SHOCK-ATTENUATED SPORTS RACQUET WITH SHOCK DAMPING SLEEVE

Abstract

A shock-attenuated sports racquet is provided which includes a shock damping sleeve comprising a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member stretched between main strings on a stringed face of the racquet. The disclosure further includes a method of combating shock-related fatigue and/or injury in performance of a racquet sport, involving playing of the racquet sport with the shock-attenuated sports racquet, as well as a method of enhancing damping of shock transmission incident to striking of a ball with a stringed face of a sports racquet, by disposing such a loop member on strings of the stringed face of the sports racquet during stringing or restringing thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/922,842, filed Jan. 1, 2014 in the name of John T. McElveen, Jr. for “SHOCK-ATTENUATED SPORTS RACQUET WITH SHOCK DAMPING SLEEVE” is hereby claimed under the provisions of 35 USC 119(e). The disclosure of said U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/922,842 is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety, for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a shock-attenuated sports racquet provided with a shock damping sleeve. The present disclosure also provides a method of combating shock-related fatigue and/or injury in performance of a racquet sport, comprising playing of the racquet sport with the shock-attenuated sports racquet. Additionally, the disclosure provides a method of enhancing damping of shock transmission incident to striking of a ball with a stringed face of a sports racquet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In the use of sports racquets, various forces, such as shock and vibration, affect the performance of the racquet. Shock is the jolting, jarring sudden impact of the ball against the racquet. It occurs as the ball impacts the hitting area or stringed area of the racquet. Some of the force of the shock is transmitted through the racquet to the hand and arm of the user of a sports racquet. The effects of such shock events, particularly in repetitive occurrence, include causation of fatigue and the possible incidence of sports injuries to the hand, arm, shoulder and/or elbow of the user of the sports racquet.

Vibration is a rapid translational fluctuation of the strings of the sports racquet after impact by a ball. Vibration of the strings may be distracting due to the sound or feel of the vibrations after the ball impacts the sports racquet during use.

Various methods have been proposed for absorbing shock and/or damping vibrations during the use of sports racquets. For example, mechanical clips or button dampeners have been used to engage with strings of the racquet to reduce impact shock transmitted through the racquet when the racquet strikes the ball. However, such mechanical clips or buttons may become dislodged from the racquet during use, may be difficult to place on the racquet, or may not provide adequate shock absorbance. Worm-type dampeners for sports racquet are also known; however, the dampeners developed to date provide inadequate shock absorbance and also are susceptible to becoming dislodged from the sports racquet during use.

In consequence, the art continues to seek improvements in materials, devices and methods for attenuating shock and damping vibration in a sports racquet.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a shock-attenuated and vibration damping sports racquet, and to methods of making and using the same.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a shock-attenuated sports racquet comprising:

a racquet body comprising an elongate shaft defining a proximal grip portion and a distal head portion circumscribing a stringed face including an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings, wherein the main strings are transversely spaced apart from one another in the array, and the cross strings are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the array, with the main strings being woven successively over and under the cross strings, and the cross strings being woven successively over and under the main strings; and

a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member stretched between anchoring ones of the main strings so that the anchoring ones of the main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member and support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins, with the stretched loop member being woven successively over and under main strings that are intermediate the anchoring ones of the main strings so that the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof, with at least two intermediate main strings between the anchoring ones of the main strings in the array, and with the loop member being restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array.

In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method of combating shock-related fatigue and/or injury in performance of a racquet sport, comprising playing of the racquet sport with a shock-attenuated sports racquet comprising:

a racquet body comprising an elongate shaft defining a proximal grip portion and a distal head portion circumscribing a stringed face including an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings, wherein the main strings are transversely spaced apart from one another in the array, and the cross strings are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the array, with the main strings being woven successively over and under the cross strings, and the cross strings being woven successively over and under the main strings; and

a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member stretched between anchoring ones of the main strings so that the anchoring ones of the main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member and support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins, with the stretched loop member being woven successively over and under main strings that are intermediate the anchoring ones of the main strings so that the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof, with at least two intermediate main strings between the anchoring ones of the main strings in the array, and with the loop member being restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array.

In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method of enhancing damping of shock transmission incident to striking of the ball with a stringed face of a sports racquet, comprising disposing a loop member on strings of the stringed face of the sports racquet during stringing or restringing thereof so as to form a shock-attenuated sports racquet comprising:

a racquet body comprising an elongate shaft defining a proximal grip portion and a distal head portion circumscribing a stringed face including an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings, wherein the main strings are transversely spaced apart from one another in the array, and the cross strings are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the array, with the main strings being woven successively over and under the cross strings, and the cross strings being woven successively over and under the main strings; and

a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member stretched between anchoring ones of the main strings so that the anchoring ones of the main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member and support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins, with the stretched loop member being woven successively over and under main strings that are intermediate the anchoring ones of the main strings so that the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof, with at least two intermediate main strings between the anchoring ones of the main strings in the array, and with the loop member being restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array.

In a further aspect, the disclosure relates to the use of a shock-attenuated and vibration damping sports racquet for playing racquet sports such as tennis, squash or racquetball.

Other aspects, features and embodiments of the disclosure will be more fully apparent from the ensuing description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sports racquet having a shock and vibration damping sleeve according to an illustrative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a string bed of a sports racquet featuring an installed shock and vibration damping sleeve in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a shock-attenuated and vibration damping sports racquet equipped with a shock damping sleeve, and to methods of making and using sports racquets of such type.

The shock-attenuated and vibration damping sports racquet in one implementation comprises a racquet body comprising an elongate shaft defining a proximal grip portion and a distal head portion circumscribing a stringed face including an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings, wherein the main strings are transversely spaced apart from one another in the array, and the cross strings are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the array, with the main strings being woven successively over and under the cross strings, and the cross strings being woven successively over and under the main strings; and a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member stretched between anchoring ones of the main strings so that the anchoring ones of the main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member and support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins, with the stretched loop member being woven successively over and under main strings that are intermediate the anchoring ones of the main strings so that the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof, with at least two intermediate main strings between the anchoring ones of the main strings in the array, and with the loop member being restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array.

The sports racquet of the disclosure is provided with a continuous loop member functioning as a shock damping sleeve, wherein the continuous loop member provides attenuation of the shock resulting from use of a sports racquet to hit a ball during play, as well as lessening of vibratory motion of the strings upon impact with the ball.

Installation of the loop member on the stringed face of the sports racquet is advantageously accomplished during initial stringing or restringing of the stringed face of the sports racquet. The continuous loop member is provided during stringing and stretched between anchoring main strings. The anchoring main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member and support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins. The stretched loop member is then woven successively over and under main strings that are intermediate to the anchoring main strings so that the intermediate strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof. The loop member is restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array. A loop member as disclosed herein may be used with any type of sports racquet having a stringed face with an interwoven string bed.

The shock-attenuated sports racquet of the disclosure is generally comprised of a racquet body comprising an elongate shaft defining a proximal grip portion and a distal head portion. The distal head portion, which may also be regarded as a frame, circumscribes a stringed face which includes an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings. The main strings are transversely spaced apart from one another in the array, and the cross strings are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the array. The main strings are woven successively over and under the cross strings and the cross strings are woven successively over and under the main strings. Stringed racquets as such are known and may be used for any of the known sports requiring use of a stringed sports racquet.

The shock-attenuated sports racquet further comprises a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member. The loop member is stretched between the anchoring main strings and the anchoring main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member. The main strings thus support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins. The stretched loop member is woven successively over and under the main strings that are intermediate to the anchoring main strings. With this structure, the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof, with at least two intermediate main strings between the anchoring main strings in the array. The loop member is restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sports racquet according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the racquet comprises an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings. The loop member 1 is positioned in a transversely extending manner and is stretched between main strings 2 and 2′. As shown in FIG. 1, there are four intermediate main strings between the anchoring main strings 2 and 2′. However, the number of intermediate main strings may be varied, with the specific number of intermediate main strings in a given implementation being determined and/or selected for obtaining the desired shock attenuation and/or vibration damping result for a particular use or type of racquet. By way of example, there may be 2, 3, 4, 5 or more intermediate main strings between the anchoring main strings of the array.

