Flexible cork handle-wrapping strip

Claim 2

An elongated, flexible handle-wrapping strip which comprises a first layer of a composite of cork granules, each 40 parts by weight of said cork granules being plasticized with 3 to 20 parts by weight of a liquid organic polyol and bonded together in a flexible plastic binder material; a second layer of adhesive on one side of the first layer, said adhesive layer comprising a flexible plastic sheet coated on both sides with said adhesive and bonded on one side to said first layer; and a third, peel-sheet layer overlying the adhesive layer for peeling away to expose the adhesive layer for use.

Claim 3

The elonaged handle-wrapping strip of claim 1 having parallel edges, in which at least one end defines an angled edge and a second edge, said second edge defining an extension of one of said parallel edges, said angled edge and second edge converging together at said one end to form a narrowed end adjacent said second edge.

Claim 4

The elongated handle-wrapping strip of claim 2, wound on a handle in helical manner with the parallel edges of adjacent coils in contact with each other.

Claim 5

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 1 in which said first layer comprises, per 40 parts by weight of cork granules, from 3 to 20 parts by weight of said liquid organic polyol plasticizer for the cork; from 2 to 50 parts by weight of an organic plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride; and from 6 to 62 parts by weight of polyvinyl chloride resin.

Claim 6

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 4 in which said first layer includes from 4 to 10 parts by weight of said polyol plasticizer.

Claim 7

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 5 in which said polyol plasticizer is glycerine.

Claim 8

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 4 in which said first layer includes from 10 to 30 parts by weight of polyvinyl chloride resin and from 10 to 25 parts by weight of an organic diester plasticizer for said resin.

Claim 9

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 7 in which said diester plasticizer is butylbenzylphthalate.

Claim 10

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 1 in which said cork granules predominantly are of a size between 1/8 and 1/18 inch.

Claim 11

The elongated handle-wrapping strip of claim 1 in which said first layer is from 0.02 to 0.1 inch thick.

Claim 12

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 1 in which said liquid organic polyol is incompatible in terms of miscibility with the flexible plastic binder material, to suppress migration of the polyol from the cork granules to the binder material.

Claim 13

An elongated, handle-wrapping strip which comprises a first layer of a composite of cork granules which are predominantly of a size between 1/8 and 1/18 inch, said first layer being from 0.02 to 0.1 inch thick, said cork granules being plasticized with a liquid organic polyol and bonded together in a flexible plastic binder material, said first layer comprising, per 40 parts by weight of cork granules, from 3 to 20 parts by weight of said liquid organic polyol plasticizer for the cork; from 2 to 50 parts by weight of an organic plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride; and from 6 to 62 parts by weight of polyvinyl chloride resin; a second layer of adhesive on one side of the first layer, and a third peel-sheet layer overlying the adhesive layer for peeling away to expose the adhesive layer for use, said strip having parallel edges, and at least one end thereof defining an angled edge and a second edge, said second edge defining an extension of one of the said parallel edges, the angled and the second edges converging together at said one end to form a narrowed end adjacent said second edge.

Claim 14

An elongated, handle-wrapping strip which comprises a first layer of a composite of cork granules which are predominantly of a size between 1/8 and 1/18 inch, said first layer being from 0.02 to 0.1 inch thick, said cork granules being plasticized with a liquid organic polyol and bonded together in a flexible plastic binder material, said first layer comprising, per 40 parts by weight of cork granules, from 3 to 20 parts by weight of said liquid organic polyol plasticizer for the cork; from 2 to 50 parts by weight of an organic plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride; and from 6 to 62 parts by weight of polyvinyl chloride resin; a second layer of adhesive on one side of the first layer, and a third peel-sheet layer overlying the adhesive layer for peeling away to expose the adhesive layer for use, said strip having parallel edges, and at least one end thereof defining an angled edge and a second edge, said second edge defining an extension of one of the said parallel edges, the angled and the second edges converging together at said one end to form a narrowed end adjacent said second edge.

Claim 15

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 12 in which said liquid organic polyol is incompatible in terms of miscibility with the flexible plastic binder material, to suppress migration of the polyol from the cork granules to the binder material.

Claim 16

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 13 in which said plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride is a phthalate diester.

Claim 17

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 12 in which a portion of said strip adjacent said narrowed end is feathered from its normal thickness to a thin end at said second edge.

Claim 18

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 12 in which said layer of adhesive comprises a flexible plastic sheet coated on both sides with said adhesive and bonded on one side to said first layer.

Claim 19

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 16 in which a plastic layer of 0.01 to 0.05 inch thickness is present between the first layer of the composite of cork granules and the second layer of adhesive.

Claim 20

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 16 in which said polyol is glycerine.

Claim 21

An elongated, handle-wrapping strip which comprises a first layer of a composite of cork granules which are predominantly of a size between 1/8 and 1/18 inch, said first layer being from 0.03 to 0.06 inch thick, said cork granules being plasticized with glycerine and bonded together in a flexible binder material, said first layer comprising, per 40 parts by weight of cork granules, from 4 to 10 parts by weight of said glycerine, from 10 to 30 parts by weight of polyvinyl chloride resin, and from 10 to 25 parts by weight of an organic plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride; an intermediate layer of adhesively-compatible plastic material having a thickness of 0.01 to 0.05 inch carried on one side of said first layer; a second layer of adhesive carried on said intermediate layer, said second layer comprising a flexible plastic sheet coated on both sides with said adhesive and bonded on one side to said first layer, and a third, peel-sheet layer overlying the contact adhesive layer for peeling away to expose the contact adhesive layer for use, said strip having parall edges and at least one end thereof defining an angled edge and a second edge, said second edge defining an extension of one of said parallel edges, the angled and the second edges converging at said one end to form a narrowed end adjacent said second edge.

Claim 22

An elongated, handle-wrapping strip which comprises a first layer of a composite of cork granules which are predominantly of a size between 1/8 and 1/18 inch, said first layer being from 0.03 to 0.06 inch thick, said cork granules being plasticized with glycerine and bonded together in a flexible binder material, said first layer comprising, per 40 parts by weight of cork granules, from 4 to 10 parts by weight of said glycerine, from 10 to 30 parts by weight of polyvinyl chloride resin, and from 10 to 25 parts by weight of an organic plasticizer for polyvinyl chloride; an intermediate layer of adhesively-compatible plastic material having a thickness of 0.01 to 0.05 inch carried on one side of said first layer; a second layer of adhesive carried on said intermediate layer, said second layer comprising a flexible plastic sheet coated on both sides with said adhesive and bonded on one side to said first layer, and a third, peel-sheet layer overlying the contact adhesive layer for peeling away to expose the contact adhesive layer for use, said strip having parall edges and at least one end thereof defining an angled edge and a second edge, said second edge defining an extension of one of said parallel edges, the angled and the second edges converging at said one end to form a narrowed end adjacent said second edge.

Claim 23

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 19 wound on a handle in helical manner with the parallel edges of adjacent coils in contact with each other.

Claim 24

The elongated, handle-wrapping strip of claim 20 in which said intermediate layer is a polyvinyl chloride plastic.