Self Locking Racket Stringing Machine Tensioner

Abstract

An automatically braking tensioner for a racket stringing machine is disclosed. The tensioner comprises a tensioner housing, a drum connected to the tensioner housing, a string gripper connected to the drum, a disk brake having an axle extending from an axis of the disc brake, a lever disposed in the tensioner housing, and a brake lever disposed in the tensioner housing. The disk brake is connected to a stringing machine body and is rotably stationary relative to the stringing machine body. As the tensioner is rotated about the disk brake, the brake lever is engaged with the disk brake when the tensioning force is equal to a desired force which can be established my means of a compression spring. In some embodiments the tension can be altered by varying the tension or position of the spring.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates generally to a tennis racket stringing machine and more specifically to a self-locking tensioning arm of a tennis racket stringing machine.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0002]Tennis rackets are strung with the use of a stringing machine. A machine which can be utilized to string to tennis rackets is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,067,111 (Zdrazilla) the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein.[0003]During the stringing process it becomes difficult to maintain proper tension on a racket string while tying off a string. A user must lock a string in place with the proper tension when stringing a racket by hand. When a user releases a string to tie it in place, the tension is released and the string may no longer have the proper tension. This results in a racket with a loose string bed. What is needed is a tensioner arm for a tennis racket stringing machine that automatically locks into place once proper tension is placed on a string and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent describes an automated tensioner for a racket stringing machine. The tensioner includes a housing, a string gripper, a disk brake, a lever, and a brake lever. The disk brake is connected to the stringing machine body and is rotatable relative to it. The lever has a channel where the brake lever is placed. The tensioner also includes a cam connected to the lever, an axial spring, a stop, a pin, and a slidable spring assembly. The technical effects of this invention are that it provides an efficient and effective means to automatically tension a racket string, resulting in improved performance and efficiency of the stringing machine.

Problems solved by technology

During the stringing process it becomes difficult to maintain proper tension on a racket string while tying off a string.

When a user releases a string to tie it in place, the tension is released and the string may no longer have the proper tension.

This results in a racket with a loose string bed.

The crank mechanism is unwieldy and can be expensive to include on a machine.

Likewise, the use of a weight, while simpler in design, is even heavier due to the need of the weight to provide the necessary tension.

These tensioning methods are thus imperfect.

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