Racquet mounting system

Abstract

A racquet mounting system includes an axial support main bar. A support-head is coupled to a first end of the main bar and is vertical to the main bar. A ratchet is slidably coupled to the main bar, away from the first end of the main bar. The ratchet is vertical to the main bar, and is parallel to the support head. A distance is formed between the ratchet and the support-head for receiving a racket, and to create space for easy string bed access for string weaving. The main bar comprises a main bar-head and a main bar-throat; the main bar-head and the main bar-throat are attached to each other to form the axial support for the support-head and the ratchet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The application claims priority to the US patent No. 63 / 545,922, filed on October 26, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The disclosures herein relate to racquet mounting systems. Specifically, the disclosed invention relates to example embodiments of a portable system for mounting a racquet head for stringing using a portable racquet stringing device.BACKGROUND

[0003] According to Future Market Insights, the tennis equipment market has an estimated value of US $9.24 billion in 2023 and is expected to be valued at US $12 billion by 2033. The United States makes up of 31% of the market share as of 2023. The primary equipment item contributing the highest revenue share in global tennis is the racquet.

[0004] Such consumption comes from the rise tennis participation across the globe. According to Tennis Industry Association research, the total tennis participation in the United States alone grew by 0.9% in 2018, from a total of 17.68 to 17.84 million players.

[0005] Moreover, the prevalence and frequency of the participation increases the demand of tennis equipment and other services needed. While there is common equipment available in the market, the availability of advanced technology and the accessories that comes with those advanced technology are either limited or non-existent. Until several years ago, only one company provided an electronic portable stringing machine. Recently, a few other companies have introduced other versions of an effective, portable electronic stringing device but these have failed to string with the accurate string tension required by tennis players, especially professional tennis players. Moreover, the only stringing machines that can render accurate string tension values are large stringing machines which are not portable (at least 40kg).

[0006] There are a few mounting options available for portable stringing machine ,however, these options are perceived to be inadequate for structurally stabilizing a racquet head at a high string tensions required by existing consumers including professional tennis players.

[0007] For at least these and other reasons, a new, portable, secure, and easy to use racquet mounting system for use with a portable racquet head stringing system is needed.SUMMARY

[0008] To address the limitations of the prior art, the present invention provides a portable racquet mounting system.

[0009] This modular racquet mounting system can be flexibly arranged for convenient use, or it can be used according to the configuration we recommend. It selectively configurable between a two-point mounting configuration, a four-point mounting configuration, and a six-point mounting configuration, the system comprising: an axial support main bar; a support-head coupled to a first end of the main bar and oriented vertically relative to the main bar; a ratchet slidably coupled to the main bar; and at least one cross-member bar removably attachable to the main bar transversely to provide additional racquet contact points, whereby the system is reconfigurable between said mounting configurations by addition or removal of said cross-member bars.

[0010] In some embodiments, the main bar includes a main bar-head and a main bar-throat; the main bar-head and the main bar-throat are attached to each other to form the axial support for the support-head and the ratchet.

[0011] In some embodiments, the support-head is coupled to the first end of the main bar-head; the ratchet is coupled to the main bar-throat.

[0012] The purpose of the slip lock is to prevent the bending of the thinner top metal bar when higher tensions are in place. The biggest deflection can happen when the ratcheted vertical support is positioned around the middle of the slot where it slides. If deflection is allowed to happen, that changes the inner distance of the racquet on the mains, compressing the racquet frame. That distance change will produce a final string tension that is not intended when the racquet frame is removed from the support. The deflection can occur because the ratcheted support converts the horizontal force into a perpendicular force that is applied directly to the top of the bar. The slip lock creates support at the highest load point to prevent bending of the top section of the bar at the slot. The position of the ratcheted vertical support changes with the racquet head size and shape, hence the slip lock location changes with it.

[0013] In some embodiments, an adjustable table clamp is attached to the main bar-throat. In alternative embodiments, the table clamp can be attached at the throat or at the head of the main bar. With tennis and squash rackets, the user can choose the location to use, but when stringing badminton racquet, this position must be at the head side. The badminton small racquet head size requires the ratcheted support to be closer. This position prevents the access of the table clamp mounting hole at the throat of the main bar. It is also beneficial to have the table clamp mounting hole used at the head because the weight balance is better in this configuration.

[0014] In some embodiments, the main bar-throat includes a connecting hole for receiving a joint for attaching to the main bar-head.

[0015] In some embodiments, the main bar-throat includes a first rack and an axial slot; the ratchet is slidable through the first rack; the axial slot receives the slip lock, and therefore the slip lock is capable of moving along the axial slot. Other sliding mechanisms can also be installed in the ratchet, such as screw-lock, cam-lock, and friction-clamp slider.

[0016] In some embodiments, the ratchet includes a ratchet body and a racquet support base; the ratchet body is attached to the racquet support base through a pin.

[0017] In some embodiments, the the adjustable table clamp includes a lifting cam; the cam is capable of lifting the main bar with continuous motion; the adjustable table clamp forms a clamping space for attaching to a table; the clamping space is adjustable in a height direction.

[0018] In some embodiments, a first bar is secured to the main bar-throat for forming a four-point mounting system.

[0019] In some embodiments, a second bar is secured to the main bar-head for forming a six-point mounting system.

[0020] The racquet mounting system of the present invention is lightweight and portable, allowing flexible expansion of mounting points to realize two-point, four-point, and six-point mounting configurations. The adjustable table clamp enables stable connection to various tabletops, enhancing the system's range of applications. The mounting system can be configured either with adjustable clamps or without adjustable clamps. Additionally, the inclusion of the lifting cam allows for continuous and stable height adjustment of the main bar.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a two-point racquet mounting system according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the two-point racquet mounting system according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the main bar-throat, the slip lock, and the ratchet from another direction according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the ratchet according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the adjustable table clamp, the main bar-throat, the slip lock, and the ratchet according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the adjustable table clamp according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0027] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the adjustable table clamp according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0028] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a four-point racquet mounting system according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0029] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the four-point racquet mounting system of FIG. 8.

[0030] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a six-point racquet mounting system according to yet embodiment of the invention.

[0031] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the six-point racquet mounting system of FIG. 10.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Embodiments of the present invention disclose a device and methods for a portable, modular racquet mounting system intended for racquet stringing. The system includes a mounting frame configured to utilize two-point, four-point, or six-point support mounting systems to securely support a racquet frame during stringing with a portable stringing machine. The system can accommodate various types of racquets used in sports such as tennis, badminton, and squash. An axial main bar is constructed from at least two telescoping components—the main bar head and the main bar throat—and can be adjusted in length to accommodate different sizes and types of racquet heads. The systems are modular, allowing for easy and rapid assembly and disassembly into a flat-pack container for storage or travel. In some embodiments, the mounting frame can be coupled to a height-adjustable table clamp. One or two cross-member components, designated as "X-bars," mount orthogonally to the axial main bar, providing additional mounting contact points to secure the racquet head to the mounting system. In some embodiments, the cross-members can swivel to optimize contact between the mounting system and the racquet head, ensuring even distribution of forces exerted by the mounting system across the racquet head. The orthogonal X-bars are configured to provide substantial clearance between the tabletop or other work surfaces and the racquet head plane, allowing users ample room to pass a hand beneath the strings as needed during stringing.

[0033] The versatility to switch between different multi-point mounting configurations is helpful in protecting the shape and finish of a racket frame over multiple re-stringing procedures over the lifetime of the racquet and may extend the useful life of the racquet.

[0034] Details of example embodiments of the invention are discussed with reference to the several drawing.

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view an example embodiment of a two-point racquet mounting system. FIG. 1 shows a two-point racquet mounting system having a axial support main bar having a main bar-head 1 and a main bar-throat 2. As shown in FIGS. 1-7, a vertical support-head 4 is coupled to a first end of the main bar. A vertical assembly ratchet 5 is slidably coupled to main bar-throat 2. In some embodiments, a slip lock 3 stabilizes vertical assembly ratchet 5, which is a self-locking mechanism. Slip lock 3 prevents the compression, bending of main bar-head 1 and throat 2 orthogonally as redirected via a pivot cylinder (not shown) of vertical assembly ratchet 5, which reversibly locks vertical assembly ratchet 5 in the user’s desired position along throat 2 of the main bar. Other components of racquet mounting system shown in FIG. 1 include an adjustable table clamp 7, in some embodiments.

[0036] The main bar is formed from main bar-head 1 and main bar-throat 2 along with vertical support-head 4. Vertical support-head 4 includes a vertical assembly ratchet. To assemble two-point mounting system, main bar-head 1, in some embodiments, is fitted with two embedded mounting pins or bolts 6 configured to insert into corresponding holes presented by main bar-throat 2 to form the main bar of the two-point system. Vertical assembly ratchet 5 is then positioned at the second end of main bar-throat 2. The position of vertical assembly ratchet-throat 5 can be adjusted along main bar-throat 2 to securely lock a racquet head between vertical support-head 4 and vertical assembly ratchet-throat 5, wherein two-point system is adjustable to accommodate the dimension of a range of different sized racquet heads for stringing. Main bar slip lock 3 is then used to fix vertical assembly ratchet-throat 5 in place. Vertical support-head 4 is then tightened with a retainer and a retainer locking knob, wherein the racquet head is fully secured to the main bar of system.

[0037] In some embodiments, the main bar-throat 2 includes connecting holes 21 for receiving the joint bolts 6 for attaching to the main bar-head 1. In alternative embodiments, the main bar-throat 2 further includes a rack 23, allowing the vertical ratchet 5 to move thereon. The slip lock 3 is attached to the main bar-throat 2 through the slot 22 on the main bar-throat 2.

[0038] The vertical assembly ratchet 5 includes a ratchet body 51 and a racquet support base 52. The ratchet body 51 is attached to the racquet support base 52 through a pin 54. Obviously, there is a through hole on the ratchet body for accommodating the pin 54. The support base 52 may include a support plane for placement of the racquet head, and a vertical edge for abutting against the racquet head.

[0039] An adjustable table clamp 7 secures the racquet mounting system to a table, a workbench, or other suitable working surface. The adjustable table clamp 7 includes a bolt 70 and two adjusting knobs 72, 76, as shown in FIGS. 1, and FIGS. 5-7. The adjusting knobs are configured to tighten and lock the racquet mounting system onto table clamp 7, and to tighten and lock clamp 7 onto the working surface. In some embodiments, adjustable table clamp 7 can be attached onto any working surface that has up to about 70mm or about 2 ¾ inches in height.

[0040] The adjustable table clamp 7 further includes a lifting cam 77. The cam 77 is capable of lifting the main bar through continuous motion, allowing the racquet mounting system to be efficiently adjusted in a single, continuous motion. This feature facilitates swift alignment of the string bed, ensuring proper tension of the mains against the end of the racquet’s handle. The adjustable table clamp (7) forms a clamping space 74 for attachment to a table, with the clamping space (74) being adjustable in the height direction. As shown in FIGS. 7-8, the table clamp (7) includes a first base 71 connected to a second base 73. During use, the second base 73 abuts against the lower portion of the table to secure the clamp. The space 74 is formed above the second base 73. The first knob 72 is capable of adjusting the height of the second base 73 via a spindle 75 located between the first knob 72 and the second knob 76. The spindle 75 includes a second rack 751. Rotating the first and second knobs 72, 76 allows for height adjustment along the second rack 751. Additionally, the table clamp 7 includes a third base 79 that abuts against the main bar. The bolt 70 is inserted into the main bar, thereby securing the main bar to the table clamp 7.

[0041] FIGS. 8-9 provides an embodiment of a four-point racquet mounting system. FIG. 2 shows a four-point racquet mounting system. The four-point racquet mounting system includes several components similar to those of the two-point racquet mounting system, including a main bar having a head 1 and a throat 2. A vertical support head 4 couples to a first end of the main bar and a vertical assembly ratchet 5 slidably couples to throat 2 and is reversibly locked in place in an adjustable, chosen position along throat 2 by a main bar slip lock 3. The four-point racquet mounting system additionally includes a first bar 20 coupled to throat 2. The first bar 20 is a cross-member components, designated “X-bars”, mount orthogonally to the axial main bar and allow for additional mounting contact points securing the racquet head to the mounting system.

[0042] In some embodiments, the four-point racquet mounting system 20 includes an adjustable table clamp 7.

[0043] The four-point mounting system includes three primary structural elements: the main bar, the X-bar 20, and the vertical support-head 4. The main bar includes three primary elements, in some embodiments: main bar-head 1, main bar-throat 2 and slip lock 3. The vertical support mechanism of the four-point racquet mounting system includes two primary parts, in some embodiments, including vertical support-head 4 and vertical assembly ratchet-throat 5. To establish the 3rd and 4th points of contact with the racquet head, the first bar 20 is coupled to main bar-head 1 or main bar-throat 2, in some embodiments. In FIGS. 8-9, as an example, the first bar 20 is coupled to main bar-throat 2. In some embodiments, the adjustable table clamp 7 is coupled to main bar-throat 2 or main bar-head 1 and is configured to reversibly mount racquet mounting system, similar to table clamp 7 mounts two-point racquet system to a suitable working surface, allowing adjustable height for the surface thickness and the user’s comfortable working height.

[0044] Similar to two-point racquet mounting system, the four-point racquet mounting system is assembled by slipping main bar-head having two embedded mounting pins or bolts 6 into two corresponding holes disposed in main bar-throat 2 to form the main bar of racquet mounting system. Vertical assembly ratchet-throat 5 throat is then positioned at the second end of the main bar (throat 2) and is configured to slidably adjust along main bar-throat 2 to lock a racquet head in place in concert with main bar slip lock 3, which is secured by a distance locking nut, in some embodiments.

[0045] In some embodiments, racquet locking system is configured to be upgradable to a four-point racquet locking system by coupling the first bar 20 to the main bar-head 1 or main bar-throat 2.

[0046] In some embodiments, the four-point racquet mounting system can be coupled to a table or other suitable working surface with adjustable table clamp 7.

[0047] FIGS. 10-11 provide an example embodiment of a six-point racquet mounting system. FIGS. 10-11 show a six-point racquet mounting system including a main bar formed from a vertical support head 4 and a main bar throat 2. A main bar head 1 is coupled to a first end of the main bar of the six-point racquet mounting system. The six-point racquet mounting system includes two X-bars. Namely, the first X-bar 20 and the second X-bar 30, as shown in FIGS. 10-11. The second X-bar 30 establishes a fifth and a sixth point of contact and support with the racquet head, versus four points of support with the four-point racquet mounting system and two points of support with the two-point racquet mounting system. A main bar slip lock 3 reversibly locks a vertical assembly bracket 5 in an adjustable position along throat 2. The six-point racquet mounting system additionally includes an adjustable table clamp 7, in some embodiments.

[0048] The adjustable table clamp 7 is configured to attach the racquet mounting system respectively onto a working surface having a thickness of up to about 70 millimeters or about 2¾ inches, in some embodiments. Securing a racquet mounting system to the surface of a table, workbench, or the like advantageously allows the user to adjust string bed height of the racquet without moving the racquet mounting system. This is particularly useful for “pulling” situations, such as standard pull or Butt cap pull, for example. The table claim 7 additionally allows the racquet system respectively to support various stringing machines now on the market having different working heights.

[0049] The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purpose of illustration and example. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible, in light of the teachings herein above.

Claims

1. The racquet mounting system can be flexibly configured and can also be achieved through selectively configurable between a two-point mounting configuration, a four-point mounting configuration, and a six-point mounting configuration, the system comprising: an axial support main bar; a support-head coupled to a first end of the main bar and oriented vertically relative to the main bar; a ratchet slidably coupled to the main bar; and at least one cross-member bar removably attachable to the main bar transversely to provide additional racquet contact points, whereby the system is reconfigurable between said mounting configurations by addition or removal of said cross-member bars.

2. The racquet mounting system according to claim 1, wherein the main bar comprises a main bar-head and a main bar-throat; the main bar-head and the main bar-throat are attached to each other to form the axial support for the support-head and the ratchet.

3. The racquet mounting system according to claim 2, wherein the support-head is coupled to the first end of the main bar-head; the ratchet is coupled to the main bar-throat.

4. The racquet mounting system according to claim 1, wherein a slip lock is slidably arranged on the main bar-throat, and is located between the ratchet and the support-head; the slip lock is abutted against the ratchet for stabilizing the ratchet.

5. The racquet mounting system according to claim 4, wherein the table clamp can be attached at the throat or at the head of the main bar.

6. The racquet mounting system according to claim 2, wherein the main bar-throat comprises a connecting hole for receiving a joint for attaching to the main bar-head.

7. The racquet mounting system according to claim 1, wherein the main bar-throat comprises a first rack and an axial slot; the ratchet is slidable through the first rack; the axial slot receives the slip lock, and therefore the slip lock is capable of moving along the axial slot.

8. The racquet mounting system according to claim 1, wherein the ratchet comprises a ratchet body and a racquet support base; the ratchet body is attached to the racquet support base through a pin.

9. The racquet mounting system according to claim 5, wherein the adjustable table clamp comprises a lifting cam; the cam is capable of lifting the main bar with continuous motion; the adjustable table clamp forms a clamping space for attaching to a table; the clamping space is adjustable in a height direction.

10. The racquet mounting system according to claim 5, wherein the first bar is secured to the second bar via a fastening mechanism; In a preferred embodiment, the fastening mechanism comprises a threaded fastener including a locking nut; In other embodiments, the bars may be secured via clamps, pins, interference fits, welding, adhesive bonding, or interlocking geometries.

11. The racquet mounting system according to claim 10, wherein a second bar is secured to the main bar-head for forming a six-point mounting system.

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