EP0465848A1 - Vibrationsdämpfer für die Saiten eines Tennisschlägers - Google Patents

Vibrationsdämpfer für die Saiten eines Tennisschlägers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0465848A1
EP0465848A1 EP91109485A EP91109485A EP0465848A1 EP 0465848 A1 EP0465848 A1 EP 0465848A1 EP 91109485 A EP91109485 A EP 91109485A EP 91109485 A EP91109485 A EP 91109485A EP 0465848 A1 EP0465848 A1 EP 0465848A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
strings
string
vibration
pair
vibration absorber
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Withdrawn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
EP91109485A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Stephen J. Davis
Kenneth A. Stevens
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.)
Prince Sports LLC
Original Assignee
Prince Manufacturing Inc
Prince Sports LLC
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 Prince Manufacturing Inc, Prince Sports LLC filed Critical Prince Manufacturing Inc
Publication of EP0465848A1 publication Critical patent/EP0465848A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
    • A63B60/54—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with means for damping vibrations

Definitions

  • the present invention is a device for dampening string vibration in tennis racquets.
  • Staufer U.S. patent No. 4,180,265 proposes a vibration absorber of the first type, and in particular an elastomeric viscoelastic coupling element which mechanically interlocks a pair of adjacent strings.
  • Krent et al. U.S. patent No. 4,609,194 proposes another device of the first type, in the form of a highly compressible viscoelastic foam made of two different materials, which is compressed and inserted between adjacent strings.
  • Another such proposal is disclosed in Boschian U.S. patent No. 4,761,007, in which a plate, inserted between the strings, includes a weight suspended in the middle for dampening vibration.
  • the present invention is a vibration dampening device which provides variable vibration dampening characteristics across the string plane.
  • the vibration dampener according to the invention provides greater dampening according to the invention at the outer longitudinal strings, and less vibration dampening at the center longitudinal strings.
  • greater dampening is provided.
  • the device causes less dampening so that the strings remain resilient and lively.
  • a vibration dampener according to the invention includes a relatively thin, flexible elastomeric strip having a pair of end sections of greater mass. Each end section includes a groove or other means for engaging a string. The dampener is applied by weaving it over and under adjacent racquet strings, and attaching each end section to one of the strings.
  • the end sections are in the form of a pair of donut shape members, each with an outwardly facing clamping groove, in the shape of a keyhole slot, for engaging a string.
  • the donut members and the connecting strip taper in width as well as thickness toward the center, such that the device is in the shape of a bow tie.
  • holes may be provided in the strip for further reducing wind drag and to increase flexibility. By varying the spacing and size of the holes, it is also possible to vary the dampening ratios.
  • each donut member is sized so as to fit between two adjacent longitudinal strings.
  • One of the strings is received in the outward facing keyhole slot, and a second keyhole shape clamping groove is provided toward the inside, where the donut member and strip join, for receiving the other longitudinal string.
  • the strip preferably has a length such that it is woven over and under at least four, and most preferably six center longitudinal strings, with each donut member engaging the next pair of outlying strings on either side. In this manner, a relatively large dampening is applied to the four outlying strings which are engaged by the donuts, whereas less vibration dampening is applied to the center strings.
  • a vibration dampener 10 includes a relatively thin, flexible strip 12 and a donut-shaped member 14 of larger mass at each end thereof.
  • the dampener 10 is made as a thermoplastic elastomer, e.g., of about 50 shore A durometer, but other materials and durometers may be used.
  • the width w-w (Fig. 1) as well as thickness t-t (Fig. 2) of the dampener 10 taper toward the center plane 16, so that the dampener 10 has the overall shape of a bow tie, and the connecting strip 12 is thinnest and most flexible in the middle.
  • Each donut member 14 has a hole 18 that extends perpendicular to the strip 12, and also has an end clamping groove 20 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 21 of the dampener 10.
  • Each clamping groove 20 is sized to receive a standard tennis string in a keyhole fashion.
  • a second pair of clamping grooves 22, which are parallel to clamping grooves 20, are provided between each donut member 14 and strip 12, on the top 24 and bottom 26 surfaces, respectively, of the dampener 10.
  • a series of holes 28 are formed through the strip 12, perpendicular to the plane of the strip 12, for reducing wind resistance as well as increasing flexibility. The size and spacing of holes 28 can be varied as desired to vary the dampening.
  • the dampener may have an overall length of 95.5 mm.
  • the strip 12 may have a length of 58 mm, a width that tapers from 14 mm at clamping grooves 22 to 6 mm at the center 16, and a thickness that decreases from 3.8 mm near the groove 22 to 3.0 mm at the center region.
  • the donut member 14 may have a length of 22 mm (along axis 21), a thickness tapering (toward the middle of the dampener) from 10.7 mm to 8.8 mm, and a width tapering from 17 mm to about 14 mm where it joins the strip 12.
  • the width w-w of both the donut member 14 and strip 12 continue as a constant taper toward the center plane 16.
  • the strip 12 and donut members 14 are molded as one piece, but they can be molded separately.
  • Fig. 4 shows a portion of a tennis racquet frame 30, in the region of the throat bridge 32.
  • Fig. 4 also illustrates a number of longitudinal or "main" strings 34, and the lowermost cross string 36.
  • the strip 12 is woven alternatively over and under adjacent main strings 34, such that each donut member 14 is located between a pair of outlying main strings 34a, 34b.
  • the clamping groove 20 of each member 14 is pushed into string 34a, and string 34b is received in the upper or lower clamping groove 22 as appropriate.
  • the dampener 10 is centered relative to the two centermost main strings 34c and racquet axis 40 and is positioned just below the lowermost cross string 36.
  • the strip 12 Since the strip 12, particularly near the center, is flexible and of relatively small mass, it effects dampening less than in the case of the donut members 14. Thus, the center main strings 34c-d, and particularly the centermost strings 34c, remain lively and resilient. The donut members 14 dampen the string vibration of outer strings 34a, 34b much more effectively. Thus, in the case where the ball hits strings 34a-b, or strings further out on the racquet (i.e., since such strings are connected to string 34a to some extent by the cross strings), the periphery or outside of the string plane will be dampened much more effectively. This is beneficial since it is balls which are hit on the outside of the racquet that tend to produce undesirable responses, and therefore greater dampening in these areas is most desirable.
  • Figs. 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B are plots of string vibration tests comparing the response of a tennis racquet with a dampener 10 according to the invention to a racquet without such dampener. Each of the tests was run with the racquet head fixed so as to isolate as best possible the vibration of the strings. In the case of racquets tested with a dampener 10, the dampener was mounted on the main strings in the manner of Fig. 4.
  • Figs. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B show the response of the center longitudinal strings 34c to ball impact.
  • Figs. 4A to 4B illustrate that the total vibration level is reduced, and is dampened more quickly, when a dampener according to the invention is used. More significantly, Figs. 5A and 5B show that the characteristic vibration frequencies change.
  • Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are computer generated plots illustrating three string vibration patterns, corresponding to the fundamental frequency (618 Hz) and two higher order frequencies (972 and 987 Hz) which occur for the particular dimensions, string pattern and tension of the test racquet.
  • the string bed acts as a single membrane moving in and out from the plane of the strings at rest, i.e., responds in a "cupping" mode.
  • the fundamental vibration mode as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 higher order vibration modes produce non-uniform stringbed response and could induce some misdirection in the flight of the rebounded ball.
  • the dampener 10 significantly dampens higher order vibrational modes, while allowing the primary cupping mode to exist to its fullest extent.
  • the invention has the added benefit of producing a more favorable string bed response, by selectively reducing higher level vibration.
  • Figs. 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7B show the response of main strings measured 2 inches off center, e.g., strings 34a, to ball impact.
  • Figs. 6A to 6B illustrate that vibration is dampened more quickly using a dampener according to the invention.
  • the higher level vibration frequencies are significantly reduced.
  • Fig. 11 shows a tennis racquet including frame 30.
  • a pair of dampeners 10 are mounted on cross strings 38, at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions in the region of the widest portion of the racquet. Because the dampener provides greater dampening adjacent the donut members 14 than in the middle, a dampener which is mounted on the cross strings, so as to extend parallel to the racquet axis 40, provides the benefit of increased dampening of shots hit near the tip and throat, while providing less dampening for balls hit in the middle of the racquet. Preferably, however, if one or more cross string dampeners are used a main string dampener 10 is also used, as shown in Fig. 11.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
  • Vibration Dampers (AREA)
  • Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)
EP91109485A 1990-06-11 1991-06-10 Vibrationsdämpfer für die Saiten eines Tennisschlägers Withdrawn EP0465848A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US53584090A 1990-06-11 1990-06-11
US535840 1990-06-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0465848A1 true EP0465848A1 (de) 1992-01-15

Family

ID=24135996

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91109485A Withdrawn EP0465848A1 (de) 1990-06-11 1991-06-10 Vibrationsdämpfer für die Saiten eines Tennisschlägers

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0465848A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2533836Y2 (de)
AU (1) AU646468B2 (de)
CA (1) CA2044229C (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0642811A1 (de) * 1993-09-10 1995-03-15 Bart A. Hillock Vibrationsdämpfer für Tennisschläger
FR2734732A1 (fr) * 1995-06-02 1996-12-06 Bianchi Jean Claude Dispositif anti-vibration pour raquette de jeu de balle.
FR2817482A1 (fr) * 2000-12-06 2002-06-07 Jean Claude Bianchi Anti-vibration ajustable pour toute raquette de jeu de balle
NL1017975C2 (nl) * 2001-05-01 2002-11-05 Hoza B V Transportwagen, bijvoorbeeld een rolcontainer of winkelwagen.

