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
  • A63B60/06—Handles
  • A63B60/10—Handles with means for indicating correct holding positions
• • 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
  • A63B60/06—Handles
  • A63B60/08—Handles characterised by the material
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
  • A63B2102/16—Table tennis
• • 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
  • A63B49/08—Frames with special construction of the handle
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B59/00—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
  • A63B59/40—Rackets or the like with flat striking surfaces for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for table tennis
• • 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
  • A63B60/06—Handles
  • A63B60/12—Handles contoured according to the anatomy of the user's hand
• • 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
  • A63B60/06—Handles
  • A63B60/34—Handles with the handle axis different from the main axis of the implement
• • 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
  • A63B60/50—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with through-holes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to improved handle means for rackets and the like; in particular for table tennis rackets but also for other sports.
• the unique shape of the handle makes a very steady grip possible, at the same time as the racket blade 1 without added disadvantages can be fastened to the handle in such a position that the centre of the racket blade 1 , in gripped position and with relaxed wrist, is situ- ated below the longitudinal axis of the forearm.
• topspin is produced by a forward-upgoing motion of the racket. In actual play, it is often desirable to be able to do the topspin strokes with a pronounced wrist motion, which contributes to the speed and power of the stroke.
• Wrist motion at the forehand side is best done if the racket is held in the hand with so called penhold grip.
• the centre of the racket blade is then in the "initial position'', ie with relaxed wrist, situated somewhat below the longitudinal axis of the forearm. This means that the racket blade can be angled down and backwards to a great extent by the wrist before the stroke, and then fast, when the stroke takes place, be moved forward-upward.
• the forehand stroke is almost always done with some arm swing.
• the present invention has as an object to, by means of a new and unique handle, make possible a table tennis racket where the main advantages of the pen ⁇ hold and handshake grip is combined, without their respective disadvantages pre ⁇ sent, or other disadvantages arising.
• Another object is, by means of a handle with the same characteristics, im- prove other types of rackets; mainly tennis rackets, but the invention is first descri ⁇ bed in connection with a table tennis racket.
• the grip portion of the racket handle is parallel to the adjacent edge of the racket blade and at the same time is equipped with a projection, aimed to rest at the back inside of the hand, a technical effect is achieved in the way that the racket may be constructed in such a way that the racket blade, in initial position, is situated considerably lower relative the forearm longitudinal axis compared to handshake grip, with retained comfortable and particularly steady grip. This makes wrist motion for topspinning strokes considerably easier, for above re- lated reasons. At the same time, in contrary to penhold grip, full access to the back ⁇ hand side is obtained. Yet an advantage is that the racket blade is situated as near the handle as possible, which gives opportunity to steer the racket with greatest precision and speed.
• Figure 1 shows a table tennis racket with a handle according to the invention in a side view.
• Fig 2 shows the racket in a view from below.
• Fig 3 shows an end view of the racket.
• Fig 4 and 5 shows a suitable way to hold the racket.
• fig 6, 7 and 8 are alternative handle embodiments shown.
• fig 9 parts of a tennis racket with a handle according to the present invention, are shown.
• the symmetry plane of the racket blade is hereby defined as a plane, parallel with the surfaces of the racket blade, and situated between those.
• a racket bjade 1 on which the rubbers (not shown) is fastened, is preferably but need not to be entirely conventional, but unlike a conven ⁇ tional shaft-shaped racket handle, a grip portion 2, parallel to the adjacent edge of the racket blade 1 is present, and also a projection 3.
• the device as a whole is indi ⁇ cated 4.
• Grip portion 2 is fastened to the racket blade 1 , by means of bridges 8 and 10.
• Projection 3 in normal cases situated so near the wrist so it is not grippable by the fingers, helps to stabilize the racket position relative the hand, both for fore ⁇ hand shots and particularly for backhand shots. Projection 3 is therefore one of the important parts of the present invention.
• grip portion 2 is shown gripped by three fingers.
• Projection 3 rests against the thumb swelling.
• the forefinger rests against the upper edge of racket blade 1 , and the thumb rests against support surface 5, and rim 6.
• a contact surface 9 for mainly the middle finger and ring-finger finger-tips is also present. It is preferred that rest surface 9 passes softly to the grip portion 2 in the lower edge of the racket, for the reason that no intervening edge is to be present.
• Grip portion 2 rests against that part of the inside of the hand that is situated just below the little finger. The little finger rests against the round part of grip portion 2, at the lower part of the racket.
• One contact point can be said be constituted by the forefinger 's contact to the upper edge of the racket blade, indicated as point A in fig 5, even if the forefinger in this case in its whole length contacts racket blade 1.
