Abstract:
Vibration/Shock/Isolators (V/SI&#39;s) which employ tuned, progressive resistance to deformation to isolate a user&#39;s anatomy or a protected instrumentality from shock and vibration. The V/SI may be wrapped around a handle to form a grip. A V/SI can also be fabricated in an unlimited number of other configurations to isolate a user&#39;s anatomy or any of an untold number of devices from shock and vibration.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The benefits of the filing dates of the following provisional applications are claimed: 
         [0002]    1. 60/832,527 filed 20 Jul. 2006 
         [0003]    2. 60/837,904 filed 14 Aug. 1006 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to novel tuned progressive resistance shock/vibration isolator (V/SI&#39;s) which can be used to advantage in a host of applications. 
         [0005]    And, in another aspect, the present invention relates to novel, improved V/SI&#39;s which significantly increase the grip afforded a user in applications where the device is associated with a wielded instrument handle or other instrumentality which is intended to be grasped by a user or has a component provided for that purpose. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    There have previously been disclosed and commercialized high performance (and highly successful) elongated, flat, elastomeric wraps for hand and power tools, weed eaters, lawn mowers, bicycles, motor cycles, archery bows, ball bats, and a host of other devices. Nevertheless, the search for superior devices continues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention comprises novel V/SI devices which effectively isolate a user&#39;s hands or other anatomical part or any of a wide variety of instrumentalities from shock and vibration set up in an artifact separated from a user or protected instrumentality by the V/SI. 
         [0008]    In addition, in applications where the device is to be grasped or kept in place between instrumentalities or components. V/SI devices employing the principles of the present invention afford an advantageously superior grip. 
         [0009]    The devices disclosed herein are manufactured from an elastomeric material. NAVCOM® is one suitable material. 
         [0010]    The V/SI&#39;s disclosed herein are fabricated from an elastomeric material. They have a substrate and integral pillars on at least one side of the substrate. Shocks and vibrations applied to the V/SI effect deformation of the pillars, which exhibit a progressive resistance to that deformation. The progressive resistance parameters can be tuned by selection of such factors as the configuration(s) of the pillars and the specifics of the elastomeric material from which a V/SI is made. 
         [0011]    Tuned progressive resistance effectively reduces the transfer of shock and vibration energy and consequently effectively isolates the user or protected instrumentality from shock and vibration. This minimizes or even eliminates the discomfort which a user might otherwise experience and, in the case of a protected instrumentality, significantly lowers the possibility of shock or vibration damage. 
         [0012]    The pillar(s) may have a circular, elliptical, square, triangular or other configuration; and pillars may be provided on both sides of the substrate. 
         [0013]    A recess (or multiple recesses) may be optionally formed in each (or the) integral pillar of the device. At one end, the recess opens onto that end of the pillar opposite the substrate. The recess may extend through the substrate and open onto its opposite face, or it may have a blind inner end. Each pillar may have multiple open-ended recesses. The recesses may be of the through-bore or blind-end type or a mixture of those types; and the recesses may have any of many configurations. Pillars with recesses of different configurations may be employed in the same device. 
         [0014]    Grasping or otherwise exerting pressure on a V/SI device with apertured pillars tends to produce suction akin to that of an octopus tentacle, improving the grip afforded by the device. The grip is further enhanced by the V/SI conforming to the contour of the hand or other agent pressing on the device due to an enhanced ability of the pillar(s) to deform and deflect attributable to the “hollowing out” of the pillar by the recess in that element. Progressive deformation resistance may be tuned by the use of recess-bearing pillars because of the discussed, enhanced ability of the thus hollowed-out pillars to deform under load. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, air trapped in the pillar recess(es) can provide pneumatic cushioning, further contributing to the effectiveness of the novel V/SI devices of the present invention. 
         [0016]    The objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to the reader from the foregoing and the appended claims and as the ensuing detailed description and discussion proceeds in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a bat as disclosed in copending application No. (Docket No. 2053-111A) filed 19 Jul. 2007; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a fragment of the  FIG. 1  bat equipped with a pillar-employing vibration damping grip formed from a device embodying the principles of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a fragment of a grip similar to the grip shown in  FIG. 2 , but drawn to an enlarged scale to more clearly show details of the vibration damping device from which the grip is formed; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the vibration damping device; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a fragment of  FIG. 4  drawn to an enlarged scale; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a plan view showing the reverse side of the  FIG. 4  V/SI; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary section, taken substantially along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view showing how the chamfered edges of two successive turns of a  FIG. 4  V/SI are overlapped when the V/SI is trained around a handle to form a grip as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of a second, strip-type, pillar-employing V/SI device embodying the principles of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a partial section taken substantially along line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of a device which has a variety of representative pillar styles; a V/SI embodying the principles of the present invention may have any one or any combination of the illustrated, or other, pillar styles; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the  FIG. 11  device; 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a section, taken substantially along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 14  is a plan view of a V/SI pad embodying the principles of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 15  is a side view of the  FIG. 14  pad; 
