US20060166767A1 - Sporting racket - Google Patents

Sporting racket Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20060166767A1
US20060166767A1 US10/520,248 US52024805A US2006166767A1 US 20060166767 A1 US20060166767 A1 US 20060166767A1 US 52024805 A US52024805 A US 52024805A US 2006166767 A1 US2006166767 A1 US 2006166767A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
string
racket
adjustment member
tension adjustment
section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/520,248
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hiroo Yanahara
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of US20060166767A1 publication Critical patent/US20060166767A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B51/00—Stringing tennis, badminton or like rackets; Strings therefor; Maintenance of racket strings
    • A63B51/12—Devices arranged in or on the racket for adjusting the tension of the strings
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B49/00—Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis
    • A63B49/02—Frames
    • A63B49/022—String guides on frames, e.g. grommets
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B49/00—Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis
    • A63B49/02—Frames
    • A63B49/028—Means for achieving greater mobility of the string bed

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a sporting racket using strings in a hitting area in tennis, badminton, etc. More particularly, the present invention relates to a racket that allows the tension of stretched strings to be changed (or adjusted) in an appropriate and easy manner.
  • Rackets for tennis, badminton, etc do not provide satisfactory tension of the strings stretched therein depending on the rigidity of the frame, the size of the face (size of the hitting area), the repulsive force of the strings, the preference of a player, etc. In such a case, the user must put up with the unsatisfactory tension or must stretch the strings again until a desired tension is obtained.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above and has an objective of providing a racket capable of easily adjusting the tension of the strings in a simple structure.
  • a racket including a loop-shaped frame body having an inner surrounded region in which strings are stretched in a net shape to provide a hitting area; and a shaft section having a grip section gripped by a player, at a tip end section thereof, the racket comprising: a plurality of string holes provided in the frame body to allow the strings to be folded back therethrough; and a string tension adjustment member provided between the string holes positioned to be adjacent to each other to form a string folding portion and configured to allow the string to be folded in a desired position, wherein the string tension adjustment member includes columnar member having a string-contact face on a peripheral face thereof, and a distance from a rotation center of the string tension adjustment member to the string-contact face is variable.
  • the string tension adjust member can be operated to allow the string to be easily adjusted to have a desired tension.
  • this columnar member may be made of a resin, metals such as aluminum, wood, or ceramics.
  • a sporting racket including a loop-shaped frame body having an inner surrounded region in which strings are stretched in a net shape to provide a hitting area; and a shaft section having a grip section gripped by a player, at a tip end section thereof, the racket comprising: a plurality of string holes provided in the frame body to allow the strings to be folded back therethrough; and a string tension adjustment member provided between the string holes positioned to be adjacent to each other to form a string folding portion and configured to allow the string to be folded at a desired position, wherein the string tension adjustment member has a screw mechanism configured to change a position at which the string is folded.
  • the string tension adjustment member functioning as the screw mechanism can be operated to easily adjust the strings of the racket to have a desired tension.
  • the racket as described above is superior to the racket according to the first invention in that the wedge action by the screw (force doubling action) can be used to easily change the force of the string.
  • any of the rackets has a yoke section and the string tension adjustment member is disposed at the yoke section, a structure preferable from the viewpoint of practicality is obtained.
  • FIG. 1 is a view showing the entire structure of a tennis racket that is one type of sporting rackets according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a yoke section of the racket shown in FIG. 1 ;
  • FIGS. 3 ( a ), 3 ( b ), and 3 ( c ) are views showing the structure of a string tension adjustment member provided in the yoke section of FIG. 2 , wherein FIG. 3 ( a ) is a side view of the string tension adjustment member, FIG. 3 ( b ) is a view taken in the direction of arrows along line IIIb-IIIb of FIG. 3 ( a ), showing a helical string-contact face of the string tension adjustment member of FIG. 3 ( a ), and FIG. 3 ( c ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line IIIc-IIIc of FIG. 3 ( a ) in which the string tension adjustment member shown in FIG. 3 ( a ) causes the string to be in contact with a string folding position with the minimum tension;
