VIBRATION DAMPENER

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/312,576, filed on Mar. 24, 2016, in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a vibration dampener kit, a vibration dampener, and a method of using the vibration dampener.

2. Background Art

It is well known that each racket stroke causes high frequency vibrations of the racket. Farther from the center of the impact zone of a strung racket, the greater the vibration. These vibrations are detected and transmitted along the transverse and longitudinal strings of the racket, to the frame surrounding and holding the strings, and eventually down the racket handle to the hand and then the arm of the player. It has been shown that a player who has been exposed to extensive periods of racket-induced vibrations can sustain arm injury. Thus, it is considered desirable to reduce such vibrations both for the comfort of the player and for the protection of the player.

Throughout the years, numerous attempts have already been made in an endeavor to attenuate these vibrations, either by the employment of new materials within the construction of the frame, types of strings utilized, and by incorporating devices between the longitudinal and transverse strings. However, devices and apparatus' applied to longitudinal and transverse strings have failed to deliver lasting usability. Anti-vibration devices and apparatus' exhibited one of or many of the following defects, but not limited thereto:

(1) ineffectiveness due to the quality of a device;

(2) reliability involving breakages due to poor design;

(3) difficulties involved in their installation

(4) inability to securely fasten the device on to the strings; and

(5) complexity of utilization

Consequently, in view of the above-described shortcomings, a need still exists for another approach to vibration dampening in order to reflect today's current technology.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present invention, a vibration dampener kit for a sporting racket includes a strip formed of elastomeric material having a first end part and a second end part, the strip having a first incision at the first end part and a second incision at the second end part, at least one hooking member including a hollow body having a hole therein, and a hook formed at a side of the hollow body.

The at least one hooking member may include a pair of the hooking members or one hooking member.

The strip may be formed of rubber.

The at least one hooking member may be formed of rigid material.

A thickness of the strip may be in the range of 2 mm to 6 mm.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vibration dampener for a racket includes a strip formed of elastomeric material having a first end part and a second end part, the strip having a first incision at the first end part and a second incision at the second end part, and at least one hooking member including a hollow body having a hole into which the first end part is inserted and a hook formed at one side of the hollow body, wherein said at least one hooking member each is combined with the strip by inserting the first end part of the strip into the hole of the hollow body and pulling the elastomeric band until the strip and the hollow body makes a restraining knot.

The at least one hooking member may have a first hooking member combined with the strip at first end part of the strip, and a second hooking member combined with the strip at second end part of the strip. In this case, a method of applying the vibration dampener of to a racket having longitudinal strings and transverse strings includes weaving the strip over and under strings of either the longitudinal strings or the transverse strings, inserting the first end part of the strip into the hole of the first hooking member and pulling the strip until the strip and the hollow body of the first hooking member makes a restraining knot, hooking the hook of the first hooking member to a first string spaced apart and parallel to the strings over and under which the strip is weaved, inserting the first end part of the strip into the hole of the first hooking member and pulling the strip until the strip and the hollow body of the first hooking member makes a restraining knot, and

The at least one hooking member may have a single hooking members combined with the strip at one end of the vibration dampener. In this case, a method of applying the vibration dampener to a racket includes forming a loop by folding and inserting the first end part of the strip into the second incision, while one of the strings is being positioned in the folded strip, and pulling the strip until the strip makes contact on said one of the strings creating a restraining knot, inserting the second end part of the strip into the hole of the hooking member and pulling the strip until the strip and the hollow body of the hooking member makes a restraining knot, weaving the strip over and under strings of either the longitudinal strings or the transverse strings, said one of the strings parallel to the strings over and under which the strip is weaved, and hooking the hook of the hooking member to another string spaced apart and parallel to the strings over and under which the strip is weaved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown for purposes of illustration, and wherein

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the elastomeric strip of the vibration dampener according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hooking member including a hollow body having a hole and a hook according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of looping and knotting onto a string according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the elastomeric strip combined with the hooking member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a vibration dampener applied onto the strings according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a vibration dampener on a racket when both ends of the elastomeric strip has the hooking member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a vibration dampener on a racket when only one end of the elastomeric strip has the hooking member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “vertical” are words synonymous with longitudinal and “horizontal” with transverse. Words of this nature are used for convenience and are not to be misconstrued as limiting terms.

Embodiments of the present invention attenuate the vibrations of a racket having a striking surface or face formed of two intersecting sets of parallel strings suspended by and enclosed by a hollow frame. The racket may include, is not limited to, a racket for badminton, racquetball, squash, tennis, etc.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the vibration dampener has an elastomeric strip and a hooking member having a hook and a hollow body having a hole into which the elastomeric strip is inserted.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the elastomeric strip 101 of the vibration dampener according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The elastomeric strip 101 may be made of any kind of elastomeric material. For example, the elastomeric material may be rubber, but the material is not limited to rubber. An exemplary thickness of the elastomeric strip may be 2 mm to 6 mm.

The elastomeric strip 101 may be, but not limited to, in various lengths to cover the entire longitudinal and/or transverse strings or set of defined lengths. The elastomeric strip 101 is applied by weaving and touching over and under the longitudinal and/or transverse strings. The dampening of vibration or so called oscillation and resonance is achieved when the elastomeric strip 101 absorbs the frequency which is transmitted through the contact surface on the strings.

