GB2036566A

GB2036566A - Stringed rackets

Info

Publication number: GB2036566A
Application number: GB7848207A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BLATHWAYT A
Current assignee: BLATHWAYT A
Priority date: 1978-12-13
Filing date: 1978-12-13
Publication date: 1980-07-02

Abstract

To modify existing designs of racket or to make a racket using natural or man-made materials or combinations of both, but incorporating tubes or struts or cylinders which will allow the movement of actual weight or thrust or thrust caused by the compressibility of liquids towards the head of the racket. The weight or thrust transference is from the centre of gravity towards the head of the racket thus increasing the speed of the head and hence the force exerted on a ball or shuttle-cock when a stroke is played. On completion of the stroke the weights return towards the centre of gravity, and where liquids are used thrust is nullified. If desirable weights of a magnetisable material can be used and held in place near the centre of gravity by an Electro- Magnet, power-pack and switch to be released and held as the player desires.

Description

SPECIFICATION New design for tennis squash badminton or other stringed rackets or racquets or modification to exist ing designs of all such rackets or racquets The invention is for the design or re-design or modification of any racket to be a variable balance high speed head racket and to modify any wood plastic metal laminated-wood fibre-glass or any other man-made material racket either made by hand or machine or by any form of moulding in such a way that force or weight will be transferred by centrifugal force from near to or about the point of bal ance towards the upper part of the head of the racket thus producing an increase in the speed of the head of the racket and added power to any stroke played with such a racket made to this design or modified to incorporate this principle.

Held at rest in the normal position any such racket will feel correctly balanced and of the right weight for the player concerned. Only when in play will the player gain the advantage of transference of weight and thrust.

In order to have an option of either using a nor mally balanced racket or by using a thumb-switch to convert itto a variable high speed head racket during play an electro-magnetic power pack and thumb switch may be built into the racket with the electromagnet holding metal weights which can be released at the player's will during play.

Should any of the tubes referred to in the Embodiment that follow have to be external to the frame a fairing or cover piece may have to be fitted to enhance the strength and aerodynamic qualities of the rackets. To maintain the balance of any of the rackets it may be necessary to put into the base of the shaft a small counter-balance weight.

A. Incompressibility of water- by using the principle of incompressibility of water to transmit a force equivalent to a weight of water from a reservoir containing water in the shaft of the racket via two tubes either through the frame or the outside of the frame or through Y struts joining the shaft to the head to the most effective point in the head frame of the racket brought into effect by centrifugal force when the racket is swung in an arc.

B. Semi-compressibility ofsome liquids - by using semi-compressible liquids in a reservoir in the shaft with two conducting tubes leading from the reservoir via two tubes either through the frame on the outside of the frame or through Y struts joining the shaft with the head to the head frame to transmit by centrifugal force a thrust combined with physical weight to the most effective point in the head frame when the racket is swung in an arc.

C. Movementofsolids-to increase the speed and power achieved by the head of a racket by the actual movement of solids liquids or liquid metals such as mercury from a reservoir in the handle of the racket or through strengthening struts into each side of the frame of the head of the racket by means of centrifugal force when the racket is swung in an arc.

D. Electro-magnet - this is fitted at the base of two reservoirs in the shaft of the handle of the racket each containing plastic-coated metal balls capable of magnetisation or a single metal shuttle with each reservoir having a tube leading up the frame of the head of the racket. The magnet can be used to hold the metal weights at the base of the reservoir and is controlled by a power pack and double-acting press-stud switch.

HOW THE INVENTION DIFFERS FROM WHA T HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE: Rackets for all games are made to suit the physical strength and preference for balance of players by giving a choice of heavy medium or lightweight heads. My invention is an entirely new concept in allowing a movement of force or fo weights towards the head of the racket to increase the power of any stroke played with such a racket. Also the player uses less energy to his achieve his or her usual speed of stroke.

