Patent Application
20220054911
The present invention relates generally to the field of covers for sport equipment having handles or grips, such as those used in baseball, softball, cricket, lacrosse, hockey, tennis, Jai alai, etc. The sports handle or grip cover protects the handle or grip from weather damage, and keeps the handle or grip covered when not in use to prevent damage to the same from rain, mud, dust, and UV damage and fading caused by the sun. The handle or grip cover is comprised of a cover contoured to the exact features of the handle or grip area to be covered, and may include a memory foam at the top of the handle or grip area cover. The cover may further comprise an accessory attachment that enables a user to place spikes, shoes, other footwear, gloves, head bands and the like on the sports equipment. The accessory attachment uses a hook and loop fastener strap to hang or receive gloves, head bands, wrist bands or the like, and a patch sewn onto the exterior surface thereby allowing the user to write his or her name or number to personalize and distinguish the cover from other items that may be stacked nearby. The sports equipment handle or grip cover is easily mounted and removed from the sports equipment, and does not rotate or twist around the handle, nor slip or slide off the handle once installed. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally useable with other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.
There are many types of sporting equipment that require a racquet, bat, stick or some other element in order to strike or hit a ball, birdie, puck, or other object as part of the game. One such example is a baseball or softball bat which is used to strike a baseball or softball as it travels across a plate. The barrel or trunk is the thicker portion of the bat, and is used to strike the ball. The handle is comparatively thin, so that a user can comfortably grip the bat in one's hands. Bats used for baseball, softball, and the like are generally constructed from a metal, such as aluminum, composite metal or wood. The handle of the bat generally has a temporarily affixed padded material for a secure and comfortable grip for the user. These types of coverings are purposely made and installed for a better grip during play, and to eliminate slipping. Further, such covers are relatively thin so that they do not add to the diameter of the handle. Accordingly, they do not protect the bat handle from sunlight, heat, moisture, rain, mud, dust and the like, and the bat handle can be damaged by repeated exposure to such elements over prolonged periods of time.
Sporting equipment such as bats, sticks, racquets and the like are also very important for both amateur and professional players, and a lot of care is required to prolong the life of the equipment. Such sporting equipment is oftentimes carried around in a backpack, and the structure and design of most backpacks are such that the handle or grip area of a the equipment is exposed to the elements. Prolonged exposure to sunlight, heat, moisture, rain, mud, dust and general inclement weather may result in damage to the handle. The life-span of such sporting equipment may also be reduced by careless handling of the same. For example, many times a user will carelessly drop a backpack or sports equipment carrying bag on the ground, in the back of a car, or on any other hard surface. This type of mishandling could cause damage to the uncovered and exposed handles. Additionally, backpacks carrying multiple pieces of sporting equipment may result in banging of the equipment together, thereby causing damage to the uncovered and exposed areas of the handles.
Therefore, there exists a long felt need for a protective cover for a handle or grip area that is designed to protect the handle from the elements and other damage when not in use. There is also a long felt need for a protective handle cover that enables a user to place shoes, sneakers, masks, helmets, etc. on the top of the handle without damaging the same, and to attach other accessories, such as gloves and the like, to the covered handle to ease the burden of having to simultaneously carry multiple items. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a handle protective cover that remains securely but removably attached to the handle, and that offers a means to identify the protective cover and the equipment on which the cover is installed. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a protective cover that is customizable to suit the needs and preferences of the user, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and that is safe and easy to use.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a covering to protect the handle or grip area of a baseball, softball or cricket bat, a lacrosse or hockey stick, or a tennis or Jai alai racquet, etc. from exposure to the elements and other forms of physical damage. The protective cover preferably comprises a substantially tubular or cylindrical body having an interior surface, and an exterior surface, a closed top portion, an open bottom portion, and a cavity extending along a substantial length of the tubular body to receive the sporting equipment handle. The interior surface of the protective cover is form fitting and in contact with a substantial portion of the covered portion of the handle when installed thereon. The cover does not slip once installed on the handle of the equipment. More specifically, the cover may have ridges or other rubberized strips on the interior surface to prevent slipping of the cover from the handle. The ridges can run parallel to the length of the cover, may be perpendicular to the length of the cover or any other orientation that achieves the stated objectives.
The exterior surface of the protective cover has a patch sewn thereon to enable a user to write his or her personal contact information thereon, or the patch or other areas of the cover may be adorned with logos, trademarks or other indica of sports teams, colleges, marketing information and the like. More specifically, the patch is provided with a writable surface such that the information may be erased and rewritten any number of times. Additionally, the closed top portion of the protective cover has a memory foam (internally, externally or both) which becomes contoured to the exact features of the handle to be covered. Shoes, spikes, helmets and the like can also be placed on top of the protective cover once in place on the handle. An accessory holder is provided on the body of the protective cover and includes a hook and loop fastener strap around the exterior surface to hang or receive batting gloves, face shields, etc.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a protective cover for a sporting equipment handle is disclosed, and comprises a generally tubular or other shaped body comprised of an at least partially elastic and/or stretchable material The protective cover has an open end to facilitate the entry of the handle into the enclosed cavity present within the shaped body, and a top closed end having a memory foam to contour to the shape of the sporting equipment being protected. The top end covers the top of the handle and the tubular body is of a suitable length to cover the remaining portion of the handle. The top end of the protective cover has a width that is able to cover the enlarged head of the handle, such as for a baseball bat, and the bottom portion of the cover is elastic such that the size at the end of the handle which is near to the barrel is properly covered and can expand slightly to cover over any bends or enlarged areas of the sporting equipment. A patch or other surface that is capable of being written on may be sewn or otherwise attached to a portion of the protective cover so that the user may provide his or her contact or other useful information thereon.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for protecting a handle of sporting equipment from weather and other physical damage when not in use is disclosed. The method comprises the step of initially providing a handle with a protective cover made up of elastic and/or a stretchable material. The protective cover includes a shaped body, an open bottom end, a closed top end, a memory foam at the closed top end, a hook and loop fastener on an exterior surface of the shaped body, and a patch present on the exterior surface to write the desired information by the user. Next, the open bottom end of the shaped body is slid over the handle until the top closed end abuts the top of the handle. Cleats, shoes, helmets or the like can then be placed on the top of the cover, when in position over the handle. The shape of the handle end can be contoured through the use of memory foam, and finally attaching batting gloves or other sporting accessories to the protective cover via the hook and loop fastener provided on the exterior of the cover.
In its various embodiments, the protective cover of the present invention may have multiple layers of the same or different material to provide adequate protection from such things as rain, mud, dust, ultraviolet rays from the sun, and other physical damage. Once properly installed, the protective cover does not slip off of the handle, and generally conforms to the shape of the handle. The patch on the exterior surface of the protective cover facilitates the prominent display of a team name, company name, player name, or other information, especially in instances when the protective cover is being viewed from a distance.
In its various embodiments, the protective cover of the present invention also possesses insulative properties that serve to keep the handle warmer in colder temperatures, and cooler in hotter temperatures. The protective cover is also preferably waterproof, and may further comprise a hanging chain for proper storage when not in use so that the protective cover is not lost or misplaced. The protective cover allows a user to both cover and protect the handle of the sporting equipment quickly and easily.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for a protective cover for a sporting equipment handle or grip area that is designed to protect the same from the elements and other damage when not in use. There is also a long felt need for a protective cover that enables a user to place shoes, sneakers, masks, helmets, etc. on the top of the handle without damaging the same, and to attach other accessories to the covered handle to ease the burden of having to simultaneously carry multiple items. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for a protective cover that remains securely but removably attached to the handle, and that offers a means to identify the protective cover and the equipment upon which the cover is installed. Finally, there is a long felt need in the art for a protective cover that is customizable to suit the needs and preferences of the user, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and that is safe and easy to use.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The protective cover 100 is further comprised of an open end 104 and a closed top end 106. The open end 104 is sized and configured to receive the handle therein, and the closed top end 106 abuts and surrounds the end of the sporting good handle when the protective cover 100 is properly installed thereon. The closed top end 106 is preferably comprised of a memory foam 102, which will conform to the general shape of the sporting good handle (i.e., is form fitting) to help secure the protective cover 100 to the handle.
In one embodiment, the exterior surface 1100 of the protective cover 100 further comprises a hook and loop or other suitable fastener 108 to enable a user (not shown) to be able to attach accessories, such as batting gloves, wrist bands, shin guards and the like thereto. In use, the protective cover 100 is circumferentially positioned on the handle, and substantially conforms to the overall shape of the portion of the handle being covered. The exterior surface 1100 of the protective cover 100 may further comprise a patch 112 or other re-writeable and erasable surface that may be utilized by the user. More specifically, the user may write his or her name and/or contact information, or any other useful information, on patch 112 to, for example, identify the owner of the cover and/or the sporting goods in case the same are lost or misplaced.
The protective cover 100 of the present embodiment is preferably a unitary, one-piece cover having the attached or sewn memory foam 102 positioned at the top end 106 of the cover 100, and the hook and loop fastener 108 positioned elsewhere along the exterior surface 1100 of the shaped body 110. In one embodiment, the hook and loop fastener 108 is removably attached to the exterior surface 1100, and can be aligned or moved to any other position along the exterior surface 1100 of the shaped body 110 to suit user need and/or preference. In addition to the hook and loop fasteners, strips having button-snaps, or other fastening mechanisms may also be used to attach other lightweight accessories thereto. In any event, the fastener 108 is useful for supporting relatively lightweight sporting accessories, such as gloves, wristbands or the like.
