EP0004769A2 - Gerät zum Bespannen von Tennisschlägern - Google Patents

Gerät zum Bespannen von Tennisschlägern Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0004769A2
EP0004769A2 EP79300545A EP79300545A EP0004769A2 EP 0004769 A2 EP0004769 A2 EP 0004769A2 EP 79300545 A EP79300545 A EP 79300545A EP 79300545 A EP79300545 A EP 79300545A EP 0004769 A2 EP0004769 A2 EP 0004769A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stringing
racquet
games
pulley
tension
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP79300545A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0004769A3 (en
Inventor
Clifford Boyne Gibson
Ronald Jack Langworthy
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.)
U-RECT-IT PTY Ltd
RECT IT Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
RECT IT Pty Ltd
U-Rect-It Pty Ltd
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 RECT IT Pty Ltd, U-Rect-It Pty Ltd filed Critical RECT IT Pty Ltd
Publication of EP0004769A2 publication Critical patent/EP0004769A2/de
Publication of EP0004769A3 publication Critical patent/EP0004769A3/xx
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • A63B51/14—Arrangements for stringing, e.g. for controlling the tension of the strings during stringing

Definitions

  • This invention relates to games racquet stringing and nore particularly to a machine which effectively simulates the conventional manual stringing operation.
  • the first series of rows, parallel to the axis of the shaft, are often termed the 'main strings' and the second series, normal to the first series, the 'cross strings'.
  • the first series of rows parallel to the axis of the shaft, are often termed the 'main strings' and the second series, normal to the first series, the 'cross strings'.
  • the invention seeks to provide apparatus which will permit a stringing operation to be undertaken by any reasonably dextrous but not necessarily trained person.
  • a games racquet stringing apparatus comprising securing means for holding a racquet frame and for permitting adjustment of the racquet head and positioning of a selected stringing hole relative to a pulling means to permit tension to be applied by the pulling means to stringing material extending from said hole and means for driving the pulling means to apply a predetermined tensioning force to the stringing material.
  • the advantage that is offered by the invention is mainly that it permits a person who is untrained in the craft of racquet stringing to achieve results of craftsmanlike quality in approximately the same period of time.
  • the securing means may be rotatably mounted and arranged to permit holding horizontally and setting of the angular disposition of a games racquet.head.
  • the pulling means may comprise a pulley and means for driving the pulley via A slipping clutch arrangement adapted to slip at a predetermined load.
  • the pulley is driven by a fractional-horsepower electric motor which is reversible; ideally the preset load can be varied according to requirement, and the pulley may be a frusto-conical one for best results.
  • a horizontally adjustable string-holding clamp adapted to grip and hold the length of stringing material at a tension predetermined by the slipping clutch arrangement; advantageously, this clamp may be mounted upon a slide which is rotatable about the central spindle of the rotatable means.
  • FIG. 1 shows the games racquet stringing apparatus according to the present invention; on a base plate 1 there is mounted rotatable means for holding horizontally and determining the angular disposition of a games racquet head.
  • This means is comprised of a turntable 2 having first and second support rods 3, 4 oppositely radially directed outwards therefrom, to which, in turn respective lockable but releasable clamps 5, 6 attach a pair of bows 7, 8.
  • These bows 7, 8 are curved and extend upwardly above the level of baseplate 1 and terminate in inwardly directed free ends to which respective pairs of padded jaws 9, 10 and 11, 12 are fastened.
  • These jaws are closable, with selected spacings therebetween, via some suitable adjustment means such as the screw fastenings 13, 14 which allow the respective pairs of the said padded jaws to be brought together to grip the opposite extremities of the head of a games racquet.
  • Turntable 2 is manually rotatable about a central spindle 15 and is lockable in any desired angular position by means of conventional locking device 16.
  • a second turntable 17 which, in turn, is associated with a slide 18 having a central longitudinal slot 19 upon one end of which a column 20 is mounted.
  • a string-holding clamp 21 At the upper end of column 20 there is a string-holding clamp 21, the registering jaws of which may be brought lockably together about a filament such as racquet stringing material of gut or plastics by depressing a handle 22 which causes an over centre, camming-surface device to clamp said jaws together.
  • This lever also acts to clamp turntable 17 and slide 18 firmly to spindle 15.
  • column 20 is horizontally adjustable into a wide variety of positions with respect to baseplate 1.
  • a drive unit 23 Also mounted upon baseplate 1 is a drive unit 23.
  • a fractional-horsepower motor (not shown) which is reduction-geared to drive a pulley 24 at about 1C revolutions per minute via a gearbox and slipping clutch adapted to slip at a preset load.
  • the gearbox and clutch are not shown but are of known type.
  • the preset load is capable of being varied according to requirement, in known manner, and a tension selection dial and adjustment knob assembly 24 is, to this end, provided on the drive unit 23.
  • assembly 25 permits string tensions of between 5 and 35 kgs to be selected at will according to the kind of racquet desired to be strung.
  • an on-off-on reversing switch 26 and an indicator lamp 27 is also provided.
  • Pulley 24 is ideally frusto-conical in shape and advantageously may have a suitable, flexible sleeve 28, made of such material as soft plastics, raw latex or the like having a thickness of perhaps 3/16 of an inch. Such materials should possess a natural colour and should not mark the stringing material undesirably. This material is selected by way of a compromise between a good grip on the stringing and a long life for the sleeve, without undue cutting of the latter. In any case, if it is so damaged, the sleeve may be easily cut away from the pulley and replaced. A replacement sleeve may be easily affixed to the pulley by such material as contact cement or the like.
