GB2135588A

GB2135588A - Balance adjustment device for badminton racquet

Info

Publication number: GB2135588A
Application number: GB08304584A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jeng Kuni
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-02-18
Filing date: 1983-02-18
Publication date: 1984-09-05
Also published as: GB8304584D0

Abstract

A balance adjustment device for badminton racquet comprises a body (6) having two parallel longitudinal passages for frictionally engaging respective strings passing through to allow retention on the strung surface of a badminton racquet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Balance adjustment device for badminton racquet This invention relates to a balance adjustment device for badminton racquet, especially for user to select and adjust hitting force as desired.

Conventionally, a badminton racquet comprises a frame and a grip. The frame is in an elliptical or modified elliptical shape which defines a strung surface formed by strings. The lower portion of the grip is enlarged to serve as the handle. The standard badminton racquet has a whole length of 66 cm from the top of the frame to remote end of the handle. The balance fulcrum point is one at center of the whole length, in other words, the fore section and the rear section from said center have substantially same weight to each other, i.e. in balance. But a skilled badminton player has special requirement on the balance. In brief, when the fore section, namely the frame portion, is heavier, the work done for hitting the ball is greater and thus advantageous for attack, in contrast, lighter is better for defence.According to general standard, the weight of a badminton racquet should be in the range of 95 to 105 grams with only 10 grams allowance. So that the difference in weight between the fore and rear sections of same racquet is at most 5 grams. For a skilled player, the selection of a racquet will be decided by adjustment within few grams. But so far no device is provided for the player to adjust or change the weight of his racquet as desired, though he can adjust the tension of the strings by himself.

The principle object of this invention is to provide a balance adjustment device for badminton racquet which comprises a body having two substantial parallel passages for fastening through the strings at ineffective hitting area to increase the weight of the force section in accordance with the requirement of the player.

Another object of this invention is to provide said balance adjustment device which has one cavity for the insertion of adjusting means to change the weight any time.

Further object of this invention is to provide said balance adjustment device which may be provided with mark, design, pattern and the like to have advertised and aesthetic effect.

These and other objects and features will be more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic plane view for illustrating the arrangement of the balance adjustment device according to this invention on the strung surface of a badminton racquet; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the balance adjustment device according to this invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the balance adjustment device according to this invention; and Fig. 4 is a plane view illustrating further embodiment of the balance adjustment device according to this invention.

Now, referring to Fig. 1, the badminton racquet comprises a frame 1 and a grip 2. The frame 1 defines a strung surface composed of a number of strings 3, generally including 24 transverse strings and 22 longitudinal strings. The woven region of transverse and longitudinal strings is effective hitting area, while the region between peripheral outmost strings and the frame 1 is ineffective hitting area. The lower portion of the grip 2 is enlarged to serve as a handle 4. The center 5 in whole length of the racquet is socalled balance point. The respective fore and rear section from said center 5 has a weight substantially in balance to each other.

The balance adjustment device 6 according to this invention is fastened at ineffective hitting area on top of the frame 1. Alternatively, as shown in broken line the device 6' may be fastened at ineffective hitting area on bottom of the frame 1. If desired, both devices 6 and 6' may be simultaneously placed at the location as shown.

Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present device which comprises a body in a shape of flat rectangular, but not limited in this form. There are two substantial parallel longitudinal passages 7, which have an inner diameter for just permitting respective string passing through, to an extent that the device 6 is frictionally fastened in place.

This device can be installed either in factory or by user.

The body of this device 6 is moulded with plastic material, thus different weight is available due to various specific weight of the material, even heavier material, such as metal, may be embedded therein and integrally formed. In general, this device may be divided into different ratings by weight, such as from 0.5 to 5 grams. In special case, a weight over 5 grams is required.

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the device 6 in which a cavity 8 is provided between said two passages 7. In this cavity 8 is removably inserted with adjusting means, such as lead strip (not shown). A number of lead strips in different size can be attached for change as desired. The thickness of the lead strip is made corresponding to that of the cavity 8 without the risk of falling out by accident. Further, a lid (not shown) may be provided for the cavity 8 for the same purpose.

As shown in Fig. 4, the body of present device at both sides is provided with pattern, mark, symbol and the like, which may be colored for distingushing from the device itself.

The aforementioned embodiments serve only for illustrative purposes and by no means restrict the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A balance adjustment device for badminton racquet comprising a body having two substantial parallel longitudinal passages with inner diameter

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Balance adjustment device for badminton racquet This invention relates to a balance adjustment device for badminton racquet, especially for user to select and adjust hitting force as desired. Conventionally, a badminton racquet comprises a frame and a grip. The frame is in an elliptical or modified elliptical shape which defines a strung surface formed by strings. The lower portion of the grip is enlarged to serve as the handle. The standard badminton racquet has a whole length of 66 cm from the top of the frame to remote end of the handle. The balance fulcrum point is one at center of the whole length, in other words, the fore section and the rear section from said center have substantially same weight to each other, i.e. in balance. But a skilled badminton player has special requirement on the balance. In brief, when the fore section, namely the frame portion, is heavier, the work done for hitting the ball is greater and thus advantageous for attack, in contrast, lighter is better for defence.According to general standard, the weight of a badminton racquet should be in the range of 95 to 105 grams with only 10 grams allowance. So that the difference in weight between the fore and rear sections of same racquet is at most 5 grams. For a skilled player, the selection of a racquet will be decided by adjustment within few grams. But so far no device is provided for the player to adjust or change the weight of his racquet as desired, though he can adjust the tension of the strings by himself. The principle object of this invention is to provide a balance adjustment device for badminton racquet which comprises a body having two substantial parallel passages for fastening through the strings at ineffective hitting area to increase the weight of the force section in accordance with the requirement of the player. Another object of this invention is to provide said balance adjustment device which has one cavity for the insertion of adjusting means to change the weight any time. Further object of this invention is to provide said balance adjustment device which may be provided with mark, design, pattern and the like to have advertised and aesthetic effect. These and other objects and features will be more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic plane view for illustrating the arrangement of the balance adjustment device according to this invention on the strung surface of a badminton racquet; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the balance adjustment device according to this invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the balance adjustment device according to this invention; and Fig. 4 is a plane view illustrating further embodiment of the balance adjustment device according to this invention. Now, referring to Fig. 1, the badminton racquet comprises a frame 1 and a grip 2. The frame 1 defines a strung surface composed of a number of strings 3, generally including 24 transverse strings and 22 longitudinal strings. The woven region of transverse and longitudinal strings is effective hitting area, while the region between peripheral outmost strings and the frame 1 is ineffective hitting area. The lower portion of the grip 2 is enlarged to serve as a handle 4. The center 5 in whole length of the racquet is socalled balance point. The respective fore and rear section from said center 5 has a weight substantially in balance to each other. The balance adjustment device 6 according to this invention is fastened at ineffective hitting area on top of the frame 1. Alternatively, as shown in broken line the device 6' may be fastened at ineffective hitting area on bottom of the frame 1. If desired, both devices 6 and 6' may be simultaneously placed at the location as shown. Fig. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the present device which comprises a body in a shape of flat rectangular, but not limited in this form. There are two substantial parallel longitudinal passages 7, which have an inner diameter for just permitting respective string passing through, to an extent that the device 6 is frictionally fastened in place. This device can be installed either in factory or by user. The body of this device 6 is moulded with plastic material, thus different weight is available due to various specific weight of the material, even heavier material, such as metal, may be embedded therein and integrally formed. In general, this device may be divided into different ratings by weight, such as from 0.5 to 5 grams. In special case, a weight over 5 grams is required. Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the device 6 in which a cavity 8 is provided between said two passages 7. In this cavity 8 is removably inserted with adjusting means, such as lead strip (not shown). A number of lead strips in different size can be attached for change as desired. The thickness of the lead strip is made corresponding to that of the cavity 8 without the risk of falling out by accident. Further, a lid (not shown) may be provided for the cavity 8 for the same purpose. As shown in Fig. 4, the body of present device at both sides is provided with pattern, mark, symbol and the like, which may be colored for distingushing from the device itself. The aforementioned embodiments serve only for illustrative purposes and by no means restrict the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. CLAIMS

1. A balance adjustment device for badminton racquet comprising a body having two substantial parallel longitudinal passages with inner diameter for just permitting respective string passing through and thereby fastened at ineffective hitting area on the strung surface of a badminton racquet.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is formed with plastic material to have different weight as desired.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is formed with plastic material in which a separate heavier material is embedded.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said separate heavier material is metal.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cavity is provided for selective insertion of adjusting means with desirable weight.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said adjusting means is lead strip.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body on both sides is formed with pattern, mark, symbol and the like.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pattern, mark, symbol and the like is colored for distinguishing from said body itself.

9. A badminton racquet comprising at least one balance adjustment device as claimed in claims 1 to 8 which is removably fastened at ineffective hitting area of its strung surface by means of the strings.

1 0. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A badminton racquet incorporating a device in accordance with claim 10 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings

12. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.