LOW FRICTION ARTICLES

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparel, such as clothing, footwear, fabrics, and the like, which incorporates fabrics or chemicals having a low coefficient of friction either overall or in specific areas of the apparel that will minimize the development of blisters, callouses, and irritation of the skin. The present invention also relates to apparel which incorporates fabrics or chemicals having a low coefficient of friction either overall or in specific areas of the outer surface of the apparel that will minimize frictional contact with external objects. The present invention further relates to articles defined as sports projectiles, equipment used in water activities, golf clubs, and toothbrushes, which incorporates fabrics or chemicals having a low coefficient in overall areas of the outer surface of the article that will minimize frictional contact with external objects/surfaces.

Description: LOW FRICTION ARTICLES RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/389,759 filed February 14, 1995, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/217,490 filed March 24, 1994 and which issued as U.S. Patent No. 5,590,420. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to low friction apparel and articles, and methods for producing same; wherein apparel is defined as clothing, footwear, fabrics and the like, and the articles are defined as sports projectiles, equipment used for water sports or activities, golf clubs and toothbrushes. The invention relates to low friction apparel which incorporates fabrics or chemicals having a low coefficient of friction either overall or in specific areas of the apparel that will minimize the development of blisters, callouses, and irritation of an apparel wearer's body surface. The invention also includes methods for producing the low friction apparel and methods for using a low friction material to reduce the coefficient of friction of a finished article or apparel, or the like, to reduce irritation. This invention also relates to articles, such as sport projectiles, sailing equipment or toothbrushes having a low friction outer surface and methods for producing same. In particular, the invention relates to improving the flight characteristics and distance of sports projectiles, such as golf balls, footballs, softballs, hockey pucks, soccer balls, tennis balls, arrows, or other sport objects that move through a fluid surface or move on a hard or soft surface. This invention relates to decreasing the effective impedance to flight of an object such as a ball, moving through the air or rolling on the ground, by having a low friction outer surface which incorporates chemicals or incorporates a material with a low coefficient of friction either overall or in specific areas of the outer exterior surface of the article. As an article moves in the air, it ordinarily spins and a layer of air clings to the spinning article, such as a sports object. This air layer is carried around the article with the relative velocity of the air at any point near the article comprised of the wind or gaseous movement and the spinning movement. In addition to those phenomena, the flow of a fluid such as air past a solid body may be either streamline flow or turbulent flow. The present invention is concerned with the streamline flow of a sport projectile having essentially no resultant forces applied and a small drag. Resistance to flight motion under these conditions is due entirely to skin friction such as the tangential forces on the surface due to friction of the air itself. By incorporating a low friction material into the outer surface or coating the outer surface of the sports object, the skin friction caused by the air itself is reduced. More particularly, this invention further relates to equipment used in any type of water activities, namely, sails for boats, wind sails for windsurfers, oars for canoes or kayaks that have a low friction outer surface which contains chemicals having a low coefficient of friction or incorporates a material having a low coefficient of friction either overall or in specific areas of the exterior surface of the equipment used in water sports. Further, this invention relates to the bristles of toothbrushes, whether electric or manual, having an exterior surface which incorporates chemicals or materials that have low coefficient of friction characteristics. The invention also includes methods for producing the apparel or articles with a low friction outer surface and methods for using a low friction material to reduce the coefficient of friction of the exterior of a finished apparel or article or the like. Apparel is made out of many materials, natural and man-made. They include cotton, wool, silk, linen, leather, vinyl, nylon - polyamides and polyamide co- polymers, LYCRA SPANDEX m different filament configurations, orlon polyvinylidene fluoride, such as KYNAR , polyester, for example, polyethylene terepthalate, glycol modified polyesters, such as PETG, KODURA ™ , rayon, orlon cellulosic fiber blends, and the like, as well as blends of the above. Of course, apparel, either directly or indirectly, contacts the body surface of the wearer. The movement of the wearer causes frictional contact between the wearer's body surface and the apparel. This frictional contact can cause irritation, blisters, and callouses. This frictional contact is particularly a problem in sporting apparel