Sports equipment handle for paddle and racquet sports having tactile biofeedback reference feature

Abstract

A sports equipment handle for paddle and racquet sports that provides a user with tactile biofeedback is provided. The handle includes a handle body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a grip length, a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior body surface. The exterior body surface is defined by a first octant, a second octant, a third octant, a fourth octant, a fifth octant, a sixth octant, a seventh octant, and an eighth octant. The handle includes at least a first tactile reference feature that extends longitudinally along the exterior body surface and is confined to a first tactile octant. The first tactile reference feature is formed with dimensions specifically tailored to harness the user's natural attributes of sensibility, proprioception, and neuromuscular memory to improve a user's accuracy.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A sports equipment handle ( 100 ) comprising:
 a handle body ( 101 ) having a handle length ( 110 ), a proximal end ( 120 ), a distal end ( 130 ), and an exterior body surface ( 160 ), wherein the exterior body surface ( 160 ) is defined by a first octant ( 161 ), a second octant ( 162 ), a third octant ( 163 ), a fourth octant ( 164 ), a fifth octant ( 165 ), a sixth octant ( 166 ), a seventh octant ( 167 ), and an eighth octant ( 168 );   at least a first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) extending along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a first tactile octant, wherein the first tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ), the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) having a first tactile reference indentation length ( 210   a ), a first tactile reference indentation width ( 220   a ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and no greater than 5.0 millimeters, and a first tactile reference indentation depth ( 230   a ) of at least 0.5 millimeters, wherein the only palpable indicia within the first tactile octant is the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a );   wherein the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) provides a user with tactile biofeedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the handle ( 100 ); and   wherein the handle body ( 101 ) is a portion of a sports equipment handle ( 100 ) selected from a group of swinging sports equipment consisting of paddles and racquets.   
     
     
         2 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 1 , wherein the first tactile reference indentation length ( 210   a ) is at least 50 percent of the handle length ( 110 ). 
     
     
         3 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 1 , wherein at least two octants selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that do not include the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ), have no palpable indicia. 
     
     
         4 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 3 , wherein the at least two octants having no palpable indicia are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 1 , wherein the handle ( 100 ) further includes a second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ) extending along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a second tactile octant, wherein the second tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that does not include the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ), the second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ) having a second tactile reference indentation length ( 210   b ), a second tactile reference indentation width ( 220   b ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and no greater than 5.0 millimeters, and a second tactile reference indentation depth ( 230   b ) of at least 0.5 millimeters, wherein the second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ) provides a user with tactile biofeedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the handle ( 100 ). 
     
     
         6 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 5 , wherein the first tactile octant and the second tactile octant are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         7 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 5 , wherein the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) is confined to the upper portion ( 102 ) and the second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ) is confined to the lower portion ( 103 ). 
     
     
         8 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 5 , wherein a portion of the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) is located in the upper portion ( 102 ) and a portion of the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) is located in the lower portion ( 103 ), and the second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ) is confined to the lower portion ( 103 ). 
     
     
         9 . A sports equipment handle ( 100 ) comprising:
 a handle body ( 101 ) having a handle length ( 110 ), a proximal end ( 120 ), a distal end ( 130 ), and an exterior body surface ( 160 ), wherein the exterior body surface ( 160 ) is defined by a first octant ( 161 ), a second octant ( 162 ), a third octant ( 163 ), a fourth octant ( 164 ), a fifth octant ( 165 ), a sixth octant ( 166 ), a seventh octant ( 167 ), and an eighth octant ( 168 );   at least a first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) extending along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a first tactile octant, wherein the first tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ), the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) having a first tactile reference indentation length ( 210   a ), a first tactile reference indentation width ( 220   a ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and no greater than 5.0 millimeters, and a first tactile reference indentation depth ( 230   a ) of at least 0.5 millimeters, wherein the only palpable indicia within the first tactile octant is the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a );   at least a second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ) extending along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a second tactile octant, wherein the second tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that does not include the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ), the second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ) having a second tactile reference indentation length ( 210   b ), a second tactile reference indentation width ( 220   b ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and no greater than 5.0 millimeters, and a second tactile reference indentation depth ( 230   b ) of at least 0.5 millimeters;   wherein the first tactile octant and the second tactile octant are not adjacent to one another, and the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) and the second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ) provide a user with tactile biofeedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the handle ( 100 );   wherein the handle body ( 101 ) is a portion of a sports equipment handle ( 100 ) selected from a group of swinging sports equipment consisting of paddles and racquets; and   wherein at least two octants selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that do not include the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ), have no palpable indicia.   
     
     
         10 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 9 , wherein the first tactile reference indentation length ( 210   a ) and the second tactile reference indentation length ( 210   b ) are at least 50 percent of the handle length ( 110 ). 
     
     
         11 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 9 , wherein the handle ( 100 ) further includes a third tactile reference indentation ( 200   c ) extending along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a third tactile octant, wherein the third tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that does not include the first tactile reference indentation ( 200   a ) and does not include the second tactile reference indentation ( 200   b ), the third tactile reference indentation ( 200   c ) having a third tactile reference indentation length ( 210   c ), a third tactile reference indentation width ( 220   c ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and no greater than 5.0 millimeters, and a third tactile reference indentation depth ( 230   c ) of at least 0.5 millimeters, and wherein the third tactile reference indentation ( 200   c ) provides a user with tactile biofeedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the handle ( 100 ). 
     
     
         12 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 11 , wherein the first tactile octant, the second tactile octant, and the third tactile octant are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         13 . A sports equipment handle ( 100 ) comprising:
 a handle body ( 101 ) having a handle length ( 110 ), a proximal end ( 120 ), a distal end ( 130 ), and an exterior body surface ( 160 ), wherein the exterior body surface ( 160 ) is defined by a first octant ( 161 ), a second octant ( 162 ), a third octant ( 163 ), a fourth octant ( 164 ), a fifth octant ( 165 ), a sixth octant ( 166 ), a seventh octant ( 167 ), and an eighth octant ( 168 );   a first tactile reference projection ( 300   a ) extending along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a first tactile octant, wherein the first tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ), the first tactile reference projection ( 300   a ) having a first tactile reference projection length ( 310   a ), a first tactile reference projection width ( 320   a ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and no greater than 5.0 millimeters, and a first tactile reference projection height ( 330   a ) of at least 0.5 millimeters, wherein the only palpable indicia within the first tactile octant is the first tactile reference projection ( 300   a );   wherein the first tactile reference projection ( 300   a ) provides a user with tactile biofeedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the handle ( 100 ); and   wherein the handle body ( 101 ) is a portion of a sports equipment handle ( 100 ) selected from a group of swinging sports equipment consisting of paddles and racquets.   
     
     
         14 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 13 , wherein the first tactile reference projection length ( 310   a ) is at least 50 percent of the handle length ( 110 ). 
     
     
         15 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 14 , wherein at least two octants selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that do not include the first tactile reference projection ( 300   a ), have no palpable indicia. 
     
     
         16 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two octants having no palpable indicia are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         17 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 13 , wherein the handle ( 100 ) further includes a second tactile reference projection ( 300   b ) extending along the exterior body surface ( 160 ) and confined to a second tactile octant, wherein the second tactile octant is selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that does not include the first tactile reference projection ( 300   a ), the second tactile reference projection ( 300   b ) having a second tactile reference projection length ( 310   b ), a second tactile reference projection width ( 320   b ) of at least 2.0 millimeters and no greater than 5.0 millimeters, and a second tactile reference projection height ( 330   b ) of at least 0.5 millimeters, wherein the second tactile reference projection ( 300   b ) provides the user with tactile biofeedback by two-point discrimination when gripping the handle ( 100 ), and wherein the first tactile octant and the second tactile octant are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         18 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 17 , wherein the first tactile octant and the second tactile octant are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         19 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 17 , at least four octants selected from the group consisting of the first octant ( 161 ), the second octant ( 162 ), the third octant ( 163 ), the fourth octant ( 164 ), the fifth octant ( 165 ), the sixth octant ( 166 ), the seventh octant ( 167 ), and the eighth octant ( 168 ) that do not include the first tactile reference projection ( 300   a ) and the second tactile reference projection ( 300   b ), have no palpable indicia, and the at least four octants having no palpable indicia are not adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The sports equipment handle of  claim 17 , wherein the first tactile reference projection ( 300   a ) and the second tactile reference projection ( 300   b ) are spaced at least 90 degrees apart around the circumference of the exterior body surface ( 160 ).