Abstract:
A protective strap is disclosed to include a base layer, a top layer, and a needle thread. The top layer is bonded to a top side of the base layer. The needle thread is exposed on a top side of the top layer so as to form a predetermined design by an embroidering method. The predetermined design can not only provide skidproof effect but also enhance flexibility of design alteration. Additionally, the needle thread runs into the protective strap in different deepness such that the combination between each two layers can be enhanced.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to sports apparatuses, and more particularly to a protective strap for winding around the handle of a sports apparatus.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A conventional protective strap for winding around a handle of a sports apparatus is provided with a design at a top surface of a top layer thereof for manifesting a merchandise brand, enhancing the whole esthetic effect, slightly improving the skidproof effect, etc. The manufacturing processes of the design in accordance with the prior art are generally provided with two methods, heat-branding and printing. The heat-branding is the method that press the protective strap tightly with a heated mold having an antiphased predetermined design such that the predetermined design will be branded into the protective strap. The printing is the method that ink the printing mold having an antiphased predetermined design with a coating and press the mold tightly with the protective strap such that the predetermined design is printed to the protective strap and then process the protective strap by heat treatment for the coating adhering to the protective strap durably.  
           [0003]    To proceed the aforementioned manufacturing processes on the protective strap, it&#39;s necessary to make the mold first. However, the more designs of the protective strap is developed, the more molds will be made, and then the more production cost in making the molds will increase. Moreover, the sooner the merchandise is promoted in the market, the sooner the merchandise will be eliminated through competition, and then the more overall cost of the merchandise will increase. Additionally, according to the purchasing experiences of the consumers, the design heat-branded into the protective strap is provided with few alternatives in color. The design printed to the protective strap is vulnerable to perspiration, sunshine, repeated and long holding, etc. so as to fade away and cause damage esthetically.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a protective strap, which is adapted for use in custom-made merchandise pattern and can be manufactured and delivered to customers soon without spending time on making molds.  
           [0005]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a protective strap, which design on surface can be altered more flexibly than the prior art.  
           [0006]    Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a protective strap, which is not vulnerable to perspiration and sunshine and is fairly durable in addition to having enhanced skidproof effect.  
           [0007]    In keeping with the principle of the present invention, the foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by the protective strap, which is formed of a base layer, a top layer, and a needle thread. The top layer is bonded to a top side of the base layer. The needle thread is exposed on a top side of the top layer so as to form a predetermined design by an embroidering method. The predetermined design can not only provide skidproof effect but also enhance the flexibility of design alteration. Additionally, the needle thread runs into the protective strap in different deepness such that the combination between each two layers can be enhanced. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention wound around a handle of a sports apparatus;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a protective strap  10  provided by a first preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted for use in spirally winding a handle  2  of a sports apparatus  1  and then forming a gripping section on the sports apparatus. The protective strap  10  comprises a base layer  11 , a top layer  12 , and a needle thread  15 .  
         [0015]    The base layer  11  is made of either polyurethane (PU) or other shock-absorptive materials, such as foaming of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), foaming of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, etc. The base layer  11  has a top side  11   a  and a bottom side  11   b,  which can directly or adhesively bond on the handle  2  of the sports apparatus  1 . The top layer  12 , which is made of a rubber material, is provided with a top side  12   a  and a bottom side  12   b.  The top side  12   a  of the top layer  12  has a predetermined width for a hand holding.  
         [0016]    The present invention is characterized by the improvement in that the needle thread  15  runs through the top side  12   a  and the bottom side  12   b  of the top layer  12  from outside, and then a bobbin thread (not shown) runs through the bottom side  12   b  and the top side  12   a  to form a circuit, and again repeat the aforementioned steps. Accordingly, the needle thread  15 , which runs into the top layer  12 , is formed of an exposed portion  15   a  and a submerged portion  15   b.  The exposed portion  15   a  forms a predetermined design, such as trademark names or trademark logos or special designs, within the predetermined width of the top side  12   a.  After the predetermined design is completed, the top layer  12  is adhered to the top side  11   a  of the base layer  11  by means of an adhesive at the bottom side  12   b  such that the top layer  12  and the base layer  11  are adhesively adhered to each other.  
