Patent Publication Number: US-2018036618-A1

Title: Flexible Pole for Striking Games

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to sports equipment, namely, to devices, used in different sports and training striking devices. The device can be used for training, setting, working out and improving strokes, as well as for measuring various physical striking parameters, such as speed, accuracy, striking force. The device can also be used autonomously, as a training tool in different kinds of sports. 
     PRIOR ART 
     In the sport teaching-training process, it is very important to have a tool for all kinds of striking sports, providing: 
     1. The frequency of training. 
     2. The possibility of training in the specified conditions by a certain algorithm. 
     3. The possibility of safe and effective training at an early age. 
     These factors are achieved using special devices: trainers, striking simulators, etc. . . . 
     The main requirement for such devices is the possibility of applying a technically correct stroke with natural speed and trajectory, the possibility to repeatedly apply such strokes, the visibility of the correct and erroneous trajectory of a projectile (usually a ball) when striking, the risk of injury or sports equipment damage. 
     All such devices necessarily have a flexible striking element—a construction with projectile that provides the effect of “naturalness” when striking to reinforce the correct training skills. 
     This flexible element shall ensure the dissipation of kinetic striking energy, the return of a ball to the point of contact with the striking device (racket, hand etc.). The deflection-return of the flexible striking element is repeated several times in the oscillatory conditions; accordingly, the construction thereof is designed to shorten this oscillatory process without losing the elastic and strength properties of the pole. 
     There are simulators for inventions RU 1754137, publ. 15 Aug. 1992, RU 2050889, publ. 27 Dec. 1995, EP 1728536, publ. 6 Dec. 2006, RU 2301696, publ. 27 Jun. 2007, U.S. Pat. No. 2,713,487, publ. 19 Jul. 1955, that provide an installed target on the stiff arm assembly. The disadvantages of such devices are discrepancy between the target trajectory and ball flight in a real game, complexity of the constructions and their high cost, insufficient convenience during operation. 
     There are also sports-training devices for RF patents for utility models no. 87359, publ. 10 Oct. 2009 and no. 95535, publ. 10 Jul. 2010, their main disadvantages are that the arc, described by the target and due to movement of rigid assembly and structural components to which the target is fastened, as well as target fastening itself, does not provide the necessary trajectory for simulating the flight of the ball in a real game, that can lead to learning of incorrect skills. Besides, the risk of equipment damage (racket) is very high with an erroneous hit by the racket on the elements of the device. 
     There is a training device for exercise of playing table tennis (RF patent for an invention no. 2460565, publ. 10 Sep. 2012), that includes gear, supporting block, clamp pad for attachment to the table. Besides, rotating clear gear is located relatively to the support spring loaded link with plain shank able to move in through the hole of supporting block. The supporting block has a thread in which the threaded rod of the second link is screwed, and this link is fixed with screws to the semicircle edge of a clamp in the radial and central edge holes. 
     The disadvantage of the known device is incomplete alignment between the behavior of the gear in the supporting block when striking and natural stroke in table tennis. The player has to distort the trajectory of the racket&#39;s movement that significantly reduces the effectiveness of the learning process. Furthermore, this device can be used only in one training mode, for training strokes of the same type. 
     There is a device for determining the dynamic characteristics of sports equipment (RF patent for an invention no. 2370296, publ. 20 Oct. 2009), which contains fastening assembly of tennis racket, sensors, unit of measurement, registration and indication of measured parameters connected to sensors, drive mechanism as an engine that is connected to the tennis racket fastening assembly and mechanism for fastening a tennis ball is designed as a base, an elastic pole and a support component, where one end of the elastic pole is fixed in the base and a tennis ball is fixed on the other end. Supporting component is also fixed in the base, sensors are located on the strings of tennis racket and tennis ball and electrically connected to the unit of measurement, registration and indication of measured parameters. 
     The drawback of the known device is its limited application. Used as a flexible pole, the polypropylene pole is not capable of withstanding sustained striking loads. In this device, the stroke is applied in the same plane that also does not meet the requirements for a full-fledged training process. 
     The closest in terms of technical essence, characteristics and structure to the claimed device is the flexible band of the training device  Tennisan  (RF patent for a utility model no. 107951, publ. 10 Sep. 2011). This band also consists of several dissimilar metal conductors but it is structurally designed as a homogeneous strand of straight metal conductors the end of which goes inside the ball and fixes it, preventing it from becoming detached when hit. 
     The drawback of this structure is the increased deformability and rapid wear of the flexible band. Besides, such fastening of a flexible band to the ball has a very significant disadvantage—a band is operated up to the wear of the metal conductors, which fix a ball and are a part of the flexible band that affect its overall strength and springiness. The damage of these conductors leads to a complete and irreversible failure of flexible band with the inability of repair. Another disadvantage of this structure is nonexistence of other variants for fastening a projectile (a ball), and therefore significant limitation of the use of devices based on such flexible bands. 
     INVENTION DISCLOSURE 
     The objective of the present invention is to provide a reliable flexible pole for striking games that can be used for training, setting, working out and improving any strokes at different angles, different heights, and also for measuring various physical striking parameters, such as speed, accuracy, striking strength. The device shall provide the required flexibility and springiness, easy operation and repair, long service life. 
     The applied structure of flexible pole for striking games  SAN 2000  (FPSG  SAN 2000 ) provides the following technical result: 
     1. High strength and durability of the entire flexible structure and the sports equipment attached to it; 
     2. High level of elasticity for dissipation of the striking energy; 
     3. Rapid (2-3 sec) oscillatory process attenuation in striking cycle: stroke-return-hitch; 
     4. A simple, reliable and easily interchangeable fastening of a projectile (a ball) to a flexible pole. 
     As well as the following important performance characteristics of the flexible pole: 
     1. The possibility of prolonged repeated use of the flexible pole by replacing the fastening assembly; 
     2. The possibility of using various fastening assemblies to expand the capabilities of training devices using FPSG SAN 2000 ; 
     3. Unification of manufacturing for different types of flexible poles in order to minimize the cost of production unit; 
     4. Operating safety (minimizing the risk of injury and damage to inventory). 
     This technical result is achieved by the fact that a flexible pole for striking games comprises several different conductors connected to a projectile, in accordance with the invention, the pole comprises a main metal conductor, the top and bottom of which are fastened by rings, inside which inner cables pass, and besides, a number of these inner conductors is wound around the main one and the remaining conductors in a spiral and secured by ordinary closely-spaced coils across the entire length of the pole, and also at the beginning and end of the spiral. At the end of the structure there is a fastening assembly, to which a projectile is fastened. A part or all of the structure of the flexible pole is insulated by layers of insulation, the fastening assembly being insulated separately in order to enable easy replacement thereof. 
     Inside the projectile or on the flexible pole itself near projectile the device may additionally contain measurement sensor connected by cable with electronic processing assembly, besides, a cable between measurement sensor and electronic processing assembly is located between layers of insulation. 
     A fastening assembly of the flexible pole can be designed as a loop made of flexible cable, that can be made of steel stranded cable with diameter ranging from 2 to 4 mm. 
     A fastening assembly of the flexible pole can be designed as a U-shaped arc with axis. 
     A fastening assembly of the flexible pole can be reticulated. 
     The main conductor of the flexible pole can be made of galvanized carbon steel with a length from 200 to 700 mm and a diameter from 2.5 to 5 mm. 
     The inner conductors of the flexible pole can be made of flexible galvanized carbon steel with a diameter from 0.5 to 2 mm and length from 500 to 1.000 mm. As insulation, a soft insulating tape and/or a shrink-on plastic cladding can be used. 
     The technical result is achieved by using a combination of twisted conductors of straight section and spiral section that all together provide high strength, required flexibility and sufficiently rapid attenuation of striking oscillations in the design of FPSG  SAN 2000  flexible pole. Its design allows to use different types of fastenings of various projectile, provides easy repair, restoration, long service life. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In the  FIG. 1-3  as an example, the variant of FPSG  SAN 2000  with the use of a tennis ball as a projectile is shown, in the  FIG. 4 —of a volleyball. 
       In the  FIG. 1 , the general view of flexible pole for striking games  SAN 2000  with the identification of the main areas of the pole design is shown. 
       In the  FIG. 2 , there is a structure of flexible pole for striking games  SAN 2000  without insulation with cuts in the main areas, fastening assembly is designed as a loop made of flexible cable. 
       In the  FIG. 3 , there is a view of flexible pole for striking games  SAN 2000  with fastening assembly as a U-shaped arc with axis. 
       In the  FIG. 4 , a view of flexible pole for striking games  SAN 2000  with a reticulated fastening assembly is shown. 
     
    
    
     The following designations are used in the figures: main metal conductor  1 , inner conductors  2 ,  3 , insulation  4 , surface insulation  5 , fastening assembly as a loop made of flexible cable  6 , bottom  7  and top  8  pole rings, measuring sensor  9 , projectile  10 , fastening assembly as a U-shaped arc  11  with axis  13 , reticulated fastening assembly  12 , cable  14 , electronic processing assembly  15 , main areas of pole structure: straight  16 , spiral  17 , area  18  of fastening. 
     EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     The device is a flexible structure of several metal conductors of different diameters and steel grades, strung together alternately along the entire length of the pole. At the end of the structure, there is a fastening assembly, which is designed for attaching balls of various types and measuring sensors. 
     Unlike the above analogs, the flexible pole for striking games  SAN 2000  structurally consists of the main areas: straight  16  and spiral  17 , which have high reliability, required flexibility and springiness, and main striking load fastening  18  area. The fastening assembly can easily be replaced in case of failure, thereafter extending the life of the entire flexible pole by several times. 
     Besides, analog (flexible band of training device  Tennisan ) structure, as well as structures of other products of similar designation implies only one method of fastening the ball and only one type of a ball, and therefore only one option for the operation of such training devices. 
     In contrast to the known devices, FPSG  SAN 2000  is designed for various options and modes of use, its design allows to attach balls of various sizes both with a fastener assembly as a loop of a flexible cable  6  ( FIG. 2 ) and using reticulated fastening assembly  12  for larger balls or other similar sports equipment projectile (see  FIG. 4 ). One of the options for the use of FPSG  SAN 2000  is fastening to the end of the flexible pole of the U-shaped arch  11  with the ball rotating on the axis  13 , as shown in the  FIG. 3 . This allows combining all the advantages of a flexible pole to ensure the naturalness of the stroke with the possibility to train various strokes with the rotation of the ball. 
     A separate way is the possibility of fastening various measuring sensors at the end of the flexible pole of the FPSG  SAN 2000 . At the same time, it is possible to combine the possibility of striking any force the projectile  10  at the end of the flexible pole and taking readings from this projectile  10  placed inside or on the most flexible pole near this projectile measuring sensor  9  and transferring them via cable  14  to the electronic processing assembly  15 . 
     In order to achieve the above technical results and operational characteristics of the FPSG  SAN 2000 , three areas can be structurally identified (see  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  sectional view): 
     First area—aggregate fastening area, includes the main metal conductor  1  made of galvanized carbon steel with a length from 200 to 700 mm and a diameter from 2.5 to 5 mm (the dimensions are determined by the model and purpose of the modification of FPSG  SAN 2000 ). This main conductor  1  begins and ends with the rings: bottom  7  and top  8 , inside which all other metal elements pass: inner conductors  2 ,  3 —conductors made of flexible galvanized carbon steel with a diameter from 0.5 to 2 mm and length from 500 to 1.000 mm (number and dimensions of which are identified by model and purpose of the modification of FPSG  SAN 2000 ). 
     Each of metal inner conductors  3  is wound spiral-like around the main metal conductor  1  and other ones  2  fixed with conventional turns after a short distance: e.g. every 2-4 turns, as well as at the beginning and end of the twisting (see  FIG. 2 ). 
     The applied scheme of winding significantly increases the overall strength, flexibility and value of the elastic limit of the entire structure of FPSG  SAN 2000 . 
     At the construction area, after the upper ring  8  (area  17 ), the number of inner conductors  2  may be reduced, depending on the modification, but the overall space configuration of the outer and inner conductors  2 ,  3  is spirally shaped and wound by the same principle as shown in  FIG. 2 . The combination of the high-strength straight area  16  and the spiral area  17  with increased flexibility makes it possible to attenuate rapidly the oscillations of the entire flexible pole and, accordingly, to return the projectile  10  (ball) to its original state with readiness for the next stroke. 
     The third area—fastening area structurally contains a projectile fastening assembly and (or) a measuring sensor  9 . 
     A fastening assembly based on flexible steel stranded cable with diameter ranging from 2 to 4 mm. The arrangement of the cable relative to the flexible pole makes it easy to insert the cable  6  into the ball  10  through a single hole in the ball with a diameter of 4-5 mm, followed by straightening the cable  6  in the ball and positioning it along the inside surface of the ball. However, we get an additional elastic structure inside the ball, which reliably fixes the ball on the flexible pole when striking, and takes on some part of the kinetic energy of the stroke, prolonging the service life of the projectile and the entire flexible pole. 
     When the cable  6  is worn out, it is sufficient to replace it and insulation  4 ,  5  only in the fastener section, essentially prolonging the overall service life of the entire flexible pole. 
     To give extra elasticity, aesthetics, as well as for injury prevention and safety of inventory, a part or entire structure of the flexible pole is insulated by several layers of insulation (1-2 layers). As the insulation  4 , a soft insulating tape may be used, as a surface insulation  5 , a shrink-on colored plastic cladding may also be used. Moreover, the fastening assembly is isolated separately to enable easy replacement thereof. 
     In the measuring modification of the flexible pole, between the insulation layers there is a cable  14  connecting the measuring sensor  9  and the electronic processing assembly  15 . 
     The fastening schemes to the flexible pole of the fastening assembly in the form of a U-shaped arch with the axis  13  for a projectile  10  for a tennis ball for working out strokes with rotation, as well as the method of fastening to a flexible pole of a projectile  10  of a volleyball with a grid  12  are shown in the  FIG. 3, 4 . 
     Thus, the developed device provides the required flexibility and springiness, convenience in operation and repair, long service life, and is multifunctional in use. 
     The performed analysis of prior art revealed that the claimed set of essential features, described in the claims, is unknown. This equates to conclude that claimed technical decision complies with patentability condition  novelty . 
     Comparative analysis in prior art has shown that there are no solutions, which have the features coinciding with the features of the claimed invention, as well as the knowledge of the effect of these features on the technical result is not confirmed. Thus, the claimed technical solution satisfies the condition for patentability  inventive level . 
     The information given, as well as the experience of successful use of the flexible pole in sports simulators for tennis, volleyball, boxing (www.tennisan.com), confirms the possibility of using the claimed flexible pole for striking games  SAN 2000  as a sports equipment that can be used for training, setting, testing and development of strokes, as well as for measuring various physical parameters of the stroke, therefore the claimed invention complies with the condition for patentability  industrial applicability .