1 lncompressibility of water Place a plastic reservoir or one made of other suitable material within the shaft of a racket at or below the point of balance. By calculation and experiment it will be found that a cylindrical reservoir of sufficient diameter and length to hold about 2 oz. of water will be suitable. From this reservoir lead two small tubes of a suitable material and diameter up the shaft and through or externally up the side of each side of the head of the racket or lead the tubes through Y pieces or strengthening struts finishing about two thirds of the circumference of the frame of the head measured from the top of the shaft.

Fill the reservoir and the tubes with water and ensure that all air is expelled from the reservoir and tubes and seal the ends so that no air can enter or water escape.

When the racket is swung in an arc and centrifugal force comes into action and because water cannot be compressed the result will be a transference of thrust equivalent to a weight from the reservoir towards the head of the racket. This transference of thrust will increase the speed of the head thus giving considerably increased speed and power to any stroke made with a racket thus designed or modified.

It may be necessary to strengthen the new design or modified racket in the area of the reservoir and it may also be necessary to strengthen the frame of the head. This can be done without altering the weight or strength of the racket.

2. Semi-compressible liquids Insert a reservoir holding about 2 oz. of liquid capable of limited compression in the shaft of a racket at or about the point of balance. From this reservoir lead two tubes of a suitable material and diameter up the shaft and through or externally up the side of each side of the head or lead these tubes through Y pieces or strengthening struts finishing about two thirds of the circumference of the frame measured from the top of the shaft.

Fill the reservoirs and tubes with the chosen liquid and expell all air from the reservoir and tubes and seal the ends so that no air can enter or liquid escape.

When the racket is swung in an arc centrifugal force comes into action and weight and thrust will be transferred from the reservoir towards the head of the racket. This transference of weight and thrust will increase the speed of the racket's head in its arc of travel thus giving considerably more speed and powerto any stroke made with a racket thus designed or modified.

It may be necessary to strengthen the new design or modified racket in the area of the reservoir and on the frame. This can be done without altering the weight or strength of the racket.

3. Piston Insert a cylinder made of metal or of other suitable material of a calculated length and diameter within the handle of the racket at or below the point of balance. From this cylinder lead two tubes of a smaller diameter than the cylinder up the shaft then through or externally up the side of each side of the head or lead these tubes through Y pieces or strengthening pieces two thirds of the circumference of the frame measured from the top of the shaft.

Fit the cylinder with a free-moving piston made of heavy-metal machined to the finest tolerance or plastic-coated metal to fit the cylinder tightly. The piston and cylinder should be made of such metal or other material as appears suitable as development proceeds.

Fill the reservoirs and tubes with a chosed liquid and expell all air from the reservoir and tubes and seal the ends so that no air can enter or liquid escape.

The principle is that centrifugal force will throw the piston up the cylinder towards the head when the racket is swung in an arc. The piston will not be able to move out of its cylinder but will try to compress the water or liquid in effect transferring weight and force towards the upper part of the head of the racket thus increasing the speed and power of any stroke made with this racket.

It may be necessary to strengthen the new design or modified racket in the area of the reservoir and it may aiso be necessary to strengthen the frame of the head. This can be done without altering the weight or strength of the racket.

4. Free Shuttles From a suitable position on the shaft of a racket on each side run a holiow metal tubes of a suitable diameter and strength to the widest portion of the frame of the head of the racket where the tube will join the frame. The tubes may be within strengthening struts or a hollow strengthening strut itself may be used. Plastic coating of the inside of the tubes or struts may be necessary to prevent noise and vibration.

Insert a plastic-covered heacy-metal shuttle of about 1 oz. weight each within each of these tubes or hollow struts.

tf construction and curvature allow the tubes may be slightly extended round the head of the racket.

When the racket is swung through an arc centrifugal force will throw the shuttles up the tubes.

This transference of weight will increase the speed and power of any stroke made with a racket with these struts.

It may be necessary to cushion each end of the strut ortube to prevent damage to tubes or strut and diminish noise.

It may be necessaryto strengthen the new design or modified racket where the struts join the handle and to strengthen the frame of the head of the racket.

This can be done without altering the weight or strength of the racket.

