GB2115300A

GB2115300A - Projectile suitable for being hit through the air with a raquet

Info

Publication number: GB2115300A
Application number: GB08204730A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lin Kent
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-15
Filing date: 1982-02-17
Publication date: 1983-09-07
Also published as: FR2519871B3; CA1177504A; AU8216982A; ZA82774B; GB2115300B; FR2519871A3

Abstract

A modified shuttlecock, suitable for children, beginners and old people, has, in place of the usual feathers, a parachute membrane 6 which is made to open by the wind resistance to slow the "shuttlecock" down and when the speed has dropped, is closed by means of a tension spring 5 connected between the middle of the parachute membrane 6 and a base 2 upon which the pneumatic nose portion 1 is fixed. The edges of the parachute membrane 6 are attached by a series of elongated members 3 to the base 2, the members 3 being pivoted to the base 2 so that they can spread apart and close together again as the parachute membrane opens and closes. The parachute membrane 6 and the nose portion 1 are both painted in sectors in different fluorescent colours. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Projectile suitable for being hit through the air with a raquet This invention relates to a projectile suitable for being hitthroughtheairwith a raquet. A particular application of the invention is to such a projectile to replace a normal shuttlecock in a game otherwise like badminton.

Badminton has become a very popular sport played by many people. However, for aged people, young children and beginners the velocity of the normal shuttlecock is too fast. Furthermore, quite a large area is required for playing a game of badminton. Furthermore, the normal shuttlecock is difficult to see in bad light conditions.

According to the invention there is provided a projectile suitable for being hit through the air with a raquet and comprising a nose portion and a parachute membrane, the projectile being adapted so that the nose portion is normally in front in flight, the nose portion being the part of the projectile normally hit with the raquet, the parachute membrane being connected to the nose portion by connecting means such that wind resistance acting upon the parachute membrane afterthe nose portion has been hit with the raquet can initially cause the parachute membraneto open up and slow the projectile down, the connecting means being adapted to close the parachute membrane up again as the wind resistance falls that is acting upon the parachute membrane.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of a projectile embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view ofthe projectile of Figure 1; Figure 3 comprises two views, both being end views of the projectile with the parachute membrane open, view "A" illustrating the appearance of the projectile as it recedes from a player after being hit, view "B" illustrating the view of the projectile coming towards a playerwith the nose portion leading; and Figure 4 is a screw view showing how connecting members are connected pivotally to a base of the projectile.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated projectile is intended to take the place of a normal shuttlecock like the game of badminton and is accordingly suitablefor being hit through the air with a raquet (not shown). The illustrated projectile comprises a nose portion 1 and a parachute membrane 6, the projectile being adapted so that the nose portion 1 is normally in front in flight, the nose portion 1 being the part of the projectile normally hitwith the raquet, like the nose or cap ofthe well-known shuttlecock.

The parachute membrane 6 is connected to the nose portion 1 by a series of elongate members 3 each connected at a first end to the edge of the parachute membrane 6 and atthe opposite end to the nose portion 1 sothattheconnecting members 3 can spread apart (Figures 1 and 3) and close together again (Figure 2) at said first ends as the parachute membrane 6 opens and closes respectively. More particularly, the nose portion 1 is an air-filled rubber bag which is resilient or bouncyfor hitting with the raquet.This air-filled rubber bag is glued or otherwise secured to a base 2 to which the members 3 are pivotally connected by means of rivets 4. (The rivets 4 may be replaced by string or cord passing through the same holes as the rivets 4 pass through in the base 2 and connecting members 3.) Atension spring 5 is connected as shown to the centre of the base 2 and to the middle of the parachute membrane 6. The normal length ofthetension spring 5 is such thatthe parachute membrane 6 is normally folded as shown in figure 2 with the middle ofthe parachute membrane enclosed between outer end portions of members 3, which are closed together as shown.

When the projectile is hit upon the nose portion 1, the projectile flies through the airwith the nose portion 1 leading and the parachute membrane 6 trailing. Wind resistance acting upon the parachute membrane 6 causesthe parachute membrane to open up (againstthetension of spring 5) spreading the connecting members 3 apart and slowin'g the projectile down. As the speed ofthe projectile falls accordingly, the springS again pulls the middle ofthe parachute membrane 6 in towards the base 2 and nose portion inclosing the connecting members 3 together again.

Referring to Figure 3, the parachute membrane 6 and nose portion 1 are both coloured with fluorescent colours on outside surfaces 7thereof. Sectors referenced 8,9 and 10 are respectively coloured red, yellow and green. It will be appreciated from comparing views "A" and "B" of Figure 3that a player can readily see whether the projectile is coming towards him or receding from him according to whether he can seethe nose portion 1 or not.

