EP2018215B1 - Ball hitting device, in particular a tennis or squash racquet - Google Patents

Abstract

A ball hitting device, in particular a tennis or squash racquet, with a shaft comprising a grip and a head frame (11) connected to the shaft which delimits a ball hitting surface (19) in the form of longitudinal (14, 14') and transverse (20, 20') strings which intersect each other, wherein the longitudinal and transverse strings - in particular, each respectively in a meander form - pass through bore holes (15 or 21) formed at the top and bottom and on the left and right in the head frame (11).. The bore holes (15; 21) for the longitudinal (14) and transverse (20) strings in the two top and the two bottom diagonal bend areas (22) are each at a distance from one another such that, at the expense of a highest and lowest transverse string (20') as well as on the left side and on the right side, another longitudinal string (14') can be drawn essentially parallel to the other longitudinal strings (14), and vice versa.

Description

• einem einen Griff umfassenden Schaft, und
• einem mit dem Schaft verbundenen Kopfrahmen, der eine Ballschlagfläche in Form von sich kreuzenden Längs- und Quersaiten begrenzt, wobei die Längs- und Quersaiten - insbesondere jeweils mäanderförmig - durch oben und unten einerseits sowie links und rechts andererseits im Kopfrahmen ausgebildete Bohrungen hindurchgeführt sind.

The invention relates to a ball impact device, in particular tennis or squash rackets, with

• a handle comprising a shaft, and
• a head frame connected to the head frame, which limits a ball striking surface in the form of intersecting longitudinal and transverse strings, the longitudinal and transverse strings - especially meandering respectively - are passed through top and bottom on the one hand and left and right on the other hand formed in the head frame holes.

Such ball impact devices are well known. It is in this regard only on the example DE 10 2005 007 714 A1 directed.

For many players, especially top players, there is a desire to individually determine the number of longitudinal and transverse strings. It has been found, for example, that 18 longitudinal strings are advantageous for high ball control. However, the acceleration is lower compared to a string with only 16 main strings. Accordingly, players who need more acceleration for their game choose 16 main strings.

In addition, and independently of the above considerations, it has been found that a lower longitudinal string spacing also results in higher ball control, while a greater longitudinal string pitch results in the advantage of increased acceleration with more spin.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a ball impact device of the type in question here, in particular a tennis racket, the number of longitudinal and / or transverse strings of which can be changed individually in a simple manner.

Furthermore, the present invention has for its object to provide measures that allow to slightly change the longitudinal string spacing, for example, to meet the desire of a player for more spin or spin can. These should also be measures that the player can accomplish individually even when covering the racket.

The first object is achieved by the features of claim 1.

The further object is achieved primarily by the measures of claim 3.

In order to increase or reduce the number of longitudinal strings to, for example, two longitudinal strings without their parallelism and possibly predetermined distance from each other lost, it is necessary to space the holes for the longitudinal and transverse strings in the upper and lower diagonal arc area from each other that on Cost of a top and bottom cross string both left and right another longitudinal string is substantially retractable parallel to the other longitudinal strings, and vice versa. The reduction in the number of longitudinal strings by removing, for example, the two outermost longitudinal strings has an increase in the number of cross strings to exactly the same number of removed longitudinal strings result. This means that when covering with (n), e.g. 16 or (n + 2), e.g. 18 longitudinal strings and (m), e.g. 21 or (m-2), e.g. 19 transverse strings each having (n-4) or 12 inner longitudinal strings and (m-4), e.g. 17 inner cross strings remain unchanged or without rearrangement of the outermost longitudinal strings in extreme transverse strings and vice versa passed through the associated holes in the head frame.

Ultimately, according to the invention, the deflection of the outermost longitudinal string in the outermost transverse string on the head frame by a transverse string spacing moved up or down. With a shift of this deflection up a reduction of the longitudinal strings to the two outermost longitudinal strings with a corresponding increase in the transverse strings by the same number of reduced longitudinal strings, and vice versa.

An essential point of the teaching according to claim 3 et seq., Which can be realized in combination with the above teaching, but also independently, is that the cross section of the holes for the implementation of at least a central part of the longitudinal and / or transverse strings is formed significantly larger than the diameter of the longitudinal or transverse strings themselves, and that on the inner and / or outer side of the head frame the upper and lower and optionally left and right holes each have an eyelet strip with openings for the passage of the longitudinal or Cross-strings is assigned, whose cross-section corresponds approximately to the cross-section of the longitudinal or transverse strings and whose distance from one another determines the distance between adjacent longitudinal or transverse strings in the region of the clubface.

Preferably, a set of at least two upper / lower and / or left / right Ösenbändern provided, wherein the Ösenbänder such a set are each characterized by a different size spacing of the openings for the passage of the longitudinal and / or transverse strings. The distance between the passage openings varies within a predetermined bandwidth such that the passage openings of the Ösenbänder are always within the larger cross sections of the associated holes in the head frame.

Thus, it is possible to change the distance of the longitudinal and / or transverse strings within a predetermined range by means of Ösenbänder to obtain more or less spin or spin. As mentioned above, a greater longitudinal string spacing has the advantage of increased acceleration with more spin or spin, and vice versa. One speaks in such Ösenbändern preferably also of so-called "modules".

In the latter embodiment with two upper / lower and left / right Ösenbändern the distance between adjacent through holes is on the one hand 11.5 mm and the other 11.1 mm. This range of variation is sufficient to solve the above second object.

The Ösenbänder are formed in a conventional manner as plastic bands with tube-shaped through holes. On this tube-shaped through holes a perforated tape can be plugged, by means of which the mutual distance of the tube-shaped through holes can be fixed within the holes in the head frame. The perforated tape is placed on the tube-shaped through holes on the eyelet opposite side of the head frame, usually attached to the radially inner side of the head frame.

Fig. 1

einen oberen Diagonalbogenbereich eines erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Kopfrahmens samt zugeordneter Bespannung in schematischer Draufsicht; und

Fig. 2

einen Teil eines Tennisschlägers mit zentral oberem und unterem Abschnitt des Kopfrahmens im schematischen Längsschnitt.

Hereinafter, two embodiments of the construction according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

an upper diagonal arc region of an inventively designed head frame together with associated clothing in a schematic plan view; and

Fig. 2

a part of a tennis racket with centrally upper and lower portion of the head frame in a schematic longitudinal section.

In Fig. 1 is the left upper diagonal arc portion 22 of a head frame 11 of a tennis or squash racket with the retracted in this area longitudinal and transverse strings 14 and 20, respectively. In the head frame 11 holes 15 for the longitudinal strings 14 and 14 'and holes 21 for the transverse strings 20 and 20' are formed. These bores are at least in the two upper and two lower diagonal arc portions corresponding to the arc portion 22 spaced apart such that at the expense of a top transverse string 20 'and corresponding bottom cross string both left and right another longitudinal string 14' substantially parallel to the other longitudinal strings 14th retractable, and vice versa. As a result, the deflection region 23 between the outermost transverse string on the one hand and the outermost longitudinal string on the other hand also shifts in the diagonal arc region 22 of the head frame 11 in the direction of the double arrow 24.

In a covering with 16 or 18 longitudinal strings 14 and 14 ', the in Fig. 1 are also referred to as "LS", and 21 and 19 transverse strings 20 and 20 ', respectively, in Fig. 1 are also referred to as "QS", remain the 12 inner longitudinal strings 14 and 17 inner transverse strings 20 unchanged or without rearrangement of the outermost longitudinal strings 14 'in outermost transverse strings 20' and vice versa passed through the associated holes 15 and 21 in the head frame 11.

If the two outermost longitudinal strings 14 'are to be removed on 16 longitudinal strings "LS" to reduce 18 longitudinal strings "LS", the number of transverse strings "QS" is increased from 19 transverse strings 20 to 21 transverse strings 20, 20'. Thus, two further outermost transverse strings 20 'are drawn in, as shown in FIG Fig. 1 "dash-dotted" is shown.

In order to enable the aforementioned measures, so in the two upper and two lower diagonal arc portions 22 at least two holes 15 and 21 are provided in the head frame, which allow a deflection of the outermost transverse strings in extreme longitudinal strings, while maintaining the respective predetermined mutual distance the longitudinal or transverse strings of each other.

Fig. 2 shows - as already mentioned - a part of a tennis racket with the central upper and lower portion of the head frame 11 in a schematic longitudinal section, wherein the lower portion of the head frame, an eyelet 17 with slightly further spaced through openings or concrete tube-shaped through holes 18, and the upper portion of the head frame 11, an eyelet band 16 is associated with less widely spaced through openings or tubular passage openings 18. Of course, in actual use both the upper and the lower portion of the head frame 11 is associated with a respective Ösenband with equidistant spaced through openings 18.

The in Fig. 2 Tennis rackets shown only partially, of course, in a conventional manner, a handle comprising a comprehensive shank, which is connected to the head frame 11 directly or via a heart 12, wherein the heart 12 is laterally bounded by two heart bars 13. The heart bars 13 go on the opposite side of the head frame 11 in the shaft. The head frame 11, which is generally oval-shaped and comprises a hollow profile made of plastic, defines a ball striking surface 19 in the form of intersecting longitudinal strings 14 and transverse strings, which in Fig. 2 not shown for a better understanding of the construction according to the invention. The longitudinal and transverse strings are each meandering through the top and bottom on the one hand and on the left and right on the other hand formed in the head frame bores (see Fig. 1 ).

As Fig. 2 can be seen very well, the cross section of the holes 15 for the implementation of the longitudinal strings 14 is formed significantly larger than the diameter of the longitudinal strings 14 itself. The inner diameter of the holes 15 is about 4-5 x greater than the outer diameter of the longitudinal strings 14th

From the radially outer side of the head frame 11 forth tube-shaped through holes 18 are inserted for the longitudinal strings 14 in the holes 15, wherein the tubular passage openings 18 are an integral part of a Ösenbandes 16 and 17 respectively. The free cross-section of the tube-shaped through openings 18 in the two eyelet bands 16, 17 corresponds approximately to the cross section of the longitudinal strings 14. The distance of the tubular passage openings 18 of course determines the distance between adjacent longitudinal sides 14 in the region of the striking surface 19th

From the radially inner side of the head frame 11 her forth a perforated tape 25 is attached to the tube-shaped through holes to stabilize the mutual distance between the tube-shaped through holes within the much larger holes 15 in the head frame and permanently set.

As already mentioned above, a set of at least two upper / lower - possibly also left / right - eyelet bands 16 and 17 respectively are provided, wherein the eyelet bands of such an eyelet tape set each by a different sized distance of the tubular passage openings 18 for Distinguish the passage of the longitudinal strings 14. The distance between the passage openings 18 varies within a predetermined bandwidth such that the passage openings 18 of the eyelet belts 16 and 17 are always within the larger cross sections of the associated holes in the head frame 11. This leaves Fig. 2 recognize very well.

In a particular embodiment with a set of two upper / lower eyelet bands 16 and 17, respectively, the distance between adjacent tube-shaped through apertures 18 is 11.5 mm (see FIGS Fig. 2 the lower eyelet 17) and the other 11.1 mm (see Fig. 2 the upper eyelet 16).

It should be noted at this point again, of course, must be used both above and below each eyelet bands of the same kind. The same applies even if left and right eyelet bands are used to set a different distance between the cross strings.

Otherwise, the in Fig. 2 only partially illustrated tennis rackets formed in a conventional manner, so that a detailed description of the same is unnecessary. The same applies, of course, also for the tennis racket Fig. 1 ,

All disclosed in the application documents features are claimed as essential to the invention, as far as they are new individually or in combination over the prior art.

reference numeral

11

head frame

12

heart

13

heart webs

14

Mains

14 '

additional extreme longitudinal string

15

Holes in the head frame 11 for the longitudinal strings

16

Eyelet with small spaced through holes 18th

17

Grommet with slightly more spaced-apart through holes 18th

18

tubular passage openings for the longitudinal strings as an integral part of the eyelet strip 16 and 17, respectively

19

Ball striking face

20

crosses

20 '

additional extreme cross string

21

Holes in the head frame 11 for the passage of cross strings

22

Diagonal arch area of the head frame 11

23

Deflection area for outermost longitudinal and transverse strings

24

double arrow

25

perforated tape

Claims (6)

1. Ball hitting implement, especially a tennis or squash racquet, having

   - a shaft including a grip and,

   - connected to the shaft, a head frame (11) bounding a ball hitting surface (19) in the form of longitudinal strings (14, 14') and cross strings (20, 20') that cross one another, the longitudinal strings and cross strings being passed - in each case especially in a serpentine arrangement - through holes (15 and 21, respectively) provided in the head frame (11) on the one hand in the top and bottom and on the other hand on the left-hand and right-hand sides,

   characterised in that
   the holes (15; 21) for the longitudinal strings (14) and cross strings (20) in the two upper and two lower diagonal arc regions (22) are in each case so spaced apart from one another that a further longitudinal string (14') both on the left-hand side and on the right-hand side can be introduced substantially parallel to the other longitudinal strings (14) at the cost of an uppermost and bottommost cross string (20'), and vice versa.
2. Ball hitting implement according to claim 1,
   characterised in that,
   in the case of stringing with (n), for example 16, or (n + 2), for example 18, longitudinal strings (14, 14') and m, for example 21, or (m - 2), for example 19, cross strings (20, 20'), the respective (n - 4), or 12, inner longitudinal strings (14) and (m - 4), for example 17, inner cross strings (20) remain passed through the associated holes (15 and 21, respectively) in the head frame (11) without change or without rearrangement of the outermost longitudinal strings (14') as outermost cross strings (20'), and vice versa.
3. Ball hitting implement, especially according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the cross-section of the holes (15 and 21) for the passing through of at least a central portion of the longitudinal strings and/or cross strings (14 and 20, respectively) is substantially larger than the diameter of the longitudinal strings and cross strings themselves, and in that on the inside and/or outside of the head frame (11) the upper and lower and, optionally, left-hand-side and right-hand-side holes (15 and 21, respectively) are in each case associated with an eyelet band (16 or 17) having openings (18) for the passing through of the longitudinal strings and/or cross strings, the cross-section of which in each case corresponds approximately to the cross-section of the longitudinal strings and/or cross strings and the spacing of which from one another governs the spacing of neighbouring longitudinal strings and/or cross strings in the region of the hitting surface (19).
4. Ball hitting implement according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   a set of at least two upper/lower and/or left-hand-side/right-hand-side eyelet bands (16 and 17) is supplied, which are in each case distinguished by a differently sized spacing of the openings (18) for the passing through of the longitudinal strings and/or cross strings (14 and/or 20), the spacing of the pass-through openings (18) varying only within a predetermined range so that the pass-through openings (18) of the eyelet bands (16 and 17) are always located within the larger cross-sections of the associated holes (15 and/or 21) in the head frame (11).
5. Ball hitting implement according to claim 4,
   characterised in that
   in a set of two upper/lower and/or left-hand-side/right-hand-side eyelet bands (16 and 17) the spacing between neighbouring pass-through openings (18) is on the one hand 11.5 mm (eyelet band 17) and on the other hand 11.1 mm (eyelet band 16).
6. Ball hitting implement according to one of claims 3 to 5,
   characterised in that
   the pass-through openings (18) in the eyelet bands (16 and 17) are in each case defined by integrally formed small tubes, the free cross-section of which corresponds approximately to the cross-section of the associated longitudinal strings and cross strings.

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