WO2009033614A1

WO2009033614A1 - Stringing net

Info

Publication number: WO2009033614A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/007284
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Lieke
Original assignee: Head Technology Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-09-06
Filing date: 2008-09-05
Publication date: 2009-03-19
Also published as: EP2185251A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a stringing net for a racket for ball games, particularly for a tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball, or table tennis racket. The stringing net comprises multiple strings that are suitable for forming the strings of the racket for ball games. At least one section of the frame of the stringing net is formed by a cable pull that is connected to at least some of the strings. The invention further relates to a racket for ball games having a stringing net of the type described.

Description

covering power

The present application relates to a stringing net for a ball game racket, in particular for a tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball or paddle tennis racket. The present application further relates to a ball game racket with such a stringing net or on a ball game racket, which is suitable for attaching such a stringing network to him. Furthermore, a method for stringing a ball game racket is described.

Stringing a ball game racket is a relatively complicated and expensive process. In general, for the covering of a ball game racket, such as a tennis racket, a special clothing machine of needs that can be operated only by trained personnel. This makes re-tension or the change of a covering time-consuming, cumbersome and costly.

On the other hand, it may be advantageous to change or adjust the fabric regularly. As the covering hardness of a ball game racket, among other things, is a decisive factor, it would be interesting for a player to be able to change the clothing quickly and easily himself. A rapid change of clothing would also be advantageous, for example, if the old clothing has a defect, for example if a string has broken.

US-A-4 118 029 describes a prefabricated stringing net which can be attached to a racquet frame by means of a series of loops. However, the process of clothing is relatively complicated with this prefabricated clothing network, since the said loops must all be individually threaded into the racquet frame and connected to each other.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a stringing net for a ball game racket that can be easily attached to a racket frame attach. This object is solved by the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments.

The present invention provides a stringing net for a ball game racket, especially for a tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball or paddle tennis racket. The stringing net has a plurality of strings which are suitable for forming the stringing of the ball game racket. At least a portion of the edge of the string net is formed by a pull rope connected at least to some of the strings. The present invention is based on the idea that the prefabricated clothing net can be stretched onto the frame of a ball game racket, much like a snow chain on the tires of a car. The clothing net is attached to one side of the club head, wherein the edge of the clothing net is stretched together with the pull rope over the circumference of the club head and the pull rope is fixed on the opposite side of the club head.

The strings of the stringing network may be conventional ball game rackets, with transverse and longitudinal strings woven together in a conventional manner. The string braid is stabilized by the pull rope or held in its shape.

The pull rope forms at least 75%, preferably at least 90% of the edge of the clothing network. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the entire circumference of the clothing net is bounded by the traction cable. The pull rope forms a closed curve, which tensions the strings evenly. For this purpose, it is further preferred that the pull rope with all strings, preferably non-positively connected.

It is further preferred that the pull rope is elastic. This can ensure that the pull rope can be guided over the circumference of the club head and then still remains tightly fixed. The stringing network and the pull rope are designed so that the stringing net can be attached to the frame of the ball game racket with the aid of the pull rope and the stringing net can be tensioned with the aid of the pull rope.

The present application further provides a ball game racket with a frame forming a club head and a handle portion, the frame having a Device, by means of which a coherent string network, in particular a string network described above, can be attached to the SchJägerkopf.

The present application further provides a ball game racket having a frame forming a club head and a handle portion and a string net as described above. In this case, the club head has a first side and a second side and is preferably shaped in such a way that the clothing net can be attached to the first side, wherein the pulling rope is fixed on the second side. For this purpose, the outer peripheral contour of the club head is preferably smooth and / or uniform. Furthermore, it is preferred that the frame cross-section in the region of the club head has a rounded profile, for example with an elliptical or semi-circular outer area. As a result, the string net or the strings and the pull rope can easily slide around the outer circumference of the club head and enclose it.