  • FIGS. 4 ( a ) and 4 ( b ) are partially enlarged perspective views of the string tension adjustment member with the string tension adjustment member shown in FIGS. 3 ( a ), 3 ( b ), and 3 ( c ) provided in the yoke section of the racket, in which FIG. 4 ( a ) illustrates an embodiment in which the string tension adjustment member is attached to a general yoke section and is a cross-sectional view taken in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the yoke section, and FIG. 4 ( b ) is a view taken along line IVb-IVb of FIG. 4 ( a );
  • FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the yoke section illustrating an embodiment in which the string tension adjustment member as shown in FIGS. 3 ( a ), 3 ( b ), and 3 ( c ) is stored in a storage hole of a member adjacent to the yoke section;
  • FIGS. 6 ( a ) and 6 ( b ) are views showing a structure of the string tension adjustment member different from that of FIGS. 3 ( a ), 3 ( b ), and 3 ( c ) in which a columnar member is formed by a tapered columnar member, in which FIG. 6 ( a ) is a cross-sectional view taken in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the yoke section with the string tension adjustment member and FIG. 6 ( b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIb-VIb of FIG. 6 ( a );
  • FIGS. 7 ( a ) and 7 ( b ) are views showing another embodiment illustrating the structure of the string tension adjustment member using a screw mechanism in which the string tension adjustment member is attached to the yoke section, in which FIG. 7 ( a ) is a cross-sectional view taken in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the yoke section and FIG. 7 ( b ) is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIIb-VIIb of FIG. 7 ( a );
  • FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing another embodiment that is different from the one using the screw mechanism in FIGS. 7 ( a ) and 7 ( b ), which is taken in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the yoke section, and illustrating the structure of the string tension adjustment member attached to the yoke section;
  • FIG. 9 is a view showing another embodiment of the string tension adjustment member having a helical shape seen from the upper face side, and illustrating the structure of the string tension adjustment member attached to the yoke section.
  • a racket 1 includes a loop-shaped frame body 3 having an inner region in which strings 2 are stretched in net shape to provide a hitting area Ht; a shaft section 4 having a grip section 7 gripped by a player at a tip end section thereof; a yoke section 5 partially forming the frame body 3 ; and a throat section 6 for connecting both ends of this yoke section 5 to the shaft section 4 .
  • the periphery of the frame body 3 has string holes 8 that penetrate the frame body 3 from an inner peripheral face 3 a to an outer peripheral face 3 b so that the strings 2 are inserted back and forth therethrough.
  • These string holes 8 are provided at plural positions in an edge portion of the frame body 3 so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from one another. Therefore, the yoke section 5 partially forming the frame body 3 also has a plurality of string holes 8 (six string holes 8 in this embodiment) which are spaced apart a predetermined distance apart from each other
  • one string tension adjustment members 9 is respectively provided between string holes 8 a and 8 b , between string holes 8 c and 8 d , and between string holes 8 e and 8 f of the six string holes 8 ( 8 a , 8 b , 8 c , 8 d , 8 e , 8 f ) provided at the center part of the yoke section 5 .
  • Each string tension adjustment member 9 is retained by the string 2 inserted to the corresponding hole.
  • the string tension adjustment member 9 As schematically shown in a enlarged view of FIG. 3 ( a ), the string tension adjustment member 9 according to this embodiment entirely has a columnar shape body (one type of circular cylindrical body in this embodiment) and, has a helical screw groove 10 on an outer peripheral face thereof.
  • the helical screw groove 10 is provided in a manner as shown in FIG. 3 ( a ) or FIG. 3 ( b ) showing a helical groove bottom 10 b of the screw groove 10 , in which the depth of the groove 10 continuously varies changed from one end to the other end of the columnar body.
  • This screw groove 10 functions as a string-contact face.
  • the screw groove 10 in this embodiment preferably has a pitch angle a in the range from 8 to 16 degrees and more preferably of about 11.5 degrees.
  • the above described angles are preferable because they provide the retention of the string 2 under various conditions and a range in which the string 2 can be adjusted to have a required tension.
  • the pitch angle is not limited to these angles and also may be an angle near or other than these angles.
  • the string tension adjustment member 9 in this embodiment is made of ABS resin.
  • the string tension adjustment member 9 also may be made of other resins (e.g., glass-fiber reinforced resin), wood, metals (e.g., aluminum, duralumin, titanium), or ceramics.
  • the string tension adjustment member 9 shown in FIG. 3 is actually provided between the string holes 8 provided so as to be close to one another (adjacent to one another in this embodiment) in the yoke section 5 such that the string 2 is wound around the screw groove 10 of the string tension adjustment member 9 (see FIG. 3 ( c )), i.e., a folding section 2 A of the string 2 is in contact with the screw groove 10 that functions as a string-contact face of the string tension adjustment member 9 .
