AU2016100065A4 - A Table Tennis Racket - Google Patents

Abstract

A table tennis racket comprises a single piece of solid wood formed in a blade portion and an elongate handle portion. The handle portion comprises handle grips on each side formed of lightweight wood. CMj 0. (.0 / -M -- ------------- .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. N. N.~ coa COj in X C~cC CDj

Description

1 A Table Tennis Racket Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to table tennis rackets, also known as table tennis bats or table tennis paddles. Background [0002] Table tennis, also known as ping pong, is a very popular sport. The sport involves hitting a ping pong ball with the table tennis racket (hereafter simply "racket") over the surface of a court on a table top. [0003] The racket comprises a blade portion which is typically circular or oval in shape, and a handle portion which extends from an edge of the blade portion. The racket must meet certain requirements as specified by the International Table Tennis Federation. Generally speaking the racket is not limited in size, shape or weight, but 85% of the total thickness of the blade portion must be natural wood. One side of the blade portion must be black and the other side bright red. The blade portion may be covered with dimpled rubber no more than 2mm in thickness. A foam rubber layer may be between the rubber layer and the wood core. The dimpled rubber and foam rubber layer may not be more than 4mm in thickness. [0004] The performance of a table tennis player can be improved by use of a superior racket. One area of focus of improvements to rackets is in use of composite wood laminates instead of a solid wood core. [0005] The present invention has been developed in order to provide an improved or at least an alternative racket. Summary of the Present Invention [0006] According to the present invention there is provided a table tennis racket comprising a single piece of solid wood formed in a blade portion and an elongate handle portion, wherein the handle portion comprises handle grips on each side formed of lightweight wood. [0007] In an embodiment the solid wood is an instrument timber. In an embodiment the solid wood is a hardwood that creates an acoustic resonance effect when the blade portion strikes a table tennis ball. Preferably the solid wood is a blackwood and more preferably the 2 solid wood is of the species acacia melanoxylon. In an embodiment the lightweight wood is balsa wood. [0008] In an embodiment the blade portion has a length in line with the handle portion and a width transverse to the length of the handle portion, wherein the width is greater than the length. Preferably the width is between 105% and 125 % of the length. Preferably the width is between 110% and 120 % of the length. More preferably the width is between 114% and 118 % of the length. Still more preferably the width is between 116% and 117 % of the length. [0009] In an embodiment the blade portion has a sweet spot substantially in the shape of a rectangle with truncated corners distally positioned from the handle portion. In an embodiment the rectangle is wider than it is high, where the width of the sweet spot is transverse to the length of the handle portion. In an embodiment the width of the sweet spot is between 105% and 125 % of the length of the sweet spot. Preferably the width of the sweet spot is between 110% and 120 % of the length of the sweet spot. More preferably the width of the sweet spot is between 114% and 118 % of the length of the sweet spot. Still more preferably the width of the sweet spot is between 116% and 117 % of the length of the sweet spot. In an embodiment the width of the sweet spot is about 80% to 90% of the width of the blade portion. Preferably the width of the sweet spot is about 82% to 88% of the width of the blade portion. More preferably the width of the sweet spot is about 83% to 87% of the width of the blade portion. More preferably still the width of the sweet spot is about 84% to 85% of the width of the blade portion. [0010] In an embodiment the width of the sweet spot is substantially the same as the length of the rubberised material on the blade portion. [0011] In an embodiment the centre of gravity of the blade portion is closer to the handle portion than the centre point of the sweet spot. [0012] In an embodiment the edge of the sweet spot closest to the handle portion substantially extends across the full width of the blade portion at that position on the blade portion. [0013] In an embodiment at least the sweet spot of the blade portion is covered in a rubberised material. In an embodiment the rubberised material ends on the blade portion a distance from the handle portion. In an embodiment the rubberised material covered from 3 the edge of the sweet spot closest to the handle portion over the remainder of the blade portion. [0014] In an embodiment the thickness of the core of the handle portion is substantially the same as the thickness of the core of the blade portion. Summary of Drawings [0015] In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention example embodiment will now be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: [0016] Figure 1 is a side elevation of a table tennis racket according to an embodiment of the present invention; and [0017] Figure 2 is a plan view of the table tennis racket shown in Figure 1. Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention [0018] Referring to the Figures, there is a table tennis racket 10 (hereafter racket) comprising a blade portion 12 and a handle portion 14. The core of the racket 10 is formed of a single piece of solid wood which extends through the core 20 of the blade portion 12 and the core 22 of the handle portion 14. The handle portion 14 is elongate and comprises handle grips 16 on each side formed of lightweight wood for gripping by a user. In an embodiment the thickness of the core 22 of the handle portion 14 is substantially the same as the thickness of the core 24 of the blade portion 12. [0019] The main part of the handle A is the same thickness in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the blade portion. The main part of the handle gently narrows in thickness B in a direction parallel to the surface of the blade portion towards the blade portion 12. The handle grips 16 have a sloped end 40 at an interface between the handle portion 14 and the blade portion 12. Including the slope 40 the grips 16 are of length C. A part of the grips 16 overlap with the core 20 of the blade portion 12 (overlap between G and C). The slopes 40 are slightly flared and end with a width I, such that I is greater than B. [0020] In an embodiment the solid wood is a musical instrument timber and in particular a hardwood that creates an acoustic resonance effect when the blade portion strikes a table tennis ball. Preferably the solid word is a blackwood and more preferably is of the species acacia melanoxylon. Preferably the lightweight wood is balsa wood.

