Racket

The present invention relates to a racket.

Conventionally, there is a racket for hitting a ball. For example, Chinese Utility Model Registration No. 218357225 discloses a racket used for a pickle ball. The racket disclosed in this publication comprises a racket base body and a handle engaged with and attached to an upper end of the racket base body. The racket base body has front and back surfaces with highly secondary expanding PE and EVA sponge layers fixed thereto and the two highly secondary expanding PE and EVA sponge layers have an external wall with a carbon fiber layer further fixed thereto. The racket base body is internally provided with a highly elastic unit.

When the racket disclosed in the above publication is used to hit a ball, the highly elastic unit provided in the racket base body elastically deforms, and the PE and EVA secondary highly foaming sponge layers have insufficient restitution. Hence, the racket is insufficiently repulsive.

The present invention has been made in view of the above issue and contemplates a racket capable of enhancing repulsion.

The racket of the present invention comprises a handle and a body connected to the handle. The body includes a core layer, a first surface layer, a first inner layer disposed to sandwich the first surface layer with the core layer, and a first outer layer disposed to sandwich the first inner layer with the first surface layer. The first inner layer is an elastic body. The first outer layer has a higher stiffness than the first inner layer. The core layer has a higher stiffness than the first inner layer.

The racket of the present invention can enhance repulsion.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted that, unless otherwise specified, identical or corresponding components will be identically denoted and will not be described repeatedly.

A configuration of a racketaccording to a first embodiment will now be described with reference to.is a front view schematically showing a configuration of racketof the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, rackethas a back surface side configured to be similar to a front surface side of racketshown in.is a right side view schematically showing the configuration of racketof the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, rackethas a left side surface side configured to be similar to a right side surface side of racketshown in. Racketaccording to the first embodiment is a pickle ball racket (or a pickle ball paddle).

As shown in, racketaccording to the first embodiment comprises a handleand a body. Handleis a portion to be gripped by a user. Handleextends in the longitudinal direction of racket. In the present embodiment, handleincludes a grip member. Grip memberis configured to cover a base material of handle. Grip memberis, for example, a grip tape.

Bodyis connected to handle. Handleand bodyare aligned in the longitudinal direction of racket. The longitudinal direction of racketmatches the lengthwise direction of body. Rackethas a shorter side in a direction matching the widthwise direction of body. Bodyis configured in the form of a flat plate. Bodyhas a ball hitting surface S for hitting a ball. Bodyhas the front and back surfaces configuring ball hitting surface S.

Bodyincludes a pair of linear portions located at ends of the body opposite in the widthwise direction of the body, a proximal portion connected to handle, a pair of proximal inclined portions interconnecting the pair of linear portions and the proximal portion, a top portion located on a side opposite to the proximal portion, and a pair of distal inclined portions interconnecting the pair of linear portions and the top portion.

Racketof the present embodiment includes a cover member. Cover memberis configured to cover a side surface of body. Cover membercovers the side surface of bodyentirely. Cover memberis formed of resin, for example.

is a front view schematically showing a configuration of handleand bodyof racketof the present embodiment.is a right side view schematically showing the configuration of handleand bodyof racketof the present embodiment. In, for the sake of convenience for explanation, grip memberand cover memberare not shown. In, for the sake of clarity, a core layer Lof bodydescribed later is simplified. Core layer Lof bodyis also simplified in the following right side views.

As shown in, bodyincludes core layer L, a first surface layer L, a first inner layer L, and a first outer layer L. First inner layer Lis disposed so as to sandwich first surface layer Lwith core layer L. First outer layer Lis disposed so as to sandwich first inner layer Lwith first surface layer L.

Bodyincludes a second surface layer L, a second inner layer L, and a second outer layer L. Second surface layer Lis disposed so as to sandwich core layer Lwith first surface layer L. Second inner layer Lis disposed so as to sandwich second surface layer Lwith core layer L. Second outer layer Lis disposed so as to sandwich second inner layer Lwith second surface layer L.

First surface layer Lis superposed on a front surface of core layer L. Second surface layer Lis superposed on a back surface of core layer L. First inner layer Lis superposed on first surface layer L. Second inner layer Lis superposed on second surface layer L. First outer layer Lis superposed on first inner layer L. Second outer layer Lis superposed on second inner layer L. That is, first surface layer L, first inner layer L, and first outer layer Lare superposed in this order on the front surface (or one side) of core layer L. Second surface layer L, second inner layer L, and second outer layer Lare superposed in this order on the back surface (or the other side) of core layer L.

