GB2317347A

GB2317347A - Bandy stick blade

Info

Publication number: GB2317347A
Application number: GB9718985A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Unger
Original assignee: Exel Oyj
Current assignee: Exel Oyj
Priority date: 1996-09-23
Filing date: 1997-09-09
Publication date: 1998-03-25
Also published as: CZ297497A3; SE9703301D0; DE19741066A1; GB9718985D0; SE9703301L; NO974361D0; SE509213C2; NO309178B1; FI101939B; FI101939B1; NO974361L; FI963768A; CZ287845B6; FI963768A0

Abstract

A bandy stick comprises a blade whose striking area comprises a rim 1, ribs 2 and an area which consists of a network of tensioned strings. The strings may be so positioned that the form a generally concave structure. In an alternative embodiment a central contact surface 9 is supported in the blade frame by string 8.

Description

2317347 Blade for an indoor bandy stick.

The present invention relates to a blade for an indoor bandy or floorball stick, having its area bordered by a rim stiffener. The blades for indoor bandy sticks are generally manufactured from plastics by casting in a mould. The injection-mouldable thermoplast or thermosetting plastics have generally a low modulus of elasticity and, thus, in order to achieve a sufficient rigidity or stiffness, the blade must be made quite massive. However, all players do not prefer an identical stiffness for the blade, which is why the blades are typically made of two different materials, one being more rigid than the other. Hence, when ordering a stick, the player has a possibility of defining the blade stiffness- The rules of the game of indoor bandy or floorball stipulate certain limitations to the outline shape, acceptable height, thickness etc. of a blade, but the weight of a blade is not determined. A solid-material plastic blade with the minimum thickness and maximum height would be impractically heavy and stiff for a light ball used in the game. Therefore, the blades are provided with various types of holes (cross-ribbed structure) for reducing the weight of a blade while maintaining a sufficient rigidity. The plastic cross-ribbed structure extends over the entire blade area, bordered by a shoulder or rim, in order to achieve both flexural and torsional rigidity.

Patent publication SE-412,318 discloses a ballgame stick, primarily a golf club, wherein the entire area bordered by a rim stiffener is provided with tightened horizontal strings. As for the blade of an indoor bandy stick, which is long relative to its height, this arrangement does not accomplish a sufficient torsional rigidity unless the shoulder stiffener is made unreasonably massive. Neither 2 does the arrangement afford a possibility of designing the blade surface in other than a flat shape.

An object of the invention is to provide a blade for an indoor bandy stick, which has improved elasticity properties and which can be made lighter than a conventional blade without sacrificing the required flexural and torsional rigidity and, furthermore, the blade's contact surface can be designed with shapes other than a flat 10 shape.

This object is achieved according to the invention on the basis of the characterizing features set forth in the annexed claim 1, 2 or 3. The nonindependent claims disis close preferred embodiments for implementing the invention- A few exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accom20 panying drawings, in which fig. 1 shows a blade for an indoor bandy or floorball stick according to one embodiment of the invention in a side view; 25 fig. 2 shows a complete stick in a side view; figs. 3-5 show examples of various cross-sectional shapes for a blade and fig. 6 shows a blade for an indoor bandy stick according to a second embodiment of the invention in a side view.

The blade can be made by injection moulding in thermoplast or thermosetting plastics, excluding the central blade area, whose structure and operation will be described 3 later. The blade can also be made of composite materials, i.e. fiber- reinforced plastics or resin-bonded fibers. The fibers may comprise e.g. glass or carbon fibers. Also other materials, such as metals or ceramics, may be ac- ceptable. The blade includes a shoulder 1 constituting a rim stiffener as well as a string frame 3, 4, having lengthwise sections 3 which, in the case of fig. 1, attach directly to the upper and lower lengthwise section of the shoulder 1. The string frame includes transverse sections 4 which are connected by way of lengthwise ribs 2 to those sections of the shoulder 1, which define the ends of the blade. In addition, there may be one or more transverse ribs 2a. The rim stiffener 1 can be provided with relief recesses la or cavities 1b, as shown in figs. 3-5.

is The string frame 3, 4 is provided with slots 7 or lugs, hooks or other such fastening elements for tightening thin, cord-like strings 5, 6 thereon the same way as in a tennis racket. The materials and fastening methods for such strings may vary. Preferably, the strings comprise elastic cords, e. g. similar to those used in tennis rackets. However, also metal, ceramic, silicone and other such cords may be acceptable. The strings can be monofilaments or braided cords. What is essential is that such strings can be tensioned so as to provide the area bordered by the string frame 3, 4 with a light and preferably elastic string face capable of giving the ball good bouncing properties, which can be further set to match the requirements of individual players by adjusting tightness of the strings. Moreover, the prestress created by the tightened strings makes it possible to design the surrounding plastic element to be lighter than a conventional one, since the tension caused by the strings also braces the surrounding plastic element.

The area bordered by the string frame 3, 4 can be located as desired and its size can be selected as desired, but 4 typically it is positioned in the central region of a blade. The string face only constitutes a part of the contact surface of a blade, the rest being constituted by the string frame, the shoulder, and the ribs 2, 2a extend ing therebetween.

