Racket grip aid

Abstract

Fast, strong and steady racket swing can be made, without having a special skill.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a racket grip aid to make the racket swing quick, strong and steady.

In case of the racket sports tool using a grip (a handle) such as badminton, tennis, and table tennis, it is expected to give such effect of use as the easiness to put an effort, and support to be skidproof, in addition to merely giving a good feeling, for the players.

As players hit a ball (a shuttle) by their capacity using the racket, the fastest and streamlined process of action is required to hit the ball after taking a backswing of racket. The racket grip aid of the present invention supports players to make the racket swing fast, strong and steady, and reduces the load of body.

In case of badminton, the most basic strokes include clear, smash, drop, cut, etc. Facing sideways first, keeping/giving the weight on the right leg, pulling an elbow behind, dropping a racket behind, gradually moving the weight to the left leg, throwing out a chest while opening a body to the direction of net, sticking out the elbow above, drawing up the racket, hitting the racket surface against a shuttle, by the incycloduction and pronation (inward rotation operation) of upper arm and forearm. In this case, without grasping the grip firmly, attaching the thumb and the index finger lightly, and grasping the grip with a little finger, a third finger, and a middle finger, it is necessary to put the power just before the impact. For a backhand stroke, above-mentioned incycloduction and pronation of the upper arm and forearm corresponds to the excycloduction and supination (outward rotation operation) of upper arm and forearm.

One of the ways to grasp a badminton racket is called “eastern grip” which is like grasping a kitchen knife, and a gut surface of racket to strike a shuttle can not be seen from the front of opposite side, as it is facing the side, until it hits a shuttle after taking a backswing of the racket, and the racket surface is turned to the front, just before hitting the shuttle. There is another way to have the racket called “western grip” like grasping a flying pan which is the same as a way to pick up the racket on the floor.

Both eastern and western grips are used, according to the situation in a game. However, it is important to master a manner of the eastern grip, first. Assuming that the change of racket grip may occasionally takes place in the game, the present invention provides a useful way to support players, as an assistance tool for either eastern grip or western grip.

The basic strokes of badminton include overhead, underhand, and sidearm strokes. Overhead stroke is the most basic one, being used on such strokes as clear, drop, cut, smash, etc. Underhand stroke is for hitting a shuttle which was dropped lower than the net, and sidearm stroke is for the case when the shuttle came to the side of player, and those two strokes are mainly for defending.

The most basic racket swing “overhead stroke” is to have each joint relax, by the spine (which was shaped like a pillar with the connection of bones called “vertebra”), and generally by turning an axis of backbone, players quickly and largely make a take-back of dominant arm (throwing up the dominant arm which has the racket, and drop the racket on back (the rear), and have to put the racket to the front in the order of elbow, wrist, racket head, and forcefully, hit the shuttle, by the upper arm's (which means part of from elbow to shoulder) incycloduction, and forearm's (which means part from wrist to elbow) pronation (inward rotation operation) of forearm. Also, generally, as each person can not keep the condition always good, it is necessary to be conscious of the change of form, and the acquirement and stabilization of an appropriate racket swing takes a time.

They say that the badminton sport has a population of 50,000,000 players in 154 countries/areas, in the world, and lovers of badminton may continue to increase in the future, too.

Besides preparing an appropriate grip for those of beginner, child, woman, aged, and handicapped, and preventing tendinitis, elbow pain and the drop of racket due to a careless action or declining grip power, it is further desirable to reduce a training load and realize a power-up.

Under such circumstances to cope with the above-mentioned task, inventor of the present invention recognized an importance of forearm's inward and outward rotation operations, and as the results of attempt aiming at the functions of thumb and index finger, confirmed that the present invention may reasonably contribute to the improvement of racket swing, making the best use of this grip aid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the above-mentioned situation and problems. For example, in case of striking a shuttle by the racket swing to be powered by those three action elements of upper arm (shoulder), forearm (elbow), and wrist which are functionally combined well, assuming that the band and fingerholds of thumb and index finger or the fingerhold of thumb are installed on the racket grip, and pushing up or down the fingerhold, the racket grip is turned to the side of fingerhold of thumb or to the side of fingerhold of index finger, the racket surface declines too, and inward rotation operation or outward rotation operation continues. The band and fingerhold may be made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material. Also, right-handed and left-handed persons may use the grip aid of the present invention, as it is or after changing the direction to install, relating to the matter mentioning like “providing said fingerhold of thumb at right or left , , , etc”.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 1, has a band which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and a fingerhold of a thumb and a fingerhold for an index finger or a fingerhold for a thumb which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 2, has the fingerhold which is one with the band and made together with the band, or the combination of plural parts of band, or the fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and made to insert a finger and combined with the part of band, or the fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material and which is combined with the part of band or which is made detachable, or the fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and which is combined with the racket grip or which is made detachable.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 3, has the fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side of racket grip, and pushing down the fingerhold, the racket grip is turned to the side of fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 4, has the fingerhold of thumb, at right or left on the front side of racket grip, and the fingerhold of index finger at the other side of the fingerhold of themb, and pushing the fingerhold of thumb, the racket grip is turned to the side of fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 5, has zippers at both edges of band, and the band is attached to the racket grip by zippers, or

