EP2462997A1 - Artificial feather for shuttlecock, badminton shuttle cock, and method for manufacturing the artificial feather and the badminton shuttlecock - Google Patents
Artificial feather for shuttlecock, badminton shuttle cock, and method for manufacturing the artificial feather and the badminton shuttlecock Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2462997A1 EP2462997A1 EP10809857A EP10809857A EP2462997A1 EP 2462997 A1 EP2462997 A1 EP 2462997A1 EP 10809857 A EP10809857 A EP 10809857A EP 10809857 A EP10809857 A EP 10809857A EP 2462997 A1 EP2462997 A1 EP 2462997A1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- shaft
- shuttlecock
- feather
- thin
- artificial
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- 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.)
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B67/00—Sporting games or accessories therefor, not provided for in groups A63B1/00 - A63B65/00
- A63B67/18—Badminton or similar games with feathered missiles
- A63B67/183—Feathered missiles
- A63B67/187—Shuttlecocks
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B67/00—Sporting games or accessories therefor, not provided for in groups A63B1/00 - A63B65/00
- A63B67/18—Badminton or similar games with feathered missiles
- A63B67/183—Feathered missiles
- A63B67/187—Shuttlecocks
- A63B67/19—Shuttlecocks with several feathers connected to each other
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- 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
- A63B2102/04—Badminton
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2209/00—Characteristics of used materials
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an artificial feather for a shuttlecock, a badminton shuttlecock, and methods of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an artificial feather for a shuttlecock and a badminton shuttlecock having excellent flight performance and durability, and methods of manufacturing the same.
- a shuttlecock employing waterfowl feathers as the feathers thereof (natural shuttlecock) and a shuttlecock employing feathers artificially manufactured using nylon resin and the like (artificial shuttlecock) are conventionally known as badminton shuttlecocks.
- a natural shuttlecock is more expensive than a shuttlecock employing artificial feathers since it requires time and effort to obtain natural feathers of a certain level of quality.
- the supply of waterfowl feathers has recently been reduced drastically due to changes in food situation in countries supplying waterfowl feathers, mass culling of waterfowl resulting from the spread of bird influenza, and the like, making natural shuttlecocks more expensive. Therefore, shuttlecocks employing artificial feathers which are inexpensive and of stable quality have been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No. 54-136060 (PTL 1), Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-29974 (PTL 2), and Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2008-206970 (PTL 3)).
- PTL 1 discloses arranging a thin piece to protrude from a side surface of a shaft (a shaft having a substantially rectangular cross section) of an artificial feather to improve flight performance of an artificial shuttlecock.
- PTL 2 discloses a shaft of a feather for an artificial shuttlecock configured such that the shaft has a cross sectional shape of a deformed rhombus and the long axis of the rhombus is inclined with respect to a circumference on which the artificial feather is arranged, to generate rotational force while the shuttlecock is flying.
- PTL 3 discloses an artificial feather for an artificial shuttlecock configured such that non-woven fabric serving as a feather is partially embedded inside a shaft.
- the artificial feathers thereof still do not have sufficient strength, when compared with natural feathers.
- the shape of a shaft of an artificial feather significantly influences flight performance (in particular, rotation performance during flight) of a shuttlecock, it is necessary to determine the shape thereof considering the flight performance.
- taking a countermeasure such as merely increasing the thickness of a shaft of an artificial feather to improve strength results in an increase in the mass of an entire shuttlecock. Consequently, it has been difficult to achieve an artificial shuttlecock having flight performance,equal to that of a natural shuttlecock.
- the present invention was made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an artificial feather for a shuttlecock and a badminton shuttlecock having excellent flight performance and high durability, and methods of manufacturing the same.
- An artificial feather for a shuttlecock includes a feather portion, and a shaft connected to the feather portion.
- the shaft has a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the shaft extends.
- a thin portion thinner than a body portion constituting the cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in the shaft is formed integrally with the body portion so as to protrude from a side surface of the body portion.
- the shaft by forming the shaft to have a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section, rigidity of the shaft can be improved while suppressing an increase in the total mass of the shaft. Further, by forming the thin portion to protrude from the side surface of the body portion of the shaft, air resistance of the artificial feather for controlling flight performance of the shuttlecock can be adjusted as appropriate. In addition, since such a thin portion can have a thickness thinner than that of the body portion, an increase in the mass of the shaft can be suppressed. As a result, an artificial feather constituting an artificial shuttlecock excellent in flight performance can be achieved by improving rigidity of the shaft of the artificial feather while suppressing an increase in the mass of the artificial feather, and adjusting air resistance of the artificial feather.
- a badminton shuttlecock according to the present invention includes a hemispherical base body, and the artificial feather for a shuttlecock described above connected to the base body. With this structure, an artificial shuttlecock having flight performance equal to that of a natural shuttlecock employing natural feathers, and having sufficient durability can be achieved.
- a method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a shaft, and connecting a feather portion to the shaft.
- the step of preparing the shaft includes the steps of preparing a mold for molding the shaft having a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the shaft extends, and forming the shaft by performing injection molding or injection compression molding using the mold.
- a gap for forming a thin portion which is thinner than a body portion constituting the cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in the shaft and protrudes from a side surface of the body portion, is formed in the mold.
- the shaft having the thin portion protruding from the side surface of the body portion is formed by performing the injection molding or injection compression molding.
- a method of manufacturing a badminton shuttlecock according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a hemispherical base body, manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock using the method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock described above, and connecting the artificial feathers for a shuttlecock to the base body. With such a method, a badminton shuttlecock according to the present invention can be manufactured.
- an artificial feather for a shuttlecock and a badminton shuttlecock having excellent flight performance and high durability can be obtained.
- a shuttlecock 1 includes a hemispherical base body 2, a plurality of artificial feathers 3 for the shuttlecock connected to a fixing surface portion having a substantially flat surface in base body 2, a fixing cord member for fixing the plurality of artificial feathers 3 to one another, and an intermediate thread 15 for maintaining a stacked state of the plurality of artificial feathers 3.
- the plurality of (e.g. sixteen) artificial feathers 3 are annularly arranged in the fixing surface portion of base body 2, along the outer periphery of the fixing surface portion. Further, the plurality of artificial feathers 3 are fixed to one another by the cord member.
- the plurality of artificial feathers 3 are arranged such that the distance among them is increased as the distance from base body 2 increases (i.e., an inner diameter of a cylindrical body formed by the plurality of artificial feathers 3 is increased as the distance from base body 2 increases).
- Intermediate thread 15 serves as a fixing member for maintaining the stacked state of the plurality of artificial feathers 3. That is, intermediate thread 15 is arranged to define the positional relation of the plurality of artificial feathers 3 as described later.
- artificial feather 3 constituting shuttlecock 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a feather portion 5, and a shaft 7 connected to feather portion 5.
- Shaft 7 includes a feather shaft portion 8 arranged to protrude from feather portion 5, and a fixed shaft portion 10 connected to feather portion 5 at a substantially central portion of feather portion 5.
- Feather shaft portion 8 and fixed shaft portion 10 are arranged to extend like an identical line, and constitute one continuous shaft 7.
- shaft 7 has a cross-shaped cross section in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which shaft 7 extends. Specifically, as shown in Figs.
- thick rib portions 12a having a relatively thick thickness are formed to protrude from central shaft portion 11 in an up-down direction in Fig. 4 .
- thin rib portions 12b having a relatively thin thickness are formed to protrude from central shaft portion 11 in the right-left direction in Fig. 4 .
- Two thick rib portions 12a described above are formed to extend in opposite directions from central shaft portion 11.
- Two thin rib portions 12b described above are also formed to extend in opposite directions from central shaft portion 11.
- Thin rib portions 12b are formed to extend in a direction intersecting (more specifically, perpendicular to) a direction in which thick rib portions 12a extend.
- Thick rib portions 12a and thin rib portions 12b constitute rib portions 12.
- a plurality of rib portions 12 and central shaft portion 11 constitute a body portion 13 of shaft 7.
- Body portion 13 has a so-called cross-shaped cross section.
- thin portions 14 are formed at outer peripheral end portions of thin rib portions 12b, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 (that is, so as to protrude from side walls of body portion 13). Thin portions 14 have a thickness further thinner than the above thickness of thin rib portions 12b. Thin portions 14 are formed integrally with thin rib portions 12b. Further, thin portions 14 are formed such that surfaces of thin portions 14 are substantially flush with side surfaces of thin rib portions 12b (i.e., upper side surfaces in Fig. 4 ). Thin portions 14 can have a thickness of, for example, not less than 0.03 mm and not more than 0.1 mm, more preferably, not less than 0.04 mm and not more than 0.07 mm. In addition, thin portions 14 can have widths W1, W3 of, for example, not less than 0.1 mm and not more than 0.5 mm, more preferably, not less than 0.2 mm and not more than 0.3 mm.
- body portion 13 of shaft 7 By forming body portion 13 of shaft 7 to have a substantially cross-shaped cross section as described above, rigidity of shaft 7 can be improved while suppressing an increase in the total mass of shaft 7. Further, by forming thin portions 14 to protrude from side surfaces of body portion 13 of shaft 7, air resistance of artificial feather 3 for controlling flight performance of shuttlecock 1 can be adjusted as appropriate. In addition, since such thin portions 14 have a thickness thinner than that of body portion 13, an increase in the mass of shaft 7 can be suppressed. As a result, artificial feather 3 constituting shuttlecock 1 excellent in flight performance can be achieved by improving rigidity of shaft 7 of artificial feather 3 while suppressing an increase in the mass of artificial feather 3, and adjusting air resistance of artificial feather 3.