• Another contact point is the part of grip portion 2, which is contacting the inside of the hand just below the little finger; point B in fig 5, and yet another contact point is situated where projection 3 contacts the thumb swelling; point C in fig 5.
• the racket's contact points to the inside of the hand are thus three.
• the racket is pressed against the in ⁇ side of the hand by the middle finger, ring-finger and the little finger, and by the thumb by support surface 5. It can be said that these fingers applies force inside tri ⁇ angle ABC, and by that, the position of the racket is static determined.
• the thumb 's contact against support surface 5 produces additional grip stability, particularly for backhand shots, for which slipping of the handle in direction to the wrist is eliminated.
• the material at the point denoted 12 in fig. 3 is for this reason preferably only a few millimetres thick, which also has the advantage that material is saved and the weight becomes low.
• the preferred embodiment also has the following constructional features.
• the thin material leads down in a support wall denoted 13, which contri ⁇ butes to the total strength of the handle.
• Rim 6 passes into the support wall 15.
• Projection 3 has the shape of a bowl, with the convex side towards the hand.
• An alternative grip around the handle may be that, when also the forefinger is situated between grip portion 2 and the racket blade.
• the area above the second joint of the forefinger at the forefinger outside ought in this case rest against the edge of racket blade 1.
• This alternative contact point for the fore ⁇ finger on the edge of the racket at the backhand side can be said replace the fore ⁇ finger contact point A above.
• a small soft pad may be added to the edge of blade 1 for increased comfort.
• racket blade 1 in relation to the handle, with regard to both translation and angle, can be varied to obtain different playing properties.
• the racket blade angle relative the gripping hand ought to substantially correspond with the angle a handshake rackets get, gripped with handshake grip. It is not recommended, but a racket can be made adjustable.
• the handle is in the embodiment shown not symmetrical relating to the symmetry plane of the racket blade, whereby left handed persons has to use a "mirrored" racket handle.
• the racket is made for a right handed person.
• fig 6 an alternative embodiment is shown, where the projection 3 is situ ⁇ ated further down and subsequently denoted 3 ', it being in contact with the back inside of the hand near the wrist but not with the thumb swelling. It has been shown appropriate, for increased stability, to complete this embodiment with yet a projec ⁇ tion 7, normally situated in the space between the thumb and the forefinger. Projection 7 may be added to other embodiments.
• fig 1 - 5 an embodiment has been shown where projection 3 is situated relative high, and in fig 6, the projection 3 ' is situated lower. It is obvious that the projection according to the invention may be situated in all locations near and be ⁇ tween, although this is not shown in the figures, and the projection may also been made so wide, that it contacts the whole back inside of the hand. Of course, one racket may have several projections, for example one in that position, shown in fi ⁇ gure 1 - 5, and another in the position shown in figure 6.
• fig 7 is an embodiment shown, where grip portion 2 is so short that it normally can be gripped only with two fingers. Projection 7 may be added for increa ⁇ sed stability (not shown).
• the grip portion 2 is substantially parallel with the adjacent edge of racket blade 1 . This is not necessary, as shown in fig 8. Angle o ⁇ ought however to be small.
• the handle may of course be made of every conceivable material, for exam ⁇ ple metal, hard plastic foam ie, but thin wall plastic is preferred.
• the fastening to racket blade 1 can for example take place by gluing.
• the handle can also be adapted for a tennis racket.
• the advantages for ten ⁇ nis game is similar those in table tennis, because topspin is also found in tennis.
• Even for tennis rackets attempts have been made to locate the playing surface lo ⁇ were relative a shaft formed handle in such a way that the handle longitudinal axis forms an oblique angle against the shaft.
• a disadvantage with this solution is that if the angle between handle and shaft decreases too much, the shaft-formed handle tends to rotate in the hand during the strokes.
• fig 9 is therefore shown, in view from the forehand side, a handle embo ⁇ diment according to the invention, adapted for tennis.
• Parts 2 ", 3 ", 7 “, 8 “, and 10 " corresponds to the parts 2, 3, 7, 8 and 10 in the description above. Ho- wever, the bridges 8 ' ' and 10 ' ' are not directly connected to the playing surface (not shown), but goes together to the racket shaft 1 1.
• Projection 7 ' ' may possibly be made of a relatively soft material for increased comfort.
• angle be ⁇ tween grip portion 2 ' ' and shaft 1 1 can be varied, and projection 7 ' ' can for ex ⁇ ample be excluded.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Golf Clubs (AREA)
• Fishing Rods (AREA)
• Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20379795

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1990
  • 1990-06-18 SE SE9002158A patent/SE466734B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1991
  • 1991-06-18 EP EP91911701A patent/EP0592414A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1991-06-18 AU AU80565/91A patent/AU8056591A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1991-06-18 WO PCT/SE1991/000438 patent/WO1991019545A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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