Inertia-elasticity coupling modulation assembly and regulation and control method

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of structural design and impact dynamic modulation of sports equipment and handheld impact tools, and discloses an inertia-elasticity coupling modulation assembly based on controlled micrometric displacement and a dynamic regulation and control method thereof. The assembly can be embedded into an internal cavity of sports equipment or a tool and comprises a mass block, an elastic body or an elastic element, a limiting structure and an optional guide structure. The mass block generates controlled micro-displacement relative to the main body structure due to the inertia effect when high-speed impact or impact operation occurs to equipment or tools, and the elastic body or the elastic element is driven to deform in a controlled range and generate elastic restoring force, so that transient dynamic response of the impact process is participated in a millisecond-level time scale, and the impact force is generated. And the time distribution, the energy transfer mode and the transient stability of the structure of the impact force are modulated. Through the inertia-elasticity coupling modulation mechanism, on the premise that the original geometric structure and macroscopic mass distribution of equipment or tools are not obviously changed, the force output consistency in the impact process can be improved, transient torsion and local deformation sudden change caused by eccentric impact are restrained, and the impact strength of the equipment or tools is improved. And the stability and the fault tolerance of the equipment or the tool under the impact working condition are improved. The assembly has various structural forms and adjustable parameters, is suitable for handheld impact tools such as tennis rackets, badminton rackets, squash rackets, baseball bat, golf clubs, hammers, axes and the like, and has good universality and industrial application prospects.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of structural design and impact dynamics modulation of sports equipment and tools, specifically to a controlled micro-displacement inertial-elastic coupling modulation component and its dynamics control method that can be embedded inside equipment or tools to regulate transient dynamic behavior through inertial-elastic coupling. This component is particularly suitable for racket-type sports equipment such as tennis rackets, badminton rackets, squash rackets, baseball bats, and golf clubs, as well as handheld impact tools such as hammers and axes, and other equipment or structures subjected to high-speed impact or transient loading conditions. Background Technology

[0002] Racket sports equipment (including but not limited to tennis rackets, badminton rackets, squash rackets, baseball bats, golf clubs, etc.) all exhibit significant transient dynamic response problems under high-speed impact scenarios. The essence of this problem lies in the fact that the equipment comes into high-speed contact with an external target in an extremely short period of time, forming a transient impact process with an extremely short duration and an extremely high peak acceleration.

[0003] Similar transient impact conditions are also widely present in the striking or chopping process of handheld impact tools such as hammers and axes. They are also characterized by short impact duration, concentrated transient load, rapid energy transfer within the structure, and directly affect the operator's stability, control, and comfort.

[0004] During the impact of the aforementioned racket equipment or impact tools, the equipment typically makes contact with the ball, workpiece, or target for only a very short time, with typical contact times ranging from 0.3 to 10 ms. Within such a brief timescale, the local area of ​​the equipment undergoes rapid deceleration, rapid elastic deformation, complex bending and torsional loads, and a redistribution of transient kinetic energy. However, the structural design of existing equipment or tools is mostly based on macroscopic control of overall stiffness, material damping, or shape, lacking effective means to modulate the millisecond-level dynamic processes at the moment of impact. Therefore, it is impossible to effectively or controllably modulate the force-time distribution, transient stiffness of the equipment, and local kinetic energy transfer within the contact time.

[0005] In racket design, there is often a structural contradiction between power output and ball control stability that is difficult to reconcile. On the one hand, increasing the string tension, improving the overall stiffness of the shaft, and enhancing structural stability can improve shot placement control, but this often results in reduced power output, decreased return speed, and a stiffer feel. On the other hand, while reducing stiffness, increasing flexibility, or improving local rebound characteristics can increase power and acceleration, this often leads to spin instability, increased fluctuations in shot direction, and aggravated torsional distortion during off-center shots, resulting in decreased control performance and making it difficult to meet the needs of intermediate to advanced levels, especially professional-level sports.

