Grip tapes or patches with Anti-slip coating

Abstract

The invention provides grip tape or patch comprising a layer of self-adhesive fiberglass coated by a layer of granulated rigid material which in turn is coated by a layer of binding material for the fixation of the granulated rigid material on the self-adhesive fiberglass layer. With a grip tape or patch such as those described above, it is possible to produce an optimal hand grip even in wet situations or excessive sweating. The grainy rigid material generates a rough surface that improves and enhances manual grip even in wet conditions. This is ideal for tools, sporting equipment for angling, padel, tennis, etc.

Description

[0001] Grip tapes or patches with anti-slip coating

[0002] Field of technology

[0003] The present invention belongs to the field of grip tapes, in particular grip tapes with an anti-slip coating, for example for racket sports.

[0004] Background to the invention

[0005] There are numerous activities in which the manual grip of a tool, sports utensil or structure must be maximized in order to be able to perform various activities without the manually grasped object escaping from the hands. There are currently several strips, tapes or bands based on elastic materials, such as silicones, which have a slight cushioning effect thanks to which manual grip is improved. However, these silicone products become somewhat slippery and skiddy in the wet, due to the presence of water, for example in the rain or in water sports, or due to excessive sweating, which also causes slippage on silicone grip products or similar synthetic materials.

[0006] Summary description of the invention

[0007] A first aspect of the invention provides a grip tape or patch comprising a layer of self-adhesive fiberglass coated by a layer of granulated rigid material which in turn is coated by a layer of binding material for the fixation of the granulated rigid material on the self-adhesive fiberglass layer.

[0008] With a grip tape or patch such as those described above, it is possible to produce an optimal hand grip even in wet situations or excessive sweating. The grainy rigid material generates a rough surface that improves and enhances manual grip even in wet conditions.

[0009] 2 Preferably the self-adhesive fiberglass layer has a mesh configuration or several regularly distributed perforations. In this way, the grip tape or patch can be applied on a padded surface, such as the handle of a racket, and benefit from the grip of the tape and the padding simultaneously and complementarily, so that the grip is produced by the effect of the tape and by the padding.

[0010] Preferably, the granulated rigid material comprises an abrasive mineral material.

[0011] More preferably, the granulated rigid material comprises one of the following materials: quartz, silicon, dolomite, corundum and / or mixtures thereof.

[0012] The granulated solid material can also comprise a synthetic material.

[0013] Preferably the granulated rigid material is a powder that has a particle size of between 0.1 and 0.6 microns. This granulometry of the granulated rigid material facilitates its application on the self-adhesive fiberglass layer by means of a compressed air gun.

[0014] The granulated rigid material can be porous. By being porous, it favours the absorption or adsorption of water in wet conditions or heavy sweating.

[0015] Preferably, the binding material can comprise a two-component epoxy varnish with catalytic curing or drying.

[0016] The epoxy varnish can be applied by means of an air gun on the layer of granulated rigid material, after which it is allowed to dry or cure for a period of time, while the catalyst acts, in order to fix and coat the layer of granulated rigid material on the layer of self-adhesive fiberglass.

[0017] The invention can take different configurations such as ribbons of various widths and lengths to be wound on handles of tools or sporting goods such as rackets, fishing rods, golf clubs, baseball bats or even on the user's hands, such as to play handball. It is also especially useful in water sports, such as windsurfing or kitesurfing where it is common for grip to occur in the wet. It can also be applied on safety railings, cranks or other structures where hand grip is key. It can also be applied to vehicle steering wheels or bicycle or motorcycle handlebars.

[0018] For situations where a point application is needed, the invention can take the form of shorter tapes, or in the form of patches.

[0019] Optionally, the tape or patch can comprise a padded base layer. If the tape or patch comprises a padded base layer, it can be used as a conventional grip tape for padel, tennis, badminton, etc. rackets.

