Portable Tennis Racket Stringing Machine

Abstract

The invention is directed toward a portable tennis racket stringing machine which utilizes an advanced string clamp and tensioning lever. The machine comprises a base, a mounting plate, and one or more string clamps. The mounting plate has a plurality of channels shaped for receiving one or more string clamp feet. The string clamp has one or more string clamp feet shaped for being inserted into the channels. The string clamp is secured to the machine on one side of the string bed and locks on the other side of the string bed. The lever comprises an external housing, a tension lever, a brake lever, and a tension spring. When the tension in the string is equal to or greater than the tension in the tension spring, the brake lever engages a brake which causes the lever to lock into its then current position.

1 . A tennis racket stringing machine comprising
 a base   a mounting plate
 said mounting plate having a plurality of channels shaped for receiving one or more string clamp feet 
   one or more string clamps
 said string clamp having one or more string clamp feet shaped for being inserted into said channels 
 wherein said string clamp is removably secured to said mounting plate when said string clamp feet are placed in said channels 
 wherein said string clamp is positioned from above the string bed, lowered over the string bed, is secured to the mounting plate, and then is locked on a string during the stringing process 
 wherein said string clamp is secured to the machine on one side of the string bed and locks on the other side of the string bed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tennis racket stringing machine as in  claim 1   wherein said string clamp further comprises a string clamp lock, a string clamp lever, and one or more fingers.   
     
     
         3 . The tennis racket stringing machine as in  claim 2   wherein said mounting plate is movable along the plane of the string bed   wherein a user positions the mounting plate in a desired location along the plane of the string bed, and locks the mounting plate in place prior to attaching said string clamp to said mounting plate.   
     
     
         4 . the tennis racket stringing machine as in  claim 2   wherein said mounting plate is an immobile plate with said plurality of channels covering the substantial surface of the mounting plate   wherein said plurality of channels is located substantially throughout the string bed area.   
     
     
         5 . The tennis racket stringing machine as in  claim 4  further comprising
 a plurality of racket mounts 
 a rotational plate base
 said rotational plate base connected to said base whereby as said base remains in a fixed position a user may rotate said rotational plate base 
 
 wherein said mounting plate is affixed to said rotational plate base. 
 
     
     
         6 . The tennis racket stringing machine or  claim 5  further comprising
 a drum
 said drum attached to said base 
 said drum comprising
 a string gripper designed to secure a string during the stringing process 
 an immobile axle 
 a brake 
 wherein said drum rotates freely about said immobile axle 
 
 
 A lever
 said lever comprising
 an external housing 
 a tension lever, said tension lever placed within said external housing and connected to said drum 
 a brake lever, 
 a tension spring, wherein said tension spring is positioned between said tension lever and said external housing of said lever, said tension spring connecting said tension lever to said external housing of said lever 
 wherein said brake lever is removably secured to said tension lever, wherein when the tension in said string is equal to or greater than the tension in said tension spring, said tension lever compresses said tension spring, wherein when said tension lever compresses said tension spring said tension lever detaches from said brake lever, wherein when said brake lever detaches from said tension lever said brake lever engages said brake, wherein when said brake is engaged said drum becomes immobile and locks into the then current position. 
 
 
 
     
     
         7 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 6  further comprising
 a brake release button 
 wherein said brake lever disengages said brake when a user presses said brake release button. 
 
     
     
         8 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 7   wherein said brake release button is located on said lever.   
     
     
         9 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 6  further comprising
 a brake lever handle 
 said brake lever handle protruding from said external housing of said lever 
 wherein a user may slide said brake lever handle distal from said drum to disengage said brake lever from said brake. 
 
     
     
         10 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 9   wherein said brake is a torsion spring brake.   
     
     
         11 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 9   wherein said brake is a disc brake.   
     
     
         12 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 9  further comprising
 a slidable spring slot
 wherein said slidable spring slot s positioned along the longitudinal axis of said lever 
 
 a slidable spring head, wherein said slidable spring head passes through said slidable spring slot and is connected to said tension spring
 wherein a user may change the tension set in said string during the stringing process by sliding said tension spring along said slidable spring slot 
 
 wherein said tension spring is a slidable spring. 
 
     
     
         13 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 12   wherein said brake is a torsion spring brake.   
     
     
         14 . A tennis racket stringing machine comprising
 a base   a rotational plate base
 said rotational plate base connected to said base whereby as said base remains in a fixed position a user may rotate said rotational plate base 
   a mounting plate
 said mounting plate affixed to said rotational plate base 
   a plurality of racket mounts   a table clamp
 said table clamp affixed to said base whereby said table clamp permits a user to affix said base to planar surface 
   a drum
 said drum attached to said base 
 said drum comprising
 a string gripper designed to secure a string during the stringing process 
 an immobile axle 
 a brake 
 wherein said drum rotates freely about said immobile axle 
 
   A lever
 said lever comprising
 an external housing 
 a tension lever, said tension lever placed within said external housing and connected to said drum 
 a brake lever, said brake lever placed within said external housing and said brake lever having a brake lever handle protruding from externally from said lever, said brake lever 
 a tension spring, wherein said tension spring is positioned between said tension lever and said external housing of said lever, said tension spring connecting said tension lever to said external housing of said lever 
 
 wherein said brake lever is removably secured to said tension lever, 
 wherein when the tension in said string is equal to or greater than the tension in said tension spring, said tension lever compresses said tension spring, wherein when said tension lever compresses said tension spring said tension lever detaches from said brake lever, wherein when said brake lever detaches from said tension lever said brake lever engages said brake, 
 wherein when said brake is engaged said drum becomes immobile and locks into the then current position. 
   
     
     
         15 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 14   wherein said brake is a torsion spring brake.   
     
     
         16 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 15  further comprising
 a slidable spring slot
 wherein said slidable spring slot s positioned along the longitudinal axis of said lever 
 
 a slidable spring head, wherein said slidable spring head passes through said slidable spring slot and is connected to said tension spring
 wherein a user may change the tension set in said string during the stringing process by sliding said tension spring along said slidable spring slot 
 wherein said tension spring is a slidable spring. 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The racket stringing machine as in  claim 16   wherein said mounting plate has a plurality of channels shaped for receiving one or more string clamp feet   said racket stringing machine further comprising
 one or more string clamps
 said string clamp having one or more string clamp feet shaped for being inserted into said channels 
 
 wherein said string clamp is removably secured to said mounting plate 
 when said string clamp feet are placed in said channels. 
   
     
     
         18 . A process for stringing a racket comprising
 placing a racket blank on a mounting plate   securing said racket blank to said mounting plate by means of a plurality of racket mounts   threading a string through said racket blank   securing said string on a string gripper attached to a drum
 said drum attached to a base 
   rotating a lever from a beginning position to apply tension to said string
 said lever connected to said drum 
 said lever comprising
 an external housing 
 a tension lever, said tension lever placed within said external housing and connected to said drum 
 a brake lever, said brake lever placed within said external housing 
 a tension spring, wherein said tension spring is positioned between said tension lever and said external housing of said lever, said tension spring connecting said tension lever to said external housing of said lever 
 
 wherein said brake lever is removably secured to said tension lever, 
 wherein when the tension in said string is equal to or greater than the tension in said tension spring, said tension lever compresses said tension spring, wherein when said tension lever compresses said tension spring said tension lever detaches from said brake lever, wherein when said brake lever detaches from said tension lever said brake lever engages said brake, 
 wherein when said brake is engaged said drum becomes immobile and locks into the then current position 
   lowering a string clamp over said string
 said string clamp having a plurality of string clamp feet 
   placing said plurality of string clamp feet in a plurality of channels in said mounting plate   locking said string clamp onto said string   disengaging said brake lever   rotating said lever to said beginning position.   
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 18  further comprising
 rotating said mounting plate to rotate said racket 
 securing said string to said racket. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 19  further comprising
 first securing said base to a planar surface by means of a table clamp
 said table clamp attached to said base.