Spin and durability improving machine for playing rackets and methods thereof

Abstract

The current invention aims at improving the playability, durability, and spin generation of different playing rackets, as tennis, squash, and badminton rackets. The method to do so is by applying mechanical forces which generate relative motion of the latitudinal strings over the longitudinal strings. This is done in order to create friction that generate depressions in the contact points of the latitudinal strings with the longitudinal strings. These depressions, made by the described method and machine, induce more friction, and generate spin, while increasing the playability and durability during the play.

Claims

1. A tennis racket spin and durability improving machine comprising: a. at least one string holder useful for moving a latitudinal string of a strung racket sideways in the longitudinal strings direction, comprising: (i) at least one protrusion (tooth) which can be placed besides a string (ii) a holder frame, said holder frame is interconnected to all said protrusions of the string holder. Said holder frame is interconnected with either the racket holder (b) or the force generating mechanism (c) or both of them (b and c); b. a racket holder useful for setting the racket in place, comprising: at least one racket frame holder of a general form useful for holding the racket directly. Said racket holder is interconnected to said string holder(s) (a) directly or via a force generating mechanism (c); and c. at least one force generating mechanism, of a general form, useful for repetitively moving said string holder(s) back and forth in approximately the longitudinal strings axis direction. Said force generating mechanism is interconnected to said string holder(s) (a).

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the racket holder, string holder and force generation mechanism fit at least one sports racket type from the group of tennis, squash and badminton.

3. The machine according to claims 1 to 2, wherein said string holder is used for applying additional force in the direction perpendicular to the racket's plain, in a magnitude of up to 5000 N, in order to increase the friction between the latitudinal and longitudinal strings and accelerate the abrasive process.

4. The machine according to claims 1 to 3, wherein each latitudinal string held by the string holder(s) is applied with maximal force in the longitudinal direction of up to 10,000 N.

5. The machine according to claims 1 to 4, wherein said machine is combined with a racket stringing machine. Said racket holder is used for both sport racket improving machine and stringing machine functionalities. Such a combined machine comprising at least, additional string tension generating mechanism capable of pulling the strings while stringing the racket and a hinge on which the racket holder can rotate horizontally. The hinge is useful for rotating the racket in order to redirect the racket so that the threaded string will face about the direction of said string tension generating mechanism.

6. The machine according to claims 1 to 5, wherein the movement of the latitudinal strings over the longitudinal ones is relative, including the movement of the racket by the machine when at list one of the latitudinal strings is held in place.

7. The machine according to claims 1 to 6, wherein the force generating mechanism is of a general vibrating nature.

8. The machine according to claims 1 to 7, wherein said sports racket improving machine is connected to a monitor, which measures the friction of the movement of the latitudinal strings over the longitudinal strings using force resistance measurements or vibration relaxation times as a means of indicating the depth of the depressions formed by the machine.

9. A method of generating depressions on strung sports racket latitudinal strings wherein said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a sports racket; holding a strung racket in place, approximately in the same position; b. applying mechanical forces on at least one latitudinal string in order to rub it back and forth over the longitudinal strings in the contact points; and c. continuing the process until depressions up to 2 mm in depth are formed at any desired part of the latitudinal strings.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the movement of the latitudinal strings over the longitudinal ones is relative, including the movement of the racket when at list one of the latitudinal strings is held in place.

11. The method of claims 9 to 10, wherein the sports racket is a tennis racket or a squash racket or a badminton racket.

12. The method of claims 9 to 11, useful for creating depressions on both the latitudinal strings and the longitudinal strings. Wherein, providing said machine of claim 5, both the latitudinal and longitudinal strings are treated according to the latitudinal strings' treatment of method 9. This addition requires the rotation of the racket or the string holder(s) by about 90 degrees in the racket's plain.

13. A sports racket comprising a strung racket, wherein the latitudinal strings include depressions formed by said method of claim 9

14. The sports racket of claim 13 wherein said improved sports racket is a tennis or squash or badminton racket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0027] The assumed key elements of the spin and durability improving machine for playing rackets and the method thereof according to the present invention, are provided below by way of example. Structural features along with operational methods and objectives will be better deduced considering these figures. Substantial emphasis should be placed on the fact that the drawings are for illustration and clarification purposes only, and are not intended to be a definition of the limits of this invention. In the following figures:

[0028] FIGS. 1 to 3 are illustrations of the spin and durability improving machine for playing rackets together with a playing racket sample, wherein: FIGS. 1 and 2 are of different points of view and FIG. 3 is a sectional close up of the racket holder and operating string holder of the machine in FIG. 2;

[0029] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a playing racket;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a sectional schematic view of a part of two longitudinal strings and two latitudinal strings, which are interweaved together as part of the strings of a playing racket;

[0031] FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional close up of the strings of a playing racket while being processed by the spin and durability improving machine for playing rackets in the method described by the current invention;

[0032] FIG. 7 corresponds to the result of the process illustrated in FIG. 6 which resulted in the depressions on the latitudinal strings on the rubbing points;

[0033] FIG. 8 corresponds to the slightly untangled illustration of the strings in FIG. 7, made for the reason of the latitudinal depressions being visualized better in an unwoven view; and

[0034] FIG. 9 is a photograph of the strings of a used tennis racket after the longitudinal strings snapped.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 to 3 that illustrate the structure and operation of the spin and durability improving machine 100 for playing rackets which processes a strung playing racket 200. The aforementioned machine 100 comprises: at least one string holder 110, a racket holder 120 and at least one force generating mechanism 130. The racket, which can represent a tennis racket, a squash racket or a badminton racket for instance, comprises a racket handle 210; a racket frame 220; and two interweaved strings: the longitudinal strings 231, which correspond to the strings that are parallel to the racket handle and the latitudinal strings 232, which are perpendicular to said racket handle 210. The string holder 110 comprises at least one protrusion (tooth) 117, which can be placed besides a string as seen in FIG. 3; a holder frame 113 which can be connected to the teeth directly or to a couple of parallel teeth through a connector 112. Said string holder 110 is connected in FIGS. 1 to 3 to a force generating mechanism 130, through a shaft 111. The aforementioned force generating mechanism includes also a screen 131 and gauges 132 and is interconnected to the racket holder 120. The racket holder includes fasteners 121 which hold the racket in place. As demonstrated in the figures, the teeth of the holder are positioned to the sides of the latitudinal strings of the racket. The movement of said string holder 110, generated by the force generating mechanism 130, causes the connected latitudinal string to move back and forth—rubbing it against the longitudinal strings 231. Maintaining this motion will result gradually in the creation of latitudinal depressions, which are oriented towards the longitudinal strings in the connection points between the two string types. It should be noted that the force generating mechanism stated in this invention is of a general nature and thus can be assembled in several mimicking combinations according to its operating mechanism. Additionally, several string holders, each with several teeth can be used for operating simultaneously on a single racket.

[0036] Reference to FIG. 4 which details the different parts of a playing racket 200 of general form, which can be fitted to a tennis racket, a squash racket and a badminton racket. Said racket comprises a racket handle 210, a racket frame 220 and shows in more detail the longitudinal strings 231 and the latitudinal strings 232. Arrows 300 and 390 demonstrate the latitudinal strings axis and longitudinal strings axis directions correspondingly. Plain 333 of the racket is the plain which includes both axes.

[0037] FIG. 5 highlights the curvature of a part of two longitudinal strings 231 and two latitudinal strings 232, when strung together in a playing racket 200. New strings, as illustrated, lack depressions on the contact points of the two string types.

[0038] FIG. 6 demonstrates the method developed in this invention, whereby forces that are applied on the latitudinal strings 232 by the string holder 110, create a back and forth motion in the direction of the longitudinal axis, as signified by the double-headed arrow 393. The interaction of the teeth 117 of the holder with the strings indicates that it is preferable for these teeth to be close to the string, wrapping it from both sides. The teeth should also hold the string due to their shape and position, for instance being perpendicular to the racket's plain or having a concave curvature to hold the strings. This way, the movement of the string holder will act instantaneously on the string and prevent the string from being damaged or sliding out of the string holder grip. Furthermore, this illustration substantiates the equivalence of the latitudinal strings and the longitudinal strings, which permits the method to work on the longitudinal strings as well for creating longitudinal depressions in addition to latitudinal ones.

[0039] In FIG. 7 the longitudinal and latitudinal strings, which were demonstrated earlier in FIG. 5, are now presented subsequent to treatment by the method and machine disclosed in this invention. Latitudinal depressions have been formed in the contact points of the two string types, and the longitudinal strings are now settled inside these depressions.

[0040] FIG. 8 displays the longitudinal strings 231 slightly untangled from the latitudinal strings 232 in comparison to FIG. 7, unveiling the latitudinal depressions 999 which were created by the spin and durability improving machine for playing rackets and the method thereof described in this invention. It is evident that when the longitudinal strings are settled in these depressions, their movement capabilities in the latitudinal axis direction is more limited. FIGS. 6 to 8 are drawn not to scale, for illustration purposes.

[0041] Lastly, FIG. 9 is a photograph of the strings of a used tennis racket after the longitudinal strings have snapped, without the use of the current method. Normal play depressions are clear evidence of the erosion of the longitudinal strings during usage of this racket. These depressions are scattered along the strings and were positioned at the touching points with the latitudinal strings, before one longitudinal string snapped and caused the longitudinal strings to retreat to the current position.

[0042] The present disclosure of the claims will enable a person skilled in the art to utilize and manufacture the present invention. Such a person will recognize that changes may be applied in form and details of the claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the following disclosure, but to include the scope with all aforementioned changes.