[0020] Brief description of the drawings

[0021] Figure 1 depicts a grip tape according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 depicts a grip tape placed on the handle of a padel racket.

[0023] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0024] Figure 1 shows a grip tape 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Tape 10 comprises a layer of self-adhesive fiberglass 12 configured as a warp mesh. The fiberglass mesh 12 is covered by a layer of granulated rigid material 14, which is corundum and which in turn is covered by a layer of binding material 16, in this case it is a two-component epoxy resin 16 cured by catalyst, which is responsible for the fixation of the granulated rigid material 14 on the self-adhesive fiberglass layer 12.

[0025] The self-adhesive fiberglass layer 12 has a mesh size of 2.0 x 2.0 mm, although other mesh sizes can be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0026] The self-adhesive fibreglass layer 12 is 5 cm wide and 0.26 mm thick, although other sizes can also be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0027] Both the warp and weft of self-adhesive fiberglass tape 12 have 35.4 threads per 10 cm. The tensile strength is 260N / 2.54 cm at the warp and 483N / 2.54 cm at the weft, although other thread densities and tensile strengths can also be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0028] The granulated rigid material 14 is applied by means of an air gun. The granulated rigid material is granulated corundum with an alumina content of 80 to 100 %, a maximum sodium oxide content of 0.5 % and a maximum silicon oxide content of 0.5 to 1 %.

[0029] The granulated rigid material 14 is an off-white powder with a particle size of between 0.1 and 0.6 microns.

[0030] The material layer consists of an epoxy varnish type NE61 cured by catalyst. To achieve the cured varnish, 3 parts of varnish must be mixed with 1 part of IE00 type epoxy catalyst. If necessary, an epoxy solvent type NE80 can be added to facilitate mixing and application with a compressed air gun. The drying time of this layer of binder material is 8 hours and a layer thickness of 0.35 microns is achieved for each application. More coats can be applied, after drying each coat.

[0031] The components and solvent to obtain the layer of binding material have been obtained from "RALVA" paints, C / Calahorra, 2, 28864, Ajalvir (ES). However, other components and solvents may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 depicts a grip tape 10 fitted to the handle of a padel racket 18. To fit the grip tape 10 on the handle of the racket, a piece of double-sided adhesive tape is placed on the end of grip tape 20 that is mounted on the base of the handle, to attach the end of grip tape 20 to the side of the base of the handle. Once the end of tape 20 is attached to the side of the base of the handle, the tape is wound around and along the handle, as seen in Figure 2 and the opposite end 22 of the tape is taped to the top of the handle. This mounting procedure is done to prevent the ends of the tape from coming loose and the tape from unwinding.

[0033] When applied to sports rackets, for example paddle tennis or tennis, the grip tape, in addition to improving grip, also extends the life of the racket's grip.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A grip tape or patch comprising a layer of self-adhesive fiberglass coated by a layer of granulated rigid material which in turn is coated by a layer of binding material for the fixation of the granulated rigid material on the self-adhesive fiberglass layer.

2. A grip tape or patch according to claim 1 wherein the self-adhesive fibreglass layer has a mesh configuration or has several regularly distributed perforations.

3. A grip tape or patch according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the granulated rigid material comprises an abrasive material.

4. A grip tape or patch according to any preceding claims wherein the granulated rigid material comprises one or more of the following materials: quartz, silicon carbide, dolomite, corundum and / or mixtures thereof.

5. A grip tape or patch according to any preceding claim wherein the granulated rigid material comprises a synthetic material.

6. A grip tape or patch according to any preceding claim wherein the granulated solid material is a powder with a particle size of between 0.1 and 0.6 microns.

7. A grip tape or patch according to any preceding claim wherein the granulated solid material is porous.

8. A grip tape or patch according to any preceding claim wherein the binder material comprises a two-component epoxy varnish cured or dried by catalyst.

9. A grip tape or patch according to any preceding claim comprising a padded base layer.7

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