초록 ▼

A sports implement including an electroactive element, such as a piezoceramic sheet attached to the implement and a circuit attached to the electroactive element. The circuit may be a shunt, or may include processing such as amplification and phase control to apply a driving signal which may compens

A sports implement including an electroactive element, such as a piezoceramic sheet attached to the implement and a circuit attached to the electroactive element. The circuit may be a shunt, or may include processing such as amplification and phase control to apply a driving signal which may compensate for strain sensed in the implement, or may simply alter the stiffness to affect performance. In a ski, the electroactive element is located near to the root in a region of high strain to apply damping, and the element captures between about one and five percent of the strain energy of the ski. The region of high strain may be found by modeling mechanics of the sports implement, or may be located by empirically mapping the strain distribution which occurs during use of the implement. In other embodiments, the electroactive elements may remove resonances, adapt performance to different situations, or enhance handling or comfort of the implement. Other embodiments include striking implements intended to hit a ball or object in play, such as golf clubs and tennis racquets, wherein the strain elements may alter the performance, feel or comfort of the implement.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A sports implement worn or held by a user and subject to contact and vibration, such implement comprisinga unitary sports body, said sports body having an extent and including a contact surface which is subject in use to contact stimulation such that the body deforms and

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A sports implement worn or held by a user and subject to contact and vibration, such implement comprisinga unitary sports body, said sports body having an extent and including a contact surface which is subject in use to contact stimulation such that the body deforms and gives rise to a distribution of strain energy in said body including a local region of strain, wherein the distribution varies in usean electroactive assembly including a piezoelectric strain element for transducing electrical energy and mechanical strain energy, said electroactive assembly being integrated by a strain coupling to said body in said region of strain for receiving strain energy therefrom, anda circuit connected to said assembly for directing electrical energy via said assembly to control strain in the piezoelectric element so as to damp vibrational response of said body to said contact stimulation, said circuit including a shunt for dissipating charge generated in said element by strain coupled from said region, thereby reducing strain in said body in an amount effective to enhance performance of the sports implement.