The loop member in various embodiments is advantageously disposed at a medial proximal portion of the stringed face as shown in FIG. 1. However, the loop member may be disposed at a different region of the stringed face if and as may be advantageous or otherwise desirable to achieve a specific shock-attenuation and/or vibration damping outcome. For use in competitive events or environments, the loop member may be positioned at a specific area of the stringed face, as permitted by the International Federation of Tennis or other governing body of the particular sport involved, in order to comply with applicable rules or regulations for competition.

Further, although the shock-attenuated and/or vibration-damped racquet of the present disclosure is primarily shown and described herein as employing a single loop member, it will be recognized that in some instances multiple loop members may be employed on the stringed face of the racquet.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the loop member has a transverse dimension W and a longitudinal dimension L. The specific dimensions of W and L may be determined or otherwise selected to afford a desired level of shock attenuation and/or vibration damping.

In one embodiment, the loop member has an aspect ratio, W/L, of transverse dimension W to longitudinal dimension L, which is in a range of from 1 to 8. In another embodiment of the disclosure, the loop member has an aspect ratio, W/L, of transverse dimension W to longitudinal this dimension L, which is in a range of from 1 to 6. In a further embodiment the present disclosure, the loop member has an aspect ratio, W/L, of transverse dimension W to longitudinal does dimension L, which is in a range of from 2.5 to 6. Other embodiments may utilize loop members having an aspect ratio in other ranges, or with other specific aspect ratio values.

The loop member as shown in FIG. 1 may be restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string 3 of the array. Such loop member has the advantage that it is positionally fixed in the string array and, thus, does not slide in use. Positioning the loop member so that it is restrained in longitudinal movement by more than one cross string of the array, is also contemplated by the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a portion of a string bed on which a loop member has been installed, according to an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. As shown, loop member 1 is flattened and woven successively over and under the main strings that are intermediate the anchoring main strings 2 and 2′. As shown, the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof. The loop member thus has the advantage of being positionally fixed by the strings in such manner so that it does not slide in use.

The loop member of the present disclosure may be formed of any suitable material that is resiliently deformable and serves to dissipate shock energy propagating through the strings at the time of impact with the ball. The resilient material advantageously has an ability to absorb energy when it is deformed elastically and to dissipate energy in the course of returning to its original conformation. Such material is preferably capable of recovering and regaining its original shape or position after bending, stretching, compression or other deformation, for an extended period of time accommodating the use of the racquet. The material selected may also provide a vibration damping effect upon contact of the racquet with a ball.

The loop member may, for example, be formed of synthetic or natural rubber; stretchable Gore-tex™; elastomeric material such as thermoplastic elastomeric material; stretchable elastic fabric material such as stretchable nonwoven fiber material or stretchable woven fiber material; soft resiliently deformable polyvinyl chloride; or other suitable material. In specific embodiments of the disclosure, the loop member may be formed of stretchable elastic fabric material comprising woven and/or nonwoven fibers.

The shock-attenuated sports racquets of the present disclosure may be used for any sport requiring a racquet which includes a head portion having a stringed face for hitting a ball or other object. For example, the shock-attenuated sports racquets of the disclosure may be configured as tennis racquets, squash racquets, or racquetball racquets.

The present disclosure contemplates, in various embodiments, a method of combating shock-related fatigue and/or injury in performance of a racquet sport, comprising playing of a racquet sport with a shock-attenuated sports racquet according to the present disclosure. The shock-attenuated sports racquet utilized in such method for combating shock-related fatigue and/or injury comprises: a racquet body comprising an elongate shaft defining a proximal grip portion and a distal head portion circumscribing a stringed face including an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings, wherein the main strings are transversely spaced apart from one another in the array, and the cross strings are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the array, with the main strings being woven successively over and under the cross strings, and the cross strings being woven successively over and under the main strings; and a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member stretched between anchoring ones of the main strings so that the anchoring ones of the main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member and support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins, with the stretched loop member being woven successively over and under main strings that are intermediate the anchoring ones of the main strings so that the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof, with at least two intermediate main strings between the anchoring ones of the main strings in the array, and with the loop member being restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array.

The racquet sports that may be played in the broad scope of such method include any racquet sports using a stringed racquet, such as tennis, squash, racquetball, and the like.