wherein the formation of irritations, blisters, and callouses is exacerbated by the rapid and/or repetitious body movements related to the particular activity. Additionally, it is noted that most apparel has specific areas of high body surface/apparel contact which produces a majority of the irritations, blisters, and callouses. Furthermore, the outer surface of sports projectiles, and equipment used for water sports contacts external objects and surfaces such as playground fields; clay courts; oceans; lakes; frozen ice rinks; other playing arenas; other sports equipment such as gloves, bats, hockey sticks; and hands of players. In addition, the outer surface of a toothbrush contacts the external surface of the teeth of the user. The movement of any sport projectiles, equipment used for water sports such as a wind sail, or toothbrushes causes frictional contact between the sport projectiles, sails, and toothbrushes, and the external objects and surfaces. This frictional contact can be, at times, very undesirable. In general, frictional contact of any object with air, water, or solid surfaces slows or brings a moving object to a stop (or, in the case of a falling object, to terminal velocity). This frictional contact is particularly a problem in sports where distance is crucial and because of friction the projectile hit by the participant is brought to an abrupt or sliding halt. If the air resistance of the skin friction of the sport projectiles is reduced, the flight distance and rolling distance of a sport projectile, such as a golf ball, is largely increased. This enables the golfer to increase the distance of his drives and approach shots, which should improve the golfer's golf game. Another situation where frictional contact can be very undesirable is in high speed sports and sports where the difference between winning and losing is determined in fractions of a second. In these sports, any speed or momentum lost to friction can mean the difference between winning and losing. For instance, sports such as sail racing or windsurfing, where the frictional stresses of the wind on the outer surfaces on the sails reduces the speed of a boat. In these sports, which require less wind resistance for maintaining or enhancing the speed of the boat or windsurfer, it would be advantageous to have the exterior surface of the sails incorporated either overall or in specific areas with a low friction material which would reduce frictional contact between the sail and the wind surface. Another situation where frictional contact can be very undesirable is in brushing your teeth, where often additional forces are needed to move the bristles to overcome the frictional force caused between the bristles and the exterior surface of the teeth. In addition, this frictional contact created between a user's teeth and the toothbrush's bristles is a particular problem in maintaining the form or shape of the bristles. If the movement of the bristles could be dissipated by an increase in the sliding motion of the bristles over . the outer surface of the teeth, the form of the bristles would not be disrupted and less force would be required by the user. This would then enhance the lifetime of the toothbrush and reduce the brushing time. It would be highly desirable to have apparel which has an overall low coefficient of friction or which has material having a low coefficient of friction incorporated into areas of high body surface/apparel contact such that irritations, blisters, and callouses are avoided or minimized. It would also be highly desirable to have articles, such as sports projectiles, wind sails, and toothbrushes which have an overall low coefficient of friction characteristics coated or sprayed onto the articles or which has material having a low coefficient of friction incorporated into areas of outer surface/external object contact such that frictional contact is minimized. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principle object of the invention to provide low friction apparel which avoids or minimizes the development of irritations, blisters, and callouses. It is also a principle object of the invention to provide low friction articles, such as a golf ball to improve the flight characteristics of the golf ball by reducing the effective resistance created by skin friction between the exterior surface of the ball and the ground or air surfaces. A further object of the invention is to provide a method for producing low friction apparel or articles by chemically treating the fibers or yarn of the material from which the apparel or articles are made prior to or after producing the material. -. 6 Another object of the invention is to provide a method for producing low friction articles by incorporating low friction yarns, fibers or material into the fabric from which the articles are made. Still another object of the invention is to provide a method for 5 producing low friction articles by applying chemicals to impart a low friction coefficient directly to the fabric or articles either overall or in areas of high surface/articles contact. It is yet another principle object of the invention to provide articles which have a low friction outer surface. 10 Still a further object of the invention is to provide a method for producing articles with a low friction outer surface by chemically treating the fibers or ya or the like of the material from which the articles are made prior to or after producing the material. Another object of the invention is to provide a method for producing 15 articles with a low friction outer surface by incorporating low friction yarns, fibers or material into the fabric from which the articles are made. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method for producing articles with a low friction outer surface by applying chemicals to impart a low friction coefficient directly to the fabric or article either overall or in areas of high 20 outer surface/external object contact. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a golf ball having an outer surface incorporating low friction material according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the golf ball of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a first type of golf club having a bottom surface incorporating low friction material according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second type of golf club having a bottom surface incorporating low friction material according to the present invention. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a hockey puck having an outer surface incorporating low friction material according to the present invention. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a football having an outer surface incorporating low friction material according to the present invention. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a softball having an outer surface incorporating low friction material according to the present invention. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a sail having an outer surface incorporating low friction material according to the present invention. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a toothbrush having bristles incorporating low friction material according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As indicated above, the present invention provides low friction apparel to avoid or minimize irritations, blisters, and callouses that can result from abrasive contact between a wearer's body surface and the apparel. Low friction apparel can be made with low friction materials. As also indicated above, the present invention further provides low friction sport equipment to decrease the impedance that results from abrasive contact between a surface and the equipment. Low friction sport equipment consisting of sport projectiles, such as golf balls, footballs, softballs, hockey pucks, or any other moving sports object, such as a golf club, can be made of or with low friction o materials. In addition, equipment used for water sports, such as sails or the like can be made of or with low-friction material. In addition, the present invention provides low friction toothbrush bristles to decrease the impedance that results from the abrasive contact between the surface of the teeth and the bristles of the brush. Low friction toothbrush bristles can be made of or with low friction materials. These low friction materials can be fibers which inherently have a low coefficient of friction which are incorporated into the material either alone or in combination with other materials; low friction chemicals which can be applied directly to the finished fibers, material, apparel or articles to impart low friction properties; fibers which are treated with low friction chemicals are then woven into the material either alone or in combination with other material; or any combination of the above. These low friction materials can be incorporated into the entire piece of apparel or in specific high body surface/apparel contact areas, or incorporated into the outer exterior surface of the articles defined as sports projectiles, equipment used for water sports, or toothbrush bristles by any mechanical application of the chemicals of this invention to the outer surface to be treated. The mechanical application may be by any convenient method such as dipping, spraying, aerosol spraying, swabbing, wiping, painting or any other permanent coating applications or the like. Some material fibers inherently have a low coefficient of friction. These fibers include, but are not limited to, silicone, graphite, TEFLON™, KYNAR ™ , boron, polypropylene, polyethylene, and GORTEX . These materials can be incorporated directly into the apparel either overall or in specific high body surface/apparel contact areas to produce low friction apparel. These materials can also be incorporated directly into the entire outer exterior surface or to specific areas of the articles to produce low friction sport equipment. For instance, a sport projectile such as a golf ball is comprised of a solid core covered with an ionomer acid resin usually of ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer. The golf ball preferably can be coated with a primer and top coat. The low friction material can be incorporated into and outer exterior suitcase whether as a primer or top coat or as a ionomer resin cover. Further, these materials can also be incorporated to the outer surface of the bristles of the toothbrush to create a low friction toothbrush. Chemicals can be used to treat material fibers or finished materials that do not inherently have a low coefficient of friction in order to impart a low coefficient of friction. Additionally, this chemical treatment can be used with materials which do inherently have a low coefficient of friction in order to impart an even lower coefficient of friction. This chemical