GB2225537A

GB2225537A - Games racket with vibration-damping assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2225537A
Application number: GB8925183A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Izat
Original assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Current assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Priority date: 1988-12-02
Filing date: 1989-11-08
Publication date: 1990-06-06
Also published as: GB8828145D0; JPH02213368A; GB8925183D0; EP0372288A2

Description

1 1 k 1 2225537 1 1.

GAMES RACKET WITH VIBRATION-DAMPING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a games racket provided with one or more vibration damping assemblies.

Rackets made of metal and/or composite materials lack the inherent vibration-damping characteristics of wooden rackets. Thus, in the case of metal and/or composite rackets, additional damping means are desirable.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a games racket including a head portion and a shaft portion, in which one or more vibrationdamping assemblies are mounted within or attached to the shaft portion.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the shaft portion comprises a single shaft member including one or more of said vibration-damping assemblies.

In a second embodiment, the shaft portion comprises twin shaft members each of said twin shaft members including one or more of said vibrationdamping assemblies.

Each vibration-damping assembly comprises a vibrating-member to be received in a hole provided in the shaft member and a pair of elasticallydeformable cap-members to retain said vibrating member in said hole, the dimensions of said capmembers rLative to said vibrating-member being such that the vibrating-member is capable of movement in response to an applied impact on the racket, for example the impact received when the racket is used in play.

In accordance with the present invention, the vibration-damping assemblies are located so that movement of the vibrating-member takes place in a direction parallel tothe plane of the stringing of the racket.

1 2.

The vibrating-member is made of a material of high density such as a metal, and may suitably have a mass of from 5 to 20 g, preferably from 7 to 10 g. The vibrating-member may preferably have a regular geometrical configuration and nay comprise an elongate rod.

The cap-members may be made of any suitable elastically-deformable material, for example natural rubber, a synthetic rubber or a rubber-like material. A particularly-preferred material is the cellular material available under the Registered Trade Mark SORBOTHANE.

Preferably, each vibration-damping assembly is located at or near an antinode of vibration of the racket.

The present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings (wherein like numerals denote like parts):

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a racket incorporating vibration-damping assemblies according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a section on line II-II of Figure 1 (with parts cut away); Figure 3 is an exploded section on line III-III of Figure 1.

A tennis racket (shown generally at 10) comprises a head 11 for stringing (stringing not shown) and twin shafts 12 and 13. Each shaft is provided with three identical vibration-damping assemblies 20, 21 and 22.

Each vibration-damping assembly is received in a hole 30 in the shaft and comprises a pair of elastically-deformable cap-members 31 and 32 which enclose a metal rod 40. The dimensions 2 1 3. of cap-members 31 and 32 relative to those of metal rod 40 are such that the rod 40 is capable of movement in response to an applied vibration, e.g. when the racket is used in play.

Movement of the rod 40 in response to vibration takes place in a direction parallel to the plane of the stringing, i.e. in the direction indicated by arrows AA1 in Figure 2.

ISC RACK 10514 4.

Claims

CLAIMS:

A games racket including a head for stringing and a shaft portion, in which one or more vibration damping assemblies are mounted within or attached to the shaft portion.
2. A racket according to Claim 1, in which the shaft portion comprises a single shaft member including one or more of said vibration-damping assemblies.
3. A racket according to Claim 1, in which the shaft portion comprises twin shaft members, each of said twin shaft members including one or more of said vibration-damping assemblies.
4. A racket according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, in which each said vibration-damping assembly comprises a vibrating-member to be received in a hole provided in the shaft member, and a pair of elastically-deformable cap-members to retain said vibrating-member in said hole, the dimensions of said cap-nember relative to said vibrating-member being,(1-ch that the vibrating member is capable of movement in response to an applied impact on the racket.
5. A racket according to Claim 4, in which the movement of the vibrating-member takes place in a direction parallel to the plane of stringing of the racket.
6. A racket according to Claim 4 or 5, in which the vibrating-member is made of a high-density material.
7. A racket according to Claim 6, in which the vibrating-member is made of a metal.
8. A racket according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, in which the vibrating-member has a mass of from to 2 0 g.
9. A racket according to Claim 8, in which the vibrating-member has a mass of from 7 to 10 g.

k 1 5.
10. A racket according to any one of Claims 4 to 9, in which the vibraingmember has a regular geometrical configuration.
11. A racket according to Claim 10, in which the vibrating-member comprises an elongate rod.
12. A racket according to any one of Claims 4 to 11, in which the elasticallydeformable cap-members are made of natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, or a rubber-like material.
13. A racket according to Claim 12, in which the cap-members are made of a cellular material. 14. A racket according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each vibration-damping assembly is located at or near an antinode of vibration of the racket. 15. A games racket, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

ISC PACK 10514 - b_ 1.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A games racket including a head for stringing, a shaft portion and one or more vibration-damping assemblies mounted within or attached to the shaft portion, in which each vibration-damping assembly comprises a vibrating-member to be received in a hole provided in the shaft portion and a pair of elastically deformable cap-members, each of the cap-members engaging one end of the vibrating-member to retain the vibrating-member in the hole, the dimensions of the cap-members relative to those of the vibrating-member being such that the vibrating-member is capable of movement within the hole in response to an applied impact on the racket.

2. A racket according to Claim 1, in which the shaft portion comprises a single shaft member including one or more of said vibration-damping assemblies.

3. A racket according to Claim 1, in which the shaft portion comprises twin shaft members, each of said twin shaft members including one or more of said vibration-damping assemblies.

4. A racket according to Claim 1, 2, or 3, in which the movement of the vibrating-member takes place in a direction parallel to the plane of stringing of the racket.

5. A racket according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the vibrating-member is made of a high density material.

6. A racket according to Claim 5, in which the vibrating-member is made of a metal.

7. A racket according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, in which the vibrating-member has a mass of from to 20 g.

8. A racket according to Claim 7, in which the vibrating-member has a mass of from 7 to 10 g.

z 9. A racket according to any of Claims 1 to 8, in which the vibratingmember has a regular geometrical configuration. 10. A racket according to Claim 9, in which the vibrating-member comprises an elongate rod. 11. A racket according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, in which the elasticallydeformable cap-members are made of natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, or a rubber-like material. 12. A racket according to Claim 11, in which the cap-members are made of a cellular material.

A racket according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each vibration-damping assembly is located at or near an antinode of vibration of the racket.
14. A games racket, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

ISC RACK 10514 GB