Paddle hand grips and method for making and using same

Abstract

A comfort hand grip for a shaft comprises a tubular member formed of a closed cell resilient polymer material core; and a water resistant coating on each side of the core. The comfort grip is sized so as to be slightly stretched when positioned on a shaft. The resilient polymer core may be formed of a rubber, and the coating of an ultraviolet resistant flexible material such as nylon. The hand grip may be formed from a die cut generally rectangular piece of material which is formed into the tubular structure by at least one of, for example, stitching which joins the opposite sides to one another; a lace through openings in joining portions of the material along the sides; a zipper having a side along each of the joining portions; and a set of hook and loop closures on opposite ones of the joining portions.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A comfort grip for a shaft, comprising: 
 a tubular member formed of a closed cell resilient polymer material core; and    a water resistant coating on a first side of said core.    
     
     
         2 . The comfort grip of  claim 1 , further comprising a manufactured ingrained texture on a second side of said core.  
     
     
         3 . The comfort grip of  claim 1 , sized so as to be slightly stretched when positioned on a shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The comfort grip of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient polymer core is formed of a rubber.  
     
     
         5 . The comfort grip of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is formed of a nylon.  
     
     
         6 . The comfort grip of  claim 1 , wherein the coating is formed of an ultraviolet resistant flexible material.  
     
     
         7 . The comfort grip of  claim 1 , initially in the form of a rectangular piece of material, comprising joining portions along two opposite sides of the rectangular piece, said joining portions being connected to form the tubular member.  
     
     
         8 . The comfort grip of  claim 7 , further comprising connecting means for connecting said joining portions, said connecting portions comprising at least one of: 
 stitching along edges of said sides to connect said joining portions;    a lace disposed in openings in said joining portions;    a zipper having a side along each of said joining portions;    a set of hooks and loop closures on opposite ones of said joining portions;    an adhesive along said joining portions; and    a series of staples along said joining portions.    
     
     
         9 . The comfort grip of claim of  claim 1 , further comprising end bands at ends of said tubular members.  
     
     
         10 . The comfort grip of  claim 9 , wherein said end bands comprise a stretchable material folded so as to have a first portion along an inner periphery of said tubular member and a second portion along an outer periphery of said tubular member.  
     
     
         11 . The comfort grip of  claim 1 , in combination with a shaft, said shaft being that of an oar or paddle.  
     
     
         12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said oar is configured for use in paddling.  
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 11 , further comprising a second comfort grip on said shaft, said comfort grips being positioned on said shaft so that each hand of a user may grip one of said comfort grips during paddling.  
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a comfort grip for a shaft, comprising: 
 providing a rectangular piece of stretchable material; and    connecting two opposite sides of said rectangular piece of material to from a tubular member, said tubular member being sized so as to stretch around said shaft when a portion of said shaft is disposed within said tubular member.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said connecting is done by providing at least one of: 
 a. stitches for joining said opposite sides to one another;    b. a lace through openings in portions of said material along said sides;    c. a zipper having a side along each of said joining portions: and    d. a set of hooks and loop closures on opposite ones of said joining portions.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing end bands formed of a stretchable material along ends of said tubular member.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing said end bands comprises: 
 positioning said bands with a first portion along an inner periphery of said tubular member and a second portion along an outer periphery of said tubular member; and    fastening said end bands in place.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said end bands are positioned by sewing the end bands to said tubular member.  
     
     
         19 . A method for placing a comfort grip on a shaft comprising: 
 providing a comfort grip including a tubular member formed of a closed cell resilient polymer material core, and a water resistant coating on each side of said core; and    placing said comfort grip on said shaft by at least one of: 
 a. sliding said comfort grip onto said shaft;  
 b. lacing said comfort grip to said shaft with a lace extending through opening in said tubular member;  
 c. closing a zipper, said zipper having a side along each of said joining portions; and  
 d. closing a set of hook and loop closures on opposite ones of said joining portions.