GB2263412A

GB2263412A - Shuttlecock

Info

Publication number: GB2263412A
Application number: GB9301238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Shu Chun Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-01-25
Filing date: 1993-01-22
Publication date: 1993-07-28
Also published as: GB9301238D0

Abstract

A shuttlecock (60) comprises an integrally formed head (62) and skeletal structure (64) comprising a diverging array of stems (68) interconnected by rings (69) and (69A) integral with the stems. A flexible plastics skirt (66) is mounted on the skeletal structure. The skirt includes vane or fin formations (63) for causing rotation of the shuttlecock in flight. The stems may be orientated to cause rotation of the shuttlecock in flight (Figures 2 and 3). The stems may have mounted thereon a single skirt welded thereabout, the welded seam being orientated to cause the shuttlecock to rotate in flight (Figures 6 and 7); alternatively the stems may support two or more skirts, optionally of different colours, the edges of which are wavy to produce in-flight rotation of the shuttlecock (Figures 4 and 5). The stems may be interconnected e.g. by annular members (Figures 8 and 9). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: SHUTILECOCK This invention relates to a shuttlecock and objects of the invention are to provide a new and improved shuttlecock and method of manufacture thereof.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a shuttlecock comprising a head, a skeletal structure extending away from the head, and a skirt mounted on the skeletal structure.

The skeletal structure is conveniently integrally formed with at least a portion of the head, and the skeletal structure and the entire head may be integrally formed with one another. At least the skeletal structure may be formed of a plastics material. The skeletal structure conveniently comprises a diverging array of stems extending away from the head.

Said stems may be orientated for causing rotation of the shuttlecock in flight.

At least some of the stems may be interconnected at or near their ends remote from the head and conveniently all of the stems are so interconnected. The stems may be interconnected by one or more annular members the or each of which may be integral with the stems which it interconnects.

In the assembled shuttlecock, the skirt is conveniently spaced from the head, and at least some of the stems are interconnected at a location which lies at or near the end of the skirt closest to the head.

The ends of one or more of the stems remote from the head may afford respective fins which protrude from the skirt.

The skirt may be mounted on the skeletal structure by welding, sewing or interweaving the skirt to or with the stems.

The end portion of the skirt which, in the assembled shuttlecock, lies remote from the head may comprise a wavy edge shaped for causing rotation of the shuttlecock in flight.

Preferably the skirt comprises a flexible material which conveniently is perforated.

The skirt may comprise at least one vane or fin formation orientated for causing rotation of the shuttlecock in flight. One or more of such vane or fin formations may be generally straight or may be wholly or partly curved. Each said vane or fin formation may be disposed generally along a respective line which, if projected, does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the shuttlecock.

In the assembled shuttlecock, the or each said vane or fin formation is conveniently wholly or substantially wholly disposed in a respective region lying wholly intermediate a respective adjacent pair of stems. In the assembled shuttlecock, where the skirt is perforated the perforations may be located only in regions of the skirt which lie intermediate such vane or fin formations. Such perforations may be disposed along lines which geometrically are orientated in a like manner to said vane or fin formations.

The or each said vane or fin formation may be provided by a fold or seam in the material comprising the skirt.

The skeletal structure may be such that two or more skirts may be mounted thereon in which case said skirts may be of different tones or colours.

The head of the shuttlecock may comprise a cover member mounted on a head portion of the skeletal structure wherein the cover member is formed of a material which is softer than the material of the said head portion of the skeletal structure.

Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a method of making a shuttlecock, comprising the steps of forming by a moulding operation at least a skeletal structure for the shuttlecock; forming a skirt for the shuttlecock; and mounting the skirt on the skeletal structure.

The skeletal structure may be injection moulded from a plastics material. The skeletal structure may be moulded integrally with at least a portion of a head of the shuttlecock.

The skirt may be formed by cutting a piece of flexible material from a larger sheet or strip and forming said piece into said skirt. The method may include subjecting the skirt to an operation to maintain its three-dimensional shape prior to mounting the skirt on the skeletal structure.

The skirt may be formed from an elongate piece of material with its ends joined together to form the skirt, said ends being joined along a seam affording a vane or fin formation on the skirt. The skirt may have one or more folds formed therein affording vane or fin formations on the skirt.

The skeletal structure may be formed with a diverging array of stems and the skirt may be mounted on the skeletal structure by welding, sewing or interweaving the skirt to or with the stems.

Other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description given herein solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a perspective elevational view of a first shuttlecock in accordance with the invention, FIGURES 2 and 3 are perspective side elevational and partly crosssectional part cut-away side elevational views respectively, of a second shuttlecock embodying the invention.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are side-elevational and partly sectional sideelevational views respectively of a third shuttlecock embodying the invention; FIGURES 6 and 7 are partial-plan and side elevational views respectively, illustrative of a seam of a skirt portion of a still further shuttlecock in accordance with the invention; FIGURES 8 and 9 are respectively plan and cross-sectional side elevational views respectively of another form of shuttlecock in accordance with the invention, the skirt thereof being shown in Figure 9 but being omitted from Figure 8, and Figure 9 being a cross-section on the line IX-IX of Figure 8; FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of another form of shuttlecock in accordance with the invention; and FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional plan view on the line XI-XI of Figure 10 to an enlarged scale showing a vane or fin formation in the skirt in the form of a fold in the flexible material thereof.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawings a first shuttlecock 10 embodying the invention comprises a head 12, a skeletal structure 14 extending away from the head 12, and a skirt 16 mounted on the skeletal structure 14, this general principle of construction also being applicable to all the other shuttlecocks illustrated herein.

In the shuttlecock 10, the skeletal structure 14 and the entire head 12 of the shuttlecock are integrally formed, in this example being moulded (preferably injection moulded) from plastics material (for example thermoplastics material).

The skirt 16 is formed separately to the head and the skeletal structure and comprises a strip of flexible (eg plastics) material, such as a comparatively light-weight bendable strip of material cut from a larger sheet or strip.

The skeletal structure 14 comprises multiple stems 18 in the form of a diverging array of stems 18 extending away from the head 12, and the skirt 16 is mounted on the skeletal structure 14 by welding, sewing, or interweaving the skirt 16 to or with said stems 18.

The above principles of construction, including the feature that the skirt is separately formed, and the choice of materials, also apply to the other shuttlecocks illustrated.

With further regard to the shuttlecock 10, the illustrated skirt 16 of the shuttlecock 10 is perforated to permit a degree of air-flow therethrough during flight of the shuttlecock.

The second illustrated shuttlecock 20 in accordance with the invention, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, has a head 22, a skeletal portion 24 integral with the head 22, and a skirt 26 mounted on stems 28 of the skeletal structure 24, in these respects being directly analogous in principle to the shuttlecock 10.

However, in the shuttlecock 20 the stems 28, by virtue of each being of a partspiral curvature, are orientated such that air-flow there-past during flight of the shuttlecock will cause rotation of the shuttlecock about its direction of flight during a major part of its flight.

In the shuttlecock 20, the skirt 26 is welded (eg ultrasonically welded) to the stems 28, or otherwise mounted on them, the stems 28 being of thermoplastic material and the skirt 26 being of thin plastic material, as is the case for the shuttlecock 10, but in the shuttlecock 20 there are four significant differences, namely that the edge of the skirt 26 is folded inwardly at its end furthest from the head, the stems 28 have free ends 28A which protrude from the skirt to provide "fins" at an orientation which further encourages said rotation of the shuttlecock in flight, the stems 28 are interconnected, by portions of a "midriff' ring 29 formed integrally with the stems 28, and outer end portions of the stems are interconnected short of said fins, by portions of a ring 29A at the outer end of the skirt and over which ring 29A the outer edge of the skirt is folded inwards.Said midriff ring 29 and said outer ring 29A help to reduce risk of damage or distortion to the shuttlecock 20 whenever it is struck by a racket during play.

