shuttlecock

Abstract

To provide a shuttlecock capable of improving straightness during flight. A shuttlecock (1) includes a base portion (2) positioned in a front and a skirt portion (4) provided in a rear of the base portion. The skirt portion includes: a plurality of first feather shaft forming portions (45) and a plurality of second feather shaft forming portions (46), the feather shaft forming portions and the second feather shaft forming portions being placed in an annular shape around a central axis (C) of the shuttlecock as viewed from a rear; and a feather portion that is supported by the first feather shaft forming portions and the second feather shafts and is formed in a predetermined area from a rear end toward a front end of the skirt portion. Each first feather shaft forming portion is formed in a position including a portion between the base portion and the feather portion, and each second feather shaft forming portion is formed in a position including a region where the feather portion is formed. The number of the first feather shaft forming portions is smaller than the number of the second feather shaft forming portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shuttlecock that is hit by a sports racket.Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a shuttlecock for badminton, a shuttlecock is known in which a skirt portion including natural feathers or artificial feathers made of resin is provided on a substantially hemispherical base portion (see Patent Document 1). The skirt portion of Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of shaft portions supported by a base portion, and a feather portion that is an annular body formed by annularly connecting the shaft portions.Prior Art DocumentPatent Document

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-200890Summary of InventionTechnical Problem

[0004] In badminton, there is a need to enjoy playing not only indoors but also outdoors. However, playing badminton outdoors has a problem in which a flight trajectory of a shuttlecock is likely to change due to an influence of wind, straightness during flight is impaired, and it is difficult to enjoy playing depending on strength of wind.

[0005] In order to reduce such an influence of wind, a configuration has been studied in which the number of feather shafts is reduced so that the shuttlecock is likely to allow the crosswind with respect to the flight direction to pass therethrough. However, such a configuration has a problem that reduces the rigidity of the skirt portion. Therefore, the hitting by the racket is likely to deform the feather portion into a shape largely away from the perfect circle as viewed from the central axis direction of the shuttlecock. This makes it difficult to uniformly disperse the wind in the circumferential direction of the feather portion, causing a problem in which the straightness during flight cannot be sufficiently improved.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shuttlecock capable of improving straightness during flight.Solution to Problem

[0007] A shuttlecock according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a base portion positioned in a front; and a skirt portion provided in a rear of the base portion, wherein the skirt portion includes: a plurality of first feather shaft forming portions and a plurality of second feather shaft forming portions, the plurality of first feather shaft forming portions and the plurality of second feather shaft forming portions being placed in an annular shape around a central axis of the shuttlecock as viewed from a rear; and a feather portion that is supported by the first feather shaft forming portions and the second feather shaft forming portions and is formed in a predetermined area from a rear end toward a front end of the skirt portion, each first feather shaft forming portion is formed in a position including a portion between the base portion and the feather portion, each second feather shaft forming portion is formed in a position including a region where the feather portion is formed, and the number of the first feather shaft forming portions is smaller than the number of the second feather shaft forming portions.Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0008] The present invention makes it possible to reduce the number of the first feather shaft forming portions, allowing the crosswind with respect to the flight direction to be likely to pass between the base portion and the feather portion, and improving straightness during flight. In addition, the present invention makes it possible to increase the number of second feather shaft forming portions, increasing the rigidity in the region where the feather portion is formed, and allowing the feather portion to be likely to be maintained in a shape close to a perfect circle also when being hit by a racket. This makes it possible to equalize the wind dispersed in the circumferential direction of the feather portion, and this also makes it possible to improve the straightness during flight.Brief Description of Drawings

[0009] Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a shuttlecock according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic bottom view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom view similar to Fig. 2 in which a feather portion is omitted. Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a shuttlecock according to a second embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic bottom view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a bottom view similar to Fig. 5 in which a feather portion is omitted. Description of Embodiments[First Embodiment]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention are specifically described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a shuttlecock according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic bottom view of Fig. 1. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "front" and "rear" are based on directions indicated by arrows in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the depth side of the paper surface is "front", and the front side thereof is "rear". However, the direction of each configuration in the following embodiments is merely an example, and can be changed to any direction.

[0011] As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a shuttlecock 1 includes a base portion 2 positioned in the front and a skirt portion 4 provided in the rear of the base portion 2. The shuttlecock 1 flies by being hit by a racket of a racket sport such as badminton. The base portion 2 and the skirt portion 4 have a central axis C indicated by a dash-dotted line in Fig. 1. The central axis C is also the central axis C of the entire shuttlecock 1. As viewed from the rear, the shuttlecock 1 flies while turning (rotating) in a counterclockwise direction around the central axis C as the rotation direction R.

