PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention discloses a shock absorber device applied to rackets for padel,
beach tennis and similar sports which employ a racket, enabling the vibrations produced
by the impacts of the racket against the ball to be reduced, while also assisting
with the balance of the racket.
PRIOR ART
[0002] Sports rackets, sometimes simply termed "rackets" or "bats", are designed for use
in several different sports, in the form of bats designed specifically for padel or
table tennis or rackets designed specifically for tennis, badminton, squash and racketball.
[0003] Sports rackets typically include a body element and a handle element which is connected
to and/or extends from the body. The body element normally includes a head and neck,
with the neck extending between the head and handle and connecting them. When designing
these sports rackets, it is desired to furnish certain characteristics and features
which enhance sensation, power and control (speed, direction, turn) for the user.
[0004] In bats employed for sports like padel and beach tennis, to prevent injury, devices
known as anti-vibrators are used, which are small accessories manufactured in resin
in the form of a cylinder. These cylinders have a precise circumference in order to
fit within the holes of a padel racket, with the main benefit being that vibrations
are reduced to the minimum possible at the moment of impact, enabling both the sensation
and performance while playing to be improved. They also furnish greater stability,
because reducing the vibrations yields a more stable stroke. The racket is perceived
as more rigid, with more weight and greater stability. When striking the ball, the
bat structure stops vibrating, thus enhancing comfort and control. Anti-vibrator devices
avoid elbow conditions, as one of their most important benefits and one of the principal
reasons for which players use them. The vibrations generated when striking the ball
can advance up to the elbow joint. Over time, this creates problems and joint pains.
Anti-vibrators halt the advance of this vibration, making them a fundamental accessory
for players suffering from elbow problems.
[0005] There exist means in the prior art which also enable impacts to be reduced in racket
sports, as can be seen in the invention patent
EP0550121 which shows a racket frame of plastic material reinforced with fibres which strongly
dampen impacts, whose casing is made of laminae of fabric pre-impregnated with epoxy
resin and fibre composite laid out with a certain orientation. The casing of the head,
shaft and grip of the racket is provided with at least one impact absorber, where
the portion is fitted inside a tubular bridge medium in such a way that it is attached
securely. A first reinforced medium is used to cover the edge of one end of the bridge
medium and casing, as well as the surface adjacent to the bridge medium and casing.
A second reinforced medium is employed to cover the portion bounding the other end
of the bridge medium and casing, as well as the surface adjacent to the bridge medium
and casing. Therefore, the shockwave generated in the head is absorbed and dampened
effectively by the absorber part. Nevertheless, in addition to being complex, these
structures cannot be adapted in general to the rackets existing today, as the design
is applicable only to a particular structure.
[0006] The devices to reduce vibration known in the prior art are introduced into orifices
situated in the striking face and are not very practical for players. In one of these,
a large part of the material remains outside the hole and above the impact surface.
This is highly disadvantageous as it hampers the rebound of the ball severely, making
it irregular when it strikes around the anti-vibrator. There also exists another type
which remains hidden inside the hole, but once introduced it is complicated to remove
it. making it impossible to change its position or remove it definitively.
[0007] The present invention solves the problem existing satisfactorily, as the device of
the invention does not affect the rebound of the ball and it can be removed and inserted
into the different holes of the bats as often as is desired, enabling the centre of
gravity of the bat to be modified and reducing vibrations, while the device of the
invention is of such a weight as to change the balance of the racket, depending on
the zone where it is deployed. If the device is fitted in the upper holes of the racket,
this will give it a very high balance, increasing the power of the stroke. If it is
fitted in the lower holes, the balance is directed towards the wrist, enhancing control
and manoeuvrability.
[0008] Another advantage offered by this device is that if it is fitted to the lateral holes
of the bat, it improves the torsion. During play, it is common for the ball to be
struck by the outer part of the bat. Anti-vibrators, as columns which unite the two
faces, enhance the torsion of impacts outside the central area at such moments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention refers to the creation of certain devices in the form of inserts
for rackets, padel bats or for any other sport in which a bat with a number of holes
is used, and with the main characteristic that the inserts are fitted into the holes
of the bat itself. In this way, the vibrations of play itself are successfully absorbed,
while the "sweet spot" of the bat is improved, and it is possible to vary the balance
of the bat and improve its torsion when it receives impacts. The device described
in the invention is an insert of variable dimensions, which will be fitted into the
hole in the bat below the striking face. The latter is usually made of carbon fibre
or glass fibre, and the insert will be fitted below it.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] To complement the description which is being given and to assist with understanding
the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred embodiment for
the same, a set of drawings for the purposes of illustration but without limitation
is attached as an integral part of the present description, and representing the following:
Figure 1.- This shows a frontal view of a padel racket or bat (10) with a number of
holes, where the section A-A denotes a particular hole (4).
Figure 2.- This shows a view of the device (1) of the invention, identifying the smaller
diameter (2), the larger diameter (3) and the orifice (4) bored in the longitudinal
section of the device (1).
Figure 3.- This shows an internal view of one of the devices (1) introduced into the
longitudinal section of one of the holes (4) of a padel racket (10).
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The device (1) of the invention can be fitted into the holes (4) of a racket (10)
for padel or similar sports, to avert vibrations in the hand due to the a ball striking
the padel racket (10), in which the cited device (1) presents a geometry with an initial
cylindrical section topped by a conical section which is hollow, manufactured of a
flexible material, where the transversal surface of smaller diameter (2) of the cylindrical
section shall be the same as or similar to the surface diameter of the holes (4) of
the padel racket (10) where it is to be fitted. The transversal section of larger
diameter (3) o the conical section will lie just below the striking surface of the
padel racket (10), and this diameter (3) greater than that of the hole (4) will prevent
the device (1) from being expelled by successive impacts against the ball. The device
(1) also has at least one orifice (5) bored in the longitudinal section of the cylindrical
section, whose function is to facilitate the extraction of the device (1) using a
utensil in the form of or similar to a hook, so that, by introducing the end of the
utensil into the hollow part of the device (1), this end of the utensil will match
the orifice (5), and will dislodge the device (1) inserted into the hole (4) of the
padel racket (10) simply and without much effort with an outward movement.
[0012] The device (1) can have a longitudinal section which lets it occupy the entire interior
of the hole (4), from one end to the other. However, to facilitate fitting and removal,
devices (1) can be manufactured whose longitudinal section is half of the internal
length of each hole (4), so that they are housed in the hole (4) in pairs, where each
device (1) matches the hole at both ends, thus facilitating their extraction by taking
out one from each side of the hole (4). (See figure 3.)
[0013] The device (1) can be manufactured in different sizes, colours and materials, to
match the racket sport which requires it. The device (1) is manufactured in rubber
or injectable resin, or any flexible material.
[0014] Padel rackets (10) made from rigid materials such as carbon generally give rise to
a structure that is much more stable and has fewer vibrations than rackets manufactured
from other materials. If the device (1) of the invention is added to these, a vibration-free
racket will be obtained. The resin of the device (1) is very important for the level
of vibrations. The softer the resin of the device (1) is, the greater will be the
absorption of vibrations because of damping.
[0015] Fitting these devices is simple and rapid. The devices (1) are fitted by introducing
them into the holes (4) the user prefers, and pressing gently upon the zone of greater
diameter for it to lodge completely hidden below the surface. The position and distance
at which the inserts (1) are fitted is very important, because the place will depend
on the needs of the user.
[0016] The devices (1) situated in the upper holes (4) of the padel racket (10) will furnish
it with better balance and enhance the power of the strokes. If inserted into the
lower holes (4), the balance will be redirected towards the wrist, enhancing the control
and manoeuvrability.
1. Shock absorber device applied to rackets for padel, beach tennis and similar sports,
in such a way that the cited device (1) can be inserted into the holes of a padel
racket (10), and which is characterised by the fact that the device (1) presents a geometry with an initial cylindrical section
topped by a conical section which is hollow, where the transversal surface of smaller
diameter (2) of the cylindrical section is equal or similar to the surface diameter
of the holes (4) of the padel racket (10) in which it is to be housed and the transversal
section of greater diameter (3) of the conical section shall remain just below the
impact surface of the padel racket (10) and in which the cited device (1) has at least
one orifice (5) bored in the longitudinal section of the cylindrical section, whose
function is to facilitate the extraction of that device (1).
2. Shock absorber device applied to rackets for padel, beach tennis and similar sports
according to claim 1, which is characterised by the fact that the device (1) has a longitudinal section which will let it occupy
the entire internal length of the hole (4) of the padel racket (10).
3. Shock absorber device applied to rackets for padel, beach tennis and similar sports
according to claim 1, which is characterised by the fact that the device (1) has a longitudinal section which will let it occupy
half of the internal length of the hole (4) of the padel racket (10).
4. Shock absorber device applied to rackets for padel, beach tennis and similar sports
according to claim 1, which is characterised by the fact that the device (1) is manufactured of rubber.
5. Shock absorber device applied to rackets for padel, beach tennis and similar sports
according to claim 1, which is characterised by the fact that the device (1) is manufactured of resin.