TABLE TENNIS TRAINING DEVICE

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to Table Tennis training devices. Background

[0002] A problem encountered in training for table tennis is that a trainee normally requires a training partner or some type of table tennis robot, in addition to a table tennis table, in order to properly train. The problem with a training partner is that one is not always available. A problem with a robot is that although it can propel table tennis balls toward a trainee, it cannot teach the trainee how to properly perform a stroke so as to impart maximum spin to a table tennis ball. Another problem with both a table tennis robot and a table tennis table is the relative high cost of each.

[0003] The disclosed invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems by providing a relatively inexpensive portable device that allows a trainee at their convenience, to practice and develop the table tennis strokes required to properly apply spin to a table tennis ball. In addition, the invention provides feedback to the user regarding the amount of spin applied to a table tennis ball. The present invention can be attached to a table tennis table, standard table, or any substantially flat surface such as a counter top.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0004] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the

invention.

[0005] Fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1

[0006] Fig. 3 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 [0007] Fig. 4 shows a side view of the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 with the pendulum assembly rotated 180 degrees.

[0008] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment shown in

Fig. 1 , configured for using the serve assembly.

[0009] Fig. 6 shows an incomplete exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment.

[0010] Fig. 7a shows an alternate table tennis ball axle configuration.

[001 1] Fig. 7b shows an alternate table tennis ball axle configuration.

[0012] Fig. 8 shows an alternate embodiment that has a weighted base.

[0013] Fig. 9 shows an alternate embodiment that has a base with suction cups.

[0014] Fig.10 shows an alternate embodiment that has a base with a suction cup.

Detailed Description

[0015] Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details or construction and the arrangement of components as set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. It should be understood that the description of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the disclosure from covering all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are recited with particularity in the claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that the components comprising the invention can be made from a wide variety of different including but not limited to various plastics, metals or composites. [0016] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, attached to a table. For the purpose of this description, the invention will be considered as comprising 5 assemblies and 1 mounting member 60a. The assemblies are; physical pendulum assembly 20, pendulum axel/pivot assembly 30, serve practice assembly 40, table tennis ball/axel assembly 50 and mounting bracket/clamp assembly 70. Note that in the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1 , mounting member 60a is shown as being an integral part of mounting bracket/clamp assembly 70, with mounting bracket/clamp assembly 70 providing a means for attaching mounting member 60a to a table.

[0017] Referring to the exploded view shown in Fig. 2, physical pendulum

assembly 20 shown in Fig. 1 is comprised of physical pendulum 20a, bearing/spacer 20b (which fits into hole 20n), and table tennis ball tee 20j. Table tennis ball tee 20j fits into mounting hole 20m of physical pendulum 20a and is removably secured by threaded connector 20h. Referring again to Fig. 2, physical pendulum assembly 20 is further comprised of table tennis ball/axel assembly 50 shown in Fig. 1. Tennis ball/axel assembly 50 is comprised of table tennis ball axel 50a which passes through bushing 50b, table tennis ball through hole 50c and bushing 50e. Table tennis ball 50d is secured to table tennis ball axel 50a by axel locking nut 50f. The opposite end of Table tennis ball axel 50a fits into mounting hole 20k of physical pendulum 20a and is removably secured by threaded connector 20f.

[0018] Referring again to Fig. 2, pendulum axel/pivot assembly 30 shown in Fig.

1 is comprised of pendulum axel/pivot member 30a, partially threaded connector 30b, compression spring 30c, and threaded connector 30f.

Note that partially threaded connector 30b, can be fully threaded if desired.

[0019] Referring again to Fig. 2, physical pendulum 20a is rotatably connected to pendulum axel/pivot member 30a, by threaded connector 30b, which passes through compression spring 30c and bearing/spacer 20b and is then removably secured into threaded hole 30d. Note that partially threaded connector 30b provides a means for rotatably connecting physical pendulum 20a to pendulum axel/pivot member 30a. Also note that threaded connector 30b in conjunction with compression spring 30c provides a means for varying the friction between physical pendulum 20a and pendulum axel/pivot member 30a from very little, to enough to lock the position of physical pendulum 20a in place. Referring again to Fig. 2, pendulum axel/pivot member 30a is removably secured to mounting member 60a by threaded connector 30f, which passes through hole 60b into threaded hole 30e.

[0020] Referring again to Fig. 2, mounting bracket/clamp assembly 70 shown in Fig. 1 provides a means for connecting mounting member 60a to a table top. Mounting bracket/clamp assembly 70 is comprised of mounting member 60a, mounting bracket/clamp 70a, threaded connector 70b which screws into threaded hole 70c and attaches to flange 70d. Pad 70f is attached to the upper inside of the notched section of mounting

bracket/clamp 70a. Note that in Fig. 2, although mounting member 60a is shown as integral with mounting bracket/clamp 70a, there are many other possible ways to secure mounting member 60a to a table top other than mounting bracket/clamp 70a.

[0021] Referring again to Fig. 2, serve practice assembly 40 shown in Fig. 1 , is comprised of: threaded fitting 40e which attaches to one end of repositionable semi-flexible member 40a, fitting 40b which attaches to the other end of repositionable semi-flexible member 40a, and threaded connector 40c which fits into threaded hole 46d in fitting 40b. The other end of fitting 40e attaches to threaded hole 60c in mounting member 60a. Either table tennis ball tee 20j or table tennis ball axel 50a can be removably secured into fitting 40b as shown in Fig. 5 by tightening threaded connector 40c. Detailed Description - Alternate Embodiments

[0022] Fig. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment, showing only the items that differ from the embodiment shown in Fig. 2. The embodiment shown in Fig. 6 is identical to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 except that partially threaded connector 30b is replaced by fully threaded connector 30g which threads first through threaded hole 30d, passes through bearing/spacer 20b and compression spring 30c and then into threaded nut 30f.

[0023] Fig. 7a and Fig. 7b show alternate embodiments of how table tennis ball axel 50a can be shaped. Note that many other alternate shapes for axel 50a are possible.

[0024] Fig. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention where mounting member 60a connects to weighted base 70. Weighted base 70 can be solid or hollow and filled with various materials so as to provide the weight required to allow stable operation of the invention. The combination of mounting member 60a and weighted base 70 provide a means for securing the invention to a table or a substantially flat surface.

[0025] Fig. 9 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention in which mounting member 60a connects to base 80, which has a plurality of suction cups 90 attached to the bottom of base 80. Base 80 can be weighted or unweighted. The suction cups allow the invention to be secured anywhere on a substantially flat surface. The combination of mounting member 60a, base 80 and suction cups 90 provide a means for securing the invention to a table or a substantially flat surface.

[0026] Fig. 10 shows an alternate embodiment of the invention where mounting member 60a connects to a single suction cup 100 of sufficient size to allow the invention to be secured to a table top or substantially flat surface. The combination of mounting member 60a and suction cup 100 provide a means for securing the invention to a table or a substantially flat surface. Operation

[0027] The invention provides for multiple modes of operation. One such mode allows table tennis ball 50d to be struck by a user so as to spin about an axis. Fig. 3 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention configured so as to allow this mode of operation. The curved double arrowed line shown in Fig. 3 indicates the natural back and forth motion of pendulum assembly 20 that is possible when table tennis ball 50d is struck by a table tennis paddle. This resistance to the natural back and forth motion of pendulum assembly 20 is determined by how tight threaded connector 30b is tightened.

[0028] To operate the invention in this mode of operation, the user, uses

mounting bracket/clamp assembly 70 to secure the invention to a suitable table. The user then sets the desired position of table tennis ball 50d by positioning pendulum axel/pivot member 30a and then tightening threaded connector 30f. The user then attempts to strike table tennis ball 50d in a tangential manner so as to impart maximum spin. Feedback is supplied to the user by how much table tennis ball 50d spins and moves with the natural movement of pendulum assembly 20.

[0029] Fig. 4 shows a second mode of operation that allows the user to strike a table tennis ball off of table tennis ball tee 20j. To operate the invention in this mode, physical pendulum assembly 20 is rotated approximately 180 degrees so that table tennis ball tee 20j is pointing upward as shown in Fig. 4. After rotation of physical pendulum assembly 20 the user tightens threaded connector 30b to hold physical pendulum assembly 20 in position. The user then places a table tennis ball onto table tennis ball tee 20j and strikes the table tennis ball. [0030] A third mode of operation shown in Fig. 5, allows the user to determine the optimum height above a table tennis table that a table tennis ball should be struck for various serves. After using mounting bracket/clamp assembly 70 to secure the invention to a table tennis table, pendulum axel/pivot member 30a along with physical pendulum 20a are positioned downward after loosening and re-tightening threaded connector 30f. Table tennis ball tee 20j is then inserted into fitting 40b and secured by tightening threaded connector 40c. By positioning repositionable semi-flexible member 40a, the user can then move table tennis ball tee 20j to various positions and heights above the table tennis table.

[0031] A fourth mode of operation is also shown in Fig. 5. In this mode,

removable tennis ball/axel 50a is inserted into fitting 40b and then secured by tightening threaded connector 40c. After positioning repositionable semi-flexible member 40a, the user can practice getting maximum spin on table tennis ball 50d while practicing various serve motions.

[0032] While this description contains many specifics, it should not be construed that these are limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations that are within the inventions scope. For example Fig. 7a and Fig. 7b show two of many alternate shapes that table tennis ball axel 50a could have. Those skilled in the art could change the attachment method where table tennis ball axel 50a fits into mounting hole 20k of physical pendulum 20a and is fastened by threaded connector 20f, by making mounting hole 20k a threaded hole, and threading the end of table tennis ball axel 50a, so that table tennis ball axel 50a would screw into mounting hole 20k. This could be done for all the attachments described herein that are removably secured. Those skilled in the art could devise many ways to secure mounting member 60a and hence the invention to a table or counter top. They could eliminate compression spring 30c if continuous variable adjustment of friction applied between physical pendulum 20a and pendulum axel/pivot member 30a is not desired. They could eliminate bearing/spacer 20b if smoother movement of physical pendulum 20a is not desired. They can replace physical pendulum 20a and axel/pivot member 30a with a one piece structure if movement of table tennis ball/axel assembly 50 is not desired. This replacement of physical pendulum 20a and axel/pivot member 30a would result in bearing/spacer 20b, compression spring 30c, and threaded connector 30b, no longer being required. They can combine pendulum axel/pivot member 30a and mounting member 60a into a single structure, hence no longer requiring threaded connector 30f.