Patent Publication Number: US-2005125955-A1

Title: Auxiliary grip for an object

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an auxiliary grip for an object.  
      There is a real need to provide a handle or grip for an object that makes it easier to hold and/or use the object.  
      It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved, oversized grip for objects that provides a firmer grip, and facilitates a consistent hand position and better control. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      This object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawing, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view showing one exemplary embodiment of an auxiliary grip; and  
       FIG. 2  shows one half of a second exemplary embodiment of an auxiliary grip. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The auxiliary grip of the present application comprises an oversized member that fits over the existing handle or shaft of an object, and forms a handle for the object; the oversized member has an oval or elliptical cross-sectional shape.  
      The oversized member can be a monolithic part, or can comprise at least two parts that are each provided with a recess and that fit together such that the recesses accommodate the existing handle or shaft of an object.  
      The auxiliary grip of the present application has a multitude of uses. By way of example only, the auxiliary grip can be used for sports equipment, for example for racquet sports, golf, baseball or softball, for cooking utensils such as pots and pans, for brooms, vacuum sweepers and the like, for hand and garden tools, for ski poles, for fishing rods, etc., in other words, for anything that has a handle or shaft.  
      For certain applications, the auxiliary grip also has an insulating function, for example with pots and pans. In addition, the auxiliary grip can provide cushioning or shock absorption, such as with a bat or with tools.  
      Further specific features of the present application will be provided in detail subsequently.  
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring now to the drawing in detail,  FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of applicant&#39;s auxiliary grip, which is indicated generally by the reference numeral  20 .  
      The auxiliary grip  20  comprises an oversized member  21 , whereby the term oversized means that the member  21  is of a size that is larger than the size of a standard handle. In particular, the oversized member  21  is adapted to be placed over an existing handle of an object, or over a shaft  22  of an object, to thereby form a new, oversized handle for the object. The member  21  is provided with an appropriately sized bore  23 , either a through bore or a blind hole, and can be press fit onto a shaft or existing handle of the object, and furthermore can be glued to the shaft or handle to prevent the member  21  from sliding or shifting on the shaft or handle.  
      The oversized member  21  has an oval or elliptical cross-sectional shape. That end  24  of the member  21  that is remote from the object on which the auxiliary grip  20  is provided has a greater cross-sectional area than does the remainder of the member  21 , with this enlarged portion being designated with the reference numeral  25 . The enlarged portion  25  expediently tapers from the end  24  toward the remainder of the member  21 . This enlarged portion  25  provides a convenient resting place or stop for one of the hands of a user of the object.  
      The auxiliary grip  20 , i.e. the oversized member  21 , is expediently made of cork, balsa, foam, such as polyurethane foam, rubber or some other elastomeric material. The use of such materials allows the auxiliary grip  20  to retain/maintain its shape.  
      The oversized member  21  can be at least partially wrapped with an additional material, especially a grip-enhancing material. By way of example only, such material can be a rubberized friction tape or any other commercially available grip wrap or tape.  
      Although in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  the oversized member  21  is shown as a monolithic component, it would also be possible to make the member  21  in two or more parts. Therefore, a further embodiment of applicant&#39;s auxiliary grip is shown in  FIG. 2 , and is indicated generally by the reference numeral  20 A.  
      In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the oversized member  21 A is comprised of two essentially identical halves, only one of which is shown. In particular, the half member  27  is provided with a recess  28  that fits over a portion of an existing handle or shaft of an object. The same is true of the complementary, non-illustrated member of the oversized member  21 . The two half members  27  can be glued to one another and/or to the existing handle or shaft of the object. The size of the recess  28  will, of course, vary, as was the case with the bore  23  of the member  21  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , depending upon the size of the existing handle or shaft of the object. The oversized member could also comprise more than two parts.  
      The surface of the oversized members  21  and  21 A can be a non uniform surface; for example, the surface can be provided with projections and/or grooves to enhance the gripping capability of the auxiliary grip  20 ,  20 A.  
      The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawing, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.