Core layer Land first and second surface layers Land Lmay be configured integrally. In other words, core layer Land first and second surface layers Land Lmay be integral and inseparable or integrally molded.

Core layer Land first and second surface layers Land Lare fixed together with an adhesive. First surface layer Land first inner layer Lare fixed together with an adhesive. Second surface layer Land second inner layer Lare fixed together with an adhesive.

First inner layer Land first outer layer Lare fixed together with an adhesive. Second inner layer Land second outer layer Lare fixed together with an adhesive. That is, core layer L, first surface layer L, second surface layer L, first inner layer L, second inner layer L, first outer layer L, and second outer layer Lare each fixed with an adhesive.

In, core layer L, first surface layer L, second surface layer L, first inner layer L, second inner layer L, first outer layer L, and second outer layer Lare disposed at body, and are not disposed at handle. Core layer L, first surface layer L, second surface layer L, first inner layer L, second inner layer L, first outer layer L, and second outer layer Lmay be disposed at handleand body.

Core layer Lis disposed at a center in a direction in which core layer L, first surface layer L, second surface layer L, first inner layer L, second inner layer L, first outer layer L, and second outer layer Lare superposed. Core layer Lhas rigidity to serve as a support when hitting a ball with racket. Core layer Lhas a higher stiffness than first inner layer L. Core layer Lhas a higher stiffness than second inner layer L. Core layer Lhas a higher material hardness than first inner layer L. Core layer Lhas a higher material hardness than second inner layer L. Core layer Lhas a higher stiffness than first outer layer L. Core layer Lhas a higher stiffness than second outer layer L.

Core layer Lis formed of material such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer synthetic resin (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyacrylate (PA), epoxy (EP), and polyurethane (PU), for example.

First surface layer Land second surface layer Lare each configured in a surface. That is, first and second surface layers Land Lare each configured in a flat surface. First surface layer Land second surface layer Lare preferably each configured to be continuous without a gap.

First surface layer Land second surface layer Lare each formed of material such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer synthetic resin (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyacrylate (PA), epoxy (EP), polyurethane (PU), and nonwoven fabric, for example. First surface layer Land second surface layer Lmay each be of fiber reinforced plastic.

First inner layer Lis an elastic body. That is, first inner layer Lis configured to be elastically deformable. Second inner layer Lis an elastic body. That is, second inner layer Lis configured to be elastically deformable. First inner layer Land second inner layer Lare configured to restore first outer layer Land second outer layer L, respectively, from a center side outwards by an elastic force when a ball is hit with racket.

First inner layer Land second inner layer Lare each formed of material such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA), rubber, and silicon, for example.

First outer layer Lhas a higher stiffness than first inner layer L. First outer layer Lhas a higher material hardness than first inner layer L. First outer layer Lmay have a higher material hardness than core layer L. Second outer layer Lhas a higher stiffness than second inner layer L. Second outer layer Lhas a higher material hardness than second inner layer L. Second outer layer Lmay have a higher material hardness than core layer L.

First outer layer Lincludes at least one of fiber reinforced plastic, high-hardness resin, and metal. Second outer layer Lincludes at least one of fiber reinforced plastic, high-hardness resin, and metal. The fiber reinforced plastic includes carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) for example. The metal includes aluminum, magnesium, and titanium, etc. for example. The resin includes polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer synthetic resin (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyacrylate (PA), epoxy (EP), and polyurethane (PU), for example.

is a front view schematically showing a honeycomb structure of core layer Lof the present embodiment at a portion V shown in. In, for the sake of convenience for explanation, core layer Land second surface layer Ldisposed on the side of the back surface of core layer Lare shown.

As shown in, core layer Lincludes a honeycomb structure. The honeycomb structure is a structure in which regular hexagons are arranged without a gap in a plan view. The plan view is a view when the front and back surfaces of bodyface each other. Core layer Lmay entirely have the honeycomb structure. That is, core layer Lmay all be of the honeycomb structure in the plan view.

Hereinafter, reference will be made toto describe modified examples of racketaccording to the first embodiment.

is a right side view schematically showing a configuration of handleand bodyof a first modification of racketof the present embodiment. As shown in, a structure of a stack of layers is disposed only on one side of body. That is, bodyincludes core layer L, first surface layer L, first inner layer L, and first outer layer L, and does not include second surface layer L, second inner layer L, and second outer layer L.

is a right side view schematically showing a configuration of handleand bodyof a second modification of racketaccording to the first embodiment. As shown in, first surface layer Lis disposed so as to cover core layer L. First surface layer Lis disposed so as to cover core layer Lonly at body.

is a right side view schematically showing a configuration of handleand bodyof a third modification of racketaccording to the first embodiment. As shown in, first surface layer Lis disposed so as to cover core layer L. First surface layer Lis disposed so as to cover core layer Lat handleand body. First surface layer Ldoes not cover an end (a proximal end face) of handle.

is a right side view schematically showing a configuration of handleand bodyof a fourth modification of racketaccording to the first embodiment. As shown in, first outer layer Lis configured to cover core layer L, first surface layer L, and first inner layer L. First outer layer Lis disposed so as to cover core layer L, first surface layer L, and first inner layer Lonly at body.

is a right side view schematically showing a configuration of handleand bodyof a fifth modification of racketaccording to the first embodiment. As shown in, first outer layer Lis configured to cover core layer L, first surface layer L, and first inner layer L. First outer layer Lis configured to cover core layer L, first surface layer L, and first inner layer Lat handleand body. First outer layer Ldoes not cover the end (the proximal end face) of handle.

Hereinafter, a function and effect of racketaccording to the first embodiment will be described.

Racketof the first embodiment comprises first inner layer Lthat is an elastic body. Although first outer layer Lhas a higher stiffness than first inner layer L, first outer layer Lallows first inner layer Lto sufficiently deflect and can thus enhance repulsion. Core layer Lhas a higher stiffness than first inner layer L. Core layer Lthat is a member disposed inwardly of first inner layer Lthat is an elastic body and having rigidity to serve as a support, can enhance restitution of first inner layer Lthat is an elastic body. This can enhance repulsion.

Racketof the first embodiment comprises second inner layer Lthat is an elastic body. Although second outer layer Lhas a higher stiffness than second inner layer L, second outer layer Lallows second inner layer Lto sufficiently deflect and can thus enhance repulsion. Core layer Lhas a higher stiffness than second inner layer L. Core layer Lthat is a member disposed inwardly of second inner layer Lthat is an elastic body and having rigidity to serve as a support, can enhance restitution of second inner layer Lthat is an elastic body. This can enhance repulsion. This can provide racketwith a coefficient of restitution improved at both the front surface and the back surface.

Racketof the first embodiment comprises core layer Lhaving a higher stiffness than first outer layer L. This allows first outer layer Lto deflect well.

Racketof the first embodiment comprises first outer layer Lincluding at least one of fiber reinforced plastic, high-hardness resin, and metal.

Racketof the first embodiment comprises core layer Lincluding a honeycomb structure. Core layer Lcan thus be enhanced in rigidity.

Bodyincludes first surface layer L. When this is compared with a case with first inner layer Ldirectly bonded to core layer Lof the honeycomb structure, the former allows first inner layer Lto be bonded in an increased area via first surface layer L. The bonded portion of first inner layer Lcan thus be less likely peeled off. This can improve first inner layer Land core layer Lin durability and repulsiveness.

Racketof the first embodiment comprises first surface layer Ldisposed so as to cover core layer L. Thus, first surface layer Lcan configure a layer stacked on core layer Lwithout using an adhesive. Racketof the first embodiment comprises first outer layer Lconfigured to cover core layer L, first surface layer L, and first inner layer L. Thus, first outer layer Lcan configure a layer stacked on core layer L, first surface layer L, and first inner layer Lwithout using an adhesive. Further, racketcan have a better external appearance.

Racketaccording to a second embodiment is identical in structure as well as function and effect to racketaccording to the first embodiment unless otherwise specified.

A configuration of racketaccording to the second embodiment will now be described with reference to.is a front view schematically showing a configuration of handleand bodyof racketof the present embodiment.is a right side view schematically showing the configuration of handleand bodyof racketof the present embodiment. In, for the sake of convenience for explanation, grip memberand cover memberare not shown.

Racketaccording to the second embodiment has core layer Land first surface layer Ldisposed at both handleand body. In the present embodiment, handleincludes core layer Land first surface layer L. Core layer Land first surface layerextend from bodyto handle.

Further, in the present embodiment, second surface layer Lis disposed at both handleand body. Handleincludes second surface layer L. Second surface layerextends from bodyto handle.

Hereinafter, a function and effect of racketaccording to the second embodiment will be described.