WO2024154654A1 - Shuttlecock - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a shuttlecock with which straightness during flight can be improved. This shuttlecock (1) includes a base (2) located at the front and a skirt (4) provided at the rear of the base part. The skirt includes a plurality of first shaft forming parts (45) and second shaft forming parts (46) arranged in an annular configuration centered on the central axis (C) of the shuttlecock when viewed from the rear, and feather parts supported by the first shaft forming parts and second shafts and formed in a predetermined range from the rear end to the front end of the skirt. The first shaft forming parts are formed in positions that include the space between the base and the feather parts, and the second shaft forming parts are formed in positions that include the area where the feather parts are formed. The number of first shaft forming parts is less than the number of second shaft forming parts.

Description

Shuttlecock

The present invention relates to a shuttlecock that is hit with a sports racket.

Conventionally, a badminton shuttlecock has been known that has a roughly hemispherical base with a skirt made of natural feathers or artificial feathers made of resin (see Patent Document 1). The skirt in Patent Document 1 has multiple shafts supported by the base, and feathers that form a ring-shaped body by connecting the shafts in a ring shape.

JP 2010-200890 A

When it comes to badminton, there is a need to enjoy playing outdoors as well as indoors. However, playing badminton outdoors poses the problem that the trajectory of the shuttlecock's flight is easily affected by the wind, compromising its straightness during flight, and depending on the strength of the wind, it can be difficult to enjoy playing.

In order to reduce the effects of such wind, a configuration was considered in which the number of feather shafts was reduced to allow the shuttlecock to more easily pass crosswinds relative to the flight direction, but such a configuration poses the problem of reduced rigidity of the skirt. As a result, when struck with the racket, the feathers are more likely to deform into a shape that is significantly different from a perfect circle when viewed from the direction of the shuttlecock's central axis. As a result, it becomes difficult to distribute the wind evenly around the feathers, and the straightness of the flight cannot be sufficiently improved.

The present invention was made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a shuttlecock that can improve the straightness of the flight.

The shuttlecock of one aspect of the present invention is a shuttlecock with a base portion located at the front and a skirt portion provided behind the base portion, the skirt portion includes a plurality of first and second rachis forming portions arranged in a circular ring shape centered on the central axis of the shuttlecock when viewed from the rear, and vane portions supported by the first and second rachis forming portions and formed in a predetermined range from the rear end to the front end of the skirt portion, the first rachis forming portions are formed at a position including between the base portion and the vane portions, the second rachis forming portions are formed at a position including the vane portion forming region, and the number of the first rachis forming portions is less than the number of the second rachis forming portions.

According to the present invention, the number of first rachis forming parts can be reduced, making it easier for crosswinds to pass between the base and the blade in the direction of flight, improving straightness during flight. Furthermore, the number of second rachis forming parts can be increased, increasing the rigidity in the area where the blade is formed, making it easier for the blade to maintain a shape close to a perfect circle even when struck with a racket. This makes it possible to uniformize the wind that is dispersed circumferentially around the blade, which also improves straightness during flight.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a shuttlecock according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic bottom view of FIG. 1 . FIG. 3 is a bottom view similar to FIG. 2, but omitting the blade portion. FIG. 11 is a schematic front view of a shuttlecock according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic bottom view of FIG. 4 . FIG. 6 is a bottom view similar to FIG. 5, but omitting the blade portion.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic front view of a shuttlecock according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic bottom view of Fig. 1. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, "front" and "rear" are based on the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the side toward the back of the page is the "front" and the side in front is the "rear". However, the orientation of each component in the following embodiments is merely an example and can be changed to any orientation.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shuttlecock 1 has a base portion 2 located at the front and a skirt portion 4 provided behind the base portion 2. The shuttlecock 1 flies when struck with a racket in a racket sport such as badminton. The base portion 2 and the skirt portion 4 have a central axis C shown by a dashed line in Figure 1. This central axis C is also the central axis C of the entire shuttlecock 1. When viewed from behind, the shuttlecock 1 flies while rotating (spinning) in a counterclockwise direction as the rotation direction R around the central axis C.

The base part 2 is formed in the shape of a hemisphere and a cylinder connected at the front. The base part 2 is made of a synthetic resin that can be elastically deformed by hitting with a racket. From the viewpoint of elastic deformation during play and durability, examples of synthetic resins that can be used include olefin-based, nylon-based, ester-based, styrene-based, and urethane-based elastomers.

The skirt portion 4 is held at the rear side of the base portion 2 and is formed as a one-piece molded product from synthetic resin (e.g., nylon resin).

The skirt portion 4 comprises a number of rachis portions 41 extending forward from the rear end side of the base portion 2, and vane portions 42 (provided in the rear region of the rachis portions 41) formed in a predetermined range from the rear end toward the front end of the skirt portion 4. The vane portions 42 are supported by the number of rachis portions 41. The skirt portion 4 is formed in a circular shape when viewed from the rear (see Figure 2), and is formed in a shape that follows the side of a cone whose diameter gradually decreases from the rear to the front.

The vane portion 42 extends in the circumferential direction around the central axis C and is formed in a ring shape so as to connect the second vane forming portions 46 (described later) of the vane portions 41 adjacent to each other in the rotational direction R. The vane portion 42 is formed in a lattice or net shape.

Here, the skirt portion 4 further includes a connection portion 43 that fits into the rear end side of the base portion 2 and continues to the front end of the rachis portion 41. In other words, the connection portion 43 forms the portion of the skirt portion 4 that connects to the base portion 2 and the portion that supports the front end of the rachis portion 41 as its base end.

In this embodiment, eight rachis sections 41 are provided, all formed in the same shape but facing different directions. When viewed from behind (see Figure 2), the rachis sections 41 are arranged in a circular ring shape centered on the central axis C. The rachis sections 41 are formed with the front end located on the base section 2 side as the base end and the rear end on the opposite side as the tip end.

Each of the eight rachis portions 41 has a single first rachis forming portion 45 and two second rachis forming portions 46. Since eight rachis portions 41 are provided in the skirt portion 4, the number of first rachis forming portions 45 is eight, the same as the number of rachis portions 41, and the number of second rachis forming portions 46 is 16, twice the number of rachis portions 41. Therefore, the number of first rachis forming portions 45 is less than the number of second rachis forming portions 46 in the skirt portion 4, making it less than half.

The first rachis forming portion 45 is formed between the rear end of the base portion 2 and the front end of the vane portion 42. Therefore, the front end of the first rachis forming portion 45 is disposed on the base portion 2 side. The front ends of the two second rachis forming portions 46 are connected in series to the rear end of the first rachis forming portion 45. In other words, at the rachis portion 41, the two second rachis forming portions 46 extend out so as to branch out from the rear end of the first rachis forming portion 45.

The connection position (branching position) between the first rachis forming portion 45 and the two second rachis forming portions 46 is forward of the front end of the vane portion 42. Therefore, the vane portion 42 is supported by the rachis portion 41 in a region rearward of the connection position between the first rachis forming portion 45 and the two second rachis forming portions 46. The second rachis forming portions 46 are formed in a position that includes the formation region of the vane portion 42, and protrude forward from the front end of the vane portion 42.

In the rachis section 41, the two second rachis forming sections 46 extend forward from the rear end of the first rachis forming section 45 in a direction such that the distance between them becomes wider. In addition, the second rachis forming sections 46 are formed in a shape that bends forward from the front end of the vane section 42. In the rachis section 41, the first rachis forming section 45 is formed so as to be located midway between the two second rachis forming sections 46 in the rotational direction R (the circumferential direction centered on the central axis C).

A reinforcing section 48 is provided at the bending position of the second rachis forming section 46. The reinforcing section 48 is formed in a ring shape, extending so as to connect adjacent second rachis forming sections 46 in the rotational direction R, and also connect adjacent rachis sections 41 in the rotational direction R. The reinforcing section 48 is disposed a predetermined distance forward from the front end of the vane section 42.

The rachis section 41 is formed in a curved shape in the entire longitudinal region of the first rachis forming section 45 and in the region between the bending position and the front end of the second rachis forming section 46. In other words, the rachis section 41 has a first curved section (curved section) 51 and a second curved section (curved section) 52, with the first curved section 51 forming the curved region in the first rachis forming section 45 and the second curved section 52 forming the curved region in each second rachis forming section 46. The second curved section 52 is formed in a position that includes the formation region of the vane section 42 and is formed in a position that protrudes forward from the front end of the vane section 42.

In determining the direction of curvature in the first curved portion 51 and the second curved portion 52, a first imaginary straight line (imaginary straight line) L1 and a second imaginary straight line (imaginary straight line) L2 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 are used. Fig. 3 is a bottom view similar to Fig. 2, with the blade portion omitted. As described above, the skirt portion 4 is formed in a shape that follows the side surface of a cone, and the generatrix of the cone coincides with each of the imaginary straight lines L1 and L2. The first imaginary straight line L1 passes through the front end of the first curved portion 51, and the second imaginary straight line L2 passes through the front end of the second curved portion 52.

The first curved portion 51 is formed in a curved shape that gradually moves away from the front end toward the rear end with respect to the first imaginary straight line L1. The first curved portion 51 is also curved in a direction that moves away from the first imaginary straight line L1 in the opposite direction to the rotation direction R.

The second curved portion 52 is formed in a curved shape that gradually moves away from the front end toward the rear end with respect to the second imaginary straight line L2. In addition, the second curved portion 52 is curved in a direction that moves away from the second imaginary straight line L2 in the opposite direction to the rotation direction R.

The first curved portion 51 is formed in an arc shape with a uniform curvature, and the second curved portion 52 is formed in an arc shape with a uniform curvature. The curvature of the first curved portion 51 and the curvature of the second curved portion 52 may be different or the same.

According to the first embodiment, the number of first rachis forming portions 45 in the skirt portion 4 is relatively smaller than the number of second rachis forming portions 46. This makes the spacing between the first rachis forming portions 45 wider in the front region of the skirt portion 4, making it easier for crosswinds to pass through the front region in the direction of flight. As a result, the effects of crosswinds can be suppressed and the straightness of flight can be improved, and the flight trajectory of the shuttlecock 1 is less likely to be changed by wind outdoors, etc., making it easier to enjoy playing.

In addition, in the skirt portion 4, the number of second rachis forming portions 46 is relatively greater than the number of first rachis forming portions 45. This increases the rigidity of the vane portion 42, making it possible to maintain a stable and good shape of the vane portion 42, and even when struck with a racket, the vane portion 42 can maintain a shape that follows a perfect circle when viewed from behind. As a result, the wind dispersed in the circumferential direction (rotation direction R) of the vane portion 42 can be made uniform, improving the straightness of the flight during flight.

Therefore, by setting the number of first rachis forming portions 45 and second rachis forming portions 46 as in the first embodiment, it is possible to both suppress the effects of crosswinds and equalize the wind dispersed by the vane portion 42. Therefore, the first embodiment can better improve the straightness of the flight of the shuttlecock 1.

[Second embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. In the following description, the same reference numerals may be used for components that are the same as or equivalent to those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted or simplified.

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a shuttlecock according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic bottom view of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a bottom view similar to FIG. 5, but omitting the feathers. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in the second embodiment, the configuration of the multiple rachis portions 61 is changed compared to the first embodiment.

The rachis portion 61 in the second embodiment has a single first rachis forming portion 65 and two second rachis forming portions 66. The number of rachis portions 61, first rachis forming portions 65, and second rachis forming portions 66 in the skirt portion 4 is the same as the number of rachis portions 41, first rachis forming portions 45, and second rachis forming portions 46 in the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, the rachis portion 61 is also arranged in a circular ring shape centered on the central axis C when viewed from behind. The rachis portion 61 is formed with the front end located on the base portion 2 side as the base end and the rear end on the opposite side as the tip end.

The front end of the first rachis forming part 65 is located on the base part 2 side. A reinforcing part 68 is provided at the rear end of the first rachis forming part 65, and is formed in a ring shape extending to connect adjacent rachis parts 61 in the rotation direction R. The reinforcing part 68 is located a specified distance forward from the front end of the vane part 42.

Here, the first rachis forming portion 65 is formed in a straight line so as to roughly coincide with the generatrix of the cone that forms a shape that fits along the skirt portion 4. In the rachis portion 61, one of the two second rachis forming portions 66 has its front end connected to the rear end of the first rachis forming portion 65, and is formed to extend in a straight line on the extension line of the first rachis forming portion 65.

In the rachis portion 61, the other of the two second rachis forming portions 66 is formed in a bent shape including part of the reinforcing portion 68, and is connected to the rear end of the first rachis forming portion 65 with the portion formed as the reinforcing portion 68 as its front end. In addition, the other of the two second rachis forming portions 66 extends rearward from the bent position and extends in a straight line so as to substantially coincide with the generatrix described above, and the two second rachis forming portions 66 are arranged at a predetermined distance in the rotational direction R.

In addition, in the rear region of the blade portion 42 in the second embodiment, pleats are formed that are wavy when viewed from behind (see Figure 5).

In the second embodiment, the first rachis forming portion 65 has fewer feathers than the second rachis forming portion 66, so like the first embodiment, it is possible to both suppress the effects of crosswinds and equalize the wind dispersed by the vane portion 42. Therefore, in the second embodiment as well, it is possible to improve the straightness of the flight of the shuttlecock 1.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified in various ways. In the above-described embodiments, the size, shape, direction, etc. shown in the attached drawings are not limited to these, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the effects of the present invention. In addition, the present invention can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of its purpose.

The number of each rachis forming portion 45, 46, 65, 66 in each of the above embodiments may be changed as appropriate, so long as the number of first rachis forming portions 45, 65 is less than the number of second rachis forming portions 46, 66. Therefore, the rachis portion 41, 61 may be configured to have a plurality of second rachis forming portions 46, 66, i.e., three or more.

Furthermore, the first rachis forming parts 45, 65 may be formed at a position including the area between the base portion 2 and the vane portion 42, and the second rachis forming parts 46, 66 may be formed at a position including the formation area of the vane portion 42. Therefore, the connection position (boundary position) between the first rachis forming parts 45, 65 and the second rachis forming parts 46, 66 may be behind the front end of the vane portion 42. However, having the connection position forward of the front end of the vane portion 42 is advantageous in that it makes it easier to mold the skirt portion 4.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the rachis portion 41 has a shape with curved portions 51, 52, but this is not limited to this, and the first rachis forming portion 45 and the second rachis forming portion 46 may be shaped to extend in a straight line.

Furthermore, as long as the blade portion 42 can be used for play, it can be configured differently from the illustrated configuration in which it is connected in a continuous manner in the rotation direction R, and for example, it can be shaped so that each of the rachis portions 41 and 61 is divided.

The present invention relates to a shuttlecock that can improve the straightness of the flight.

This application is based on Patent Application No. 2023-006232, filed on January 19, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.

Claims (7)

A shuttlecock having a base portion located in front and a skirt portion provided behind the base portion,
the skirt portion includes a plurality of first rachis forming portions and second rachis forming portions that are arranged in an annular shape centered on a central axis of the shuttlecock when viewed from behind;
a vane portion supported by the first rachis forming portion and the second rachis forming portion and formed in a predetermined range from the rear end to the front end of the skirt portion,
the first rachis forming portion is formed at a position including a gap between the base portion and the vane portion,
the second rachis forming portion is formed at a position including a forming region of the vane portion,
A shuttlecock characterized in that the number of the first rachis forming portions is smaller than the number of the second rachis forming portions. The shuttlecock of claim 1, characterized in that the number of the first rachis forming parts is less than half the number of the second rachis forming parts. The shuttlecock described in claim 1, characterized in that the number of the first rachis forming portions is 8, and the number of the second rachis forming portions is 16. The shuttlecock of claim 1, characterized in that the front ends of the second rachis forming parts are connected in series to the rear end of the first rachis forming part. The front ends of the two second rachis forming parts are connected in series to the rear end of the first rachis forming part,
The shuttlecock according to claim 1, characterized in that the first rachis forming portion is located at an intermediate position between two of the second rachis forming portions in a circumferential direction about the central axis. a reinforcing portion formed in an annular shape and extending in a circumferential direction around the central axis,
The front ends of the two second rachis forming parts are connected in series to the rear ends of the first rachis forming parts,
one of the two second rachis forming portions is formed to extend on an extension line of the first rachis forming portion,
The shuttlecock according to claim 1, wherein the other of the two second rachis forming portions is connected to the first rachis forming portion including a part of the reinforcing portion. The shuttlecock according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the connection position between the first rachis forming part and the second rachis forming part is forward of the front end of the vane part.

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