[0012] The base portion 2 is formed in a shape in which a hemisphere and a cylinder are connected on the front side. The base portion 2 is made of a synthetic resin that is elastically deformable by hitting by a racket. From the viewpoint of elastic deformation and durability in play, examples of the synthetic resin include olefin-based, nylon-based, ester-based, styrene-based, and urethane-based elastomers.

[0013] The skirt portion 4 is held on the rear side of the base portion 2 and is formed of an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin (for example, nylon resin).

[0014] The skirt portion 4 includes a plurality of feather shaft portions 41 extending forward from the rear end side of the base portion 2, and a feather portion 42 formed in a predetermined area from the rear end toward the front end of the skirt portion 4 (provided in a rear region of the feather shaft portions 41). The feather portion 42 is supported by the plurality of feather shaft portions 41. The skirt portion 4 is formed in a circular shape as viewed from the rear (see Fig. 2), and is formed in a shape along a side surface of a cone having the diameter gradually decreasing from the rear toward the front.

[0015] The feather portion 42 extends in the circumferential direction around the central axis C, and is formed in an annular shape so as to connect second feather shaft forming portions 46, which are described below, of the feather shaft portions 41 adjacent to each other in the rotation direction R. The feather portion 42 is formed in a lattice shape or a net shape.

[0016] Here, the skirt portion 4 further includes a connection portion 43 fitted to the rear end side of the base portion 2 while being continuous to the front ends of the feather shaft portions 41. In other words, in the skirt portion 4, a portion connected to the base portion 2 and a portion supporting the front ends of the feather shaft portions 41 as a base end are formed by the connection portion 43.

[0017] In the present embodiment, eight feather shaft portions 41 are provided, and all are formed in the same form and provided in different directions. As viewed from the rear (see Fig. 2), the feather shaft portions 41 are arranged in an annular shape around the central axis C. The feather shaft portion 41 is formed with a front end positioned on the base portion 2 side as a base end and rear ends on the opposite side as tips.

[0018] The eight feather shaft portions 41 each include a single first feather shaft forming portion 45 and two second feather shaft forming portions 46. Since the skirt portion 4 is provided with eight feather shaft portions 41, the number of the first feather shaft forming portions 45 is eight, which is the same as the number of the feather shaft portions 41, and the number of the second feather shaft forming portions 46 is 16, which is twice the number of the feather shaft portions 41. Therefore, in the skirt portion 4, the number of first feather shaft forming portions 45 is smaller than the number of second feather shaft forming portions 46, and is half or less.

[0019] The first feather shaft forming portions 45 are formed between the rear end of the base portion 2 and the front end of the feather portion 42. Therefore, the front ends of a first feather shaft forming portions 45 are placed on the base portion 2 side. The first feather shaft forming portions 45 each have a rear end to which the front ends of the two second feather shaft forming portions 46 are connected continuously. In other words, in a feather shaft portion 41, the first feather shaft forming portion 45 has a rear end from which the two second feather shaft forming portions 46 extend so as to branch off.

[0020] The connection position (branch position) between the first feather shaft forming portion 45 and the two second feather shaft forming portions 46 is located forward of the front end of the feather portion 42. Therefore, in the feather shaft portion 41, the feather portion 42 is supported in the rear region from the connection position between the first feather shaft forming portion 45 and the two second feather shaft forming portions 46. The second feather shaft forming portions 46 are formed in a position including the region where the feather portion 42 is formed, and are formed in a position protruding forward from the front end of the feather portion 42.

[0021] In the feather shaft portion 41, the two second feather shaft forming portions 46 extend from the rear end of the first feather shaft forming portion 45 so that the distance between them increases toward the front. The second feather shaft forming portion 46 is provided in a shape bending at a position forward of the front end of the feather portion 42. In the feather shaft portion 41, the first feather shaft forming portion 45 is provided to be positioned at an intermediate position between the two second feather shaft forming portions 46 in the rotation direction R (circumferential direction around the central axis C).

[0022] At the bend positions of the second feather shaft forming portions 46, a reinforcing portion 48 is provided. The reinforcing portion 48 is formed in an annular shape so as to connect the second feather shaft forming portions 46 adjacent to each other in the rotation direction R and to connect the feather shaft portions 41 adjacent to each other in the rotation direction R. The reinforcing portion 48 is placed forward of the front end of the feather portion 42 at a predetermined distance.

[0023] The feather shaft portion 41 is formed in a curve shape in the entire region in the length direction of the first feather shaft forming portion 45 and a region between the bend position and the front end of the second feather shaft forming portion 46. In other words, the feather shaft portion 41 includes a first curve portion (curve portion) 51 and a second curve portion (curve portion) 52. The first curve portion 51 forms a region having a curve shape in the first feather shaft forming portion 45, and the second curve portion 52 forms a region having a curve shape in the second feather shaft forming portion 46. The second curve portion 52 is formed in a position including the region where the feather portion 42 is formed and is formed in a position protruding forward of the front end of the feather portion 42.

