Grip for sporting implement

Abstract

A grip for a sporting implement includes an underlisting of an elastic material and in one embodiment a removable sleeve adapted to be releasably seated in an annular recess in the underlisting and in a second embodiment a material is molded into the annular recess of the underlisting and in both embodiments, any desired pattern can be formed in the outer surface of the grip and of any desired color.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A grip for a sporting implement having a shaft with a butt end and a tip end comprising in combination: 
 an elongated underlisting having an axial recess therein, said underlisting being positionable on said butt end of said shaft with the butt end of the shaft received in said axial recess and having an outer generally cylindrical surface, said underlisting further including an annular recess in said outer surface,    an elongated outer sleeve having an axial passage therein and an outer surface adapted to be gripped by a user of the implement, said axial passage in said outer sleeve receiving said underlisting such that said outer sleeve is seated in said annular recess of said underlisting, and    cooperating inhibitors on said underlisting and said outer sleeve to inhibit relative axial movement between said underlisting and said outer sleeve.    
     
     
         2 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein said cooperating inhibitors include a cooperating tongue and groove on said underlisting and outer sleeve.  
     
     
         3 . The grip of  claim 2  wherein said tongue and groove inhibitors are in the form of an annular bead and groove with the bead being on one of said underlisting, and outer sleeve and the groove being on the other of said underlisting and outer sleeve.  
     
     
         4 . The grip of  claim 3  wherein there are two of said cooperating inhibitors at axially spaced locations along the length of said underlisting and outer sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . The grip of  claim 2  wherein said underlisting includes annular collars at opposite ends thereof defining said annular recess between said collars.  
     
     
         6 . The grip of  claim 5  wherein said cooperating inhibitor on said underlisting is positioned within said annular recess.  
     
     
         7 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein said cooperating inhibitors include an annular bead in said annular recess of said underlisting and a mating annular groove in said outer sleeve adapted to be aligned with said annular bead when said outer sleeve is received on said underlisting in said annular recess.  
     
     
         8 . The grip of  claim 1  wherein said underlisting is made of a harder material than said outer sleeve.  
     
     
         9 . The grip of  claim 8  wherein said underlisting and outer sleeve are both made of vulcanized rubber.  
     
     
         10 . The grip of  claim 9  wherein said underlisting has a durometer rating in the range of 65-75 and the outer sleeve has a durometer rating in the range of 35-40.  
     
     
         11 . A grip for a sporting implement having a shaft with a butt end and a tip end comprising in combination: 
 an elongated underlisting having an axial recess therein, said underlisting being positionable on said butt end of said shaft with the butt end of the shaft received in said axial recess, and    an annular body molded onto said underlisting defining an outer gripping surface for a user of the implement.    
     
     
         12 . The grip of  claim 11  wherein said underlisting and annular body are made of different materials.  
     
     
         13 . The grip of  claim 12  wherein said annular body is made of a softer material than said underlisting.  
     
     
         14 . The grip of  claim 13  wherein the durometer rating of said underlisting is in the range of 65 to 70, and the durometer rating of said annular body is in the range of 35 to 40.  
     
     
         15 . The grip of  claim 11  wherein said underlisting includes an annular recess along its length and said annular body is disposed in said annular recess.  
     
     
         16 . The grip of  claim 15  wherein said underlisting includes an annular collar at opposite ends thereof and said annular recess is disposed between said annular collars.  
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a grip for a sporting implement comprising the steps of: 
 forming a tubular underlisting of an elastic material defining a hollow core,    placing a mandrel in the hollow core,    forming a mold having a cavity therein of slightly larger dimension than said tubular underlisting and with a passageway for injecting a moldable material into said cavity,    placing the tubular underlisting with the mandrel in the cavity, and    injecting a moldable material into the cavity to form an annular body of said moldable material around said tubular underlisting.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the moldable material is polyurethane.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said cavity has a recessed pattern formed in the walls thereof so that the pattern is molded into said annular body.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said mold is a two-piece mold.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said tubular underlisting is formed with an annular recess and said moldable material is injected into the mold so as only to occupy said annular recess.