U.S. patent application number 11/371028 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-14 for table-tennis net assembly with a winder.
Invention is credited to Mathias D'Estais.
Application Number | 20060205541 11/371028 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35295447 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060205541 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
D'Estais; Mathias |
September 14, 2006 |
Table-tennis net assembly with a winder
Abstract
The table-tennis net assembly comprises a net and two supports
each having a structure that includes means for fastening it to a
side of a table. At least one net support includes a hollow
net-winder spool. An elongate resilient element is mounted inside
said spool. A first end thereof is secured to the spool and a
second end thereof is secured to the structure of the support. The
resilient element forms part of the means for actuating the spool
when it is pivotally mounted on the structure of the support,
and/or part of means for actuating the fastener means. The fastener
means are preferably of the clamp type comprising a top jaw for
bearing against the top face of the side of the table and a bottom
jaw for bearing against the bottom face. The resilient element
contributes to moving said two jaws relative to each other.
Inventors: |
D'Estais; Mathias; (Cairon,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KENYON & KENYON LLP
1500 K STREET N.W.
SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
35295447 |
Appl. No.: |
11/371028 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/491 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 67/045
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/491 |
International
Class: |
A63B 67/04 20060101
A63B067/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 10, 2005 |
FR |
0502380 |
Claims
1. A table-tennis net assembly comprising a net and two net
supports, each support having a structure including fastener means
for fastening the support on a side of a table, and at least one of
the net supports including, for winding the net, a hollow winder
spool, the assembly including an elongate resilient element mounted
inside said spool, having a first end secured to the winder spool
and a second end secured to the structure of the support, said
resilient element forming part of the means for actuating the
winder spool and/or of means for actuating the fastener means.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the elongate resilient
element is made of natural or synthetic rubber, is of circular or
square section, e.g. it is made of natural rubber and is of
circular section, having a diameter of about 8 mm to 12 mm.
3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the
resilient end is fastened to the top portion of the winder spool
via a cover-forming central part that is engaged axially in said
top portion of the spool.
4. A table-tennis net assembly according to claim 3, wherein the
cover includes a radial slot forming an opening passing right
through the thickness of the cover, with the first end of the
resilient element being inserted and wedged in said opening.
5. A table-tennis net assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
winder spool is pivotally mounted on the structure of the support,
and the bottom end of the winder spool includes an annular
cheekplate terminated by a cylindrical rim, with the support
structure comprising a stationary plate having a hollow cylindrical
housing formed in its thickness suitable for receiving said
cylindrical rim together with an annular bearing disposed in the
cylindrical housing under the cheekplate.
6. A table-tennis net assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
fastener means are of the clamp type, having a top jaw for bearing
again the top face of the side of the table, and a bottom jaw for
bearing against the bottom face of the side of the table, wherein
the assembly includes means that can be actuated to move said two
jaws relative to each other, and wherein the top jaw is integrated
in the structure of the support.
7. A table-tennis net assembly according to claim 6, wherein the
elongate resilient element has its second end secured to the bottom
jaw, thereby constituting part of the means that can be actuated
for moving the two jaws relative to each other.
8. A table-tennis net assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
bottom and top jaws are moved relative to each other in vertical
translation, and the means that can be actuated to move them
further comprise a vertical hollow tube secured to the bottom jaw,
passing through the top jaw, and slidably mounted inside the winder
spool, and wherein the elongate resilient element passes inside
said hollow tube.
9. A table-tennis net assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
bottom jaw includes a vertical actuator arm passing through a
portion of the stationary plate that is on the side of the winder
spool opposite from the portion of said plate that acts as the top
jaw.
10. A table-tennis net assembly according to claim 1, wherein each
of the two net supports carries a winder guide constituted by two
vertical rods secured to the top of the top jaw close to the winder
spool.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of accessories
for playing table tennis. More particularly, it relates to a
table-tennis net assembly comprising a net proper and two supports
for said net, each fitted with means for fastening to a respective
side of the table. The invention relates particularly but not
exclusively to a set in which at least one of the supports is
fitted with an automatic net winder.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Integrating an automatic net winder in at least one of the
supports of a table-tennis net assembly is known from U.S. Pat. No.
4,850,590. In that document, the net support is constituted by a
cylindrical tube having a vertical pivot shaft mounted therein,
with its bottom end passing through a chamber in which a spiral
torsion spring is housed that is wound around said shaft. One end
of the spiral-spring blade is secured to the pivot shaft while the
other end is secured to the chamber. The net is mounted on the
pivot shaft in such a manner that the spiral torsion spring
contributes to tensioning the net when the two supports are mounted
on opposite sides of the table, and serves automatically to wind in
the net around the shaft inside the cylindrical tube when the net
is removed from the table.
[0003] Advantageous though it might be, the winder device of U.S.
Pat. No. 4,850,590 nevertheless presents drawbacks. From a
manufacturing point of view, it is not easy to mount the spiral
spring, and above all to adjust it so as to obtain good conditions
for tensioning the net and for winding it in automatically. The
spring can be damaged if the assembly is not kept under good
storage conditions between two utilizations. The author of U.S.
Pat. No. 4,850,590 was well aware of this difficulty since a knob
is provided for turning the pivot shaft in the event of the spring
blade malfunctioning.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One of the objects of the present invention is to propose a
table-tennis net assembly with a winder that mitigates the
above-mentioned drawbacks.
[0005] Concerning the means for fastening the support to the sides
of the table, they are generally of the clamp type, with a top jaw
that is to bear against the top face of the side of the table and a
bottom jaw or equivalent element that is designed to bear against
the bottom face of the side of the table, together with means for
driving the two said jaws in displacement relative to each other.
For example, the bottom jaw can be mounted on a threaded rod,
which, on being turned, causes the bottom jaw to move vertically
relative to a stationary horizontal support secured to the top jaw.
That type of fastener means is awkward for a user to actuate, since
the user needs to turn the threaded rod about its own axis and
there is a danger of spoiling the bottom face of the table if
excessive pressure is applied.
[0006] One of the objects of the present invention is to propose a
table-tennis net assembly with means for fastening to the sides of
the table that mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks.
[0007] This object is fully achieved by the table-tennis net
assembly that comprises a net and two net supports, each support
having a structure including fastener means for fastening the
support on a side of a table, and at least one of the net supports
including, for winding the net, a hollow winder spool.
[0008] In a manner characteristic of the invention, the net
assembly includes an elongate resilient element mounted inside said
spool, having a first end secured to the winder spool and a second
end secured to the structure of the support, said resilient element
forming part of the means for actuating the winder spool and/or of
means for actuating the fastener means.
[0009] Preferably, the elongate resilient element is made of
natural or synthetic rubber, is of circular or square section, e.g.
is made of natural rubber and is of circular section having a
diameter of about 8 millimeters (mm) to 12 mm.
[0010] In a variant embodiment, the first end of the resilient
element is fastened to the top portion of the winder spool via a
cover-forming central part that is engaged axially in said top
portion of the spool. Thus, while the net assembly is being
assembled, it is possible to stretch the resilient element, to
fasten it to the central part, and to engage said part in the top
portion of the spool.
[0011] Preferably, the cover includes a radial slot forming an
opening passing right through the thickness of the cover, with the
first end of the resilient element being inserted and jammed in
said opening.
[0012] When the resilient element forms a part of the actuator
means of the winder spool, said spool is pivotally mounted and it
is the twisted elongate resilient element that serves to deliver
the energy needed for tensioning and automatically winding the net
around the spool.
[0013] In a variant embodiment, the bottom end of the winder spool
includes an annular cheekplate terminated by a cylindrical rim,
with the support structure comprising a stationary plate having a
hollow cylindrical housing formed in its thickness suitable for
receiving said cylindrical rim together with an annular bearing
disposed in the cylindrical housing under the cheekplate. The
annular bearing constitutes means that are preferred, amongst
others, for limiting friction between the winder spool and the
structure of the support when the winder spool is set into rotation
under drive from the resilient element.
[0014] In a variant embodiment, the fastener means of the
table-tennis net assembly are of the clamp type, with a top jaw for
bearing against the top face of the side of the table and a bottom
jaw for being brought to bear against the bottom face of the side
of the table, together with means that can be actuated to move said
two jaws relative to each other. The top jaw is preferably
integrated in the structure of the support, and in particular it
may be constituted by a portion of the above-mentioned stationary
plate.
[0015] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,950, where the fastener means are
likewise of the clamp type, the means that can be actuated to move
the two jaws comprise a spiral traction spring placed so as to move
the bottom jaw towards the top jaw.
[0016] When the resilient element forms part of the means that can
be actuated to move the two jaws relative to each other, the second
end of said elongate resilient element is secured to the bottom
jaw. Thus, the resilient element performs the function of moving
the two jaws towards each other. As mentioned above, it can also
perform the function of winding the net if the winder spool is also
pivotally mounted. This function of moving the two jaws towards
each other and of driving the winding of the net are performed by
two distinct and independent springs in U.S. Pat. No.
4,850,590.
[0017] Preferably, the bottom and top jaws are displaced in
vertical translation and the means that can be actuated to move
them likewise comprise a vertical hollow tube secured to the bottom
jaw, passing through the top jaw, and slidably mounted inside the
winder spool. In addition, the elongate resilient element passes
inside said hollow tube. It is this resilient element with its two
ends secured respectively to the top portion of the spool and to
the bottom jaw that holds together the assembly of parts that can
be moved either in translation or optionally in rotation.
[0018] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,590, the bottom jaw of the clamp for
fastening onto the side of the table is provided with a kind of
handle that is to be found under said jaw. Thus, in order to mount
the support, the user needs to hold the cylindrical tube containing
the net in one hand and use the other hand to take hold of said
handle in order to fasten the net assembly to the side of the
table, after opening the clamp by moving the bottom jaw away using
the handle.
[0019] In a variant embodiment of the present invention, the bottom
jaw includes a vertical actuator arm passing through a portion of
the stationary plate that is on the side of the winder spool
opposite from the portion of said plate that acts as the top jaw.
Thus, in this particular configuration, only one hand is needed to
open the clamp in order to place the support on the side of the
table, as explained in greater detail below.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the two
net supports includes a respective winding guide constituted by two
vertical rods secured to the top of the top jaw close to the winder
spool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The present invention can be better understood on reading
the following description both of a preferred first embodiment of a
table-tennis net assembly with a winder in which each of the two
net supports includes a resilient element serving both to perform
the winding function and the function of actuating the system for
securing the support to the side of the table, and of a simplified
second embodiment in which the resilient member serves solely to
perform the function of actuating the fastener system, as shown in
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a first embodiment of
the net assembly in its storage position;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a
support in the first embodiment, with its net removed and the
fastener clamp shown in its inactive position; and
[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a
support in a second embodiment, with its net removed, and the
fastener clamp shown in the inactive position.
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] In the first embodiment, the table-tennis net assembly 1 as
shown in FIG. 1 is in a storage position, with the net 2 being
wound onto two supports 3, 3', with said supports being secured to
each other by their respective fixing means, each comprising a top
jaw 4 and a bottom jaw 5 that act as clamps for fastening to the
side of a table. In the example shown, the top jaw 4' of the second
support 3 is inserted between the top and bottom jaws 4 and 5 of
the first support 3, while the bottom jaw 5 of the first support 3
is inserted between the top and bottom jaws 4' and 5' of the second
support 3'. This particularly compact configuration enables the net
assembly 1 to be stored in a small volume, with the net 2 being
protected from any unacceptable creasing.
[0026] FIG. 1 shows the net wound in substantially the same manner
on both supports 3, 3', each of which is provided with a respective
winder system as described below. Nevertheless, this embodiment is
not exclusive. It would also be possible for only one of the
supports to have a winder system with the other support serving
solely to hold the net.
[0027] With reference to FIG. 2, the support with its winder system
is made up:
[0028] a winder spool 6;
[0029] a stationary plate 7, part of which acts as the top jaw
4;
[0030] a moving part 8, part of which acts as the bottom jaw 5;
[0031] a hollow guide tube 9;
[0032] a resilient element 10; and
[0033] a bearing 11.
[0034] The winder spool 6 for the net 2 is a hollow spool, with the
hollow tube 9 being housed therein and with the resilient element
10 being housed inside the tube extending along a direction
corresponding to the axis DD' which is a vertical axis when the
support 3 is mounted on the side of a table with the table top
being horizontal. The top and bottom portions 6a and 6b of the
spool 6 comprise respective cheekplates, namely a top cheekplate 12
and a bottom cheekplate 13 which are spaced apart by a distance
that is slightly greater than the height of the net. In the storage
position, the wound-up net is located between the two cheekplates
12 and 13 as can be seen in FIG. 1.
[0035] In the top portion 6a of the spool, there is provided a
housing 14 having a cover 15 closing said top portion 6a of the
spool 6, but serving mainly to enable the resilient element 10 to
be secured to the top portion 6a of the spool 6. The cover 15 has a
radial slot 16 into which the resilient element 10 is inserted
after being stretched sufficiently to reduce its diameter. In the
relaxed state, the resilient element 10 is held securely in the
slot 16 of the cover 15. The cover 15 is held in the top portion 6a
of the spool 6 via an internal shoulder 17 that is pierced by a
through hole 18 through which the resilient member 10 can pass.
[0036] The bottom cheekplate 13 of the winder spool 6 has a
cylindrical outer rim 19. In its thickness, the stationary plate 7
presents an annular housing 20 of dimensions suitable for receiving
the winder spool 6, and more precisely for receiving the
cylindrical rim 19 of the bottom cheekplate 13 of said spool 6.
[0037] Between the bottom cheekplate 13 and the bottom 20a of the
housing 20 there is disposed a bearing 11 constituted by a plate 21
of annular configuration having a plurality of balls 22 inserted
therein, the diameter of the balls being greater than the thickness
of the plate 21.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom cheekplate 13 presses against
the balls 22, which themselves press against the bottom 20a of the
housing 20, and the edge of the cylindrical rim 19 does not rest on
said bottom 20a. As a result, the winder spool 6 can itself turn
freely about the axis DD' with little friction.
[0039] The stationary plate 7 is pierced by a through hole 23
suitable for passing the hollow tube 9. Preferably, said hollow
tube 9 is square in section and the through hole 23 is likewise
square in section so that the tube 9 is capable solely of sliding
vertically through the though hole 23. Provision is made for the
stationary plate 7 to include a downward extension 24 of square
section serving as a slideway for guiding the hollow tube 9.
[0040] Under the stationary plate 7 on its side corresponding to
the top jaw 4, there is secured an elastomer pad 25. This pad is
for pressing against the top face of the table.
[0041] A through hole 27 is provided through the stationary plate 7
in a position that is remote from its portion that acts as the top
jaw 4.
[0042] The moving part 8 having a portion that acts as the bottom
jaw 5 is secured to the bottom end of the hollow tube 9. Another
elastomer pad 26 is secured to the top face of the moving part 8
that acts as the bottom jaw 5. The moving part 8 has an actuator
arm 28 located remote from the jaw 5 and shaped to pass through the
hole 27 in the stationary plate 7. The bottom end 10b of the
resilient element 10 is secured to the moving part 8. In the
example shown, this is achieved by means of a pin 29 passing
through the moving part 8 and also through the hollow tube 9 and
the bottom end of the resilient element 10.
[0043] In a particular embodiment, the resilient element 10 is
constituted by a solid cylindrical body of natural rubber having a
diameter of about one centimeter. It could also be a solid body of
square section. This solid body structure has given better results
in terms of responsiveness of the net-winding function in
comparison with a resilient member in the form of a flat strip or
an elastic band.
[0044] The net support 3 is put into place by actuating the arm 28
in the direction of arrow F (FIG. 2). Moving the arm 28 also causes
the moving part 8 to move in the same direction, thereby moving the
bottom jaw 5 away from the top jaw 4 so as to leave sufficient
space to enable the side 30 of the table to be inserted between
said jaws. In the mounted position, the pad 25 of the top jaw 4
comes to bear against the top face 30a of the side 30, while the
pad 26 of the bottom jaw 5 comes to bear against the bottom face
30b of the side 30.
[0045] Given that the bottom end 10b of the resilient element 10 is
secured to the moving part 8, movement in the arm 28 along arrow F
is opposed by the force exerted by said element. It is therefore
necessary for the user to press down on the arm 28 hard enough to
open the jaws 4 and 5 so as to position the support 3 on the side
30; thereafter the user releases the actuator arm 28 and the moving
part 8 returns to its initial position because the resilient
element 10 tends to return to its initial rest length. In so doing,
the support 3 is secured onto the side 3 of the table by the
traction force of the resilient element 10.
[0046] It should be observed that the hollow tube 9 serves to guide
and to stiffen the support 3 while the moving part 8 is moving in
translation relative to the stationary plate 7. In this particular
embodiment, the hollow tube 9 is a metal tube of square section.
Optionally, the moving part 8 and the hollow tube 9 could be made
as a single piece by injection molding or by any other molding
technique.
[0047] In order to actuate the arm 28, the user can take hold of
the stationary plate 7 using only three fingers of one hand, the
index and middle fingers being disposed under the stationary plate
7 on either side thereof, with the thumb pressing down on the
actuator arm 28.
[0048] Once the first support 3 has been mounted on the side 30 of
the table, the user takes hold of the second support 3' and goes
round the table to mount the second support 3' on the other side of
the table. In so doing, the net 2 which was wound at least in part
around the winder spool 6 is unwound, thereby causing the spool 6
to turn about its axis DD'. This turning movement twists the
resilient element 10 because the top end 10a of said element 10 is
secured to the top portion 6a of the spool 6.
[0049] Once the assembly 1 is in position on the table with the net
2 under tension between the two supports 3, 3', the resilient
elements 10 in each of the supports remain in the tensioned state.
When the assembly 1 is put away with the two supports 3, 3' being
moved towards each other, the resilient element untwists, thereby
naturally causing the spool 6 to turn and thus winding in the net
until the resilient element 10 returns to its initial state
corresponding to the rest state shown in FIG. 2.
[0050] The present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment. For example, the ball bearing could be replaced by
using material in the housing that presents a very low coefficient
of friction, thus enabling the spool 6 to turn on the stationary
plate 7 without excessive friction, in spite of the traction force
exerted by the resilient element 10.
[0051] In FIG. 1, for each support 3, 3', there can be seen a
corresponding set 31, 31' of two guide rods secured to the top
surface of the stationary plate 7 where it acts as the top jaw 4.
The path of the net 2 between the two supports 3, 3' passes between
the guide rods in the first and second sets 31 and 31'. The
function of these rods is to increase the stability and the
pretensioning of the net, and also to guide the net while it is
being wound.
[0052] The two rods in any one set can be united at their top ends
so as to form an arch.
[0053] As mentioned above, in the above-described preferred first
embodiment, the resilient element serves both to turn the hollow
spool in order to wind the net, and also to actuate the system for
fastening the support to the side of the table. This is not
essential. The resilient element could be used to perform only one
of these two functions.
[0054] In particular, on comparing the embodiment shown in FIG. 3
with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, it can be seen that the
resilient element can serve solely to actuate the system for
fastening the support 3 to the side 30 of the table, by
implementing the following simplification. The spool 6 is integral
with the top jaw 4, said spool 6 being stationary in terms of
ability to turn about its own axis. The bottom cheekplate 13 and
the rim 19 of the spool 6 are no longer required, nor is the
setback in the stationary plate 7 that acts as the housing 20 for
the bearing 11. The spool 76 is merely extended sideways by the
stationary plate 7. Under such circumstances, the resilient element
is not twisted, but is only stretched when the arm 28 is actuated
in the direction of arrow F, and its resilient return force serves
to press the bottom jaw 5 against the bottom face 30b of the side
30 of the table. The net is wound manually around the spool 6 and
the stationary plate 7 acts in part as a bottom cheekplate for
holding the net while it is being wound.
* * * * *