US4134198A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of installing grip on handle
Assignee: NBD Bank
•
Filing: 1977-01-03
•
Granted: 1979-01-16
•
Expires: 1997-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A grip for the handle of a hand-held implement that, in as-produced form, is comprised of a thin walled tubular member open at one end and a boot integral with the tubular member that closes its other end. The grip's average internal girth along its longitudinal axis, as produced, is substantially less than the average external girth of the implement's handle portion to be covered by the grip along that handle portion's longitudinal axis. The grip, which may have a novel exterior gripping surface, is produced by dipping a male mandrel into an elastomeric latex and, thereafter, curing the latex skin formed on the mandrel prior to stripping of the grip from the mandrel. The grip is installed on an implement's handle by creating a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the grip, thereby causing the grip to stretch radially outward from its longitudinal axis. This stretching step allows the implement's handle to be inserted through the grip's open end until the handle's free end bottoms out in the grip's boot. Subsequently, the pressure differential is released, thereby causing the grip to stretch into a tight friction fit with the handle. The grip's boot may thereafter be removed by slicing off, if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E. Briggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:09
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25G; B25G1/00; B25G1/10; A; A63; A63B; A63B60/00; A63B60/06; A63B60/08; A63B60/10; B23; B23P; B23P11/00; B23P11/02; B23P11/022; B29; B29C; B29C63/00; B29C63/22; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/4987; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53657
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
324 words
A method of installing a grip on the handle of a baseball bat, said installation method comprising the steps of providing said grip with a generally tubular portion at one end and a boot portion at the other end integral with said tubular portion, said grip having an average internal girth between about 5% and about 50% less than the average external girth of said handle for that portion of said handle on which said grip is to be mounted so as to establish a friction fit therebetween, an average wall thickness of between about 0.01 inches and about 0.10 inches, a percentage elongation at break between about 500% and about 1000%, a tensile strength at break between about 2000 psi and about 6000 psi, and a modulus at 200% elongation between about 100 psi and about 500 psi, exposing the exterior surface of said grip to a vacuum sufficient to expand said grip throughout its longitudinal axis, said expansion being to an extent that permits said bat handle to be inserted therein without significantly touching the interior surface of said grip while the exterior surface is exposed to said vacuum, orienting the free end of said bat handle adjacent the open end of said grip, inserting said bat handle into said grip free end first until said free end bottoms out against said grip's boot after expanding of said grip, bottoming out of said free end against said bottom serving to properly position said bat handle relative to said grip, therafter releasing said vacuum from the exterior of said grip, same permitting said tubular portion to contract into a friction fit relation with said bat handle and said bottom portion to cover the bat knob, severing said boot from said tubular portion of said grip, and removing said boot from mounted relation with the bat knob, thereby exposing said knob and leaving said tubular portion in friction fit relation with said bat handle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
324 words
A method of installing a grip on the handle of a baseball bat, said installation method comprising the steps of providing said grip with a generally tubular portion at one end and a boot portion at the other end integral with said tubular portion, said grip having an average internal girth between about 5% and about 50% less than the average external girth of said handle for that portion of said handle on which said grip is to be mounted so as to establish a friction fit therebetween, an average wall thickness of between about 0.01 inches and about 0.10 inches, a percentage elongation at break between about 500% and about 1000%, a tensile strength at break between about 2000 psi and about 6000 psi, and a modulus at 200% elongation between about 100 psi and about 500 psi, exposing the exterior surface of said grip to a vacuum sufficient to expand said grip throughout its longitudinal axis, said expansion being to an extent that permits said bat handle to be inserted therein without significantly touching the interior surface of said grip while the exterior surface is exposed to said vacuum, orienting the free end of said bat handle adjacent the open end of said grip, inserting said bat handle into said grip free end first until said free end bottoms out against said grip's boot after expanding of said grip, bottoming out of said free end against said bottom serving to properly position said bat handle relative to said grip, therafter releasing said vacuum from the exterior of said grip, same permitting said tubular portion to contract into a friction fit relation with said bat handle and said bottom portion to cover the bat knob, severing said boot from said tubular portion of said grip, and removing said boot from mounted relation with the bat knob, thereby exposing said knob and leaving said tubular portion in friction fit relation with said bat handle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 including the step of providing a limit stop in a vacuum chamber within which said grip is postioned, said boot being adapted to abut said limit stop upon insertion thereinto to properly position same within said chamber, and said limit stop also functioning to retain said boot in a fixed position as said bat knob is bottomed out against said boot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 including the step of cuffing the open end of said tubular portion over a collar on said vacuum chamber to aid in defining an airtight chamber within which said grip is positioned prior to exposing said grip to a vacuum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vacuum is created by one of hand and foot operated vacuum pumps.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1133622A
Cited
US1165484A
Cited
US2046191A
Cited
US2201706A
Cited
US3020192A
Cited
US2984486A
Cited
US3606326A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-01-15 | 1982-07-17 | 1983-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-15 | 1986-07-17 | 1987-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-15 | 1990-07-17 | 1991-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |