Abstract:
A handgrip drying device comprises a bag-like, tubular body containing a moisture absorbing material and sealed with hook-and-loop fasteners. A moist or wet equipment handgrip is dried by placing it in the bag-like, tubular body, which then is shaken to bring all portions of the equipment handgrip that are contained in the bag-like tubular body into contact with the moisture absorbing material.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to athletic equipment accessories, and specifically to a device and method for drying a moist handgrip portion of a piece of athletic equipment.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    One of the problems encountered by athletes while playing golf, squash, badminton, lacrosse, baseball, tennis, and the like is maintaining a secure grip on the equipment handle. In wet weather, or during a prolonged sports event where the athlete becomes soaked with sweat that is then transferred from the hands to the equipment grip, the equipment becomes slippery and difficult to hold securely. This results in a loss of control and poorer performance; it also can result in injuries to the player, other participants, or spectators. Similar problems can arise with equipment handles that are used in other circumstances, such as, for example, hammer handles.  
           [0003]    A conventional means for overcoming the problem is for the equipment user to dry the equipment handgrip by wiping it with a terry cloth, towel, or other material. This is only a temporary solution because after multiple uses, the towel or cloth itself becomes wet and no longer is useful in drying the equipment handgrip.  
           [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,066 for a Golf Club Handle Drying Device, issued to the inventor of the subject invention on Jun. 19, 1990, relates to a device for drying a golf club grip. The device includes a golf club handgrip drying device having a rigid tubular body, a closed bottom end, and an openable top end. The device contains a quantity of moisture absorbing material. The top end of the tubular body has a circular opening surrounded by a circular brush cylinder in which the brush bristles preferably are directed inward. The handgrip portion of the golf club is inserted into the tubular body through the open top end and contacted with the moisture absorbing material to enable drying of the handgrip. When the handgrip portion is removed from the tubular body, the brush bristles remove most of the moisture absorbing material.  
           [0005]    While applicant&#39;s prior invention has offered a better working, more efficient handgrip drying device than those previously available, it is desirable to have a device that is easier to carry and maintain.  
           [0006]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a handgrip drying device that is simple and economical to manufacture.  
           [0007]    A further object of the invention is to provide a handgrip drying device that can be kept with the user ready for use at anytime as needed.  
           [0008]    It is a further object of the invention to provide a handgrip drying device that retains its drying capacity after many uses.  
           [0009]    It is a still further object of the invention to provide a handgrip drying device incorporating a moisture absorbing material that can be refilled easily when the moisture absorbing material needs replenishing.  
           [0010]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method to dry the handgrip portion of a piece of athletic equipment. The present invention contemplates a device comprising a bag-like, non-rigid tubular body containing a quantity of moisture absorbing material. The top end of the tubular body has a circular opening and is held closed using hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro brand fasteners available from Velcro U.S.A Inc. of Manchester, N.H., U.S.A., or the like. The body is preferably a bag-like body made from a pliable and flexible material, such as nylon or plastic sheeting or a woven material. A moisture absorbing material is added to the tubular body by pouring it in the open end thereof. The moisture absorbing material may comprise, for example, a powdery silica drying material or other moisture absorbing material that will retain its drying capacity even after extensive and repeated use. When the handgrip drying device is used, the handgrip portion of the equipment is inserted into the tubular body through the open top end and is brought into contact with the moisture absorbing material in the tubular body, to enable drying of the handgrip portion. The open end of the tubular body is sealed by squeezing the edges of the body around the handgrip portion of the piece of equipment. The hook-and-loop closing material assists in the sealing process. The tubular body with the handgrip therein is then shaken, inverted, and/or rotated so that the moisture absorbing material can fully contact the equipment handgrip. When the equipment handgrip is removed from the tubular body, the hook-and-loop fastening device at the open end helps to brush off any moisture absorbing material that might still be on the handgrip.  
           [0012]    The present invention and its features and advantages will be more fully understood, and further features and advantages will become apparent, when reference is made to the following detailed description of the invention, including the drawings, and to the claims.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handgrip drying device according to the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a bag portion of the present invention with, for illustration, a golf club shaft and handgrip illustrated in dashed lines and inserted into the handgrip drying device.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the handgrip drying device according to the present invention in a semi-open position with a conventional golf club handle and shaft inserted therein.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the device illustrating the interior of the bag portion of FIG. 1 and taken substantially along line  4 - 4  thereof.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the handgrip drying device of FIG. 3, with the top portion closed around a conventional golf club handgrip and shaft. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]    Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate like elements, there is shown in FIGS.  1 - 5 , a preferred embodiment of the handgrip drying device  10  of the present invention. Handgrip drying device  10  comprises a tubular body  11 , end closure fastening strip  12 , and opening tabs  13 ,  14 . A fragmentary portion of a conventional golf club shaft  16  and handgrip  15  are shown in FIGS. 2, 3,  4 , and  5  for purposes of illustration of the present invention.  
         [0019]    Tubular body  11  is made from a pliable material, for example, a woven material, fabric, nylon, or plastic sheeting that preferably is substantially impervious to liquids. Tubular body  11  is formed from one or more sheets of pliable material having a predetermined length that is longer than the conventional handgrip portion of a piece of athletic equipment to be dried, which in this embodiment is illustrated as a conventional golf club. If a single flat sheet of pliable material is used, the pliable material is folded over itself and stitching  17  hold the open edges together. While stitching  17  is illustrated as a way to close the open edges, along its bottom and then along the open long side thereof, other methods, such as gluing, could also be used. Once stitching  17  are completed, only top  20  of tubular body  11  remains open. Along the inner top peripheral edge of body  11 , end closure material, in this embodiment, fastening strip  12  is stitched, glued, or otherwise securely fastened thereto.  
         [0020]    While end closure material  12  could take other forms, e.g. drawstring, zipper, buttons, snaps, etc., preferably, end closure material  12  is a hook-and-loop type of material, for example, VELCRO. End closure material  12  will be referred to hereafter as VELCRO strip  12 .  
         [0021]    When top  20  of tubular body  11  is pressed together, VELCRO strip  12  closes tubular body  11  so that anything stored therein cannot escape (FIG. 5). Handgrip drying device  10  has internal dimensions sufficient to contain the handgrip portion of the equipment to be dried, in this case, a conventional golf club handgrip.  
         [0022]    According to this embodiment, one or more opening tabs  13 ,  14  are stitched or otherwise securely fastened to the outer top edges of tubular body  11  for the purpose of aiding in the opening of top  20  of tubular body  11 . In operation, as tab  13  is grasped in one hand and tab  14  is grasped in the other hand and then pulled away from each other, VELCRO strip 12  separates and top  20  of tubular body  11  is opened.  
         [0023]    Before initial use, moisture absorbing material  18 , e.g. a powdered silica, silica gel or resin, is poured loosely into the interior of tubular body  11  and is allowed to settle to the bottom thereof (see FIG. 4). The amount of moisture absorbing material to be used is not critical. The amount should be sufficient to ensure that enough moisture absorbing material  18  is used so that virtually the entire handgrip  15  is contacted by the moisture absorbing material when handgrip drying device  10  is shaken, inverted or otherwise rotatated so as to dry handgrip  15 .  
         [0024]    Handgrip  15  is inserted into handgrip drying device  10  so that end  15   a  thereof first enters handgrip drying device  10  and substantially all of handgrip  15  is enclosed in tubular body  11 . VELCRO strip  12  is then pressed together so that it locks securely around shaft  16 , as illustrated in FIG. 5, and closes top  20  of handgrip drying device  10 . Handgrip drying device  10  can then be shaken, inverted, or rotated to produce contact between moisture absorbing material  18  and handgrip  15 . After such shaking and rotation as is desired, handgrip  15  may be removed immediately from handgrip drying device  10 , or alternatively it may be retained inside handgrip drying device  10  until the equipment is to be used. When handgrip  15  is removed from tubular body  11 , the hook-and-loop VELCRO strip  12  at the open end helps to brush off any moisture absorbing material  18  that may still be adhered to handgrip  15 .  
         [0025]    Another advantageous feature, not illustrated, is to have terry cloth or other rough material within tubular body  11  to assist in removal of moisture absorbing material from handgrip  15 . While not shown, a terry cloth lining sheet may also be used, or the single sheet of pliable material may be different in nature, and rougher, on the side that will form the interior of tubular body  11 . As handgrip  15  is withdrawn from tubular body  11 , it would be rubbed against or squeezed between the rough interior side of pliable, tubular body  11  either before being withdrawn or while being withdrawn from tubular body  11  so that moisture absorbing material  18  is brushed from handgrip  15 .  
         [0026]    While tabs  13  and  14  assist in opening handgrip drying device  10 , they are not necessary to its operation. Tabs  13  and  14  can be eliminated altogether, or other means that assist in opening top  20  of tubular body  11  may be used. Such means might include, for example, rings affixed to the upper portion of the exterior of tubular body  11 , or simply the upper edges of tubular body  11  that protrude above the height of VELCRO strip  12 .  
         [0027]    While not illustrtaed, handgrip drying device  10  may be equipped with loops, hooks, or other fasteners designed to facilitate attachment of handgrip  10  to a golfer&#39;s cart, to a golf or tennis bag, to a bat rack, to a carpenter&#39;s apron, or to other locations that will render it more easily accessible to the user.  
         [0028]    From the description herein, it will be readily apparent that numerous changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. All of such changes and modifications are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention.