Damped tennis practice device
US4989867A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 1989 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 18, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63B69/38
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A transportable, damped tennis practice device (10) is provided for the solitary practice of tennis strokes every two to three seconds. The device (10 ) preferably includes a base (12), a ball (16), wand structure (14) for mounting the ball (16) on one end thereof, connecting assembly (18) for attaching the other end of wand structure (14) to the base (12). The wand structure (14) is flexibly, resiliently formed in a predetermined, arcuate shape. The device (10) stands in a ready position until ball (16) is struck by a practitioner at which time the ball (16) and wand structure (14) begin to oscillate pivotally on the base (12), while the wand structure (14) also flexes to shapes other than the predetermined shape. The damping apparatus (20) includes a rod-like member (114) which indirectly acts on the connecting assembly (18) to damp the oscillatory motion. In an alternative embodiment, the elevation of ball (16) is effectively raised by insertion of extension rod (120) between arm (90) and connection block (98).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.