Means and Method for Producing Sure-Grip Gripping Surfaces and The Objects So Enhanced

Abstract

A process for enhancing a gripping area of an object, providing a frictionally enhanced, moisture repellent, sure-grip gripping surface, achieved by less than a one second ultra-violet radiation curing of an ultraviolet-curable coating applied over an ultra-thin, less than 0.001 inches thin, polymeric woven or knitted fiber such as nylon, spandex, or blends that has been positioned about the gripping surface area of an object to be gripped. This inexpensive three step process uses commonly available, low-cost materials and minimal energy, is environmentally friendly and does not require repeated steps, thermosetting, vulcanization, caustic chemicals, molds, molding techniques, or gluing a molded cover onto a surface.

1 . A product, comprising: a surface finish in intimate contact with a gripping area surface of an object to be gripped, said surface finish made up of a layer of ultra-thin polymeric material fixedly and directly adhered to the gripping area surface by a UV-cured UV-curable material in contact with said polymeric material and the gripping area surface. 
     
     
         2 . The product, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said polymeric material further comprises woven or knitted polymeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The product, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said ultra-thin polymeric material is less than 0.001 inches thin. 
     
     
         4 . The product, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said UV-curable material is UV-curable in one second or less. 
     
     
         5 . The product, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said ultra-thin polymeric material is a nylon, a spandex or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The product, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said object is a wooden baseball bat. 
     
     
         7 . The product, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said layer of ultra-thin polymeric material consists solely of a single layer. 
     
     
         8 . In combination with an object having a gripping area, a surface finish in intimate contact with a gripping area surface of an object to be gripped, said surface finish made up of a layer of ultra-thin polymeric material fixedly and directly adhered to the gripping area surface by a UV-cured UV-curable material in contact with said polymeric material and the gripping area surface. 
     
     
         9 . The combination, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said polymeric material further comprises woven or knitted polymeric material. 
     
     
         10 . The combination, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said layer of ultra-thin polymeric material is less than 0.001 inches thin. 
     
     
         11 . The combination, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said UV-curable material is UV-curable in one second or less. 
     
     
         12 . The combination, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said ultra-thin polymeric material is a nylon, a spandex or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The combination, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said object is a wooden baseball bat. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 making a surface finish in intimate contact with a gripping area surface of an object to be gripped by   providing for an object having a gripping area,   adhering fixedly and directly to the gripping area a layer of ultra-thin polymeric material by UV-curing a UV-curable material in contact with said polymeric material and the gripping area surface.   
     
     
         15 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said polymeric material further comprises woven or knitted polymeric material. 
     
     
         16 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said layer of ultra-thin polymeric material is less than 0.001 inches thin. 
     
     
         17 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said UV-curable material is UV-curable in one second or less. 
     
     
         18 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said ultra-thin polymeric material is a nylon, a spandex or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said object is a wooden baseball bat. 
     
     
         20 . The method, as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing for an object having a gripping area,
 enveloping a polymeric nylon fiber material about the gripping area of the object, 
 coating said enveloping polymeric nylon fiber material with an ultraviolet-curable liquid polymer, and 
 curing in less than one second said ultraviolet-curable liquid polymer coating said polymeric nylon fiber material using ultraviolet radiation to create a polymerized coating permanently bonded to the gripping area, said polymerized coating providing for an enhanced high-friction, moisture repellent, sure-grip gripping surface.