Sequential vibration preventer and vibration control structure for ball hitting implement

• US 6,969,328 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2002
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koji Okamoto
• Original Assignee: Koji Okamoto
• Inventors: Okamoto, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US10/485,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20050009649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 473/520, 473/521, 473/523, 473/519, 473/318, 473/300, 473/303, 473/553, 473/546, 473/549, 473/551
• 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 vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement comprising:

a belt body (1′

) consisting of a material selected from the group consisting of a soft material that has extendability or viscoelasticity and a flexible material that is non-extendable;

a plurality of vibration dampeners (2) integrated into said belt body (1′

) 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 vibration dampeners (2) are lined up in a direction of length of the belt body;

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

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

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

); and

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

).

2. The vibration preventer for a ball hitting implement according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of vibration dampeners (2) are disposed in at least a single row in a direction of length of the belt body (1′

).

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

4. A vibration control structure for a ball hitting implement that uses the sequential vibration preventer according to claim 2, wherein said vibration control structure comprises a recess formed in portions of the implement where vibration amplitude is large when a ball is hit;

and said vibration preventer of claim 2 is press-fitted or engaged in the recess directly or with a two-sided adhesive tape interposed.

5. A vibration control structure for a grip portion of a ball hitting implement, the vibration control structure comprising the vibration preventer according to claim 2 mounted on a grip portion of a shaft of the ball hitting implement, a covering with a grip made from rubber or leather provided on an outer circumference of the vibration preventer of claim 2, and a recess formed in an outer circumference of said shaft or in an inside surface of the grip, and wherein said vibration preventer is accommodated in said recess.

6. A vibration control structure for a ball hitting implement that uses the sequential vibration preventer according to claim 3, wherein said vibration control structure comprises a recess formed in portions of the implement where vibration amplitude is large when a ball is hit;

and said vibration preventer of claim 3 is press-fitted or engaged in the recess directly or with a two-sided adhesive tape interposed.

7. A vibration control structure for a grip portion of a ball hitting implement, the vibration control structure comprising the vibration preventer according to claim 3 mounted on a grip portion of a shaft of the ball hitting implement, a covering with a grip made from rubber or leather provided on an outer circumference of the vibration preventer of claim 3, and a recess formed in an outer circumference of said shaft or in an inside surface of the grip, and wherein said vibration preventer is accommodated in said recess.

8. A vibration control structure for a ball hitting implement that uses the sequential vibration preventer according to claim 1, wherein said vibration control structure comprises:

a recess formed in portions of the implement where vibration amplitude is large when a ball is hit;

said vibration preventer of claim 1 is press-fitted or engaged in the recess directly or with a two-sided adhesive tape interposed.

9. A vibration control structure for a grip portion of a ball hitting implement, the vibration control structure comprising:

the vibration preventer according to claim 1 mounted on a grip portion of a shaft of the ball hitting implement, a covering with a grip made from rubber or leather provided on an outer circumference of the vibration preventer of claim 1, and a recess formed in an outer circumference of said shaft or in an inside surface of the grip, and wherein said vibration preventer is accommodated in said recess.