In FIG. 1, the elastomeric strip 101 is shown with the incision 111 in the middle having a complete passage in the form of a cavity or a void. For example, the incision 111 may be located about 2.5 mm×2.5 mm away from the end of the elastomeric strip. The length of the incision 111 may be, but not limited to, 15 mm to 27 mm long.

The incision 111 may be formed on both ends of the elastomeric strip 101.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hooking member 102 including a hollow body 122 having a hole 123 and a hook 124 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The hollow body 122 may be any shape. For example, it can be a square shape, a rectangular shape or a round shape. The hole 123 formed in the hollow body 122 may have any kid of shape as long as the elastomeric strip 101 can be inserted therein. For example, the hole may be in a form of an unmodifiable square hole 123. However, the hole 123 may be in a different form.

The hook 124 is formed on a side of the hollow body 122 and may be, for example, an unfoldable and unmodifiable “U” shaped clip which slides into and around the circumference of the longitudinal or transverse string(s) 103.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the hook 124 may be made of a rigid material an unfoldable, unmodifiable, permanent, and an invariable structure.

Looping and knotting on a longitudinal and/or transverse string bed is accomplished by folding and inserting one end of the elastomeric strip 101 into the incision 111 at the opposite end of the elastomeric strip 101, while the string 103 is positioned therebetween. It is then, pulled until the elastomeric strip 101 makes contact on the longitudinal and/or transverse string creating a restraining knot 113.

Referring to the drawings FIG. 3, a loop 112 is formed at the end of the vibration dampener, and a knot 113 is formed around the circumference of a string 103 by inserting one end of the elastomeric strip 101 into the incision 111 formed at the opposite end of the elastomeric strip, and being pulled through until the elastomeric strip 101 is knotted around the circumference of the string 103.

FIG. 4 illustrates the hooking member 102 is combined with the elastomeric strip 101. One end of the elastomeric strip 101 is inserted into the hole 123 of the hollow body 122 before forming the loop 112, and then the loop 125 and the knot around the hollow body are formed in the same way as shown in FIG. 3, except that the string is not positioned therebetween.

The hooking member 102 may be combined at one end of the elastomeric strip 101, or at both ends of the elastomeric strip 101.

FIG. 5 shows the vibration dampener applied onto the strings 103 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

One end of the vibration dampener is shown weaving “up” and “down” through a defined set of longitudinal and transverse strings. It is at the point of contact where the elastomeric strip 101 touches the strings 103, the dampening of vibration or so called the frequency of the oscillation and resonance is absorbed.

Fastening the hook 124 to the longitudinal and/or or transverse string(s) is accomplished by wedging, in the form of pushing, nudging, and thrusting, into the hook's “U” shaped chamber. This creates an ideal immobile condition which the hook 124 can attach to the string(s) 103.

Referring to the drawings FIGS. 6A and 6B, the vibration dampener is installed on strings 103 of a racket. In FIG. 6A, both ends of the elastomeric strip 101 has the hooking member 102. In FIG. 6B, only one end of the elastomeric strip 101 has the hooking member 102.

When both ends of the elastomeric strip 101 have the hooking members 102 as shown in FIG. 6A, the vibration dampener may be applied to the strings without forming the knot 113 around the string as shown in FIG. 3.

An exemplary method of applying the vibration dampener to a racket when both ends of the elastomeric strip 101 have the hooking members 102 as shown in FIG. 6A is as follows.

The elastomeric strip 101 is weaved over and under strings of either the longitudinal strings or the transverse strings. One end part of the strip is inserted into the hole of one of the hooking members, and then, the strip is pulled until the strip and the hollow body of the hooking member makes a restraining knot. In the same way, the other end part of the strip is combined with the other of the hooking members. Each hook of the hooking members is hooked to each string as shown in FIG. 6A by wedging, in the form of pushing, nudging, and thrusting, into the hook's “U” shaped chamber. The waving, the combination of the strip with each hook, and the hooking of one of the hooks to the string may be performed in any order.

When only one end of the elastomeric strip 101 has the hooking member 102 as shown in FIG. 6B, the vibration dampener may be applied by forming the knot 113 around the string at one end thereof and hooking the string with the hooking member 102 at the other end thereof.

An exemplary method of applying the vibration dampener to a racket when one end of the elastomeric strip 101 have the hooking member 102 as shown in FIG. 6B is as follows.

A loop is formed by folding and inserting one end part of the strip into the incision positioned at the other end part of the strip, while one of the strings is being positioned in the folded strip, and pulling the strip until the strip makes contact on the string creating a restraining knot. The elastomeric strip 101 is weaved over and under strings of either the longitudinal strings or the transverse strings. The other end part of the strip is inserted into the hole of the hooking member, and then, the strip is pulled until the strip and the hollow body of the hooking member makes a restraining knot. The hook of the hooking members is hooked to each string as shown in FIG. 6B by wedging, in the form of pushing, nudging, and thrusting, into the hook's “U” shaped chamber. The looping, the waving, the combination of the strip with the hook may be performed in any order.

The invention relates to rackets and aims at suppressing the high-frequency vibration which is excited by the impact of a ball. A flexible elastomeric material such as rubber in specific length, thickness, and width has the ability to absorb and suppress shock and vibration at different levels of any racket that has been formed and shaped into a frame using materials such as metal, graphite, fiberglass, and so on. The flexible elastomeric material is weaved over and under the Longitudinal (Vertical) strings between the handle and the nearest cross or Transverse (Horizontal) string, where a ball would not make contact or may not have significant impact during a normal play.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.