Sports Implement Having Asymmetric Grip

Abstract

A sports implement includes a main body portion, a handle portion extending from the main body portion, and a grip member. The main body portion includes a first contact surface constructed from a first contact material, a second contact surface constructed from a second contact material, a first core constructed from a first core material and being positioned adjacent to the first contact surface, a second core constructed from a second core material and being positioned adjacent to the second contact surface, and a sidewall positioned about a perimeter of each of the first and the second contact surfaces and cores. The handle portion defines a handle central axis extending therethrough. The grip member includes a grip body portion and a grip end portion forming a grip end plane. The grip body portion is operably coupled with the handle portion. The grip end plane forms an obtuse angle with the handle central axis.

1 . A sports implement comprising:
 a main body portion having a first contact surface constructed form a first contact material, a second contact surface constructed from a second contact material, a first core constructed from a first core material and being positioned adjacent to the first contact surface, a second core constructed from a second core material and being positioned adjacent to the second contact surface, and a sidewall positioned about a perimeter of each of the first and the second contact surfaces and the first and the second cores;   a handle portion extending from the main body portion, the handle portion defining a handle central axis extending therethrough; and   a grip member including a grip body portion and a grip end portion forming a grip end plane, the grip body portion being operably coupled with the handle portion, wherein the grip end plane forms an obtuse angle with the handle central axis.   
     
     
         2 . The sports implement of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact material comprises a carbon fiber material, and the second contact material comprises a fiberglass material. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The sports implement of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact material has a Young's Modulus of approximately 183 GPa, and the second contact material has a Young's Modulus of approximately 75 GPa. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The sports implement of  claim 1 , wherein the first contact material has a first contact elasticity value and the second contact material has a second contact elasticity value, wherein a ratio of the first contact elasticity value to the second contact elasticity value is between approximately 1:5 and approximately 1:1.5. 
     
     
         7 . The sports implement of  claim 1 , further comprising a plane extending through the sidewall, the plane separating the first core from the second core. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The sports implement of  claim 7 , wherein the plane is parallel to at least one of the first or the second contact surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The sports implement of  claim 1 , wherein the grip body portion includes at least one finger positioning member extending therealong. 
     
     
         12 . The sports implement of  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion defines a main body length and the handle portion and the grip member define a grip length, the main body length and the grip length combining to define an overall length, wherein a ratio of the grip length to the main body length is between approximately 1:3 and approximately 3:5. 
     
     
         13 . A sports implement comprising:
 a main body portion having a forehand side constructed form a first material, a backhand side constructed from a second material, and a sidewall positioned about a perimeter of each of the forehand and backhand sides;   a handle portion extending from the main body portion, the handle portion defining a handle central axis extending therethrough; and   a grip member including a grip body portion and a grip end portion forming a grip end plane, the grip body portion being operably coupled with the handle portion, wherein the grip end plane forms an obtuse angle with the handle central axis   
     
     
         14 . The sports implement of  claim 13 , wherein the forehand side of the main body portion is constructed from a carbon fiber material, and the backhand side of the main body portion is constructed from a fiberglass material. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The sports implement of  claim 13 , wherein the forehand side of the main body portion has a first contact elasticity value and the backhand side of the main body portion has a second contact elasticity value, wherein a ratio of the first contact elasticity value to the second contact elasticity value is between approximately 1:5 and approximately 1:1.5. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The sports implement of  claim 13 , wherein the grip body portion includes at least one finger positioning member extending therealong. 
     
     
         20 . A sports implement comprising:
 a main body portion having a first contact surface constructed form a first contact material, a second contact surface constructed from a second contact material, a first core constructed from a first core material and being positioned adjacent to the first contact surface, a second core constructed from a second core material and being positioned adjacent to the second contact surface, and a sidewall positioned about a perimeter of each of the first and the second contact surfaces and the first and the second cores;   a plane extending through the sidewall, the plane separating the first core from the second core;   a handle portion extending from a lower end of the main body portion, the handle portion defining a handle central axis extending therethrough; and   a grip member including a grip body portion being operably coupled with the handle portion, a grip end portion forming a grip end plane, and a transition region between the grip body portion and the grip end portion, the transition region having a first side defining a dorsal cantle region and a second side defining a ventral cantle region;   wherein the grip end plane forms an obtuse angle with the handle central axis, wherein at least one of the dorsal cantle region and the ventral cantle region bisects or divides the plane.   
     
     
         21 . The sports implement of  claim 20 , wherein the first contact material comprises a carbon fiber material, wherein the second contact material comprises a fiberglass material. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The sports implement of  claim 20 , wherein the first contact material has a Young's Modulus of approximately 183 GPa, wherein the second contact material has a Young's Modulus of approximately 75 GPa. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The sports implement of  claim 20 , wherein the first contact material has a first contact elasticity value and the second contact material has a second contact elasticity value, wherein a ratio of the first contact elasticity value to the second contact elasticity value is between approximately 1:5 and approximately 1:1.5. 
     
     
         26 . The sports implement of  claim 20 , wherein the dorsal cantle region has a dorsal cantle radius of curvature and the ventral cantle region has a ventral cantle radius of curvature, wherein the ventral cantle radius of curvature is greater than the dorsal cantle radius of curvature. 
     
     
         27 . The sports implement of  claim 20 , wherein the grip body portion has an elongated length having a substantially constant cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A sports implement comprising:
 a main body portion having a first contact surface constructed from a first contact material, a second contact surface constructed from a second contact material, and a sidewall positioned about a perimeter of each of the first and the second contact surfaces;   a handle portion extending from the main body portion, the handle portion defining a handle central axis extending therethrough; and   a grip member including a grip body portion and a grip end portion, the grip body portion being operably coupled with the handle portion, the grip end portion defining a first apex positioned on a first side and a second apex positioned on a second side, the first and second apexes forming a grip end plane;   wherein the grip end plane forms an obtuse angle with the handle central axis.   
     
     
         31 . The sports implement of  claim 30 , wherein the angle formed between the grip end plane and the handle central axis is between approximately 15° and approximately 55°. 
     
     
         32 . The sports implement of  claim 30 , further comprising a first core constructed from a first core material and being positioned adjacent to the first contact surface; and
 a second core constructed from a second core material and being positioned adjacent to the second contact surface.   
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The sports implement of  claim 30 , wherein the first contact material has a Young's Modulus of approximately 183 GPa, wherein the second contact material has a Young's Modulus of approximately 75 GPa. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The sports implement of  claim 30 , wherein the first contact material has a first contact elasticity value and the second contact material has a second contact elasticity value, wherein a ratio of the first contact elasticity value to the second contact elasticity value is between approximately 1:5 and approximately 1:1.5.