GB2259256A - String protecting pin for a game racket - Google Patents

Abstract

The string protecting pin (3) for game racket comprises a protrusion (33) disposed around the outer circumferential edge of the string hole (32) located on the outer surface of the main body thereof. The protrusion of the pin is intended to protect the portion of the netted string (5) which bends to reverse its netting direction. <IMAGE>

Description

STRING PROTECTING PIN FOR GAME RACKET This invention relates to a game racket frame, and more particularly to a game racket frame designed with string protecting pins, which are provided with protrusions located along the outer circumference thereof to enhance the protection of netted strings of the game racket.

The string protecting pins for game racket are generally made of slightly flexible plastic material. They are made integrally as a unitary body of the racket frame and are arranged in succession in the same direction in order to protect the strings passing therethrough. As shown in FIG. 1-1, a main body 1 is shown comprising a plurality of string eyes 11 extending unidirectionally, with each of string eyes 11 having a string hole 12 passing therethrough the inner and the outer sides thereof. The string hole 12 passes through the main body 1 to form a fish eye hole at the outer side of the main body 1 to facilitate the string pulling and to eliminate the sharp edge of the string hole.

For the netted strings of a game racket to be ready for use, the netted strings must be pulled to a prescribed tightness. As a result, the strings exert a great deal of pressure on the outer edges of the string holes 12 where the strings make turns before or after they pass through the string holes 12, thereby resulting in the pressured edges to be vulnerable to deformation. Since the fish eye hole constitutes the outer side edge of the string hole 12, the outer side edge of the string hole 12 is constructed as a thin edge, resulting in the outer edge of the string hole 12 to be vulnerable to cracks. As a result, the strength of the netted strings is compromised, as shown in FIG. 1-2. Furthermore, the netted strings are susceptible to breakage caused by the mechanical friction between the strings and the sharp edges of the string holes.

Therefore, an improved string protecting pin was introduced. As shown in FIG. 2, the pin 2 is provided with a semi-circular baffle 22 disposed at the outer side located between the two string holes 21. The netted string is supported on the highest point of the circular beffle 22 so as to reduce the pressure exerting on the outer edge of the string hole 21 by the netted string.

The disadvantages of the prior art design as described above are further expounded hereinafter.

The netted string exerts a pulling force on the edge of head frame shoulder of the game racket. Therefore, just outside the pin 2 there is not always a netted string passing through the space between the two adjacent string holes 21. Instead there is an interval, as shown in FIG. 2. If a baffle 22 of predetermined length and height is disposed at every space between the two adjacent string holes 21, there will be a sustantial increase in the weight of the game racket. If a baffle 22 is constructed at the space where the netted string passes through, the way by which the strings are netted will be limited and confined.

The construction of a semi-circular baffle 22 of predetermined height is intended to change the bending angle of the netted string at the place where the netted string makes a turn.

Accordingly, if the interval between the two string holes 21 is ircreased, the height of the baffle 22 must be increased correspondingly, thereby resulting in the netted string exetending outwardly to form a protrusion subject to abrasion and damage. Therefore, a game racket frame is practically provided with pins located in the racket frame adjacent to the shaft of the game racket.

For this reason, in view of the problems mentioned above, this inventor discloses first the improved structures of a string protecting pin for use in the game racket.

The present invention relates to string protecting pin for game racket. Such pin comprises a plurality of string eyes extending unidirectionally toward the inner side thereof.

Each of string eyes includes therein a string passing through both ends thereof, with one end of the string hole passing through the main body of the pin. It is characterized in that there is a protrusion disposed on the outer surface of the pin main body and also on the outer circumference of each string hole. This protrusion of appropriate hardness is intended to be pressed upon by the string at the places where it makes a turn just before or after it passes through the string hole.

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide protrusions which are disposed on the circumferential edges of the string holes so as to prevent the netted strings from extending outwardly and to avoid the outer edges of the string holes being pressed and damages.

