Twist-inhibiting collar for sport

Abstract

A twist-inhibiting collar for sports is disclosed. The twist-inhibiting collar includes a first surface configured to engage with an ulnar edge of a first hand of a player, and a second surface configured to engage with a radial edge of a second hand of the player, the second surface opposite the first surface. The collar also includes an aperture passing through the first surface and the second surface and defined by an interface surface that is coupled to a sport implement held by the player. The twist-inhibiting collar includes an elastomeric material. The sport implement may be a bat having a handle, and the aperture may be sized to fit the handle. The sport implement may be a golf club having a grip, and the aperture may be sized to fit the grip.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A twist-inhibiting collar for sports, comprising:
 a first surface configured to engage with an ulnar edge of a first hand of a player;   a second surface configured to engage with a radial edge of a second hand of the player, the second surface opposite the first surface; and   an aperture passing through the first surface and the second surface, the aperture defined by an interface surface that is coupled to a bat held in the first hand and the second hand, the bat having a handle, the aperture sized to fit the handle;   wherein the handle of the bat comprises a knob;   wherein the twist-inhibiting collar comprises an elastomeric material sufficiently elastic that the aperture can stretch enough to allow the knob to pass through the aperture; and   wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface comprises a plurality of surface elements extending outward.   
     
     
         2 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 1 , further comprising an internal layer that is parallel to and sandwiched between the first surface and second surface, the internal layer being composed of a material that is more rigid than the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of surface elements are rounded bumps. 
     
     
         4 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the twist-inhibiting collar is visible while the bat is in use, with the first hand in contact with the first surface and the second hand in contact with the second surface. 
     
     
         5 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material has a hardness of at least 30 durometer. 
     
     
         6 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 1 , wherein the twist-inhibiting collar has less than 2-fold rotational symmetry with respect to a central axis passing through the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material is able to absorb a dye after manufacture. 
     
     
         8 . A twist-inhibiting collar for sports, comprising:
 a first surface configured to engage with an ulnar edge of a first hand of a player;   a second surface configured to engage with a radial edge of a second hand of the player, the second surface opposite the first surface; and   an aperture passing through the first surface and the second surface, the aperture defined by an interface surface that is coupled to a sport implement held in the first hand and the second hand;   wherein the twist-inhibiting collar comprises an elastomeric material.   
     
     
         9 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , wherein the sport implement is a bat having a handle, and wherein the aperture is sized to fit the handle. 
     
     
         10 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 9 , wherein the handle of the bat comprises a knob, and wherein the elastomeric material is sufficiently elastic that the aperture can stretch enough to allow the knob to pass through the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , wherein the sport implement is a golf club having a grip, and wherein the aperture is sized to fit the grip. 
     
     
         12 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 11 , wherein the twist-inhibiting collar comprises a hand segment and a thumb segment, wherein the thumb segment has a width greater than a thumb of the second hand of the player, and wherein the smallest radial thickness of the hand segment as measured from a central axis passing through and normal to the aperture is at least four times larger than the largest radial thickness of the thumb segment. 
     
     
         13 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , further comprising an internal layer that is parallel to and sandwiched between the first surface and second surface, the internal layer being composed of a material that is more rigid than the elastomeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface comprise a plurality of surface elements extending outward. 
     
     
         15 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of surface elements are rounded bumps. 
     
     
         16 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the twist-inhibiting collar is visible while the sport implement is in use, with the first hand in contact with the first surface and the second hand in contact with the second surface. 
     
     
         17 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , wherein the elastomeric material has a hardness of at least 30 durometer. 
     
     
         18 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , wherein the twist-inhibiting collar has less than 2-fold rotational symmetry with respect to a central axis passing through and normal to the aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , further comprising a split passing through the first surface and the second surface. 
     
     
         20 . The twist-inhibiting collar of  claim 8 , wherein the elastomeric material is able to absorb a dye after manufacture.