RACKET HANDLE DRYER

TECHNICAL SECTOR

This invention refers to a racket handle dryer. Specifically, to a handle dryer which enables to dry them quickly and reliably during matches.

BACKGROUND

Keeping the handle of sport rackets dry is very important when playing certain sports. When playing rackets sports, the sweat on players’ palms can dampen the racket handle, loosening the grip between the handle and the palms due to a lowered friction force between them, that is, the handle is more slippery.

The dampness of the handle can make the difference between winning and losing a point in a match, as a damp racket handle can cause a racket slip out of a player’s hands and fall during the execution movement of certain strokes, especially in serves and volleys. A possible consequence of this is losing a game point or damaging the racket due to it hitting the ground or another player. A damp handle can also cause that the racket turns around the axis of the handle during a topspin forehand and ends up with the ball being hit with the frame of the racket.

In order to overcome this drawback, racket handle dryers wherein rackets are inserted by their handle vertically have been designed, which are usually placed at the entrance of playing courts. They are made up of a vertical tube with an opening on the upper side where the racket handle is inserted. These dryers have one fan within the tube whose airflow is directed towards the handle. When a player inserts the racket into the upper opening of the tube, a fan is activated, which directs the air flow towards the racket handle, thus drying it. This kind of vertical dryers have a prop to support the dryer over a horizontal surface, the prop having enough weight to guarantee the stability of the vertical tube when the racket handle is inserted in the tube.

To stop the racket handles from sliding due to handle dampness, players use towels that they leave in places of quick access, such as at the end of the court or somewhere else they can reach quickly during the game. In the case of professional games where there are ballboys and ballgirls, they are the ones who have drying towels ready for the players. This option can be used between points in a given set, so it is useful when it is required to dry the handle before the end of a set.

Wristbands also contribute to preventing the racket handle from slipping out of the player’s hands due to sweat, as they prevent the sweat from the player’s arms and body from reaching their palms. This solution can be used between points if the players have replacement wristbands in their pockets or if these are provided by the ballboys and ballgirls alongside the towels.

Special overgrips are also used to prevent the handle from slipping. There are various types of overgrip such as the liquid magnesium ones. Overgrips tend to become soaked before the end of a match, which means that some players change their overgrip many times during a given match. However, constantly replacing overgrips is inefficient and takes up a considerable portion of the break between games, which players could use for other recovery activities. Furthermore, sweat from the hands can soak the overgrip, sink into the grip, and soak it too, so that the overgrips applied subsequently will have worse absorption properties than if the overgrip were applied over a dry grip, and will therefore generate a slippery feeling.

Some players choose to play a match with two or three rackets, which they line up on the rest bench in order to change racket between games, so that there is enough time to dry damp handles. This has the disadvantage that the replacement rackets may not have exactly the same properties, which can result in a lower player’s performance during the adaption period to the new racket.

Use is also made of combinations of resines/magnesium, which is a powdered substance which contributes to keep hands dry. This solution, however, is not sufficient and must be used in addition to the previous ones.

Patent US4570358 discloses a racket handle dryer. The dryer consists of a base, a casing for a fan and a tube in which to insert the handle of a sport racket. The base allows the device to be placed on a flat surface and has the appropriate weight to ensure that the dryer is stable when a racket handle is inserted in the tube, under this circumstance the tube is the only support for the racket. The base of the dryer must provide enough stability to counteract the moments that result from the action of the gravitational force on the racket that occur when it is inserted and resting in the vertical tube,. The drawback of the dryer disclosed in US4570358 is that, due to the vertical arrangement of the tube in which the handle is inserted, the racket remains unbalanced during the drying. Therefore a base is needed which will counteract the forces acting on the racket, which causes that the dryer has big dimensions and is heavy. On the other hand, there are racket sports, such as padel, where the handle has a string on its lower end. This string is a flexible element which, during the drying, can take a shape and position that negatively affects the quickness and energy efficiency of the drying done by the US4570358 fan.

Therefore, there is a need for a solution that allows players to dry their racket handle in a comfortable, efficient, quick, and versatile manner and which has small dimensions in order to be carried in sport bags and which ensures to perfectly dry both the overgrip and the handle in a short period of time.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a racket handle dryer which comprises a box that is made up of a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls designed to be vertical, an upper wall and a lower wall which delimit between them an inner volume, in which the front wall is provided with an entry hole for inserting the handle into the inner volume and at least the side walls are provided with drying fans, the dryer comprising a support which is joint to the lower wall and provided with a support surface.

The dryer of this invention is designed to be supported on a horizontal surface in a stable manner, its base having a larger dimensions than its height. The height of the side walls destined to be vertical is smaller than the length of their bases and the height of the front and rear walls is smaller than the length of their bases. The upper and lower walls have larger sections than the side, front and rear walls. The six walls form the dryer box and the distance from the front wall to the rear wall determines the length of the dryer box. Thus, the inner volume of the box has a length along which the racket handle which is going to be dried will be placed, this length being the biggest dimension of the box.

The dryer has an entry hole in the front wall for inserting the handle and for enabling to slide it in its inner volume. The support attached to the lower wall is designed with the appropriate dimensions such that, when the dryer has the racket handle fully inserted in the inner volume, the dryer will be resting on a horizontal surface and will be balanced stably, with the end of the handle in contact with the rear wall of the box, the handle is rests over the entry hole and the head of the racket is in contact with the ground. The dryer of the present invention is designed so that its centre of mass together with the centre of mass of the racket whose handle remains inserted in the inner volume remain close to the support surface. This structure is advantageous because the centre of gravity of the dryer with the racket handle inserted in it, lies vertically low , that is, it lies close to the support surface. Given that the lower the centre of gravity of an object is, the more stable it is, the dryer of this invention, with the racket inserted in it, results in a very stable structure with a very low likelihood of tipping over. The stability of the dryer also depends on the area of its support base: a body tips over when the vertical line from its centre of gravity lies outside of its support base. Therefore, thanks to the fact that the dryer of this invention is designed so that, in an equilibrium position with the handle completely inserted, the centre of gravity of the dryer and the racket remains at a low height with respect to the support surface, it is not needed that the support base has a great extension. The advantage of this is that the dryers according to the present invention can have small dimensions and lower mass, which makes them easy to transport and easily handled. For example, they can be carried in players’ sport bags or in bags specially designed for the dryer of the present invention. Given that it has small dimensions, the dryer of the present invention can remain supported on any horizontal surface, such as, for example, the floor, the surface of a rest bench, a table or a chair. Furthermore, the small dimensions and the light weight allow to hold the dryer even with just one hand and to be designed with ergonomically advantageous shapes.

In some embodiments, the support is arranged such that, when the support surface rests completely on the floor with the racket handle fully inserted in the inner volume, the racket also rests on the floor.

This results in a dryer that is comfortable to use for the player. During the drying process, it is comfortable and ergonomically advantageous that, as the dryer rests on a horizontal surface with the handle fully inserted in the volume, there is an equilibrium state and the player does not have to keep an eye on the dryer to make sure that the handle stays within the inner volume or that the racket doesn’t slide.

In some embodiments, the handle dryer comprises a switch for activating the fans.

In some embodiments the switch is placed at the end of the inner volume, near the rear wall, such that it is activated when the handle (P) is fully inserted in the inner volume. This causes that when the player fully inserts the handle in the inner volume of the dryer, the switch is activated by the end of the handle. Due to the fact that the dryer is designed so that in the rest position, when the support surface is in contact with the floor, the end of the handle is in contact with the rear wall and the head of the racket is in contact with the floor, it is guaranteed that, while the handle is inserted, the end of the handle is always pressing the switch and therefore the fans remain activated as long as the racket handle is inserted in the inner volume. The placement of the switch at the end of the inner volume makes it easier to activate the fans, as when the handle is inserted, they are automatically activated.

In some embodiments, at least one fan is placed in the rear wall such that it drives an air flow parallel to the axis of the handle when the handle is inserted in the dryer, and at least two fans which are placed in each side wall such that they drive an air flow transversal to the axis of the handle when it is inserted in the dryer. The fans in the rear wall create an air current in a longitudinal direction which is directed from the rear wall to the front wall.