  • the pulley 24 is frusto-conical in shape, with a taper of the order to 4 to 5% so that the loop made in the stringing tends to 'climb up' the taper somewhat, just before the slipping clutch action stops the rotation of pulley 24.
  • Clamp 29 has spring-biased jaws 30, 31 tightenable about a length of racquet-stringing material by means of wing- nut 32. Extending upwardly from jaw 30 there is a mushroom-headed peg 33; the use of clamp 29 will be later described herein.
  • bows 7, 8 are moved inwardly or outwardly along the respective supporting rods 3, 4 in order to accommodate, between clamping jaws 9, 10 and 11, 12, a games racquet which it is desired to string.
  • Clamps 5, 6 are clamped on rods 3, 4 by wing-nuts 35, 36, ( Figure 3).
  • Turntable 2 is then rotated manually until shaft 37 is lying adjacent drive unit 23, whereupon said turntable is locked onto spindle 15 by the operation of locking device 16.
  • a length of stringing material is taken (usually a standard length) folded evenly in halves and each end threaded through a top end centre hole. The ends of these two halves 38, 39 are then threaded through the two 'throat' holes which are on each side of the frame's shoulder.
  • the left-hand half 38 now must be secured in relation to head 34, and to this end it is passed once or twice about peg 33 of clamp 29 then firmly clamped within its jaws. This is to prevent end 38 from slipping back through the holes when tension is eventually applied to the other end 39 as will be iescribed hereinafter.
  • the mushroomed end of peg 33 prevents damage to the frame of the racquet.
  • the desired tension is then selected, using tension selection assembly 25, and switch 26 is closed so as to energise the motor which turns the pulley 24 slowly via the high ratio reduction-gear train.
  • the slowly revolving pulley thus imparts a growing tensional force to end 39 until the slipping clutch causes the rotation of pulley 24 to cease when the predetermined tension in free end 39 has been reached.
  • the portion of side 39 within head 34 is then caused to be gripped, closely adjacent to its exit position at the throat hole, by the jaws of clamp 21, after horizontally adjusting turntable 17 and associated slide 18 so as to bring column 20 to a suitable angular position as shown, whereupon the assembly is locked rigid, with respect to base 1, by depressing handle 22.
  • Switch 26 is then thrown in the opposite sense whereupon pulley 24 contra- rotates to an extent sufficient to cause slipping of the single turn of side 39 which, however, is kept taut at the desired tension by its being effectively held in the jaws of clamp 21. Free end 39 thus disengages readily from pulley 24, ready for the next step.
  • the end of side 39 is then threaded through the next outer hole at the shaft end of head 34 and the top end registering hole, clamp 21 released and turntable 2, after releasing it through the operation of locking device 16, manually turned through 180° to bring the racquet to a position in which the above operational steps may be repeated.
  • leather or plastics tabs may be employed adjacent the shaft end of the head as is the usual practice, and, as with prior art stringing techniques, strings running together within slots should be laid side-by-side to prevent damage.
  • a tool such as a blunted awl may be employed to straighten each cross string; and tying-off is effected in accordance with standard practice.
  • the lengths of stringing material are easily removable from the flexible sleeve 28; thus, when the motor is de-energised, a slow return motion of pulley 24 occurs with a resultant quick release of the trapped turn of the length of stringing material, which meanwhile is held firmly within the racquet frame by clamp 21, so that the free end is made rapidly ready for the next stringing step. Nevertheless, high speed handling of the lengths is possible owing to the tapered soft surface 28 of pulley 24.
  • the motor is preferably equipped with a suitable micro-switch which shuts off the motor very rapidly when the clutch first slips.
  • the preset tension means is preferably adjustable to select the tension to suit different kinds of stringing material and/or differing frame materials and designs.
  • An advantage of the invention is the capacity of clamp 21 to grip the lengths firmly at a position close to the inside of the frame to permit accurate manipulations such as tying-off or the like.
  • the purpose of the present invention is generally to string games racquets such as those used for tennis, lawn tennis, squash, badminton, racquetball and similar games.
  • the universal adjustability of the apparatus adapts it for use in stringing a wide variety of shapes and sizes of frames, for example, any length, width, depth and eccentricity is readily accommodated by reason of the various adjustment means.
  • the grip imparted by clamp 21 to the stringing material may be adjusted by varying the degree of effectiveness of an overcentre mechanism in column 20 using a screw adjustment device operable from below the operating region of handle 22, thereby allowing a firm grip upon different grades or gauges of stringing material, which may be of natural gut or of 'synthetics'. This adjustment is desirable since too loose a grip will cause the material to slip, whereas too tight a grip will cause it to be scored or even severed.
  • the pulling means for applying tension to the stringing material in the described embodiment comprises a pulley any other suitable means for applying a predetermined pulling force to the stringing material could be employed for example the drive unit could be arranged to move a tensioning arm away from the racquet frame which arm may be provided with a clamp for securing the stringing material thereto.
  • apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention is readily operated by unskilled or semi-skilled persons to achieve results at least comparable with those achieved by a tradesman but with considerably less effort (even if no actual saving in time is achieved) owing to the close simulation of the well-known hand stringing operation which is possible when using the present apparatus.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
EP79300545A 1978-04-03 1979-04-03 A games racquet stringing apparatus Withdrawn EP0004769A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU388078 1978-04-03
AU3880/78 1978-04-03

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0004769A2 true EP0004769A2 (de) 1979-10-17
EP0004769A3 EP0004769A3 (en) 1979-10-31

Family

ID=3694355

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP79300545A Withdrawn EP0004769A3 (en) 1978-04-03 1979-04-03 A games racquet stringing apparatus

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0004769A3 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2551351A1 (fr) * 1983-09-02 1985-03-08 Froger Pere Fils Gendre Sa Dispositif de retenue de la tension d'une corde, notamment lors du cordage d'une raquette de tennis

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1345536A (fr) * 1963-01-26 1963-12-06 Machine électrique pour corder les raquettes de tennis
US3635080A (en) * 1968-05-31 1972-01-18 Court & Slope Inc Racket-stringing machine with automatic locking
US3918713A (en) * 1974-03-15 1975-11-11 Bernard Kaminstein Racket stringing machine
FR2327803A1 (fr) * 1975-10-13 1977-05-13 Babolat Maillot Witt Machine a corder les raquettes a reglage electronique

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1345536A (fr) * 1963-01-26 1963-12-06 Machine électrique pour corder les raquettes de tennis
US3635080A (en) * 1968-05-31 1972-01-18 Court & Slope Inc Racket-stringing machine with automatic locking
US3918713A (en) * 1974-03-15 1975-11-11 Bernard Kaminstein Racket stringing machine
FR2327803A1 (fr) * 1975-10-13 1977-05-13 Babolat Maillot Witt Machine a corder les raquettes a reglage electronique

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2551351A1 (fr) * 1983-09-02 1985-03-08 Froger Pere Fils Gendre Sa Dispositif de retenue de la tension d'une corde, notamment lors du cordage d'une raquette de tennis

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0004769A3 (en) 1979-10-31

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PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

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Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LU NL SE

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RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: GIBSON, CLIFFORD BOYNE

Inventor name: LANGWORTHY, RONALD JACK