         [0017]    Therefore, the present embodiment of the present invention includes advantages described below:  
         [0018]    1. The design is completed by the embroidering method and no molds are necessarily made, thereby the production cost reduces. The embroidering method is adapted for the custom-made merchandise pattern.  
         [0019]    2. The design can be easily altered by the embroidering method, thereby the present invention is more flexible in design alteration than the prior art.  
         [0020]    3. The needle thread is not vulnerable to perspiration and sunshine such that the present invention can be kept in good condition aesthetically. The exposed portion is disposed on the top layer of the grip, thereby the grip is skidproof while holding the grip.  
         [0021]    4. The submerged portion of the needle thread runs into the protective strap, thereby the combination of the materials between the layers can be enhanced.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 3, a second preferred embodiment different from the first preferred embodiment of the present invention lies in that the base layer  11  of the protective strap  10  is made of nonwoven cloth and the top layer  12  is made of PU and is directly coated on base layer  11 . The needle thread  15  runs through the top layer  12  and the base layer  11  and then the submerged portion  15   b  runs through the bottom side  11   b  of the base layer  11  and returns to run through the top layer  12 . In addition to the foregoing advantages of the first preferred embodiment, the present invention is provided with a better combinative effect than the foregoing embodiment of the present invention in light of the top layer  12  and the base layer  11  being embroidered by the needle thread  15 .  
         [0023]    Referring to FIG. 4, a third preferred embodiment different from the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention lies in that the protective strap  10  is further provided with a middle layer  13 , which is provided with a top side  13   a  and a bottom side  13   b  and is positioned between the base layer  11  and the top layer  12 . The middle layer  13  is made of a material different from the materials of which the base layer  11  and the top layer  12  are made. In other words, the middle layer  13  can be made of a material provided with preferable effects of water-absorptivity and air permeability or resilience.  
         [0024]    The needle thread  15  runs through the top side  12   a  and the bottom side  12   b  of the top layer  12  from outside, and then a bobbin thread (not shown) runs through the bottom side  12   b  and the top side  12   a  to form a circuit, and again repeat the aforementioned steps. Accordingly, the needle thread is, which runs into the top layer  12 , is formed of an exposed portion  15   a  and a submerged portion  15   b.  The exposed portion  15   a  forms as a predetermined design, such as trademark names or trademark logos or special designs, within the predetermined width of the top side  12   a.  After the predetermined design is completed, the top layer  12  is bonded to the top side  13   a  of the middle layer  13  by means of an adhesive at the bottom side  12   b  and then the middle layer  13  is adhered to the top side  11   a  of the base layer  11  at the bottom side  13   b  thereof such that the top layer  12 , the middle layer  13 , and the base layer  11  are adhesively adhered to one another.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 5, a fourth preferred embodiment different from the third preferred embodiment of the present invention lies in that the needle thread  15  runs through the top layer  12  and the middle layer  13  from outside and then the submerged portion  15   b  runs through the bottom side  13   b  of the middle layer  13  and returns to run through the top layer  12 . After the design is completed, the middle layer  13  is adhesively adhered to the top side  11   a  of the base layer  11  at the bottom side  13   b  thereof. In addition to the foregoing advantages of the first preferred embodiment, the present invention is provided with a better combinative effect than the foregoing embodiments of the present invention in light of the top layer  12  and the base layer  11  being embroidered by the needle thread  15 .  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 6, a fifth preferred embodiment different from the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention lies in that the needle thread  15  runs through the top layer  12 , the middle layer  13 , and the base layer  11  from outside and then the submerged portion  15   b  runs through the bottom side  11   b  of the base layer  11  and returns to run through the top layer  12 . In addition to the foregoing advantages of the first preferred embodiment, the present invention is provided with a better combinative effect than the foregoing embodiments of the present invention in light of the top layer  12 , the middle layer  13 , and the base layer  11  being embroidered by the needle thread  15 .