1. A projectile suitable for being hitthrpugh the air with a raquet and comprising a nose portion and a parachute membrane, the projectile being adapted so that the nose portion is normally in front in flight, the nose portion being the part ofthe projectile normally hit with the raquet, the parachute membrane being connected to the nose portion by connecting means such that wind resistance acting upon the parachute membrane after the nose portion has been hitwiththeraquetcan initiallycausethe parachute membrane to open up and slow the projectile down, the connecting means being adapted to close the parachute member up again as the wind resistance falls that is acting upon the parachute membrane.

2. A projectile as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connecting means compises a series of elongate members each connected at a first end to the edge of the parachute membrane and atthe opposite end to the nose portion so thatthe connecting members can spread apart and close together again at said first ends as the parachute membrane opens and closes respectively.

3. Aprojectile as claimed in claim 1 or2wherein resilience in part of the projectile is utilised to tend to close the parachute membrane.

4. A projectile as claimed in claim 3 wherein the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Projectile suitable for being hit through the air with a raquet This invention relates to a projectile suitable for being hitthroughtheairwith a raquet. A particular application of the invention is to such a projectile to replace a normal shuttlecock in a game otherwise like badminton. Badminton has become a very popular sport played by many people. However, for aged people, young children and beginners the velocity of the normal shuttlecock is too fast. Furthermore, quite a large area is required for playing a game of badminton. Furthermore, the normal shuttlecock is difficult to see in bad light conditions. According to the invention there is provided a projectile suitable for being hit through the air with a raquet and comprising a nose portion and a parachute membrane, the projectile being adapted so that the nose portion is normally in front in flight, the nose portion being the part of the projectile normally hit with the raquet, the parachute membrane being connected to the nose portion by connecting means such that wind resistance acting upon the parachute membrane afterthe nose portion has been hit with the raquet can initially cause the parachute membraneto open up and slow the projectile down, the connecting means being adapted to close the parachute membrane up again as the wind resistance falls that is acting upon the parachute membrane. The invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa perspective view of a projectile embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view ofthe projectile of Figure 1; Figure 3 comprises two views, both being end views of the projectile with the parachute membrane open, view "A" illustrating the appearance of the projectile as it recedes from a player after being hit, view "B" illustrating the view of the projectile coming towards a playerwith the nose portion leading; and Figure 4 is a screw view showing how connecting members are connected pivotally to a base of the projectile. Referring to the drawings, the illustrated projectile is intended to take the place of a normal shuttlecock like the game of badminton and is accordingly suitablefor being hit through the air with a raquet (not shown). The illustrated projectile comprises a nose portion 1 and a parachute membrane 6, the projectile being adapted so that the nose portion 1 is normally in front in flight, the nose portion 1 being the part of the projectile normally hitwith the raquet, like the nose or cap ofthe well-known shuttlecock. The parachute membrane 6 is connected to the nose portion 1 by a series of elongate members 3 each connected at a first end to the edge of the parachute membrane 6 and atthe opposite end to the nose portion 1 sothattheconnecting members 3 can spread apart (Figures 1 and 3) and close together again (Figure 2) at said first ends as the parachute membrane 6 opens and closes respectively. More particularly, the nose portion 1 is an air-filled rubber bag which is resilient or bouncyfor hitting with the raquet.This air-filled rubber bag is glued or otherwise secured to a base 2 to which the members 3 are pivotally connected by means of rivets 4. (The rivets 4 may be replaced by string or cord passing through the same holes as the rivets 4 pass through in the base 2 and connecting members 3.) Atension spring 5 is connected as shown to the centre of the base 2 and to the middle of the parachute membrane 6. The normal length ofthetension spring 5 is such thatthe parachute membrane 6 is normally folded as shown in figure 2 with the middle ofthe parachute membrane enclosed between outer end portions of members 3, which are closed together as shown. When the projectile is hit upon the nose portion 1, the projectile flies through the airwith the nose portion 1 leading and the parachute membrane 6 trailing. Wind resistance acting upon the parachute membrane 6 causesthe parachute membrane to open up (againstthetension of spring 5) spreading the connecting members 3 apart and slowin'g the projectile down. As the speed ofthe projectile falls accordingly, the springS again pulls the middle ofthe parachute membrane 6 in towards the base 2 and nose portion inclosing the connecting members 3 together again. Referring to Figure 3, the parachute membrane 6 and nose portion 1 are both coloured with fluorescent colours on outside surfaces 7thereof. Sectors referenced 8,9 and 10 are respectively coloured red, yellow and green. It will be appreciated from comparing views "A" and "B" of Figure 3that a player can readily see whether the projectile is coming towards him or receding from him according to whether he can seethe nose portion 1 or not. CLAIMS

4. A projectile as claimed in claim 3 wherein the resilient part of the projectile is a tension spring extending between the nose portion and the middle ofthe parachute membrane.

5. A projectile as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the nose portion is resilient.

6. A projectile as claimed in claim 5 wherein the nose portion is air-filled.