Sequential vibration preventer and vibration control structure for ball hitting implement

• US 20050009649A1
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koji Okamoto
• Original Assignee: Koji Okamoto
• Inventors: Okamoto, Koji
• Granted Patent: US 6,969,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/521
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/06 Squash
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/02 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/022 String guides on frames, e.g. grommets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/08 with special construction of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/50 Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/002 Resonance frequency related characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/14 Coverings specially adapted for handles, e.g. sleeves or ribbons
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement in which impact vibration that is generated when a ball is hit is transmitted to the human body from the impact generation source via the ball hitting implement. The sequential vibration preventer is detachably mounted on a portion of the implement where the vibration amplitude is large, such as the frame shaft or grip, so that the impact vibration is attenuated, and injury to the body is prevented. A ring body consisting of a soft material that has extendability or viscoelasticity is provided, and a plurality of vibrators are sequentially embedded in the circumferential direction in a single ring configuration or in a multiple ring configuration in the interior of the ring body. Alternatively, a belt body consisting of a soft material that has extendability or viscoelasticity or of a flexible material that is non-extendable, is provided, and a plurality of vibrators are embedded in the interior of the belt body so that these vibrators are sequentially disposed in one direction in a single row or in a multiple rows. A two-sided adhesive tape is disposed on either the outer surface or inner surface of the belt body.

Claims

1. A sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement, characterized in that the preventer comprises:

a ring body (1) which consists of a soft material that has extendability or viscoelasticity and is mounted on a portion of the ball hitting implement where vibration amplitude is large when a ball is hit, and a plurality of vibrators (2); and

said vibrators (2) are integrated in an interior or on a body surface of said ring body (1) by being contained, embedded, sunken, half-sunken or caused to protrude so that the vibrators (2) are sequentially or continuously lined up either regularly or irregularly.

2. The sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement according to claim 1, wherein a single ring configuration is formed by sequentially disposing a plurality of vibrators (2) in an annular configuration in a radial direction or circumferential direction, or multiple ring configuration is formed by disposing said single rings side by side.

3. The sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the ring body (1) that contacts the ball hitting implement when the ring body is mounted is formed in an arch shape in cross-section.

4. The sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement according to any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein a two-sided adhesive tape is disposed on the inner circumferential surface or side circumferential surface of the ring body (1) that contacts the ball hitting implement when the ring body is mounted.

5. The sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement according to any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein a cut slit is formed in a portion of the ring body (1) so that said cut slit can be opened, and joining surfaces of said cut slit are bonded following mounting of the ring body (1).

8. The sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement according to any one of claims 1 through 7, which is characterized in that the shape of the vibrators (2) is one selected from the group consisting of spheres, circular plates, cubes, rectangular solids, plate bodies, linear bodies and belt-form bodies.

9. A vibration control structure for a ball hitting implement that uses the sequential vibration preventer according to any one of claims 1 through 8, wherein said vibration control structure being characterized in that:

a recessed portion or recessed groove is formed in portions of the implement where vibration amplitude is large when a ball is hit;

said vibration preventer is press-fitted or engaged in the recessed portion or recessed grooves directly or with a two-sided adhesive tape interposed;

vibrators are disposed with a soft material interposed and caused to contact the ball hitting implement; and

said vibrators are surrounded by said soft material.

10. A vibration control structure for a grip portion of a ball hitting implement, the vibration control structure being characterized in that:

the sequential vibration preventer according to any one of claims 1 through 8 is mounted on a grip portion of a shaft of the ball hitting implement;

a covering with a rubber grip or leather grip is made on an outer circumference of the sequential vibration preventer, said covering being made so that a recessed portion or recessed groove is formed in an outer circumference of said shaft or in an inside surface of the rubber grip or leather grip, so that said sequential vibration preventer is accommodated in said recessed portion or recessed groove;

vibrators are disposed with a soft material interposed and caused to contact said shaft; and

the vibrators are surrounded by said soft material.

11. A vibration control structure for a racquet face portion in a tennis racquet or other ball hitting implement, characterized in that:

the sequential vibration preventer comprising the ring body according to any one of claims 1 through 5 is disposed on an inside surface of a frame of the racquet face portion with an inner circumferential surface of said ring body aligned with an outer circumferential edge of a protruding portion of each grommet on which such a ring body is installed, so that the gut can be strung through both holes, said disposition being a fixing disposition that is accomplished by bonding the sequential vibration preventer via a two-sided adhesive tape or by forming a recessed portion or a recessed groove in an outer circumferential edge of the protruding portion of said grommet and press-fitting said ring body in said recessed portion or recessed groove directly or with a two-sided adhesive tape interposed;

the vibrators are disposed with a soft material interposed and caused to contact said frame; and

the vibrators are surrounded by said soft material.

6. A sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement which is characterized in that:

a belt body (1′

) consisting of a soft material that has extendability or viscoelasticity or a flexible material that is non-extendable is provided;

a plurality of vibrators (2) are integrated by being embedded, contained, sunken, half-sunken or caused to protrude in an interior or on a body surface of said belt body (1′

) so that the vibrators (2) are sequentially or continuously lined up in a direction of length of the belt body either regularly or irregularly;

cut grooves (4), which are formed by making cut-outs in a cross-sectional direction through a sectional thickness of the belt body (1′

), are formed in a surface on at least one side of said belt body (1′

) and are lined up at equal intervals in a direction of length of the belt body (1′

); and

a two-sided adhesive tape (3) is disposed on either an outer surface or an inner surface of the belt body (1′

).

7. The sequential vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of vibrators (2) are disposed in a single row or multiple rows in a direction of length of the belt body (1′

).