Abstract:
Relaxation of grip during a golf stroke is restrained by hook-to-loop adhesion between fabric ( 5 ) covering the golf-club handle ( 3 ) and fabric elements ( 11-14 ) attached to the golfer&#39;s gloves ( 1, 2 ). The handle-covering fabric ( 5 ) has hook-ended threads and is wrapped around the handle ( 3 ) directly (or helically ( 25 ) FIG.  5 ). Loop-fabric patches ( 11, 13 ) are attached to the tips of the glove-thumbs ( 15, 21 ), and loop-fabric elements ( 12, 14 ) extend across the palms ( 16, 22 ) at the base of the fingers ( 17-20, 23, 24 ). Change of grip is signaled by a tearing sound as hook-loop engagement is broken at either glove ( 1, 2 ). An alternative pair of gloves (( 21, 32 ), FIGS.  6-10 ) includes a palm-located fabric element ( 38 ) augmenting adhesion of the lower glove ( 31 ) with the handle ( 3 ), and mutally-adhering fabric elements ( 34, 39 ) of opposite thread types for restraining relaxation of the upper glove ( 32 ) from where it overlies the lower glove ( 31 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to handle-gripping, and is concerned in this respect with assisting a person in the grip of a handle especially in the context of sports activities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with assisting a golfer to achieve and maintain optimum grip of a golf-club handle, towards improvement of his/her game. 
     The driving of a golf ball accurately, depends on factors such as the stance of the golfer, how the club is held and how the swing of the club is executed. The golfer&#39;s stance and grip of the club are adjusted in the preliminary addressing of the ball. Adjustment is made in particular to ensure that the golfer is able to execute the swing freely and that his/her hands are correctly oriented on the handle of the club in relation both to one another and the club head It often happens, however, that the desired strike is not in the event achieved because the golfer relaxes or changes his/her grip on the club-handle during the swing. The relaxation or change of grip during the swing may easily occur unconsciously or certainly without intention on the part of the golfer, and it is one of the objects of the invention to assist a golfer overcome the problem. More generally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of restraining relaxation or change of a person&#39;s grip of a handle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of restraining relaxation or change of a user&#39;s grip of a handle, wherein a selectively-releasable fastening is used between the handle and the user&#39;s gripping hand or hands, for adhesion between them. 
     According to another aspect of the invention there is provided, in combination, a handle to be gripped by a user, and a glove to be worn by the user in gripping the handle, wherein relaxation or change of the user&#39;s grip of the handle is restrained by a selectively-releasable fastening that provides adhesion between the handle and the glove. 
     The selectively-releasable fastening in both the method and handle-glove combination of the present invention, may be of the kind that involves adhesion between two fabric elements through selectively-breakable engagement between hook-ended threads of one element and threads of the other. The fastening, which in this case may be of the kind sold under the Registered Trade Mark VELCRO, has advantage in that engagement is readily achieved upon contact, and disengagement requires the exertion of significant force and is normally accompanied by a distinct tearing sound; moreover, the process of engagement and disengagement can be repeated almost indefinitely without loss of effectiveness. With such a fastening arranged to be active between the handle and the one or more gripping hands, engagement can be readily achieved simply and directly in the formation of the desired grip, whereas disengagement requires distinct effort and is commonly accompanied by a tell-tale sound. In these circumstances, and especially because of its fabric form, the fastening need have no obstructive or disruptive effect on the adoption and maintenance of the required grip of the handle. 
     The two elements may be readily incorporated respectively in the handle and one or more gloves worn by the user, and as such may be active to resist change or relaxation of the gloved hand or hands in grip of the handle, and may in addition give audible warning if change or relaxation takes place. One or more elements with hook-ended threads may be incorporated with the handle, for example as a cover or hand-grip for the handle, or may be incorporated with the one or more gloves. Whichever item has the hook-ended threads, the other, handle or glove, will incorporate threads for engagement with them; more especially, these latter threads may be upstanding with loop- or eye-ends for ready engagement with the hooks. 
     The handle may be the handle of a golf or other club (for example, a baseball club), or the handle of a bat or racquet (for example a cricket bat or tennis racquet). Although especially applicable to sports training, the invention is not limited to this. 
     According to an additional aspect of the invention there is provided a club, bat or racquet having a handle which incorporates or is otherwise provided with an element of fabric fastener for establishing selectively-releasable adhesion with fabric attached byway of glove or otherwise to a user&#39;s gripping hand or hands. 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a glove or pair of gloves for use in gripping a handle of a club, bat or racquet, wherein the glove or each glove of the pair incorporates one or more elements of fabric fastener for establishing selectively-releasable adhesion with fabric attached to the handle. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A method together with a golf club and alternative pairs of golf gloves for use in the method, all in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates application of the golf club (shown only in part) and a first of the pairs of golf gloves, in the method of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is illustrative of a fabric element for covering the handle of the golf club used in the method illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show, respectively, left and right gloves of the first pair of golf gloves according to the invention, used in the method illustrated in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is illustrative of an alternative form of covering for the handle of the golf club of FIG. 1; 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 show, respectively, left and right gloves of the second pair of golf gloves according to the invention, used in the method illustrated in FIG. 1; and 
     FIGS. 8 to  10  illustrate details of the gloves of FIGS. 6 and 7, FIGS. 8 and 9 being scrap views in the directions of the arrows VIII and IX respectively of FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 being a scrap view in the direction of the arrow X of FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the golfer in the present example wears left and right golf gloves  1  and  2 , and holds the frusto-conical handle  3  above the shaft  4  of the golf club in a conventional right-handed grip. The handle  3  has a fabric covering provided by an element  5  that facilitates establishment and maintenance of this grip. The form of the element  5  as this is applied to the handle  3  is shown in FIG.  2 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the element  5  is of nylon fabric having upstanding hook-ended threads (represented in one corner only in the drawing), being in this regard one of the two elements of a fabric fastening sold under the Registered Trade Mark VELCRO. The element  5 , which has an adhesive backing, is of elongate trapezoidal shape to enable it to be wrapped neatly round the frusto-conical handle  3  with overlap along one longitudinal margin  6  that is free of the upstanding threads. 
     Arrow markings  7  are provided on the element  5  to assist the golfer in location of his/her grip in relation to the head of the golf club. Small cuts  8  in the top and bottom edges  9  and  10  of the element  5  assist in achieving correct alignment of these markings  7  with the head, during the wrapping of the element  5  round the handle  3 . 
     The second, cooperating element of the fabric fastening in this case is of nylon fabric having upstanding loop- or eye-ended threads for engagement with the hook-ended threads of the element  5 . More particularly, and as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the loop-ended fabric for engagement with the element  5  is divided into four elements  11  to  14  which are attached by their adhesive backings to the front or palmar faces of the gloves  1  and  2 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the gloves  1  and  2  are of conventional form for golf apart from the attached fabric elements  11  to  14 . The element  11  covers the distal ball or tip of the thumb  15  of the glove  1 , whereas the element  12  extends across the palm  16  of glove  1  at the base of its four fingers  17  to  20  and from there half-way up the first finger  17  and to the tips of the second to fourth fingers  18  to  20 . The element  13  on the other glove  2  covers the distal ball or tip of the right thumb  21 , whereas the element  14  extends from above the centre of the palm  22  of the right glove  2  to almost half-way up its second and third fingers  23  and  24 . 
     The distribution of the elements  11  to  14  and the areas of the gloves  1  and  2  covered by them, correspond generally to the distribution and areas of contact of the gloved hands with the element  5  when the handle  3  is being gripped appropriately. More particularly, with the conventional right-handed grip illustrated in FIG. 1, the handle  3  lies across the palm  16  of the left glove  1  at the base of the fingers  17  to  20  where covered by the element  12 , with the thumb  15  extended downwardly over the upper marking  7 , in line with the club-shaft  4  towards the club-head. The thumb  15  presses onto the handle  3  through the element  11 , and the fingers  17  to  20  as covered by the element  12  are closed over the handle  3  onto the palm  16  to retain the handle  3  within the grip of the left hand. The gloved right hand partly overlaps the left glove  1  with portions of the fingers  23  and  24  and palm  22  bearing on the handle  3  through the element.  14 , and with the thumb  21  (aligned with lower marking  7 ) extended downwardly pressed onto the handle  3  through the element  13 . 
     Accordingly, there is abutment, and consequently hook-to-loop adhesion, between the individual elements  11  to  14  and the element  5  when the handle  3  is gripped in this way. The adhesion acts to hold the gloved hands firmly to the handle  3  in the established grip. Any breaking of the adhesion with the element  5  at any of the elements  11  to  14  requires a conscious effort and is accompanied by a tearing sound. Thus, if during the swing of the golf club in driving the ball or making any other shot, there is change or relaxation of the established grip, this will be accompanied by a tearing sound readily audible to the golfer. Even if the golfer is not conscious of the effort required by his/her hands to make the change or relaxation, he/she will be aware of the sound made. 
     The adhesion between the individual elements  11  to  14  and the element  5  to resist relaxation and change of grip provides a restraint useful for training purposes. This, together with the tell-tale sound that accompanies any such relaxation and change of grip, is of considerable assistance to the golfer for improving his/her game. A corresponding advantage can in general be realised in application of the present invention to other sports and circumstances where the grip of a handle is important. 
     In the example described above, the fabric element  5  is wrapped round the handle  3  to overlap along the margin  6  longitudinally of the club. The longitudinal overlap can be avoided as illustrated in FIG. 5 by means of an element  25  of the hook-ended nylon fabric, that is wrapped helically and tightly butting onto itself, round the handle  3 . The element  25  is secured in place at both ends using fabric fastening between its outer surface and wrap-over tabs  26  and  27  of loop-ended threads on its inner surface. As an alternative, the element  5  may be replaced by a tubular moulding which has the necessary fabric-fastener element as its outer, and which fits onto the shaft  4  in the way of a conventional replacement handle for golf clubs. 
     Although the gloves  1  and  2  in the above example have added elements  11  to  14  to provide for adhesion with the club-handle  3 , it may be unnecessary in certain circumstances to provide more than one glove with such fabric. However, a pair of gloves which may be used as an alternative to the gloves of FIGS. 3 and 4, and which incorporates a preferred disposition of discrete ‘adhesion’-fabric elements, is illustrated in FIGS. 6 to  10  and will now be described. 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the left and right golf gloves  31  and  32  in this case, have respective groups of attached fabric elements  33  to  36  and  37  to  39 . The elements  33  and  34 , as shown in FIG. 6, are attached to the thumb  40  of the left glove  31 , the element  33 , as illustrated more clearly in FIG. 8, covering the distal ball or tip of the thumb  40 , whereas the element  34 , as illustrated more clearly in FIG. 9, covers the back of the thumb  40  onto the knuckle. The element  35  extends part way up, and across the base of, the second to fourth fingers  41  to  43  of the glove  31 , whereas the element  36  extends along the ulnar side of the palm  44  of that glove. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, the element  37  is attached to the thumb  45  of the right glove  32 , being attached as shown in FIG. 10, to the distal ball or tip of the thumb  45 . The element  38  extends slightly onto the palm  46  of the glove  32  and up to almost the tip of its first finger  47 , but only slightly onto its second and third fingers  48  and  49 , from across the base of the fingers  47  to  49 , whereas the element  39  extends from the radial side of the palm  46  onto the base of the thumb  45 . 
     The elements  33  and  35  to  37  have loop-end threads and their distribution on the two gloves  31  and  32  ensures that when the handle  3 , covered (for example, as described above with reference to FIG. 2 or FIG. 5) with fabric  5  or  25  having hook-ended threads, is gripped appropriately, there is optimum retention of that grip throughout swing of the club. In taking up the conventional right-handed grip of the handle  3 , the handle  3  is placed across the palm of the left hand as that hand is closed round the handle  3 , and the right hand is then closed onto the handle  3  with the base of its thumb overlying the back of the thumb of the left hand. Accordingly, as the grip is established wearing the gloves  31  and  32 , the fabric elements  35  and  36  and then the element  33  of the left glove  31 , adhere to the fabric-covered handle  3 , followed by adhesion to the handle  3  of the fabric elements  37  and  38  of the right glove  32 . Thus, as with the gloves  1  and  2  of FIGS. 3 and 4, the gloves  31  and  32  afford adhesion between the gripping hands and the golf club to provide a restraint useful for training purposes. However, the gloves  31  and  32  incorporate further features that are of advantage in training. 
     In the latter respect, the fabric element  34  and  39  are of opposite thread types; for example, the element  34  has hook-ended threads whereas the threads of the element  39  are loop-ended. Accordingly, there is adhesion between the elements  34  and  39  where the right glove  32  overlies the left glove  31 , so that with the gloves  31  and  32  there is the added advantage that relaxation of the right hand from the left hand is opposed as further restraint on change of the established grip. 
     Holes  50  and  51  in the left glove  31 , as shown in FIG. 6, provide a further feature that is of advantage for training purposes. More particularly, the holes  50  and  51  define an optimum line of alignment for the handle  3 , extending from the hole  51  just above the base of the first finger  52  of the glove  31  and across the palm  44  to the hole  50  just below the fourth finger  43 . Accordingly, in taking up the conventional right-handed grip, the handle  3  is first located in register with the holes  50  and  51  so that it has the correct positioning within the hands for achieving optimum grip. 
     It will be appreciated that in the above examples described with reference to the drawings, it may be the elements  11  to  14 ,  33  and  35  to  39  that have the hook-ended threads rather than the elements  5 ,  25  and  34 . In this case, the threads of the elements  5 ,  25  and  34  will be loop-ended or of any other form suitable to be engaged adhesively by the hook-ended threads. 
     Furthermore, it has been assumed above in connection with FIGS. 1,  3 ,  4 ,  6  and  7  that the invention is used to assist a right-handed golfer using a conventional grip of the club-handle  3 , but it will be apparent that the invention is equally applicable to circumstances where the golfer is left-handed and where any grip, conventional or unconventional, is used. The distribution and areas of the gloves  1  and  2 , or  31  and  32 , covered by fabric elements with relevant hook- or loop-ended threads, merely requires adaptation to the handedness of the golfer and the grip used.