- a width W of shaft 7 in the direction in which thin rib portions 12b extend is the sum of widths W1 and W2 of thin portions 14 and a width W3 of body portion 13.
- Width W of shaft 7 is larger than a width (height) T of shaft 7 in the direction in which thick rib portions 12a extend (i.e., the up-down direction in Fig. 4 ).
- Width W1 of one thin portion 14 (on the left side) and width W2 of the other thin portion 14 (on the right side) in Fig. 4 may have the same value or different values.
- thin portions 14 may be formed along the entire length of shaft 7, they are preferably formed at at least feather shaft portion 8 as a portion exposed to the outside.
- thin portion 14 may be formed only on one side, and may be formed partially (for example, intermittently) in the direction in which shaft 7 extends, instead of being formed along the entire length of shaft 7.
- feather portion 5 includes a foam layer 92 and a shaft fixing layer 91 arranged to sandwich fixed shaft portion 10, and adhesion layers 93, 94 for fixing these foam layer 92 and shaft fixing layer 91 to each other. That is, in feather portion 5, foam layer 92 and shaft fixing layer 91 are stacked to sandwich fixed shaft portion 10. Further, in feather portion 5, adhesion layers 93, 94 are arranged to connect foam layer 92 and shaft fixing layer 91 with each other, and to connect and fix these foam layer 92 and shaft fixing layer 91 to fixed shaft portion 10. From a different viewpoint, in feather portion 5, adhesion layer 93 is stacked on foam layer 92 located on an outer peripheral side when shuttlecock 1 is configured.
- fixed shaft portion 10 On adhesion layer 93, fixed shaft portion 10 is arranged to be located at a substantially central portion of adhesion layer 93 and foam layer 92.
- the other adhesion layer 94 is arranged to extend from above fixed shaft portion 10 to above adhesion layer 93.
- Shaft fixing layer 91 is arranged on adhesion layer 94.
- shaft 7 is warped toward foam layer 92 (i.e., the outer peripheral side of shuttlecock 1). From a different viewpoint, shaft 7 is warped to be convex toward shaft fixing layer 91. Further, although Fig. 6 shows a state where artificial feather 3 is warped toward foam layer 92 in the direction in which shaft 7 extends, feather portion 5 may be warped toward foam layer 92 (i.e., feather portion 5 may be warped to be convex toward shaft fixing layer 91) in a direction intersecting the direction in which shaft 7 extends (e.g., a width direction perpendicular to the direction in which shaft 7 extends and along a surface of feather portion 5).
- warping of artificial feather 3 in the direction in which shaft 7 extends and warping of feather portion 5 in the direction intersecting the direction in which shaft 7 extends as described above may occur simultaneously, or only one of the warpings may occur.
- Such warping can be implemented by a conventionally well-known method, such as subjecting constituent materials for shaft 7 and feather portion 5 to heat treatment, or originally forming constituent materials for shaft 7 and feather portion 5 in a warped state.
- foam layer 92 for example, a resin foam, and more specifically, for example, a polyethylene foam (a foam of polyethylene) can be used.
- a resin foam can be used as well.
- any material such as a film made of resin or the like, or nonwoven fabric can be used, other than a polyethylene foam.
- a double-faced tape can be used.
- a polyethylene foam is used as foam layer 92 and shaft fixing layer 91.
- a direction in which this polyethylene foam is extruded is a direction indicated by an arrow 95 in Figs. 3 and 5 .
- shaft 7 is connected and fixed to feather portion 5 so as to intersect the direction in which the polyethylene foam is extruded as indicated by arrow 95, thus reducing the probability of occurrence of faults such as splitting of feather portion 5 in a direction along the direction in which shaft 7 extends.
- intermediate thread 15 is arranged to encircle shafts 7 of artificial feathers 3, and to pass through regions where feather portions 5 of adjacent artificial feathers 3 are opposed to each other (i.e., to pass through the spaces between stacked feather portions 5) in parts of feather portions 5 in a stacked state in adjacent artificial feathers 3.
- Intermediate thread 15 passes through the spaces between stacked feather portions 5 in the parts where feather portions 5 are thus stacked, whereby occurrence of such a problem that the order of stacking of feather portions 5 is changed during use of shuttlecock 1 (e.g., the order of stacking of feather portions 5 is changed by an impact of hitting with a racket) can be suppressed.
- Intermediate thread 15 described above is circumferentially arranged to fix all of the plurality of annularly arranged artificial feathers 3 to one another, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 .
- Intermediate thread 15 can be arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 , for example, by being sewn by an operator using a needle or the like. With this arrangement, shuttlecock 1 exhibiting excellent durability can be achieved by suppressing occurrence of the problem that the order of stacking of feather portions 5 is changed during use of shuttlecock 1.
- a sewing start end portion and a sewing finish end portion of circumferentially arranged intermediate thread 15 are connected with each other, and the remaining portions of the thread are cut in the vicinity of a knot and removed.
- a protective layer is preferably formed on the surface of the knot by applying an adhesive or the like. Such a protective layer is so formed that the knot can be prevented from coming loose when shuttlecock 1 is hit with a racket.
- intermediate thread 15 While any material such as cotton or resin can be employed for intermediate thread 15, a polyester thread is preferably employed. Further, a thread as lightweight as possible is preferably employed as intermediate thread 15 in order to minimize the influence on the center of gravity and the like of shuttlecock 1. For example, a polyester thread No. 50 may be employed as the thread. In this case, the mass of the thread used as intermediate thread 15 is about 0.02 g. If the mass is at about this level, it is conceivable that flight performance is hardly influenced, although the position of the center of gravity of shuttlecock 1 is slightly influenced. Further, to arrange intermediate thread 15, the distance from base body 2 can be arbitrarily set.
- a method of manufacturing artificial feather 3 for the shuttlecock according to the present invention will be described.
- a constituent member preparation step (S10) is firstly performed.
- shaft 7, sheet-like materials constituting foam layer 92 and shaft fixing layer 91, and the double-faced tape which will be adhesion layers 93, 94 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 , which constitute artificial feather 3, are prepared.
- the sheet-like members and the double-faced tape may have any planar shapes as long as they are larger than the size of feather portion 5 shown in Fig. 3 .
- a material such as a polyethylene foam (a foam of polyethylene formed in the shape of a sheet) having a thickness of 1.0 mm and a basis weight of 24 g/m 2 can be used.
- a material such as a polyethylene foam having a thickness of 0.5 mm and a basis weight of 20 g/m 2 can be used.
- the double-faced tape which will be adhesion layers 93, 94 can have a basis weight of 10 g/m 2 .
- a mold preparation step (S11) is firstly performed, as shown in Fig. 9 .
- a mold for forming shaft 7 by, for example, injection molding or injection compression molding is prepared.
- the mold prepared herein is, for example, a mold separated into an upper mold and a lower mold, and concave portions corresponding to the shape of shaft 7 are formed in the surfaces of the molds opposed to each other.
- the concave portions include a portion for forming body portion 13 of shaft 7, and gaps for forming thin portions 14 at the outer periphery of the portion for forming body portion 13.
- a molding step (S12) is performed.
- the mold prepared as described above is firstly set in an apparatus for injecting resin into the mold (the concave portions) such as an injection molding apparatus (a mold setting step).
- a resin injection step is performed. Specifically, resin is injected from a resin inlet provided in the mold into the concave portions inside the mold.
- the resin for example, a thermoplastic resin can be used. Consequently, the shaft is formed inside the mold.
- the gaps for forming thin portions 14 are formed in the concave portions of the mold as described above, thin portions 14 protruding from the side surfaces are formed in obtained shaft 7.
- the molding step (S12) is performed as described above. Thereafter, shaft 7 is removed from the inside of the mold. Consequently, shaft 7 constituting artificial feather 3 can be obtained.
- an affixation step (S20) is performed as shown in Fig. 8 .
- the double-faced tape which will be adhesion layer 93 is affixed to a main surface of the sheet-like member which will be foam layer 92.
- fixed shaft portion 10 of shaft 7 is arranged on the double-faced tape.
- the sheet-like member which will be shaft fixing layer 91 which has the double-faced tape which will be adhesion layer 94 affixed on a surface facing fixed shaft portion 10, is stacked and affixed. Consequently, a structure can be obtained in which fixed shaft portion 10 of shaft 7 is sandwiched and fixed between the sheet-like member which will be foam layer 92 and the sheet-like member which will be shaft fixing layer 91.
- a post-treatment step (S30) is performed. Specifically, an unnecessary portion of the stacked sheet-like members which will be feather portion 5 (i.e., a region other than a portion which will be feather portion 5) is cut and removed. Consequently, artificial feather 3 as shown in Figs. 3 to 6 can be obtained. Then, heat treatment such as application of heat from the foam layer 92 side is performed on artificial feather 3 to constrict foam layer 92 and the like. Consequently, shaft 7 and feather portion 5 can be warped as shown in Fig. 6 . It is to be noted that other methods may be used to warp shaft 7 and feather portion 5 as shown in Fig. 6 . For example, a method such as using shaft 7 originally having a warped shape may be employed.
- a preparation step (S100) is firstly performed.
- constituent members of shuttlecock 1 such as base body 2 (tip member) and artificial feather 3 described above of shuttlecock 1 are prepared.
- Base body 2 can be manufactured with any conventionally known method.
- a natural material such as cork can be used as a material for base body 2.
- an artificial resin or the like may also be used as a material for base body 2.
