Patent ID: 8998753
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A vibration isolation system for a hand implement having a grip end and a impact end, the hand implement having a fundamental bending natural frequency (ω) and a mass (m), the vibration isolation system comprising: a outer shell member having an inner surface substantially encircling and spaced outwardly from the grip end, the outer shell member sufficiently spaced outwardly from the grip end allowing the grip end to freely deflect within the outer shell member when the impact end of the hand implement impacts an object within an intended zone of contact; and, at least two isolation elements positioned between the grip end and the outer shell member and supporting the outer shell member about the grip end, each isolation element having an inner mounting surface and an outer mounting surface, the inner mounting surface affixed to the grip end of the hand implement and the outer mounting surface affixed to the inner surface of the outer shell member, the isolation elements establishing a spring rate (k) of the vibration isolation system when the system is affixed to the hand implement, the square root of the spring rate (k) divided by the mass (m) of the hand implement defines a natural frequency of the vibration isolation system (ω the isolation elements having a footprint length and the outer shell member having a length that is at least 2 times greater than the footprint length of the isolation elements.