US 10,456,633 B1Granted

Systems and methods for stringing a racket

OwnerMatthew James Polsoninventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems and methods for stringing a racket. In an embodiment, a system for stringing a racket includes a support structure, a mounting device, actuators, links, and a controller. Each actuator includes a selectively movable arm movable between a retracted position and an extended position. Each link is coupled to a different arm and configured to couple to a string on the racket. The controller is configured to coordinate movement of each arm between the retracted position and the extended position in a predetermined sequence. Movement of each arm in the predetermined sequence is effective to tighten the racket string on the head of racket when the racket string is woven across a head of the racket such and each link is coupled to a different portion of the racket string between two adjacent grommet holes on the head of the racket.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A system for stringing a racket, the system comprising:

a support structure;
one or more mounting devices configured to mount the racket to the support structure;
a plurality of actuators, each actuator of the plurality of actuators including a selectively movable arm movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
a plurality of links, each link of the plurality of links being configured to couple to a string on the racket at a first portion of the link and coupled to a different arm of the plurality of actuators at a second portion of the link;
a string feed assembly configured to provide racket string to the racket for stringing;
a string collection assembly configured to collect string from the racket;
and
a controller configured to coordinate movement of each arm in the plurality of actuators from the retracted position to the extended position or from the extended position to the retracted position in a predetermined sequence,
wherein movement of each arm of the plurality of actuators in the predetermined sequence is effective to tighten the racket string on the head of racket when:
the racket string from the string feed assembly is woven across a head of the racket such that different portions of the racket string are positioned between different adjacent grommet holes of a plurality of grommet holes on the head of the racket;
and
the first portion of each link of the plurality of links is coupled to a different portion of the racket string between two adjacent grommet holes of the plurality of grommet holes on the head of the racket such that when the arm moves from the extended position to the retracted position, the link pulls the portion of the racket string positioned between the adjacent grommet holes away from the adjacent grommet holes.

9 more elements

A method of stringing a racket, the method comprising:

mounting the racket to a support structure;
providing racket string from a string feed assembly to a head of the racket such that different portions of the racket string are positioned between different adjacent grommet holes of a plurality of grommet holes on the head of the racket;
coupling a first portion of each link of a plurality of links to a different portion of the racket string between two adjacent grommet holes of the plurality of grommet holes on the head of the racket, a second portion of each link of the plurality of links being coupled to a different actuator of a plurality of actuators
with a controller and in a predetermined sequence, activating movement of an arm in each actuator of the plurality of actuators between a retracted position and an extended position such that when the arm moves from the extended position to the retracted position, the link pulls the portion of the racket string positioned between the adjacent grommet holes away from the adjacent grommet holes to tighten the racket string on the head of racket;
and
collecting a portion of the racket string from the head of the racket with a string collection assembly.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.