Games using tangible projectile – Player held and powered – nonmechanical projector – per se,... – Racket or paddle; accessory therefor
Patent
1997-02-24
2000-02-22
Chiu, Raleigh W.
Games using tangible projectile
Player held and powered, nonmechanical projector, per se,...
Racket or paddle; accessory therefor
473539, 473540, A63B 5100
Patent
active
060274190
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates generally to improvements in sporting racquets and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to improvements in methods of stringing racquets, sporting racquets with improved stringing and tools and machines for stringing and improving the stringing of sporting racquets.
Currently available sporting racquets, for example tennis racquets, are continuously strung by passing a length of stringing material through holes in a frame, pulling the length of stringing material to a predetermined pressure and tying it off under pressure against itself. The pressure is retained within the length of stringing material. Conventionally, a single length of stringing material forms strings which run length-wise in the racquet head and a separate single length of stringing material forms strings which run cross-wise.
Because of this stringing method, the tension of each string in the racquet (the term "string" being used herein to mean one string "span" from one side of the racquet head to the other, and not the total length of stringing material) is substantially similar across the entire racquet face (the term "racquet face" being used herein to mean the strung area of the racquet head). The "elastic quality" of a tensioned string depends upon the tension applied and the length of the string. The amount of "elastic bend back" experienced by a relatively long string in a conventional racquet head when an object is struck will be greater than that available to the shorter strings in the racquet because all the strings are at substantially similar tension i.e., the elastic properties vary in dependence on the length of the string. This can have a deleterious effect on shot playing. For example, it is well known that in tennis it is desirable to strike the ball at the centre area of the racquet face, to ensure that the ball travels in the desired direction with the desired power. At the centre area of the face of a conventionally strung tennis racquet the strings will have similar elastic properties, by virtue of the fact that the length differences between strings are at a minimum. This centre area is generally known as the "sweet spot".
At the outer area of the racquet face the shorter and longer strings will have different elastic properties. It is well known that control and power applied by the outer area of the racquet face of a conventional tennis racquet is extremely unreliable. Hence the desirability of striking a ball with the centre of the racquet face.
Even towards the centre of the racquet face in the so-called "sweet spot", the elastic properties of the strings vary somewhat.
In presently available sporting racquets, therefore, a perfect sweet spot does not exist and the nearest approximation to a sweet spot is located in a small area, generally towards the centre of the racquet face.
From a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of stringing a racquet, comprising the steps of independently tensioning at least a plurality of strings in the racquet and applying means for maintaining the independent tensioning.
By "independently tensioning" is meant the application of tension independently to each string of at least the plurality of strings.
The plurality of strings are preferably independently tensioned to different tensions and the resultant differential pressures between strings maintained.
Preferably, all strings in the racquet will be independently tensioned, although embodiments are envisaged where some of the strings may be strung by prior art methods and the others independently tensioned.
In at least preferred embodiments, the ability to independently tension strings to different tensions and maintain the resultant differential pressures between strings can result in vast improvements in racquet quality. It is possible to provide a racquet face where the elastic quality is substantially even over the entire face. In other words, it is possible to provide a racquet which has a "sweet spot" across substantially the entire racquet face.
The ability to individually
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Bauersfeld Kelly
Chiu Raleigh W.
Cogito Holdings Limited
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