  • the string tension adjustment member 9 itself is fixed to the frame body 3 of the racket 1 by the tension by the string 2 .
  • the tension can be increased by inserting a commercially-available hexagonal wrench (not shown) into a hexagonal wrench hole 9 B provided at a top face 9 A of the string tension adjustment member 9 to rotate the string tension adjustment member 9 in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 or FIG. 4 ( a ) in this embodiment.
  • the tension can be reduced by rotating the string tension adjustment member 9 in a clockwise direction.
  • the tension of the string 2 can be changed by about 5.7 lb (2.6 kgf).
  • the tension of the string 2 can be changed by about 8.5 lb (3.8 kgf).
  • the difference in the distance of about 2 mm to 3 mm is sufficient for practical use.
  • only the strings 2 in the longitudinal direction in the sweet spot area of the racket 1 among the string 2 can be adjusted to have a different tension.
  • only the strings 2 in the lateral direction in the sweet spot area also may be appropriately adjusted to have a different tension.
  • the strings 2 both in the longitudinal and lateral directions may be adjusted to have a different tension.
  • FIG. 5 another structure also may be provided, in which storage hole members 20 are provided along and adjacently to the yoke section 5 so that each storage hole member 20 has a circular cylindrical storage hole (hole for storing the string tension adjustment member) 20 C to allow this storage hole 20 C to perfectly store therein the string tension adjustment member 9 except for the top face and the bottom face thereof.
  • storage hole members 20 are provided along and adjacently to the yoke section 5 so that each storage hole member 20 has a circular cylindrical storage hole (hole for storing the string tension adjustment member) 20 C to allow this storage hole 20 C to perfectly store therein the string tension adjustment member 9 except for the top face and the bottom face thereof.
  • the string tension adjustment member 9 also may be structured such that, a tapered columnar body the head of which is cut off as shown in FIGS. 6 ( a ) and 6 ( b ), has, at a peripheral face thereof, a screw groove 10 that functions as a string-contact face around which the string 2 is wound.
  • the reference numeral 24 denotes a grommet provided between the string tension adjustment member 9 and the yoke section 5 .
  • This grommet 24 may be made of synthetic resin such as nylon or made of rubber.
  • the frame body 3 (including the yoke section 5 ) has the string tension adjustment member 9 on an outer peripheral face thereof.
  • the screw mechanism 12 allows the relative movement of two wedge members 13 A and 13 B so that the height of a valley 14 provided between these wedge members 13 A and 13 B (distance from a side face of the yoke section 5 ) is changed, thereby changing the tension of the string 2 retained at the valley 14 .
  • the reference numeral 24 denotes a grommet provided between the string tension adjustment member 9 and the yoke section 5 .
  • a female screw hole 15 is formed to extend from the outer peripheral face to the inner peripheral face of the frame body 3 in parallel with the string 2 so that a bolt 16 is screwed to the female screw portion 15 and a head portion 16 h of this bolt 16 has a concave curved face so as to easily retain the string 2 .
  • the tension of the string 2 is changed by allowing this head portion 16 h of the bolt 16 to be relatively moved into or from the female screw hole 15 .
  • the reference numeral 24 denotes a grommet provided between the string tension adjustment member 9 and the yoke section 5 .
  • the string tension adjustment member 9 has a three-dimensional helical body, the thickness of which varies continuously.
  • a part of the string tension adjustment 9 which contacts the folded part of the string 2 is appropriately changed depending on a desired tension.
  • This string tension adjustment member 9 is, of course, brought into contact with the outer peripheral face 3 F (not shown) of the frame body 3 or is brought into contact with an outer face 24 F of the grommet 24 as shown in FIG. 9 .
  • the present invention also can be applied to a racket having a yoke section or a racket having no yoke section.
  • the string hole provided in the yoke section is replaced by a string hole provided in a corresponding part of the frame body.
  • the above description has mainly been directed to a tennis racket.
  • the present invention also can be applied to various rackets in which strings in the hitting area are stretched in a net shape, including badminton, squash, etc.
  • the present invention is carried out in the manner as described above. According to the racket of the present invention, a simple structure can be used to change the tension of the strings in accordance with the preference of a player and in a simple and quick manner.
  • the racket according to the present invention does not cause a substantial increase in the weight or an unbalanced appearance.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Golf Clubs (AREA)
  • Tents Or Canopies (AREA)
  • Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
US10/520,248 2002-07-15 2002-07-15 Sporting racket Abandoned US20060166767A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2002/007151 WO2004007032A1 (ja) 2002-07-15 2002-07-15 スポーツ用ラケット

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20060166767A1 true US20060166767A1 (en) 2006-07-27

Family

ID=30022652

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/520,248 Abandoned US20060166767A1 (en) 2002-07-15 2002-07-15 Sporting racket

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US20060166767A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP3806130B2 (ja)
AU (1) AU2002318733A1 (ja)
TW (1) TWM244938U (ja)
WO (1) WO2004007032A1 (ja)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113318396A (zh) * 2020-02-28 2021-08-31 住友橡胶工业株式会社 球拍
GB2599009A (en) * 2020-09-07 2022-03-23 Blair Wylde Brown A device for hitting a ball
US20220088444A1 (en) * 2020-09-23 2022-03-24 Elevating Sports B.V. Racket With a String Tensioning Device

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
TW201138899A (en) * 2010-05-13 2011-11-16 Jian-Wen Lu Racket

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1621746A (en) * 1927-03-22 Tennis racket
US3884467A (en) * 1971-04-07 1975-05-20 Reinhold Sommer Device for hitting a ball, shuttlecock or the like
US4340225A (en) * 1979-04-13 1982-07-20 Wilson Craig R Game racket and apparatus for adjusting the tension in the strings of a game racket
US4721304A (en) * 1985-09-13 1988-01-26 Anthony L. Zavilenski, Jr. Racket string tensioning device
US4995608A (en) * 1988-04-25 1991-02-26 Von Hackewitz Friedrich Wilhel Stringed frame with adjustable tensioning

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0231591A3 (en) * 1985-10-28 1987-08-26 Fin Sports Limited A tensioning device for a strung racquet
JPS63133257U (ja) * 1987-02-24 1988-08-31
JPH0520767U (ja) * 1991-08-29 1993-03-19 秀雄 梅津 ガツト張力調整装置付ラケツトおよびガツト張力調整装置

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1621746A (en) * 1927-03-22 Tennis racket
US3884467A (en) * 1971-04-07 1975-05-20 Reinhold Sommer Device for hitting a ball, shuttlecock or the like
US4340225A (en) * 1979-04-13 1982-07-20 Wilson Craig R Game racket and apparatus for adjusting the tension in the strings of a game racket
US4721304A (en) * 1985-09-13 1988-01-26 Anthony L. Zavilenski, Jr. Racket string tensioning device
US4995608A (en) * 1988-04-25 1991-02-26 Von Hackewitz Friedrich Wilhel Stringed frame with adjustable tensioning

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113318396A (zh) * 2020-02-28 2021-08-31 住友橡胶工业株式会社 球拍
EP3871742A1 (en) * 2020-02-28 2021-09-01 Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. Racket
GB2599009A (en) * 2020-09-07 2022-03-23 Blair Wylde Brown A device for hitting a ball
US20220088444A1 (en) * 2020-09-23 2022-03-24 Elevating Sports B.V. Racket With a String Tensioning Device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP3806130B2 (ja) 2006-08-09
TWM244938U (en) 2004-10-01
WO2004007032A1 (ja) 2004-01-22
AU2002318733A1 (en) 2004-02-02
JPWO2004007032A1 (ja) 2005-11-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11420102B2 (en) Weighted golf grip
JP3738967B2 (ja) ゴルフパター用軽量振動吸収ホーゼル
US7993211B2 (en) Golf club with plural alternative impact surfaces
US6530852B2 (en) Bat structure
US8016702B2 (en) Contoured hand grip constructions for a racquet
US8727915B2 (en) Handle-dampening lacrosse stick
US6048283A (en) Toy game implements
US5492321A (en) Batting practice device
US20180290033A1 (en) Weighted Golf Grip
JP2010148653A (ja) パターヘッド
US5766104A (en) Toy striking implements
US6159115A (en) Handle structure for a racket
US10046215B2 (en) Grip device and method for improving grip and aligning hands on sports equipment
US20220134190A1 (en) Grommet and racket
US7485054B2 (en) Two piece sports equipment stick with internal truss construction and vented handle
US4549736A (en) Racquet for playing a ball game
US20030027659A1 (en) Multi-string putter face with separate and variable tension capabilities and multiple position shaft with adjustable shaft angle capabilities
US20060166767A1 (en) Sporting racket
US5931749A (en) Contoured grip for a racquet
US4076241A (en) Sports racket
US8574103B2 (en) Ball-striking implement
JPS63501131A (ja) 球を打撃するスポ−ツ用具のグリツプ
JPH09103520A (ja) 角度の可変構造を有するゴルフクラブ
US5816958A (en) Tennis racket
GB2191706A (en) Clubs rackets and other means for hitting balls

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION