Dual Stringing Tennis Racket Machine and Method

Abstract

The invention is directed toward a machine and method for stringing two strings on a tennis racket substantially simultaneously. The machine is a racket stringing machine comprised of a mounting plate, a first string gripper and a second string gripper, a first string clamp and a second string clamp. The machine may be further comprised of an electromotor and means for control, a first string gripper arm and a second string gripper arm, a string clamp base, a machine base, and a pedestal. The method comprises the steps of threading a length of string with a first end and a second end through the grommets on a racket, threading the first end of the string through a first string gripper and the second end through a second string gripper, securing the ends of the length of string, and applying a desired tension on the length of string.

1 . A racket stringing machine comprising
 A mounting plate   A first string gripper and a second string gripper   A first string clamp and a second string clamp   
     
     
         2 . The device as in  claim 1   Wherein a user may thread a string through a racket and through said first string gripper and said second string gripper substantially simultaneously   Wherein said first string gripper and said second string gripper apply tension to the ends of said string substantially simultaneously   
     
     
         3 . The device as in  claim 2  further comprising
 An electromotor 
 A means for controlling said electromotor 
 A first string gripper arm and a second string gripper arm wherein said first string gripper arm is connected to said first string gripper and said second string gripper arm is connected to said second string gripper 
 Wherein said electromotor is utilized to move said first string gripper arm and said second string gripper arm. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device as in  claim 3  further comprising
 A string clamp base 
 A machine base 
 A pedestal 
 
     
     
         5 . The device as in  claim 4  wherein said string clamp base is comprised of two separate string clamp base sections 
     
     
         6 . The device as in  claim 5  wherein said first string gripper and said second string gripper are comprised of
 A first string gripper plate 
 A second string gripper plate 
 An axel 
 A string support rod 
 A means for moving said first string gripper plate and said second gripper plate along the length of said axel 
 
     
     
         7 . The device as in  claim 6  wherein said first string gripper and said second string gripper are further comprised of
 A first collar connected to said first string gripper plate
 Wherein said first collar includes a central void containing one or more ball bearings 
 
 A second collar connected to said second string gripper plate
 Wherein said second collar includes a central void containing one or more ball bearings 
 
 Wherein said axel has grooves designed to receive said ball bearings 
 Wherein said axel is positioned within the central void of said first collar and the central void of said second collar 
 Wherein as said axel rotates, said ball bearings move through said grooves in said axel 
 Wherein as said axel rotates, said first string gripper plate and said second string gripper plate move independently along the length of said axel. 
 
     
     
         8 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said first string clamp and said second string clamp disengage from the respective lengths of string automatically when said first string gripper and said second string gripper apply a desired tension to the subsequent lengths of string. 
     
     
         9 . The device as in  claim 8  wherein said first string clamp and said second string clamp automatically reposition under said subsequent lengths of string after disengaging from prior secured lengths of string 
     
     
         10 . The device as in  claim 9   Wherein a user may thread a string through a racket and through said first string gripper and said second string gripper substantially simultaneously   Wherein said first string gripper and said second string gripper apply tension to the ends of said string substantially simultaneously   
     
     
         11 . The device as in  claim 10  further comprising
 An electromotor 
 A means for controlling said electromotor 
 A first string gripper arm and a second string gripper arm wherein said first string gripper arm is connected to said first string gripper and said second string gripper arm is connected to said second string gripper 
 Wherein said electromotor is utilized to move said first string gripper arm and said second string gripper arm 
 
     
     
         12 . The device as in  claim 11  further comprising
 A string clamp base 
 A machine base 
 A pedestal 
 
     
     
         13 . The device as in  claim 12  wherein said string clamp base is comprised of two separate string clamp base sections 
     
     
         14 . A self-closing string gripper for use in a racket stringing machine comprising
 A first string gripper plate   Second string gripper plate   An axel   A string support rod   A means for moving said first string gripper plate and said second gripper plate along the length of said axel   
     
     
         15 . The device as in  claim 14  further comprising
 A first collar connected to said first string gripper plate
 Wherein said first collar includes a central void containing one or more ball bearings 
 
 A second collar connected to said second string gripper plate
 Wherein said second collar includes a central void containing one or more ball bearings 
 
 Wherein said axel has grooves designed to receive said ball bearings 
 Wherein said axel is positioned within the central void of said first collar and the central void of said second collar 
 Wherein as said axel rotates, said ball bearings move through said grooves in said axel 
 Wherein as said axel rotates, said first string gripper plate and said second string gripper plate move independently along the length of said axel. 
 
     
     
         16 . The device as in  claim 15  wherein said grooves in said axel have a variable slope such that as said axel rotates said first string gripper plate and said second string gripper plate move along the length of said axel at variable speeds. 
     
     
         17 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said first string gripper and said second string gripper are in the form of spools
 Wherein said spools implant tension on a racket string by turning and winding said racket string around said spools 
 
     
     
         18 . The device as in  claim 1  wherein said mounting plate is comprised of a mounting plate frame with a plethora of upper arms and lower arms, a first L-shaped lower arm, and a second L-shaped lower arm
 Wherein said upper arms extend inward and upward from said mounting plate frame 
 Wherein said lower arms extend inward and downward from said mounting plate frame 
 Wherein said lower arms and said upper arms are offset from each other on the mounting plate frame such that no lower arm is directly beneath any upper arm and no upper arm is directly over any lower arm. 
 Wherein said first L-shaped lower arm is located on the mounting rack in a position to receive the top of a racket 
 Wherein said second L-shaped lower arm is located on the mounting rack in a position to receive the handle section of a racket 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of stringing two lengths of string on a racket simultaneously comprising
 Threading a length of string with a first end and a second end through the grommets on a racket   Threading said first end of the length of string through a first string gripper and said second end of the length of string through a second string gripper   Securing said first end of the length of string with said first string gripper and securing said second end of the length of string with said second string gripper   Applying a desired tension on said length of string with said first string gripper and said second string gripper   
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 19  further comprising the steps of
 Securing the length of string with a first string clamp and a second string clamp 
 Removing said first end of the length of string from said first string gripper and removing said second end of the length of string from said second string gripper 
 Threading said first end of the length of string through a grommet of said racket forming a first additional length of string 
 Threading said second end of the length of string through a separate grommet of said racket forming a second additional length of string 
 Threading said first end of the length of string through said second string gripper and said second end of the length of string through said first string gripper 
 Securing said first end of the length of string with said second string gripper and securing said second end of the length of string with said first string gripper 
 Applying a desired tension on said lengths of string with said first string gripper and said second string gripper 
 Removing said first string clamp and said second string clamp from the length of string 
 Repositioning said first string clamp and said second string clamp 
 Securing said first additional length of string with said first string clamp and securing said second additional length of string with said second string clamp