4 [0021] In an embodiment the blade portion has a length G in line with the handle portion and a width E transverse to the length of the handle portion, wherein the width E is greater than the length G. This is different from known rackets because they are longer than they are wide. Preferably the width is between 105% and 125 % of the length. Preferably the width is between 110% and 120 % of the length. More preferably the width is between 114% and 118 % of the length. Still more preferably the width is between 116% and 117 % of the length. [0022] In an embodiment the blade portion has a sweet spot 24 in the shape of a rectangle with truncated corners 26 distally positioned from the handle portion 14. In an embodiment the rectangle has a width F transverse to the length of the handle portion 14 and a length H in line with the handle portion 14. The rectangle is wider than it is long. In an embodiment the width F of the sweet spot 24 is between 105% and 125 % of the length H of the sweet spot 24. Preferably the width F of the sweet spot is between 110% and 120 % of the length H of the sweet spot 24. More preferably the width F of the sweet spot 24 is between 114% and 118 % of the length H of the sweet spot 24. Still more preferably the width F of the sweet spot 24 is between 116% and 117 % of the length H of the sweet spot 24. In an embodiment the width F of the sweet spot 24 is about 80% to 90% of the width E of the blade portion 12. Preferably the width F of the sweet spot 24 is about 82% to 88% of the width E of the blade portion 12. More preferably the width F of the sweet spot 24 is about 83% to 87% of the width E of the blade portion 12. More preferably still the width F of the sweet spot 24 is about 84% to 85% of the width E of the blade portion 12. [0023] The blade portion 12 has a rubber layer 18 on a portion of its surface. In an embodiment at least the sweet spot 24 of the blade portion is covered in the rubber layer 24. The rubber layer 18 extends from a line 28 to the tip 30 of the blade portion 12 and substantially between outermost sides 32 of the blade portion 12. The outermost sides 32 are short of the middle of the sweet spot 24 in a direction heading from the handle portion 14 to the tip 30. [0024] In an embodiment the width F of the sweet spot is 24 substantially the same as the length of the rubber 18 material on the blade portion 12 (from line 28 to tip 30). As a result there is an exposed portion 42 of the blade portion 12 without the rubber layer 18.

5 [0025] In an embodiment the centre of gravity of the blade portion 12 is closer to the handle portion 14 than the centre point of the sweet spot 24. [0026] In an embodiment the edge of the sweet spot 24 closest to the handle portion 14 substantially extends across the full width of the blade portion 12 at that position on the blade portion 12, that is, across line 28. [0027] The materials of the racket are believed to provide superior performance over currently known materials. The shape of the racket is believed to provide superior performance. [0028] Modifications may be made to the present invention within the context of that described and shown in the drawings. Such modifications are intended to form part of the invention described in this specification.

Claims (5)

1. A table tennis racket comprising a single piece of solid wood formed in a blade portion and an elongate handle portion, wherein the handle portion comprises handle grips on each side formed of lightweight wood.

2. A racket according to claim 1, wherein the solid wood is of the species acacia melanoxylon and the lightweight wood is balsa wood.

3. A racket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blade portion has a length in line with the handle portion and a width transverse to the length of the handle portion, wherein the width is greater than the length.

4. A racket according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the blade portion has a sweet spot in the shape of a rectangle with truncated corners distally positioned from the handle portion and the rectangle is wider than it is high, where the width of the sweet spot is transverse to the length of the handle portion.

5. A racket according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the centre of gravity of the blade portion is closer to the handle portion than the centre point of the sweet spot.