GB2280116A

GB2280116A - Badminton racket.

Info

Publication number: GB2280116A
Application number: GB9313921A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chin-San You
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-07-06
Filing date: 1993-07-06
Publication date: 1995-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2013-07-06
Also published as: GB2280116B; GB9313921D0

Abstract

A badminton racket comprises a head frame 12 having two opposite end portions of hollow construction and a shaft 16 having an upper end provided with two branches which are lodged respectively in the end portions of the head frame 20. Each of the two branches of the shaft 16 has an open end provided with a recess in which a small end portion 32 of a core body 30 is lodged. The core body 30 has a large end portion 34 opposite to the small end portion 32 and extending outwards and beyond the opening of the recess. The junction area between the head frame 20 and the shaft 16 is adhesively covered with an outer reinforcing layer of fiber-reinforced plastic material. <IMAGE>

Description

BADMINTON RACKET FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a game racket, and more particularly to an improved badminton racket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the most popular badminton rackets in existence today is the one which comprises a metal head frame and a shaft of fiber-reinforced plastic material, which are coupled by a T-shaped neck. Such connecting means of the Tshaped neck is defective in that its lower end connecting with the upper end of the shaft is vulnerable to becoming detached after a prolonged usage of the racket. In addition, the T-shaped neck has an outer diameter greater than those of the head frame and the shaft, thereby bringing about a greater air resistance to affect adversely the pace at which the racket is swung.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the primary objective of the present invention to provide a badminton racket with a metal head frame and a shaft of fiber-reinforced plastic material, which are fastened securely to prevent the shaft from becoming detached.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a badminton racket with a junction area which is located at an area where the head frame and the shaft are fastened and which has a dimension smaller than that of the neck portion of the prior art badminton racket.

The foregoing objectives of the present invention are attained by an improved badminton racket comprising an oval head frame made of a metal tube and a tubular shaft made of a fiber-reinforced plastic material. The head frame has two opposite end portions, each of which is hollow and provided with an open end. The shaft is fastened to the head frame in such a manner that the upper end of the shaft is united with the two end portions of the head frame. The improved badminton racket is characterized in that the upper end of the shaft is provided with two tubular branches, each of which has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the end portions of the head frame. In addition, each of the tubular branches has an open end provided with a recess in which one end portion of a core body is lodged.

The tubular branches, along with the core bodies, are respectively inserted into the two opposite open ends of the head frame. The junction area between the head frame and the shaft is covered adhesively with an outer reinforcing layer.

The foregoing objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be better understood by studying the following detailed description of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a portion taken along the line 2-2 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a portion taken along the line 3-3 as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a partial exploded view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to all drawings provided herewith, a badminton racket 10 of the present invention is shown comprising an oval head frame 12 made of an aluminum alloy tube and provided with a shuttlecock striking surface 14 formed by a plurality of horizontal and longitudinal strings which are interlaced. The badminton racket 10 further comprises a shaft 16 and a hand grip 18. The shaft 16 is fastened to the lower end portion of the head frame 12 and made from a plurality of carbon fiber fabric sheets preimpregnated with epoxy resin. The hand grip 18 is connected with the lower end of the shaft 16.

The head frame 12 has two end portions 20 and 20 opposite to each other. These two end portions meet so as to form the head frame 12 of oval construction. Each of the two end portions 20 and 20 has an open end face 22.

The shaft 16 has an upper end which is divided into two parts in opposite directions to extend horizontally to form two branches 24 and 24, each of which is tubular in shape and has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow end portion 20 of the head frame 12.

In addition, each of the two branches 24 and 24 has an open end provided with a recess 26, in which a small end portion 32 of a core body 30 of polyurethane foam material is lodged while a large end portion 34 of the core body 30 extends outwards beyond the recess 26. The small end portion 32 of the core body 30 has an outer diameter smaller than that of the large end portion 34 of the core body 30. Along with the core body 30, each of the two branches 24 and 24 of the shaft 16 is inserted into the open end face 22 of the end portion 20 of the head frame 12.In the process of making the badminton racket 10 of the present invention, a stopping block 36 is disposed at the open end of the large end portion 34 of the core body 30 so as to ensure that the structural integrity of the large end portion 34 is not undermined at the time when the-foaming of the core body 30 is under way.

Upon the completion of uniting the two branches 24 of the shaft 16 with the two hollow end portions 20 of the head frame 12, the junction areas are covered adhesively and respectively with an outer reinforcing layer 40, which is made from a plurality of carbon fiber fabric sheets preimpregnated with epoxy resin and arranged in a predetermined orientation. The outer reinforcing layer 40 is, in fact, formed by the preimpregnated carbon fiber fabric sheets which are wrapped around the junction areas before they become hardened. Thereafter, the preimpregnated carbon fiber fabric sheets are caused to take form of the outer reinforcing layer 40 under heat and pressure.

The junction areas between the head frame 12 and the shaft 16 have a dimension corresponding to that of any other part of the badminton racket 10. As a result, the junction areas have an appearance which is completely integral with any other part of the badminton racket 10. Therefore, the resistance of the junction areas to the air is relatively small when the badminton racket 10 is swung. Moreover, the connection of the head frame 12 with the shaft 16 is enhanced jointly by the two branches 24, two core bodies 30 and the outer reinforcing layer 40, which do not cause an increase in the dimension of the junction areas.

The emobdiment of the present invention described above is to be regarded in all respects as merely illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A badminton racket comprising a tubular shaft of fiber-reinforced plastic material and an oval head frame of metal and having two opposite end portions of hollow construction, each of said end portions having an open end face; wherein said tubular shaft has an upper end which is branched out to form two branches, each of which has an outer diameter slightly smaller than an inner diameter of said end portions of said head frame and has an open end provided with a recess in which a small end portion of a core body of compressible material is lodged, said core body having a large end portion opposite to said small end portion and having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of said small end portion, said large end portion of said core body extending outwards and beyond an opening of said recess; and wherein said tubular shaft is connected with said head frame by means of said two branches, each of which is inserted, along with said core body, into one of said end portions of said head frame to form a junction area which is then covered adhesively with an outer reinforcing layer of fiber-reinforced plastic material and forming an external connection between said branches and said end portions.

2. The badminton racket according to claim 1 further comprising two stopping blocks disposed respectively in said end portions of said head frame such that each of said stopping blocks makes contact with an open end of said large end portion of said core body.

3. A badminton racket according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the core body is of polyurethane foam material.

4. A badminton racket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.