Flexible Pole for Striking Games

Abstract

The invention relates to sports equipment. A flexible pole for striking games comprises several different cables connected to a projectile. The pole comprises a main metal cable, the top and bottom of which are fastened by rings, inside which rings inner cables pass. A number of these inner cables is wound around the main cable and the remaining cables in a spiral and secured by ordinary closely-spaced coils across the entire length of the pole, and also at the beginning and end of the spiral. At the end of the structure there is a fastening assembly, to which a projectile is fastened. A part or all of the structure of the flexible pole is insulated by layers of insulation, the fastening assembly being insulated separately in order to enable easy replacement thereof. The result is the high strength and durability of the entire structure and of the sports projectile fastened thereto; and the simple, robust and easily replaceable fastening of the projectile.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A flexible pole for striking games, comprising: several different conductors connected to a projectile; a main metal conductor, the top and bottom of which are fastened by rings, inside which inner conductors pass, wherein a number of the inner conductors are wound around the main metal conductor and any remaining conductors are arranged in a spiral and secured by ordinary closely-spaced coils across an entire length of the pole, wherein at a beginning and an end of the spiral, at the end of the structure, there is a fastening assembly, to which the projectile is fastened, a part or entire structure of the flexible pole is insulated by layers of insulation, the fastening assembly being insulated separately in order to enable easy replacement thereof.

11. The pole according to claim 10, wherein, inside the projectile or on the flexible pole itself near the projectile, a measurement sensor is connected by a cable with an electronic processing assembly, wherein the cable is located between the layers of insulation.

12. The pole according to claim 10, characterized in that the fastening assembly is designed as a loop from a flexible cable.

13. The pole according to claim 12, wherein the loop is made of a steel stranded cable with a diameter ranging from 2 to 4 mm.

14. The pole according to claim 10, wherein the fastening assembly is designed as a U-shaped arc with an axis.

15. The pole according to claim 10, wherein the fastening assembly is reticulated.

16. The pole according to claim 10, wherein the main metal conductor is made of galvanized carbon steel with a length from 200 to 700 mm and a diameter from 2.5 to 5 mm.

17. The pole according to claim 10, wherein the inner conductors are made of flexible galvanized carbon steel with a diameter from 0.5 to 2 mm and length from 500 to 1.000 mm.

18. The pole according to claim 10, wherein the layers of insulation include a soft insulating tape or a shrink-on plastic cladding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0037] In the FIG. 1-3 as an example, the variant of FPSG SAN 2000 with the use of a tennis ball as a projectile is shown, in the FIG. 4of a volleyball.

[0038] In the FIG. 1, the general view of flexible pole for striking games SAN 2000 with the identification of the main areas of the pole design is shown.

[0039] In the FIG. 2, there is a structure of flexible pole for striking games SAN 2000 without insulation with cuts in the main areas, fastening assembly is designed as a loop made of flexible cable.

[0040] In the FIG. 3, there is a view of flexible pole for striking games SAN 2000 with fastening assembly as a U-shaped arc with axis.

[0041] In the FIG. 4, a view of flexible pole for striking games SAN 2000 with a reticulated fastening assembly is shown.

[0042] The following designations are used in the figures: main metal conductor 1, inner conductors 2, 3, insulation 4, surface insulation 5, fastening assembly as a loop made of flexible cable 6, bottom 7 and top 8 pole rings, measuring sensor 9, projectile 10, fastening assembly as a U-shaped arc 11 with axis 13, reticulated fastening assembly 12, cable 14, electronic processing assembly 15, main areas of pole structure: straight 16, spiral 17, area 18 of fastening.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The device is a flexible structure of several metal conductors of different diameters and steel grades, strung together alternately along the entire length of the pole. At the end of the structure, there is a fastening assembly, which is designed for attaching balls of various types and measuring sensors.

[0044] Unlike the above analogs, the flexible pole for striking games SAN 2000 structurally consists of the main areas: straight 16 and spiral 17, which have high reliability, required flexibility and springiness, and main striking load fastening 18 area. The fastening assembly can easily be replaced in case of failure, thereafter extending the life of the entire flexible pole by several times.

[0045] Besides, analog (flexible band of training device Tennisan) structure, as well as structures of other products of similar designation implies only one method of fastening the ball and only one type of a ball, and therefore only one option for the operation of such training devices.

[0046] In contrast to the known devices, FPSG SAN 2000 is designed for various options and modes of use, its design allows to attach balls of various sizes both with a fastener assembly as a loop of a flexible cable 6 (FIG. 2) and using reticulated fastening assembly 12 for larger balls or other similar sports equipment projectile (see FIG. 4). One of the options for the use of FPSG SAN 2000 is fastening to the end of the flexible pole of the U-shaped arch 11 with the ball rotating on the axis 13, as shown in the FIG. 3. This allows combining all the advantages of a flexible pole to ensure the naturalness of the stroke with the possibility to train various strokes with the rotation of the ball.

[0047] A separate way is the possibility of fastening various measuring sensors at the end of the flexible pole of the FPSG SAN 2000. At the same time, it is possible to combine the possibility of striking any force the projectile 10 at the end of the flexible pole and taking readings from this projectile 10 placed inside or on the most flexible pole near this projectile measuring sensor 9 and transferring them via cable 14 to the electronic processing assembly 15.

[0048] In order to achieve the above technical results and operational characteristics of the FPSG SAN 2000, three areas can be structurally identified (see FIG. 1, FIG. 2 sectional view):

[0049] First areaaggregate fastening area, includes the main metal conductor 1 made of galvanized carbon steel with a length from 200 to 700 mm and a diameter from 2.5 to 5 mm (the dimensions are determined by the model and purpose of the modification of FPSG SAN 2000). This main conductor 1 begins and ends with the rings: bottom 7 and top 8, inside which all other metal elements pass: inner conductors 2, 3conductors made of flexible galvanized carbon steel with a diameter from 0.5 to 2 mm and length from 500 to 1.000 mm (number and dimensions of which are identified by model and purpose of the modification of FPSG SAN 2000).

[0050] Each of metal inner conductors 3 is wound spiral-like around the main metal conductor 1 and other ones 2 fixed with conventional turns after a short distance: e.g. every 2-4 turns, as well as at the beginning and end of the twisting (see FIG. 2).

[0051] The applied scheme of winding significantly increases the overall strength, flexibility and value of the elastic limit of the entire structure of FPSG SAN 2000.

[0052] At the construction area, after the upper ring 8 (area 17), the number of inner conductors 2 may be reduced, depending on the modification, but the overall space configuration of the outer and inner conductors 2, 3 is spirally shaped and wound by the same principle as shown in FIG. 2. The combination of the high-strength straight area 16 and the spiral area 17 with increased flexibility makes it possible to attenuate rapidly the oscillations of the entire flexible pole and, accordingly, to return the projectile 10 (ball) to its original state with readiness for the next stroke.

[0053] The third areafastening area structurally contains a projectile fastening assembly and (or) a measuring sensor 9.

[0054] A fastening assembly based on flexible steel stranded cable with diameter ranging from 2 to 4 mm. The arrangement of the cable relative to the flexible pole makes it easy to insert the cable 6 into the ball 10 through a single hole in the ball with a diameter of 4-5 mm, followed by straightening the cable 6 in the ball and positioning it along the inside surface of the ball. However, we get an additional elastic structure inside the ball, which reliably fixes the ball on the flexible pole when striking, and takes on some part of the kinetic energy of the stroke, prolonging the service life of the projectile and the entire flexible pole.

[0055] When the cable 6 is worn out, it is sufficient to replace it and insulation 4, 5 only in the fastener section, essentially prolonging the overall service life of the entire flexible pole.

[0056] To give extra elasticity, aesthetics, as well as for injury prevention and safety of inventory, a part or entire structure of the flexible pole is insulated by several layers of insulation (1-2 layers). As the insulation 4, a soft insulating tape may be used, as a surface insulation 5, a shrink-on colored plastic cladding may also be used. Moreover, the fastening assembly is isolated separately to enable easy replacement thereof.

[0057] In the measuring modification of the flexible pole, between the insulation layers there is a cable 14 connecting the measuring sensor 9 and the electronic processing assembly 15.

[0058] The fastening schemes to the flexible pole of the fastening assembly in the form of a U-shaped arch with the axis 13 for a projectile 10 for a tennis ball for working out strokes with rotation, as well as the method of fastening to a flexible pole of a projectile 10 of a volleyball with a grid 12 are shown in the FIG. 3, 4.

[0059] Thus, the developed device provides the required flexibility and springiness, convenience in operation and repair, long service life, and is multifunctional in use.

[0060] The performed analysis of prior art revealed that the claimed set of essential features, described in the claims, is unknown. This equates to conclude that claimed technical decision complies with patentability condition novelty.

[0061] Comparative analysis in prior art has shown that there are no solutions, which have the features coinciding with the features of the claimed invention, as well as the knowledge of the effect of these features on the technical result is not confirmed. Thus, the claimed technical solution satisfies the condition for patentability inventive level.

[0062] The information given, as well as the experience of successful use of the flexible pole in sports simulators for tennis, volleyball, boxing (www.tennisan.com), confirms the possibility of using the claimed flexible pole for striking games SAN 2000 as a sports equipment that can be used for training, setting, testing and development of strokes, as well as for measuring various physical parameters of the stroke, therefore the claimed invention complies with the condition for patentability industrial applicability.