In some embodiments, the dryer comprises two fans arranged in the rear wall, three fans in one of the side walls, two of which, those closest to the rear wall, are angled with respect to the side wall, the other one being arranged parallel to the side wall, and other three fans in the other side wall, two of which, those closest to the rear wall, are angled with respect to the other side wall, the other one being arranged parallel to the other side wall, such that between the fans arranged in the rear wall and the angled fans a helical flow is created around the handle, this flow being evacuated by the fans closest the entry hole. The fans on the rear wall create an air current in a longitudinal direction directed from the rear wall to the front wall. The two fans closest to the rear wall in each side wall are angled with respect to the side wall such that they create an eccentric air flow with respect to the axis of the handle and, hence, they are arranged to insufflate air, such that the flow is helical around the handle. This arrangement is advantageous in that on the section of the inner volume where the angled fans are arranged, the airflow keeps rotating in the interior, without escaping, which speeds up the drying process. Furthermore, it is advantageous in terms of energy efficiency. With this fan arrangement a cylinder of air is created, whose longitudinal component is achieved through the rear wall fans. To extract the air, two vertical fans are arranged in the side walls next to the front walls, the purpose of which is to extract damp air in a forced manner.

In some embodiments, the upper wall and the lower wall are provided with non-forced air evacuation openings at the length of the fans next to the entry hole. In the area of the walls where the angled fans are, there are no evacuation openings. Thus, a portion of the damp air dragged by the forced air flow exits through the area where the openings are.

In some embodiments, the side walls, the upper wall, and the lower wall are made up of a tubular profile, preferably made of PVC. This kind of profile is low-cost and can be easily cut to create the openings.

In some embodiments the dryer comprises a front cover and a rear cover which are embedded as stiffening elements in the tubular profile and make up the front wall and rear wall respectively.

In some embodiments the dryer comprises supporting parts of the fans to the side walls on the inner side of the inner volume, being the supporting parts provided with gratings and insert guides for the fitting of the fans.

The walls that make up the box can be of one colour, for example black, and the covers and the supporting parts of the fans can be of a different colour.

In other embodiments, it is expected that the box, and part of its components, such as the covers and the supporting parts of the fans, are made up of two molded parts, a higher part and lower part, which enables decreasing the number of parts and achieving several features through molding. Preferably, the molded parts can incorporate a germicidal component.

In some embodiments of the dryer, the support is a trapezoid-shaped tray. In this way, two features are achieved, on the one hand support with the desired inclination, and on the other hand, the arrangement of elements such as the battery, electronics, etc.

In some embodiments the dryer comprises a power supply battery for the fans which is housed inside the tray.

In some embodiments the support comprises a frontal support destined to make the box more stable.

In some embodiments the dryer comprises a USB port which is connected to the battery.

In some embodiments, means are foreseen to increase the temperature of forced air, for example about five degrees, so that the drying time of the handle can be reduced. These means can consist on a dedicated resistance.

In some embodiments, it is foreseen a connection for charging the battery.

In some embodiments it is foreseen an indicator of the charging level of the battery. In some embodiments the support of the dryer is join††o the lower wall or†o the rear wall. This presents the advantages of increasing ease of use, stability and versatility of the dryer while keeping its portability.

An advantage of joining the support to the rear wall is that the dryer can be used in a vertical position. For example, when being used with rackets that have a lower centre of mass, the dryer together with the handle of the racket inserted therein in a drying position can stand vertical on its own. However, for rackets with a higher centre of mass a substantially vertical wall (e.g. a wall that can be found in padel courts or sports centres), the dryer together with the handle of the racket inserted therein in a drying position can stand vertical by supporting the head of the racket on one of said walls.

An advantage of drying a grip in a substantially vertical position is the increased quality of the drying process. An increased amount of sweat blocked between the strips of the grip is extracted.

The support can be integrated with the dryer. An advantage is that the support does not have to be removed and joint before, respectively, transporting and using the dryer.

Finally, it is expected that the aggregate power of the fans is between 5 and 15 W and preferably 10 W.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description, and with the aim of aiding in the comprehension of the features of the invention, according to an example of a practical implementation of the dryer, accompanying as integral part of the description, are a set of figures in which with an illustrative and not restrictive character, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled dryer.

Figure 2 displays a lateral view of the cross-section of the dryer in a drying position, into which a racket handle has been inserted, also in a drying position.

Figure 3 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the dryer. Figure 4 is a view from above the dryer which grosso modo shows the orientation of the flows generated by each fan of the dryer.

Figure 5 grosso modo shows the orientation of the fans of the dryer which, when activating, contribute to creating an air flow which surrounds the handle inserted in the dryer.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the support problem which arises when the handle of a racket whose body is too short or too long is inserted, respectively.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the dryer in use.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the dryer according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a support of the dryer.

Figures 11 to 13 are, respectively, a lateral view, a frontal view and a view from above of a support of the dryer.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED WAY OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As can be seen in figure 1 , the invention refers to a dryer 1 for racket R handles P which comprises a box which is made up of a front wall 11 , a rear wall 12, two side walls 13,14 destined to remain vertical, an upper wall 15, and a lower wall 16 which delimit between them an inner volume 18.

The front wall 1 1 has an entryhole 17 to introduce the handle P in the inner volume 18. At least the side walls 13,14 comprise drying fans V. The dryer 1 has a support 20 which is joint to the lower wall 16 provided with a support surface. This arrangement of the dryer 1 allows it to have a small size, so that it is portable.

As can be seen in figure 2, the dryer may comprise a support 20 arranged such that, as its support surface rests on a floor, or on a flat horizontal surface, with the racket R handle P fully inserted in the inner volume 18, the racket R also rests on the floor in a point CP. Specifically, the head of the racket R can be supported, so that the horizontal support surface of the head of the racket R exerts a force on the head CR of the racket R that keeps the racket R handle P fully inserted in the inner volume 18. In this way, even if the racket R is angled during the drying process, the handle will not come out of the inner volume 18. lt should be clear that the same effect can be achieved on surfaces with an appropriate shape and/or material so that, when they contact a section of the racket R, they generate a static friction that stops the handle P from leaving the inner volume 18.

Particularly, the dimensions and inclination, preferably, should be devised for each kind of racket R such that situations illustrated in figures 6 and 7 are avoided. These situations cause stress that can involve a bad handle position in the inner drying volume, which can result in the non-activation of activating switch 21. This is particularly important because the player has very few time between games for drying the handle P, and any mistake in these terms can result in an insufficient drying of the handle.

According to figures 2 and 3, the racket handle dryer 1 comprises a switch 21 to activate the fans V. The switch 21 can be a mechanical switch, a sensor to detect the presence of the handle P (e.g. optical or capacitive switch), or a combination of the above if it is desired to increase its reliability. The switch 21 must be able to detect that the racket R handle P is in the drying position. The switch 21 can be one that is activated even if the handle has additional objects such as a string. For example, a switch for which mechanical contact or the presence of the string is not an obstacle to activate the switch. For example, it can be used a switch 21 that is activated, that is, that activates the drying only when it detects a certain amount of pressure. It could also be activated upon detection of the shape of the handle P in the rear part of the inner volume 18 of the dryer 1.

The dryer 1 identifies that the racket R handle P is in the drying position when the lower part of the handle P is at the end of the inner volume 18. This can be detected, for example, with a switch 21 arranged at the end of the inner volume 18 next to the rear wall 12. In this way, the switch is activated when the handle P is fully inserted in the inner volume 18. In order to facilitate insertion, guiding elements GP can be foreseen, slight guiding elements which do not disturb the air flow, which guide the end of the handle P to the switch 21.

As shown in figure 4, there are two fans V1 , V2 arranged in the rear wall 12. These fans can drive air flows F1 , F2 parallel to the axis of the handle P when it is fully inserted in the dryer.

The dryer 1 comprises at least two fans V3 to V6 arranged in each side wall 13, 14 such that they drive air flows F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8 which are transversal to the axis of the handle P when it is fully inserted in the dryer. As shown in figure 3, the dryer 1 comprises two fans V1 , V2 arranged in the rear wall 12 and three fans V3, V4, V5 in one of the side walls 13. Two of the three fans V3, V4 in the side wall 13, for example those closest to the rear wall 12, are angled with respect to the side wall 13. The other fan V5 is arranged parallel to the side wall 13.

