Shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket of game racket handle

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6234920
  • Patent Number
    6,234,920
  • Date Filed
    Monday, December 13, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 22, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket of a game racket handle comprises a foundation layer and a top layer which is adhered to the upper surface of the foundation layer and is provided with one or more shock-absorbing sections and skidproof sections arranged alternately with the shock-absorbing sections. The shock-absorbing sections are made of polyesters, whereas the skidproof sections are made of a mixture containing a plurality of plastic or rubber granules and a binder.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates generally to a protective jacket of a game racket handle, and more particularly to a shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket of the game racket handle.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




The conventional protective jacket of a game racket handle is generally made of a piece of nonwoven cloth, which is covered with a coating of polyurethane (PU). In view of the PU coating having a high coefficient of elasticity, the game racket handle is capable of absorbing shock. However, the PU coating is smooth and prone to become slippery by perspiration of the hand holding the handle. As a result, the handle must be held fast by the hand to compensate the wet and slippery surface of the PU coating of the handle. The shock-absorbing effect of the PU coating is thus discounted.




In order to overcome the deficiency of the conventional protective jacket described above, the PU coating is provided with a nap by polishing and grinding, or with a depression by grinding, so as to increase the friction coefficient of the protective jacket. The polishing and the grinding processes result in a substantial increase in the cost of making the protective jacket.




Some of the conventional protective jackets are provided thereon with one or more raised ribs, which are rather limited in the skidproof effect. In addition, the raised ribs can cause discomfort to the hand holding the game racket handle.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a game racket handle with a protective jacket having the shock-absorbing and the skidproof effects.




In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objective of the present invention is attained by the protective jacket comprising a foundation layer and a top layer. The foundation layer has an upper surface, and an underside which is attached to the surface of the game racket handle. The top layer is attached with the upper surface and is provided with at least one shock-absorbing section and at least one skidproof section. The shock-absorbing section is made of polyurethane, whereas the skidproof section is formed of a plurality of granules, which are mixed with an adhesive.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 2

shows a sectional view taken along the direction indicated by a line


2





2


as shown in FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

shows a sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.





FIG. 4

shows a sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, a shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket


100


of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is intended for use in covering the handle of a game racket. The protective jacket


100


is composed of a foundation layer


10


and a top layer


20


.




The foundation layer


10


is made of a woven or nonwoven cloth. The foundation layer


10


has an upper surface


11


, and an underside


12


which is adhered to the surface of the handle of the game racket.




The top layer


20


is adhered to the upper surface


11


of the foundation layer


10


and is provided with a plurality of skidproof sections


21


and shock-absorbing sections


22


, which are arranged alternately at an interval.




The skidproof sections


21


are made of a plurality of rubber granules “A” which are mixed with a resin binder. The skidproof sections


21


have a rugged outer surface. The granules “A” may be made of a plastic or elastic material.




The shock-absorbing sections


22


are made of polyesters by coating and air drying. The shock-absorbing sections


22


are not level with the skidproof sections


21


such that the shock-absorbing sections


22


are lower.




The process of making the protective jacket


100


of the present invention involves the use of a conveyer by which the foundation layer


10


is carried through a coating trough (not shown in the drawing) containing a mixture of polyurethane. Upon completion of the air drying process, a PU coating is formed on the upper surface


11


of the foundation layer


10


. The PU coating is then provided with a plurality of parallel grooves which are formed by a forming machine under heat and pressure. The shock-absorbing sections


22


are formed between the grooves. The grooves are filled with the granules “A” mixed with the resin binder. The mixture of the granules and the resin binder forms the skidproof sections


21


such that the granules are projected beyond the surface of the shock-absorbing sections


22


so as to provide the skidproof sections


21


with a greater friction coefficient. The granules may be various in size, depending on the nature of the duty of the protective jacket


100


. According to the results of tests conducted by this inventor of the present invention, those granules which are screened by a screen filter “60” have the optimum size in terms of the grip feel and the friction force.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, a protective jacket


200


of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is formed of a foundation layer


30


which is provided on an upper surface


31


thereof with the mixture of the granules “A” and the binder to form a top layer


40


of the protective jacket


200


. The top layer


40


is provided thereon with a plurality of skidproof sections


41


of a ribbed construction. A plurality of shock-absorbing sections


42


of polyurethane are formed between the skidproof sections


41


. In light of the bottom of the skidproof sections


41


are in direct contact with the upper surface


31


of the foundation layer


30


of the nonwoven cloth, the hand perspiration is absorbed by the foundation layer


30


via interstices between the granules.





