This application claims priority to and the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-184851, filed on Oct. 27, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present specification discloses a racket that is suitable for use in, for example, tennis, soft tennis, squash, padel, and badminton.
In tennis, a ball is hit by a racket. As a result of the hitting, the kinetic energy of the racket is transferred to the ball, and the ball flies. In a case where a ball is hit by a tennis racket having excellent repulsion performance, the ball can fly at a high velocity. In a game of tennis, a high flying velocity of the ball is advantageous. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No. H05-15617 discloses a tennis racket having excellent repulsion performance.
Tennis players demand not only high repulsion performance but also high controllability for tennis rackets. In particular, there is a strong demand from proficient tennis players for high controllability of tennis rackets.
It is an intention of the applicant of the present application to provide a racket having excellent repulsion performance and excellent controllability.
A racket disclosed in the present specification includes: a frame including a head; and a string that is stretched on the head and that forms a ball-hitting face. A maximum value of a thickness of the frame is less than 26.0 mm. In the racket, an in-plane stiffness index Gi that is a product of a top pressure stiffness value Git (kgf/cm) and a side pressure stiffness value Gis (kgf/cm) is greater than or equal to 5000 and less than or equal to 8000, and an out-of-plane stiffness index Go that is a product of a throat stiffness value Gos (kgf/cm) and a ball-hitting face stiffness value Goh (kgf/cm) is greater than or equal to 45000 and less than or equal to 60000.
The racket configured as above has excellent repulsion performance. A ball hit by the racket can fly at a high velocity. The racket realizes a long contact time with the ball when hitting it. The racket also has excellent controllability.
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings as necessary.
Each of
The frame 4 includes a head 14, a first throat 16a, a second throat 16b, and a shaft 18. The head 14 forms the contour of a face 20 (the face 20 will be described below in detail). The front shape of the head 14 is substantially an ellipse. The major axis direction of the ellipse coincides with the axial direction Y of the racket 2. The minor axis direction of the ellipse coincides with the width direction X of the racket 2. The first throat 16a extends from the head 14. The second throat 16b extends from the head 14. The second throat 16b merges with the first throat 16a at a position away from the head 14. The shaft 18 extends from the position where the two throats 16 merge together. The shaft 18 is continuous with the throats 16. A portion of the head 14, the portion being positioned between the two throats 16, is a yoke 22. The frame 4 is hollow.
The main material of the frame 4 is a fiber reinforced resin. The fiber reinforced resin includes a resin matrix and a large number of reinforcement fibers. The frame 4 includes a plurality of fiber reinforced layers. The fiber reinforced layers will be described below in detail.
Examples of the base resin of the frame 4 include: thermosetting resins such as epoxy resin, bismaleimide resin, polyimide, and phenolic resin; and thermoplastic resins such as polyether ether ketone, polyether sulphone, polyether imide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyamide, and polypropylene. Epoxy resin is a particularly suitable resin for the frame 4.
Examples of the reinforcement fibers of the frame 4 include carbon fibers, metal fibers, glass fibers, and aramid fibers. Carbon filament fibers are particularly suitable fibers for the frame 4. Multiple types of fibers may be used in combination as the reinforcement fibers.
As shown in
The grip 6 is formed by a tape wound around the shaft 18. The grip 6 suppresses slipping between a hand of a player and the tennis racket 2 when the racket 2 is swung.
As shown in
The grommet 10 is attached to the head 14. In a state where the grommet 10 is attached to the head 14, the base 28 is accommodated in the groove 24. The base 28 may partly protrude from the groove 24. Further, in the state where the grommet 10 is attached to the head 14, the pipes 30 extend through the respective holes 26.
As shown in
Hereinafter, one example of a method of manufacturing the tennis racket 2 is described with reference to
By rotating the mandrel, the prepreg 34s is wound around the prepreg 34p. As a result of the winding, the prepreg 34s has a tubular shape. Another prepreg 34 is wound around the prepreg 34s as necessary, and thereby a layered body 36 is obtained. In
After the mandrel is removed from the tube, the tube and the layered body 36 are set in a mold. In the mold, gas is injected into the tube, thereby inflating the tube. The prepregs 34 are pressed against the cavity surface of the mold by the inflation. The prepregs 34 are heated to cure the matrix resin. A molded article is obtained by the curing. The molded article has a reverse shape of that of the cavity surface.
The holes 26 are drilled in the molded article. The molded article is further subjected to treatments such as surface polishing and painting, and thereby the frame 4 is obtained. Components such as the grip 6 and the grommet 10 are attached to the frame 4. Further, the string 12 is stretched on the frame 4, and thus the tennis racket 2 is completed.