- base body 2 can be formed using any conventionally well-known processing method. For example, a block of the material for base body 2 is firstly prepared and cut to have a rough shape. On this occasion, cutting is performed in consideration of the height of the hemispherical portion at the tip portion. Then, cutting may be further performed to form insertion holes for inserting artificial feathers 3.
- an ionomer resin foam EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), polyurethane, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like
- EVA ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer
- PVC polyvinyl chloride
- polyethylene polypropylene
- artificial feather 3 can be manufactured with the manufacturing method shown in Fig. 8 described above.
- an assembly step (S200) is performed.
- the bottoms of shafts 7 of the plurality of artificial feathers 3 described above are inserted and fixed in the insertion holes in the fixing surface portion of the base body.
- the plurality of artificial feathers 3 are fixed to one another by the cord member.
- sewing is performed such that intermediate thread 15 for maintaining the stacked state of the feather portions is arranged as shown in Fig. 7 .
- shuttlecock 1 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 can be manufactured.
- the fixing member for fixing the plurality of artificial feathers 3 to one another is not limited to the cord member as described above, and any member such as a ring-shaped member may be used.
- any material such as resin and fiber can be used.
- a fixing member made of FRP Fiber-Reinforced Plastic
- a resin e.g., a thermosetting resin
- the thermosetting resin for example, epoxy resin or phenolic resin can be used.
- An artificial feather including a shaft shown in Fig. 11 has a structure which is basically similar to that of artificial feather 3 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 , but is different in the cross sectional shape of body portion 13 of shaft 7. Specifically, in body portion 13 of shaft 7 shown in Fig. 11 , two thin rib portions 12b extend from central shaft portion 11 in the right-left direction, and thick rib portion 12a extends from the lower side of central shaft portion 11 in only one direction. Thin portions 14 are formed at the outer peripheral end portions of thin rib portions 12b. With the artificial feather using the shaft in which body portion 13 has a so-called T-shaped cross section as described above, an effect identical to the effect of artificial feather 3 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 can also be obtained.
- An artificial feather including a shaft shown in Fig. 12 has a structure which is basically similar to that of artificial feather 3 shown in Fig. 11 , but is different in that a protruding portion 16 is formed to extend upward (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which thin rib portions 12b extend, or a direction opposite to the direction in which thick rib portion 12a extends) from central shaft portion 11.
- protruding portion 16 included in rib portions 12 as described above, an effect identical to the effect of the artificial feather using the shaft shown in Fig. 11 can be obtained, and rigidity of shaft 7 can be further improved in the up-down direction in Fig. 12 (i.e., a direction in which thick rib portion 12a and protruding portion 16 extend).
- An artificial feather including a shaft shown in Fig. 13 has a structure which is basically similar to that of artificial feather 3 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 , but is different from that of the artificial feather shown in Figs. 3 to 6 in that widths W1 and W2 of two thin portions 14 formed on both sides of body portion 13 of shaft 7 are different from each other. Specifically, width W1 of thin portion 14 formed on the left side in the drawing of body portion 13 of shaft 7 shown in Fig. 13 is wider than width W2 of thin portion 14 formed on the right side in the drawing. With this structure, an effect identical to the effect of artificial feather 3 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 can be obtained.
- An artificial feather including a shaft shown in Fig. 14 has a structure which is basically similar to that of artificial feather 3 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 , but is different from that of the artificial feather shown in Figs. 3 to 6 in the arrangement of two thin portions 14 formed on both sides of body portion 13 of shaft 7. Specifically, thin portions 14 formed on the side surfaces of body portion 13 of shaft 7 is not arranged to be flush with the side surfaces of thin rib portions 12b (i.e., flat side surfaces of thin rib portions 12b in Fig. 14 ). Thin portions 14 of the shaft shown in Fig. 14 are arranged at positions connected to the side surfaces of thin rib portions 12b with a step difference provided therebetween. Even with such a configuration, the same type of effect as artificial feather 3 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 can be obtained.
- Artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock includes feather portion 5, and shaft 7 connected to feather portion 5.
- Shaft 7 has a cross-shaped (see Fig. 4 ) or T-shaped (see Fig. 11 ) cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which shaft 7 extends (see for example Fig. 4 ).
- Thin portion 14 thinner than body portion 13 constituting the cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in shaft 7 is formed integrally with body portion 13 so as to protrude from a side surface of body portion 13.
- shaft 7 by forming shaft 7 to have a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section, rigidity of shaft 7 can be improved while suppressing an increase in the total mass of shaft 7. Further, by forming thin portion 14 to protrude from the side surface of body portion 13 of shaft 7, air resistance of artificial feather 3 for controlling flight performance of shuttlecock 1 can be adjusted as appropriate. In addition, since such a thin portion 14 can have a thickness thinner than that of body portion 13, an increase in the mass of shaft 7 can be suppressed. As a result, artificial feather 3 constituting artificial shuttlecock 1 excellent in flight performance can be achieved by improving rigidity of shaft 7 of artificial feather 3 while suppressing an increase in the mass of artificial feather 3, and adjusting air resistance of artificial feather 3.
- body portion 13 may include central shaft portion 11, and a plurality of rib portions 12 protruding from side surfaces of central shaft portion 11.
- the plurality of rib portions 12 may include thick rib portion 12a in which a thickness in a direction perpendicular to a radial direction directed outward from central shaft portion 11, in the plane perpendicular to the direction in which shaft 7 extends, is relatively thick, and thin rib portion 12b in which the thickness is relatively thin.
- Thin portion 14 may be formed to protrude from an outer peripheral side surface of thin rib portion 12b.
- shaft 7 rigidity of shaft 7 in a direction in which thick rib portion 12a protrudes can be particularly improved.
- thin rib portion 12b of body portion 13 of shaft 7 is arranged in a direction in which thin portion 14 protrudes (i.e., the right-left direction in Fig. 4 )
- the mass of shaft 7 can be more reduced than the case of forming all of rib portions 12 included in body portion 13 to have an uniform thickness. Therefore, shaft 7 can have a sufficiently large width (width W in Fig. 4 ) in the direction in which thin portion 14 protrudes (i.e., a direction in which thin rib portion 12b protrudes), while limiting the mass of shaft 7 within a prescribed range.
- thin portion 14 may be formed to protrude along a surface extending in the radial direction in thin rib portion 12b, as shown in Fig. 4 .
- thin portion 14 and thin rib portion 12b can be considered as a continuous integral resistive element, from the viewpoint of an air-resistive element. Further, when thin portion 14 is formed, shaft 7 having thin portion 14 can be formed more easily using, for example, a mold, than the case of forming thin portion 14 so as not to be provided along the surface of thin rib portion 12b described above.
- total width W of body portion 13 and thin portion 14 along a direction in which thin rib portion 12b protrudes, in the plane perpendicular to the direction in which shaft 7 extends may be larger than a width (i.e., height T in Fig. 4 ) of body portion 13 along a direction in which thick rib portion 12a protrudes.
- body portion 13 may include central shaft portion 11, and a plurality of rib portions 12 protruding from side surfaces of central shaft portion 11.
- Thin portion 14 may be formed to protrude along a surface extending in a radial direction directed outward from central shaft portion 11, in at least one of the plurality of rib portions 12, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 , 11 to 13 , and the like.
- total width W of body portion 13 and thin portion 14 along a direction in which rib portion 12 having thin portion 14 formed thereon protrudes, in the plane perpendicular to the direction in which shaft 7 extends may be larger than a width (i.e., height T in Fig. 4 ) of body portion 13 along a direction in which another rib portion 12 not having thin portion 14 formed thereon protrudes.
- Badminton shuttlecock 1 includes hemispherical base body 2, and artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock described above connected to base body 2. With this structure, artificial shuttlecock 1 having flight performance equal to that of a natural shuttlecock employing natural feathers, and having sufficient durability can be achieved.
- a method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock includes the steps of preparing a shaft (S10, S11, S12) and connecting a feather portion to the shaft (S20).
- the step of preparing the shaft (S10, S11, S12) includes the steps of preparing a mold for molding the shaft having a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the shaft extends (S11), and forming the shaft by performing injection molding or injection compression molding using the mold (S12).
- a gap for forming thin portion 14 which is thinner than body portion 13 constituting the cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in shaft 7 and protrudes from a side surface of body portion 13 is formed in the mold.
- shaft 7 having thin portion 14 protruding from the side surface of body portion 13 is formed by performing the injection molding or injection compression molding. With such a method, artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock according to the present invention can be manufactured.
- a method of manufacturing a badminton shuttlecock according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a hemispherical base body (S100), manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock using the method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock described above (S100), and connecting the artificial feathers for a shuttlecock to the base body (S200). With such a method, badminton shuttlecock 1 according to the present invention can be manufactured.
- a shuttlecock employing artificial feathers of an example of the present invention and two types of shuttlecocks as comparative examples were prepared.
- Each shuttlecock was floated and rotated by blowing air from below a cylinder using an air blower, and the rotation speed (rotation number) of the shuttlecock was measured using a non-contact rotation number measuring instrument.
- a shuttlecock employing artificial feathers 3 shown in Figs. 3 to 6 was prepared.
- Body portion 13 of shaft 7 of artificial feather 3 had width W3 (see Fig. 4 ) of 2.5 mm and height T of 2.5 mm.
- the central portion of upper thick rib portion 12a in Fig. 4 had a thickness of 0.8 mm
- the central portion of lower thick rib portion 12a in Fig. 4 had a thickness of 0.55 mm.
- Thin rib portions 12b had a thickness of 0.4 mm.
- Thin portions 14 had widths W1, W2 of 0.3 mm, and a thickness of 0.05 mm.