[0024] First imaginary straight lines (imaginary straight lines) L1 and second imaginary straight lines (imaginary straight lines) L2 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 are each used to specify the curving directions of the first curve portion 51 and the second curve portion 52. Fig. 3 is a bottom view similar to Fig. 2 in which the feather portion is omitted. As described above, the skirt portion 4 is formed in a shape along the side surface of the cone, and a generatrix of the cone coincides with each of the imaginary straight lines L1 and L2. The first imaginary straight line L1 passes through the front end of the first curve portion 51, and the second imaginary straight line L2 passes through the front end of the second curve portion 52.

[0025] A first curve portion 51 is formed in a curve shape that is gradually separated from the first imaginary straight line L1 from the front end toward the rear end. In addition, the first curve portion 51 curves in a direction away from the first imaginary straight line L1 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R.

[0026] A second curve portion 52 is formed in a curve shape that gradually separates from the second imaginary straight line L2 from the front end toward the rear end. In addition, the second curve portion 52 curves in a direction away from the second imaginary straight line L2 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R.

[0027] A first curve portion 51 is formed in an arc shape having a uniform curvature, and a second curve portion 52 is formed in an arc shape having a uniform curvature. The curvature of the first curve portion 51 and the curvature of the second curve portion 52 may be different from each other or may be the same.

[0028] According to the first embodiment described above, in the skirt portion 4, the number of the first feather shaft forming portions 45 is relatively smaller than the number of the second feather shaft forming portions 46. As a result, the distance between the first feather shaft forming portions 45 increases in the front region of the skirt portion 4, and crosswind with respect to the flight direction is likely to pass through the front region. This makes it possible to prevent the influence of the crosswind to improve the straightness of the flight, making the wind of outdoors or the like unlikely to change the flight trajectory of the shuttlecock 1 so that it is possible to easily enjoy the play.

[0029] In addition, in the skirt portion 4, the number of the second feather shaft forming portions 46 is relatively larger than the number of the first feather shaft forming portions 45. As a result, the rigidity of the feather portion 42 can be increased to stably and favorably maintain the shape of the feather portion 42, and the feather portion 42 can be maintained in a shape along a perfect circle as viewed from the rear also when being hit by a racket. This makes it possible to equalize the wind dispersed in the circumferential direction (rotation direction R) of the feather portion 42, and to improve the straightness during flight.

[0030] Therefore, it is possible to individually set the number of the first feather shaft forming portions 45 and the number of the second feather shaft forming portions 46 as in the first embodiment, thereby achieving both prevention of the influence of crosswind and equalization of wind dispersed in the feather portion 42. Therefore, the first embodiment makes it possible to further improve the straightness of the flight of the shuttlecock 1.[Second Embodiment]

[0031] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6. In the following description, the same reference numerals and characters may be used for the same or equivalent components as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof may be omitted or simplified.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a schematic front view of a shuttlecock according to a second embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic bottom view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a bottom view similar to Fig. 5 in which the feather portion is omitted. As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, in the second embodiment, the configuration of a plurality of feather shaft portions 61 is changed from that of the first embodiment.

[0033] A feather shaft portion 61 of the second embodiment includes a single first feather shaft forming portion 65 and two second feather shaft forming portions 66. The numbers of the feather shaft portions 61, the first feather shaft forming portions 65, and the second feather shaft forming portions 66 in the skirt portion 4 are respectively the same as the numbers of the feather shaft portions 41, the first feather shaft forming portions 45, and the second feather shaft forming portions 46 in the first embodiment.

[0034] Also in the second embodiment, the feather shaft portions 61 are arranged in an annular shape around the central axis C as viewed from the rear. A feather shaft portion 61 is formed with a front end positioned on the base portion 2 side as a base end and rear ends on the opposite side as tips.

[0035] The front ends of the first feather shaft forming portions 65 are placed on the base portion 2 side. At the rear ends of the first feather shaft forming portions 65, a reinforcing portion 68 is provided that extends so as to connect the adjacent feather shaft portions 61 in the rotation direction R and is formed in an annular shape. The reinforcing portion 68 is placed forward of the front end of the feather portion 42 at a predetermined distance.

[0036] Here, a first feather shaft forming portion 65 is formed linearly so as to substantially coincide with a generatrix of a cone having a shape along the skirt portion 4. In a feather shaft portion 61, one of the two second feather shaft forming portions 66 is formed to have a front end continuously connected to a rear end of the first feather shaft forming portion 65 and to extend linearly on an extension line of the first feather shaft forming portion 65.

[0037] In the feather shaft portion 61, the other of the two second feather shaft forming portions 66 is formed in a bending shape including a part of the reinforcing portion 68, and connected continuously to the rear end of the first feather shaft forming portion 65 with the part formed as the reinforcing portion 68 as its front end. In addition, the other of the two second feather shaft forming portions 66 extends rearward from the bend position and extends linearly so as to substantially coincide with the above-described generatrix. As a result, the two second feather shaft forming portions 66 are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance in the rotation direction R.

[0038] Note that in the rear region of the feather portion 42 of the second embodiment, pleats are formed that have a wavy shape as viewed from the rear (see Fig. 5).

[0039] In the second embodiment, the number of the first feather shaft forming portions 65 is smaller than that of the second feather shaft forming portions 66, therefore achieving both prevention of the influence of crosswind and equalization of wind dispersed in the feather portion 42 as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the second embodiment also makes it possible to improve the straightness of the flight of the shuttlecock 1.

[0040] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made. In each of the above embodiments, the size, shape, direction, and the like illustrated in the accompanying drawings are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately changed as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited. In addition, the present invention can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the scope of the object of the present invention.

[0041] The number of the feather shaft forming portions 45, 46, 65, 66 in the above embodiments may be appropriately changed as long as the number of the first feather shaft forming portions 45, 65 is smaller than the number of the second feather shaft forming portions 46, 66. Therefore, a feather shaft portion 41, 61 may have a plurality of the second feather shaft forming portions 46, 66, the number of which is three or more.

[0042] In addition, a first feather shaft forming portion 45, 65 only needs to be formed in a position including a portion between the base portion 2 and the feather portion 42, and a second feather shaft forming portion 46, 66 only needs to be formed in a position including a region where the feather portion 42 is formed. For this reason, the connection position (boundary position) between a first feather shaft forming portion 45, 65 and the second feather shaft forming portion 46, 66 may be located rearward of the front end of the feather portion 42. However, it is advantageous that the connection position is located forward of the front end of the feather portion 42 in that the skirt portion 4 can be easily molded.

[0043] In the first embodiment, a feather shaft portion 41 has the curve portions 51 and 52, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first feather shaft forming portion 45 and the second feather shaft forming portion 46 may have a shape extending in the linear direction.

[0044] In addition, as long as the feather portion 42 can be used for play, the feather portion 42 may have a configuration different from the configuration that is continuous in series in the illustrated rotation direction R, and may have, for example, a shape divided for each of the feather shaft portions 41, 61.Industrial Applicability

[0045] The present invention relates to a shuttlecock capable of improving straightness during flight.

[0046] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-006232 filed on January 19, 2023. All the contents of the application are incorporated herein.

Claims

1. A shuttlecock comprising: a base portion positioned in a front; and a skirt portion provided in a rear of the base portion, wherein the skirt portion includes: a plurality of first feather shaft forming portions and a plurality of second feather shaft forming portions, the plurality of first feather shaft forming portions and the plurality of second feather shaft forming portions being placed in an annular shape around a central axis of the shuttlecock as viewed from a rear; and a feather portion that is supported by the first feather shaft forming portions and the second feather shaft forming portions and is formed in a predetermined area from a rear end toward a front end of the skirt portion, each first feather shaft forming portion is formed in a position including a portion between the base portion and the feather portion, each second feather shaft forming portion is formed in a position including a region where the feather portion is formed, and the number of the first feather shaft forming portions is smaller than the number of the second feather shaft forming portions.

2. The shuttlecock according to claim 1, wherein the number of the first feather shaft forming portions is less than or equal to a half of the number of the second feather shaft forming portions.

3. The shuttlecock according to claim 1, wherein the number of the first feather shaft forming portions is eight, and the number of the second feather shaft forming portions is sixteen.

4. The shuttlecock according to claim 1, wherein the first feather shaft forming portions each have a rear end to which front ends of a plurality of the second feather shaft forming portions are continuously connected.

5. The shuttlecock according to claim 1, wherein the first feather shaft forming portions each have a rear end to which front ends of two of the second feather shaft forming portions are continuously connected, and the first feather shaft forming portions are each positioned at an intermediate position between the two of the second feather shaft forming portions in a circumferential direction around the central axis.

6. The shuttlecock according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing portion that extends in a circumferential direction around the central axis and is formed in an annular shape, wherein the first feather shaft forming portions each have a rear end to which front ends of two of the second feather shaft forming portions are continuously connected, one of the two of the second feather shaft forming portions is formed to extend on an extension line of each of the first feather shaft forming portions, and another of the two of the second feather shaft forming portions includes a part of the reinforcing portion and is connected to each of the first feather shaft forming portions.

7. The shuttlecock according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a connection position between each of the first feather shaft forming portions and one of the second feather shaft forming portions is in a front of a front end of the feather portion.

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