ELÉMENT DE PRÉHENSION D'UN ÉQUIPEMENT SPORTIF

Element for gripping sports equipment

The present invention relates to a manual gripping element of a sports facility, for example a hand-rails of gymnastic apparatus.

The holder hands of a rigging corresponds to the gripping zone of the area, that is to say the element that captures the gymnast or on which it rests and is suspended when carrying out a exercise or gymnastics program. Such hand-rails is implemented for example in the uneven bars and parallel bars.

Although described in the field of gymnastic and particularly in connection with a hands-door uneven bars, the present invention may relate to all manual gripping element of sports equipment provided on a core of composite material.

Asymmetric busbar hand door known in the prior art comprise a tube of composite material based on glass fibers, optionally reinforced with carbon fibers, and wooden plating covering the composite tube. In the rigging called asymmetric bars, a hand-rails corresponds to each of the two horizontal bars of the area, and has in fact the grip areas that the user enters for the execution of its program.

The wooden plating has several functions. It provides some comfort to the user, improves its adhesion (usually designated in the field of sports equipment by the English term "grip") and therefore its good grip and allows the absorption of moisture.

Nevertheless, the wooden veneer hands holder has a number of disadvantages. First, the wood requires proper maintenance for long life. In addition, the timber is sensitive to heat and moisture and can rapidly deteriorate in inappropriate conditions of use, transportation, or storage. Moreover, the veneer is subjected to bending cycles of the carrier hands during the passage of gymnasts. These bending cycles involved peeling and deterioration of wood veneer.

In addition, when the wood veneer is damaged, there is a risk of injury when gripping the hand-rails. For example, the user can cut a slit plating, or sink splinters.

Finally, the plating is carried out after shaping of the core holder hands. Typically, for the manufacture of a hand-rails of uneven bars, a bar of composite material in fiberglass frame is performed, and then is plated with wood in a second step. Plating is generally performed in another workshop that the core shaping. This causes some logistical complexity and high costs of implementation.

The invention aims to solve at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks. The invention particularly relates to a gripping member of a sports facility comprising a core of composite material having a fibrous framework included in a polymeric matrix. The gripping member includes an outer layer enveloping the core and comprising an interlaced textile material, separate from the frame, partly embedded in the die and emerging from said matrix on an outer surface of the gripping member.

A gripping member thus formed has similar mechanical properties to the composite core grippers known in the prior art, while improving the quality of the grip, comfort, and reducing the risk of injury. In particular, the textile material emerging at the surface of the polymer matrix allows for better adhesion between the hand and the gripping element. The fibers of the surface emerging textile material may also offer characteristic absorption of moisture, popular in applications such as door-hands gymnastics apparatus. According to one embodiment, the interlaced textile material consists essentially of natural fibers. For example, the textile may be made of natural fibers selected from: flax fibers, jute fibers, bamboo fibers, hemp fibers.

The outer layer may comprise a single layer of interlaced textile material. The outer layer may comprise two to four layers of interlaced textile material.

The fibrous framework may comprise, for example, glass fibers and / or carbon fibers.

The invention also relates to a holder hands of a gymnastic apparatus, and preferably asymmetric bars or parallel bars, consisting of a gripper as described above.

The invention also relates to a sports equipment having a gripping member as described above, said sports equipment being either asymmetric gymnastic bars, either parallel gymnastic bars or another gymnastic apparatus, a train, an paddle, a jump pole to pole. Other sports may include a gripping element as described above, and thereby constitute an object of the invention.

The invention relates in another aspect to a method of manufacturing a gripping member of a sports facility as described above, comprising the steps of:

- simultaneously forming the core and the outer layer, and the matrix of polymerization;

- grinding an outer surface of the outer layer so as to bring out of the polymerized matrix the textile material of the outer layer.

In such a process, the formation of the outer layer may implement an interlace comprising son thermofusible textile material.

In such a process, simultaneously forming the core and the outer layer may be achieved for example by pultrusion. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the description below.