- a polyethylene foam having a thickness of 0.5 mm and a basis weight of 20 g/m 2 was used as a material for shaft fixing layer 91 constituting feather portion 5 of artificial feather 3.
- a polyethylene foam having a thickness of 1.0 mm and a basis weight of 24 g/m 2 was used as a material for foam layer 92.
- a double-faced tape was used for adhesion layers 93, 94. The double-faced tape used had characteristics such as a thickness of 10 ⁇ m and a basis weight of 10 g/m 2 . Then, using such artificial feathers, a shuttlecock having the configuration shown in Figs. 1 and 2 was prepared.
- artificial feather 3 was manufactured using a shaft processed by scraping off thin portions 14 from a shaft having a configuration similar to that of the shaft used for the sample of the example described above, as a sample of comparative example 1.
- Artificial feather 3 of comparative example 1 had a configuration identical to that of artificial feather 3 used for the sample of the example described above, except for the processed shaft. Then, using such artificial feathers 3 as the comparative example, a shuttlecock having a configuration identical to that of the sample of the example was prepared.
- an artificial feather and a shuttlecock were prepared using a shaft having a configuration in which thin portions 14 were excluded from the shaft used for the sample of the example described above, as a sample of comparative example 2.
- a mold having a configuration different from that for the shaft in the artificial feather of the example i.e., a mold having a configuration in which a gap for thin portion 14 is not formed
- Each sample shuttlecock was floated and rotated by blowing air at 7 m/s from below the cylinder using the air blower, and the rotation number of the shuttlecock was measured using the non-contact rotation number measuring instrument. For the measurement, five shuttlecocks were prepared for each sample, and an average rotation number of the five shuttlecocks was calculated.
- the sample of the example had an average rotation number of 477 rpm. Further, flight trajectory and the like of the shuttlecock were relatively close to those of a natural shuttlecock.
- the sample of comparative example 1 had an average rotation number of 317 rpm
- the sample of comparative example 2 had an average rotation number of 252 rpm.
- flight trajectory of the shuttlecock of each comparative example was different from the flight trajectory of the shuttlecock of the example, and was also different from the flight trajectory of a natural shuttlecock.
- the rotation number was less than 300 rpm, there was a tendency that the shuttlecock was likely to wobble while flying, and flight trajectory thereof became unstable.
- the sample of the example of the present invention exhibits sufficient durability, and exhibits flight performance relatively close to that of a natural shuttlecock.
- the present invention is advantageously applied to a badminton shuttlecock employing artificial feathers having flight performance and durability equal to those of a badminton shuttlecock employing waterfowl feathers.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an artificial feather for a shuttlecock, a badminton shuttlecock, and methods of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to an artificial feather for a shuttlecock and a badminton shuttlecock having excellent flight performance and durability, and methods of manufacturing the same.
- A shuttlecock employing waterfowl feathers as the feathers thereof (natural shuttlecock) and a shuttlecock employing feathers artificially manufactured using nylon resin and the like (artificial shuttlecock) are conventionally known as badminton shuttlecocks. A natural shuttlecock is more expensive than a shuttlecock employing artificial feathers since it requires time and effort to obtain natural feathers of a certain level of quality. Further, the supply of waterfowl feathers has recently been reduced drastically due to changes in food situation in countries supplying waterfowl feathers, mass culling of waterfowl resulting from the spread of bird influenza, and the like, making natural shuttlecocks more expensive. Therefore, shuttlecocks employing artificial feathers which are inexpensive and of stable quality have been proposed (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No.
54-136060 2-29974 2008-206970 -
PTL 1 discloses arranging a thin piece to protrude from a side surface of a shaft (a shaft having a substantially rectangular cross section) of an artificial feather to improve flight performance of an artificial shuttlecock.PTL 2 discloses a shaft of a feather for an artificial shuttlecock configured such that the shaft has a cross sectional shape of a deformed rhombus and the long axis of the rhombus is inclined with respect to a circumference on which the artificial feather is arranged, to generate rotational force while the shuttlecock is flying. Further,PTL 3 discloses an artificial feather for an artificial shuttlecock configured such that non-woven fabric serving as a feather is partially embedded inside a shaft. -
- PTL 1:
- Japanese Utility Model Laying-Open No.
54-136060 - PTL 2:
- Japanese Utility Model Publication No.
2-29974 - PTL 3:
- Japanese Patent Laying-Open No.
2008-206970 - However, in the artificial shuttlecocks described in
PTL 1 toPTL 3, the artificial feathers thereof still do not have sufficient strength, when compared with natural feathers. On the other hand, since the shape of a shaft of an artificial feather significantly influences flight performance (in particular, rotation performance during flight) of a shuttlecock, it is necessary to determine the shape thereof considering the flight performance. Further, taking a countermeasure such as merely increasing the thickness of a shaft of an artificial feather to improve strength results in an increase in the mass of an entire shuttlecock. Consequently, it has been difficult to achieve an artificial shuttlecock having flight performance,equal to that of a natural shuttlecock. - The present invention was made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an artificial feather for a shuttlecock and a badminton shuttlecock having excellent flight performance and high durability, and methods of manufacturing the same.
- An artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to the present invention includes a feather portion, and a shaft connected to the feather portion. The shaft has a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the shaft extends. A thin portion thinner than a body portion constituting the cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in the shaft is formed integrally with the body portion so as to protrude from a side surface of the body portion.
- With this structure, by forming the shaft to have a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section, rigidity of the shaft can be improved while suppressing an increase in the total mass of the shaft. Further, by forming the thin portion to protrude from the side surface of the body portion of the shaft, air resistance of the artificial feather for controlling flight performance of the shuttlecock can be adjusted as appropriate. In addition, since such a thin portion can have a thickness thinner than that of the body portion, an increase in the mass of the shaft can be suppressed. As a result, an artificial feather constituting an artificial shuttlecock excellent in flight performance can be achieved by improving rigidity of the shaft of the artificial feather while suppressing an increase in the mass of the artificial feather, and adjusting air resistance of the artificial feather.
- A badminton shuttlecock according to the present invention includes a hemispherical base body, and the artificial feather for a shuttlecock described above connected to the base body. With this structure, an artificial shuttlecock having flight performance equal to that of a natural shuttlecock employing natural feathers, and having sufficient durability can be achieved.
- A method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a shaft, and connecting a feather portion to the shaft. The step of preparing the shaft includes the steps of preparing a mold for molding the shaft having a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the shaft extends, and forming the shaft by performing injection molding or injection compression molding using the mold. In the step of preparing the mold, a gap for forming a thin portion, which is thinner than a body portion constituting the cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in the shaft and protrudes from a side surface of the body portion, is formed in the mold. In the step of forming the shaft, the shaft having the thin portion protruding from the side surface of the body portion is formed by performing the injection molding or injection compression molding. With such a method, an artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to the present invention can be manufactured.
- A method of manufacturing a badminton shuttlecock according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a hemispherical base body, manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock using the method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock described above, and connecting the artificial feathers for a shuttlecock to the base body. With such a method, a badminton shuttlecock according to the present invention can be manufactured.
- According to the present invention, an artificial feather for a shuttlecock and a badminton shuttlecock having excellent flight performance and high durability can be obtained.
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Fig. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment of a shuttlecock according to the present invention. -
Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of the shuttlecock shown inFig. 1 . -
Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of an artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to the present invention, which constitutes ashuttlecock 1 shown inFigs. 1 and 2 . -
Fig. 4 is a schematic cross sectional view taken along a line IV-IV inFig. 3 . -
Fig. 5 is a schematic cross sectional view taken along a line V-V inFig. 3 . -
Fig. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view taken along a line VI-VI inFig. 3 . -
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary schematic cross sectional view showing a configuration of a portion of the shuttlecock shown inFigs. 1 and 2 where an intermediate thread is arranged. -
Fig. 8 is a flowchart for illustrating a method of manufacturing the artificial feather shown inFigs. 3 to 5 . -
Fig. 9 is a flowchart for illustrating a shaft formation step included in a constituent member preparation step (S10) shown inFig. 8 . -
Fig. 10 is a flowchart for illustrating a method of manufacturingshuttlecock 1 shown inFigs. 1 and 2 . -
Fig. 11 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a first modification of the artificial feather constituting the embodiment of the shuttlecock according to the present invention. -
Fig. 12 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a second modification of the artificial feather constituting the embodiment of the shuttlecock according to the present invention. -
Fig. 13 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a third modification of the artificial feather constituting the embodiment of the shuttlecock according to the present invention. -
Fig. 14 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fourth modification of the artificial feather constituting the embodiment of the shuttlecock according to the present invention. - Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It is to be noted that, in the drawings below, identical or corresponding parts will be designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.
- An embodiment of a shuttlecock according to the present invention will be described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 . - Referring to
Figs. 1 and 2 , ashuttlecock 1 according to the present invention includes ahemispherical base body 2, a plurality ofartificial feathers 3 for the shuttlecock connected to a fixing surface portion having a substantially flat surface inbase body 2, a fixing cord member for fixing the plurality ofartificial feathers 3 to one another, and anintermediate thread 15 for maintaining a stacked state of the plurality ofartificial feathers 3. The plurality of (e.g. sixteen)artificial feathers 3 are annularly arranged in the fixing surface portion ofbase body 2, along the outer periphery of the fixing surface portion. Further, the plurality ofartificial feathers 3 are fixed to one another by the cord member. The plurality ofartificial feathers 3 are arranged such that the distance among them is increased as the distance frombase body 2 increases (i.e., an inner diameter of a cylindrical body formed by the plurality ofartificial feathers 3 is increased as the distance frombase body 2 increases). -
Intermediate thread 15 serves as a fixing member for maintaining the stacked state of the plurality ofartificial feathers 3. That is,intermediate thread 15 is arranged to define the positional relation of the plurality ofartificial feathers 3 as described later. - Next, an embodiment of an artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to the present invention will be described with reference to
Figs. 3 to 6 . - Referring to
Figs. 3 to 6 ,artificial feather 3constituting shuttlecock 1 shown inFigs. 1 and 2 includes afeather portion 5, and ashaft 7 connected tofeather portion 5.Shaft 7 includes afeather shaft portion 8 arranged to protrude fromfeather portion 5, and a fixedshaft portion 10 connected tofeather portion 5 at a substantially central portion offeather portion 5.Feather shaft portion 8 and fixedshaft portion 10 are arranged to extend like an identical line, and constitute onecontinuous shaft 7. As shown inFigs. 4 and 5 ,shaft 7 has a cross-shaped cross section in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in whichshaft 7 extends. Specifically, as shown inFigs. 4 and 5 , in a cross sectional shape ofshaft 7,thick rib portions 12a having a relatively thick thickness (i.e., a thickness in a right-left direction inFig. 4 (or a direction of a circumference of a concentric circle centered at a central shaft portion 11)) are formed to protrude fromcentral shaft portion 11 in an up-down direction inFig. 4 . - Further,
thin rib portions 12b having a relatively thin thickness (i.e., a thickness in the up-down direction inFig. 4 (or the direction of the circumference of the concentric circle centered at central shaft portion 11)) are formed to protrude fromcentral shaft portion 11 in the right-left direction inFig. 4 . Twothick rib portions 12a described above are formed to extend in opposite directions fromcentral shaft portion 11. Twothin rib portions 12b described above are also formed to extend in opposite directions fromcentral shaft portion 11.Thin rib portions 12b are formed to extend in a direction intersecting (more specifically, perpendicular to) a direction in whichthick rib portions 12a extend.Thick rib portions 12a andthin rib portions 12b constituterib portions 12. Further, a plurality ofrib portions 12 andcentral shaft portion 11 constitute abody portion 13 ofshaft 7.Body portion 13 has a so-called cross-shaped cross section. - Moreover,
thin portions 14 are formed at outer peripheral end portions ofthin rib portions 12b, as shown inFigs. 4 and 5 (that is, so as to protrude from side walls of body portion 13).Thin portions 14 have a thickness further thinner than the above thickness ofthin rib portions 12b.Thin portions 14 are formed integrally withthin rib portions 12b. Further,thin portions 14 are formed such that surfaces ofthin portions 14 are substantially flush with side surfaces ofthin rib portions 12b (i.e., upper side surfaces inFig. 4 ).Thin portions 14 can have a thickness of, for example, not less than 0.03 mm and not more than 0.1 mm, more preferably, not less than 0.04 mm and not more than 0.07 mm. In addition,thin portions 14 can have widths W1, W3 of, for example, not less than 0.1 mm and not more than 0.5 mm, more preferably, not less than 0.2 mm and not more than 0.3 mm. - By forming
body portion 13 ofshaft 7 to have a substantially cross-shaped cross section as described above, rigidity ofshaft 7 can be improved while suppressing an increase in the total mass ofshaft 7. Further, by formingthin portions 14 to protrude from side surfaces ofbody portion 13 ofshaft 7, air resistance ofartificial feather 3 for controlling flight performance ofshuttlecock 1 can be adjusted as appropriate. In addition, since suchthin portions 14 have a thickness thinner than that ofbody portion 13, an increase in the mass ofshaft 7 can be suppressed. As a result,artificial feather 3constituting shuttlecock 1 excellent in flight performance can be achieved by improving rigidity ofshaft 7 ofartificial feather 3 while suppressing an increase in the mass ofartificial feather 3, and adjusting air resistance ofartificial feather 3. - A width W of
shaft 7 in the direction in whichthin rib portions 12b extend (i.e., the right-left direction inFig. 4 ) is the sum of widths W1 and W2 ofthin portions 14 and a width W3 ofbody portion 13. Width W ofshaft 7 is larger than a width (height) T ofshaft 7 in the direction in whichthick rib portions 12a extend (i.e., the up-down direction inFig. 4 ). - Width W1 of one thin portion 14 (on the left side) and width W2 of the other thin portion 14 (on the right side) in
Fig. 4 may have the same value or different values. Further, althoughthin portions 14 may be formed along the entire length ofshaft 7, they are preferably formed at at leastfeather shaft portion 8 as a portion exposed to the outside. In addition,thin portion 14 may be formed only on one side, and may be formed partially (for example, intermittently) in the direction in whichshaft 7 extends, instead of being formed along the entire length ofshaft 7. - As shown in
Figs. 5 and6 ,feather portion 5 includes afoam layer 92 and ashaft fixing layer 91 arranged to sandwich fixedshaft portion 10, andadhesion layers foam layer 92 andshaft fixing layer 91 to each other. That is, infeather portion 5,foam layer 92 andshaft fixing layer 91 are stacked to sandwich fixedshaft portion 10. Further, infeather portion 5, adhesion layers 93, 94 are arranged to connectfoam layer 92 andshaft fixing layer 91 with each other, and to connect and fix thesefoam layer 92 andshaft fixing layer 91 to fixedshaft portion 10. From a different viewpoint, infeather portion 5,adhesion layer 93 is stacked onfoam layer 92 located on an outer peripheral side whenshuttlecock 1 is configured. Onadhesion layer 93, fixedshaft portion 10 is arranged to be located at a substantially central portion ofadhesion layer 93 andfoam layer 92. Theother adhesion layer 94 is arranged to extend from above fixedshaft portion 10 to aboveadhesion layer 93.Shaft fixing layer 91 is arranged onadhesion layer 94. - As can be seen from
Fig. 6 , inartificial feather 3,shaft 7 is warped toward foam layer 92 (i.e., the outer peripheral side of shuttlecock 1). From a different viewpoint,shaft 7 is warped to be convex towardshaft fixing layer 91. Further, althoughFig. 6 shows a state whereartificial feather 3 is warped towardfoam layer 92 in the direction in whichshaft 7 extends,feather portion 5 may be warped toward foam layer 92 (i.e.,feather portion 5 may be warped to be convex toward shaft fixing layer 91) in a direction intersecting the direction in whichshaft 7 extends (e.g., a width direction perpendicular to the direction in whichshaft 7 extends and along a surface of feather portion 5). In this case, warping ofartificial feather 3 in the direction in whichshaft 7 extends and warping offeather portion 5 in the direction intersecting the direction in whichshaft 7 extends as described above may occur simultaneously, or only one of the warpings may occur. Such warping can be implemented by a conventionally well-known method, such as subjecting constituent materials forshaft 7 andfeather portion 5 to heat treatment, or originally forming constituent materials forshaft 7 andfeather portion 5 in a warped state. - Here, as a material constituting
foam layer 92, for example, a resin foam, and more specifically, for example, a polyethylene foam (a foam of polyethylene) can be used. Forshaft fixing layer 91, a resin foam can be used as well. Further, forshaft fixing layer 91, for example, any material such as a film made of resin or the like, or nonwoven fabric can be used, other than a polyethylene foam. - Further, for adhesion layers 93, 94, for example, a double-faced tape can be used. In
artificial feather 3 shown inFigs. 3 to 6 , a polyethylene foam is used asfoam layer 92 andshaft fixing layer 91. Preferably, a direction in which this polyethylene foam is extruded is a direction indicated by anarrow 95 inFigs. 3 and5 . In this case,shaft 7 is connected and fixed tofeather portion 5 so as to intersect the direction in which the polyethylene foam is extruded as indicated byarrow 95, thus reducing the probability of occurrence of faults such as splitting offeather portion 5 in a direction along the direction in whichshaft 7 extends. - Next, the arrangement of
intermediate thread 15 will be specifically described with reference toFig. 7 . - As shown in
Fig. 7 ,intermediate thread 15 is arranged to encircleshafts 7 ofartificial feathers 3, and to pass through regions wherefeather portions 5 of adjacentartificial feathers 3 are opposed to each other (i.e., to pass through the spaces between stacked feather portions 5) in parts offeather portions 5 in a stacked state in adjacentartificial feathers 3.Intermediate thread 15 passes through the spaces betweenstacked feather portions 5 in the parts wherefeather portions 5 are thus stacked, whereby occurrence of such a problem that the order of stacking offeather portions 5 is changed during use of shuttlecock 1 (e.g., the order of stacking offeather portions 5 is changed by an impact of hitting with a racket) can be suppressed. -
Intermediate thread 15 described above is circumferentially arranged to fix all of the plurality of annularly arrangedartificial feathers 3 to one another, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2 .Intermediate thread 15 can be arranged as shown inFigs. 1 and 2 , for example, by being sewn by an operator using a needle or the like. With this arrangement,shuttlecock 1 exhibiting excellent durability can be achieved by suppressing occurrence of the problem that the order of stacking offeather portions 5 is changed during use ofshuttlecock 1. - It is to be noted that a sewing start end portion and a sewing finish end portion of circumferentially arranged
intermediate thread 15 are connected with each other, and the remaining portions of the thread are cut in the vicinity of a knot and removed. A protective layer is preferably formed on the surface of the knot by applying an adhesive or the like. Such a protective layer is so formed that the knot can be prevented from coming loose whenshuttlecock 1 is hit with a racket. - While any material such as cotton or resin can be employed for
intermediate thread 15, a polyester thread is preferably employed. Further, a thread as lightweight as possible is preferably employed asintermediate thread 15 in order to minimize the influence on the center of gravity and the like ofshuttlecock 1. For example, a polyester thread No. 50 may be employed as the thread. In this case, the mass of the thread used asintermediate thread 15 is about 0.02 g. If the mass is at about this level, it is conceivable that flight performance is hardly influenced, although the position of the center of gravity ofshuttlecock 1 is slightly influenced. Further, to arrangeintermediate thread 15, the distance frombase body 2 can be arbitrarily set. - Next, methods of
manufacturing shuttlecock 1 shown inFigs. 1 and 2 andartificial feather 3 for the shuttlecock will be described with reference toFigs. 8 to 10 . - Firstly, referring to
Fig. 8 , a method of manufacturingartificial feather 3 for the shuttlecock according to the present invention will be described. As shown inFig. 8 , in the method of manufacturingartificial feather 3, a constituent member preparation step (S10) is firstly performed. In this step (S10),shaft 7, sheet-like materials constitutingfoam layer 92 andshaft fixing layer 91, and the double-faced tape which will be adhesion layers 93, 94 shown inFigs. 5 and6 , which constituteartificial feather 3, are prepared. The sheet-like members and the double-faced tape may have any planar shapes as long as they are larger than the size offeather portion 5 shown inFig. 3 . As the sheet-like member which will befoam layer 92, for example, a material such as a polyethylene foam (a foam of polyethylene formed in the shape of a sheet) having a thickness of 1.0 mm and a basis weight of 24 g/m2 can be used. As the sheet-like member which will beshaft fixing layer 91, a material such as a polyethylene foam having a thickness of 0.5 mm and a basis weight of 20 g/m2 can be used. The double-faced tape which will be adhesion layers 93, 94 can have a basis weight of 10 g/m2. - Further, as a step of
manufacturing shaft 7 described above, a mold preparation step (S11) is firstly performed, as shown inFig. 9 . In this step (S11), a mold for formingshaft 7 by, for example, injection molding or injection compression molding is prepared. The mold prepared herein is, for example, a mold separated into an upper mold and a lower mold, and concave portions corresponding to the shape ofshaft 7 are formed in the surfaces of the molds opposed to each other. The concave portions include a portion for formingbody portion 13 ofshaft 7, and gaps for formingthin portions 14 at the outer periphery of the portion for formingbody portion 13. - Next, a molding step (S12) is performed. In this step (S12), the mold prepared as described above is firstly set in an apparatus for injecting resin into the mold (the concave portions) such as an injection molding apparatus (a mold setting step). Next, a resin injection step is performed. Specifically, resin is injected from a resin inlet provided in the mold into the concave portions inside the mold. As the resin, for example, a thermoplastic resin can be used. Consequently, the shaft is formed inside the mold. Further, since the gaps for forming
thin portions 14 are formed in the concave portions of the mold as described above,thin portions 14 protruding from the side surfaces are formed in obtainedshaft 7. The molding step (S12) is performed as described above. Thereafter,shaft 7 is removed from the inside of the mold. Consequently,shaft 7 constitutingartificial feather 3 can be obtained. - Next, an affixation step (S20) is performed as shown in
Fig. 8 . In this step (S20), the double-faced tape which will be adhesionlayer 93 is affixed to a main surface of the sheet-like member which will befoam layer 92. Then, fixedshaft portion 10 ofshaft 7 is arranged on the double-faced tape. Further, on fixedshaft portion 10, the sheet-like member which will beshaft fixing layer 91, which has the double-faced tape which will be adhesionlayer 94 affixed on a surface facing fixedshaft portion 10, is stacked and affixed. Consequently, a structure can be obtained in which fixedshaft portion 10 ofshaft 7 is sandwiched and fixed between the sheet-like member which will befoam layer 92 and the sheet-like member which will beshaft fixing layer 91. - Next, a post-treatment step (S30) is performed. Specifically, an unnecessary portion of the stacked sheet-like members which will be feather portion 5 (i.e., a region other than a portion which will be feather portion 5) is cut and removed. Consequently,
artificial feather 3 as shown inFigs. 3 to 6 can be obtained. Then, heat treatment such as application of heat from thefoam layer 92 side is performed onartificial feather 3 to constrictfoam layer 92 and the like. Consequently,shaft 7 andfeather portion 5 can be warped as shown inFig. 6 . It is to be noted that other methods may be used to warpshaft 7 andfeather portion 5 as shown inFig. 6 . For example, a method such as usingshaft 7 originally having a warped shape may be employed. - Next, a method of
manufacturing shuttlecock 1 shown inFigs. 1 and 2 will be described with reference toFig. 10 . As shown inFig. 10 , a preparation step (S100) is firstly performed. In this preparation step (S100), constituent members ofshuttlecock 1 such as base body 2 (tip member) andartificial feather 3 described above ofshuttlecock 1 are prepared. -
Base body 2 can be manufactured with any conventionally known method. For example, a natural material such as cork can be used as a material forbase body 2. Further, an artificial resin or the like may also be used as a material forbase body 2. When an artificial resin is used as a material forbase body 2,base body 2 can be formed using any conventionally well-known processing method. For example, a block of the material forbase body 2 is firstly prepared and cut to have a rough shape. On this occasion, cutting is performed in consideration of the height of the hemispherical portion at the tip portion. Then, cutting may be further performed to form insertion holes for insertingartificial feathers 3. Further, when the artificial resin described above is used, for example, an ionomer resin foam, EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer), polyurethane, PVC (polyvinyl chloride), polyethylene, polypropylene, or the like can be used. In addition,artificial feather 3 can be manufactured with the manufacturing method shown inFig. 8 described above. - Next, an assembly step (S200) is performed. In the assembly step (S200), the bottoms of
shafts 7 of the plurality ofartificial feathers 3 described above are inserted and fixed in the insertion holes in the fixing surface portion of the base body. Further, the plurality ofartificial feathers 3 are fixed to one another by the cord member. In addition, sewing is performed such thatintermediate thread 15 for maintaining the stacked state of the feather portions is arranged as shown inFig. 7 . Thus,shuttlecock 1 shown inFigs. 1 and 2 can be manufactured. It is to be noted that the fixing member for fixing the plurality ofartificial feathers 3 to one another is not limited to the cord member as described above, and any member such as a ring-shaped member may be used. - Further, as a material for the fixing member described above, for example, any material such as resin and fiber can be used. For example, a fixing member made of FRP (Fiber-Reinforced Plastic) prepared by impregnating aramid fiber or glass fiber with a resin (e.g., a thermosetting resin) and curing the resin may be used as the cord member. Such a fixing member made of FRP can have improved strength and rigidity. As the thermosetting resin, for example, epoxy resin or phenolic resin can be used. By using the thermosetting resin for FRP in this manner, the fixing member can be readily made of FRP using the thermosetting resin simultaneously during a heating step and the like in a process for fixing the fixing member to
shaft 7. - First to fourth modifications of the artificial feather constituting the embodiment of the shuttlecock according to the present invention will be described with reference to
Figs. 10 to 14 . It is to be noted thatFigs. 10 to 14 each correspond toFig. 4 . - An artificial feather including a shaft shown in
Fig. 11 has a structure which is basically similar to that ofartificial feather 3 shown inFigs. 3 to 6 , but is different in the cross sectional shape ofbody portion 13 ofshaft 7. Specifically, inbody portion 13 ofshaft 7 shown inFig. 11 , twothin rib portions 12b extend fromcentral shaft portion 11 in the right-left direction, andthick rib portion 12a extends from the lower side ofcentral shaft portion 11 in only one direction.Thin portions 14 are formed at the outer peripheral end portions ofthin rib portions 12b. With the artificial feather using the shaft in whichbody portion 13 has a so-called T-shaped cross section as described above, an effect identical to the effect ofartificial feather 3 shown inFigs. 3 to 6 can also be obtained. - An artificial feather including a shaft shown in
Fig. 12 has a structure which is basically similar to that ofartificial feather 3 shown inFig. 11 , but is different in that a protrudingportion 16 is formed to extend upward (i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the direction in whichthin rib portions 12b extend, or a direction opposite to the direction in whichthick rib portion 12a extends) fromcentral shaft portion 11. By forming protrudingportion 16 included inrib portions 12 as described above, an effect identical to the effect of the artificial feather using the shaft shown inFig. 11 can be obtained, and rigidity ofshaft 7 can be further improved in the up-down direction inFig. 12 (i.e., a direction in whichthick rib portion 12a and protrudingportion 16 extend). - An artificial feather including a shaft shown in
Fig. 13 has a structure which is basically similar to that ofartificial feather 3 shown inFigs. 3 to 6 , but is different from that of the artificial feather shown inFigs. 3 to 6 in that widths W1 and W2 of twothin portions 14 formed on both sides ofbody portion 13 ofshaft 7 are different from each other. Specifically, width W1 ofthin portion 14 formed on the left side in the drawing ofbody portion 13 ofshaft 7 shown inFig. 13 is wider than width W2 ofthin portion 14 formed on the right side in the drawing. With this structure, an effect identical to the effect ofartificial feather 3 shown inFigs. 3 to 6 can be obtained. In addition, since a difference in air resistance can be provided between the right side and the left side ofshaft 7 when viewed fromcentral shaft portion 11 of the shaft, air resistance in the artificial feather can have various patterns. Therefore, the range of controlling flight performance in the shuttlecock using thisartificial feather 3 can be further widened. - An artificial feather including a shaft shown in
Fig. 14 has a structure which is basically similar to that ofartificial feather 3 shown inFigs. 3 to 6 , but is different from that of the artificial feather shown inFigs. 3 to 6 in the arrangement of twothin portions 14 formed on both sides ofbody portion 13 ofshaft 7. Specifically,thin portions 14 formed on the side surfaces ofbody portion 13 ofshaft 7 is not arranged to be flush with the side surfaces ofthin rib portions 12b (i.e., flat side surfaces ofthin rib portions 12b inFig. 14 ).Thin portions 14 of the shaft shown inFig. 14 are arranged at positions connected to the side surfaces ofthin rib portions 12b with a step difference provided therebetween. Even with such a configuration, the same type of effect asartificial feather 3 shown inFigs. 3 to 6 can be obtained. - Characteristic features of the invention of the present application will be listed below, although the description thereof partially overlaps the description of the embodiment described above.
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Artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock according to the present invention includesfeather portion 5, andshaft 7 connected tofeather portion 5.Shaft 7 has a cross-shaped (seeFig. 4 ) or T-shaped (seeFig. 11 ) cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in whichshaft 7 extends (see for exampleFig. 4 ).Thin portion 14 thinner thanbody portion 13 constituting the cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section inshaft 7 is formed integrally withbody portion 13 so as to protrude from a side surface ofbody portion 13. - With this structure, by forming
shaft 7 to have a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section, rigidity ofshaft 7 can be improved while suppressing an increase in the total mass ofshaft 7. Further, by formingthin portion 14 to protrude from the side surface ofbody portion 13 ofshaft 7, air resistance ofartificial feather 3 for controlling flight performance ofshuttlecock 1 can be adjusted as appropriate. In addition, since such athin portion 14 can have a thickness thinner than that ofbody portion 13, an increase in the mass ofshaft 7 can be suppressed. As a result,artificial feather 3 constitutingartificial shuttlecock 1 excellent in flight performance can be achieved by improving rigidity ofshaft 7 ofartificial feather 3 while suppressing an increase in the mass ofartificial feather 3, and adjusting air resistance ofartificial feather 3. - In
artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock described above,body portion 13 may includecentral shaft portion 11, and a plurality ofrib portions 12 protruding from side surfaces ofcentral shaft portion 11. The plurality ofrib portions 12 may includethick rib portion 12a in which a thickness in a direction perpendicular to a radial direction directed outward fromcentral shaft portion 11, in the plane perpendicular to the direction in whichshaft 7 extends, is relatively thick, andthin rib portion 12b in which the thickness is relatively thin.Thin portion 14 may be formed to protrude from an outer peripheral side surface ofthin rib portion 12b. - In this case, rigidity of
shaft 7 in a direction in whichthick rib portion 12a protrudes can be particularly improved. In addition, sincethin rib portion 12b ofbody portion 13 ofshaft 7 is arranged in a direction in whichthin portion 14 protrudes (i.e., the right-left direction inFig. 4 ), the mass ofshaft 7 can be more reduced than the case of forming all ofrib portions 12 included inbody portion 13 to have an uniform thickness. Therefore,shaft 7 can have a sufficiently large width (width W inFig. 4 ) in the direction in whichthin portion 14 protrudes (i.e., a direction in whichthin rib portion 12b protrudes), while limiting the mass ofshaft 7 within a prescribed range. - In
artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock described above,thin portion 14 may be formed to protrude along a surface extending in the radial direction inthin rib portion 12b, as shown inFig. 4 . - In this case,
thin portion 14 andthin rib portion 12b can be considered as a continuous integral resistive element, from the viewpoint of an air-resistive element. Further, whenthin portion 14 is formed,shaft 7 havingthin portion 14 can be formed more easily using, for example, a mold, than the case of formingthin portion 14 so as not to be provided along the surface ofthin rib portion 12b described above. - In
artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock described above, total width W ofbody portion 13 andthin portion 14 along a direction in whichthin rib portion 12b protrudes, in the plane perpendicular to the direction in whichshaft 7 extends, may be larger than a width (i.e., height T inFig. 4 ) ofbody portion 13 along a direction in whichthick rib portion 12a protrudes. - In this case, substantial width W of
shaft 7 for generating air resistance can be ensured sufficiently to increase air resistance ofshaft 7 in a direction (i.e., the direction in whichthin rib portion 12b protrudes) different from the direction in whichthick rib portion 12a protrudes (i.e., a direction in which rigidity ofshaft 7 is relatively high). - In addition, an increase in the mass of
shaft 7 can be further suppressed, when compared with the case of using a shaft having a diameter equal to width W in the direction in whichthin rib portion 12b protrudes, and the case of setting the thickness ofthin rib portion 12b to be equal to the thickness ofthick rib portion 12a described above. - In
artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock described above,body portion 13 may includecentral shaft portion 11, and a plurality ofrib portions 12 protruding from side surfaces ofcentral shaft portion 11.Thin portion 14 may be formed to protrude along a surface extending in a radial direction directed outward fromcentral shaft portion 11, in at least one of the plurality ofrib portions 12, as shown inFigs. 4, 5 ,11 to13 , and the like. - In this case, substantial width W of
shaft 7 can be changed by formingthin portion 14 to protrude from at least one of the plurality ofrib portions 12. Consequently, air resistance ofartificial feather 3 for controlling flight performance ofshuttlecock 1 can be adjusted as appropriate. - In
artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock described above, total width W ofbody portion 13 andthin portion 14 along a direction in whichrib portion 12 havingthin portion 14 formed thereon protrudes, in the plane perpendicular to the direction in whichshaft 7 extends, may be larger than a width (i.e., height T inFig. 4 ) ofbody portion 13 along a direction in which anotherrib portion 12 not havingthin portion 14 formed thereon protrudes. - In this case, substantial width W of
shaft 7 for generating air resistance can be ensured sufficiently to increase air resistance ofshaft 7 in the direction in whichrib portion 12 havingthin portion 14 formed thereon protrudes (e.g., the right-left direction inFigs. 4 and11 to13 ). -
Badminton shuttlecock 1 according to the present invention includeshemispherical base body 2, andartificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock described above connected tobase body 2. With this structure,artificial shuttlecock 1 having flight performance equal to that of a natural shuttlecock employing natural feathers, and having sufficient durability can be achieved. - A method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a shaft (S10, S11, S12) and connecting a feather portion to the shaft (S20). The step of preparing the shaft (S10, S11, S12) includes the steps of preparing a mold for molding the shaft having a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which the shaft extends (S11), and forming the shaft by performing injection molding or injection compression molding using the mold (S12). In the step of preparing the mold (S11), a gap for forming
thin portion 14 which is thinner thanbody portion 13 constituting the cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section inshaft 7 and protrudes from a side surface ofbody portion 13 is formed in the mold. In the step of forming the shaft (S12),shaft 7 havingthin portion 14 protruding from the side surface ofbody portion 13 is formed by performing the injection molding or injection compression molding. With such a method,artificial feather 3 for a shuttlecock according to the present invention can be manufactured. - A method of manufacturing a badminton shuttlecock according to the present invention includes the steps of preparing a hemispherical base body (S100), manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock using the method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock described above (S100), and connecting the artificial feathers for a shuttlecock to the base body (S200). With such a method,
badminton shuttlecock 1 according to the present invention can be manufactured. - Next, a description will be given of an experiment conducted as described below to confirm the effects of the artificial feather for a shuttlecock and the shuttlecock according to the present invention.
- A shuttlecock employing artificial feathers of an example of the present invention and two types of shuttlecocks as comparative examples were prepared.
- Each shuttlecock was floated and rotated by blowing air from below a cylinder using an air blower, and the rotation speed (rotation number) of the shuttlecock was measured using a non-contact rotation number measuring instrument.
- As a sample of the example of the present invention, a shuttlecock employing
artificial feathers 3 shown inFigs. 3 to 6 was prepared.Body portion 13 ofshaft 7 ofartificial feather 3 had width W3 (seeFig. 4 ) of 2.5 mm and height T of 2.5 mm. Regarding a thickness of a central portion ofthick rib portion 12a (i.e., a central portion in the radial direction when viewed from central shaft portion 11), the central portion of upperthick rib portion 12a inFig. 4 had a thickness of 0.8 mm, and the central portion of lowerthick rib portion 12a inFig. 4 had a thickness of 0.55 mm.Thin rib portions 12b had a thickness of 0.4 mm.Thin portions 14 had widths W1, W2 of 0.3 mm, and a thickness of 0.05 mm. - In addition, a polyethylene foam having a thickness of 0.5 mm and a basis weight of 20 g/m2 was used as a material for
shaft fixing layer 91 constitutingfeather portion 5 ofartificial feather 3. A polyethylene foam having a thickness of 1.0 mm and a basis weight of 24 g/m2 was used as a material forfoam layer 92. A double-faced tape was used for adhesion layers 93, 94. The double-faced tape used had characteristics such as a thickness of 10 µm and a basis weight of 10 g/m2. Then, using such artificial feathers, a shuttlecock having the configuration shown inFigs. 1 and 2 was prepared. - Further,
artificial feather 3 was manufactured using a shaft processed by scraping offthin portions 14 from a shaft having a configuration similar to that of the shaft used for the sample of the example described above, as a sample of comparative example 1.Artificial feather 3 of comparative example 1 had a configuration identical to that ofartificial feather 3 used for the sample of the example described above, except for the processed shaft. Then, using suchartificial feathers 3 as the comparative example, a shuttlecock having a configuration identical to that of the sample of the example was prepared. - Furthermore, an artificial feather and a shuttlecock were prepared using a shaft having a configuration in which
thin portions 14 were excluded from the shaft used for the sample of the example described above, as a sample of comparative example 2. For the shaft prepared herein, a mold having a configuration different from that for the shaft in the artificial feather of the example (i.e., a mold having a configuration in which a gap forthin portion 14 is not formed) was used as a mold used for injection molding. - Each sample shuttlecock was floated and rotated by blowing air at 7 m/s from below the cylinder using the air blower, and the rotation number of the shuttlecock was measured using the non-contact rotation number measuring instrument. For the measurement, five shuttlecocks were prepared for each sample, and an average rotation number of the five shuttlecocks was calculated.
- As a result, the sample of the example had an average rotation number of 477 rpm. Further, flight trajectory and the like of the shuttlecock were relatively close to those of a natural shuttlecock.
- In contrast, the sample of comparative example 1 had an average rotation number of 317 rpm, and the sample of comparative example 2 had an average rotation number of 252 rpm. In addition, due to the difference in rotation number as described above, flight trajectory of the shuttlecock of each comparative example was different from the flight trajectory of the shuttlecock of the example, and was also different from the flight trajectory of a natural shuttlecock. Moreover, when the rotation number was less than 300 rpm, there was a tendency that the shuttlecock was likely to wobble while flying, and flight trajectory thereof became unstable.
- It is to be noted that, in the experiment conducted herein, all of the samples exhibited sufficient durability without causing deformation and the like.
- As a result, it was found that the sample of the example of the present invention exhibits sufficient durability, and exhibits flight performance relatively close to that of a natural shuttlecock.
- It should be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.
- The present invention is advantageously applied to a badminton shuttlecock employing artificial feathers having flight performance and durability equal to those of a badminton shuttlecock employing waterfowl feathers.
- 1: shuttlecock, 2: base body, 3: artificial feather, 5: feather portion, 7: shaft, 8: feather shaft portion, 10: fixed shaft portion, 11: central shaft portion, 12: rib portion, 12a: thick rib portion, 12b: thin rib portion, 13: body portion, 14: thin portion, 15: intermediate thread, 16: protruding portion, 91: shaft fixing layer, 92: foam layer, 93, 94: adhesion layer, 95: arrow.
Claims (9)
- An artificial feather for a shuttlecock, comprising:a feather portion (5); anda shaft (7) connected to said feather portion (5),wherein said shaft (7) has a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which said shaft (7) extends, anda thin portion (14) thinner than a body portion (13) constituting said cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in said shaft (7) is formed integrally with said body portion (13) so as to protrude from a side surface of said body portion (13).
- The artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to claim 1, wherein
said body portion (13) includes a central shaft portion (11), and a plurality of rib portions (12) protruding from side surfaces of said central shaft portion (11),
said plurality of rib portions (12) include a thick rib portion (12a) in which a thickness in a direction perpendicular to a radial direction directed outward from said central shaft portion (11), in the plane perpendicular to the direction in which said shaft (7) extends, is relatively thick, and a thin rib portion (12b) in which said thickness is relatively thin, and
said thin portion (14) is formed to protrude from an outer peripheral side surface of said thin rib portion (12b). - The artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to claim 2, wherein said thin portion (14) is formed to protrude along a surface extending in said radial direction in said thin rib portion (12b).
- The artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to claim 2, wherein a total width (W) of said body portion (13) and said thin portion (14) along a direction in which said thin rib portion (12b) protrudes, in the plane perpendicular to the direction in which said shaft (7) extends, is larger than a width of said body portion (13) along a direction in which said thick rib portion (12a) protrudes.
- The artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to claim 1, wherein
said body portion (13) includes a central shaft portion (11), and a plurality of rib portions (12) protruding from side surfaces of said central shaft portion (11), and
said thin portion (14) is formed to protrude along a surface extending in a radial direction directed outward from said central shaft portion (11), in at least one of said plurality of rib portions (12). - The artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to claim 5, wherein a total width (W) of said body portion (13) and said thin portion (14) along a direction in which said rib portion (12) having said thin portion (14) formed thereon protrudes, in the plane perpendicular to the direction in which said shaft (7) extends, is larger than a width of said body portion (13) along a direction in which another said rib portion (12) not having said thin portion (14) formed thereon protrudes.
- A badminton shuttlecock, comprising:a hemispherical base body (2); andthe artificial feather (3) for a shuttlecock according to claim 1 connected to said base body (2).
- A method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock, comprising the steps of:preparing a shaft (7) (S10, S11, S12); andconnecting a feather portion to said shaft (7) (S20),the step of preparing said shaft (7) (S10, S11, S12) including the steps of:preparing a mold for molding the shaft having a cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in a plane perpendicular to a direction in which said shaft extends (S11); andforming said shaft by performing injection molding or injection compression molding using said mold (S12),wherein, in the step of preparing said mold (S11), a gap for forming a thin portion (14), which is thinner than a body portion (13) constituting said cross-shaped or T-shaped cross section in said shaft (7) and protrudes from a side surface of said body portion (13), is formed in said mold, andin the step of forming said shaft (S12), the shaft (7) having said thin portion (14) protruding from the side surface of said body portion (13) is formed by performing said injection molding or injection compression molding.
- A method of manufacturing a badminton shuttlecock, comprising the steps of:preparing a hemispherical base body (2) (S100);manufacturing an artificial feather (3) for a shuttlecock using the method of manufacturing an artificial feather for a shuttlecock according to claim 8 (S100); andconnecting said artificial feathers (3) for a shuttlecock to said base body (2) (S200).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2009189139A JP5170459B2 (en) | 2009-08-18 | 2009-08-18 | Artificial feather for shuttlecock, shuttlecock for badminton, and manufacturing method thereof |
PCT/JP2010/063313 WO2011021512A1 (en) | 2009-08-18 | 2010-08-05 | Artificial feather for shuttlecock, badminton shuttle cock, and method for manufacturing the artificial feather and the badminton shuttlecock |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2462997A1 true EP2462997A1 (en) | 2012-06-13 |
EP2462997A4 EP2462997A4 (en) | 2013-05-22 |
Family
ID=43606967
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP10809857.5A Withdrawn EP2462997A4 (en) | 2009-08-18 | 2010-08-05 | Artificial feather for shuttlecock, badminton shuttle cock, and method for manufacturing the artificial feather and the badminton shuttlecock |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2462997A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5170459B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20120043105A (en) |
CN (1) | CN102625724A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011021512A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5941633B2 (en) * | 2011-08-19 | 2016-06-29 | ヨネックス株式会社 | Artificial feather for shuttlecock, shuttlecock, and method for manufacturing shuttlecock artificial feather |
WO2013077183A1 (en) * | 2011-11-22 | 2013-05-30 | 株式会社ゴーセン | Badminton shuttlecock and method of manufacturing same |
CN102974084B (en) * | 2012-11-20 | 2018-08-28 | 戴见霖 | Process the method and system of natural feather |
JP6161381B2 (en) * | 2013-04-22 | 2017-07-12 | 美津濃株式会社 | Artificial feather for shuttlecock and shuttlecock for badminton |
JP2015029845A (en) | 2013-08-06 | 2015-02-16 | ヨネックス株式会社 | Shuttlecock and artificial feather for the same |
CN103933715A (en) * | 2014-04-04 | 2014-07-23 | 安徽华翎羽毛制品有限公司 | Manufacturing technique of grafting type shuttlecock |
CN108014473B (en) * | 2017-11-28 | 2020-05-19 | 安徽省蓝翔体育用品有限公司 | Intelligent feather shape die selection method |
CN108042992B (en) * | 2017-11-28 | 2020-05-19 | 安徽省蓝翔体育用品有限公司 | Badminton feather shape selection system |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2096473A (en) * | 1981-04-15 | 1982-10-20 | Rasmussen John Erling | Shuttlecocks |
GB2333970A (en) * | 1998-02-10 | 1999-08-11 | Dunlop Slazenger Group Ltd | Shuttlecock |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB978388A (en) * | 1963-06-25 | 1964-12-23 | Carlton Tyre Saving Co Ltd | A shuttlecock |
JPS54136060U (en) * | 1979-01-30 | 1979-09-20 | ||
JPS6052865U (en) * | 1983-08-19 | 1985-04-13 | 劉 懋滉 | shuttlecock for badminton |
JPH0229974U (en) | 1988-08-11 | 1990-02-26 | ||
CN2858002Y (en) * | 2005-11-22 | 2007-01-17 | 张伯嘉 | Composite shuttlecock |
JP4651051B2 (en) | 2007-02-02 | 2011-03-16 | 美津濃株式会社 | Shuttlecock for badminton, artificial feather for shuttlecock, and method for producing them |
-
2009
- 2009-08-18 JP JP2009189139A patent/JP5170459B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2010
- 2010-08-05 KR KR1020127006506A patent/KR20120043105A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2010-08-05 WO PCT/JP2010/063313 patent/WO2011021512A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-08-05 EP EP10809857.5A patent/EP2462997A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-08-05 CN CN2010800372822A patent/CN102625724A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2096473A (en) * | 1981-04-15 | 1982-10-20 | Rasmussen John Erling | Shuttlecocks |
GB2333970A (en) * | 1998-02-10 | 1999-08-11 | Dunlop Slazenger Group Ltd | Shuttlecock |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of WO2011021512A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN102625724A (en) | 2012-08-01 |
JP5170459B2 (en) | 2013-03-27 |
WO2011021512A1 (en) | 2011-02-24 |
KR20120043105A (en) | 2012-05-03 |
JP2011036591A (en) | 2011-02-24 |
EP2462997A4 (en) | 2013-05-22 |
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