In Figure 3, weld locations are indicated at W between opposed arrows.

It will be appreciated that by welding the skirts to the spiral stems, the skirt surfaces themselves will adopt a spiral configuration promoting shuttlecock rotation in flight.

In the third shuttlecock 30 embodying the invention illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the principle of construction is as already described in relation to the shuttlecocks 10 and 20, except in the respect that the skeletal structure 34 of the shuttlecock 30 is such that two skirts 36, 37 may be mounted thereon at the same time, and in the respect that the skirts 36 and 37 have end portions, remote from the head 32, comprising respective wavy edges 36A, 37A, said edges in this example being shaped, in terms of variations, along the edge, in distance from the head 32, in zig-zag or saw-tooth (in this case, rounded saw-tooth) manner, so introducing an asymmetry into each "wave" for causing rotation of the shuttlecock about its direction of travel, during flight. In the shuttlecock 30, said skirts 36 and 37 are of different tones or colours.Weld spots W are indicated in Figure 5, analogous to those in Figure 3.

In the fourth shuttlecock 40 illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the construction is analogous to that already described in relation to the shuttlecock 10 and/or the shuttlecock 20 except that the skirt 46, being formed from an elongate piece of flexible plastics material formed into a frusto-conical shape with its ends joined together (welded) along a seam 43, is formed such that the seam 43, which protrudes radially outwardly from the shuttlecock, is orientated for causing rotation of the shuttlecock about its direction of flight during at least a major part of its flight.

In the fifth illustrated shuttlecock 50 embodying the invention, illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the skeletal structure 54 affords interconnections between selected stems (all of which are in fact integral with the head, but with only alternate stems emanating generally directly from the head) at locations at or near the end of the skirt closest to the head (but spaced from the head) and at or near the ends of the stems furthest from the head, thereby increasing the resistance of the shuttlecock 50 to distortion or damage during impact with a racket in the course of play. Further resistance to such distortion or damage is afforded by the shaped form of the skirt itself, at its end closest to the head.

In the shuttlecock 50, the skirt 56 is interwoven with the stems 58, being disposed alternately radially outwardly and radially inwardly of them, and is further secured to the stems by ultrasonic welding (not shown).

Referring to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, the further shuttlecock 60 in accordance with the invention comprises a head 62, a skeletal structure 64 extending away from the head 62, and a skirt 66 mounted on the skeletal structure 64. The head 62 comprises a body 62a, and the body 62a and the structure 64 are integrally formed by moulding thereof from resilient semi-rigid plastics material.

The skirt 66 is formed from flexible material (in this example being flexible plastics sheet material which in this example is transparent or semitransparent) and comprises, formed in the skirt 66, at least one vane or fin formation 63 (in this example a plurality of such formations 63 are provided) for causing rotation of the shuttlecock 60 about its direction of flight during at least a major part of its flight.

The skirt 66 is formed from an elongate piece of said flexible material with its ends joined together to form the skirt, said ends being joined together along a seam, in the manner of the seam 43 of the shuttlecock 40 hereinbefore described, to afford one of the formations 63 which project radially outwardly from the shuttlecock 60.

The other formations 63 of the shuttlecock 60 are however, afforded by respective folded portions of said flexible material, the folds being formed in the material at respective locations intermediate said ends. The cross-sectional form of one of the formations 63 afforded by such a folded portion is illustrated, to an enlarged scale, in Figure 11 of the drawings.

Adjacent portions 63a and 63b of said folded portion are maintained together by adhesive, or by stitching or welding of the skirt material.

For the purpose of causing said rotation, each such formation 63 is disposed along a respective line which, if projected, is spaced from the longitudinal axis of the shuttlecock. Conveniently said formations 63 are generally straight which is conducive to formation thereof by folding operations although said formations 63 may be wholly or partly curved.

The skeletal structure 64 comprises a diverging array of stems 68 extending away from the head 62 interconnected by reinforcing rings 69 and 69A integrally formed with the stems 68, and in the assembled shuttlecock 60. The skirt is disposed on the structure 64 such that each formation 63 is wholly or substantially wholly disposed in a respective region lying wholly intermediate a respective adjacent pair of such stems.

Regions of the skirt which, in the finished skirt, lie strictly intermediate such formations 63, are perforated to facilitate air flow, and said perforations (P) are disposed along nominal lines which geometrically are orientated in a like manner to said formations 63, so as to be generally parallel to the adjacent formations 63.

The process for making the shuttlecock 60 includes the step or steps of forming the formations 63 in the skirt material. Where such formations 63 are formed in a flexible strip of skirt material, at an angle to a normal to a longitudinal axis of the strip, a wavy edge will in general result on each edge of the skirt, which can itself encourage or cause shuttlecock rotation in flight.

In the shuttlecock 60, the entire head 62 is afforded by the body 62a which is integrally formed with the skeletal structure 64, the body 62a being of generally hollow cup-like form, with the structure 64 extending from its upper edge.

Alternatively, however, the head 62 may have an outer layer (not shown) applied over the external surface of the body 62a. The body 62a may act as a former or carrier for such outer layer, which outer layer may for example be in the form of a cup-like "jacket". Said outer layer may be approximately one millimetre or so in thickness, and may be of a softer material (e.g. silicon rubber or a foam material) than said body 62a.

It will be appreciated that the method in accordance with the invention, when making such a shuttlecock with an outer layer will comprise the step or steps of forming such an outer layer and/or applying and/or securing such an outer layer to the body of the head. It will be appreciated that such an outer layer may be of substantial thickness and may be mounted on a head portion of the skeletal structure which is much smaller in size than the exterior dimension of such outer layer.

Said outer layer may be retained on the head in any convenient manner, and may for example be retained on the body by friction or snap-fitting, or may be secured thereon by use of adhesive, welding, application of heat, or the like.

Whilst in all the shuttlecocks 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 illustrated the head of each shuttlecock is integrally moulded with its respective skeletal structure, this need not be the case, but preferably the skeletal structure is integrally formed with at least a portion of the head (for example, one alternative to the constructions illustrated would be for the skeletal portion to be integral with a core portion of the head, which core portion would subsequently receive a "striking cap" of softer and/or elastomeric material).

The method in accordance with the invention for making the illustrated shuttlecocks is analogous for each, and comprises the basic steps of (i) forming by a moulding operation at least a skeletal structure for the shuttlecock; (ii) forming a skirt for the shuttlecock; and (iii) mounting the skirt on said skeletal structure. In the preferred examples illustrated, step (i) comprises injection moulding at least said skeletal structure from plastics material, in those examples integrally with the head of the shuttlecock, and step (ii) comprises diecutting a piece of flexible material from a larger sheet or strip and forming said piece into the skirt, and further comprises subjecting the skirt to an operation (such as a welding operation) to maintain its three-dimensional shape prior to mounting of the skirt on the respective skeletal structure. The skirt is mounted on the skeletal structure by welding, sewing, or interweaving the skirt to or with said stems, as desired.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A shuttlecock comprising a head, a skeletal structure extending away from the head, and a skirt mounted on the skeletal structure.

2. A shuttlecock as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the skeletal structure is integrally formed with at least a portion of the head.

3. A shuttlecock as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the skeletal structure and the entire head are integrally formed with one another.

4. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein at least the skeletal structure is formed of a plastics material.

5. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the skeletal structure comprises a diverging array of stems extending away from the head.

6. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stems are orientated for causing rotation of the shuttlecock in flight.