5. Mercury or lead pellets Insert in the shaft of a racket at or about the point of balance two reservoirs of suitable size each to hold about 1 oz. of mercury or lead shot. From each reservoir lead a tube of suitable material up the shaft and through or externally up the side of the head or lead these tubes through Y pieces or strengthening struts finishing about two thirds of the circumfer- ence of the frame measured from the top of the shaft.

When the racket is swung and centrifugal force comes into action the pellets or mercury will move towards the head of the racket. This transference of weight will increase the speed of the head in its arc of travel and give increased speed and power to any stroke made with a racket thus designed or modified.

In a strong stroke the violence of transference of weight may be extreme and cushioning may have to be provided by using narrow tubes or buffers. The mercury may have to run in-vacuo possibly in more than one tube of narrow bore.

It may be necessary to strengthen the racket in the area of the reservoirs and on the frame. This can be done without altering the weight or strength of the racket.

6. Electro-magnet The player here has the choice of using normal balance racket or converting a racket during play to be a variable balance high speed head racket.

An electro-magnet with a appropriate power pack operated by a simple press-stud switch is placed in the shaft at or near the point of balance. Against the electro-magnet are placed the ends of two tubes of a suitable material and of such diameter that they will hold one or more plastic-coated metal balls or heavy-metal shuttles capable of magnetisation. The tubes are lead through the shaft and inside or outside the frame or through a Y piece connecting the shaft to the head of the racket.

During play the player can at will release or hold the weight by operating the electro-magnet thus having the choice of the racket being normal balance or variable balance high speed head.

In place of magnetised balls two solid heavy-metal shuttles or plastic-coated metal shuttles capable of magnetisation can be used to tun in straight tubes.

This is particularly applicable to rackets with struts.

On switching off the nagnetthe balls or shuttles will be flung towards the top of the head of the racket by centrifugal force when the racket is swung in an arc thus giving increased speed or power to any shot made with the racket.

It may be necessary to strengthen the new design or modified racket in the area of the electro-magnet and power pack. This can be done without altering the weight or strength of the racket.

Claims

CLAIM

1. The claim is to modify the existing design of tennis squash or badminton rackets, hereafter referred to as the racket, orforthe design of the racket using conventional natural materials metals or alloys, plastics, glass fibre, carbon fibre, or any other man-made material or any or all combinations of these.The invention enables a user of the racket to achieve the transference of actual weights or liquids or thruat or thrust caused by the compressibility of liquids from about the centre of gravity of the racket through the frame or struts or cylinders incorporated in or attached to the racket towards the head of the racket; this effect takes place when a stroke is played with the racket thereby exerting a thrust towards the head of the racket, the player's stroke converts this thrust into force exerted by the racket head on to a ball or shuttle-cock when a player makes a stroke. On completion of the stroke the design allows for the weights to return towards the centre of gravity and where liquid is used thrust is nullified.This type of racket can be modified or constructed in such a way that no extra weight need be involved in the construction and the playerwill be ableto continue to use the weight of racket that such a player is used to.

This thrust and force is achieved by any of the following: 1 ) Liquid enclosed in a tube or tubes, strut or struts, attached to or incorporated in any part of any racket.

2) A piece of weighty material - of a convenient shape made of metal, wood or any man-made substance, free to move to and fro enclosed in or exteriorto a tube ortubes, a strut or struts, attached to or incorporated in any part of any racket.

3) One or more small pieces ofa weighty material of any convenient shape made of metal, wood or any man-made substance free to move to and fro enclosed in or exterior to a tube or tubes, a strut or struts, attached to or incorporated in any part of any racket.

4) Mercury - free to move to and fro enclosed in a tube or tubes, strut or struts, attached to or incorporated in any part of any racket.

5) Metal weights controlled by an Electro-Magnet and switch - Small pieces of metal capable of free movementto and fro, enclosed in or exterior to a tube or tubes, a strut or struts, attached to or incorporated in any part of any racket; but capable of being held stationary by a small Electro-Magnet, power-pack and switch as decided by the user.