FIG. 4

shows a protective jacket


300


of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. The protective jacket


300


is formed of a foundation layer


50


having an upper surface


51


on which a top layer


60


is laid. The top layer


60


is provided with a plurality of skidproof sections


61


and shock-absorbing sections


62


, which are alternately arranged such that the bottoms of the sections


61


and


62


are in direct contact with the upper surface


51


of the foundation layer


50


.




The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be regarded in all respects as being merely illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scopes of the following appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. A shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket for a game racket handle, said protective jacket comprising:a foundation layer having an upper surface and an underside adapted to be attached to the game racket handle; and a top layer adhered to said upper surface of said foundation layer and provided with at least one shock-absorbing section and at least on skidproof section, said shock-absorbing section being made of a polyesters material, said skidproof section being made of a mixture containing a plurality of granules and a binder; wherein said top layer is formed on said foundation layer by said polyesters material and is provided with a plurality of projected ribs arranged alternately to form said shock-absorbing section; and wherein said skidproof section is formed of said granules arranged between adjoining shock-absorbing sections.
  • 2. The protective jacket as defined in claim 1, wherein said polyesters material is polyurethane.
  • 3. The protective jacket as defined in claim 1, wherein said binder is a resin binder.
  • 4. The protective jacket as defined in claim 1, wherein said granules are rubber granules.
  • 5. The protective jacket as defined in claim 1, wherein said granules are plastic granules.
  • 6. The protective jacket as defined in claim 1, wherein said granules are screened by a screen filter “60”.
  • 7. A shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket for a game racket handle, said protective jacket comprising:a foundation layer having an upper surface and an underside adapted to be attached to the game racket handle; and a top layer adhered to said upper surface of said foundation layer and provided with at least one shock-absorbing section and at least on skidproof section, said shock-absorbing section being made of a polyesters material, said skidproof section being made of a mixture containing a plurality of granules and a binder; wherein said top layer is formed on said foundation layer by said granules and is provided with a plurality of granular projected ribs arranged alternately to form said skidproof section; and wherein said shock-absorbing section is formed of said polyurethane material arranged between adjoining skid-proof sections.
  • 8. The protective jacket as defined in claim 7, wherein said polyesters material is polyurethane.
  • 9. The protective jacket as defined in claim 7, wherein said binder is a resin binder.
  • 10. The protective jacket as defined in claim 7, wherein said granules are rubber granules.
  • 11. The protective jacket as defined in claim 7, wherein said granules are plastic granules.
  • 12. The protective jacket as defined in claim 7, wherein said granules are screened by a screen filter “60”.
  • 13. A shock-absorbing and skidproof protective jacket for a game racket handle, said protective jacket comprising:a foundation layer having an upper surface and an underside adapted to be attached to the game racket handle; and a top layer adhered to said upper surface of said foundation layer and provided with at least one shock-absorbing section and at least on skidproof section, said shock-absorbing section being made of a polyesters material, said skidproof section being made of a mixture containing a plurality of granules and a binder; wherein bottoms of said skidproof section and said shock-absorbing section of said top layer are in direct contact with said upper surface of said foundation layer.
  • 14. The protective jacket as defined in claim 13, wherein said polyesters material is polyurethane.
  • 15. The protective jacket as defined in claim 13, wherein said binder is a resin binder.
  • 16. The protective jacket as defined in claim 13, wherein said granules are rubber granules.
  • 17. The protective jacket as defined in claim 13, wherein said granules are plastic granules.
  • 18. The protective jacket as defined in claim 13, wherein said granules are screened by a screen filter “60”.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
2046164 Herkner Jun 1936
2793136 Root May 1957
4053676 Kaminstein Oct 1977
4284275 Fletcher Aug 1981
5275407 Soong Jan 1994
5475894 Wildforster Dec 1995
5851632 Chen et al. Dec 1998