Grip tape for a sports implement

Abstract

A grip for use with a sports implement extending about a longitudinal axis. The grip includes a flexible strip defining a length defining a major dimension and width defining a minor dimension. The strip has a butt end region, a primary region and a throat end region. The throat end region defines at least one guideline. The guideline extends along an outer surface of the strip at an angle with respect to a line that is parallel to the major dimension of the strip. The angle is arranged such that when the grip is wrapped about the sports implement, the guideline extends in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A grip for use with a sports implement extending about a longitudinal axis, the grip comprising:
 a flexible strip defining a length defining a major dimension and width defining a minor dimension, the strip having a butt end region, a primary region and a throat end region, the throat end region defining at least one guideline, the guideline extending along an outer surface of the strip at an angle with respect to a line parallel to the major dimension of the strip, the angle arranged such that when the grip is wrapped about the sports implement, the guideline extends in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guideline is at least 3 guidelines. 
     
     
         3 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guideline is at least 4 guidelines. 
     
     
         4 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the guidelines is a marking. 
     
     
         5 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the guidelines is a groove. 
     
     
         6 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the guidelines is formed from a plurality of spaced apart recesses. 
     
     
         7 . The grip of  claim 6 , wherein the spaced apart recesses are spaced apart line segments, spaced apart perforations or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one guideline is configured to facilitate separation of the throat end region with only the user's hands. 
     
     
         9 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the strip includes an outer surface and first and second side edges, and wherein an overlap guide region is formed along at least a portion of the first side edge. 
     
     
         10 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the overlap guide region has a width within the range of 1 to 15 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the overlap guide region has a width within the range of 2 to 4 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the overlap guide region is formed of at least a first color, the remaining portion of the outer surface of the grip is formed of a second color, and wherein the first and second colors are different. 
     
     
         13 . The grip of  claim 12 , wherein the at least first color is two or more colors or a pattern of colors. 
     
     
         14 . The grip of  claim 9 , wherein the overlap guide region is formed of a first texture, the remaining portion of the outer surface of the grip is formed of a second texture, and wherein the first and second textures are different. 
     
     
         15 . The grip of  claim 1 , wherein the primary region of the strip has a substantially constant first width, and wherein the butt end region of the strip has a width that is less than the first width. 
     
     
         16 . The grip of  claim 15 , wherein the width of the butt end region varies along its length. 
     
     
         17 . The grip of  claim 16 , wherein the width of the butt end regions varies linearly along its length. 
     
     
         18 . The grip of  claim 15  wherein the length of the butt end region is at least 15 percent of the length of the strip. 
     
     
         19 . A grip for use with a sports implement extending about a longitudinal axis, the grip comprising:
 a flexible strip defining a length defining a major dimension and width defining a minor dimension, the strip having an outer surface, a butt end region, a primary region, a throat end region a first side edge and a second side edge, and   an overlap guide region is formed along at least a portion of the first side edge.   
     
     
         20 . The grip of  claim 19 , wherein the overlap guide region has a width within the range of 1 to 15 mm, and wherein the overlap guide region is formed of at least a first color, and the remaining portion of the outer surface of the strip is formed of a second color, and wherein the first and second colors are different.