In the accompanying drawings given as non-limiting examples:

- Figure 1 schematically shows asymmetric gymnastic bars;

- Figure 2 shows a schematic cross sectional view of an asymmetric hand bar door according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 3 shows a schematic cross sectional view of parallel bars hand door according to one embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 4 shows an exemplary method, according to a particular embodiment of an object of the invention. Figure 1 schematically shows uneven bars, which are female gymnastic apparatus. When running a program on uneven bars gymnast performs a number of figures, on two bars positioned in distinct vertical and horizontal planes. The rigging includes a structure comprising four uprights M1, M2, M3 and M4, which support the two bars constituting the hand-rails 1, 1 ', that is to say, the gripping elements of the tackle during its use.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross section of a holder 1 of hands uneven bars according to an embodiment of the invention. The hand holder 1 constitutes the gripping member of the uneven bars. It comprises a core 2 made of composite material which comprises a fibrous framework and a polymeric matrix. In particular, the fibrous framework generally comprises glass fibers. Alternatively or additionally, the core can comprise carbon fibers and / or Kevlar ™. The polymeric matrix is ​​generally based on a thermosetting resin, based on synthetic polymer resins such as, for example isophthalic polyester resin and epoxy resins. The fibers (typically of glass and / or atoms) that comprises the core can typically occur before implementation as a son or fiber bundle (generally designated as the English denomination "roving"), cloth, or mast. The type of fibers used, association with a suitable matrix, and the selected geometry possible to confer to the element obtained essentially the desired mechanical characteristics. In particular, an asymmetric rod-hand door must have sufficient strength and a certain stiffness so that the full rigging conforms to a given standard.

The core of the hands-carrier according to the embodiment of the invention shown here is covered with a coating comprising an outer layer 3. The outer layer 3 comprises an interlaced textile material, separate from the frame. An interlaced textile material typically corresponds to a fabric or a braid obtained by interlacing fibers.

Thus, in the case where the fibrous framework also includes interlaced fibers, interlaced textile of the outer layer material 3 is separate from the core. The outer layer is intimately linked to the nucleus, the interlaced textile material of the outer layer 3 being partially embedded in the matrix of the composite material constituting the core. Interlaced textile material emerges from the die, on the outer surface 4 of the hand-rails.

In particular, in the context of applying the invention to a holder hands uneven bars interlaced textile material of the outer layer 3 is sufficiently uncovered surface of the hand-rails to provide a good grip is -to say good grip of the hands of the gymnast on the door hand and a good comfort of use and a certain moisture absorption. Similarly, in any other application, the interlaced textile material of the outer layer 3 is sufficiently uncovered surface of the gripping member to provide a handle, a comfort of use, and possibly some absorption of moisture, in accordance with the intended use.

Preferably, the fabric used in the outer layer 3 is substantially (that is to say the vast majority, for example more than 90% by number or by weight) consisting of natural fibers. For example, natural fibers can be implemented, among others, flax fibers, jute fibers, bamboo fibers, hemp fibers, or any mixture of several of these fibers.

Depending on the type of fabric used, in particular depending on the nature of its fibers, the type of weave, thickness, etc., several layers of tissue may be necessary to obtain the characteristics of comfort and / or desired adhesion. Two, three or four layers can for example be implemented. In the context of the application of the invention a hands-door uneven bars, two linen fabric layers may typically be employed.

In the context of applying the invention to a hand-door uneven bars, the core may have an outer diameter of about 40 mm (typically within plus or minus 1 mm) and the outer layer a thickness of the order of 0.7mm. The core may be in the form of a hollow tube, inside diameter, for example of the order of 26mm.

An asymmetric bar hand door according to one embodiment of the invention may, by way of non-limiting example, comprise about 61% by weight of glass fibers, 3% of carbon fibers and 5% of fabric linen. The proportion of reinforcing fibers, typically glass fibers and / or carbon) largely gives the holder hands the desired mechanical properties. The proportions and arrangement of the reinforcing fibers in the core and can vary greatly from one application to another in order to impart to the hands chains or other gripping member the desired characteristics.

