Multi-polymer grip member
A grip member and a method of making such a grip member including at least a polymerized region with two or more polymers. The first and second polymers cooperate to each form a portion of the top surface of the region. The region may be combined with a substrate to form a sheet. The sheet may be formed into a grip interface having any of a number of shapes including a panel shape. In the case of a panel shaped grip interface, the panel can then be attached to an underlisting sleeve to form the grip. Some versions of such a grip reduce impact shock and provide a feeling of tackiness in the manner of a spirally wrapped polyurethane-felt grip while allowing the use of multiple colors being polymerized together. The grip may be easily installed onto a golf club shaft and may further accommodate the use of polymers including various different characteristics including level of tackiness or durometer.
1. A manufacturing assembly for forming a layer of polyurethane for use with a grip, said assembly comprising:
a substrate source unit, a first liquid polyurethane source unit, a second liquid polyurethane source unit, and a support assembly for the second liquid polyurethane source unit that is configured to move the second liquid source unit laterally with respect to a first web, wherein
the assembly is configured to move a porous substrate from the substrate source unit into communication with the first liquid polyurethane source unit to apply a first liquid polyurethane to the full width of the substrate to form the first web including the substrate and the first liquid polyurethane with an outer surface of the first liquid polyurethane opposite an outer surface of the substrate, the assembly further configured to longitudinally move the first web into communication with the second liquid polyurethane source unit which is configured to move laterally to apply the second liquid polyurethane to the outer surface of the first liquid polyurethane to form a second web including the substrate and a layer of liquid polyurethane comprising both first and second liquid polyurethanes on its outer surface, and wherein the assembly is configured to move the second web into a bath to coagulate the polyurethanes into a single layer of polyurethane including both the first and second polyurethanes coagulated side by side on the outer surface and the assembly configured to compress the single layer of polyurethane to force a solvent from the single layer of polyurethane through the porous substrate.
2. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the second liquid polyurethane source unit comprises a nozzle for dispensing the second liquid polyurethane and the support assembly for the second liquid polyurethane source unit is configured to move the nozzle of the second liquid source unit to move the second liquid source unit laterally with respect to the first web.
3. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a support assembly for the second liquid polyurethane source unit that is configured to move the second liquid source unit longitudinally with respect to the first web.
4. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 3 , wherein the second liquid polyurethane source unit comprises a nozzle for dispensing the second liquid polyurethane and the support assembly for the second liquid polyurethane source unit is configured to move the nozzle of the second liquid source unit to move the second liquid source unit laterally with respect to the first web.
5. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a third liquid polyurethane source unit which applies a third liquid polyurethane to the second web prior to coagulating the first and second liquid polyurethanes on the substrate.
6. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first liquid polyurethane source unit lays the first liquid polyurethane onto the outer surface of the substrate.
7. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising a blade configured to control the thickness of the first liquid polyurethane.
8. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , where in the substrate source unit is roll of substrate.
9. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the assembly moves first web beneath a stationary second liquid polyurethane source unit such that the second liquid polyurethane creates a pattern on the outer surface of the first liquid polyurethane.
10. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first liquid polyurethane defines a first color and the second liquid polyurethane defines a second color different from the first.
11. The manufacturing assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the first liquid polyurethane defines a first durometer and the second liquid polyurethane defines a second durometer different from the first.