SILICONE BASED ARTICLE FOR USE WITH SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND OTHER PRODUCTS
First Claim
1. An article for use with sports equipment for protecting and reducing vibrations experienced during use of the equipment comprising:
- a body formed of silicone rubber that includes a first surface for being securely coupled to a first surface of the sports equipment; and
an adhesive backing member with a releasable cover that is located along the first surface of the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, an article that generally consists of a silicone material in combination with a fastening member, such as an adhesive backing, is provided and configured for easy application to a surface, including those associated with a variety of racquet sports, sporting goods, etc. The combination of the silicone material with the fastening member is hereby referred to as a “silicone adhesive product” that, as described below, overcomes the deficiencies of conventional sports equipment accessories, protects the sports equipment, reduces vibration; and can offer the degree of customization desired by some sports participants.
12 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An article for use with sports equipment for protecting and reducing vibrations experienced during use of the equipment comprising:
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a body formed of silicone rubber that includes a first surface for being securely coupled to a first surface of the sports equipment; and an adhesive backing member with a releasable cover that is located along the first surface of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A head guard for use with a sports racquet comprising:
an elongated silicone rubber article having first and second side edges and a central slot formed therethrough, the slot being divided into a number of discrete segmented openings by a plurality of integral transverse ribs that extend across the slot at spaced intervals, the article having at least one fastening element located along an inner surface thereof that mates with an outer edge of a head of the sports racquet for coupling the article thereto. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for protecting a head of a sports racquet and for providing vibration dampening of the racquet comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongated silicone rubber article having first and second side edges and a central slot formed therethrough, the slot being divided into a number of discrete segmented openings by a plurality of integral transverse ribs that extend across the slot at spaced intervals, the article having at least one fastening element located along an inner surface thereof; aligning the article relative to an outer edge of the head of the sports racquet such that tensioned string segments that are part of the strings that form a striking surface of the racquet are accessible through the segmented openings; and securely adhering the inner surface of the article to the outer edge of the head by means of the at least one fastening element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A head guard for use with a sports racquet comprising:
an elongated silicone rubber article having first and second side edges and a central slot formed therethrough, the slot being divided into a number of discrete segmented openings by a plurality of integral transverse ribs that extend across the slot at spaced intervals, the article having a plurality of notches formed along the first side edge and the second side edge, the notches defining a plurality of flexible fingers formed longitudinally along a length of the article, the article having at least one fastening element located along an inner surface thereof that mates with an outer edge of a head of the sports racquet for coupling the article thereto. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification