ES1300206U - Reinforcement element for paddle tennis racket and paddle tennis racket reinforced with the same (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Reinforcement element for a paddle tennis racket, where the racket comprises a handle (2) and a head (3) with a first and second opposite surface, and a neck (4) connecting the handle (2) and the head (3), where said head (3) has a striking area and first through holes (5) between both first and second surfaces, characterized in that it comprises a sheet (1) of plastic material with second holes (6) in its surface, which has a shape and dimensions equal to those of a portion of the blade that corresponds to at least the head (3) thereof, such that it is capable of allowing its arrangement inside the blade according to a plane central parallel to both first and second surfaces,so that the second holes (6) are arranged coincident with the first holes (5) and the extreme edges of the blade (1) run perimetrally to the outer edge of the blade. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Reinforcement element for paddle tennis racket and paddle tennis racket reinforced with the same

Technical field of the invention

The present invention corresponds to the technical sports field, and to a specific sport, paddle tennis.

Background of the Invention

Paddle tennis is a sport that is practiced with a shovel similar to tennis rackets but with distinctive characteristics, because instead of having a string to hit the ball, it presents a series of materials that make up a solid surface with the than hit the ball.

The paddle tennis racket must present certain characteristics that give it the quality of the game. Experienced players tend to look for rackets that offer, among other things, greater control of the ball's output and greater playing power.

To achieve this, several conditions must be met. The first one is related to the sweet spot of the racket, which is the area of the racket in which benefits such as ball output, control, etc. they reach their optimal point.

These benefits are maximized in the center of the blade, and as we get closer to the edges they decrease because when the ball is hit close to the perimeter area of the blade, it produces a certain twist, losing control out of the ball.

On the other hand, an important aspect of the rackets is durability, especially in said perimeter area, since the material in it is different from that of the hitting area and it is very common for the racket to break due to blows on the edge. Of the same.

Likewise, another important characteristic to comply with is that it be manageable, with the weight of the racket and its aerodynamics being two factors that determine its manageability. In this way, a racket with less aerodynamic resistance will achieve greater stability in the game.

There is a tendency to think that the through holes that the blade has in the head are intended to provide said aerodynamics, but various studies have shown that this is not the case and that these holes really help to lighten the weight of the blade, but they influence very limited in its aerodynamic characteristics.

In this way, the aerodynamics of the racket is a matter that presents the possibility of improvement, to provide greater stability and control of the game.

It is therefore necessary to find a way to provide less aerodynamic resistance to the blade to improve the performance of the current ones, looking at the same time for ways to increase the resistance to blows at the edge of the blade and a greater amplitude of the sweet zone

Description of the invention

The reinforcing element for a paddle tennis racket that is presented here, where the racket comprises a handle and a head with a first and second opposite surface, and a joining neck between the handle and the head, and where said head has a zone of hit and some first through holes between both first and second surfaces, it comprises a sheet of plastic material with some second holes on its surface, which has a shape and dimensions equal to those of a portion of the racket that corresponds to at least the head Of the same.

This reinforcing element is capable of allowing its arrangement inside the blade according to a central plane parallel to both the first and second surfaces, so that the second holes are arranged coincident with the first holes.

In this report, a paddle tennis racket reinforced by means of a reinforcing element as previously defined and obtained by means of a procedure that comprises a first phase consisting of a polycarbonate or polyester (PETG) molding is proposed. molding to obtain the two outer casings of the blade, it can be done by thermoforming or by injection.

Next, it presents a second phase of filling the first half shell with at least one EVA or FOAM rubber core arranged at least in the hitting zone, followed by a third phase consisting of the union of the first half shell with a second half. casing by means of a perimeter gluing of both in cold.

Next, a fourth phase of filling the interior holes of the racket is carried out, with one or several different materials depending on the area, where said holes correspond to a first area of the handle and neck, a second perimeter area of the head of the racket , and a third annular zone around the central core.

Finally, a fifth phase takes place in which a rope is inserted into the handle and a handle and a stopper are placed at the end of the handle.

This procedure by which the blade presented here is obtained also includes an initial phase for obtaining a reinforcing element with the dimensions of a portion of the blade from a sheet of the corresponding material.

It further comprises a phase of filling the second half-shell after filling the first half-shell, with at least one EVA or FOAM rubber core arranged at least in the hitting area, where the core of both the first and second half-shell It has a thickness equal to or less than half the thickness of the blade.

In addition, prior to joining the first and second half-shells by perimeter gluing, a phase is carried out for placing said reinforcing element on the EVA rubber core of the first half-shell.

Finally, a phase of trimming some burrs from both casings, formed during the perimeter gluing, is carried out after the joining phase of the first and second half casings.

Likewise, a reinforced paddle tennis racket is proposed in this report, by means of the reinforcement element previously defined, obtained by means of a procedure that includes a first phase of impregnating with epoxy resin two halves of a mold in the shape of the blade, followed by a second phase of laying sheets of fiberglass and/or carbon fiber over the epoxy resin in both halves of the mold, alternating with new layers of epoxy resin.

A third phase of placement of an EVA or FOAM rubber core is then carried out in a first half of the mould, arranged at least in the hitting area.

A fourth phase is formed by the placement around the core of the first half of the mold of a deflated tubular made of carbon fiber and/or fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin, followed by a fifth phase of closing both halves of the mold and tubular inflation.

A sixth phase is then carried out, consisting of a catalyzation process for the materials inside the mold by placing them in an oven at a suitable temperature. Once this phase is finished, the seventh phase of extraction from the oven and demolding of the blade takes place, followed by an eighth phase of inserting a rope into the handle and placing a handle and a cap on the end of the handle.

This paddle tennis racket is made by means of a procedure that also includes a phase of placing an EVA or FOAM rubber core in a second half of the mould, arranged at least in the hitting area, after placing the fiberglass sheets and / or carbon in said second mold half, where the core of both the first and second mold halves has a thickness equal to or less than half the thickness of the blade.

Likewise, simultaneously with the placement of the tubular in the first half of the mold, a phase of placement is carried out around the core of the second half of the mold of a deflated tubular of carbon fiber and/or fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin, where the diameter of each tubular is equal to half the thickness of the blade.

In addition, prior to closing both halves of the mould, the reinforcing element is inserted on the EVA rubber core of the first half of the mould, said reinforcing element being such that it allows it to fit inside said first half of the mold

For its part, the tubular inflation phase comprises the inflation of both tubulars arranged in both halves of the mold.

With the reinforcing element for a paddle tennis racket and the paddle tennis racket reinforced with it that is proposed here, a significant improvement in the state of the art is obtained.

This is so because a paddle tennis racket is achieved that is much more resistant to blows, especially those that occur on the edge of the racket, giving it greater robustness. Currently these blows on the edge cause the existing material on the edge, whether it is a tubular or a filling of another material, may be affected and enter the interior of the blade. With this reinforcing element, being arranged from side to side of the blade, the resistance in that sense is increased and the risk of suffering from this problem is significantly reduced.

In addition, this is achieved without increasing the weight of the blade, since it is by means of the reinforcing element formed by a sheet of plastic material that can be compact or cellular, but which in either case has a very low weight. In a preferred embodiment, the plastic material to be used will be polycarbonate, but other materials such as carbon fiber or resin-coated glass can be used.

This reinforcing element can be arranged covering the entire surface of the blade or a portion of it, which includes the head in which the hitting area is located, providing greater resistance at least to the area that receives the blows from the blade. ball. In any case, it is important to point out that, whatever the shape of the reinforcing element, it always reaches from edge to edge of the blade.

This generates a significant improvement in the blade, because as the reinforcing element is arranged from side to side of the same, it avoids the possible twisting suffered by the blades when a ball hits them in the zone furthest from the center.

In paddle tennis rackets, the best area to hit is the one that best resists impacts and the one in which we need less force to hit the ball. This area, known as the sweet spot, is usually the one that comes closest to the edges, that is, the center of the blade. Thus, the closer we get to the edge of the blade, the control of the ball decreases. precisely because the blade, when hit by the ball in that outer zone, presents a certain twist that will modify the exit trajectory of said ball.

This reinforcing element, being located in such a way that it covers at least the entire head of the racket, from side to side, generates an anti-torsion effect by which the racket twists much less when faced with these blows that are far from the center, favoring playability and providing therefore, greater and more effective control of the ball. These blades thus present a wider sweet spot.

On the other hand, if the reinforcing element is formed by a cellular sheet, it also provides a very advantageous characteristic, since it presents a series of longitudinal cells with which greater aerodynamics is provided to the blade, since these internal hollow cells favor less air resistance.

In the case in which these cells are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the racket, they also favor less bending of the racket, thus improving playing conditions.

It is therefore a very effective reinforcement element, with which more resistant and robust rackets are achieved, being equally light and, with which improvements in game control are achieved.

Brief description of the drawings

In order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical embodiment thereof, a series of drawings is provided as an integral part of said description where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, represented the following:

Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view, plan and section of a reinforcing element, for a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2.- Shows a perspective view, plan and section of a reinforcing element, for a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3.- Shows a perspective view, plan and section of a reinforcing element, for a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4.- Shows a perspective view of a paddle tennis racket reinforced by means of a reinforcing element, for a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figures 5.1 and 5.2.- Show an exploded view and the gap-filling phase, of a paddle tennis racket reinforced by means of a reinforcing element, for a first preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6.- Shows a perspective view of a paddle tennis racket reinforced by means of a first reinforcing element, for a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 7.- Shows an exploded view of a paddle tennis racket reinforced by means of a reinforcing element, for a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figures 8.1 to 8.3.- Show different phases of the procedure for obtaining a paddle tennis racket reinforced by means of a second reinforcing element, for a third preferred embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

In view of the figures provided, it can be seen how in a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing element proposed here is aimed at a paddle tennis racket that includes a handle (2) and a head (3). with a first and second opposite surface, and a neck (4) connecting the handle (2) and the head (3), where said head (3) has a striking area and first through holes (5) between both first and second surface.

This reinforcing element comprises a sheet (1) of plastic material with second holes (6) on its surface, which has a shape and dimensions equal to those of a portion of the blade that corresponds to at least the head (3). Of the same. In any case, whatever the shape of the reinforcing element, it always reaches from edge to edge of the blade, that is, it is visible on the edge of the finished blade since the extreme edges of the sheet (1) run perimetrally to the edge. outside of the blade

This reinforcing element is capable of allowing its arrangement inside the blade according to a central plane parallel to both the first and second surfaces, so that the second holes (6) are arranged coincident with the first holes (5).

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 1, the sheet (1) is compact. In other embodiments, such as a second and third embodiment, the sheet (1) is cellular and has a plurality of longitudinal cells (7), which can be oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheet (1), as occurs in a second embodiment that can be seen in Figure 2, or, oriented according to its longitudinal axis, as shown in Figure 3, for a third embodiment.

On the other hand, this sheet (1) can cover a portion that corresponds to the head (3) of the blade, as in the first preferred embodiment of the invention, or as shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprise a portion that corresponds to the head (3), the neck (4) and the handle (2) of the shovel.

In the first preferred embodiment, the sheet (1) is made of polycarbonate, however, in other embodiments it can be made of any other high-strength, low-weight material that provides similar characteristics, such as carbon or fiber. of glass.

In this report, a paddle tennis racket reinforced by means of the previously defined reinforcement element is also proposed, and which is obtained by means of a procedure that includes a first phase of molding polycarbonate, polyester (PETG), PVC or ABS, and a second phase of filling of a first half shell (8.1) with at least one core (9) of EVA or FOAM rubber arranged at least in the hitting area.

Once the filling is done, a third phase of union of the first half casing (8.1) with a second half casing (8.2) takes place by means of a perimeter gluing of both in cold.

Next, a fourth phase of filling the interior holes of the blade is carried out, corresponding to a first zone of the handle (2) and neck (4), a second perimeter zone of the head (3) of the blade, and a third annular area around the central core (9), with one or more differentiated materials depending on the area.

Finally, the fifth phase consists of inserting a rope (10) into the handle (2) and placing a handle and a stopper at the end of it.

In the case of the paddle tennis racket presented here, this procedure for obtaining it also includes an initial phase of obtaining a reinforcing element with the dimensions of a portion of the racket from a sheet of the corresponding material, which in a first embodiment shown in Figure 4 corresponds to the head (3) of the blade, the reinforcing element being a compact sheet (1).

In other embodiments, such as a second mode, which can be seen in Figure 6, the reinforcing element is a cellular sheet (1) and comprises both the head (3) and the neck (4) and handle (2). of the shovel As it is a cellular sheet (1), it has a plurality of longitudinal cells that allow air to pass through the interior of the blade, improving its aerodynamics.

The first preferred embodiment shown in figures 5.1 and 5.2, also presents a phase of filling the second half casing (8.2), after the filling of the first half casing (8.1). This padding is made with at least one core (9) of EVA or FOAM rubber arranged at least in the hitting area, the same as in the first half shell (8.1).

The core (9) of both the first and second half casing (8.1, 8.2) has a thickness equal to or less than half the thickness of the blade.

Likewise, prior to the union by perimeter gluing of the first and second half casing (8.1,8.2) it comprises a phase of insertion of the sheet (1) that forms the reinforcing element on the core (9) of EVA rubber of the first half casing (8.1), sheet (1) that runs from edge to edge of the blade all along its perimeter.

It also has an additional phase consisting of cutting some burrs from both casings, formed during the perimeter gluing, after the joining phase of the first and second half casings (8.1,8.2).

In a first embodiment of this blade, the molding is done by thermoforming using two positive moulds, of two half-shells of the blade from a transparent polycarbonate, PETG or PVC sheet. In this case, the procedure also includes a phase of printing the decoration on both sides of the blade, in negative, on the transparent polycarbonate, PETG or PVC plate, so that the molding is carried out in correspondence with said previous impression made. on the plate, said printing being arranged on the inside face of each half casing, and likewise requires a phase of cutting both half casings in the shape of the blade.

The parts that make up the blade in this first embodiment are represented in Figure 5.1, while Figure 5.2 shows that, in this case, the filling of the inner holes of the blade is made using a rigid polyurethane foam. (11) that is introduced to fill all the holes when both half-shells of the racket are already joined and, later, it hardens in that position.

In an alternative embodiment of this first embodiment, the molding of both half shells (8.1, 8.2) is done by injection of polycarbonate, transparent PETG or PVC and previously cast, using two molds of two half shells of the blade and After removing the mold from the decoration on both interior faces of each half-shell of the racket, it is printed in negative. The rest of the phases are the same as those described above.

In a second embodiment in which the two shells of the blade are obtained as previously stated by thermoforming or injection, represented in Figures 6 and 7, it has been considered that the filling of the internal holes is carried out by respective tubular (12) deflated carbon fiber and/or fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin, which swell later when both half shells (8.1, 8.2) are joined. Each tubular (12) is placed in one of the half casings, around the corresponding core (9), and has a diameter equal to half the thickness of the blade.

This report proposes a third preferred embodiment of the invention shown in figures 8.1 to 8.3, in which the paddle tennis racket reinforced by means of the reinforcing element has been obtained from a procedure that includes a first impregnating phase. with epoxy resin of two halves of a mold in the shape of the blade, followed of a second phase of laying sheets of fiberglass and/or carbon fiber on top of the epoxy resin in both halves of the mould, alternating with new layers of epoxy resin.

Next, a third phase of placement of a core (9) of EVA or FOAM rubber is carried out in a first half (13.1) of the mold, arranged at least in the hitting zone and a fourth phase of placement around the core (9 ) of the first half (13.1) of the mold of a deflated tubular (12) of carbon fiber and/or fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin, as shown in Figure 8.1.

Next, a fifth phase of closure of both halves (13.1, 13.2) of the mold and inflation of the tubular (12) is carried out, in order to carry out a sixth phase consisting of a process of catalyzing the materials inside the mold by introducing them into an oven at a suitable temperature.

The seventh phase consists of removing the oven from the mold and demoulding the blade, and the eighth and final phase is the insertion of a rope (10) in the handle (2) and placement of a handle and a stopper at the end. of the same.

As shown in Figures 8.1 to 8.3, in this third preferred embodiment, the procedure for obtaining the blade also includes a phase of placing an EVA or FOAM rubber core (9) in a second half (13.2) of the mold. , arranged at least in the hitting area, after placing sheets of fiberglass and/or carbon in said second half (13.2) of the mold, as can be seen in Figure 8.2, where the core (9) of both first and second halves (13.1, 13.2) of the mold have a thickness equal to or less than half the thickness of the blade.

Also in Figure 8.2 it is shown that, simultaneously with the placement of the tubular (12) in the first half (13.1) of the mold, a placement phase takes place around the core (9) of the second half (13.2) from the mold of a deflated tubular (12) of carbon fiber and/or fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin, where the diameter of each tubular (12) is equal to half the thickness of the blade.

As shown in Figure 8.3, prior to the closure of both halves of the mould, a phase of insertion of the sheet (1) that forms said reinforcing element on the EVA core (9) of the first half takes place. (13.1) of the mould, said element being reinforcement such that it allows it to fit inside said first half (13.1) of the mold. As in the previous embodiments, the sheet (1) can be compact, cellular, made of polycarbonate or carbon fiber or glass fiber. In the specific case that the sheet (1) is made of fiberglass or carbon, it would not be inserted as such, but one of the core rubbers (9) would be resined on the inside (with the mold open) and They would place the fiberglass or carbon sheet, and when closing the mold, the reinforcement piece would remain between the two rubber parts and trapped by the two tubulars.

Finally, in said Figure 8.3 the subsequent closure of the second half (13.2) of the mold is also represented, with all the filling that has been made inside with the parts of the blade, on the first half (13.1) of the mold, to carry out the catalyzation process. In this third preferred embodiment, the inflation of the tubular (12) comprises the inflation of both tubulars (12) arranged in both halves (13.1, 13.2) of the mold.

Claims (1)

