# US 2018/0321012 A1 · Cushioned grip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0321012 A1 - Document ID: US20180321012A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/031,720 - Filed: 2018-07-10 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-06 - Assignees: Adaptive Tactical LLC - Applicants: Adaptive Tactical LLC - Inventors: JAMES K. BENTLEY; GREY O. BEAUDRY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180321012A1 ## CPC - F41C 23/08: Recoil absorbing pads - B25G 1/01: Shock-absorbing means (B25G1/02 takes precedence) - B25G 1/102: {the shape being specially adapted to facilitate handling or improve grip} - B29C 45/14: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles {(B29C45/1671 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/14344: {Moulding in or through a hole in the article, e.g. outsert moulding} - B29C 45/7207: {of the moulded articles} - F41A 11/00: Assembly or disassembly features; Modular concepts; Articulated or collapsible guns (F41A3/64, F41A19/10 - F41A19/15, F41A21/48, F41A25/26 take precedence) - F41A 35/06: Adaptation of guns to both right and left hand use - F41C 23/10: Stocks or grips for pistols, e.g. revolvers (F41C23/12 takes precedence) - F41C 23/18: characterised by the material used (F41C23/08 takes precedence) - B25F 5/02: Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} - B29C 2045/1436: {coating hollow articles having holes passing through the wall} - B29K 2021/003: {Thermoplastic elastomers} - B29K 2023/083: {EVA, i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer} - B29K 2083/00: Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as moulding material - B29L 2031/463: {Grips, handles (handgrips as part of the body finishing of the vehicles B29L2031/3029)} - F41C: SMALLARMS, e.g. PISTOLS, RIFLES (functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance, mountings therefor F41A; projecting missiles without use of explosive or combustible propellant charge F41B); ACCESSORIES THEREFOR - B25G: HANDLES FOR HAND IMPLEMENTS (attaching the blades or the like to handles of hand tools for soil working A01B1/22; handles of hand implements for harvesting A01D1/14; handles integral with brushware A46B) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - F41A: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE - B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)} - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A cushioned article includes a cage and a compressible material. The cage has at least one opening, an interior volume, and an outer surface. The at least one opening provides a passage from the outer surface to the interior volume. The compressible material extends through the at least one opening in the cage. A method for manufacturing a cushioned article includes providing a mold having at least one cavity, placing a cage within the mold, and injecting a compressible material into an interior of the cage. The cage includes at least one opening. A portion of the compressible material flows through the at least one opening in the cage and fills the at least one cavity of the mold. One or more shields may be connected to the cage before injection. The shields may be removed with the cage and heat treated with the shields still connected to the cage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cushioned article comprising: a cage having at least one opening, an outer surface, an inner surface, and an interior volume defined by the inner surface, the at least one opening providing a passage from the outer surface to the interior volume; and a compressible material having a base, at least one protrusion extending from the base through the at least one opening in the cage, and a cavity, the base being positioned against the inner surface of the cage. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cushioned article of claim 1, wherein the compressible material is formed of a single molded piece extending from the interior volume of the cage through the at least one opening and beyond the outer surface of the cage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cushioned article of claim 1, wherein the compressible material is a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cushioned article of claim 1, wherein the cavity extends through the base from a bottom end of the compressible material to a top end of the compressible material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cushioned article of claim 4, further comprising a core shaped to be received within the cavity and force the base into engagement with the inner surface of the cage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cushioned article of claim 5, wherein the core comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cushioned article of claim 6, wherein the cage, the compressible material, and the core form a grip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cushioned article of claim 7, wherein the cage is configured to attach to a firearm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cushioned article of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is a plurality of openings and the compressible material forms palm swells. ### Claim 10 A method for manufacturing a cushioned article, the method comprising: positioning a cage within a mold having at least one cavity, the cage including at least one opening in fluid communication with the at least one cavity; inserting a core slide into the cage, the core slide forming a gap between an inner surface of the cage and the core slide; injecting a compressible material into the mold, wherein a portion of the compressible material flows through the at least one opening in the cage and fills the at least one cavity and the gap; and removing the cage and the compressible material from the mold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the compressible material is selected with an expansion ratio based on a size of the gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein a size of the gap is selected based on an expansion ratio of the compressible material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising removing the core slide and inserting a core in place of the core slide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the compressible material is a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: attaching one or more shields to the cage, the at least one cavity being located on the one or more shields; and heat treating the compressible material with the one or more shields attached to the cage. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising heat treating the compressible material after removing the cage and the compressible material from the mold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the cage comprises a non-compressible material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the cage and the compressible material form a grip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising coating the cage before placing the cage within the mold. ### Claim 20 A method for manufacturing a grip, the method comprising: placing a cage within a mold, the cage including at least one opening; injecting an elastomeric material into the cage such that the elastomeric material flows through the at least one opening in the cage, at least a portion of the elastomeric material being disposed in an interior volume of the cage; and inhibiting flow of the portion of the elastomeric material within the interior volume of the cage, wherein the portion of the elastomeric material within the interior volume of the cage is insufficient to force the mold apart or break the cage when the elastomeric material is heat treated. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein inhibiting flow of the portion of the elastomeric material within the interior volume of the cage comprises inserting a core slide into the interior volume of the cage, the portion of the elastomeric material within the interior volume of the cage being disposed between an interior surface of the cage and the core slide. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein a size of a gap between the interior surface of the cage and the core slide is selected based on an expansion ratio of the elastomeric material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising: attaching one or more shields to the cage; and heat treating the elastomeric material with the one or more shields attached to the cage. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, further comprising heat treating the elastomeric material after removing the cage and the compressible material from the mold.