           [0032]      FIG. 16  is a plan view of a second V/SI pad embodying the principles of the present invention; this pad has pillars on both sides of an integral substrate; 
           [0033]      FIG. 17  is a side view of the  FIG. 16  pad; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged scale fragment of  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  depicts a bat  40  which has a core component  42 , a handle  44 , a knob  46 , and a cap  48  at the end of core component  42 . The core component  42  has a hollow barrel  50  and an integral, hollow stem  52  extending from, and axially aligned with, barrel  50 . 
         [0036]    Handle  44  surrounds the stem  52  of core component  42 . Annular, elastomeric decouplers are installed between core component  42  and handle  44 , preferably near or at opposite ends of the handle. The decouplers isolate handle  44  from core component  42 , keeping shock (and to a significant extent other vibrations) from being transmitted to the batter&#39;s hands when a ball is struck. Consequently, the batter is not stung or otherwise subjected to pain or discomfort. This is per se advantageous and also improves performance by keeping the batter from flinching when swinging at a ball. One of the just-discussed decouplers is shown in  FIG. 1  and identified by reference character  54 . 
         [0037]    Further, significant, isolation of a batter&#39;s hands from shock and other vibrations may be obtained by installing a grip  56  as shown in  FIG. 2  on the handle  44  of bat  40 . This grip isolates the user&#39;s hands from the bat by tuned, progressive resistance, which keeps pain- and discomfort-attributable energy from reaching the user&#39;s hands. 
         [0038]    Grip  56  is fashioned by training an elastomeric wrap  58  as shown in  FIGS. 4-7  around handle  44  in the helical manner shown in  FIG. 2 . Elastomeric wrap  58  is constructed in accord with, and embodies, the principles of the present invention. 
         [0039]    Isolation from shock and vibration and the adverse effects those phenomena can cause is achieved by the use of the above-discussed tuned progressive resistance technology in wrap  58 . To this end, integral pillars  60  are formed on an exposed side  62  of wrap substrate  64 . Continuing deformation of pillars  60  results in progressively increasing resistance of the elastomeric material and highly efficient prevention of shock and vibration energy transfer. 
         [0040]    The pillars may have the illustrated frustoconical shape or an elliptical, square, rectangular, triangular, or other configuration. A recess  66  may be formed in each integral pillar. At one end, the recess opens onto that exposed end  68  of the pillar opposite the substrate  64  (see  FIG. 7 ). The recess may extend through the substrate and open onto its opposite face, or it may have a blind inner end. Each pillar may have multiple open-ended recesses, and they may be of the through-bore or blind-end type or a mixture of those types. 
         [0041]    The recesses  66  of elastomeric wrap  58  have a conical configuration and a blind inner end  70 . 
         [0042]    The pillars  62  in which recesses  66  are formed have the above-mentioned frustoconical configuration; and there is one, centrally located aperture in each pillar. The pillars are closely packed with adjacent pillars touching. As discussed above, the use of recesses is one factor that may be employed in tuning the progressive resistance of the pillars. 
         [0043]    Grasping grip  56  produces suction akin to that of an octopus tentacle, improving the grasp of the bat afforded by the grip. The grasp is further enhanced by virtue of grip  56  conforming to the contour of the batter&#39;s hand due to ability of the pillars  60  to deform and deflect. 
         [0044]    Referring now most particularly to  FIGS. 2 ,  6 , and  8 , it was pointed out above that wrap  58  is trained around handle  44  in a helical manner in fashioning grip  56 . Wrap  58  has a central section  72 , relatively narrow, elongated, integral end segments  74  and  76 , and transition sections  78  and  80  with edges  82  and  84  which angle from end segments  74  and  76  to the central section  72  of wrap  58 . The edges  86  and  88  of wrap central section  72 , the edges  90  and  92  of end segment  74 , the edges  94  and  96  of end segment  76 , and transition segment edges  82  and  84  are all chamfered as shown in  FIG. 6 . When wrap  58  is trained around handle  44  as shown in  FIG. 2 , a chamfered, central segment edge  86  (or  88 ) in one turn  98 , and the adjacent segment of the same edge in the next turn  99  overlap in the manner shown in  FIG. 8 . Thus, grip  56  lies flat on handle  44  instead of bulging or bunching up as successive turns are laid down which might otherwise be the case. 
         [0045]    Similarly, the tampered edges  82  and  84  of transition segments  78  and  80  and the chamfered edges  90  . . .  96  of elastomeric wrap end segments  74  and  76  cooperate in like manner to form a smooth, advantageously bulge-free grip. 
         [0046]    It is also to be noted (see  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) that the end segments  74  and  76  of elastomeric wrap  58  are free of the pillars  60  found in the central and transition segments  72 ,  78  and  80  of the wrap. Among other things, this allows segment  74  (and/or segment  76 ) to be tucked under the end  96  or  98  of the wrap to secure the wrap in place without forming a bulge in grip  56 . Also, the winding of the wrap around a handle can be started without bunching or bulging of the wrap. 
         [0047]    It is apparent from the foregoing that a wide variety of alternate embodiments are subsumed by the compass of the present invention.  FIGS. 9 and 10  depict a wrap  100  embodying the principles of the present invention which has a substrate  102 , pillars  104 , and centrally located apertures  106  in the pillars. These pillars in this wrap do not have blind ends, but are the through-type in that they extend between and open onto the tops  108  of pillars  104  and the opposite (or reverse) side  110  of wrap  100 ; i.e., the back or bottom side of substrate  102 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 11-13  depict a wrap  120  with a substrate  122  and other, exemplary forms of pillars; viz.: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Pillar 
                 Recess 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 124 
                 148, square with tapered sides 
               
               
                   
                 126 
                 None 
               
               
                   
                 128 
                 152, elliptical with tapered sides 
               
               
                   
                 130 
                 154, triangular with tapered sides 
               
               
                   
                 132 
                 156, circular with straight sides 
               
               
                   
                 134 
                 158, circular with communicating tapered and straight 
               
               
                   
                   
                 sided, communicating segments 158a and 158b 
               
               
                   
                 136 
                 162, square with straight sides 
               
               
                   
                 138 
                 164, rectangular with straight sides 
               
               
                   
                 140 
                 166, elliptical with straight sides 
               
               
                   
                 142 
                 168, triangular with straight sides 
               
               
                   
                 144 
                 170, multiple apertures (Version 1) 
               
               
                   
                 146 
                 172, multiple apertures (Version 2) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0049]    Also, and as is shown in  FIG. 13 , a single wrap embodying the principles of the present invention may have pillars with both blind and through apertures, as well as pillars with apertures of different configurations, pillars with multiple apertures, and pillars with no apertures at all. 
         [0050]    Above, wrap  58  was disclosed by relating it to an exemplary application in which the wrap is employed to form a grip on a bat handle. This is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in that wrap  58  wrap  120 , and other wraps embodying the principles of the present invention may be employed equally well, and in the same manner, to form wraps on other handles. As examples only, those of: golf clubs; bicycle and motorcycle handlebars; hammers, lawn mowers, weed-eaters; and a host of other products. 
         [0051]    The principles of the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of artifacts other than the elongated wraps discussed above and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-13 . 
         [0052]      FIGS. 14 and 15 , for example, depict an elastomeric pad  180  with a substrate  182  and closely-packed pillars  60  on one side of the substrate. 
         [0053]      FIGS. 16-18  similarly depict a pad  190  which differs from pad  180  in that there are closely-packed sets or arrays of pillars  60  on both sides  192  and  194  of substrate  196 . 
         [0054]    Pads embodying the principles of the present invention need not have the rectangular shape of pads  180  and  190 , but may be of generally any desired, geometric configuration. 
         [0055]    Pads such as those identified by reference characters  188  and  190  may be used for many different purposes: as examples only, to isolate human anatomy from shock and vibration and to similarly protect a host of artifacts and devices from the adverse effects of shock and vibration. 
         [0056]    It was pointed out above that V/SI&#39;s employing the principles of the present invention may have pillars with any of a wide variety of configurations and that combinations of different pillars may be used in a single device. A V/SI with both of these features is illustrated in  FIGS. 19 and 20  and identified by reference character  200 . 
         [0057]    V/SI has a substrate  202  and pillars  204  . . .  212  of circular, square, triangular, hexagonal, and pentagonal configurations. While apertured pillars are shown in  FIG. 19 , it is to be understood that apertures need not be provided, irrespective of the pillar configuration. 
         [0058]    Also,  FIGS. 19 and 20  make it clear that pillars need not touch, or even be in close proximity, for a V/SI embodying the principles of the present invention to be effective. 
         [0059]    The invention may be embodied in many forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.