Moldable handle adapter

A handle adapter for hand molding around an existing handle and constructed in a manner enabling the user to shape the external surface of the adapter to conform to the grip of the user's hand. The material to be molded is contained in a pouch having flexible walls and end closures. The size of the pouch is such that the total volume which it could contain is much larger than the volume of the moldable material therein. One half of the pouch has a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the other half, whereby the smaller cross-section half of the pouch can be pushed inside the larger cross-section half of the pouch and the material therebetween becomes trapped between two concentrically positioned flexible walls. When the walls of the smaller half pouch are supported by a solid structure, the moldable material then envelops such structure. When pressure is applied externally preferentially at certain locations on the walls of the larger half pouch, the trapped moldable material has no way to escape and is forced to rearrange its shape to match the external contour imposed on the outer wall on which such pressure is being applied. The moldable material is then caused to harden while the pressure remains applied. This results in obtaining a molded external surface which thus matches the configuration of the means by which the pressure was externally applied.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an adapter for installation around an 
existing handle in a manner such that the user of the handle can mold the 
outer portion of a handle so equipped to fit his (her) grip. The handling 
of the item provided with such handle is thereby greatly facilitated and 
rendered much firmer and more precise. This is done by enabling the user 
to cause the external contour of the adapter to conform to his (her) grip 
and to maintain such conforming shape. 
As a typical example of a class of items which could benefit from the 
application of the present invention are those items requiring a firm and 
exact grip and onto which externally and randomly applied loads are the 
result of their very use. Cases in point are a golf driving club and a 
tennis racket. In both cases, the item must hit an object correctly and 
hitting the object causes forces to be applied on the item, forces which 
in most instances are negatively disturbing. Such forces generate torques 
on the item handle, torques that the user must counteract and which 
necessitates a firm grip on the handle. 
Attempts have been made in the past for providing such grip enhancers such 
as wrapping leather straps around the handle, having a mold made of the 
user grip for later shaping the handle and coating the handle external 
surface with materials offering good friction qualities. Having a mold 
made of one's hand grip is expensive. Means for increasing friction do not 
provide the handling precision expected and needed from the grip. 
Thus a new inexpensive and effective way to adapt a specially and 
personally molded "handle-grip" to an existing handle is needed. The goal 
of the present invention is to provide such a way, in a manner such that 
the user alone can equip the handles of his favorite items. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a 
moldable adapter that can be easily and securely installed on an existing 
handle. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a moldable adapter 
that fits the shape of the natural grip of a hand when it performs the act 
of firmly gripping. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a moldable 
adapter that can be made to fit the user's grip in more than one way to 
hold the handle during the use thereof. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a moldable 
adapter that has an external surface which can be selected to fit the 
touch characteristics most pleasant and most effective for the user. 
Accordingly, the present invention provides a moldable adapter for handles 
that is easy to install, simple and inexpensive, and which offers 
selections of moldable materials and/or cover materials deemed most 
suitable for giving to the user the "feel" and the "touch" which are most 
desirable to him (her).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the adapter, in its moldable form consists of a 
larger half pouch 10 joined to another smaller half pouch 12 by lap joint 
14 formed by the overlapping of walls 16 and 18. The two half pouches are 
closed by end closures 20 and 22 specially shaped so as to facilitate the 
swelling of the half pouches as needed to accommodate the increases in 
their internal volumes caused by the introduction of the handle therein. 
The pouch is filled with a moldable paste-like fluid, which is not shown 
for the sake of simplicity, occupying a volume considerably smaller then 
that which the pouch could contain if totally inflated. As an example, it 
is asumed, in the case of FIGS. 4 to 6, that the fluid consists of two 
parts which, when brought into intimate contact, react to form a mixture 
which rapidly hardens. For that reason, in their moldable state, the 
contents of the two half pouches must be separated and kept isolated until 
application is shortly forthcoming. FIGS. 4 to 6 depict a clamp 
configuration applied onto the half pouch lap joint 14. Clamp 24, shown in 
a deformed clamping shape, applies pressure on lap joint 14, thus 
preventing contact between the contents of the two half pouches. The 
original shape of clamp 24 is shown in phantom lines 25 in FIG. 6, before 
the jaws 26 and 28 of a crimping tool, not shown, were used to effect the 
clamping. 