As shown in
The tennis racket 2 has a proper in-plane stiffness index Gi. The in-plane stiffness index Gi is calculated by a mathematical formula shown below.
In the above mathematical formula, Git is a top pressure stiffness value (kgf/cm), and Gis is a side pressure stiffness value (kgf/cm).
In light of repulsion performance, the top pressure stiffness value Git is preferably greater than or equal to 60 kgf/cm, more preferably greater than or equal to 70 kgf/cm, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 80 kgf/cm. In light of controllability, the top pressure stiffness value Git is preferably less than or equal to 110 kgf/cm, more preferably less than or equal to 100 kgf/cm, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 90 kgf/cm.
In light of repulsion performance, the side pressure stiffness value Gis is preferably greater than or equal to 45 kgf/cm, more preferably greater than or equal to 50 kgf/cm, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 60 kgf/cm. In light of controllability, the side pressure stiffness value Gis is preferably less than or equal to 100 kgf/cm, more preferably less than or equal to 90 kgf/cm, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 80 kgf/cm.
Preferably, the in-plane stiffness index Gi is greater than or equal to 5000 and less than or equal to 8000. The tennis racket 2 having an in-plane stiffness index Gi of greater than or equal to 5000 has excellent repulsion performance. In light of this, the in-plane stiffness index Gi is more preferably greater than or equal to 5100, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 5150. The tennis racket 2 having an in-plane stiffness index Gi of less than or equal to 8000 has excellent controllability. In light of this, the in-plane stiffness index Gi is more preferably less than or equal to 7500, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 7200.
The ratio (Git/Gis) of the top pressure stiffness value Git to the side pressure stiffness value Gis is preferably greater than or equal to 1.0 and less than or equal to 1.8. When a ball is hit by the tennis racket 2 having the ratio (Git/Gis) within this range, the tennis racket 2 suitably bends in the in-plane direction. Therefore, torsion of the face 20 is less likely to occur. This racket 2 has excellent repulsion performance. In light of repulsion performance, the ratio (Git/Gis) is more preferably greater than or equal to 1.1, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 1.2. In light of repulsion performance, the ratio (Git/Gis) is more preferably less than or equal to 1.7, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 1.6.
The tennis racket 2 has a proper out-of-plane stiffness index Go. The out-of-plane stiffness index Go is calculated by a mathematical formula shown below.
In the above mathematical formula, Gos is a throat stiffness value (kgf/cm), and Goh is a ball-hitting face stiffness value (kgf/cm).
In light of repulsion performance, the throat stiffness value Gos is preferably greater than or equal to 350 kgf/cm, more preferably greater than or equal to 370 kgf/cm, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 400 kgf/cm. In light of controllability, the throat stiffness value Gos is preferably less than or equal to 480 kgf/cm, more preferably less than or equal to 460 kgf/cm, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 440 kgf/cm.
In light of repulsion performance, the ball-hitting face stiffness value Goh is preferably greater than or equal to 100 kgf/cm, more preferably greater than or equal to 110 kgf/cm, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 120 kgf/cm. In light of controllability, the ball-hitting face stiffness value Goh is preferably less than or equal to 170 kgf/cm, more preferably less than or equal to 160 kgf/cm, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 150 kgf/cm.
The out-of-plane stiffness index Go is preferably greater than or equal to 45000 and less than or equal to 60000. The tennis racket 2 having an out-of-plane stiffness index Go of greater than or equal to 45000 has excellent repulsion performance. In light of this, the out-of-plane stiffness index Go is more preferably greater than or equal to 46000, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 47000. The tennis racket 2 having an out-of-plane stiffness index Go of less than or equal to 60000 has excellent controllability. In light of this, the out-of-plane stiffness index Go is more preferably less than or equal to 55000, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 51000.
The tennis racket 2 achieves both the in-plane stiffness index Gi falling within the range of greater than or equal to 5000 and less than or equal to 8000 and the out-of-plane stiffness index Go falling within the range of greater than or equal to 45000 and less than or equal to 60000. The tennis racket 2 is not only excellent in terms of repulsion performance, but also realizes a long contact time with a ball when hitting it. The repulsion performance and controllability of the tennis racket 2 are both excellent.
As previously described, the tennis racket 2 includes bias-type reinforcement fibers. The bias-type reinforcement fibers can contribute to achieving both the in-plane stiffness index Gi falling within the range of greater than or equal to 5000 and less than or equal to 8000 and the out-of-plane stiffness index Go falling within the range of greater than or equal to 45000 and less than or equal to 60000. In light of this, the ratio of the mass of the bias-type reinforcement fibers to the total mass of the reinforcement fibers is preferably greater than or equal to 15%, more preferably greater than or equal to 20%, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 23%. This ratio is preferably less than or equal to 50%, more preferably less than or equal to 40%, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 35%.
