Asymmetrical Badminton Racket Frame for Dual Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional badminton rackets have symmetrical frames, resulting in identical performance properties on both sides, which fail to accommodate individual player preferences such as age, skill level, and seasonal changes, necessitating multiple rackets with different properties.

Innovation Solution

A badminton racket with an annular frame that has asymmetrical front and back surface portions in cross-sectional view, allowing for different performance properties by varying the shape, material, and coloration between sides, enabling players to switch between capabilities with a single racket by changing their grip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the frame is made symmetrical on both sides, then manufacturing is simple and structure is balanced, but performance properties on shuttlecock hitting are identical on both sides which cannot accommodate different player preferences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance properties adaptationVSAvoidframe structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by making the front surface portion and back surface portion of the frame have different cross-sectional shapes. The front surface portion has a first cross-sectional shape while the back surface portion has a second cross-sectional shape that differs from the first, enabling different performance properties on each side of the hitting surface to accommodate various player preferences and playing conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple rackets with different performance properties are prepared, then player preferences can be satisfied, but the burden of preparing and managing multiple rackets increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance property varietyVSAvoidracket preparation burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by designing a single racket frame that can serve multiple performance functions. The asymmetrical frame structure allows the same racket to provide different performance properties when hitting with the front surface versus the back surface, enabling one racket to replace what would traditionally require multiple specialized rackets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the frame cross-sectional shape is made asymmetrical, then different performance properties are achieved on both sides, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance differentiationVSAvoidcross-sectional shape precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the cross-sectional shapes at specific locations of the frame. The front surface portion and back surface portion have distinct cross-sectional configurations optimized for their respective functions, allowing performance differentiation while maintaining manufacturability through localized design variations rather than overall complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3318308B1Badminton racket
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 YONEX CO LTD
  • EP3318308B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3318308B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3318308B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An object is to provide a badminton racket capable of easily achieving different performance properties on both sides of the hitting surface easily. A racket (10) according to the present invention is provided with a frame (13) which extends annularly, a grip (11), and a string (14) which is stretched across the frame to form a hitting surface (15) on both sides of the frame. The frame is formed to make the front surface portion (20) and the back surface portion (21) thereof asymmetrical in shape in a cross sectional view taken along a plane orthogonal to the extension direction of the frame. The formation of the frame into such an asymmetrical shape makes it possible to change performance properties on shuttlecock hitting between the front and back sides of the hitting surface at the time of hitting the shuttlecock, thus making it possible for the player to obtain two difference capabilities with the single racket simply by changing his or her grip.