Referring to FIG. 7, the smaller pouch wall 18 is shown being wrapped 
against a handle core 30, assuming that clamp 24 has beem removed and that 
mixing the contents of the two half pouches has already been achieved. 
When the handle core becomes fully wrapped inside the sheath formed by 
walls 16 and 18, as shown by phantom line 32 of FIG. 1 (molded adapter), 
the moldable content of the sheath is ready to be molded into the wanted 
shape. 
The molding operation is represented in FIG. 8 in which handle core 30 is 
shown enveloped by the sheath with an internal volume 33 filled with the 
moldable material. While the material is still in its plastic stage, 
pressure is then applied by fingers 11, 13, 15, 17 and thumb 19 of a hand 
(not shown) onto wall 16. The pressure then developed in volume 33 causes 
wall 16 to bulge slightly within the boundary constraints formed by the 
hand and the slight deformations of wall 16, and is transmitted to wall 18 
supported by the external surface of handle core 30, thereby insuring a 
firm contact later between the molded adapter and the handle core. The 
construction of the pouch is such that lap joint 14 remains on the 
external wall of the molded adapter, thereby avoiding the necessity of a 
very flexible lap joint. For reference, contour 35 shown in phantom lines 
indicates how the moldable adapter is first engaged. 
Depending upon the method used for filling the pouch with its contents, 
either one or two end closures are equipped with a filling orifice 36 
located on the end closure (see FIG. 9). This orifice (or aperture) is 
sealed by specially shaped plug 38 which becomes firmly held once inserted 
in the aperture. 
DISCUSSION AND OPERATION 
The handle adapter just described can be constructed to be installed on a 
vast range of items and tools which need handling in a precise and firm 
manner. Also it can be constructed to accommodate handles that must be 
held with one hand or two hands. Furthermore, in some applications, the 
handle may be held in one hand only, but differently according to the type 
of function to be served. As an example, a tennis racket may be held in at 
least three basic ways. Each way requires a different holding of the 
racket. A golf driving club must be held with two hands, placed in one 
specific manner relatively to one another. Numerous other applications 
could also be enumerated and discussed, however the application scope of 
the present invention is too wide to even attempt it. The content of the 
following discussion, therefore, should not be construed as a limitation 
of such scope. 
The three basic components of the adapter are the pouch, the material 
contained therein and the clamp. Each component is discussed separately 
below. 
THE COMPOSITION MATERIAL 
When molded, the material becomes one monolithic homogeneous hard body. The 
transition from moldable material to molded material must be made possible 
only once, at any time chosen by the user, be irreversible and achievable 
in a period of minutes. Also, the transformation of moldable to molded 
must be permanent and not influenced by time. The transformation, 
triggerred at will by the user, must only require a simple operation by 
the user. Because the molding must necessarily be accomplished by hand, 
the use of temperature as the transformation triggering agent is not 
practical. A chemical reaction between two base constituents is favored, 
but should not be construed as a limitation. Two types of chemical 
reactions are used as typical and non-limitative examples. One requires 
the use of a clamp, the other may not. 
A well-known chemical reaction which does not require the use of a clamp to 
prevent the two parts of the chemical composition from coming into contact 
prematurely is that of water with plaster of Paris. The pouch contains a 
set amount of plaster of Paris powder and reinforcing fibers (glass fibers 
for instance) and is evacuated. The pouch can be pierced with the needle 
of a syringe containing a set amount of water when the user decides to 
mold the adapter around the already prepared handle core, at which time, 
the water is injected into the pouch for mixing with the pouch content. 
The user can then manipulate the pouch wall so as to throughly cause the 
plaster of Paris, the fibers and the water to form a paste that will 
harden in a few minutes. During these few minuts, the user then causes the 
smaller half of the pouch to roll over the handle core and then the larger 
half of the pouch to slide over the wall of the smaller pouch, while the 
material is still fluid. When the user senses the start of the hardening 
process by touch and finger pressure, he then forms the type of grip he 
selects and maintains that grip. As the user maintains his (her) grip, the 
hardening material assumes the shape imposed onto the pouch wall by the 
gripping hand. After a few more minutes, the plaster has set and the grip 
may be released. The molding of the adapter is completed, it has passed 
from the moldable stage to the in-place molded stage. 
Another typical way to form a hard body in-place by hand molding is to 
cause two parts of a resin composition to become intimately mixed within a 
closed flexible-walled container. Such a composition is used as a typical 
and non-limitative example for the present invention construction in the 
case where a clamp is required to prevent premature contact between the 
two parts. The nature of the composition is unimportant and the two parts 
are referred to as Part A and Part B. In such construction, Part A may be 
contained in the smaller half pouch and Part B may be contained in the 
larger half pouch. The end closures of both half pouch are equipped with 
an aperture. After the the two half pouches have been assembled and the 
lap joint sealed, the clamp is placed on the joint. Each part of the 
composition is then injected in its respective half pouch, while being 
kept evacuated. After the correct amounts of Part A and/or Part B have 
thus been injected, plugs 38 are set in place to seal the half pouches. 
The moldable adapter is ready for storage until use is needed. 
When a user decides to mold the adapter around an already prepared handle 
core, he (she) loosens the clamp and removes it. Squeezing alternatively 
each half pouch and forcing the content therein to flow into the other 
half pouch and pursuing such manipulation for a fraction of a minute 
results in a thorough mixing of the two parts. At that time, the operation 
of inserting the handle core into the pouch may be started and then 
completed in a short time, before the composition has appreciably 
hardened. 
The user can then apply and maintain his selected grip type on the adapter 
external wall in the manner above-indicated. Chemical compositions such as 
some epoxy resins harden sufficiently in a few minutes, enough time to 
give the adapter its molded shape. To prevent this shape from changing 
noticeably during the period of time required for the completion of the 
resin curing, care is taken to rest the handle in a position such that any 
subsequent deformation of the molded resin is minimized and remains 
localized in a portion of the adapter which is least critical. 
THE CLAMP 
The clamp function is to keep both parts of a two-part composition 
segregated until such time when they must be mixed. The nature of the 
material used in the construction of the pouch walls is such that it is 
pliable, flexible, remains so with time and does not stretch much. The 
pressure applied onto the joint by the clamp needs only be small, not too 
localized but well distributed along the joint fold so as to effectively 
seal the passage between the two half pouches. When in place, the clamp 
must be easily removable with a minimum amount of effort and without risk 
of causing damage to the pouch walls. This can be achieved as is well 
known in the art by creating a weak point in a highly stressed part of the 
clamp, such as points a and/or b shown in FIG. 6 as examples. 
The need for a clamp can be altogether eliminated with the use of a 
pressure-sensitive sealing seam located on the internal surface of wall 18 
of the smaller half pouch. The location and extent of such a sealing seam 
are depicted by phantom lines c of FIG. 1. Such a seam seal consists of a 
narrow band coated onto the internal surface of wall 18, as shown, with a 
pressure sensitive adhesive as is well known in the art. The sealing 
occurs when the joint between the two half pouches is formed by flattening 
the already positioned open ends of the half pouches in the manner 
described for crimping the clamp in place. The internal seal thus created 
is much weaker than the much wider seal joining the two half pouches. When 
the content of one half pouch is forced by hand-applied pressure to push 
onto the internal seal, the seal ruptures and opens the passage between 
the two halves. If hand pressure is applied first on the smaller half 
pouch, the risk of damaging the joint seal is eliminated altogether. In 
such a construction, the clamp is not needed and the user's task is 
substantially simplified and rendered very easy. 
THE POUCH 
The nature of the materials used to fabricate the walls of the two half 
pouches need not be the same. As a matter of fact, each wall has its own 
set of requirements when the adapter is used in the molded stage. The 
external surface of wall 18 should adhere well to the handle core external 
surface. The external surface of wall 16 should offer good friction 
between the adapter and the user's hand. The external surface of wall 18 
and the internal surface of wall 16 must form a strong lap joint when 
brought in contact to construct the adhesion sealing joint. An adhesive 
compatible with the materials of the walls can be used as is well known in 
the art. Heat-induced welding by means of localized fusing of compatible 
materials can also be used. Thus, the construction of the lap joint is 
achievable in ways that do not impose undue constraints on the selection 
of materials for the pouch walls. 
These walls are in direct contact with at least one part of the composition 
material. Long storage life must be possible prior to use. The number of 
compatible combinations of composition materials and of wall materials is 
large as is well known in the art. The last and most important requirement 
imposed on the choice of wall material is that of providing a good "feel" 
to touch and good friction with hand skin, even while sweating. A 
suede-type of finish is possible with some plastic. The external surface 
of wall 16 can also be spray-coated with a finish coating that 
incorporates pieces of natural fibers which could provide friction, the 
right "feel" and also minimize the sweat problem. The wall materials must 
also be impervious to and serve as a barrier to gases and/or vapors that 
may be generated by the composition parts, before they are mixed. In all 
instances, the internal cavities formed by the half pouches must not 
contain trapped air and sould be evacuated. In the construction where 
plaster of Paris and an internal seam seal are used, water can be stored 
in one of the two pouches. Although voids necessarily exist between dust 
particles and/or fibers, such void volumes could also be evacuated. 
The closing and sealing of the end closure apertures can easily be 
performed by providing an adequate flexible seal such as shown by d of 
FIG. 9, to maintain the vacuum. The insertion of sealing plug 38 can be 
facilitated by shaping its gland e as is represented in FIG. 9, plug 38 
being also referred to as sealing cap. Once the sealing capped plug 38 is 
set permanently in place, any pressure exerted by the fluid inside the 
elongated container during the kneading action of walls 16 and 18, pushes 
gland e against the internal edge of orifice 36, thereby providing the 
sealing action needed for preventing any fluid leakage. Conversely, air is 
preventing from being sucked in by seal d formed by lip f of the cap. If 
plug 38 is installed by the user, upon filling the pouch, a protective 
peel-off guard (not shown) may be removed, exposing a pressure sensitive 
adhesive, located either on the internal face of the cap or around the 
orifice edge on the external surface of the end closure. Setting the 
capped plug in place then automatically creates a bond and the seal. 
ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
When a chemical composition consists of two parts, the relative amount of 
each part may vastly differ. In such an instance, the amount of the least 
voluminous part (usually a small percentage of the volume of the other 
part) is called and acts as a catalyst for a chemical reaction that takes 
place within the fluid of the most voluminous part. A potentially possible 
reaction is thus triggered and proceeds on its own henceforth once 
triggered. Such chemical reaction is best known as molecule cross-linking. 
It can happen typically with some types of plastic resins and silicone 
rubbers. Because the amount of catalyst is so small, but so powerful, it 
must absolutely be kept from contacting the other fluid and still be 
immersed in the fluid to be catalyzed, in the case of the present 
invention. This can be done by encapsulating the catalyst in a liquid form 
in a small container having thin flexible walls impervious to both the 
liquid catalyst and its vapor. The capsule is then placed inside the 
elongated pouch as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 4 by phantom lines h. When 
hardening of the fluid is desired, the catalyst capsule can be squeezed 
between two fingers through wall 16 (or 18) and caused to rupture, thusly 
injecting the catalyst into the fluid. At that time, the kneading 
operation of the pouch walls needed to cause a good mixing of fluid and 
catalyst can be performed. The shearing forces within the viscous flow of 
the fluid back and forth in the elongated pouch provide the mixing action 
required. 
Both plastic resin and silicone rubber materials can be used in both 
embodiments: (1) when the two parts are of substantially equal volumes 
(reaction between two chemicals), and (2) when a cross-linking reaction is 
triggered by the use of a catalyst. In both cases, the fluid(s) which 
compose the bulks of the adapter body material can be inserted by the user 
immediately prior to their mixing, through one single orifice such as 36. 