With a fixation or attachment of the pull rope on the second side of the club head is meant in the sense of the present application that the pull rope is positioned by the above-described process of embracing the club head substantially on the club head side, which is opposite to the clothing side. In this case, the traction cable need not be mounted in the literal sense "on the second side" of the club head, but may also be arranged by a corresponding groove relatively centrally in the frame of the club head., However, the traction cable is functionally fixed "on the second / opposite side".

According to a preferred embodiment of the ball game racket of the present invention, the club head on the second side has a device by means of which the pull rope can be fixed and / or tensioned. This fixing or tensioning device preferably has a projection surrounding the club head or a groove encircling the club head, behind which the pulling cable can be fixed or tensioned. Thus, the edge of the string net can be stretched along with the pull rope over the outer circumference of the club head, with a force is applied to tension the strings, and then the pull rope snaps behind the projection or in the groove, the tension of the strings upright is obtained. In addition, a further device may be provided by means of which the pull rope after attaching the Tensioning the tensioning network and the pretensioning even further. Thus, for example, a further pull rope may be provided that rotates the club head, whereby the tension of the strings can be increased by the additional pull rope. For this purpose, the club head preferably has a groove on its outer circumference, into which the clothing net is drawn in with the aid of the further pulling rope. As a result, the strings are stretched further and the tension increased accordingly.

The ball game racket according to the invention may also comprise two stringers according to the invention, which are mounted on the first and second sides of the club head.

If the clothing net encloses the club head along its entire circumference, the handle portion of the club can not, as usual, be attached to the outer circumference of the club head. Therefore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, the handle portion is attached to the second side of the club head. This can additionally have a favorable effect on the playing characteristics of the ball game racket, as this provides two sides that have different playing characteristics.

The present invention further relates to a method for stringing a ball game racket. According to the method of the invention, there is provided a frame forming a club head and a handle portion, the club head having a first side and a second side, and a string net having a pull rope. The string net is placed on the first side of the club head and stretched, pulling the edge of the string net including the pull cord from the first side around the club head to the second side. Subsequently, the pull rope is fixed on or on the second side of the club head. Preferably, the method further comprises the step of tensioning the pull rope. In this case, a further pull cable can preferably be attached to the club head in order to additionally tension the clothing net or the strings of the clothing.

The string network of the present invention offers several advantages over the prior art. It can be quickly and easily stretched on the frame of a ball game racket, allowing the change of clothing as needed. Thus, for example, with different string networks specific specific game characteristics implementable. Depending on the player and situation, a stringing net with desired properties can then be attached to the racket. Furthermore, the asymmetric attachment of the clothing net to the club head allows a functional differentiation between the front and the back of the ball game racket.

With reference to the figures, particularly preferred embodiments will be described in more detail below. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic sketch of the principle of operation underlying the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a ball game racket according to the invention together with a preferred embodiment of a string net according to the invention; FIG.

3 an inventive embodiment of a ball game racket;

4 is a sectional view of a ball game racket according to the invention;

5 shows a perspective partial view of a section of the club head of a ball game racket according to the invention;

6 shows a preferred embodiment of a ball game racket according to the invention in plan view;

7 shows a preferred embodiment of a ball game racket according to the invention in plan view;

Fig. 8 shows a further preferred embodiment of an inventive

Ballgame racquet in plan view;

Fig. 9 shows a further preferred embodiment of an inventive

Ballgame racquet in plan view; 10 is a sectional view through the frame of the head portion of a ball game racket according to the invention,

11 is a sectional view of the frame in the head area of another ball game racket according to the invention;

12 shows a sectional view through the frame of an alternative embodiment of the ball game racket according to the invention;

13 shows a sectional view of the frame from FIG. 12 together with a string net according to the invention and an additional pull rope; and

14-16 are cross-sectional views through the frame of further alternative embodiments of the ball game racket according to the invention, in each case together with a string net according to the invention and an additional pull rope.

17-18 are cross-sectional views of a device for compressing the club head of a ball game racket according to the invention in order to mount a string net according to the invention on the racket.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the basic principle of the present invention. Thus, a prefabricated clothing net 1 can be pulled over the club head 4 of a ball game racket, much like a snow chain over the tire of a car. The clothing net 1 according to the invention has a pull rope 2 at its outer edge or circumference. By pulling the traction cable 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow (cf., FIG. 1), the entire clothing net 1 is tensioned.

This principle is further explained in Figures 2 and 3, each showing a preferred embodiment of a ball game racket according to the invention in side view. The ball game racket 3 has a grip section 5 and a club head 4 with a first side 4a and a second side 4b. The prefabricated clothing net 1 is mounted on the first side 4a of the club head 4, wherein the pull rope 2 is fixed on the opposite second side 4b. If the pull rope 2 is in closed form Before, it is preferably elastic, so that it can be sufficiently stretched that the string net can be pulled together with the pull rope over the club head 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the clothing net 1 has sections Ia in its edge region, via which the sides of the clothing net are connected to the pulling rope 2. Alternatively, however, it is also possible for the sides forming the clothing to be connected directly to the pull cable (cf., FIG. 4). For example, the strings may be attached to the pull rope by means of loops or loops.

If the clothing net extends around the entire circumference of the club head 4, central attachment of the grip portion 5 to the club head 4, as usual, is not possible. Therefore, it is preferable that the handle portion 5, as seen in Figures 2 and 3, is mounted laterally on the club head 4, preferably on the second side 4b. FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a ball game racket according to the invention comparable to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective partial view of the club head 4 of a ball game racket according to the invention. The frame of the club head 4 has in this preferred embodiment, a groove 7 which is adapted to receive the traction cable 2 or to lock. In this way, the clothing net 1 (not visible in FIG. 5) can be stretched or tensioned with great force, without the tension of the strings being able to pull back the pulling rope 2. The embodiment of the club head 4 shown in FIG. 5 also has grooves or grooves 10 in which the strings of the clothing net can be slidably received. The fabric or the strings are then located substantially on the first side 4a and the ends thereof are guided by the grooves or grooves 10 to the pull rope 2. As a result, among other things, a stable, tight fit of the clothing can be ensured.

In FIGS. 6 to 9, different embodiments of the clothing net according to the invention and of the ball game racket according to the invention are shown schematically in plan view. The simplest embodiment can be seen in FIG. Accordingly, a closed traction cable 2 is provided, that essentially follows the contour of the club head 4 after assembly or covering. Accordingly, as above described, the edge of the string network 1 looped around the club head 4 and the pull rope 2 fixed on the opposite side of the club head, for example, as indicated in Figure 5.

With a fixation or attachment of the pull rope on the opposite or second side of the club head is meant for the purposes of the present application that the pull rope is positioned by the above-described process of wrapping the club head substantially on the other club head side. Such as. As can be seen in Figure 5, the traction cable need not be literally mounted "on the side" of the club head, but may also be relatively centered within the frame by a corresponding groove However, in the example of Figure 5, too, the traction cable "is functional the opposite side "fixed.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment according to which the traction cable 2 can be tensioned even further after a first pretensioning. In this case, a pointing in the direction of the handle portion 5 section 2a of the pull cable 2 along the arrow in the direction of grip portion is stretched. As a result, the pull cable 2 and consequently the strings forming the string are additionally tensioned. The beating according to the invention preferably has a device by means of which the section 2a of the traction cable 2 can be fixed in the further tensioned state. The racket according to the invention may further comprise a winch or screw in the gripping area, by means of which the force for tensioning the traction cable 2 can be applied and which optionally may additionally serve for fixing in the tensioned state.

Another preferred embodiment can be seen in FIG. The string network 1 shown therein has a pull rope 2 which is not closed but has loose ends 2b. The loose ends 2b of the traction cable 2 intersect at a crossing point 11 and run over deflecting rollers 12 in the direction of the handle portion 5 of the ball game racket according to the invention. By pulling on the two loose ends 2 b in the direction of the arrows, the pull cable 2 and thus the strings of the clothing 1 can be additionally tensioned. As already stated with regard to the embodiment of FIG. 7, it is preferred that the racket according to the invention has a winch or screw in the grip section 5, with the aid of which the two ends 2b of the pull cable 2 can be tensioned and / or wound up. By a corresponding mechanism, it may also be possible that the pull rope 2 by hand, for example, by the player himself, is stretched. It goes without saying that in the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, the strings of the clothing must be movably or slidably attached to the pulling cable 2. As a result, a uniform tension pattern can also be achieved if the tension cable 2 is stretched further after the clothing as required. Such a sliding attachment can be achieved, for example, by connecting the individual strings to the traction cable 2 via loops or loops, so that the individual loops or grommets are displaceably arranged along the traction cable.

A further embodiment, in which the traction cable 2 is not closed, is shown in FIG. According to this embodiment, it is provided that the traction cable 2 is stretched so far that the two loose ends 2b of the traction cable 2 can engage with each other. Preferably, the loose ends 2b of the traction cable 2 have a connection mechanism for this purpose. For example, hooks and eyes may be provided at the loose ends 2b.

FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of the club head 4 of a ball game racket according to the invention. This has, similar to the embodiment of Figure 5, a groove 7 which receive the pull cable 2 of the clothing network 1 and can fix if necessary. A cross-section of an alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. It is also indicated by the arrows and the various stations of the traction cable 2, as the tensioning cable 2 is moved along the contour of the club head frame 4 during tensioning of the clothing net 1 until the traction cable 2 is fixed behind a projection 6 or in a groove 7. Due to the large distance between the outer frame tip and the groove 7 in this case a particularly large voltage of the string network is provided.

Furthermore, a striking surface or clothing is provided by the embodiment of a ball game racket according to the invention shown in FIG. 11, the playing characteristics of which vary greatly on the front and back sides. If a ball strikes the front of the clothing (on the first side 4a of the club head), the active side length is significantly shortened compared to an impact on the back side (second side 4b). FIGS. 12 to 16 show further alternative embodiments of the ball game racket according to the invention, which enable additional tensioning of the clothing net 1 with the aid of an additional or further pull rope 9. For this purpose, the frame of the club head 4, as seen in Figure 12, an additional recess or groove 8 which extends around a large part or the entire circumference of the club head. The stringing net 1 together with the pull rope 2 is then first stretched, as discussed above, with the pull cord 2 being fixed by means of projections or hooks 6 or a groove 7. As a result, a certain bias of the clothing network or strings forming the clothing is already ensured. In order to further increase the tension, a further or additional traction cable 9 can be provided, which runs around the outer circumference of the club head 4 and pushes the clothing net 1 into the recess or groove 8 under tension. As a result, the string net 1 and accordingly the strings are additionally tensioned.

Further embodiments of this basic principle with alternative cross-sectional configurations of the club head 4 are shown in FIGS. 14-16.

Figures 17-18 show cross-sectional views of a device Sp-R for compressing the club head 4 of a ball game racket according to the invention in order to mount a string net 1 according to the invention on the racket. The racket frame is held in the region of the club head 4 with the device Sp-R. As shown in Figure 17, the device compresses the clubhead 4 at least in one direction (eg, in the transverse direction) slightly so that the clubface formed by the clubhead 4 becomes correspondingly smaller (eg, narrower). As a result, a clothing net 1 according to the invention without traction cable 2, ie with a substantially constant outer circumference, can be placed around a part of the racket frame on the club head 4 and fixed there. Subsequently, the device Sp-R is returned to its original position and the clubhead 4 is compressed in a direction preferably substantially perpendicular to the first direction (eg in the longitudinal direction), so that the clothing net 1 can be slipped completely over the frame on the club head 4. Finally, the device Sp-R is brought to its starting position, as shown in FIG. 18, and the racket provided with the clothing net 1 can be removed. Alternatively, the frame in the region of the club head can be compressed simultaneously in several directions by means of the device Sp-R, so that the clothing net can be laid over the frame in one step.

In order to be able to compress the frame in the region of the club head, at least one relatively flexible area is preferably provided on the frame, in which the frame is yielding about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the clothing surface. Preferably, two or more such flexible regions are formed on the frame.

Claims

claims

A stringing net (1) for a ball game racket (3) having a plurality of strings adapted to form the stringing of the ball game racket (3) and at least one pull rope (2) forming at least a portion of the edge of the stringing net (1) and associated with at least some of the strings.

2. Stringing network according to claim 1, wherein the tension cable (2) forms at least 75%, preferably at least 90% of the edge of the string network.

3. string network according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the entire circumference of the string network is bounded by the hauling rope.

4. string network according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pull rope is formed elastically.

5. String network according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the string net can be attached by means of the pull rope to the frame of the ball game racket.

6. string network according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the string network can be tensioned by means of the tension cable.

7. String network according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the string net is adapted to enclose a club head of the ball game racket.

8. String network according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the string network further comprises at least one further pull rope (9) which is adapted to circulate a club head (4) of the ball game racket, wherein by the further pull rope (9), the tension of the strings are increased can.

A stringing net (1) for a multi-string ball game racket (3) adapted to form the string of the ball game racket (3) and at least one substantially peripheral edge portion which is substantially inelastic.

10. ball game racket (3) with a club head (4) and a handle portion (5) forming the frame and a string net (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A ball game racket according to claim 10, wherein the club head (4) has a first side (4a) and a second side (4b) and is shaped so that the string net (1) can be attached to the first side (4a) by the traction cable (2) or the substantially peripheral edge is fixed on the second side (4b).

The ball game racket of claim 11, wherein the stringing net encloses the club head.

13. Ball game racket according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the strings of the string network are tensioned by the tension cable is tensioned.

14. Ball game racket according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the club head on the second side of a device (6, 7), by means of which fix the pull rope and / or can be tensioned.

15. Ball game racket according to claim 14, wherein the fixing or tensioning device (6, 7) has a club head (4) circumferential projection (6) or a groove (7), behind or in which the pull rope (2 ) can be fixed or tensioned.

16. The ball game racket according to claim 10, wherein the strings of the clothing net are tensioned by the club head being compressible in at least one, preferably two or more direction (s) in the clothing plane in order to move the clothing net over the frame in the region of To lead club head, wherein after eliminating the compression of the club head returns to its original shape, thereby tensioning the string network.

17. Ball game racket according to claim 16, wherein on the frame one or more flexible area (s) are provided, on which or to which the frame is preferably compressible.

18. Ball game racket according to one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the handle portion (5) on the second side (4b) of the club head (4) is mounted.

19. Ball game racket according to one of claims 10 to 15 and 18, further comprising at least one further pull rope (9) which rotates the club head (4), wherein the tension of the strings can be increased by the further pull rope (9).

20. Ball game rackets (3) with a club head (4) and a handle portion (5) forming frame, wherein the frame comprises means (6, 7), by means of which a coherent string network (1), in particular according to claims 1 to 9, attach to the club head (4).

21. A method for covering a ball game racket (3) comprising the steps of: a) providing a frame forming a club head (4) and a handle portion (5), the club head (4) having a first side (4a) and a second side (4) 4b); b) providing a stringing network (1) with a pull rope (2), in particular a string network according to one of claims 1 to 8; c) attaching the clothing net (1) on the first side (4a) of the club head (4); d) stretching the clothing net (1), pulling the edge including the pull rope (2) from the first side (4a) around the club head (4) to the second side (4b); and e) fixing the traction cable (2) on the second side (4b).

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of tensioning the pull rope.

23. The method of claim 18 or 19, further comprising the step of attaching a further pull cable (9) for additional tensioning of the string network (1).

24. A method of covering a ball game racket (3) comprising the steps of: a) providing a frame forming a club head (4) and a handle portion (5), the club head (4) having a first side (4a) and a second side (4); 4b); b) providing a stringing net (1) having a plurality of strings adapted to form the stringing of the ball game racket (3) and at least one substantially peripheral edge portion which is substantially inelastic; c) arranging the clothing net (1) on the first side (4a) of the club head (4); d) compressing the clubhead (4) in at least one direction in the stringing plane to reduce the perimeter of the clubhead; e) arranging the peripheral edge portion of the clothing net on the second side (4b) of the club head; and f) relaxing the club head.