The strings may extend rectangularly or diagonally crosswise for producing a good contact surface and a diversified prestress for the plastic blade element. The strings may also extend in parallel to each other, whereby all strings are in the same plane, or the strings may form divergent string planes relative to each other.

When blades of different bouncing characteristics are is manufactured with different prestresses on strings, the blades that differ this way from each other can be designated e.g. with numerals.

In view of the ball control, it is preferred that the blade be concave over one or both of its faces. This can be implemented by adapting the thickness of the ribs 2 to thin down over one or both sides when proceeding towards the centre. By attaching the strings 5, 6 so as to offset the same relative to the medial plane of the shoulder 1, the string face can be brought to a one-sided concavityEven otherwise, the tying methods and lead-through points of the strings can be used for an effect on the location of the string plane relative to the plane of a blade. Fig. 3 illustrates a one-sided lattice structure. Of course, it could be replaced with a string plane constituted by parallel strings. Fig. 4 illustrates a string plane of parallel strings 6 included in the medial plane of a blade, which can of course be replaced with a lattice structure. Fig. 5 illustrates divergent string planes, constituted by vertical strings 6 and crossing each other within the lengthwise central area of a blade. The advantage offered by this embodiment is that the actual string face is concave. The shape and elasticity of the face can be affected by means of lengthwise cords 5 or by intertwining cross cords 6 within the crossing area- In the case of fig. 6, the contact surface over the central area of a blade is constituted by a string frame braced by cross ribs or a solid central plate 9, which is secured to a shoulder stiffener 1 by means of strings 8 tentered therebetween. Thus, the frame or plate 9 func- tions as an effective bouncing surface. Also in this case, the contact surfaces of a blade can be provided with a one- or two-sided concavity, as the frame or plate 9 is flatter than the shoulder 1 and it is secured as desired relative to the medial plane of a blade by applying e.g.

the principles shown in figs. 3-5. In the illustrated example, one tightenable string cord 8 is threaded into recesses, included in the elements 1 and 9 and provided with engagement pins V. It is also possible to secure the string cords to the shoulder 1 permanently by embedding the fastening points of the cords within the moulded plastics, whereafter the cords are tightened by forcing a suitable central element 9 between the string cords.

The stick blade brought forth by the invention have quali- ties superior to those of prior known blades since, despite of its light weight, it is sufficiently rigid and resiliently elastic, such that the ball bounces well thereoff and the player has a good feel for the ball.

The invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiment depicted in the drawing, but the details in terms of structure and design may vary in many ways. For example, the continuous string frame 3, 4 is not necessarily needed but, instead, the strings can also be stretched to the individual heads of the ribs 2 or to partial frames connecting several ribs 2. The string area 6 need not have a rim shape which is equally continuous, but some of the strings can be longer, some shorter.

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Claims

1. A blade for an indoor bandy stick, having its area bordered by a rim stiffener (1), c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that some of the blade area is covered by tensioned thin, cord-like strings (5, 6, 8) and some of the area is covered by ribs (2, 2a) attached to the rim stiffener (1) or by a sub-section (9) of the contact surface attached to the rim stiffener (1) by means of the strings (8).

2. A blade for an indoor bandy stick, having its area bordered by a rim stiffener (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least some of the blade area is pro- vided with tensioned strings (5, 6), constituting a string face whose location is offset relative to the medial plane of the blade.

3. A blade for an indoor bandy stick, having its area bordered by a rim stiffener (1), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least some of the blade area is provided with tensioned strings (6, 8), which extend crosswise to produce two string faces crossing each other at an acute angle.

4. A blade as set forth in any of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the string faces constituted by the strings (6, 8) tensioned crosswise of the blade are divergent relative to each other.

5. A blade as set forth in any of claims 1-4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the sub-section (9) of the contact surface attached by means of the strings (8) to the rim stiffener (1) comprises an elongated solid plate located in the central blade area or a frame braced by means of the ribs.

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6. A blade as set forth in any of claims 1-4, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the rim stiffener (1) is fitted directly and/or by way of the ribs (2) with a string frame (3, 4), which is provided with fastening elements, such as slots (7), lugs, or hooks for tensioning elastic strings (5, 6) thereon over the area bordered by the string frame (3, 4).

7. A blade as set forth in claim 6, c h a r a c t e r - i z e d in that the area bordered by the string frame (3, 4) is in the lengthwise direction of the blade located within the central blade area and it constitutes just part of the contact surface of the blade, the rest being constituted by the string frame (3, 4), the rim stiffener 1 5 (1), and the ribs (2) extending therebetween.

8. A blade as set forth in any of claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the strings (5, 6) extend crosswise and use the prestress thereof to reinforce the blade element surrounding the string area.

9. A blade as set forth in any of claims 1-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that blades of various bouncing properties are manufactured by using various prestresses for the strings (5, 6, 8).

10. A blade as set forth in any of claims 1-5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the blade is one-sidedly concave.

11. A blade as set forth in any of claims 1-9, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d in that the rim stiffener (1) is hollow (1b) at least over some of its length.

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12. A blade for an indoor bandy stick substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.

13. An indoor stick including a blade according to any preceding claim.