treatment is incorporated into the material such that it is of a non-temporary nature and it becomes an integral part of the article. Most preferably, this chemical treatment is incorporated into the material such that it is functional substantially over the lifetime of the treated article. These chemicals include, but are not limited to, silicone, silicone co-polymers, silicone elastomers, polytetrafluoroethylene, homopolymers and copolymers such as TEFLON , graphite, and the like, as well as any combination of the above chemicals. The fibers can be treated with these chemicals by coextrusion when producing the fibers, blending with the fibers after production, adding in a bath form or spraying onto the fiber or material, or similar techniques. The finished material can be treated with these chemicals by adding in a bath fonn or spraying onto the material, or similar techniques. Application may be by means of sponges or cloths, which have been pretreated with compounds useful in practice of this invention. Binding agents such as gums, resins, plastics, adhesives and other suitable substances may be used to improve the bonding and adherence to the active chemical agents to the treated surface. These agents also contribute to the permanency of the coating and prevent premature loss of the active principle from the treated surface. In a typical application of the invention, a fiber, yarn or fabric or finished article (such as apparel, sports projectiles, golf clubs, water equipment, or toothbrushes) is treated with the low coefficient of friction material to reduce the coefficient of friction of the treated fiber, yam, fabric or article to one which is below the coefficient of friction of the untreated fiber, yam, fabric or finished article. It is prefened that the coefficient of friction of the treated article be less than about 80%, preferably less than about 60% and most preferably less than about 50%) of the coefficient of friction of the untreated article. Similarly, in cases where less than the entire surface of an article is treated, it is prefened that the coefficient of friction Of the treated area(s) be less than about 80%>, preferably less than about 60%> and most preferably less than about 50%> of the coefficient of friction of the same areas when untreated. If the low friction material is incorporated into the finished articles or fabric by weaving a low friction fiber or yam into the articles or fabric, the low friction fiber or yam can be incorporated into amounts ranging from 5% to 100%> by weight of the treated area. Preferably, the fiber or yam is incorporated in amounts between 30 and 70% by weight of the treated area. Most preferably, these amounts are 30 to 50%, by weight. It is of course understood that when finished material is treated with chemicals to impart a low coefficient of friction, in particular when spraying onto the material, the amount incorporated into the finished material can be as small as a fraction of a percent by weight of the treated area. The addition of the low friction material to the fiber, yam, fabric or articles can also be useful to wick away moisture from the skin to help guard against irritation, as well as wetness. It is prefened that areas of objects treated are typically areas which would ordinarily come in contact with the skin during use. Furthermore, it would be prefened that areas treated be those areas subject to imparting frictional movement against the skin during use. It is prefened also that the coefficient of friction between the treated area of the article and the body surface to be reduced to below about 0.9. Likewise, it is prefened that the coefficient friction between the treated area of the object and the exterior surface of the ground, air, wind or hands of the player be reduced to below 0.9. Most preferably, the coefficient of friction is reduced to below about 0.6. The following examples are set forth to illustrate specific embodiments of the invention for low friction apparel or low friction articles. EXAMPLE 1 In one embodiment, low friction socks or hosiery can be produced by incorporating low friction material overall or in specific high contact areas such as in the heel area, the area around the pad of the sole of the foot, the area extending from the pad of the foot to the right and left sides of the foot, in the region where the foot is the widest, and the area around the toes. Areas of the foot which contact laces, buckles or straps are also contact areas where protection would be utilized. The low friction material can also be incorporated to the outside of the sock which reduces friction between the sock and the outer foot apparel, such as a shoe. The low friction material can be incorporated to the inside of the sock which reduces friction between the wearer's foot and the sock. Additionally, low friction material can be incorporated to both inside and outside of the sock which, of course, simultaneously reduces friction between the sock and the outer footwear, and the wearer's foot and the sock. EXAMPLE 2 In another embodiment, outer footwear such as a shoe, sneaker, boot, ski boot, sandal, slipper and the like, can have low friction material incorporated into the outer footwear fabric lining at high body surface/apparel contact areas thereby reducing friction between the wearer's foot or sock and the footwear. It is also noted that in footwear which has no fabric lining, the footwear material itself, such as leather, can be treated with low friction coefficient chemicals in high body surface/apparel contact areas to have a similar result. The low friction material is particularly useful in areas where the product would rub against the skin and cause irritation, blisters or callouses. In feet, these areas would be the heel, sole, the pads of the feet at the wide portion of the foot or the top of the foot which contacts laces, buckles or straps. EXAMPLE 3 In a further embodiment, sporting apparel, such as warm-up pants, shorts, jogging suits, bicycle pants, wet suits, work pants and the like, can have low friction material incoφorated into high body surface/apparel contact areas such as the groin area and along the seams, such as the inner thigh seam, to avoid mbbing and irritations. Additionally, sporting apparel, such as sport shirts, warm-up shirt, and the like, can have low friction material incoφorated into high body surface/apparel contact areas such as the neck and underarm areas to also avoid mbbing and irritations. EXAMPLE 4 In yet another embodiment, work and sport gloves such as gloves used with tools, golf clubs, baseball bats, polo mallets, and tennis, squash and racquetball racquets, can have low friction material incoφorated into high body surface/apparel contact areas to avoid blisters and callouses on the hands. EXAMPLE 5 The low friction material can be utilized in footwear inserts and other devices made to fit in traditional footwear that will help avoid blisters and callouses by reducing friction of the foot against the pressure areas of footwear such as heel cushions, insoles, orthotics, cushions and other pads (bandages). EXAMPLE 6 The low friction material can also be used in bandages and wraps which support torn and sore muscles, ligaments and joints and as linings for casts. EXAMPLE 7 The low friction material can be incoφorated into covers for sporting equipment and tools and other devices that one uses that could cause irritation, blisters, callouses or soreness from friction. Handles of baseball bats, handles of tennis and racquetball racquets, shovels, picks, construction and garden tools, hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, etc, handles of ski poles, fishing rods, water ski rope grips and towing ropes, golf clubs, archery bows, bicycle seats, car seats and back seats, weights and exercise equipment, etc., are all areas which can be incoφorated with the low friction material. It is understood that the invention is not limited to human apparel. The invention can also be used in horse blankets, pet apparel, and the like. Also as indicated above, the present invention provides apparel with a low friction outer surface to minimize the fictional effect of apparel outer surface/extemal object contact. Apparel with a low friction outer surface can be made with a low friction materials. These low friction materials can be fibers which inherently have a low coefficient of friction which are incoφorated into the material either alone or in combination with other materials; low friction chemicals which can be applied directly to the finished fibers, material, or apparel to impart low friction properties; fibers which are treated with a low friction chemicals then woven into the material either alone or in combination with other material; or any combination of the above. These low friction materials can be incoφorated into the entire exterior surface of the apparel or in specific high apparel surface/extemal object or surface contact. The above mentioned low coefficient of friction materials can be incoφorated directly into the apparel either overall or in specific high apparel surface/external object or surface contact areas to produce apparel with a low friction outer surface. The chemicals treatment techniques discussed above also apply to producing low friction outer surface apparel. In a typical application of the invention, a fiber, yarn or fabric or finished article (such as apparel) is treated with the low coefficient of friction material to reduce the coefficient of friction of the treated fiber, yam, fabric or article to one which is below the coefficient of friction of the untreated fiber, yarn, fabric or finished article. It is prefened that the coefficient of friction of the treated object (or object area) be less than about 80%, preferably less than about 60%> and most preferably less than about 50%> of the coefficient of friction of the untreated object (or object area). If the low friction material is incoφorated into the finished article or fabric by weaving a low friction fiber or yam into the article or fabric, the low friction fiber or yam can be incoφorated into amounts ranging from 5% to 100%> by weight of the treated area. Preferably, the fiber or yam is incoφorated in amounts between 30 and 70%) by weight of the treated area. Most preferably, these amounts are 30 to 50%), by weight. It is of course understood that when finished material is treated with chemicals to impart a low coefficient of friction, in particular when spraying onto the material, the amount incoφorated into the finished material can be as small as a fraction of a percent by weight of the treated area. The addition of the low friction material to the fiber, ya , fabric or article can also be useful to wick away moisture from the skin to help guard against irritation, as well as wetness. It is of course understood that apparel can be produce with both low friction body surface/apparel areas which avoids or minimizes the development of irritations, blisters, and callouses and low friction outer surface/external object contact such that frictional contact is minimized. It is prefened that areas of apparel treatment are typically areas which would ordinarily come in contact with the external contact surface during use. It is prefened also that the coefficient of friction between the treated area of the apparel and the external contact surface to be reduced to below about 0.9. Most preferably, the coefficient of friction is reduced to below about 0.6. The following examples are set forth to illustrate specific embodiments of the apparel with a low friction outer surface. EXAMPLE 8 In one embodiment, sporting apparel, such as uniforms used in football, wrestling, and rugby where an opponent tackled or gripped during play, can have low friction material incoφorated directly into the apparel either overall or in specific surface contact areas to produce apparel with a low friction outer surface which is difficult to grip to make it hard to tackle or handle the opponent. Additionally, sporting apparel, such as uniforms used in football, baseball, basketball, wrestling, racquetball, squash, rugby, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, field hockey, and handball, where players (either opposing players or team members) make bodily contact, can have low friction material incoφorated directly into the apparel either overall or in specific surface contact areas to produce apparel with a low friction outer surface to minimize the effect of pushing and jostling of contact during play. EXAMPLE 9 In another embodiment, sports protection apparel, such as knee pads, elbow pads, and hand protection used in volleyball, basketball, skating (particularly in-line skating), skateboarding, and soccer, can have low friction material incoφorated directly into the protection apparel either overall or in specific surface contact areas to reduce injuries which occur in these sports. In general, frictional contact of any object with air, water, or solid surfaces slows or brings a moving object to a stop. This frictional contact is particularly a problem in sports where a participant's bodily momentum is brought to an abmpt or sliding halt. If the bodily momentum is dissipated by a sliding motion which would occur from the incoφoration of low friction material, injuries which occur in these sports could be minimized. EXAMPLE 10 In a further embodiment, sporting apparel, such as used in sports where friction is very undesirable. In high speed sports and sports where the difference between winning and losing is determined in fractions of a second such as swimming, running, and downhill or ultimate downhill skiing, low friction material can be incoφorated directly into the apparel either overall or in specific surface contact areas to produce apparel with a low friction outer surface to minimize frictional contact with air or water. Additionally, low friction material can be incoφorated into water apparel such as wet suits to minimize frictional contact with water. lo Further, as indicated above, the present invention provides articles, such as sport projectiles, equipment used for water sports like sails, and toothbrushes with a low friction outer surface to minimize the fictional effect of article outer surface/extemal object contact. Articles with a low friction outer surface can be made with low friction materials. These low friction materials can be fibers which inherently have a low coefficient of friction which are incoφorated into the material either alone or in combination with other materials; low friction chemicals which can be applied directly to the finished fibers, material, or articles to impart low friction properties; fibers which are treated with a low friction chemicals then woven into the material either alone or in combination with other material; or any combination of the above. These low friction materials can be incoφorated into the entire exterior surface of the article or in specific high article to extemal object or surface contact. The above mentioned low coefficient of friction materials can be incoφorated directly into the article either overall or in specific high article to extemal object or surface contact areas to produce articles with a low friction outer surface. The chemicals treatment techniques discussed above also apply to producing low friction outer surface articles. In a typical application of the invention, a fiber, yam or fabric or finished article (such as a sport projectile, sail, or toothbrash) is treated with the low coefficient of friction material to reduce the coefficient or friction of the treated fiber, yam, fabric or article to one which is below the coefficient of friction of the untreated fiber, yam, fabric or finished article. It is prefened that the coefficient of friction of the treated object (or object area) be less than about 80%, preferably less than about 60%> and most preferably less than about 50%> of the coefficient of friction of the untreated object (or object area). If the low friction material is incoφorated into the finished article or fabric by weaving, knitting, spraying, coating, swabbing or wiping a low friction fiber or yam into the article or fabric, the low friction fiber or yam can be incoφorated into amounts ranging from 5%> to 95%> by weight of the treated