# US 10,195,506 B2 · System and method of using shear thickening materials in sports products

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- Number: US 10,195,506 B2
- Document ID: US10195506B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/997,089
- Filed: 2016-01-15
- Published: 2016-12-22
- Granted: 2019-02-05
- Earliest claimed: 2007-10-24
- Assignees: Head Technology GmbH; Design Blue Limited
- Applicants: Head Technology GmbH, Ltd.
- Inventors: Herfried Lammer; Harald Rosenkranz; Johan Kotze; Ralf Schwenger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10195506B2

## CPC

- A63B 60/54: with means for damping vibrations
- A41D 13/015: with shock-absorbing means (A41D13/05 takes precedence)
- A42B 3/063: {using layered structures}
- A42B 3/08: Chin straps or similar retention devices
- A43B 1/00: Footwear characterised by the material
- A43B 7/32: with shock-absorbing means (resilient soles A43B13/18)
- A43B 13/187: {Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials}
- A63B 5/12: Bolster vaulting apparatus, e.g. horses, bucks, tables
- A63B 49/02: Frames
- A63B 49/022: String guides on frames, e.g. grommets
- A63B 49/03: characterised by throat sections, i.e. sections or elements between the head and the shaft
- A63B 49/08: with special construction of the handle
- A63B 49/10: made of non-metallic materials, other than wood
- A63B 49/14: Protection devices on the frame
- A63B 53/04: Heads
- A63B 53/08: with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
- A63B 53/10: Non-metallic shafts
- A63B 53/12: Metallic shafts
- A63B 53/14: Handles
- A63B 59/48: with perforated surfaces
- A63B 60/00: Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
- A63B 60/06: Handles
- A63B 60/08: characterised by the material
- A63B 60/10: with means for indicating correct holding positions (A63B60/12 takes precedence)
- A63B 60/14: Coverings specially adapted for handles, e.g. sleeves or ribbons
- A63B 71/081: {fluid-filled, e.g. air-filled}
- A63B 71/10: for the head ({A63B71/081 takes precedence } ; in the form of caps or hats A42B1/08; helmets A42B3/00)
- A63B 71/12: for the body or the legs {, e.g. for the shoulders (A63B71/081 takes precedence)}
- A63C 5/12: Making thereof; Selection of particular materials (materials for the running sole A63C5/056)
- A63B 53/047: {iron-type}
- A63B 60/002: {Resonance frequency related characteristics}
- A63B 60/0081: {Substantially flexible shafts; Hinged shafts}
- A63B 60/26: with adjustable stiffness
- A63B 2049/0211: {with variable thickness of the head in a direction perpendicular to the string plane}
- A63B 2071/1233: {for the hip}
- A63B 2071/1241: {for the thigh}
- A63B 2071/125: {for the knee}
- A63B 2071/1258: {for the shin, e.g. shin guards}
- A63B 2071/1283: {for the foot}
- A63B 2102/02: Tennis
- A63B 2102/04: Badminton
- A63B 2102/08: Paddle tennis, padel tennis or platform tennis
- A63B 2209/02: with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
- Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00)
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A sports product may include a support member and an impact region configured to impact an object. The impact region may be coupled to the support member. The sports product may also include a shear thickening material in at least one of the support member or the impact region. The shear thickening material may be configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the impact region and the object.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A racket, comprising:
a head region;
a striking region;
a throat region;
a shaft region;
a handle region; and
a shear thickening material in the striking region, the shear thickening material being configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the racket and an object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The racket of claim 1, wherein the striking region that includes the shear thickening material includes one or more reinforcing fibers impregnated with the shear thickening material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The racket of claim 1, wherein the striking region that includes the shear thickening material includes an epoxy material that includes shear thickening material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The racket of claim 1, wherein the shear thickening material is in a filament in the striking region.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The racket of claim 1, wherein the shear thickening material is a shear thickening layer in the striking region.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The racket of claim 1, wherein the shear thickening material includes particles suspended in a fluid medium.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The racket of claim 1, wherein the striking region that includes the shear thickening material includes:
an inner layer,
an outer layer at least partially surrounding the inner layer; and
a layer of shear thickening material disposed at least partially between the inner layer and the outer layer, the shear thickening material being configured to selectively stiffen to control relative movement between the inner layer and the outer layer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The racket of claim 1, wherein the shear thickening material is additionally present in at least one of the head region, the throat region, the shaft region, or the handle region.

### Claim 9

A sports product, comprising:
a support member;
an impact region configured to impact an object, the impact region being coupled to the support member; and
a shear thickening material in the impact region, the shear thickening material being configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the impact region and the object.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The sports product of claim 9, wherein the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes one or more reinforcing fibers impregnated with the shear thickening material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The sports product of claim 9, wherein the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes a solid foamed synthetic polymer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The sports product of claim 11, wherein the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes a polymer-based dilatant distributed through the solid foamed synthetic polymer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The sports product of claim 9, wherein the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes a solid closed cell foam matrix.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The sports product of claim 13, wherein the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes a polymer-based dilatant distributed through the solid closed cell foam matrix.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The sports product of claim 9, wherein the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes:
an inner layer,
an outer layer at least partially surrounding the inner layer; and
a layer of shear thickening material disposed at least partially between the inner layer and the outer layer, the shear thickening material being configured to selectively stiffen to control relative movement between the inner layer and the outer layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The sports product of claim 9, wherein the shear thickening material is additionally present in the support member.