The achievement of both the in-plane stiffness index Gi falling within the range of greater than or equal to 5000 and less than or equal to 8000 and the out-of-plane stiffness index Go falling within the range of greater than or equal to 45000 and less than or equal to 60000 can also be realized through adjustments of the material, thickness, density, etc. of the reinforcement fibers.
In
The maximum value of the thickness of the frame 4 is preferably less than 26.0 mm. In other words, preferably, at any part of the frame 4, the thickness thereof is less than 26.0 mm. The tennis racket 2 thus configured can achieve both the in-plane stiffness index Gi falling within the range of greater than or equal to 5000 and less than or equal to 8000 and the out-of-plane stiffness index Go falling within the range of greater than or equal to 45000 and less than or equal to 60000. In light of this, the maximum value of the thickness of the frame 4 is more preferably less than or equal to 24.5 mm, and particularly preferably less than or equal to 23.5 mm. In light of the durability of the tennis racket 2, the maximum value of the thickness of the frame 4 is preferably greater than or equal to 17.0 mm, more preferably greater than or equal to 19.0 mm, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 20.0 mm.
The damper 62 is formed from a polymer composition. The polymer composition contains a base polymer. The polymer composition may contain additive agents as necessary. Examples of a suitable base polymer for the damper 62 include polyurethanes, styrene-based elastomers, and acrylic elastomers. The damper 62 may be foam.
A preferable position of the damper 62 is a position in the outer side of the head in the width direction X. Another preferable position of the damper 62 is a position in each throat.
Preferably, the vibration damping rate of the tennis racket 58 in the out-of-plane direction thereof is greater than or equal to 0.5%. The racket 58 having a vibration damping rate of greater than or equal to 0.5% in the out-of-plane direction provides an excellent hitting feeling. In light of this, the vibration damping rate in the out-of-plane direction is more preferably greater than or equal to 0.6%, and particularly preferably greater than or equal to 0.7%.
In the above mathematical formula, on is out-of-plane primary natural vibration, and Δω is a peak width in the case of a transfer function To (see
In the above mathematical formula, Tn is the transfer function of the out-of-plane primary natural vibration.
The following elucidates the effects of the racket according to Examples. However, the scope of the disclosure in the present specification should not be restrictively construed based on the description of the Examples below.
A tennis racket of Example 1 was fabricated. The frame of the racket was fabricated to include a plurality of fiber reinforced layers including reinforcement fibers. The ratio of the mass of bias-type reinforcement fibers to the total mass of the reinforcement fibers was 25%. The maximum thickness of the racket was 21.5 mm.
Tennis rackets of Examples 2 and 3 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were obtained. Tables 1 and 2 below show the specifications of these tennis rackets.
Two advanced-level tennis players did a rally by using each tennis racket. The velocity of a ball hit by the racket during the rally was measured. The measurement was performed a plurality of times, and the measurement results are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.
The tennis players evaluated and rated the hitting feeling of each tennis racket during the rally in accordance with the following grading system.
The evaluation results are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.
It is clear from Tables 1 and 2 that the tennis racket of each Example is excellent in terms of both repulsion performance and controllability. These evaluation results clearly indicate the superiority of the racket of each Example.
The following items each disclose a preferred embodiment.
A racket including: a frame including a head; and a string that is stretched on the head and that forms a ball-hitting face, wherein: a maximum value of a thickness of the frame is less than 26.0 mm; an in-plane stiffness index Gi that is a product of a top pressure stiffness value Git (kgf/cm) and a side pressure stiffness value Gis (kgf/cm) is greater than or equal to 5000 and less than or equal to 8000; and an out-of-plane stiffness index Go that is a product of a throat stiffness value Gos (kgf/cm) and a ball-hitting face stiffness value Goh (kgf/cm) is greater than or equal to 45000 and less than or equal to 60000.
The racket according to item 1, wherein: the frame includes a pair of throats that are continuous with the head and a shaft that is continuous with the throats; the head has a constant thickness T1 from a top of the head to joints where the head is joined to the respective throats; the throats have a constant thickness T2; the shaft has a constant thickness T3; and the thickness T2 and the thickness T3 are each equal to the thickness T1.
The racket according to item 1 or 2, wherein a ratio (Git/Gis) of the top pressure stiffness value Git to the side pressure stiffness value Gis is greater than or equal to 1.0.
The racket according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein: the frame includes a damper; and a vibration damping rate of the racket in an out-of-plane direction thereof is greater than or equal to 0.5%.
The racket as described above is suitable also for use in, for example, soft tennis, squash, padel, and badminton. The above descriptions are merely illustrative examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2023-184851 | Oct 2023 | JP | national |