area. Preferably, the fiber or yam is incoφorated in amounts between 30 and 60% by weight of the treated area. Most preferably, these amounts are 30 to 50%>, by weight. It is of course understood that when finished material is treated with chemicals to impart a low coefficient of friction, in particular when spraying onto the material, the amount incoφorated into the finished material can be as small as a fraction of a percent by weight of the treated area. It is prefened that areas of article treatment are areas which would come in contact with the extemal contact surface during use. It is prefened also that the coefficient of friction between the treated area of the apparel and the external contact surface to be reduced to below about 0.9. Most preferably, the coefficient of friction is reduced to below about 0.6. EXAMPLE 11 In another embodiment, sport projectiles, such as golf balls, footballs, softballs, hockey pucks, soccer balls, tennis balls or other sports objects that move through a fluid media or move on a hard surface when placed into play by the sport participant, can have low friction material incoφorated directly into the sport projectiles either overall or in specific surface contact areas to produce the sport object with a low friction outer surface which decreases the wind resistance or ground resistance and allows the sport object to glide, roll or flow through the air more easily. Additionally, sport projectiles, such as baseballs, basketballs, racquetballs and handballs, which make ground contact or air contact, can have low friction material incoφorated directly into the projectile either overall or in specific surface contact areas to produce sport projectiles with a low friction outer surface to increase the distance or flight of the sport projectile during play. EXAMPLE 12 In another embodiment, equipment used for water sports or activities such as wind sails for windsurfers, sails for boats, oars for canoes or kayaks, can have low friction material incoφorated directly into or onto the equipment either overall or in specific surface contact areas to reduce wind resistance or water resistance that occur in these water sports or water activities. EXAMPLE 13 In still another embodiment, low coefficient of friction material may be incoφorated directly into or onto a golf club head so as to reduce the frictional contact between the club head and the hitting surface (e.g., sand, rough, fairway, etc.). In one variation, only the bottom surface of the club head is treated, thereby reducing frictional contact between the club head and the hitting surface without reducing frictional contact between the club face and the golf ball. In general, frictional contact of any object with air, water, or solid surfaces slows or brings a moving object to a stop. This frictional contact is particularly a problem in sports where speed or strength is a factor. If the water, air or solid surface resistance, caused by frictional contact between the media type and equipment is dissipated or reduced by the incoφoration of low friction material, the speed of the sail boat would be increased, the strength needed for paddling the ores in a canoe or kyack would be reduced, and the force of the golf club swing needed for hitting a golf ball a particular distance from a particular surface may be reduced. EXAMPLE 14 In a further embodiment, toothbrushes whether manual or electric can have low friction material incoφorated directly into or onto the bristles either overall or in specific surface contact areas to produce a toothbrash having a low friction exterior to minimize frictional contact with the user's teeth. Exemplary illustrations of particular embodiments of the present invention are provided in Figs. 1-9. However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the exemplary illustrations. Moreover, it is be understood that the invention is not restricted to any of the embodiments described herein, and that various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS; 1. An article comprising a sports projectile which is adapted to be directly in contact with a media means, said article being treated to reduce frictional contact between the article and the media means by incoφorating a low friction material which imparts a coefficient of friction to a treated area if the article which is less than 80%> of the coefficient of friction of an untreated article. 2. The article of claim 1 wherein the low friction material is polytetrafluroethylene woven into the overall exterior surface area of the sports projectile. 3. The article of claim 1 wherein the low friction material incoφorated into the sport projectile comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, silicone copolymers, silicone elastomers, polytetrafluroethylene, homopolymers and copolymers, graphite, boron, polypropylene and polyethylene. 4. The article of claim 1 wherein the low friction material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene or polyvinvlidene fluoride. 5. The article of claim 1 wherein the article has a body surface to article coefficient of friction of less than about 0.9. 6. The article of claim 1 wherein the article has a body surface to article coefficient of friction of less than about 0.6. 7. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a golf ball. 8. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a football. 9. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a softball. 10. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a hockey puck. 11. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a soccer ball. 12. The article of claim 1 wherein the article is a tennis ball. 13. A method of producing a treated sports article which is adapted to be directly in contact with a media means wherein frictional contact between an outer surface of the article and a surface of the media means is reduced, comprising the steps of: providing an untreated sports article; treating the overall area of the article to media means contact by incoφorating a low friction material into the area such that the coefficient of friction of the area after treatment is less than 80%> of the coefficient of friction of the area before treatment. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of treating the overall area of the article to media means comprises incoφorating low friction materials having an inherently low coefficient of friction into the untreated sports article. 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of incoφorating a low friction material comprises applying low friction chemicals selected from the group consisting of silicone, silicone copolymers, silicone elastomers, polytetrafluroethylene, homopolymers and copolymers, graphite, boron, polypropylene and polyethylene into directly to the untreated sports article. 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of treating the sports article comprises applying low friction chemicals to a first material so as to impart a low coefficient of friction, then incoφorating the first material into the untreated sports article. 17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of treating the untreated sports article imparts a body surface to treated sports article coefficient of friction of less than about 0.9. 18. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of treating the untreated material imparts a body surface to treated sports article coefficient of friction of less than about 0.6. 19. The method of claim 13 wherein the sports article is a golf ball. 20. The method of claim 13 wherein the sports article is a football. 21. The method of claim 13 wherein the sports article is a softball. 22. The method of claim 13 wherein the sports article is a hockey puck. 23. The method of claim 13 wherein the sports article is a soccer ball. 24. The method of claim 13 wherein the sports article is a tennis ball. 25. An article comprising a sail for boats which is adapted to be directly in contact with a wind surface, the sail being treated to reduce frictional contact between the sail and the wind surface by incoφorating a low friction material into the sail to impart a coefficient of friction to the sail which is less than 80%o of the coefficient of friction of an untreated sail. 26. The article of claim 25 wherein the sail has a wind surface to sail coefficient of friction of less than 0.9. 27. The article of claim 25 wherein the sail has a wind surface to sail coefficient of friction of less than 0.6. 28. The article of claim 25 wherein the low friction material incoφorated into the sail comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, silicone copolymers, silicone elastomers, polytetrafluroethylene, homopolymers and copolymers, graphite, boron, polypropylene and polyethylene. 29. The article of claim 25 wherein the low friction material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene or polyvinvlidene fluoride. 30. An article comprising a toothbrash having bristles which are adapted to be directly in contact with a tooth surface of a user, the bristles being treated only in specific areas of high tooth surface to bristle contact to reduce frictional contact between the bristles and the tooth surface of the user by incoφorating a low friction material into the bristles to impart a coefficient of friction to the bristles which is less than 80%> of the coefficient of friction of the bristles when untreated. 31. The article of claim 31 wherein the toothbrash has a tooth surface to bristle coefficient of friction of less than 0.9. 32. The article of claim 31 wherein the toothbrash has a tooth surface to bristle coefficient of friction of less than 0.6. 33. The article of claim 31 wherein the low friction material incoφorated into the bristles comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, silicone copolymers, silicone elastomers polytetra fluroethylene, homopolymers and copolymers graphite, boron, polypropylene and polyethylene, and the like. 34. The article of claim 31 wherein the low friction material comprises polytetrafluoroethylene or polyvinvlidene fluoride. 35. An article comprising a golf club having a club head for contacting a golf ball that is lying on a hitting surface, the club head being treated with a low friction material so as to reduce the frictional contact between the club head and the hitting surface. 36. The article of claim 35, wherein only the portion of the club head surface that contacts the hitting surface is treated with the low friction material. 37. The article of claim 35, wherein the low friction material is incoφorated directly into the material of the club head. 38. The article of claim 35, wherein the low friction material is applied to the surface of the club head.

Inventors: GUNN ROBERT T, GUNN, ROBERT, T.
Applicants: GUNN ROBERT T, GUNN, ROBERT, T.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A41D31
IPC codes: A43B1