FIELD

[0001] This application relates generally to management of handles, and particularly to improving the grip on handles.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Handles for tools and other objects allow humans to perform many tasks with ease and convenience. Virtually every personal tool includes a handle so a person can grip the tool and guide it in its use. Handles are formed in a variety of configurations depending on the tool and also with ergonomic considerations in mind. Many handles are generally cylindrical in shape to accommodate a person's hand grasping the handle. The portion of the handle to be grasped is generally referred to as a "grip." Some handles have a coating or outer shape formed over a core to provide an improved grip over a bare handle or core. Other handles do not have additional materials covering the handle at the grip.

[0003] Many useful tools come with soft grips. Grips formed of soft material for comfort tend to fail before the tool breaks, is worn-out, or otherwise loses its usefulness. Some grips are formed of a harder material to be more durable than soft material grips, but those grips generally sacrifice comfort for durability. Replacement and supplementary grips are uncommon because handles come in many different shapes and sizes, and because replacing a handle is generally a difficult process. What replacement grips that are available tend to be very specific to a particular handle and application, such as replacement grips for golf clubs and tennis rackets, which are usually replaced by professionals and not by the owners of these items because of the difficulty and expertise required in replacing the grips.

SUMMARY

[0004] Methods of improving a handle grip are disclosed that provide a simple, economical, way to improve a grip on a handle. An improved grip can be placed on a handle by first providing a grip for placement on the handle. The grip can include an outer grip formed of an elastic material in a radially extended state, the outer grip configured to provide a secure and comfortable hold on the handle for a user, and an inner tube holding the elastic material in the extended state. The inner tube can be removable to allow the outer grip to constrict radially. The grip can then be placed over the handle, and the inner tube removed, allowing the outer grip to constrict radially to conform in fixed attachment to the handle.

[0005] The outer grip can include one or more enhanced gripping features, such as bumps, dimples, ridges, and grooves. The grip can also include an adhesive layer between the outer grip and the inner tube to provide for the fixed attachment between the outer grip and the handle. The grip can include a pliable layer between the outer grip and the inner tube. The pliable layer may be the adhesive layer and be formed from a mastic material.

[0006] The inner tube can be formed from a helically would flexible strip forming adjacent coils with a tail extending from one end of the inner tube. Removing the inner tube can be performed by pulling the tail of the flexible strip through the inner tube until the entire inner tube is removed from inside of the outer grip. A release agent can be applied to the inner tube between the inner tube and the outer grip to prevent the adhesive layer from sticking to the inner tube. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The following description can be better understood in light of Figures, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 is a drawing of an exemplary grip in an extended configuration;

[0009] Figure 2 is a drawing of the grip of Fig. 1 being applied to a handle;

[0010] Figure 3 is a drawing of the grip of Fig. 1 being applied to a handle; and

[001 1] Figure 4 is a drawing of the grip of Fig. 1 on a handle; and

[0012] Figures 5a-5d illustrate various gripping features of exemplary grips.

[0013] Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate and explain the principles of methods for placing a grip on a handle. In the Figures, the size, number and configuration of components may be exaggerated for clarity. The same reference numerals in different Figures represent the same component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The following description supplies specific details in order to provide a thorough understanding. Nevertheless, the skilled artisan would understand that embodiments of methods for placing grips on handles can be implemented and used without employing these specific details. Indeed, exemplary embodiments and associated methods can be placed into practice by modifying the illustrated units and associated methods and can be used in conjunction with any other devices and techniques conventionally used in the industry. For example, while the description below generally focuses on a grip being placed on a straight, generally cylindrical handle, such as is found on a hammer or garden tool, the method could be equally applied with other handles with various cross-sectional shapes, curvatures, and other features. For example, a handle can be any object formed to be gripped by a hand, such as a handgrip or handle portion on a switch, lever for tractor, lever for military equipment, or any other type of lever, or any other protrusion made to be gripped by a hand.

[0015] One exemplary method of placing a grip on a handle is illustrated in Figs. 1-4.

Figure 1 illustrates grip 110 with outer grip 112 and inner tube 120. Outer grip 1 12 may be formed form elastomeric or other elastic material that can be extended, held in the extended state for a long period of time, and then returned to a non-extended state. Outer grip 1 12 may be held in an extended state by inner tube 120. Outer grip 1 12 may be shock-resistant, shock absorbent, or otherwise pliant to provide a comfortable grip to a user. Outer grip 1 12 may similarly be formed from a material that provides a relatively high coefficient of friction for a hand to provide a secure grip when held by a user. For example, outer grip may be formed from closed-cell neoprene foam material, rubber or rubber compound, elastomeric polymers, or any other suitable material. Depending on the material used and the desired grip, softness, and shock- absorbency, outer grip 1 12 can have an unstretched thickness between a few thousands of an inch to a quarter inch or more.

[0016] Outer grip 1 12 can include adhesive coating 1 18 applied to the inner surface of outer grip 112 during the manufacturing process of grip 1 10. Adhesive coating 118 may be any material that provides adhesion between outer grip 1 12 and outer surface 134 of handle 130. For example, in some embodiments adhesive coating 1 18 can be a pliable layer formed from a mastic material that provides comfort and shock absorbency, along with adhesion. In such embodiments, outer grip 112 may be formed of a more durable material because adhesive layer 118 can provide comfort features of softer materials.

[0017] In some embodiments, a spray adhesive may be applied to outer surface 134 of handle 130 prior to application of outer grip 112, as described below in further detail. Similarly, in some embodiments, the inherent friction and compression of outer grip 112 against handle 130 when applied can be sufficient to prevent outer grip 112 from sliding off of handle 130 that no adhesive is required.

[0018] Inner tube 120 may be formed as a hollow tube from consecutive and adjoining coils 124 formed from a continuous flexible strip of wire-like material wound helically to form a tube. Inner tube 120 may be formed from plastic, metal, or any other material suitable for coiling and uncoiling as described below. In some embodiments, coils

124 are attached together when formed, but easily separate when pulled apart, as described below. Inner tube 120 can include release tail 126 extending through the center of inner tube 120 and becoming top coil 125. Tail 126 can originate at top coil

125 near top edge 1 16 of outer grip 112. Tail 126 can then extend through the center of inner tube 120 and extend out of the bottom of inner tube 120 near bottom edge 114 of outer grip 112. [0019] Inner tube 120 can include release layer 128 applied to the outer surface of inner tube 120 to keep adhesive layer 118 from adhering to inner tube 120. In some embodiments, a release layer may not be required either because of no adhesive layer applied to inner tube 120, inner tube 120 being formed from a material that is not easily adhered to, or adhesive layer 1 18 being formed from an adhesive that is not damaged and does not damage outer grip 120 when each of coils 124 is removed from contact with adhesive layer 118.

[0020] Handle 130 can be any handle having an end 132 that can be placed within inner tube 120. For example, handle 130 can be part of a hand-tool handle, such as a shovel or hammer handle, a door handle, or any other handle of any implement gripped by a person and that can be placed inside of inner tube 120. In the Figures, handle 130 is a straight, generally cylindrical handle. However, handle 130 may have any cross- section, shape, curvature, etc. of any type of handle formed to be gripped by a person.

[0021] To apply grip 110 to handle 130 to form gripped item 100, end 132 of handle 130 can be inserted into the center of grip 1 10 past top edge 1 16 and extending through the center towards or passing bottom edge 114. Once handle 130 is within inner tube 120 and grip 110 is positioned in the desired location on handle 130, tail 126 can be pulled, which releases top coil 125, allowing outer grip 1 12 to conform to outer surface 134 of handle 130 from top edge 116 towards bottom edge 114, as best illustrated in Fig. 3. As tail 126 is pulled, tail 126 releases each coil 124 successively until all of inner tube 120 is removed from contact with outer grip 1 12. Once inner tube 120 in completely removed, outer grip 120 is constricted around outer surface 134 of handle 130, providing a new grip to handle 130 and forming gripped item 100. Once in contact with outer surface 134 of handle 130, adhesive 118 can prevent outer grip 1 12 from being pulled off of handle 130. In some embodiments, outer grip 1 12 may be placed over an existing grip, or an existing grip on handle 130 may be removed prior to placing outer grip 112.

[0022] In some embodiments, outer grip 112 may include gripping features such as bumps, dimples, ridges, grooves, textures, or other surface features that provide enhanced ergonomic, gripping, or aesthetic qualities to gripped item 100. For example, grooves 240 may be formed in outer grip 212, as shown in Fig. 5a, bumps or dimples 340 in outer grip 312 of Fig. 5b, ridges 440 in outer grip 412 of Fig. 5c, texture 540 in outer grip 512 of Fig. 5d, or any other desirable gripping features.

[0023] In addition to any previously indicated modification, numerous other variations and alternative arrangements can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this description, and appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements. Thus, while the information has been described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred aspects, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, form, function, manner of operation and use can be made without departing from the principles and concepts set forth herein. Also, as used herein, examples are meant to be illustrative only and should not be construed to be limiting in any manner.