Discontinuous Racket Frame with Biasing Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional sports rackets lack sufficient driving force and suffer from string breakage during aggressive play, leading to reduced performance and potential match losses.
Innovation Solution
A sports racket with a discontinuous frame and a biasing member spanning the gap within the frame, combined with a grid-like string pattern oriented at 45 degrees, enhances driving force and reduces string breakage by utilizing a resilient biasing member to store and release energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If spring loading is added to the handle-head connection to increase racket power, then driving force is improved, but racket weight increases due to heavy spring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The frame is divided into discontinuous segments with a gap, allowing a biasing member to be positioned within the gap rather than requiring a heavy spring at the handle-head connection. This segmentation enables power generation through frame flexing while maintaining lighter overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member provides dynamic elastic deformation capability to the frame, allowing it to flex and store energy during ball impact. This dynamic response generates racket power through the elastic recovery of the frame rather than relying on heavy static spring loading.
2Power
If traditional continuous frame design is used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but driving force and power are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous frame is segmented into discontinuous portions with a defined gap, creating distinct sections that can independently deform. This segmentation enables the frame to flex more effectively during ball impact, generating increased driving force while the complexity is managed by concentrating the discontinuity in a specific region.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing member acts as an intermediary element positioned within the gap of the discontinuous frame. It mediates the interaction between the frame segments, providing elastic restoration force that enhances driving power while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Productivity
If aggressive play with traditional strings is used, then playing intensity is increased, but string breakage occurs leading to loss of points or match
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member provides beforehand cushioning by storing elastic energy in the discontinuous frame structure before ball impact. This pre-stored energy cushions the shock of aggressive plays, reducing the stress transmitted to the strings and thereby preventing string breakage during high-intensity play.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame discontinuity and biasing member convert the potentially harmful shock loads from aggressive play into beneficial elastic deformation and energy storage. The frame flexes to absorb impact energy, then releases it smoothly, protecting the strings from breakage while maintaining playing intensity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides increased rebound force and reduces string breakage, allowing for more effective power transfer to the ball while maintaining a balanced and grippable racket.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member mounted across the gap formed within the discontinuous frame... utilizing a resilient biasing member to store and release energy
Data Source
AI summary
A racket includes a handle to be gripped by a user and a head. The head has a frame defining an open interior having a perimeter. The frame is coupled to a first end of the handle at a first point along the perimeter. The frame is discontinuous and includes a first terminal end point and a second terminal end point defining a gap along the perimeter at a second point which is different than the first point. A biasing member is coupled to the first and second terminal end points so as to span the gap. A plurality of strings traverses the open interior, with a first set of spaced strings being arranged angularly offset from a second set of spaced strings to form a grid-like string pattern.