The following is a more detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a cut-away view of a protecting pin of the prior art; FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of another protecting pin of the prior art; FIG. 3 is an external view of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of the portion taken along line N -N as shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the string under pulling tension as shown in FIG.4; FIG. 6 is an external view of the second embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 7 is an external view of the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the string protecting pin 3 embodied in the present invention is shown comprising a plurality of string eyes 31 of predetermined length extending unidirectionally toward inner side thereof, with each of string eyes 31 being constructed in such manners that it is provided with a string hole 32 passing through both ends thereof, and that one end of the string hole 32 passes through the main body of the pin 3, and further that a protrusion 32 of appropriate hardness is disposed at the circumferential edge of the string hole 32. The protrusion 33 of ring-shaped construction is used to embrace the string hole 32. The inner side surface 34 of the protrusion 33 is in direct contact with the circumferential edge of the outer end of the string hole 32.The inner side surface 34 of the protrusion 33 is constructed in such a manner that it is progressively inclined toward the outside thereof from the bottom thereof to the upper portion thereof.

Now referring to FIG. 5, the racket frame 4 is shown comprising the pin 3 of the present invention, which is disposed at the outer edge of the frame shoulder. When the netted string 5 is pulled forcefully, the protrusion 33 of the present invention is pressed upon by the portion of the netted string 5 which bends to make a sharp turn. As soon as the netted string 5 is pulled to a perdetermined tension, the protrusion 33 is flattened under pressure. However, the netted string 5 does not extend outwardly (as shown in dotted lines), because the netted string 5, which presses upon the protrusion 33, is still separated from the racket frame 4.

Therefore, advantages of the present invention over the prior art have become apparent and are further expounded explicitly hereinafter.

The string protecting pin of the present invention is not susceptible to damage caused by a tightened string, because it is protected by a protrusion which is disposed at the place where the tightened netted string bends to make turn.

As a result, the pulling strength of the netted string is not compromised, and the netted string is less vulnerable to breakage caused by the mechanical friction between the netted string and the racket frame.

In accordance with the present invention, the netted strings will not extend outwardly after being tightened. Therefore, the string eye located at any position of the racket frame can be provided with the protrusion of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the protrusion is disposed around the circumference of the string hole without regard to its orientation.

As a result, the pattern by which the string is netted across the racket frame is not restricted.

Furthermore, the protrusions of the present invention add very little to the over-all weight of the game racket.

As shown in FIG. 6, the embodiment of the present invention can be modified in such a manner that the protrusion 61 of the pin 6 is disposed at both sides of the outer edge of the string hole 62, through which the netted string passes.

Such protrusions 61 add relatively little weight to the game racket.

Another modification of the embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 7, in which the protrusion 71 is arranged on the shield 7 which is provided with the string eye 72. The objectives of the present invention intended to be accomplished by such modification of the embodiment is by no means compromised to any extent.

Claims (7)

1. String protecting pin for game racket comprising a plurality of string eyes extending unidirectionally toward inner side thereof, with each of said string eyes being constructed in such manners that it is provided with a string hole passing through both ends thereof and that one end of said string hole passes through the main body of said pin, which is characterized in that it is provided with a protrusion of an appropriate hardness disposed at the circumferential edge of said string hole located on the outer surface of the main body thereof.

2. String protective pin for game racket according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion is of ring-shaped construction.

3. String protective pin for game racket according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion can be also disposed on both sides of outer edge of said string hole through which the netted string passes through.

4. String protective pin for game racket according to claim 2, wherein said protrusion is constructed in such a manner that the bottom end portion of its inner surface is in direct contact with the outer end of the wall of said string hole.

5. String protective pin for game racket according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said protrusion is constructed in a manner that its inner surface is inclined progressively and outwardly from the bottom thereof toward top thereof.

6. String protection pin substantially as described herein and exemplified with reference to the drawings.

7. A racket for a game in corporating a string protection pin as described herein.