The outer layer 3 may further include a hot melt material. It may especially be a conventionally available heat-fusible material in the trade, in particular a thermoplastic adhesive (generally designated by the English term "hot-melt"). The presence in the outer layer of such a heat-fusible material may impart a gummy contact, or some tack, improving the gripping comfort. The heat-fusible material may be derived from son melt present in the employee interlaced textile material to obtain the outer layer, before obtaining the latter.

Figure 3 shows a schematic section of a hand of parallel bars door according to one embodiment of the invention. The carrier hands of parallel bars have the particularity not to have a circular section, but an oval shape with a slightly flattened top bearing surface. However, such hand-rails may consist of a gripping element according to one embodiment of the invention, constituted analogously to the circular section of hand holder described with reference to Figure 2. The mechanical characteristics for a hands-gate parallel bars are different from those sought for a hands-door uneven bars. In particular, the parallel bars of hand door must have a bending stiffness important especially under vertical load. Thus, besides the geometry of the ring section 3 (and the end of the hand-rails), the kernel is adapted constitution 3, typically increasing the amount of carbon reinforcements and optimizing their position. Just like the gripping element of Figure 2, the gripping member of Figure 3 comprises an outer layer 3 comprising an interlaced textile material (fabric, braid) including fibers emerge from the matrix of the composite material on the outer surface 4 door-hands.

Figure 4 shows an example of the method of the invention, in a particular embodiment. In a first step, the core and the outer layer are simultaneously formed. A preferred method, shown in Figure 4, allowing this formation is the pultrusion process.

Pultrusion (a term derived from the English words "pull", meaning

"Pull", and "extrusion", identical in French) refers to a process in which fibers 5, typically glass fibers and / or carbon, such as a son or son beams are drawn through a bath 6 of a liquid-based matrix polymer resin of which they are responsible, then the whole is pulled through a heated die causing the polymerization of the matrix. The die gives the element obtained a constant cross-section (as in an extrusion process). According to the method in question and the means used for its implementation, the element may be preformed by means of a preform 8 before passing into the heated die 7.

Interlaced textile material 9, to be included in the outer layer of the gripping member 5 envelops the fibers of the core of the fibrous framework during pultrusion. Interlaced textile material is thus embedded in the polymeric matrix during the pultrusion. It can be in particular a fabric or braid essentially containing natural fibers, for example flax fibers, jute fibers, bamboo fibers, hemp fibers, or a mixture of several of these fibers.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the interlaced textile material 9 may contain son melt. As part of a fabric, the melt son may especially be mixed with chain son. The bottom heat-fusible material, at least partly, under the effect of the exothermic polymerization of the matrix and heating of the die 7. The hot-melt material can afford to assist in maintaining position during the pultrusion, the textile material interlaced. In addition, the hot melt material in the outer layer of the gripping element offers advantages previously mentioned, in terms of comfort and grip.

Is obtained at the outlet of the heated die 7 an elongated section corresponding to the desired section of the gripping member. The elongate member is charged so as to obtain a crude gripping member 10.

In a next method step, the outer surface of the outer layer of the crude gripping member 10 is sanded so as to increase its roughness, and to emerge from the matrix interlaced textile material. Depending on the adhesion properties desired in the hand and moisture absorption, sanding will be more or less important to make more or less emerge the fibers of said textile material on the outer surface of the gripping member 1 and got.

According to another variant of a method according to the invention, pultrusion can be replaced by a mold lamination. The invention thus developed provides a gripping element for sports equipment, which may typically be, but not limited to a gear of hands-door gymnastics such as a hand-rails of pommel horse, rings, parallel bars, and preferably uneven bars. Other sports equipment gripping elements can be made in accordance with the invention, for example, the gripping zone of an oar or paddle, a jump pole to pole, a arc, a paddle, or a handlebar.

A gripper according to the invention allows obtaining a good grip, both in terms of grip and comfort. It offers, if necessary, also moisture absorption qualities.

A gripping element according to the invention can be obtained by a process, also subject of the invention, wherein the composite core and the outer layer it contains are simultaneously obtained, for example by pultrusion. This reduces manufacturing costs. For example, as regards the application of the invention the carrier hands uneven bars, the core of the plating with a layer of wood is no longer necessary.