Table tennis assembly tool

Abstract

A table tennis assembly apparatus is provided. The table tennis assembly apparatus may provide a base substrate and an overlaying cutting substrate. Along at least one peripheral of the base substrate may be a bar panel and or one or more clamps. Each clamp is for urging a first force distributor to sandwich a table tennis blade, in a uniform manner, against a glued table tennis rubber supported by the base substrate. After a predetermined amount of time a user may swap the first force distributor for a smaller second force distributor, enabling the user to trim the table tennis rubber around the perimeter of the blade.

Claims

1. A method of attaching a rubber layer to a blade portion of a table tennis racket, comprising: providing the rubber layer, wherein the rubber layer is more than coextensive with the blade portion; providing a table tennis assembly apparatus, comprising: a base substrate; one or more clamps attached to the base substrate; and a first force distributor; applying an adhesive to a first surface the rubber layer; laying the rubber layer along an opposing second surface on the base substrate; sandwiching the blade portion against said first surface through urging the first force distributor by way of the one or more clamp; and trimming the rubber layer so as to be generally coextensive with the blade portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the base substrate is dimensioned so that an entirety of a handle of said table tennis racket extends beyond a periphery of the base substrate when sandwiching the blade portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the table tennis assembly apparatus further comprises one or more side bar panel attached along a periphery of the base substrate, and wherein the blade portion is inward of the one or more side bar panel when sandwiching the blade portion.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the table tennis assembly apparatus further comprises a cutting substrate attached to the base substrate so that the cutting substrate is sandwiched between the blade portion and the base substrate.

5. The method of claim 1, further providing a second force distributor, wherein the second force distributor is up to one-half in surface area of the first force distributor, and replacing the first distributor with the second distributor prior to trimming the rubber layer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a surface area of the base substrate is 22 centimeters by 30 centimeters.

7. A method of attaching a rubber layer to a blade portion of a table tennis racket, comprising: providing the rubber layer, wherein the rubber layer is more than coextensive with the blade portion; providing a table tennis assembly apparatus, comprising: a base substrate; a cutting substrate attached to the base substrate; one or more clamps attached to the base substrate; one or more side bar panel attached along a periphery of the base substrate; a first force distributor; a second force distributor, wherein the second force distributor is up to one-half in surface area of the first force distributor applying an adhesive to a first surface the rubber layer; laying an opposing second surface of the rubber layer along the cutting substrate, wherein the blade portion is inward of the one or more side bar panel when sandwiching the blade portion; sandwiching the blade portion against said first surface through urging the first force distributor by way of the one or more clamp, wherein the base substrate is dimensioned so that an entirety of a handle of said table tennis racket extends beyond a periphery of the base substrate when sandwiching the blade portion; replacing the first distributor with the second distributor after said adhesive as dried; and trimming the rubber layer so as to be generally coextensive with the blade portion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a surface area of the base substrate is 22 centimeters by 30 centimeters.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a clamp of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use; and

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

(7) Broadly, the present invention may include a table tennis assembly apparatus providing a base substrate and an overlaying cutting substrate. Along at least one peripheral of the base substrate may be a bar panel and or one or more clamps. Each clamp is for urging a first force distributor to sandwich a table tennis blade, in a uniform manner, against a glued table tennis rubber supported by the base substrate. After a predetermined amount of time a user may swap the first force distributor for a smaller second force distributor, enabling the user to trim the table tennis rubber around the perimeter of the blade.

(8) Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention includes a table tennis assembly apparatus 100 providing a base substrate 14, a self-healing cutting substrate 12, a one or more bar panels 10, one or more clamps 16, and a force distributor 18. In certain embodiments, the base substrate 14 may measure 22 cm in height30 cm in width and 2 cm in depth; the self-healing cutting substrate 12 measuring 22 cm in height30 cm in width and 0.16 cm in depth; the one or more bar panels may be two opposing side bar panels generally rectangular in shape and having a 5 cm width and 0.5 cm depth as well as a top bar panel, also rectangular, measuring 3.8 cm in height20 cm in width and 0.5 cm in depth; each clamp 16 may be a side-mount hold-down toggle clamps having a handle-open angle of 60 degrees, a bar-open angle or 85 degrees, and a holding capacity of 90 Kg/198 pounds; and the force distributor 18 may be rectangular and measuring 18.2 cm in height20 cm in width and 0.5 cm in depth or measuring 15 cm in height5 cm in width and 0.5 cm in depth. Most importantly, it should be understood that the above dimensions are approximates, as the dimensioning can vary as long as the present invention functions as disclosed herein.

(9) A method of assembling the present invention may include the following. A user may attach the cutting substrate 12 to the base substrate 14 using an adhesive or other joining method. Then the user may attach the two side bar panels 10 on opposing ends (left and right), as illustrated in the Figures. In certain embodiments, the attachment may be made by drilling holes through the relevant side bar panel 10 and cutting substrate 12 and base substrate 14, and then using fasteners 24, such as screws and washers. Such fasteners 24 may simultaneous attach the clamps 16 to the side bar panel 10 through the respective side bar 10, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. Fastening holes in the base substrate 14 should be counter-sunk so that the fasteners 24 (e.g., nut and washer) do not protrude below the base substrate 14.

(10) Once so assembled, the force distributors 18 may be placed between one or both clamps 16 and the table tennis rubber 22 or blade 20 to distribute the force of the clamping to avoid damage to the table tennis rubber 22 or blade 20. In one embodiment of the assembly apparatus 100, one force distributor 18 is approximately the size of a new sheet of table tennis rubber 22, and is typically used during the drying process, while a smaller force distributor 18 is provided to avoid damaging the table tennis rubber 22 or blade 20 during the cutting process.

(11) A method of using the present invention may include the following. The assembly apparatus 100 disclosed above may be provided. A table tennis rubber sheet 22 may be placed on the upper surface of the cutting substrate 12 between the opposing side bars 10 and below the top side bar 10. Table tennis glue (not shown) is applied across the back surface of the rubber 22. The blade 20 may be placed on top of the table tennis rubber 22, so that the side of the blade 20 which is being attached is placed onto the side with the glue. The handle 26 of the table tennis racket protrudes from the side of the base substrate 14 which does not have a side or top bar 10. The larger force distributor 18 is placed on top of the racket surface that is not being glued. The clamps 16 fastened to the side bars 10 are lowered onto the force distributor 18. The clamp 16 may be adjusted to ensure that there is enough force to secure the racket onto the cutting substrate 12. Once the glue has dried, the clamps 16 are raised, and the smaller force distributor 18 may be used to secure the racket. The rubber sheet 22 that was glued is below the blade 20, with the rubber sheet 22 placed on the cutting substrate 12. The smaller force distributor 18 may be placed on top of the racket and the racket is secured to the cutting substrate 12 by the urging of the force distributor 18 down on the racket using one of the clamps 16. The rubber 22 on the side of the racket which is not clamped is cut to the size of the blade 20 using a suitable blade. The smaller force distributor 18 may be moved to the opposite clamp 16 when the force distributor 18 impedes the cutting progress along the edge of the blade 20. The racket is secured onto the other clamp 16 and the remainder of the rubber 22 may be cut along the edge of the blade 20. For table tennis rackets that have two playing surfaces, the process is repeated for the surface of the blade 20 that does not have an applied sheet of rubber 22. If the table tennis rubber 22 had already been cut to the size of the table tennis blade 20, the assembly apparatus 100 can be used to attach the sheet of rubber 22 to the blade 20. Table tennis glue may be applied across the back surface of the rubber 22. The blade 20 may be placed on top of the table tennis rubber 22, so that the side of the blade 20 which is being attached is placed onto the side with the glue and the edges of the rubber sheet align with the edges of the blade 20. The handle of the table tennis racket protrudes from the side of the platform which does not have a side or top bar 10. The rectangular force distributor 18 may be placed on top of the racket surface that is not being glued. The clamps 16 from the opposing side bars are lowered onto the force distributor 18. The clamp 16 may be adjusted to ensure that there is enough force to secure the racket onto the cutting substrate 12. The clamp 16 may be selectively adjusted to ensure that there is enough force to secure the racket 20 onto the cutting substrate 12. Once the glue has dried, the clamps 16 are raised and the completed racket can be removed.

(12) The cutting substrate 12 is adapted to prevent damage to the base substrate 14 during the rubber cutting process. The opposing side bars 10 allow the assembly apparatus 100 to be used with thicker blades 20 and rubbers 22. Without them, very thick blades 20 may not be adjusted with the proper force when the rubber 22 is being glued onto the blade 20. The top bar 10 helps to ensure that a new rubber sheet 22 is aligned squarely onto the blade 20, while also having the benefit of securing the rectangular force distributor 18 on the base substrate when the assembly apparatus 100 is being stored. Two clamps 16 allows the force to be evenly distributed from both sides of the force distributor 18 during the glue drying process. The force distributors 18 help to prevent the force applied to secure the racket to the base substrate 14 from damaging the table tennis rubber 22 or the table tennis blade 20. Without the force distributors 18, round holes or marks may be seen in the rubber 22 or blade 20 after the clamps 16 have been removed from a previously secured racket. The cutting substrate may be made from self-healing material so as to be less likely to inflict damage the rubber sheets 22 over time. The base substrate 14 can be constructed of different materials, using a 3d printer or plastic molding, in a way that replaces the need for the separate cutting substrate 12 and/or the side bar panels 10.

(13) It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the use of directional terms such as upper, lower, upward, downwardly, top and the like are used in relation to the illustrative embodiments as they are depicted in the figures, the upward direction (or upper) being toward the top of the corresponding figures and a downward direction being toward the bottom of the corresponding figures.

(14) It should also be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.