In one embodiment, the protective cover 100 may further comprise a pouch or pocket 120 having a closure or other covering mechanism to store items such as a smartphone, money, a watch, etc. therein. The pocket 120 also allows the user to protect such items from the elements, such as rain, snow, moisture, etc. The protective cover 100 may be manufactured using any known manufacturing techniques or methods. Those skilled in the art will understand that one or more material pieces such as patch 112, memory foam 102, pocket 120, etc., may be stitched, glued, or seamed to the shaped body 110 in a number of different ways to achieve the protective cover 100 as described and illustrated herein.
In order to install the protective cover 100 onto the handle portion 304, the user (not shown) will insert the top end of the handle 3042 into the open bottom end 104 of the protective cover 100 and gently apply force to the bat 300 in the direction of the protective cover 100 (or vice versa) until the cover 100 extends to the meeting point 3040 of the barrel portion 302. Similarly, the protective cover 100 can be easily removed from the handle 304, for example, when the bat 300 is needed by the user. The length, elasticity and stretchability of the protective handle cover 100 is such that when the closed top end 106 of the cover 100 abuts the top end 3042 of the handle 304, the handle 304 is covered wholly along the length and circumference by the cover 100 of the present invention. More specifically, the material used in the manufacturing of protective cover 100 has elastic properties that permit the stretching of one or more inched in both the longitudinal and lateral directions (relative to the longitudinal axis of the bat 300) to allow the protective cover 100 to be stretched over the head of the bat handle 304. The elastic material used in protective cover 100 can be a Spandex® type of material, or may include a rubber, neoprene, latex and combinations thereof.
Additionally, the hook and loop fastener 108 present around the exterior surface 1100 of the protective cover 100 can be used to affix or attach, for example, a lightweight batting glove 404. In this manner, the protective cover 100 of the present invention not only protects the bat handle 304 from weather and/or other physical damage, but it also allows the user to carry multiple items, such as sneakers 402, gloves 404 and the like without having to separately transport the same. Similarly, the memory foam 102 serves multiple functions, not only conforming to the shape of the handle top, but also providing a support for supplemental equipment carried by the handle and protective cover combination.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for protecting a handle, such as bat handle 304, from the weather and/or physical damage when not in use comprises the step of initially providing a handle protective cover 100 comprised of an elastic and/or stretchable material, as described herein in its various embodiments. Once so provided, the top end of the handle 3042 is inserted into the open bottom end 104 of the protective cover 100 and gentle pressure is applied to the bat 300 in the direction of the protective cover 100 (or vice versa) until the cover 100 extends to the meeting point 3040 of the barrel portion 302, and the closed top end 106 of the protective cover 100 abuts the top end 3042 of the handle 304. Next, a user may use the patch 112 to identify the owner of the bat 300 and/or protective cover 100 by providing the user's name and appropriate contact information thereon. Next, the user may also utilize the hook and loop fastener 108 provided on an exterior surface 1100 of the protective cover to attach, for example, a batting glove 404 or other accessory to the exterior surface of the protective cover 100. Next, the user may place, for example, his or her shoes 402 on the bulbous memory foam 102 positioned atop the cover to avoid having to separately transport the same. It is also contemplated that yet another cover (i.e., as an accessory to the protective cover 100) can then be placed over top of the shoes 402 positioned on the protective cover 100 to shield the same from the elements and/or other physical damage.
In a further embodiment, the material used for manufacturing the protective cover 100 may be comprised of at least one of a neoprene, natural rubber, and/or polypropylene to offer greater weather protection and physical resistance, and to protect the handle 304 from cracking, expansion, and other undesirable effects. This allows the protective bat cover 100 to increase the range of temperatures in which the sporting equipment may be used without being damaged. Further, the exterior surface 1100 of the protective cover 100 is preferably smooth and relatively uniform, but may optionally contain ridges which may help aid in better gripping of the protective cover 100. As previously stated, the cover 100 may further comprise logos, indicia, trademarks, geometric patterns, customizable colors and fonts, embroidery and prints and/or images or combinations thereof 202 on its surface. Also, the bottom end of the cover 100 is tightly secured to the handle to discourage the entry of water, dirt and debris into the interior of the cover 100. To that end, the exterior of the bottom edge of the protective cover 100 may further comprise an elastic band 105, as best shown in
Similarly,
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “protective bat handle cover”, “protective cover”, “cover”, “handle cover”, and “bat handle cover” are interchangeable and refer to the protective cover 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the protective cover 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable shape, size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that the same accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shape, size, configuration and material of the protective cover 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other shapes, sizes, configurations and materials of the protective cover 100 and its various components are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the protective cover 100 and its components are important design parameters for user convenience, the protective cover 100 and its various components may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/067,442, which was filed on Aug. 19, 2020 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63067442 | Aug 2020 | US |