Furthermore, the dryer comprises other three fans, V6, V7, V8 in the other side wall 14, two of which, V6, V7, for example those closest to the rear wall 12, are angled with respect to the other side wall 14, the other fan V8 being arranged parallel to the other side wall 14.

In this way, as can be seen in figure 5, the combined action of the fans V1 , V2 arranged in the rear wall 12 and the angled fans V3, V4, V6, V7 creates a helical flow H around the handle P. This flow is evacuated by the fans V5, V8, which are placed next to the entry hole 17.

The number of necessary fans and/or the arrangement thereof to achieve this effect can be different. For example, a larger number of less powerful fans could be used, in this way, a more controlled air flow could be created. In some embodiments the fans can vary their orientation with time in a coordinated manner. In this way, blind drying spots can be avoided.

The upper wall 15 and the lower wall 16 of the dryer 1 are provided with air evacuation openings. These air evacuation openings can be at the length of the fans V5, V8 next to the entry hole 17.

In the embodiment shown, the side walls 13,14, the upper wall 15 and the lower wall 16 are made up of a tubular profile T. Another option is that the dryer is made up of two molded semi- bodies, a higher one and a lower one, so that the manufacturing is simpler.

As can be seen in figure 3, the dryer comprises a front cover T11 and a rear cover T12 that are embedded as stiffening elements in the tubular profile T and which make up the front wall 11 and rear wall 12, respectively. These covers can also be integrally formed with the box through molding of the two parts, as described above. The rear cover T12 is the one which supports the illustrated embodiment of the rear fans V1 and V2. Adjacent the cover T12, it is foreseen a protection grating RP. On the other side of the cover, it is foreseen a part SI which supports the switch.

It is also envisaged supporting parts 22 of the fans V to the side walls 13,14 on the inner side of the inner volume 18, the supporting parts 22 being provided with gratings 23 and insert guides for the fitting of the fans V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8. These parts allow a quick and correct assembly of the fans, considerably simplifying the assembly of the product. These supporting parts can also be conceived as parts molded together with the semi-bodies that make up the box, as described above.

In the illustrated embodiments, the support 20 is a trapezoid-shaped tray 24, inside of which a power supply battery for the fans is housed, as well auxiliary functional elements such as regulators or connectors to an external supply. As shown in figure 2, the tray can incorporate a visual indicator IB of the level of battery charge. The tray can also incorporate a connector to charge the battery. The tray 24 is completed with a cover T24.

A frontal support 20’ is also envisaged to increase stability of the box.

A shown in figure 9, the support 20, S can be joint to the lower wall 16 or to the rear wall 12. The support 20 can be used to provide stability to the dryer 1 when placed vertically. In this way, the dryer 1 can perform the drying process in a stable vertical position.

In one embodiment the dryer 1 comprises support 20 joint to the lower wall 16 and support S joint to the rear wall 12.

In one embodiment (not shown) the dryer comprises the support S joint to the rear wall 12 and does not comprise the support 20 joint to the lower wall 16.

The support S can be hollow. For example, in order to increase the portability of the dryer.

In one embodiment, shown in figure 10, the support S comprises a frame. Each side of the frame can comprise a lateral plate 31 , 27 and a lower plate 26, 32 which contact respectively the side walls 13, 14 and the rear wall 12 of the dryer 1. The shape of the frame can be such that is surrounds the rear wall 12 and the side walls 13, 14 of the dryer 1 . For example, the frame can be rectangular. The frame can have two plates on each of its sides: a lower plate 27, 32 and a peripheral plate 26. Although in other embodiments (not shown), the frame can have a lower plate 27 on some sides. Lower plates 27 of different sides of the frame can have different extension from the periphery of the frame towards its inside. For example, the extension of the lower plate 27 of one of the sides can be greater than the extension of the lower plates 32 of the other sides and/or the extension of the lower plates of all sides except for one can be the same. The support S can be made of any material or materials which allow a combination of low weight and dryer stability. For example, the material can be PVC.

The support S can have several feet 30. For example, as shown in figure 10, each corner of the frame can have a foot 30. The height of the feet 30 can be higher than the sides of the support S such that when the dryer 1 is vertical, the feet 30 contact the ground.

A shown in figure 10, the support S can be attached to the dryer 1 by means of plates 28. The plates 28 can be integrally formed in the sides of the support S (e.g. on two opposing sides of the support S). Each plate 28 can have holes 29 (e.g. two holes) to attach the support S to the dryer 1 by means of pins, screws, clamping means or similar mechanical elements. Although other types of attachments (e.g. mechanical attachments) could be used for the same purpose. The support 20 can be permanently attached to the rear wall 12.

As shown in figure 12, feet 30 of opposing sides of the support S can have different width.

The racket handle can be inserted in the entry hole and moved along the length of the inner volume until the end of the handle is in contact with the rear wall of the dryer. Once the racket handle is inserted into the inner volume, it is rested on the entry point and the end of the handle is in contact with the rear wall. Furthermore the dryer of this invention can be advantageous if once the handle is inserted into the dryer, one wishes to balance the racket with respect to the support point of the handle at the entry point. In this case the length of the inner volume of the box is larger than the length of the segment which goes from the centre of gravity of the racket to the end of the racket handle minus the product of the weight of the support and the distance between the centre of gravity of the support and the entry point divided by the weight of the racket, such that the sum of moments and forces at the entry point where the racket is rested is null.

The support attached to the lower wall is designed with the appropriate dimensions such that, when the dryer has the racket handle fully inserted in the inner volume, the dryer will be resting on a horizontal surface and will be balanced stably, with the end of the handle in contact with the rear wall of the box, the handle is rests over the entry hole and the head of the racket is in contact with the ground. In this way, the support point in this invention is advantageous in that it results in dryers for rackets with varying lengths, as it is configured such that the length of the inner volume is larger than the length of the segment that goes from the centre of gravity of the racket to the end of the racket handle minus the weight of the support times the distance between the centre of gravity of the support and the entry point divided by the weight of the racket such that the sum of the moments and forces at the entry point on which the racket is rested are null.

The dryer in this invention can be designed so that, when it is rested on the floor during the handle drying process, i.e. when the handle is fully inserted in the inner volume, there is an equilibrium with respect to the contact point of the racket with the dryer at the entry point of the front wall. That is, so that the sum of forces and moments both on the dryer as well as on the racket with respect to the contact point between the racket and the dryer be zero, when the handle is fully inserted in the inner volume, in contact with the rear wall of the inner volume, and the dryer’s support surface is placed on a horizontal surface. Furthermore, it can be designed so that in this position the head of the racket is resting on the floor, which slightly pushes the end of the handle upwards, stopping the racket from sliding downwards, which keeps the handle in contact with the rear wall.

The switch can be turned on at a distance or by pressing it directly.

The switch 21 can be an odour sensor.

There can be at least one fan arranged in the rear wall 12. These fans can drive air flows F1 , F2 (e.g. the air flows F1 and F2 created by the fans V1 and V2, respectively) parallel to the axis of the handle P when it is fully inserted in the dryer. This fan V1 , V2 can be arranged such that its orientation is not perfectly parallel to the axis of the handle P, so that it contributes to generating an air flow that is tangential to the racket R handle P. In this way, the orientation of the fans (V1 ,V2) may depend on the orientation of the rest of the fans V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8.

The presence of more than one fan V6, V7 improves the speed and energy efficiency of the drying in different measure, for example, by providing a more uniform flow.

According to some implementations, the dryer 1 may comprise additional fans in the upper 15 and lower 16 walls.

In some implementations, the air evacuation openings of the dryer 1 can be in a different section of the dryer 1 such that the dryer 1 fans generate a helical air flow. The openings can be arranged (e.g. in size, shape or quantity) such that an excess consumption of energy by the fans is avoided. The arrangement of the openings may also be such that it allows the fans to generate a helical flow in the dryer 1. In this text, the word“comprises” and its variants (such as“comprising”, etc.) must not be interpreted as being exclusive, that is, they don’t exclude the possibility that what has been described includes other elements, steps etc. Moreover, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments that have been described, but rather also includes, for example, variations that may be created by the average skilled in the art (for example, when it comes to choosing materials, sizes, components, configuration, etc.), within what can be derived from the claims.