The present disclosure in another aspect contemplates a method of enhancing damping of shock transmission incident to striking of a ball with a stringed face of a sports racquet. The method comprises disposing a loop member on strings of the stringed face of the sports racquet during stringing or restringing thereof so as to form a shock-attenuated sports racquet according to the present disclosure. The method of enhancing damping of shock transmission incident to striking of a ball with a stringed face of a sports racquet includes use of a racquet comprising: a racquet body comprising an elongate shaft defining a proximal grip portion and a distal head portion circumscribing a stringed face including an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings, wherein the main strings are transversely spaced apart from one another in the array, and the cross strings are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the array, with the main strings being woven successively over and under the cross strings, and the cross strings being woven successively over and under the main strings; and a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member stretched between anchoring ones of the main strings so that the anchoring ones of the main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member and support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins, with the stretched loop member being woven successively over and under main strings that are intermediate the anchoring ones of the main strings so that the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof, with at least two intermediate main strings between the anchoring ones of the main strings in the array, and with the loop member being restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array.

The shock-attenuating and/or vibration damping racquet of the present disclosure, and associated methods of manufacture and use, as variously described herein in respect of features, aspects and embodiments thereof, may in particular implementations be constituted as comprising, consisting, or consisting essentially of, some or all of such features, aspects and embodiments.

Accordingly, while the disclosure has been set forth herein in reference to specific aspects, features and illustrative embodiments, it will be appreciated that the utility of the disclosure is not thus limited, but rather extends to and encompasses numerous other variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, as will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the field of the present disclosure, based on the description herein. Correspondingly, the disclosure as hereinafter claimed is intended to be broadly construed and interpreted, as including all such variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, within its spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A shock-attenuated sports racquet, comprising:

a racquet body comprising an elongate shaft defining a proximal grip portion and a distal head portion circumscribing a stringed face including an array of longitudinally oriented main strings and transversely oriented cross strings, wherein the main strings are transversely spaced apart from one another in the array, and the cross strings are longitudinally spaced apart from one another in the array, with the main strings being woven successively over and under the cross strings, and the cross strings being woven successively over and under the main strings; and

a transversely extending, resilient, and continuous loop member stretched between anchoring ones of the main strings so that the anchoring ones of the main strings are disposed interiorly of the loop member and support the stretched loop member at its transverse margins, with the stretched loop member being woven successively over and under main strings that are intermediate the anchoring ones of the main strings so that the intermediate main strings contact the stretched loop member exteriorly thereof, with at least two intermediate main strings between the anchoring ones of the main strings in the array, and with the loop member being restrained in longitudinal movement by at least one cross string of the array.

2. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, comprising four intermediate main strings between the anchoring ones of the main strings of the array.

3. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the loop member is disposed at a medial proximal portion of the stringed face.

4. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the loop member is restrained in longitudinal movement by one cross string of the array.

5. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the loop member is formed of elastomeric material.

6. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 5, wherein the loop member is formed of rubber.

7. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the loop member is formed of stretchable elastic fabric material.

8. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 7, wherein the stretchable elastic fabric material comprises woven fibers.

9. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 7, wherein the stretchable elastic fabric material comprises non-woven fibers.

10. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the loop member has an aspect ratio, W/L, of transverse dimension W to longitudinal dimension L, in a range of from 1 to 8.

11. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the loop member has an aspect ratio, W/L, of transverse dimension W to longitudinal dimension L, in a range of from 1 to 6.

12. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the loop member has an aspect ratio, W/L, of transverse dimension W to longitudinal dimension L, in a range of from 2.5 to 6.

13. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, comprising a tennis racquet.

14. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, comprising a squash racquet.

15. The shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1, comprising a racquetball racquet.

16. A method of combating shock-related fatigue and/or injury in performance of a racquet sport, comprising playing of the racquet sport with the shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the racquet sport comprises tennis.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the racquet sport comprises squash.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the racquet sport comprises racquetball.

20. A method of enhancing damping of shock transmission incident to striking of the ball with a stringed face of a sports racquet, comprising disposing a loop member on strings of the stringed face of the sports racquet during stringing or restringing thereof so as to form the shock-attenuated sports racquet of claim 1.