GB2225539A - Games racket with vibration-damping assembly - Google Patents

Description

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C 1 t 4 2225539 1.

GAMES RACKET WITH VIBRATION-DAMPING ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a games racket provided with a vibration- damping assembly.

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 comprising a head for stringing, a shaft and a handle, together with a throat portion joining the head and the shaft to each other, in which the throat portion includes one or more vibration-damping assemblies.

Preferably, one single vibration-damping assembly is located on the throat portion at or near to an antinode of vibration of the racket, suitably on the longitudinal axis of the racket.

Alternatively, two vibration-damping assemblies are located on the throat portion, said assemblies being symmetrically placed relative to the longitudinal axis of the racket.

In accordance with the present invention, each vibration-damping assembly comprises a vibrating-member and one or more elastically-deformable mounting-members, said mounting-members attaching the vibrating-member to the racket whereby said vibrating-member is capable of free and elastic movement in the direction of an applied vibration.

Preferably, the direction of vibration is substan-tially perpendicular to the plane of the racket stringing.

The vibrating-member is of a high-density material such as a metal and suitably comprises a metal rod having a mass of from 5 to 15 g.

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the elastically-deformable mounting-members may be made of natural rubber, a synthetic rubber or a rubber-like material. A suitable material is the cellular material available under the Registered Trade Mark SORBOTHANE.

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 reference numerals denote like parts):

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a racket incorporating a vibrationdamping assembly according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a section on line II-II of Figure 1.

The racket, shown generally at 10, comprises a head 11 for stringing (not shown), a shaft 12 and a handle 13. A throat portion 14 joins the head and the shaft to each other. A single vibration-damping assembly, shown generally at 20, is located on the throat portion 14 on the longitudinal axis of the racket.

Referring now to Figure 2, the throat portion 14 is provided with a hole to receive a vibrating-member comprising a metal rod 21. The rod is further provided with heads 22 and 23 to locate the rod. The mountingmembers comprise two deformable bushes 30 and 31, which permit movement of the rod within the throat portion in response to applied vibration when the racket is used in play. Movement takes place in the direction of arrow AA1.

A vibration-damping assembly 20 according to the present invention was fitted to one of two otherwise identical metal-framed tennis rackets. The metal rod 21 weighed 7 g and the deformable bushes 30 and 31 were made of natural rubber.

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The rackets were tested for vibration properties under unrestrained conditions and the vibration damping properties were found to be as follows Racket without damper: 19 units Racket with damper: 23 units The figures for vibration damping are calculated as follows:

Vibration damping = 109e (vibration decrement) X 103 The higher the figure the better the damping. The vibration properties described can readily be measured by those skilled in the art.

ISC RACK 10513 1 1 4.

Claims (12)

1. A games-racket comprising a head for stringing, a shaft and a handle, together with a throat portion joining the head and the shaft to each other, in which the throat portion includes one or more vibration-damping assemblies.

2. A racket according to Claim 1, in which one vibration-damping assembly is located on the throat portion at or near to an antinode of vibration of the racket.

3. A racket according to Claim 2, in which the vibration-damping assembly is located on the longitudinal axis of the racket.

4. A racket according to Claim 1, in which two vibration-damping assemblies are located on the throat portion, said assemblies being symmetrically placed relative to the longitudinal axis of the racket.

5. A racket according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which each vibration-damping assembly comprises a vibrating-member and one or more elastically-deformable mounting-members, said mounting-members attaching the vibrating-member to the racket whereby said vibrating member is capable of free and elastic movement in the direction of an applied vibration.

6. A racket according to Claim 5, in which the direction of vibration is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the racket stringing.

7. A racket according to Claim 5 or 6, in which the vibrating-member is made of a high-density material.

8. A racket according to Claim 7, in which the vibrating-member comprises a metal rod.

9. A racket according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the vibrating-member has a mass of from 5 to 15 g.

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10. A racket according to any one of Claims 5 to 9, in which the elastically-deformable mountingmembers are made of natural rubber, a synthetic rubber or a rubber-like material.

11. A racket according to Claim 10,in which the =lastically-deformable mounting-members are made of a cellular material.

12. A games racket, substantially as hereinbefor described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

ISC RACK 10513 at The Patent office, State House. 66 71 High Holborn. London WC1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtained from The Patent OfficE