1- Reinforcement element for a paddle tennis racket, where the racket comprises a handle (2) and a head (3) with a first and second opposite surface, and a neck (4) connecting the handle (2) and the head (3), where said head (3) has a striking area and first through holes (5) between both first and second surfaces, characterized in that it comprises a sheet (1) of plastic material with second holes (6) in its surface, which has a shape and dimensions equal to those of a portion of the blade that corresponds to at least the head (3) thereof, such that it is capable of allowing its arrangement inside the blade according to a plane parallel to both the first and second surfaces, so that the second holes (6) are arranged coincident with the first holes (5) and the extreme edges of the blade (1) run perimetrally to the outer edge of the blade. 2- Element according to claim 1, wherein the sheet (1) is compact. 3- Element according to claim 1, wherein the sheet (1) is cellular. 4- Element according to claim 3, wherein the sheet (1) has a plurality of longitudinal cells (7) oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof. 5- Element according to claim 3, wherein the sheet (1) has a plurality of longitudinal cells (7) oriented along its longitudinal axis. 6- Element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the blade (1) comprises a portion that corresponds to the head (3) and the handle (2) of the shovel. 7- Element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet (1) is made of polycarbonate. 8- Reinforced paddle tennis racket, by means of the reinforcing element defined in claims 1 to 7, where the racket is obtained by molding two half shells (8.1 and 8.2) in polycarbonate, polyester (PETG), PVC or ABS; and where the first half shell (8.1) is filled with at least one core (9) of EVA or FOAM rubber arranged at least in the hitting zone and is joined to the second half shell (8.2) by means of a perimeter gluing of both in cold, having provided that the interior holes of the blade corresponding to a first zone of the handle (2) and neck (4), a second perimeter zone of the head (3) of the blade, and a third annular area around the central core (9), are filled with one or more differentiated materials depending on the area and that a rope (10) is inserted into the handle (2) that incorporates a handle and a stopper at the end of it; characterized by - the reinforcing element is obtained with the dimensions of a portion of the blade from a sheet of the corresponding material; - The filling of the second half shell (8.2) is carried out after the filling of the first half shell (8.1), with at least one core (9) of EVA or FOAM rubber arranged at least in the hitting zone, where the core (9) of both the first and second half casing (8.1,8.2) has a thickness equal to or less than half the thickness of the blade; - The reinforcing element is inserted on the EVA rubber core (9) of the first half shell (8.1), prior to joining the first and second half shells (8.1,8.2) by perimeter gluing, and; - the burrs of both shells, which are formed during the perimeter gluing, are trimmed after joining the first and the second half shell (8.1,8.2). 9- Shovel according to claim 8, where the molding is done by thermoforming by means of two positive moulds, of two half-shells of the shovel from a transparent polycarbonate, PETG or PVC plate and the decoration of the first and second half-shells ( 8.1,8.2) of the blade is made, by means of a negative print, on the transparent polycarbonate or PETG plate, so that the molding is carried out in correspondence with said previous print made on the plate, leaving said print arranged on the face inside each half shell and, after printing, the first and second half shells (8.1,8.2) are cut out in the shape of the blade. 10- Shovel according to claim 8, where the molding is done by injection of transparent and previously melted polycarbonate, PETG or PVC, by means of two molds of a first and a second half-shell (8.1, 8.2) of the shovel and a print after the demoulding of the decoration of both interior faces of each half shell of the racket, in negative. 11- Reinforced paddle tennis racket, by means of the reinforcing element defined in claims 1 to 7, where the racket is obtained from a first and a second half (13.1, 13.2) of a mold in the shape of the racket that are impregnated with epoxy resin and where sheets of fiberglass and/or carbon fiber are placed over the epoxy resin in both halves of the mold, alternating with new layers of epoxy resin; having foreseen that a core (9) of EVA or FOAM rubber is placed in a first half (13.1) of the mold, arranged at least in the hitting zone and, around the core (9) of the first half (13.1) of the mold, it is placed a deflated tubular (12) of carbon fiber and/or fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin; and where after the closure of the first and second halves (13.1, 13.2) of the mold and inflation of the tubular (12) the materials inside the mold are subjected to a catalyzation process by introduction into an oven at a suitable temperature and after extraction from the oven and demoulding of the shovel, a rope (10) is inserted into the handle that incorporates a handle and a stopper at the end thereof; characterized by - The second half (13.2) of the mold incorporates a core (9) of EVA or FOAM rubber, arranged at least in the hitting zone, after placing sheets of fiberglass and/or carbon in said second half (13.2). of mold, where the core (9) of both first and second halves (13.1, 13.2) of mold has a thickness equal to or less than half the thickness of the blade; - The second half (13.2) of the mold incorporates a deflated tubular (12) of carbon fiber and/or fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin around the core (9) and the first half (13.1) of the mold also incorporates a second tubular (12), where the diameter of each first and second tubular is equal to half the thickness of the blade; - The sheet (1) that makes up the reinforcing element is inserted over the EVA rubber core (9) of the first half (13.1) of the mold, prior to closing both mold halves, said reinforcing element being such which allows it to fit inside said first half (13.1) of the mold, so that when the mold is closed, the sheet (1) would remain between the two rubber parts of the core (9) and trapped by the two tubulars and; where the inflation of the tubular (12) comprises the inflation of both first and second tubulars (12) arranged in both halves of the mold.