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2385417A1 (fr) * 1977-03-31 1978-10-27 Fischer Gmbh Dispositif de suppression des vibrations de raquettes pour jeux de balle
DE3324142A1 (de) * 1983-07-05 1985-01-24 Puma-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler Kg, 8522 Herzogenaurach Ballschlaeger
US4732383A (en) * 1986-04-21 1988-03-22 Ferrari Importing Company Shock and vibration absorber for racquets and method for its use

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4911445A (en) * 1989-01-27 1990-03-27 Ferrari Importing Company Vibration dampening device for a sports racket having a strung striking surface

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2385417A1 (fr) * 1977-03-31 1978-10-27 Fischer Gmbh Dispositif de suppression des vibrations de raquettes pour jeux de balle
DE3324142A1 (de) * 1983-07-05 1985-01-24 Puma-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler Kg, 8522 Herzogenaurach Ballschlaeger
US4732383A (en) * 1986-04-21 1988-03-22 Ferrari Importing Company Shock and vibration absorber for racquets and method for its use

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0642811A1 (de) * 1993-09-10 1995-03-15 Bart A. Hillock Vibrationsdämpfer für Tennisschläger
FR2709671A1 (fr) * 1993-09-10 1995-03-17 Bart A Hillock Amortisseur de vibrations pour raquette de tennis.
FR2734732A1 (fr) * 1995-06-02 1996-12-06 Bianchi Jean Claude Dispositif anti-vibration pour raquette de jeu de balle.
FR2817482A1 (fr) * 2000-12-06 2002-06-07 Jean Claude Bianchi Anti-vibration ajustable pour toute raquette de jeu de balle
NL1017975C2 (nl) * 2001-05-01 2002-11-05 Hoza B V Transportwagen, bijvoorbeeld een rolcontainer of winkelwagen.
EP1254823A1 (de) * 2001-05-01 2002-11-06 Hoza B.V. Wagen, zum Beispiel fahrbarer Behälter oder Einkaufswagen

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2044229A1 (en) 1991-12-12
CA2044229C (en) 1994-09-06
JP2533836Y2 (ja) 1997-04-23
AU7834491A (en) 1991-12-12
AU646468B2 (en) 1994-02-24
JPH0568562U (ja) 1993-09-17

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4180265A (en) Implement for striking a ball
EP0186686B1 (de) Schwingungsdämpfanordnung für sportschläger
US5211397A (en) String vibration dampener for a tennis racquet
US6033324A (en) Vibration damping device for stringed racquets
US4828259A (en) Tennis racquet with double throat bridge
JP2617644B2 (ja) 球技用ラケット
KR910009207B1 (ko) 테니스라켓
US4765620A (en) Racket vibration dampener combined with grommet strip
EP0615772B1 (de) Tennisschlägerrahmen
US4634124A (en) Vibration damped sports racquet
JPH0518593B2 (de)
US5728008A (en) Ball striking device with means of imparting enhanced forward momentum to the ball
CA2044229C (en) String vibration dampener for a tennis racquet
US7572196B2 (en) Dampening device for a racket
US5350173A (en) Sports racket
US5110125A (en) Sport racket
US5022651A (en) Exercise and training tensioning device for sporting racquets
US5149090A (en) Vibration damping device for sports racquet
US4988101A (en) Shock absorbing string post for sports rackets
US4600194A (en) Anti-vibration device for sports rackets
US5776020A (en) Tensioning device for sporting racquets
US5048830A (en) Racket frame with shock absorbing characteristics
US6364791B1 (en) Double loop string vibration damper for sports racquets
US20140335979A1 (en) Racquet having elongated grommet barrels with improved damping characteristics
US5236197A (en) Weight adjustable shock and vibration absorbing tennis racket

Legal Events

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

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB IT LI NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19920526

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19931027

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: PRINCE SPORTS GROUP, INC.

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Withdrawal date: 19970603