with unconnected edges so that it can expand when the tubes
are placed on the racquet handle.
Inventors: |
Spitz; Harvey D. (N. Brunswick,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
25139611 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/786,794 |
Filed: |
November 4, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/549; 473/298;
74/551.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
49/08 (20130101); A63B 60/14 (20151001); A63B
60/18 (20151001); A63B 60/08 (20151001); Y10T
74/20828 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
49/02 (20060101); A63B 49/08 (20060101); A63b
049/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/67,72,73,73 (9)/
;273/75,76,81,54B ;145/61.5-61.9 ;74/551.8,551.9,558.5,558 ;43/23
;2/170,181 ;128/165 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,892 |
|
1892 |
|
GB |
|
730,310 |
|
May 1932 |
|
FR |
|
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. The combination of a racquet of the type used for tennis and the
like, said racquet including a handle portion, said handle portion
having a cross section of a given geometrical configuration, said
racquet having a paddle portion permanently secured to said handle
portion at one end thereof and of substantially larger dimensions
than said handle portion, and a covering sleeve for said handle
portion; the improvement wherein said sleeve comprises:
a. a first longitudinal tubular member fabricated from a
stretchable elastic material and having a circular cross section,
said first member having a first unstretched state wherein said
cross section is smaller than said given cross section of said
handle, said first member capable of being stretched to a second
state so that said cross section thereof is increased to permit
said first tubular member to be placed upon said handle at the end
thereof furthest removed from said paddle portion and to surround a
portion of said handle, whereby due to the nature of said elastic
material said first member will conform to said given geometrical
cross section of said handle while further capable of being
selectively replaced and removed from said handle, b. a second
longitudinal tubular member forming a cover member and fabricated
from a single piece of perspiration absorbent terrycloth, said
cover member being longitudinally split with the adjacent edges
formed by said split unconnected to one another, said cover member
being removably coupled to said first member to secure said cover
member about said first member so that said cover member will
elastically expand with said first tubular member when placed on
said handle portion and to permit said cover member to be easily
removed therefrom.
2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said terrycloth is
of the type which may be repeatedly laundered.
3. The combination according to claim 1 further including an
adhesive coupling said cover member to said surface of said first
longitudinal member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a removable, form fitting, perspiration
absorbant sleeve for handles and more particularly for racquet
handles.
Heretofore, sleeves have been provided for handles such as baseball
bat handles and golf handles which are nonremovable, nonabsorbant
and nonwashable. These prior art sleeves are generally concerned
with providing a slipproof surface for the handle rather than a
perspiration absorbant surface.
When playing tennis, badminton, squash, paddle ball, or the like,
where the player holds his racquet essentially continuously, there
is a great tendency for the racquet hand to perspire. Perspiration
on the racquet hand causes the player to adjust and tighten his
grip in a manner that may adversly affect his play. In this
respect, tennis differs from baseball where, in the latter sport,
an extremely tight grip is desired. In addition, in tennis, there
is often the need to rotate the hand on the racquet handle to take
a preferred grip for a backhand return as compared to a forehand
return of a tennis ball, and the presence of perspiration often
results in difficulty of movement of the hand on the racquet to
obtain the proper forehand or backhand grip.
It is an object of this invention to provide a perspiration
absorbant, removable, form fitting sleeve for racquet handles.
It is a further object to provide a perspiration absorbant,
removable form fitting sleeve for a racquet handle which is
washable so as to prevent the buildup of bacteria and odor on the
sleeve or racquet handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A sleeve for a racquet handle comprises a perspiration absorbant
material which is adapted to form fit over said racquet handle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a tennis racket having a
perspiration absorbant sleeve on the handle thereof.
FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a novel perspiration
absorbant sleeve.
FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment
to that shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the
novel sleeve.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a tennis racket 11 comprising a
frame 12 having a handle portion 13 and a removable, form fitting,
perspiration absorbant sleeve 14 thereon. A side cross-sectional
view of the sleeve 14 is shown in FIG. 2. The sleeve 14 comprises
an elastic liner 21 having a perspiration absorbant outer member 22
attached thereto. The sleeve 14 as shown has an open ended
cylindrical body. However, it can be made with one end closed. The
liner 21 may be composed of any suitable elastic material or fiber
such as rubber, or elastic fibers commonly employed in ladies
foundation garments and in elastic bandages. The outer member is
comprised of a perspiration absorbant material, for example
terrycloth, absorbant paper or sponge. The outer member 22 can be
attached to the liner by stitching or weaving it onto the liner or
by laminating it to the liner with a glue or cement.
The perspiration absorbant member 22 as shown in FIG. 3, does not
completely circumferentially cover the liner 21 thereby creating
gap 23. In this way, the sleeve 14 which has a cylindrical
cross-sectional area in its unstretched state of less than that of
the handle 13 upon which it is to fit, may be readily stretched so
as to easily slip over the handle 13 and fit securely thereon in a
form fitting manner.
When a perspiration absorbant material 42 completely surrounds the
liner 21 so as to form an endless, gap free, configuration as shown
in FIG. 4, there is a tendency to constrain or limit the
stretchability of the sleeve 14. In order to obviate this problem
the perspiration absorbant material 42 is applied to the liner 21
in the form of a somewhat loose flock. Alternatively, it may be
loosely interwoven with the liner 21, or perspiration absorbant
material may itself be elastic in nature.
Another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, comprises a perspiration
absorbant material 22 in a cylindrical configuration and having a
plurality of elastic ribs 51 laminated in spared relationship
around the inner surface of the material 22.
Still another embodiment (not shown) is a sleeve comprised of a
single material which is both perspiration absorbant and elastic,
for example a sponge or spongelike material.
The resiliancy of the sleeve should be such that the sleeve will
grip the handle and will not readily turn or twist on the handle
when playing.
In its preferred embodiment the novel sleeve is capable of being
washed by ordinary everyday laundering techniques so as to prevent
the buildup of odor and bacteria thereon. A sleeve comprising a
"terrycloth" perspiration absorbant member and an elastic liner of
a material such as those commonly used in ladies foundation
garments or elastic bandages is an example of a washable
sleeve.
Alternatively the sleeve may comprise an elastic liner and a
disposable perspiration absorbant material such as paper toweling
which is secured to the liner by any adhesive or securing means for
example by means of an adhesive tape. In this embodiment the
perspiration absorbant material is placed on the liner after the
liner is positioned on the racquet handle.
The novel sleeves are not only functional but may also be
decorative in that the absorbant material can be made available in
various colors and/or designs.
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