APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION OF A DEVICE
The present invention discloses a single piece weight member that is generally configured commensurate with an existing, single piece component of a device to facilitate replacing the existing, single piece component of the device with the single piece weight member to modify a weight distribution of the device to a desired weight balance.
1. Field of the Invention
One or more embodiments of the present invention are related to an apparatus for modifying weight distribution of a device such as a sporting gear like a golf club, a racket (e.g., for tennis, racquetball, squash, table tennis, etc.) or tools.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventional mechanisms for modifying weight distribution of sporting equipment such as a tennis racket to customize the racket with a desired weight balance (head-heavy, head-light, or balanced weight distribution) are well known and have been in use for a number of years. Regrettably, most are comprised of many constituent parts or pieces that are complicated to manufacture and install.
Accordingly, in light of the current state of the art and the drawbacks to balancing schemes and methods thereof mentioned above, a need exists for an apparatus that would enable modifying a weight distribution of a device to achieve a desired balancing of the weight of the device that is simple to manufacture and install.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA non-limiting, exemplary aspect of an embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising:
a single piece weight member that is generally configured commensurate with an existing, single piece component of a device to facilitate replacing the existing, single piece component of the device with the single piece weight member to modify a weight distribution of the device to a desired weight balance, with the single piece weight member having a greater weight than a component weight of the existing, single piece component of the device.
These and other features and aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of preferred non-limiting exemplary embodiments, taken together with the drawings and the claims that follow.
It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for the purposes of exemplary illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.
Throughout the disclosure, the word “exemplary” may be used to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” but the absence of the term “exemplary” does not denote a limiting embodiment. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. In the drawings, like reference character(s) present corresponding part(s) throughout.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and or utilized.
In the description given below and or the corresponding set of drawing figures, when it is necessary to distinguish the various members, elements, sections/portions, components, parts, or any other aspects (functional or otherwise) or features or concepts or operations of a device(s) or method(s) from each other, the description and or the corresponding drawing figures may follow reference numbers with a small alphabet character such as (for example) “single piece weight member 102a, 102b, and etc.” If the description is common to all of the various members, elements, sections/portions, components, parts, or any other aspects (functional or otherwise) or features or concepts or operations of a device(s) or method(s) such as (for example) to all single piece weight member 102a, 102b, etc., then they may simply be referred to with reference number only and with no alphabet character such as (for example) “single piece weight member 102.”
Throughout the disclosure, references to tennis racket, tennis racket handle or grip are meant as illustrative, are for convenience of example, and for discussion purposes only. That is, the present invention should not be limited to the use of tennis rackets but may also be used (without much modifications, if any) for other equipment such as golf clubs or other sporting or non-sporting equipments that may require modification or change in weight distribution for a desired weight balance.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that when installed, modifies a weight distribution of a device to achieve a desired balancing of a weight of the device that is simple to manufacture and very easy to install.
One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus that is comprised of a single piece weight member that is generally configured commensurate with an existing, single piece component of a device to facilitate replacing the existing, single piece component of the device with the single piece weight member to modify a weight distribution of the device to a desired weight balance, with the single piece weight member having a greater weight than a component weight of the existing, single piece component of the device.
As further illustrated and indicated by arrows 108 and 154, a users may simply remove or detach existing, single piece component 104 in well known manner, and attach (also in a well known manner) in its place single piece weight member 102 as indicated. by arrow 110, resulting in modified weight balanced device 106 (shown in
Single piece weight member 102 may have an exoskeleton structure that encases or encapsulates weight material 212. The overall weight of single piece, integrally molded weight member 102 may vary in accordance with a weight of the material 212 (best shown in
It should be noted that although many well known methods for manufacturing single piece, integrally molded weight members 102 exist, one non-limiting exemplary known method may include using a plastic molded metal (or metal alloy) weight using existing molding processes. A plastic or other suitable types of molded weight material would form the exoskeleton structure within which the weight material is integrally molded and held to form single piece, integrally molded weight member 102. It should further be noted that single piece weight member 102 itself may comprise of weight material (e.g., various metals or metal alloys with varying weight without the exoskeleton structure). That is, the weight material itself may be molded into single piece weight member 102.
As exemplarily shown in
In this non-limiting, exemplary instance, single piece weight member 102a includes a base 118a configured commensurate with a base 120a of end cap 104a, which may in fact, include the same exact design and logo or brand of base 120a of end cap 104a visible to users, In this non-limiting, exemplary instance base 118a is octagonal shape with eight-(8) edges 136a, generally configured commensurate with that of end cap 104a that also has an octagonal shape with eight-(8) edges 138a.
Protruded from an interior facing surface 122a of base 118a is an engagement infrastructure 124a of single piece weight member 102a that is generally configured commensurate an engagement infrastructure 152 of the end cap 104a, enabling single piece weight member 102a to engage and securely connect with butt cap 114a. More specifically, in this non-limiting, exemplary instance, engagement infrastructure 124a (which is shaped like the engagement infrastructures 152 of end cap 114) is comprised of a groove 126a formed between interior facing surface 122a of base 118a and flanges 128a, with edge 130a of butt cap 114a engaging groove 126a of single piece weight member 102a.
As further illustrated, protruded from a surface 132a of flanges 128a is an optional, substantially cylindrical protuberance 134a that may form a “compartment” for weight material encapsulated (or molded) within member 102a, which when installed, is inserted within interior portion or hollow cavity 116a of handle 112a of racket 106a. As an optional, non--limiting example, cylindrical protuberance 134a may be provided with two cavities 140a and 142a, which may be used to integrally encase molded weighted material. It should be noted that protuberance 134a need not be cylindrical or have any cavities and further, may be configured in any desired shape independent of even the shape of end cap 114a so long as it may be inserted within interior portion or hollow cavity 116a of handle 112a, and does not interfere with the engagement of single piece weight member 102a with butt cap 114a.
As best illustrated in
As illustrated in
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail in language specific to structural features and or method acts, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as exemplary preferred forms of implementing the claimed invention. Stated otherwise, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Further, the specification is not confined to the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, while exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, end caps with other configurations not illustrated may also be replaced with weight end caps of generally corresponding matching shapes. Such variations and alternate embodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
It should further be noted that throughout the entire disclosure, the labels such as left, right, front, back, top, bottom, forward, reverse, clockwise, counter clockwise, up, down, or other similar terms such as upper, lower, aft, fore, vertical, horizontal, oblique, proximal, distal, parallel, perpendicular, transverse, longitudinal, etc. have been used for convenience purposes only and are not intended to imply any particular fixed direction or orientation. Instead, they are used to reflect relative locations and/or directions/orientations between various portions of an object.
In addition, reference to “first,” “second,” “third,” and etc. members throughout the disclosure (and in particular, claims) is not used to show a serial or numerical limitation but instead is used to distinguish or identify the various members of the group.
In addition, any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 Section 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of,” “act of” “operation of” or “operational act of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, Paragraph 6.
Claims
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a single piece weight member that is generally configured commensurate with an existing, single piece component of a device to facilitate replacing the existing, single piece component of the device with the single piece weight member to modify a weight distribution of the device to a desired weight balance, with the single piece weight member having a greater weight than a component weight of the existing, single piece component of the device. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- the single piece weight member is comprised of weight material.
3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- the single piece weight member is an exoskeleton structure that includes weight material.
4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- the single piece weight member replacing the existing, single piece component of the device modifies a weight distribution of the device for a desired weight balance.
5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- the weight of the single piece weight member may vary in accordance with a weight of a material integrated within the single piece weight member, with single piece weight member maintaining configuration adapted to replace the existing, single piece component of the device.
6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- the existing, single piece component is single piece, mountable element of a sporting equipment and the single piece weight member is a single piece weight mountable element of the sporting equipment that replaces the mountable element to modify a weight distribution of the racket for a desired weight balance.
7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein:
- a weight material of the single piece weight member is comprised of an alloy.
8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein:
- the alloy is a metal alloy.
9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- the device is a racket.
10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:
- an engagement infrastructure of the single piece weight member is generally configured commensurate with an engagement infrastructure of the existing, single piece component.
11. The apparatus, comprising:
- a single piece weight end cap that is generally configured commensurate with an existing, end cap of a racket to facilitate replacing the existing, end cap of the racket with the single piece weight end cap to modify a weight distribution of the racket to a desired weight balance, with the single piece weight end cap having a greater weight than the existing, end cap of the racket.
12. The apparatus, comprising:
- multiplicity of single piece weight end caps that have different weights are generally configured commensurate with an existing, end cap of a racket, with a single piece weight end cap of desired weight of the multiplicity single piece weight end caps replacing the existing, end cap of the racket with the single piece weight end cap to modify a weight distribution of the racket to a desired weight balance, with the single piece weight end cap having a greater weight than the existing, end cap of the racket.
13. A method for modifying weight distribution of a device, comprising:
- providing a exoskeleton structure;
- providing a weight material;
- integrally molding the exoskeleton structure with the weight material, forming a single piece, integrally molded weight member that is generally configured commensurate with an existing, single piece component of a device;
- the single piece, integrally molded weight member having a greater weight than the existing, single piece component of the device;
- modify a weight distribution of the device to a desired weight balance in accordance with: removing the existing, single piece component of the device; and replacing the removed existing, single piece component of the device with the single piece, integrally molded weight member.
14. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:
- the weight of the single piece, integrally molded weight member may vary in accordance with a weight of a material integrated within the single piece weight member, with single piece weight member maintaining configuration adapted to replace the existing, single piece component of the device.
15. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:
- the existing, single piece, integrally molded component is single piece, mountable element of a sporting equipment and the single piece weight member is a single piece weight mountable element of the sporting equipment that replaces the mountable element to modify a weight distribution of the racket for a desired weight balance.
16. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:
- a weight material of the single piece, integrally molded weight member is comprised of an alloy.
17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein:
- the alloy is a metal alloy.
18. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:
- the device is a racket.
19. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:
- the component is an end cap.
20. The method as set forth in claim 13, wherein:
- the single piece, integrally molded weight member is a single piece weight end cap.
21. The method as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:
- providing a multiplicity of single piece, integrally molded weight members that have different weights and are generally configured commensurate with an existing, component of the device.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 13, 2015
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2016
Inventor: Greg Gormley (Manchaca, TX)
Application Number: 14/657,364