Modular Paddle Racquet Assembly for Interchangeable Impact Plates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports racquets, particularly paddle racquets, lack sufficient modularity and customization options, limiting the ability to vary mechanical properties such as stiffness, weight, and game sensations, and current manufacturing methods do not allow for interchangeable components.
Innovation Solution
A modular sports racquet design with a frame, central body, and impact plates that can be permanently, semi-permanently, or releasably attached, allowing for customizable configurations and interchangeable components, using adhesive means, fasteners, and a monocoque structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece racquet structure is used, then manufacturing simplicity and structural integrity are improved, but modularity and customization capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The racquet is divided into distinct modular components including the frame, central body, and impact plates that can be separately manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and modularity.
2Ease of operation
If the rim is opened or closed to couple the impact core, then assembly capability is improved, but material fatigue and structural reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The impact core is extracted as a separate removable component from the frame, allowing it to be coupled and decoupled without opening or closing the rim structure. This eliminates the fatigue problem at the rim pivot points while maintaining assembly capability through alternative coupling mechanisms.
3Strength
If the impact core is made as a single piece, then structural integrity is improved, but replaceability and maintenance capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The impact core is segmented into the central body and impact plates that can be separately replaced. This segmentation maintains the structural integrity of each individual component while enabling selective replacement of worn or damaged parts without replacing the entire core assembly.
4Ease of operation
If reinforcing fibers are elongated beyond 2-4%, then flexibility for impact core insertion is improved, but fiber breakage and material strength deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The impact core is extracted as a pre-assembled unit that is installed into the frame without requiring elongation of the reinforcing fibers. This eliminates the risk of fiber breakage while maintaining the necessary flexibility for assembly through the extraction and separate installation of the core component.
Data Source
AI summary
A sports racquet includes a frame provided with a head portion and a handle portion, a central body couplable to a cavity provided in the head portion, and at least one impact plate couplable to an attachment region arranged in the head portion and/or couplable to the central body, preferably two impact plates couplable facing each other with respect to the head portion, wherein in the attachment region there are attachment means configured for coupling the impact plate. The method for manufacturing the central body and the impact plates, as well as the assembly of the racquet in the different modalities thereof are provided.