making the band to the shape of a tube or a bag, the band is fastened to the racket grip from the bottom of racket grip, or

combining both edges of the band with the connection tool, the band is fastened to the racket grip, or

combining the band which is one with the fingerhold and made together with the fingerhold, with the racket grip, or

combining the band with the racket grip, or

attaching the band which is one with the fingerhold and made together with the fingerhold, to the racket grip to surround the racket grip, or

combining the fingerhold which is one with the band and made together with the band, with the racket grip.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 6, has the fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side of racket grip, and pushing up the fingerhold, the grip aid promotes an outward rotation operation which turns the racket grip to the other side of fingerhold of thumb.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 7, has two independent parts of fingerhold of thumb to put the thumb in between, at left or right on the front side of racket grip, and pushing the fingerhold to the other side of fingerhold of thumb, the grip aid promotes an outward rotation operation which turns the racket grip to the other side of the fingerhold of thumb.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 8, has the fingerhold of thumb to put the thumb at left or right on the back side of racket grip, and the index fingerhold at the other side of the fingerhold of thumb, and pushing the fingerhold of thumb to the side of fingerhold of thumb, the grip aid promotes inward rotation operation which turns the racket grip to the side of the fingerhold of thumb, or pushing the fingerhold of index finger to the side of fingerhold of index finger, the grip aid promotes an outward rotation operation which turns the racket grip to the side of the fingerhold of index finger.

A racket grip aid of the present invention according to the Claim 9, has a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an index finger which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, or a fingerhold for a thumb which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an example of the racket grip aid of the present invention, showing the grip aid installed. (Front of eastern grip).

FIG. 2 is an example of the racket grip aid of the present invention, showing the grip aid with a fastener.

FIG. 3 is an example of the racket grip of the present invention, which shows the racket grip aid, to install the grip aid using a band (1), without a fastener, and examples are also shown for those of fingerholds which combined plural parts of band (3), and the fingerhold combined with the band together with an enclosure (2).

FIG. 4 shows an example of the fingerhold of thumb installed on the racket grip. (Front of eastern grip)

FIG. 5 shows examples (1) with a fastener, and (2) without the fastener, together with a fingerhold of thumb, combining parts of band and made to insert a finger.

FIG. 6 is an example of the racket grip of the present invention, which shows the band which is made of the elastic material and the fingerhold is that combined plural parts of of band and made to insert a finger, or the fingerhold is that combined plural parts of band, besides the case to combine together with an enclosure.

FIG. 7 shows the fingerhold of thumb at left, and the fingerhold of index finger at the back side. (Eastern grip: side of fingerhold for thumb)

FIG. 8 shows the fingerhold of thumb at left, and the fingerhold of index finger at the back side, with or without a fastener.

FIG. 9 shows one of examples, providing two fingerholds of thumb to put the thumb in between, at left or right on the front side of racket grip (Side view of eastern grip: left fingerhold for thumb)

FIG. 10 shows examples of fingerhold of thumb and fingerhold of index finger which are with the band and made together with the band.

FIG. 11 shows the fingerhold of thumb at the right side, with the fingerhold of index finger at the left side, (Back side view of western grip: frying pan handhold).

FIG. 12 shows one of examples of wide width band, and some other shape like tube, bag, etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a preferred embodiment of the racket grip aid installed at the upper part of badminton racket grip. (Eastern grip—front: the side to attach hand/finger).

1 Grip aid, 2 Fingerhold of thumb, 3 Fingerhold of index finger, 4 Band are shown, and there is a way to put a fastener or other connection tool at the back side of band 4 to fasten to the racket grip, or to attach the band to the racket grip, from the bottom of the grip, utilizing an elastic material for the band.

It is possible to use the fingerhold for both left-handed and right-handed persons, besides a way to change the direction to install the band. The band as well as the fingerhold may be connected with the racket grip, using a screw or agrafe etc, as long as it does not violate a game rule.

FIG. 2 shows the top view of grip aid.

5 and 6 show a fastener for the connection. As an example, the fingerhold can be made, bundling plural parts of band which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and combining by sewing, clasp, glue and screw, etc.

FIG. 3 shows examples (1), (2), and (3) in the top view of grip aid. Fingerhold at the left side of (1) is made to insert a finger using a part of band. Fingerhold at the right side is made, combining plural parts of band.

Fingerhold at the left side of (2) is made to insert a finger, using a part of band. Fingerhold at the right side of (2) is made, combining a part of band together with an enclosure which has the bounce equivalent to that bundled plural parts of band. Fingerhold at the left side of (3) is made to insert a finger using a part of band. Fingerhold at the right side of (3) is another example combining plural parts of band.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the grip aid installed at the upper part of racket grip. (Eastern grip: front). It is an example with a band and a fingerhold at the left side, and there is a way to add a fastener at the back side of band, or a connection tool which makes the band detachable, installing the grip aid which is made of the elastic material, from the bottom of racket grip.

FIG. 5 shows examples (1) and (2) in the top view of racket grip aid. Those are examples of fingerhold on the left side with a fastener, and another example of the band which is made of the elastic material to install it from the bottom of racket grip, instead of the fastener and other connection tool.

FIG. 6 shows examples (1), (2), (3) in the top view of racket grip aid. Fingerhold at the left side of (1) is that combined plural parts of band, and fingerhold at the right side, is made to insert a finger.

Fingerhold at left side of (2) is that combined a part of band together with an enclosure which is equivalent to that bundled plural parts of band in its bounce, and fingerhold at right side is made to insert a finger, using a part of band. Fingerhold at left side of (3) shows other example of fingerhold which is the combination of plural parts of band, and fingerhold at right side is made to insert a finger.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the racket grip aid installed at the upper part of racket grip. (Side view of eastern grip: left part of thumb side). An example shows a case with a fingerhold at left toward the band, and a fingerhold of index finger on the back of band.

For the fingerhold of index finger at the back side, its lower one of the fingerhold of index finger in FIG. 7 is like the fingerhold of thumb, and upper one of the fingerhold of index finger in FIG. 7 is made to insert a finger and detachable.

FIG. 8 shows examples in the top view (1) and (2) of the grip aid. Fingerhold of thumb of (1) is one which combined and processed plural parts of band, and fingerhold of index finger is made like that of thumb to push down, or apart from that of thumb, it is made to push down, using a part of band which is made of the elastic material.

Fingerhold of index finger of (2) is the same as that of (1). It is a way to attach/detach the band with the elastic material, installing it from the bottom of grip.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the grip aid installed at the upper part of grip. (Side of left one of fingerhold of thumb)

Facing the front, there is a fingerhold of thumb at the left side of band, and another one (for thumb) at the front of band.

FIG. 10 shows examples (1), (2), and (3) in the top view of grip aid. Fingerhold of (1) has 2 parts for the thumb to put the thumb in between, which is one with the band and made together with the band.

Fingerholds of thumb and index finger of (2) are one with the band and made together with the band, and for example, its material like rubber etc is processed/formed.

Fingerhold of thumb of (3), is one with the band and made together with the band. For example, its material is the rubber to be processed/formed.

FIG. 11 shows the grip aid installed at the upper part of grip. (Back of the western grip)

It is an example of the fingerhold of thumb to be at right or left on the back side of racket grip, and the fingerhold of index finger at the other side of fingerhold of thumb.

FIG. 12 shows the grip aid installed at the upper part of grip (Front of eastern grip), with examples of wide width band, and the shapes of tube, bag, etc.

Although the present invention has been described above in relation to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be effected in these preferred embodiments and in any alternate embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A racket grip aid comprising: a band which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material;a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an index finger which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, or a fingerhold for a thumb which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material.

2. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises: said fingerhold which is one with said band and made together with said band; orsaid fingerhold which is the combination of plural parts of said band; orsaid fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material and which is combined with said band and made to insert a finger; orsaid fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and which is combined with said band or which is made detachable; orsaid fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and which is combined with said racket grip or which is made detachable.

3. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises: providing said fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side of said racket grip;pushing said fingerhold, said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted.

4. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises: providing said fingerhold of thumb at right or left on the front side of said racket grip;providing said fingerhold of index finger, at the other side of said fingerhold of thumb;pushing down said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip rotates to the side of fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted.

5. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises: having zippers at both edges of said band, to fasten said band to said racket grip; ormaking said band to the shape of a tube or a bag, to fasten said band to said racket grip from the bottom of said racket grip; orcombining both edges of said band with the connection tool, to fasten said band to said racket grip; orcombining said band which is one with said fingerhold and made together with said fingerhold, with said racket grip; orcombining said band with said racket grip; orattaching said band which is one with said fingerhold and made together with said fingerhold, to said racket grip to surround the racket grip; orcombining said fingerhold which is one with said band and made together with said band, with said racket grip.

6. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises: providing said fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side of said racket grip;pushing said fingerhold of thumb to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip rotates to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, and outward rotation operation is promoted.

7. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises: providing two fingerholds of thumb to put the thumb in between, at left or right on the front side of said racket grip;pushing said fingerhold of thumb to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip rotates to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, and outward rotation operation is promoted.

8. A racket grip aid as in claim 1, wherein said racket grip aid comprises: providing said fingerhold of thumb to put the thumb at left or right on the front side or on the back side of said racket grip;providing said fingerhold of index finger to put the index finger at the other side of said fingerhold of thumb;pushing down said fingerhold of thumb to the side of said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted;pushing said fingerhold of index finger to the side of said fingerhold of index finger, said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold of index finger, and outward rotation operation is promoted.

9. A racket grip comprising: a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an index finger which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material; ora fingerhold for a thumb which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material.

10. A racket grip handling method comprises the steps of: providing a band which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material;providing a fingerhold for a thumb and a fingerhold for an index finger which are made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material; orproviding a fingerhold for a thumb which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material.

11. A racket grip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said method comprises the steps of: said fingerhold which is one with said band and made together with said band; orsaid fingerhold which combines plural parts of said band; orsaid fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and which made to insert a finger and combined with said band; orsaid fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and which is combined with said band or which is made detachable; orsaid fingerhold which is made of one or more materials of fiber, resin, rubber, leather, metal, and other elastic material, and which is combined with said racket grip or which is made detachable.

12. A racket grip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing said fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side of said racket grip;pushing said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted.

13. A racket grip handling method as in claim 1Q, wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing said fingerhold of thumb at right or left on the front side of said racket grip;providing said fingerhold of index finger, at the other side of said fingerhold of thumb;pushing said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip rotates to the side of fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted.

14. A racket grip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said method comprises the steps of: having zippers at both edges of said band, to fasten said band to said racket grip; ormaking said band to the shape of a tube or a bag, to install said band on said racket grip from the bottom of said racket grip; orcombining both edges of said band with the connection tool, to fasten said band to said racket grip; orcombining said band which is one with said fingerhold and made together with said fingerhold, with said racket grip; orcombining said band with said racket grip; orattaching said band which is one with said fingerhold and made together with said fingerhold, to the racket grip to surround the racket grip; orcombining said fingerhold which is one with said band and made together with said band, with said racket grip.

15. A racket grip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing said fingerhold of thumb at left or right on the front side of said racket grip;pushing up said fingerhold of thumb to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip is turned to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, and outward rotation operation is promoted.

16. A racket grip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing two fingerholds of thumb to put the thumb in between, at left or right on the front side of said racket grip;pushing said fingerhold of thumb to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip is turned to the other side of said fingerhold of thumb, and outward rotation operation is promoted.

17. A racket grip handling method as in claim 10, wherein said method comprises the steps of: providing said fingerhold of thumb to put the thumb at left or right on the front side or on the back side of said racket grip;providing said fingerhold of index finger at the other side of said fingerhold of thumb;pushing said fingerhold of thumb to the side of fingerhold of thumb, said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold of thumb, and inward rotation operation is promoted;pushing said fingerhold of said index finger to the side of said fingerhold of index finger, said racket grip is turned to the side of said fingerhold of index finger, and outward rotation operation is promoted.