[0006] Off-center impacts are a common occurrence in racket swings. Examples include the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on a tennis racket, the off-center area of ​​a golf clubhead, and the non-sweet spot on a baseball bat. When struck from these positions, the equipment experiences significant eccentric torque, leading to stress concentration and torsional deformation in local cross-sections. This results in abrupt changes in feel, deviation in shot direction, and increased energy loss. Similarly, in handheld impact tools, non-ideal striking or chopping positions increase impact reaction force and cause structural instability. Existing structures often exhibit significant performance degradation under these conditions, a common problem that is difficult to avoid for many types of equipment and tools.

[0007] Furthermore, in existing technologies, most mainstream vibration reduction or performance optimization methods focus on the post-impact stage, representing passive improvements based on vibration attenuation. Examples include using viscoelastic damping materials, arranging free particles or counterweights within the structure, adding damping strips, or external shock absorbers. These technologies primarily enhance the user experience by improving high-frequency vibration attenuation, reducing the operator's impact perception, or altering the overall inertia of the equipment. However, their effects occur immediately after the ball is struck or hit, having almost no impact on the transient impact process itself, which determines force output, directional stability, and energy transfer efficiency. Therefore, existing technologies generally cannot effectively modulate the transient impact dynamics within 0.3–10 ms, nor can they participate in or controllably influence the transient force-time curve, local structural stiffness changes, or kinetic energy return mechanisms in real time.

[0008] In summary, existing swing equipment and handheld impact tools generally have the following shortcomings: (1) Lack of dynamic control methods for the instant of impact or collision (millisecond level); (2) It is difficult to achieve an ideal balance between power output, control stability and user comfort; (3) Under eccentric or non-ideal impact conditions, torsion, energy loss and unstable response are likely to occur; (4) Existing shock absorption and counterweight technologies are applied after the impact, and have no ability to control the transient impact process; (5) There is a lack of a universal transient dynamic enhancement mechanism that can be widely adapted to different equipment and tools.

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to develop an inertial-elastic modulation structure that can exert its effect during ball impact or contact, and possesses controlled micro-displacement and inertial coupling characteristics, in order to effectively influence or control the transient dynamic response of the device or tool within a millisecond time span, thereby overcoming the technical bottlenecks of the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0010] This invention aims to address the common technical bottlenecks in existing racket sports equipment under transient impact conditions by proposing an inertial-elastic coupling modulation component based on controlled micro-displacement and its dynamic control method based on structural action mechanism, capable of participating in the transient dynamic process during ball contact. During high-speed ball striking or impact use, the contact time of racket sports equipment or handheld impact tools (including but not limited to tennis rackets, badminton rackets, squash rackets, baseball bats, golf clubs, hammers, and axes) is typically on the order of milliseconds. Within this extremely short time, local areas of the equipment undergo rapid deceleration, rapid elastic deformation, torsion caused by eccentric forces, and transient transfer of kinetic energy within the structure. However, existing technologies mainly improve the hitting experience through material damping, overall stiffness design, or external shock-absorbing components. These measures primarily act on the post-impact stage and have limited impact on the transient impact process itself, which determines power output, directional stability, and energy return efficiency, making it difficult to achieve a comprehensive balance between power, control, tolerance, and comfort.

[0011] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention proposes an inertial-elastic coupling modulation assembly that can be embedded within the internal cavity of sports equipment. This assembly comprises a mass block, an elastomer, a limiting structure, an optional guiding structure, and a fixed coupling structure with the equipment's internal cavity. The mass block is made of high-density material to generate an inertial hysteresis effect during impact. The elastomer undergoes compression, stretching, and shear deformation within a controlled micro-displacement range when the mass block experiences relative displacement, achieving elastic energy storage and delayed recoil. The limiting structure restricts the maximum displacement stroke of the mass block. The guiding structure (optional) shapes the mass block's controlled motion trajectory along a single or dual axis. Depending on the structural combination, the inertial-elastic coupling modulation assembly can operate in two modes: soft coupling and hard coupling. In soft coupling mode, the mass block is encased in an elastomer, which forms a flexible coupling with the equipment's internal cavity, suitable for multi-directional micro-displacement modulation. In hard coupling mode, the mass block generates controlled micro-displacement along a predetermined direction under the constraint of a guide rail and elastic elements, more suitable for equipment structures with larger internal spaces and more pronounced impact directionality.

[0012] To adapt to different equipment structures and dynamic modulation requirements, the components of this invention can be designed according to the following parameter ranges: the ratio of the mass block to the total mass of the equipment is preferably 0.5% to 30%; the maximum controllable displacement of the mass block along a specific direction is preferably 0.5% to 50% of the effective size of its internal cavity, more preferably 1% to 30%, so as to obtain the inertial coupling effect required by the design within the available equipment cavity; the equivalent hardness of the elastomer can be set according to the impact energy level of the equipment and the required coupling stiffness, and its material can cover elastomers from softer to harder ones, such as rubber, silicone rubber, polyurethane, EVA, TPE, etc. The typical hardness is preferably Shore A 20 to 80, and can also be extended to the range of approximately Shore A 10 to Shore D 100 as needed, which is not limited by this invention. The equivalent stiffness of the spring or other elastic element is set according to the mass of the mass block, the range of micro-displacement of the target, and the type of equipment. It can extend from low-stiffness rubber elastic elements to high-stiffness metal springs. For lightweight equipment such as tennis rackets and badminton rackets, the typical stiffness can preferably be 10 to 30,000 N / m. For high-energy equipment such as baseball bats and golf clubs, the typical stiffness can be extended to about 5,000 to 250,000 N / m or higher. The specific value is determined by the actual application and does not constitute a limitation of the present invention.

[0013] Based on the above structure and parameter configuration, this invention utilizes the controlled inertial hysteresis displacement of the mass block relative to the equipment structure during ball contact, and the controlled deformation and elastic recovery of the elastic body or elastic element during this displacement process. This allows the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component to participate in the transient dynamic response process of the equipment within a millisecond timescale, thereby constituting a dynamic control method based on the structural action mechanism and relying on the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component.

[0014] Compared with existing technologies, this invention has significant advantages. By participating in the transient dynamics process during impact, the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component of this invention can modulate the force-time distribution of the equipment during the impact phase, making the transmission of impact force smoother and improving the absorption and return efficiency of transient energy. Under conditions where the overall stiffness of the equipment is high or the local structure is relatively rigid, this component can improve the force output performance without significantly changing the original geometry and macroscopic mass distribution of the equipment. At the same time, the inertial hysteresis and elastic coupling effect generated by the component within the controlled micro-displacement range can effectively suppress transient torsion, abrupt changes in local deformation, and directional deviation caused by eccentric impact, enhance the stability of the equipment under eccentric force conditions, and make the impact performance deviating from the geometric sweet spot position closer to the ideal impact state, thereby expanding the effective impact area and improving overall fault tolerance. The above technical effects are also applicable to handheld impact tools with high-speed transient impact conditions. The component of this invention has diverse structural forms and adjustable parameters, which facilitates modular design and industrialization. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present invention, the embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a soft-coupled inertial-elastic coupling modulation component based on elastic covering according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a soft-coupled inertial-elastic coupling modulation component based on elastic covering according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a hard-coupled inertial-elastic coupling modulation component based on a guide rail and an elastic element according to the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an inertial-elastic coupling modulation component formed by mixing distributed mass particles and elastic materials according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component of the present invention in a tennis racket.

[0021] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the arrangement of the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component of the present invention in a golf club.

[0022] In Figures 1 to 6, the technical features represented by each number are as follows: 1-elastic body, 2-mass block, 3-instrument cavity or component shell, 4-guide rail structure, 5-elastic washer or spring, 6-distributed mass particles, 7-tennis racket frame, 8-schematic representation of the location of the coupling component on the tennis racket, 9-golf club, 10-schematic representation of the location of the coupling component on the golf club. These numbers may appear or be omitted in different figures as needed, but their technical meaning remains consistent. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The following embodiments are only used to illustrate the principles and feasible structures of the present invention and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention. Equivalent adjustments made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Example 1: Application of an inertial-elastic coupling modulation component based on controlled micro-displacement in a tennis racket

[0025] See Figures 1, 2 and 5.

[0026] This embodiment uses a conventional swing tennis racket as the application object. The tennis racket includes a frame 7, and a throat and handle structure integrally connected to the frame. The frame 7 has a hollow structure formed along its circumference or in a local area to accommodate functional components.

[0027] In this embodiment, an inertial-elastic coupling modulation component is provided at at least one location on the tennis racket, as shown in Figure 5. The location 8 of the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component is indicated by a dashed box. This location 8 can be situated at different circumferential positions on the racket frame 7, preferably including the circumferential or end regions of the frame at the 3 o'clock, 9 o'clock, and 12 o'clock positions, or it can be located in a localized area near the connection between the throat and the frame. These areas are prone to transient torsional loads, bending deformations, or abrupt changes in dynamic response under eccentric or high-energy hitting conditions, making them suitable for inertial-elastic coupling modulation structures.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the inertial-elastic coupling modulation assembly is a soft-coupled structure, including a mass block 2 disposed within the inner cavity of the device or the outer shell 3 of the assembly, and an elastic body 1 covering the outer periphery of the mass block 2. The mass block 2 is made of a high-density material, and its geometry can be a cuboid, a cylinder, or other regular or irregular shapes; the elastic body 1 covers the mass block 2 and is fixedly connected to the inner cavity of the device or the outer shell 3 of the assembly.

[0029] With the above structure, the mass block 2, constrained by the elastic body 1, can generate controlled micro-displacement in at least one direction within the inner cavity of the device or the outer shell of the component 3. The maximum stroke of the controlled micro-displacement is limited by the geometric dimensions and elastic parameters of the elastic body 1, and is within the controlled range described in this invention, thereby preventing the mass block 2 from freely colliding with the inner cavity of the device or the outer shell of the component 3.

[0030] At the moment of impact with the tennis racket, a localized area of ​​the racket frame 7 decelerates rapidly and experiences a transient impact load. Due to inertia, mass block 2 tends to lag behind the racket frame structure, driving elastic body 1 to undergo compression, tension, or shear deformation. After controlled deformation, elastic body 1 generates an elastic restoring force, which exerts a delayed push on the racket frame structure during and immediately after the impact. This allows the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component to participate in the transient dynamic response of the racket frame, modulating the transient force-time distribution, local torsional response, and kinetic energy transfer process.

[0031] By setting the aforementioned inertial-elastic coupling modulation components at one or more locations on the frame 7, the stability and consistency of the tennis racket under eccentric or non-ideal hitting conditions can be improved, the fluctuation of the hitting direction can be reduced, and the fault tolerance performance of the hitting can be improved without significantly changing the overall shape, geometry, and macroscopic mass distribution of the tennis racket.

[0032] Example 2: Application of an inertial-elastic coupling modulation component based on controlled micro-displacement in a golf club

[0033] See Figures 3, 4 and 6.

[0034] This embodiment uses a golf club as an example. The golf club includes a shaft 9 and a clubhead structure connected to the shaft. The clubhead or its connection area with the shaft has a space to accommodate functional components.

[0035] In this embodiment, an inertial-elastic coupling modulation component is provided inside the clubhead or in the shaft 9 area near the clubhead, as shown in Figure 6. The location of the coupling component is indicated by a dashed box, corresponding to the location 10 on the golf club where the coupling component is provided.

[0036] As shown in Figure 3, the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component can adopt a hard coupling structure, including a mass block 2 disposed within the inner cavity of the equipment or the outer shell 3 of the component, a guide rail structure 4 for limiting the direction of motion of the mass block, and elastic pads or springs 5 ​​disposed at both ends of the mass block 2 or on its motion path. Under the constraint of the guide rail structure 4, the mass block 2 generates controlled micro-displacement along a predetermined direction, and the elastic pads or springs 5 ​​are used to provide elastic restoring force and limit its maximum stroke during this micro-displacement process.

[0037] In another alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG4, the inertial-elastic coupling modulation component can be formed by mixing distributed mass particles 6 with an elastomer 1. Multiple mass particles 6 are dispersedly embedded in the elastomer 1 and are integrally disposed within the device cavity or component housing 3, so that multiple microscale inertial units generate distributed inertial-elastic coupling responses in the elastic medium.

[0038] At the moment of impact, the clubhead area undergoes high-speed deceleration and bears a large impact load. Due to inertia, the mass block 2 or distributed mass particles 6 tend to lag behind the clubhead structure, driving the elastic pad, spring 5, or elastomer 1 to undergo controlled deformation. This deformation and its recovery process participate in the transient dynamics of the clubhead during impact contact, modulating the transmission mode and time distribution of the impact force, thereby improving the stability and consistency of the clubhead under eccentric impact conditions.

Claims

1. An inertial-elastic coupling modulation component based on controlled micro-displacement, characterized in that, The inertial-elastic coupling modulation assembly is disposed within the internal cavity or independent outer shell of the equipment, and includes: a mass block for generating an inertial hysteresis effect during high-speed impact or rapid deceleration of the equipment; an elastomer and / or elastic element disposed between the mass block and the internal cavity or outer shell of the equipment, for generating elastic deformation and providing restoring force when the mass block undergoes relative displacement; and a limiting structure for limiting the maximum displacement stroke of the mass block relative to the outer shell of the equipment or equipment; wherein, under the constraint of the elastomer and / or elastic element, the mass block is capable of generating controlled micro-displacement along at least one predetermined direction to participate in and modulate the transient dynamic response of the equipment during impact contact.

2. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mass of the mass block accounts for 0.5% to 30% of the total mass of the equipment.

3. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that: The maximum controllable displacement of the mass block along a specific direction is 0.5% to 50% of the effective size of the cavity in that direction, preferably 1% to 30%.

4. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The elastomer is rubber, silicone rubber, polyurethane, EVA, TPE, or a combination thereof.

5. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to claim 4, characterized in that: The equivalent hardness of the elastomer is Shore A 20-80.

6. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to claim 4, characterized in that: The equivalent hardness of the elastomer can be extended to Shore A 10 to Shore D 100.

7. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: When the elastic element includes a spring, its equivalent elastic stiffness is set according to the mass of the mass block, the target micro-displacement range, and the type of equipment.

8. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to claim 7, characterized in that: When the component is used in lightweight racket sports equipment, the equivalent elastic stiffness of the spring is 10 to 30,000 N / m, and the lightweight racket sports equipment includes tennis rackets, badminton rackets, and squash rackets.

9. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to claim 7, characterized in that: When the component is used in high-quality or high-energy swing equipment, the equivalent elastic stiffness of the spring is 5000 to 250000 N / m or higher, and the high-quality or high-energy swing equipment includes baseball bats and golf clubs.

10. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that: The spring is a compression spring, a tension spring, a leaf spring, or a combination thereof.

11. The inertial-elastic coupling modulation component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The component is used for handheld impact or swinging tools, including but not limited to hammers, axes, chisels, or striking tools, to modulate the transmission characteristics of transient impact force during tool impact through mass-elastic coupling.

12. A transient dynamic control method based on an inertial-elastic coupling component, characterized in that, The method applies to the transient impact process of sports equipment or handheld impact tools, and includes the following steps: (1) An inertial-elastic coupling assembly is provided inside the equipment, the assembly including a mass block and an elastomer or elastic element; (2) During the collision contact between the equipment and the target object, due to the transient deceleration of the local area of ​​the equipment, the mass block generates a controlled micro-displacement relative to the equipment structure and generates inertial hysteresis under the constraint of the elastic body or elastic element. (3) During the inertial hysteresis displacement process, the elastic body or elastic element stores the impact energy and delays its release; (4) During the impact contact period or the immediate time, the elastic body or elastic element generates a restoring force to regulate the transient force-time distribution, local structural deformation and energy transfer process of the equipment, thereby improving the impact force output, directional stability and energy return efficiency.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, Through the controlled micro-displacement and inertial-elastic coupling, transient torsion and abrupt changes in local deformation under eccentric impact conditions can be suppressed, the effective impact area can be expanded, and the fault tolerance performance of the equipment can be improved.

14. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, Suitable for racket sports equipment such as tennis rackets, badminton rackets, squash rackets, baseball bats and golf clubs, as well as handheld impact tools such as hammers and axes.

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