EP2219743B1 - Racket comprising a joint - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a racket for ball games, in particular a tennis badminton, racquetball or squash racket.

Such ball game rackets typically include a frame forming a club head, and a handle portion. Furthermore, such ball game rackets may have a arranged between the head area and the handle area neck or heart area or a fork. The club head of the racket defines a clothing plane in which the clothing of the racket is placed. To accommodate the strings of the covering lying through holes are provided for the implementation of stringed strings on the frame in the stringing plane. Typically, the frame is formed from a frame profile that is often made from a carbon fiber reinforced plastic material in a molding press.

In addition, it is known to provide at different points of the frame mutually differing cross-sectional shapes of the frame profile, for example, to be able to influence the deformation of the racket.

For example, the EP-B-0 676 222 a racket having a handle and a frame having a head portion, force amplifying portions and flexible portions alternately formed along the entire frame or along a portion of the frame spaced from the handle, each having 10 to 20 power boosting portions and flexible portions.

The WO-A-91/12857 relates to a racket with a frame, which is formed by a profile and the outside of a frame spaced apart arranged profile part is assigned, which is supported with the interposition of a vibration damping device on the frame and stores the strings of a stringing.

The EP-B-1 097 730 relates to a ball game racket, wherein a frame forming the profile at different frame positions according to the main stresses occurring there have different cross-sectional shapes, which have adapted to the respective types of stress resistance moments, and wherein the frame at least two hump-like stiffening elements are provided substantially symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the racket in the heart area.

It is also known to mount damping devices at different positions of the frame in order to provide better damping properties. Such a racket is for example in the DE 10 2006 004 849 A1 described.

The US 4,311,308 describes a tennis racket with an insert in the heart area to which at least some strings can be attached. This insert piece can be designed in the form of a joint with a joint axis in the stringing plane and substantially parallel to the racket longitudinal axis. The insert should be able to experience an elastic deformation due to the impulse of an incoming ball, in a direction perpendicular to the clothing plane.

The US 5,133,552 discloses a tennis racket whose frame has curved recesses in the heart area. A yoke piece (or bridge) has curved ends which are substantially matched to the curvature of these recesses. Between the yoke ends and the recesses of the frame, an elastomeric damping disc is provided. This should help to reduce shocks and vibrations in the racket.

The JP S53 63138 A describes a tennis racket whose bridge has two legs connected by a hinge, which are each connected fixedly to the rest of the racket frame.

However, with some of the rackets known from the prior art, the optimal ball guidance, the optimal rigidity or the optimal damping behavior of a racket are not met, so that accuracy, impulse absorption and handling of these known rackets are still in need of improvement. In the known from the prior art rackets is still no optimal acceleration capacity, which is transferable from the racket on the ball given. In particular, it is hardly possible in already known rackets to specifically control the deformation of the racket frame caused by the impact of the ball on the racket and the impulse absorption associated therewith or to effectively convert the impulse into punching power.

The present invention has for its object to provide a further improved ball game rackets, in particular an improved tennis, badminton, racquetball and squash rackets available. Further or additional objects of the invention are to provide a racket which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, which has improved handleability or optimized playability, which enables excellent ball guidance and acceleration and is simple and inexpensive to produce.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1. In the dependent claims preferred embodiments of the invention are described.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a ball game racket having a head portion for receiving a string and a heart portion having two arms and a bridge, the bridge having at least one hinge whose hinge axis is substantially perpendicular to a stringing plane formed by the string. The bridge comprises two legs, which are movably mounted on the arms and connected to each other via the joint.

The joint is preferably suitable for allowing deformations of the frame in the clothing plane. This can be realized in particular by means of a joint whose articulation axis is arranged substantially perpendicular to a clothing plane formed by the clothing.

The head shape of the racket is largely arbitrary and may for example be oval, egg-shaped, teardrop-shaped, rectangular with rounded corners, etc. To define the respective position of the joint or joints along the circumference of the club head, a dial of a watch is usually used, the 12 o'clock position being located at the extreme or free end of the club head. Accordingly, the 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position is approximately in the middle of the total length of the clubhead. Further joints can be arranged, for example, in the head area between two o'clock and four o'clock, preferably at about three o'clock and / or between eight o'clock and ten o'clock, preferably at about nine o'clock. Here is an arrangement of the joint "at about three o'clock" to understand that the pivot point or the axis of rotation of the joint is positioned at about three o'clock.

Alternatively or additionally, another joint may be arranged in the head region between eleven o'clock and one o'clock, preferably at about twelve o'clock. However, other joint positions or combinations of joint positions are conceivable. Typically, a symmetrical arrangement to the longitudinal axis of the racket will be advantageous, but an asymmetrical arrangement, for example, only one hinge at about three o'clock, should not be excluded hereby.

According to the invention, the racket comprises a heart area with two arms and a bridge, the bridge having at least one joint. This bridge joint may be present in addition to the above-mentioned joints. Such a bridge joint is inventively realized in that the bridge comprises two legs which are movably mounted on the arms and connected to each other via the joint.

In this case, according to a variant of this embodiment, the bridge is convex relative to the grip portion, in particular substantially V- or U-shaped, with the opening of the V or U pointing in the direction of the head region. According to a second variant of this embodiment, the bridge is concave relative to the handle portion, in particular substantially V- or U-shaped, wherein the tip of the V or U points in the head region.

Different types of joints can be used for the above-mentioned embodiments. Thus, the joint may be formed, for example, as a hinge joint or ball joint. A ball joint is particularly advantageous at about twelve o'clock and / or at the bridge. It is also possible that the head area has joint forks and / or eyes, which are movably connected to one another by means of plug-in hinge pins. In general, all known types of industrial seals are usable. As materials come for z. As aluminum, magnesium, titanium or high performance plastics such. As polyoxymethylene or polytetrafluoroethylene in question.

It is also advantageous if the joint has at least one end stop in order to limit and / or slow down the deflection of the joint so as to prevent the deformation of the joint To be able to control the club head in a targeted way. Thus, it is desirable that the hinge permit pivot angles in the range of -15 to 15 degrees, preferably -10 to 10 degrees, more preferably -5 to 5 degrees. Furthermore, the joint may for this purpose have a spring device which counteracts the deflection of the joint.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf einen Ballspielschläger;

Fig. 1a

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines ersten Gelenktyps im Schläger gemäß Fig.1;

Fig. 1b

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines zweiten Gelenktyps im Schläger gemäß Fig.1;

Fig. 2

eine Prinzipskizze möglicher Deformationen des Kopfbereiches eines Schlägers gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf einen Ballspielschläger;

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf den Herzbereich eines Ballspielschlägers gemäß einer bevorzugten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform;

Fig. 5

eine Prinzipskizze zur Erläuterung der Funktionsweise des Gelenks gemäß Fig. 4; und

Fig. 6

eine Prinzipskizze zur Erläuterung der Funktionsweise des Gelenks gemäß einer Variante der Ausführungsform in Fig. 4.

Hereinafter, a racket according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to several preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a plan view of a ball game racket;

Fig. 1a

a schematic side view of a first joint type in the racket according to Fig.1 ;

Fig. 1b

a schematic side view of a second joint type in the racket according to Fig.1 ;

Fig. 2

a schematic diagram of possible deformations of the head portion of a racquet according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a plan view of a ball game racket;

Fig. 4

a plan view of the heart area of a ball game racket according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5

a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the joint according to Fig. 4 ; and

Fig. 6

a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the joint according to a variant of the embodiment in Fig. 4 ,

Fig. 1 shows a ball game racket, in particular tennis rackets in plan view. The ball game racket has a frame that forms a substantially oval club head or head area 1, a heart area 2 and a grip portion 3. The frame is preferably formed from a frame or hollow profile. The club head defines a clothing plane of the racket. To accommodate the fabric, not shown, the frame in the region of the head portion 2 more substantially in the Passing plane lying through holes (not shown) for the implementation of stringed strings. The heart area 2 of the racket is arranged substantially between the head area 1 and the handle section 3 and represents the connection area between them. The heart area 2 has, for example, as in FIG Fig. 1 shown, an opening 4. However, this opening is not mandatory. However, the opening 4 is formed, it is generally formed by two side sections or arms 5 and 6 and a connecting portion or a bridge 7, which is arranged in the head portion 2 of the racket.

According to the in Fig. 1 illustrated preferred embodiment, the racket in the head area 2 also two joints 8 and 9 at about three o'clock or nine o'clock. The different design of the joints 8 and 9 serves only to illustrate exemplary joints. In reality, it will be beneficial to attach two identical joints at both positions. The joint 8 can be formed, for example, by the head portion having joint forks and / or eyes, which are movably connected together by means of plug-in hinge pin, as on the left side of Fig. 1 indicated and in Fig. 1a shown closer. However, for example, a double-joint arrangement 9, as shown schematically in FIG Fig. 1b shown, usable.

In Fig. 2 is shown schematically how the joints 8 a deformation of the head portion 1 of in Fig. 1 allow shown racket. Under the action of corresponding forces, the upper half of the head region 1, ie the range between about nine o'clock and about three o'clock, can shift or distort relative to the rest of the frame, as indicated by the arrow and the frame contour shown in dashed lines. Since the joint axes of the joints 8 are formed perpendicular to the clothing plane, however, a deformation substantially only within the clothing or racket level is possible. Of course, the usual in conventional rackets deformations of the frame - including those perpendicular to the clothing level - not limited by the joints of the invention. Only the additionally occurring due to the joints deformations are essentially limited to the clothing level.

To illustrate the facts, the deformation occurring is greatly exaggerated. As already mentioned, it is advantageous if the joint 8 has at least one end stop in order to limit and / or slow down the articulation of the joint, in order to prevent the articulation To be able to specifically control deformation of the club head and, in particular, to prevent the club or its clothing from collapsing. Accordingly, it is desirable that the articulation deflections from that in Fig. 2 fully excellent position in the range of -15 to 15 degrees, preferably from -10 to 10 degrees, more preferably -5 to 5 degrees. Further, the joint 8 may alternatively or additionally comprise a spring device for this purpose, which counteracts the deflection of the joint. The spring constant of this spring device is in the range between 5 and 100 N / cm, preferably between 30 and 70 N / cm. In particular, non-linear springs or spring devices could advantageously be used in this context. Further, it is possible that the spring device comprises two different work areas, so that, for example deflections of the joint 8 inward, ie in the direction of the covering, are exposed to a greater spring force than deflections to the outside. Just as the stops to limit the deflection can allow different deflection angle to the inside or outside.

To control or adaptation of the deformation spectrum, a modified attachment of the joints 8 at the head area 1 is possible. For example, a larger portion of the head portion 1 will participate in the deformation when the hinges 8 are attached closer to the handle, that is, for example, at about four o'clock and about eight o'clock. Similarly, positioning the joints at about two o'clock and about ten o'clock will cause less than half of the head area to be distorted.

Fig. 3 shows another ball game racket with a joint 8 at about twelve o'clock. This embodiment could just as well be realized with the hinge 9. Furthermore, a racket according to the invention can also by a combination of in the FIGS. 1 and 3 shown joints and / or joint positions are provided, so have joints at about three o'clock, nine o'clock and twelve o'clock.

Fig. 4 shows the heart area of an embodiment of a ball game racket according to the invention. In this, the bridge comprises two legs 10 and 11 which are movably mounted on the arms 5 and 6 and connected to each other via a hinge 8. Again, the joint shown is merely exemplary and technically feasible in other ways. In the illustrated variant of this embodiment, the bridge is relative to Handle portion convex, namely U-shaped, wherein the opening of the U points in the head area.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram for illustrating the operation of the joint according to Fig. 4 , If a ball strikes the clothing (not shown), it is deflected due to the momentum transfer, which results in a force in the direction of the arrow 12 on the bridge 7. A conventional racket in which the bridge is substantially rigid would then react with a relatively small deformation of the bridge. However, since the bridge 7 according to the invention has said joint 8, the bridge 7 will yield to the force 12 and the joint axis will move in the direction of the arrow 12. However, this inevitably has the result that the two mounting points on the arms 5 and 6 move outwards, namely in the direction of the arrows 13 and 14. As a result, the entire head portion 1 of the racket is spread, the frame parts at about three and nine o'clock, according to the arrows 15 and 16 away from each other, ie pushed outwards, whereby the intervening transverse strings are additionally tensioned.

Consequently, a racket according to the in Fig. 4 and 5 illustrated embodiment, a cushioning of the ball impulse on the longitudinal strings with simultaneous pulse amplification on the transverse strings.

According to a second variant of this embodiment, the bridge is as in Fig. 6 to see, relative to the handle portion concave, namely U-shaped, formed, wherein the opening of the U in the direction handle portion has. Analogously to the above explanations, it is understood that the impact of a ball in this variant has a substantially reverse effect. The deformation of the bridge 7 causes a contraction of the head area 1 and thus a relaxation of the transverse strings, as illustrated by the corresponding arrows.

A combination of this embodiment with the in Fig. 1 and or Fig. 3 illustrated embodiments is also possible.

The present invention has an advantageous effect on the playing behavior of a racket according to the invention, in that the deformation behavior can be adjusted in a targeted and controlled manner. For example, the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment of the racket "softer" than a conventional racket in one direction perpendicular to the racket longitudinal axis, whereas the elasticity of the frame along the racket longitudinal axis remains substantially unaffected. This can be advantageous for the vibration spectrum of the racket and thus for its playing behavior. Also, the embodiment of Fig. 4 allows controlled influencing of the vibration spectrum. As already related to the Fig. 5 and 6 explained, the reaction of the longitudinal or transverse strings to the impulse of an incoming ball can be adjusted independently of each other in this racket. Thus, for example, a pulse amplification by an additional tension of the transverse strings due to the deformation of the bridge is possible (see. Fig. 5 ).

Claims (8)

1. A racket for ball games comprising a head region (1) for receiving a stringing and a throat region (2) comprising two arms (5, 6) and a bridge (7), wherein the bridge (7) comprises at least one joint (8) the joint axis of which is arranged essentially perpendicularly with respect to the stringing plane formed by the stringing, and wherein the bridge (7) comprises two legs (10, 11) which are mounted in a movable manner at the arms (5, 6) and connected with each other by means of the joint (8).
2. The racket according to claim 1, wherein the bridge (7) is concave relative to the head region (1), in particular essentially V-shaped or U-shaped, with the opening of the V or U being directed towards the head region.
3. The racket according to claim 1, wherein the bridge is convex relative to the head region (1), in particular essentially V-shaped or U-shaped, with the point of the V or U being directed towards the head region.
4. The racket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the joint (8) is realized as a hinge joint or ball joint.
5. The racket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the head region (1) comprises joint forks and/or eyes which are connected with each other in a movable manner by means of insertable joint bolts.
6. The racket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the joint (8) comprises at least one end stop for limiting and/or slowing down the articulation of the joint (8).
7. The racket according to claim 6, wherein the joint (8) allows pivoting angles ranging between -15 to 15 degrees, preferably -10 to 10 degrees, particularly preferably -5 to 5 degrees.
8. The racket according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the joint (8) comprises a spring means counteracting the articulation of the joint (8).

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