This can be best performed with the use of two squeezable tubes provided 
with the elongated container equipped with its removable capping plug. The 
tubes each have a pointed discharge spout which can easily be inserted in 
the orifice. Each contains one of the two complementary parts of the 
fluid. The need for a clamp or for a sealing seam is eliminated. If a 
catalyst is used, the catalyst capsule can be located any place inside the 
pouch, and the fluid can then be added by the user in the manner above 
described. The sealing plug can then be permanently installed. The user 
ruptures the capsule and then mixes fluid and catalyst. The use of 
squeezable tubes for storage of the fluid prior to use improves the shelf 
life of the fluid and increases greatly the number of types and selections 
of materials then usable for walls 16 and 18. 
The above-described embodiment also simplifies the construction of the 
elongated container. Lap joint 14 can be located near one end closure. 
Depending upon whether it is preferable or not to keep the lap joint 
exposed after installation of the adapter, the slip joint can be located 
closer to end closure 22 or 20. As selected, the lips of the end closure 
and the lips of the elongated pouch can also be joined together to form a 
lap joint. But the choice of construction of such end closure can best be 
left up to the manufacture to best satisfy the requirements of each 
specific application contemplated for the adapter. 
In the case of all embodiments, the handle core must be prepared to receive 
the adapter. Such a preparation is left to the user to perform. In all 
instances, the molded adaptor must provide a positive and permanent 
locking of the adapter in place. In its moldable stage, the adapter is 
quite deformable and can conform to varied shapes and sizes, within 
limits. According to guiding directions, it is up to the user to chose and 
adopt the combinations of shape, size and degree of finish he thinks best. 
It is even possible for him to shape the handle core in a manner such that 
the molded adapter becomes removable and adaptable to other handles. A 
flexibility of adaptation of the molded adapter to various item handles by 
a user can easily be provided by the present invention. 
As earlier explained, the invention refers to either a moldable or a molded 
adapter. The invention pertains to the same configuration, but at two 
different stages of its construction. The moldable configuration has no 
permanent shape, the content of the elongated container or pouch is in the 
form of a viscous fluid, even when the mixing of the parts has taken 
place, at least for a short time. After the moldable configuration is 
installed on the handle core, it is still in its moldable stage for a 
short while, long enough to enable the user to select and form his grip 
(or his two or three basic types of grips, as the case may be). The user 
must then maintain the grip until the adapter gives a feel of hardness, 
the "plastic" feeling earlier felt is then gone and it would be difficult 
to modify substantially the form then given to the adapter. The adapter 
has then acquired its molded configuration which has become permanent. The 
two terms apply to the invention equally well. In the cases where plastic 
resins or silicone rubbers are used, the adapter remains moldable after a 
substantial amount of curing has taken place. The adapter becomes molded 
before most of the curing process is completed. 
Regardless of the nature of the chemical composition used in the adapter, 
the installation of the pouch around the handle core proceeds in the same 
manner as earlier described. It is better to perform the installation as 
soon as the fluid mixing is finished and before appreciable thickening 
occurs, so as to facilitate the sliding of th outer wall along the inner 
wall. For some compositions, the use of limited heat can lower the 
viscosity of the fluid for a short while and be very helpful. However, 
heat accelerates the curing process and reduces the amount of time 
available to the user for forming the adapter. Conversely, cooling the 
composition slows down the curing process and increases the viscosity of 
the fluid, thereby providing more time for the forming operation. A 
specified stage of the hardening, after which altering the adapter shape 
becomes impractical and the material will not change its form, is defined 
for each composition and corresponds to the degree of local deformation 
that locally exerted pressure can cause (touch feeling). When such a 
specified stage is reached, the equipped handle can be placed in a 
vertical position so as to minimize the effects of any residual creeping 
of the material. 
It is thought that the apparatus and the method of the present invention 
will be understood from the forgoing description and it will be apparent 
that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement 
of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention.