Racket with self-powered piezoelectric damping system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A racket comprising:
- a racket frame comprising a racket handle portion orientated along a longitudinal axis of the racket, a racket head portion allowing for the attachment thereto of generally longitudinally directed strings and generally laterally directed strings to form a string bed of the racket, and a racket throat area joining the handle portion with the head portion; and
a self-powered piezoelectric damping system comprising two transducer elements laminated to the racket frame and at least one first circuit located within the racket handle portion and electrically connected to the transducer elements by way of a Y-shaped flex circuit, the first circuit including at least one storage element configured to store power extracted from the two transducer elements;
wherein stored power is supplied back to the transducer elements, and all electrical power supplied to the transducer elements is derived from power extracted from mechanical deformation of the racket; and
wherein the transducer elements convert said electrical power to mechanical power, said mechanical power being adapted to actively stiffen said racket.
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Abstract
According to one embodiment of the invention, a sports racket includes a racket frame comprising a head portion, handle portion and a throat portion joining the head portion to the handle portion. The racket frame also comprises a self-powered piezoelectric damping system for damping vibrations of the racket during play. The self-powered piezoelectric damping system comprises at least one transducer laminated to the racket and at least one circuit located within the racket handle portion and electrically connected to the at least one transducer.
33 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A racket comprising:
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a racket frame comprising a racket handle portion orientated along a longitudinal axis of the racket, a racket head portion allowing for the attachment thereto of generally longitudinally directed strings and generally laterally directed strings to form a string bed of the racket, and a racket throat area joining the handle portion with the head portion; and
a self-powered piezoelectric damping system comprising two transducer elements laminated to the racket frame and at least one first circuit located within the racket handle portion and electrically connected to the transducer elements by way of a Y-shaped flex circuit, the first circuit including at least one storage element configured to store power extracted from the two transducer elements;
wherein stored power is supplied back to the transducer elements, and all electrical power supplied to the transducer elements is derived from power extracted from mechanical deformation of the racket; and
wherein the transducer elements convert said electrical power to mechanical power, said mechanical power being adapted to actively stiffen said racket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A racket comprising:
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a racket frame comprising a racket handle portion orientated along a longitudinal axis of the racket, a racket head portion allowing for the attachment thereto of generally longitudinally directed strings and generally laterally directed strings to form a string bed of the racket, and a racket throat area joining the handle portion with the head portion;
a self-powered piezoelectric damping system comprising two transducer elements laminated to the racket frame and at least one first circuit located within the racket handle portion and electrically connected to the transducer elements by way of a Y-shaped flex circuit; and
at least one storage element configured to store power extracted from the two transducer elements, wherein the racket handle portion includes a slot in the racket handle portion and the first circuit is affixed within the slot;
wherein stored power is supplied back to the transducer elements, and all electrical power supplied to the transducer elements is derived from power extracted from mechanical deformation of the racket; and
wherein the transducer elements convert said electrical power to mechanical power, said mechanical power being adapted to actively stiffen said racket. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A racket comprising:
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a racket frame comprising a racket handle portion orientated along a longitudinal axis of the racket, a racket head portion allowing for the attachment thereto of generally longitudinally directed strings and generally laterally directed strings to form a string bed of the racket, and a racket throat area joining the handle portion with the head portion;
a self-powered piezoelectric damping system comprising two transducer elements and at least one first circuit located within the racket handle portion and electrically connected to the transducer elements by way of a Y-shaped flex circuit; and
a storage element configured to store power extracted from the two transducer elements;
wherein stored power is supplied back to the transducer elements, and all electrical power supplied to the transducer elements is derived from power extracted from mechanical deformation of the racket; and
wherein the transducer elements convert said electrical power to mechanical power, said mechanical power being adapted to actively stiffen said racket. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification