EP2376202A2 - Outil d'alignement de cordes de raquette - Google Patents

Outil d'alignement de cordes de raquette

Info

Publication number
EP2376202A2
EP2376202A2 EP09835606A EP09835606A EP2376202A2 EP 2376202 A2 EP2376202 A2 EP 2376202A2 EP 09835606 A EP09835606 A EP 09835606A EP 09835606 A EP09835606 A EP 09835606A EP 2376202 A2 EP2376202 A2 EP 2376202A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
strings
racket
projections
additionally
alignment apparatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09835606A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
String Pro Systems LLC
Original Assignee
String Pro Systems LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by String Pro Systems LLC filed Critical String Pro Systems LLC
Publication of EP2376202A2 publication Critical patent/EP2376202A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B51/00—Stringing tennis, badminton or like rackets; Strings therefor; Maintenance of racket strings
    • A63B51/015—String-aligning tools
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B51/00—Stringing tennis, badminton or like rackets; Strings therefor; Maintenance of racket strings

Definitions

  • the invention herein disclosed relates generally to stringed rackets employed for games such as tennis and racket ball. More particularly it relates to an alignment tool adapted for a concurrent rolled engagement with the strings of a game racket which provides an alignment of the strings and overlaps to form an evenly spaced grid with a substantially perpendicular arrangement.
  • Stringed-rackets for ball playing games such as tennis, racket ball and squash, have been employed by game participants for many decades.
  • rackets are used in tennis and other games of sport where a projectile such as a ball is batted about by and between the contestants during a game or match.
  • the strings are formed of natural or synthetic material.
  • the strings are engaged through apertures in the racket frame and crisscross within a cavity or aperture in the racket defined by the interior circumference of the racket frame.
  • the strings are conventionally intertwined with each generally in a substantially perpendicular arrangement to each other in a somewhat woven engagement.
  • This perpendicular woven engagement forms a racket face. It is this face formed within the racket aperture within the frame, which is employed by the user to hit the intended game projectile such as a ball or birdie.
  • the racket face is formed by intertwined strings made from synthetic material or animal gut which are crisscrossed substantially in two directions through the apertures communicating through the generally circular or oval racket frame defining the racket aperture.
  • substantial time may be taken to intertwine these strings over and under each other in a carefully formed pattern.
  • the result of this stringing process yields a plurality of substantially equal sized rectangles of crisscrossed strings in a large racket face within the racket aperture.
  • This careful string pattern and careful tensioning of the strings during the stringing operation and pattern formation yields what is generally known as a "sweet spot" in a central area of the stringed racket face. This is the spot in the woven string pattern forming the face which generally imparts sufficient force to rebound the ball especially well toward the other player, and with the most accurate trajectory.
  • the stringed racket face such as in tennis, impacts the ball with force sufficient to propel it back toward the other player at speeds in excess of ninety miles an hour or more.
  • Other sports employing stringed rackets also impact projectiles continually during play. The impact of the ball or projectile used, against the stringed face of the racket, over time, will generally impact individual string portions. These constant collisions of projectile and strings will over time cause the strings to move in relation to each other and throw the original stringed pattern out of alignment.
  • the sweet spot on the racket face is affected for both accuracy and impartable force upon the projectile.
  • Uneven string patterns and changed areas of the formed rectangles can shift the sweet spot from the racket center, make it smaller in size, and form areas of uneven impact force against the ball or projectile.
  • One conventional tool is that of picks or rods which are employed by the player to try a realignment.
  • the player forces the strings to new positions by holding onto the rod or pick at a first end, and employing a distal end for pushing on or hooking and pulling individual strings.
  • forcing individual portions of individual strings leaves the ultimate relative string placement up to the eye of the user.
  • Misalignment by keying off of a misaligned string, or just poor eyesight, can yield unpredictable results in the formed racket face. Further, many players lack the dexterity and physical strength to hold and employ these types of devices.
  • Another conventional tool offered for users to repair string alignment and spacing features a roller with crisscrossed depressions in the roller face to form shoulder projections on the roller. These projections are generally sized to form rectangles when forced into the woven string patterns of the racket face and form a weave with generally even size and distribution of formed rectangles.
  • roller alignment devices have a roller face appearance similar to a waffle iron only with the projections spaced around the surface of a cylinder.
  • these devices suffer from a severe flaw in their inability to engage with the strings immediately adjacent to the racket frame. Since the straightness of the strings from the apertures in the frame determines the evenness of the pattern formed, this inability to engage and rectify misalignments next to the racket frame is a severe handicap. This inability to engage and properly space and size the squares of the woven string forming the face immediately adjacent to the racket frame thus renders conventional roller alignment tools less than satisfactory.
  • Such a device should provide for equal or even rectangles in the string pattern as a matter of course. Such a device should also be engageable in between the travers strings of the face, across substantially the entire racket face. Such a device should also be deployable and engage with the rectangular string over crossings immediately adjacent to the racket frame and thereby realign the entire face without the need for additional tools. Still further, such a device should concurrently be able to apply emollient to the strings in areas of the country where play tends to dry strings, or to degrade the strings from U.V. exposure such as the desert where heat, low humidity, and sunlight can cause string shrinkage and damage.
  • the disclosed device provides a remedy to the noted shortcomings of conventional racket string alignment tools.
  • the device features a cylindrical rolling surface having projections thereon for engagement with the rectangular shaped patterns formed by traverse strings of the racket face.
  • the projections may also have a tapered rectangular shape being narrower at their distal ends.
  • This taper from narrow to wide rectangles thereby provides a means for easy engagement of the projections with the sides of strings in errant positions at the smaller distal ends of the projections.
  • the taper to the larger rectangular base of the projections serves as a means to nudge the strings into proper rectangular positioning as the cylinder rolls over the face of the racket and the projections engage the rectangles formed by the strings.
  • the cylinder forming the base for the projections is engaged upon an axle which provides a means to roll the cylinder while the body to which the axle engages is held.
  • This axle is itself engaged preferably to a hemispherical shaped body portion which because of this shape is especially well adapted for comfortable engagement with the cup formed by the grip of the user's hand.
  • the device disclosed herein allows the user to comfortably grip the hemispherical shaped exterior body with the fingers, thumb, and curved palm of the hand. Placement of the axle inside the cupped hand engageable body maximizes the area of force imparted to the hand by the realignment action and thereby provides a means to minimize the torque imparted to the user's hand during use. This cupped engagement and reduction of imparted force renders employment of the disclosed device much easier and less taxing on the hand and arm muscles of users.
  • the axle rotationally engaging the roller to the body is in a floating engagement at its distal ends, with mounts adjacent or upon the interior wall of the body.
  • This floating engagement allows one end of the axle and connected roller to rise or fall as opposed to the opposite end.
  • This floating engagement thus provides a means to maintain the roller projections engaged with rectangles formed by the strings, in the area of the racket face immediately adjacent to the racket frame interior edge while concurrently rolling the roller so engaged, to urge the strings in place.
  • the floating engagement of the axle in this fashion allows a portion of the hemispherically-shaped body, to lift its lower edge onto or over the surface of the racket frame when the roller engages the rectangles formed by the strings adjacent to the frame.
  • the plane of the side surface of the racket frame is higher than the plane of the racket face formed by strings through apertures in the frame.
  • the compact size of the device afforded by the hemispherically shaped body makes it is easily carried in the user's pocket or their racket bag without taking up a large amount of space, as do handled devices.
  • the device can be attached to the user's racket, bag, or clothing when not in use.
  • an applicator located adjacent to the bottom of the roller projections adjacent to the axle will provide a reservoir of lubricant or emollient that can be concurrently imparted to the strings during realignment.
  • This applicator and reservoir can be formed of foam adhered to the roller, or by employing a hollow roller with apertures at the base of the projections which would communicate liquid from liquid stored in the interior of the hollow roller and disbursed through the apertures by the centrifugal force of rolling.
  • It is an additional object of this invention is to provide such a device which works equally well in the middle of the racket face and immediately adjacent to the racket frame, to align the strings.
  • Fig.l is a side cut-away view of the device showing the hemispherically shaped body and engaged cover, and a floating axle mount inside the body with the roller adapted with tapered projections for engagement with and realignment of racket strings forming the face of a strung sports racket.
  • Fig. 2 is an end view of the device showing the tilt ability of the body portion provided by the floating engagement of the distal ends of the roller axle and a decorative covering for the body.
  • Fig. 3 depicts a cut away view of a mode of the device showing the floating axle engagement and a different body shape which may also engage a body cover or nameplate.
  • Fig. 4 depicts an end view of the device in figure 3 and showing the removable nameplate portion.
  • FIG 1 the slice through the device 10 showing the components thereof and their relative engagements and operation.
  • the device 10 features one or a plurality of cylinders 12 having a rolling surface 14 on the exterior circumference. On the rolling surface 14 are positioned a series of properly spaced projections 16 which extend from the rotating cylinder 12 surface 14 to a distal end with a taper 13 as shown, which narrows slightly as the projections 16 extend to their distal ends.
  • This taper 13 provides a means for easy engagement within rectangles formed by overlapping strings 18 employed in most rackets forming the face of the racket for hitting a projectile. After use to hit a projectile the strings 18 forming the rectangles can shift to form rectangles in odd sizes by errant string 18 positions caused by impacts of the projectile.
  • the taper 13 from the larger rectangular base of the projection 16 to the smaller distal end provides a means to engage in the rectangle formed of the overlapping strings 18 and to nudge the strings 18 into proper position to form the racket face as intended. This may be accomplished by palming the device 10 and pushing it across the strings 18 forming the racket face.
  • the face of a stringed racket is well known and need not be depicted.
  • the cylinder 12 rotates as the projections 16 extending from the rolling surface 14 continually engaging more of the racket face rectangles along its forward or rearward path depending on which way the device 10 is pushed or pulled by the hand of the user.
  • the cylinder 12 is rotationally engaged to a body 20 at an axle 22.
  • the axle 22 employs a means for a floating engagement 24 with the interior surface 26 of the body 20 as shown in figures 1-3. In figure 1 this is shown with a biasing means such as spring 27 to maintain the axle 22 centered but translatable on both ends.
  • this floating engagement 24 in all modes, provides a means to maintain the cylinder 12 and projections 14 engaged with the face and rectangles formed by the strings 18 when the device becomes adjacent to the racket frame 31 interior edge or overlaps it.
  • This function is especially important as it allows the device 10 to engage substantially all of the rectangles formed in the racket face while rolling the cylinder 12 and urging the strings 18 into proper positioning as they slide down the tapers 13 of the projections 16.
  • this floating engagement 24 providing a means to tilt to the body 20, yet maintain the axle 22 substantially parallel to the face of the racket formed by the overlapping strings 18 which extend between the aperture formed by the frame 31, the device 10 could not be engaged to the rectangles of the face since the body 20 would lift the projections 16 out of such an engagement or would not allow the projections 16 to slide down the taper 13 to fully reposition the strings 18 to properly form rectangles in the face adjacent to the frame 31.
  • other means for floating engagement of the axle 22 with a body may be employed and all such engagements are considered in the scope of this application.
  • a leash 30 may be engaged to the body 20 which has a fastener 32 such as a snap hook at the distal end.
  • This leash 30 would provide a means to secure the device 10 in a tennis bag or to the racket or such to prevent it from becoming lost.
  • the device 10 may have a fluid applicator 34 means, such as foam soaked with fluid, which will be positioned to lubricate or apply string treatments such as a fluid emollient to the strings 18, as the projections 16 urge them to proper position. In dry hot areas or when using string material such as gut, this could significantly improve the life span of the racket strings 18 and the device 10 would apply the liquid directly to the strings 18 while concurrently straightening them.
  • the bodies 20 may be engageable with body covers 21 having indicia 33 thereon identifying a source of the device 10 or where the user may have visited. This would be especially important to teams who might wish to put a team logo for engagement to the body 20, or a resort who might wish to sell souvenir covers 21 or bodies 20 bearing the resort name or logo as in figure 2.
  • a slot 23, as in figure 3 might be provided for engaging a nameplate 25, bearing indicia 33 such as a logo or words identifying source, place, or team or resort.
  • the device 10 may be provided in a kit form where different cylinders are provided having differently sized projectiles 16 extending therefrom.
  • the tapers 13 may also differ to allow the user to adapt the device 10 to engage the overlapping strings 18 of different rackets or different types of rackets and align them.
  • This kit function will allow the device to be provided with one or a plurality of different cylinders 12 each having differently sized or spaced projections 16 therefrom to engage the rectangles forming the face of differently types or differently strung rackets. The user would simply remove the axle 22 and cylinder 12 and replace it with one having projections 16 of proper size, spacing, taper, or other characteristics that may be varied in a kit of engageable cylinders 12.
  • the device 10 may also employ removable bodies 20 or bodies 20 adapted for covered engagement by the body cover 21 or similar shell.
  • These covers 21 or shells can be provided with novelty designs such as those that would look like bugs or small animals such as in figure 2, or could be provided with logos or designs from a particular resort. This would allow the user to alter the appearance of their device 10 to make it more identifiable for them from others, should it fall into a group of such devices 10. It would provide a means to help prevent theft by providing a means for customization of the device 10 for the user to a point where a thief or other user won't accidentally misidentify it.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
  • Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif d'alignement de cordes de raquette permettant d'aligner des cordes entrecroisées formant la face d'une raquette de sport. Le dispositif comprend un corps en forme de coupelle ou en forme hémisphérique à des fins de préhension facile par la paume et la main d'un utilisateur. Des saillies s'étendant depuis un rouleau en prise dans un axe ont des extrémités distales adaptées pour entrer facilement en prise dans des rectangles formés par les cordes de la face et les réaligner. L'axe se trouve en mise en prise flottante avec le corps pour permettre au corps de se disposer en carreaux tout en maintenant l'axe sensiblement parallèle à la face de la raquette que forment les cordes. Des applicateurs de fluide peuvent être situés entre les saillies pour appliquer un émollient sur les cordes et les rouleaux peuvent être en forme de kit pour pouvoir les changer en fonction des différentes dimensions des faces de raquette à rectangles de différentes dimensions selon un motif entrecroisé.
EP09835606A 2008-12-15 2009-12-15 Outil d'alignement de cordes de raquette Withdrawn EP2376202A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12264608P 2008-12-15 2008-12-15
PCT/US2009/068127 WO2010075114A2 (fr) 2008-12-15 2009-12-15 Outil d'alignement de cordes de raquette

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2376202A2 true EP2376202A2 (fr) 2011-10-19

Family

ID=42288377

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09835606A Withdrawn EP2376202A2 (fr) 2008-12-15 2009-12-15 Outil d'alignement de cordes de raquette

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US20100234148A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2376202A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP2012511968A (fr)
CN (1) CN102395406A (fr)
AU (1) AU2009330320A1 (fr)
MX (1) MX2011006411A (fr)
NZ (1) NZ594060A (fr)
WO (1) WO2010075114A2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110009217A1 (en) * 2009-07-13 2011-01-13 Dean Lautzenheiser String aligner
US20110256966A1 (en) * 2010-04-15 2011-10-20 Bartlomiej Cisek Device for aligning strings in a racquet

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2185411B (en) * 1986-01-08 1989-10-25 Sai Kit Ho Racket string straightener
US4989864A (en) * 1988-01-27 1991-02-05 Vaclay Ubl Racquet string straightener
US5035429A (en) * 1990-07-09 1991-07-30 Allan Redrow String straightener for tennis racket
AT395292B (de) * 1990-12-07 1992-11-10 Macknigg Johann Saitenrichter fuer ballschlaeger, beispielsweise tennisschlaeger
US5207423A (en) * 1991-07-29 1993-05-04 David Short Tennis racket string straightener
US5310181A (en) * 1992-10-20 1994-05-10 Stephen Chan Racquet string aligner
DE4401445C1 (de) * 1994-01-19 1995-06-08 Harren Ernst Diethelm Vorrichtung zum Richten von Saiten eines Geflechtes
US5441258A (en) * 1994-08-10 1995-08-15 Pagan; Salvador E. Racket string alignment tool
US5653441A (en) * 1996-08-21 1997-08-05 Woltanski; Theodore M. Racket string comb
KR100723578B1 (ko) * 2005-09-21 2007-05-31 황정우 라켓 스트링 교정구

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2010075114A2 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20100234148A1 (en) 2010-09-16
JP2012511968A (ja) 2012-05-31
WO2010075114A2 (fr) 2010-07-01
CN102395406A (zh) 2012-03-28
AU2009330320A1 (en) 2011-08-04
NZ594060A (en) 2014-01-31
MX2011006411A (es) 2012-06-25
WO2010075114A3 (fr) 2010-09-23

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