7. A shuttlecock as claimed in either one of claims 5 or 6 wherein at least some of the stems are interconnected at or near their ends remote from the head.

8. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 7 wherein all of the stems are interconnected with one another.

9. A shuttlecock as claimed in either one of claims 7 or 8 wherein the stems are interconnected by one or more annular members.

10. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 9 wherein the stems are interconnected by a plurality of annular members spaced apart from one another.

11. A shuttlecock as claimed in either one of claims 9 or 10 wherein the or each said annular member is integral with the stems which it interconnects.

12. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein, in the assembled shuttlecock, the skirt is spaced from the head, and at least some of the stems are interconnected at a location which lies at or near the end of the skirt closest to the head.

13. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 11 wherein ends of one or more of the stems remote from the head afford respective fins which protrude from the skirt.

14. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 13 wherein the skirt is mounted on the skeletal structure by welding, sewing or interweaving the skirt to or with the stems.

15. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the end portion of the skirt which, in the assembled shuttlecock, lies remote from the head comprises a wavy edge.

16. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 15 wherein said wavy edge is shaped for causing rotation of the shuttlecock in flight.

17. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the skirt comprises flexible material.

18. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the skirt is perforated.

19. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the skirt comprises at least one vane or fin formation orientated for causing rotation of the shuttlecock in flight.

20. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 19 wherein one or more of said vane or fin formations is generally straight.

21. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 19 wherein one or more of said vane or fin formations is wholly or partly curved.

22. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein each said vane or fin formation is disposed generally along a respective line which, if projected, does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the shuttlecock.

23. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22 when appendant to any one of claims 5 to 14 wherein, in the assembled shuttlecock, the or each said vane or fin formation is wholly or substantially wholly disposed in a respective region lying wholly intermediate a respective adjacent pair of stems.

24. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 23 wherein the skirt is perforated and wherein, in the assembled shuttlecock, the perforations are located only in regions of the skirt which lie intermediate such vane or fin formations.

25. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 24 wherein said perforations are disposed along lines which geometrically are orientated in like manner to said vane or fin formations.

26. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 25 wherein the or each said vane or fin formation is provided by a fold or seam in the material comprising the skirt.

27. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the skeletal structure is such that two or more skirts may be mounted thereon.

28. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 27 wherein said skirts are of different tones or colours.

29. A shuttlecock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the head of the shuttlecock comprises a cover member mounted on a head portion of the skeletal structure.

30. A shuttlecock as claimed in claim 29 wherein the cover member is formed of a material which is softer than the material of the said head portion of the skeletal structure.

31. A method of making a shuttlecock, comprising the steps of forming by a moulding operation at least a skeletal structure for the shuttlecock; forming a skirt for the shuttlecock; and mounting the skirt on the skeletal structure.

32. A method according to Claim 31 wherein the skeletal structure is injection moulded from a plastics material.

33. A method according to either one of claims 31 or 32 wherein the skeletal structure is moulded integrally with at least a portion of a head of the shuttlecock.

34. A method according to any one of claims 31 to 33 wherein the skirt is formed by cutting a piece of flexible material from a larger sheet or strip and forming said piece into said skirt.

35. A method according to claim 34 including subjecting the skirt to an operation to maintain its three-dimensional shape prior to mounting the skirt on the skeletal structure.

36. A method according to either one of claims 34 or 35 wherein the skirt is formed from an elongate piece of material with its ends joined together to form the skirt, said ends being joined along a seam affording a vane or fin formation on the skirt.

37. A method according to any one of claims 34 to 36 wherein the skirt has one or more folds formed therein affording vane or fin formations on the skirt.

38. A method according to any one of claims 31 to 37 wherein the skeletal structure is formed with a diverging array of stems and the skirt is mounted on the skeletal structure by welding, sewing or interweaving the skirt to or with the stems.

39. A method of making a shuttlecock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

40. A shuttlecock constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

41. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.