GRIP FOR RACKET

Abstract

A grip device for a racket includes at least two externally protruding bodies, a primary body and a secondary body, extending from the outer surface of the racket handle and being located circumferentially distanced from each other. The racket handle has a central longitudinal axis A, wherein the primary body is of a quadrilateral or triangular construction.

Claims

1. A grip device for a racket comprising at least two externally protruding bodies, a primary body and a secondary body, extending from the outer surface of a racket handle and being located circumferentially distanced from each other, the racket handle has a central longitudinal axis A, wherein the primary body is of a quadrilateral or triangular construction.

2. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein depending on whether the construction is quadrilateral or triangular the primary body comprises five or six surfaces, where a first surface faces the racket handle, a second surface faces away from the racket handle and is of same/similar shape as the first surface and may be of same or smaller area, a third and a fourth surfaces connect the first and the second surfaces, where the third surface is at least partly facing in direction towards the racket head and extends along a straight line or a slightly curved line in an angle alfa relative to the axis A, and where the fourth surface is at least partly facing in direction away from the racket head and extends along a straight line or a slightly curved line in an angle beta relative to the axis A.

3. The grip device according to claim 2, wherein a fifth surface connects the first and second surface and the third and fourth surface and is facing away from the racket head, the fifth surface is curved and adapted to accommodate the gap between an index finger and a middle finger.

4. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein the secondary body comprises a body of conic section construction, or a quadrilateral construction, or a triangular construction and an area of a first surface of the secondary body is smaller than an area of the first surface of the first body and preferably the secondary body has a straight/flat surface facing in direction of the racket head.

5. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein the minimum distance between the primary body and the secondary body corresponds to a user's finger, wherein the distance is between 5 and 25 mm.

6. The grip device according to claim 1, comprising three externally protruding bodies extending from the outer surface of the racket handle and being located circumferentially distanced from each other.

7. The grip device according to claim 6, wherein the third body is positioned at a circumferential distance to the primary body corresponding to a user's finger, wherein the minimum distance between the first and the third body is between 5 and 25 mm.

8. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein primary and/or secondary externally protruding bodies comprises releasable fastening means at a first surface facing the racket handle allowing attaching/detaching of the protruding body at different positions.

9. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein the primary and secondary bodies are not identical, not in shape nor in size.

10. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein none of the externally protruding bodies has a round cross-section, wherein each of the protruding bodies may have a substantially flat surface extending from the surface of the racket handle.

11. The grip device according to claim 1, wherein the primary and/or secondary externally protruding bodies comprises releasable fastening means at the first surface facing the racket handle allowing attaching/detaching of one or all of the protruding bodies at different positions.

12. The grip device according to claim 1, comprises a band or wrap comprising means for fastening of the band or wrap to the racket handle.

13. The grip device according to claim 12, further comprising means defining the angular position of the grip device relative to the racket, which means may comprise a line or a point defined as either a depression or an elevation or another tactile or visual indication of angular position.

14. The grip device according to claim 8, wherein the racket handle or a surface such as a band attached to the racket handle comprises corresponding fastening means.

15. The grip device according to claim 11, wherein the racket handle or a surface such as a band attached to the racket handle comprises corresponding fastening means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a grip device according to the invention positioned on a racket handle,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a grip device according to the invention positioned on a band which band is not attached to a racket handle,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a cut-through view of racket handle just below a grip device according to the invention positioned on the racket handle, and

[0026] FIG. 4A-4C illustrates hand-positions being supported when holding a racket with a grip device according to the invention.

[0027] The present invention will now be described in more detail in the following.

Definitions

[0028] Prior to discussing the present invention in further details, the following terms and conventions will first be defined:

[0029] In general—when these words are used in the specification it means that the feature described may be applied with all embodiments of the invention, even if the mentioning of the feature appears in connection with an otherwise specific embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] In general, the invention relates to a grip device for a racket handle 4, which grip device comprises at least 2 externally protruding bodies, a primary body 2 and a secondary body 3. The two bodies extend from the outer surface of the racket handle 4 and provide guiding means for a user's hand and fingers when practicing with the racket. The externally protruding bodies 2, 3 are located circumferentially distanced from each other within a within a relatively short length of the racket handle, normally within a band of between 2-5 cm. Also, for a right-handed player, the secondary body 3 is position in a clockwise direction relative to the primary body 2, i.e. the distance in the clockwise direction along the surface of a racket handle is shorter than the distance in a counterclockwise direction.

[0031] According to an embodiment for a left-handed player, the relative positions of the protruding bodies will be mirrored. Throughout this specification the embodiments are described for right-handed player, and it is to be understood that mirrored embodiments useful for a left-handed are included in the scope of this specification.

[0032] In the following, different angles are defined relative the longitudinal axis A of the racket handle 4, which is shown in FIG. 1. The longitudinal axis A extends from the top of the racket head or the stringed surface to the opposite lower end of the racket and is parallel to the surface of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle.

[0033] That the protruding bodies 2, 3 are located circumferentially distanced from each other means that there is a gap between the protruding bodies and that the protruding bodies 2, 3 are displaced relative to each other around the racket handle 4.

[0034] According to an embodiment, the grip device may comprise 3 externally protruding bodies 1, 2, 3 extending from the outer surface of the racket handle 4 and located circumferentially distanced from each other. If the grip device comprises 3 externally protruding bodies, the third protruding body 1 is positioned counterclockwise relative to the primary protruding body 2, i.e. the distance in the counterclockwise direction along the surface of a racket handle is shorter than the distance in a clockwise direction.

[0035] None of the 2 or 3 externally protruding bodies 1, 2, 3 has a completely round or circular cross-section as this will not provide adequate guiding of the fingers in a grip. Each protruding body may comprise at least one straight or flat surface providing guidance for either a hand or a finger. Each protruding body, in particular the primary and/or secondary protruding bodies, may comprise at least two substantially flat surfaces providing guidance for either a hand or a finger. The surfaces might be slightly concave.

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention positioned on a racket handle. This first embodiment comprises three externally protruding bodies 1, 2 and 3 where the secondary body 3 is positioned clockwise relative to the primary protruding body 2 and the third body 1 is positioned counterclockwise relative to the primary protruding body 2. In FIG. 1 the primary protruding body 2 is shown as a central body.

[0037] According to the present invention, the primary protruding body 2 is of a quadrilateral or triangular construction, if the corners are rounded the quadrilateral or triangular construction may approach or become a substantially elliptic construction.

[0038] In general, the secondary protruding body 3 may comprise a body of conic section construction, or a quadrilateral construction, or a triangular construction. A first surface of a protruding body is defined as a surface being in contact with the racket handle, and the area of a first surface 5 of the secondary protruding body 3 is smaller than or equal to the area of the first surface 5 of the primary protruding body 2.

[0039] The secondary protruding body 3 may comprise a straight or flat surface facing the racket head and deviating approximately 30-75 degrees, or alternatively 30-45 degrees from the longitudinal axis A of the racket handle 4.

[0040] The minimum distance between the primary protruding body 2 and the secondary protruding body 3, and between a third protruding body 1 and the primary protruding body 2, corresponds to a user's finger, i.e. the minimum distance is between 5 and 25 mm.

[0041] The minimum distance between the primary protruding body 2 and the secondary protruding body 3 may be varied within these limits to adapt the grip device to a specific user.

[0042] Either, a user may acquire a grip device according to the invention fitting to the size of the user's hand, or the externally protruding bodies of the grip device may comprise releasable fastening means allowing the user to arrange the externally protruding bodies 1, 2, 3 in a pattern adapted to the user's hand and to a preferred grip on the racket handle.

[0043] According to such an adaptable embodiment, the primary and/or secondary and/or third externally protruding body 1, 2, 3 may comprise releasable fastening means at the first surface 5 facing the racket handle. That the releasable fastening means are at the first surface means that the fastening means are attached to or provided at or extends from the first surface 5.

[0044] Such releasable fastening means will allow attaching and detaching of each protruding body 1, 2, 3 comprising the fastening means either at different positions or to allow the user to use the racket both with and without the grip device. Optionally the racket handle 4 or a surface such as a band attached to the racket handle 4 may comprise corresponding fastening means which e.g. may indicate to the user where it is possible to attach the protruding bodies of the grip device.

[0045] The primary and secondary externally protruding bodies are not identical. This feature supports the ability of the user to shift freely between several grips defined by the device.

[0046] The primary protruding body 2 may comprise 6 or 5 surfaces depending on whether the construction is quadrilateral or triangular. As the “corners” or the boundary between two neighbouring surfaces will normally be rounded in order to increase the comfort and easy shifting from one grip to another, it might be difficult to determine an exact border line, however, the following specifically defined surfaces does exist at a part of the outer surface of the grip device.

[0047] The primary protruding body 2 has a first surface 5 facing the racket handle 4. This surface comprises the surface being directly in contact with the racket handle or being in contact with a unit such as a band or similar fastened to the racket handle 4 during use.

[0048] Further, the primary protruding body 2 may comprise a second surface 6 facing away from the racket handle 4, this second surface 6 is of same or of similar shape as the first surface but possibly of a smaller area as the corners between the second surface 6 and the neighbouring surfaces are rounded.

[0049] The primary protruding body 2 may also comprise a third and fourth surface 7, 8 connecting the first and the second surfaces 5, 6 along the sides. The third surface 7 is at least partly facing in direction towards the racket head and extends along a straight line or a slightly curved line in an angle alfa (α) relative to the longitudinal axis A, and the fourth surface 8 is at least partly facing in direction away from the racket head towards the lower end of the racket and extends along a straight line or a slightly curved line in an angle beta (β) relative to the longitudinal axis A. Each of the two surfaces, third 7 and fourth 8, will during use of the grip device provide guidance for the index finger when a user practices with the racket.

[0050] The primary protruding body 2 may also comprise a fifth surface 9 connecting the first and second surface 5, 6 and the third and fourth surface 7, 8, which fifth surface 9 is facing away from the racket head. The fifth surface 9 is curved and adapted to accommodate the gap between an index finger and a middle finger in a comfortable way.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the grip device may be unreleasably mounted on a band or wrap. This makes it possible for the user to attach the grip device to a racket during grip-practising session and detach the grip device from the racket when match training.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention where the grip device is placed on a separate band 13.

[0053] Such a band 13 may comprise fastening means 10 used to attach the band 13 to a racket handle 4 at a desired position in the lengthwise direction. These fastening means 10 may e.g. be provided by the elasticity of the band 13 alone or the fastening means 10 may comprise or be constituted of corresponding locking means at each end of the band 13 as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2 where a male part is clicked into a female part during attachment, or according to a preferred embodiment, the fastening means 10 may comprise a combination of the these two.

[0054] No matter whether the protruding bodies of the grip device is indirectly attached to the racket handle 4, e.g. via a band or whether the protruding bodies of the grip device is directly attached to the racket handle 4, the protruding bodies 1, 2, 3 are normally positioned at the same lengthwise level of the racket handle. In particular, the point of each protruding body being closest to the lower end of the racket are at the same lengthwise level or at least the points of each protruding body being closest to the lower end of the racket do not deviate more than 20 mm, e.g. more than 10 mm, from each other.

[0055] In general, a grip device according to the invention may e.g. be suitable for rackets for tennis, squash and paddle.

[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates the relative position of the protruding bodies seen from the lower end of the racket.

[0057] The racket handle is octagonal and has eight bevels. The eight bevels of the racket handle has been numbered 4-1, 4-2, . . . , 4-8.

[0058] When in use, the primary protruding body 2 is positioned at bevel 4-1, the secondary protruding body 3 is positioned around the border between the bevels 4-2 and side 4-3 and extends on both bevel 4-2 and 4-3, and the third protruding body 1 is positioned across the border between bevels 4-7 and 4-8 and extends over both bevel 4-7 and 4-8.

[0059] The racket head 12 extends in the direction of 4-3 and 4-7 respectively.

[0060] When the protruding bodies are attached to or being part of a band 13, a marking 11 such as one or two marking lines I and II extending in the longitudinal direction of the racket handle 4 may indicate to the user at which angular position the band 13 is to be placed during use.

[0061] The marking means 11 in form of the marking lines I, II shown in FIG. 3 is to be positioned respectively along the edge between bevel 4-8 and 4-1 and along the edge between bevel 4-1 and 4-2. Marking means 11 in the form of markings lines or punctures indicating same or other edges may also be used according to the invention. The marking lines I and II may be provided by indentations or protrusions making it possible for the user to feel where the markings are to be positioned.

[0062] FIG. 4A illustrates a hand position generally known as “continental” and how the grip device guides the user's fingers and hand in this particular grip. When using this grip, the knuckle of the index finger is guided by the device as the knuckle of the index finger is positioned between the tertiary 1 and the primary 2 protruding body, while the heel pad is positioned on bevel 4-8.

[0063] When using a grip device according to the invention, the index finger in this grip is positioned between the third surface 7 of the primary protruding body 2 and the third protruding body 1 and each of these two protruding bodies are in contact with the index finger guiding the position of the index finger with a relatively flat surface which two relatively flat guiding surfaces facing each other.

[0064] FIG. 4B illustrates a hand position generally known as “semi western forhand” and how the grip device guides the user's finger/hand in this particular grip. When using this grip, the knuckle of the index finger is normally positioned on bevel 4-2 and the heel pad is positioned around bevel 4-1.

[0065] When using a grip device according to the invention for “semi western forhand”, the index finger is positioned between the fourth surface 8 of the primary protruding body 2 and the secondary protruding body 3 when holding the racket.

[0066] FIG. 4C illustrates a hand position generally known as “two handed backhand”, and how the grip device guides the user's hands in this particular grip.

[0067] When using this grip, the protruding body 3 may guide the lower part of the left hand whereas the right hand may hold a continental grip as described above, where the knuckle of the index finger is guided by the gap between the third protruding body 1 and the first protruding body 2.

[0068] It should be noted that embodiments and features described in context of one of the aspects of the present invention also apply to other aspects of the invention.

TABLE-US-00001 Ref. no. Name 1 Third or tertiary protruding body 2 First or primary protruding body 3 Second or secondary protruding body 4 Racket handle 5 First surface or contact surface 6 Second surface 7 Third surface 8 Fourth surface 9 Fifth surface 10 Fastening means for band 11 Means defining angular position of a band relative to racket (I, II) 12 Racket head 13 Band adapted to racket handle A Longitudinal axis of racket handle