Adjustable Grip For An Elongated Handle Of A Game Device

Abstract

A grip for the elongated handle of a game device, such as a racket or golf club, which may be interchanged with other grips to provide different hand engaging diameters, all of the grips telescopingly fitting the shank of the handle on which it is assembled, the grip being positioned on the shank in various positions lengthwise of the shank to vary the effective length of the handle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a game device such as a tennis racket or a golf club, the grip with which the hand engages is of importance. Any player selecting such a racket or golf club puts his hand about the grip portion to get the feel of the game device, and the size of this grip has a great deal to do with the sale of the game device. Accordingly, there have been attempts made to supply to the trade game devices with different size grips. This is expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The game device here disclosed whether it be a tennis racket or a golf club has a handle with a removable or changeable grip, the grip being easily detached from the shank and secured thereto. When such a game device is supplied to the retail outlet where the customer handles the game device, a number of grips are supplied which may be interchanged, each grip being of a different outside diameter so that selection may be made as to the size of the hand engaging portion, the grips being generally the same weight so that the balance of the game device remains the same. At the same time the removable grip is positioned on the shank of the handle so that the effective length of the handle may be varied. Usually the parts are telescoped together over a non-circular portion of the shank so that twisting of the grip upon the shank is prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tennis racket incorporating the invention herein disclosed;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the end portion of the handle shank and the grip assembled thereon;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the grip assembled in a different and more extended position on the handle from that shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4--4 of FIG. 2 showing a grip of one size assembled on the handle shank;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a grip of a different and larger size assembled on the handle shank;

FIG. 6 shows the handle shank of a racket of a different construction with the grip assembled thereon;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a section on line 8--8 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a modified form of handle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings 10 designates generally a racket of the type used in tennis having a frame 11 with strings 12 and a handle 14 extending from the frame comprising a shank portion 15 and a grip portion 16. The handle 15 in FIG. 1 is illustrated as wood and although it may be laminated it is here shown as solid. The shank is of uniform breadth and thickness substantially throughout its length and is here shown as generally rectangular in cross section as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 with its outer end covered by the grip portion 16. The grip portion 16 is a unit in itself of lightweight material such as aluminum or plastic comprising a shell 20 with opposite sides 21 and 22 joined by bevel corners 23 adjacent one side 21 and bevel corners 24 adjacent the opposite side. Strengthening ribs or projections such as 25 extend inwardly from each of the sides 21 and 22 and provide points of contact with the solid handle shank 15 as seen more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5 to space and locate the sides relative to the shank. The shell 20' as seen in FIG. 5 is of a size greater in lateral dimension than that shown in FIG. 4 but is otherwise constructed the same. Each of these shells 20 or 20' have hand engaging portions 26 and 26' covering the shell and comprising a resilient material which may be rubber or synthetic rubber or leather or imitation leather which will provide a surface adaptable to the feel and comfort of the hand. This shell is enlarged somewhat at its closed lower end as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 at 28 and closed at its bottom as at 29. An opening 30 may be provided within this bottom wall to permit of air being forced outwardly as the grip is positioned on the handle shank.

Two of the opposite sides such as the sides 21 are extended upwardly providing ears 31, each with an opening 32 provided therein while the shank 15 of the handle is provided with a plurality of openings 33, 34 and 35 so that a screw 36 as seen in FIG. 1 may be positioned in any one of these openings in the handle to position the grip longitudinally along the handle in the desired position, thus changing the effective length of the handle as the grip is positioned thereon. By this arrangement a grip of the desired diameter may be chosen to assemble with the shank 15, the grip being of a size to fit the hand of the user who is the customer purchasing the game device, thus enabling the hand encircling size and also the length of the handle to be varied to suit the particular customer.

In the showing in FIGS. 6 and 7 a metal shank for the handle is provided comprising tubes 40 located in spaced arrangement with blocks 41 assembled between them at spaced intervals holding them apart and in their desired relationship. Wooden blocks 42 (FIG. 7) are positioned in dovetail shape grooves in the metal tubes so that the ribs 25 of the grip shell 20 will engage the wood fillings of these tubes while the ribs 43 will engage the opposite sides of the tubes for locating the grip in position and the stiffening ribs 43' will engage the blocks 41. In this case the plurality of openings such as designated 33, 34 and 35 in FIGS. 2 and 3 are now designated as 44, 45 and 46 and will provide for the adjustable lengthwise location of the grip in position along the elongated handle or shank 40.

In the showing in FIG. 9 the rectangular shank portion 50 of the handle is provided with a rubber sleeve 51 of cushioning material such as rubber having a shoulder 52.

A grip 55 comprises a seamless aluminum tube 56 of a cross section to frictionally fit on all sides over the rubber sleeve 51 and to engage the shoulder 52. On the outer surface of this aluminum tube there may be provided wooden pallets 57 of the length of the aluminum tube to provide the desired size of the grip desired, while over these wooden pallets there is a grip portion 58 such as of rubber or leather or synthetics of these materials to provide a comfortable grip for the hand with some resiliency. This covering is enlarged as at 59 and provided with a bottom wall 60 having an opening 61. This grip may be made in different diameters and may be slid onto the shank portion 50 different distances to provide the length of handle desired.

Claims

I claim:

1. A game device having an elongated handle with a shank portion of polygonal cross section, a tubular grip portion having a wall of interior size larger than the exterior size of said shank portion and telescoping said shank portion, locating means extending from the interior of said wall and engaging the exterior flat surfaces of said polygonal shank, adjustment means on said shank portion disposed longitudinally along said shank portion, and means on said grip portion cooperating with said shank portion adjustment means to secure said grip portion to said shank portion in different relative positions lengthwise of the shank portion to vary the effective length of said handle.

2. A game device as in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means and means on the grip portion are detachable whereby said grip portion may be easily removed and a grip portion with different dimension locating means and of a different external diameter may be substituted.