Web micropattern grip surface

Abstract

A web micropattern grip surface for use on a grip, and particularly a grip for a golf club, wherein the pattern is defined by upstanding ridges. The ridges have components of extension that extend both longitudinally on the grip and circumferentially around the grip. In one embodiment, neighboring ridges may be parallel. Ridges are oriented to intersect forming a web pattern. The density of ridge elements and the width and height of the ridge elements is selected to provide drag on the hand or object gripping the grip, preferably in both the longitudinal and circumferential directions, and to give the grip a velvety feel. Various shape web pattern are defined by intersecting webs that surround and define geometric shape areas including parallelogram, polygon, honeycomb and rounded shapes.

1 . A micropattern grip surface for use on a grip, comprising: 
 the grip having a longitudinal axis; a plurality of ridges arrayed on the grip surface, wherein the ridges of the plurality each have a generally longitudinal direction component of extension along the grip and generally along the direction of the axis and also each have a generally circumferential direction component of extension around the grip and around the axis of the grip;    the ridges being oriented such that each ridge intersects a plurality of others of the ridges forming a web of the ridges over the grip surface;    the ridges each being so shaped, of such height off the surface of the grip and of such width that the ridges cooperate with a hand or object gripping the grip to resist both torque around the axis of the grip and longitudinal movement of the grip with reference to the hand or gripping object.    
   
   
       2 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridges include a first group of adjacent ridges which are so shaped and oriented as to extend generally parallel and a second group of adjacent ridges which are also so shaped and oriented as to extend generally parallel, and the ridges extend in directions such that some of the ridges of the first group intersect some of the ridges of the second group.  
   
   
       3 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 2 , wherein intersecting first and second group ridges surround and define geometric shape areas of the grip surface.  
   
   
       4 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein intersecting ridges cooperate to define geometric shape areas of the grip surface.  
   
   
       5 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridges have a height in the range of about 0.005 inch to about 0.040 inch, a width in the range of about 0.003 to about 0.040 inch.  
   
   
       6 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 5 , wherein at an area of their nearest spacing apart, there is a distance of at most about 0.080 inch between a ridge and the neighboring ones of the ridges.  
   
   
       7 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 5 , wherein the density of repeats of the intersecting of the ridges is about 5,000 details per square inch or fewer details per square inch.  
   
   
       8 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 7 , wherein at an area of their nearest spacing apart, there is a distance of at most about 0.080 inch between a ridge and the neighboring ones of the ridges.  
   
   
       9 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the density of repeats of the intersecting of the ridges is about 5,000 details per square inch or fewer details per square inch.  
   
   
       10 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein at an area of their nearest spacing apart, there is a distance of at most about 0.080 inch between a ridge and the neighboring ones of the ridges.  
   
   
       11 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein each of the ridges has a height and a width and a spacing apart of neighboring ridges which are dimensions selected for providing drag against a hand or other gripping object and a velvety feel to the hand or the gripping object.  
   
   
       12 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridges extend continuously in the longitudinal direction over the longitudinal length of the micropattern grip pattern, being interrupted in areas where the micropattern grip pattern is not present.  
   
   
       13 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridge pattern is upraised or is engraved in the surface.  
   
   
       14 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridges are comprised of a slightly elastic, yieldable material.  
   
   
       15 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridges are comprised of rubber or an elastomer.  
   
   
       16 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 3 , wherein the ridges are straight lines.  
   
   
       17 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 3 , wherein the ridges are shaped to define a honeycomb design of the geometric shape areas.  
   
   
       18 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridges are not of uniform width along their length.  
   
   
       19 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridges are of uniform width along their length.  
   
   
       20 . The micropattern grip surface of  claim 1 , wherein the ridges surround and define rounded shape areas.