Tension tester for tennis racket strings
OwnerJames R. Copeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for determining the string tension in the netting of a racket has a base and clamping structure adapted to be intercoupled on opposite faces of the netting, and a compressible, spring-loaded plunger slidably mounted on the base for shifting movement against one face of the netting. Movement of the plunger against the face of the netting deflects the latter and also compresses the plunger such that an equilibrium position is reached wherein the compression force on the plunger spring is equal to the resistance force presented by tension in the strings of the racket netting. A tension gauge is provided for measuring the deflection of the netting at the equilibrium point and translating the deflection measurement into a tension reading corresponding substantially to the actual tension in the racket strings.
Claims10
A device for measuring tension in the strings of the netting in a tennis racket or the like, said netting presenting a pair of opposed faces, said device including:
- a base adapted to be positioned against one of said faces;
- clamping structure adapted for emplacement against the other of said faces;
- securement means for releasably coupling said structure to said base when the structure and base are positioned against their respective said faces;
- a plunger shiftably mounted on said base for movement toward and away from a fixed position wherein said plunger projects outwardly from said base in a direction toward said structure;
- mechanism on said base for forcibly shifting said plunger to said fixed position when said base is coupled with said structure whereby said plunger is pushed against said one face and said strings are deflected toward said structure;
- said plunger including an elastic section adapted to yield proportionately to resistance against movement of the plunger such that said deflection of the strings is inversely related to the tension in said strings;
- and
- a tension gauge on said clamping structure for sensing the deflection of said strings and translating said deflection into a string tension measurement.
The invention of clam 1, said mechanism comprising a toggle linkage extending between said base and said mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.