Amusement devices: games – Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor... – Target
Patent
1988-08-01
1990-10-16
Coven, Edward M.
Amusement devices: games
Aerial projectile game; game element or accessory therefor...
Target
273 73R, A63B 5110
Patent
active
049629280
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device designed to absorb string vibrations during hitting of a ball against the strung surface of tennis or squash rackets, such vibrations as provoke articular lesions resulting in "tennis elbow."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is a well-known fact that, by introducing a piece or strip of viscoelastic elastomer material onto the frame or strings of a racket, one can influence vibratory phenomena. However, such antivibration devices used to date have exhibited one or more of the following defects: strings in their lack of cohesion to the strung hitting surface during ball impact ball
The device disclosed in French Patent No. 2,585,256 of July 29, 1985, in addition to its uncertain lateral deportment during repeated impact, offers no permanent cohesion during vibratory modes on the strung hitting surface, due to the rigidity of its basic material as well as to the limited number of strings with which it is in direct contact. Its excessive width necessarily compensates for the minimal thickness required in order to fix it onto the strung hitting surface, but this means that the device is too wide to be interlaced into the meshed surface of the racket, particularly close to the area of impact where maximum string reverberation occurs. The rigidity of this device also tends to modify the central ball-impact zone and, being nonretractable, it contributes to deflecting the ball in the event of direct contact.
The device disclosed in French Patent No. 2,585,257 based on French Patent No. 1,398,833 of Mar. 31, 1964, is probably too bulky to be really effective, since it is fixed to only one square of the meshed racket surface. Moreover, its sprue is stretched out by compression on the periphery of the racket surface, which renders the device ineffective in vibratory modes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The presently proposed device is designed to remedy the above-cited defects by dealing in a coherent manner with all vibratory phenomena present on the strung hitting surface.
In its preferred embodiment, the device is composed of a length of flexible elastomer material which is interlaced into the strung surface of the racket along any particular line, but without modifying either the geometry or the exerted stress on the racket surface.
The inherent flexibility and elasticity of the device also permits a different positioning, which is effected by entwining it once around the strings of the hitting surface. The device is fitted at each end with spherical protuberances or bulges which serve as coupling elements either fastened into the racket strings or inserted into the recessed housings intended for them around the inner rim of the racket frame. At least one protuberant couple in the middle of the device is designed to both tauten it and to locally increase its mass per unit length, thereby contributing to optimal absorption and damping of vibrations on the strung hitting surface of the racket.
In its preferred embodiment, the device is composed of a silicone-based or natural rubber-based elastomer material which is both tear-resistant and viscoelastic, thereby providing good structural absorption of vibratory phenomena. The device as such can be hollow, if desired.
During the multiple contacts of the device with strings involved in reverse bending vibrations (rebound), its longitudinal elastic segment contributes to ensuring that the device remains in perfect cohesion with the strung hitting surface and in constant contact with the strings. Moreover, its viscosity contributes to checking string movement by converting such vibrations into heat which is convection-dissipated upon contact with the surrounding air.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown for purposes of illustration, and wherein
FIGS. 1 and 2 show the longitudinal element with its protuberant spheres at both ends, in perspective view and
REFERENCES:
patent: 763059 (1904-06-01), Hyde
patent: 4180265 (1979-12-01), Staufer
patent: 4575083 (1986-03-01), Adam
patent: 4732383 (1988-03-01), Ferrari et al.
Bianchi Jean-Claude
Camara Alpha
Coven Edward M.
Stoll William E.
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