Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03135434 2021-09-29
Net holder and table tennis net set comprising a net holder
The invention relates to a net holder for a table tennis net
set, comprising a base carrier on which a net post is arranged
and/or configured, and a clamping apparatus which can be used
to fasten the base carrier to a table tennis table.
Hitherto known net holders have screw clamps for fastening to
a table tennis table. These net holders function well in
principle, but they can come loosen and slip during a game of
table tennis. Depending on how stably the net holders are
configured and how strongly the screw clamps are tightened,
the net holders may also experience deformation. It has also
been observed that in particular weaker people, for example
children, often have problems releasing a particularly firmly
tightened net holder from a table tennis table. During the
attempts to remove the net holder from the table tennis table,
releasing movements often result in undesired damage to the
table tennis table.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a net
holder of the type mentioned in the introduction for a table
tennis net set, said net holder avoiding the disadvantages of
hitherto known net holders and being more convenient to use.
To achieve this object, what is proposed first of all is a net
holder for a table tennis net set, having the means and
features of the independent claim directed to a net holder. To
achieve the objects, what is thus proposed in particular in
the case of the net holder of the type mentioned in the
introduction is that the clamping apparatus has a movable
clamping jaw and a clamping lever mechanism which can be used
to move the movable clamping jaw from a starting position to a
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clamping position.
By means of the clamping lever mechanism, the net holder can
be fixed to a table tennis table by way of a simple lever
movement. On account of the lever action of the clamping lever
mechanism, it is also possible to fix the net holder to a
table tennis table in a sufficiently firm manner with little
expenditure of force. Overall, the handling of the net holder
is thus simplified in comparison to hitherto known net holders
to be mounted using screw clamps. Relatively weak people, for
example children, can also not only fasten the net holder to
the table tennis table in a secure and gentle manner but in
particular release it as well. It is also possible for the
clamping lever mechanism to predefine a defined clamping force
which can be transmitted to the movable clamping jaw. It is
thus possible to prevent the net holder from being mounted on
a table tennis table with excessive force, which in turn has
the effect that damage to the table tennis table due to the
net holder can be avoided.
The movable clamping jaw may be arranged on a clamping jaw
lever of the clamping lever mechanism. In this case, the
clamping jaw lever may be connected to the base carrier of the
net holder via a pivot joint and/or force support, the net
post also being arranged or configured on said base carrier.
In an embodiment of the net holder, the clamping lever
mechanism has a clamping lever. A user of the net holder can
use the clamping lever to actuate the clamping lever mechanism
and move the movable clamping jaw from its starting position
or open position to its clamping position. The clamping lever
may be connected to the base carrier via a clamping lever
pivot joint and/or a force support. If the clamping lever is
connected to the base carrier via a force support, it is
possible for the clamping lever to be arranged at a certain
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distance from the base carrier, which in a use position of the
net holder on a table tennis table is generally located at
least partially above a top side of the table tennis table.
The clamping jaw lever may be arranged between a stationary
clamping jaw, which is connected to the base carrier, and the
clamping lever. The clamping jaw lever, on which the movable
clamping jaw is arranged, can thus be advanced, by means of
the clamping lever, in the direction of the stationary
clamping jaw, which generally contacts a top side of the table
tennis table in the use position of the net holder, with the
clamping lever, which is then arranged below the clamping jaw
lever, in the direction of the stationary clamping jaw, in
order to transmit the clamping force required for the
fastening of the net holder to the table tennis table from the
movable clamping jaw via the table tennis table to the
stationary clamping jaw of the net holder.
In an embodiment of the net holder, provision is made for the
movable clamping jaw to be pivotably mounted on the clamping
jaw lever and/or connected thereto. In this way, it is
possible to compensate an angular position of the clamping jaw
lever relative to the movable clamping jaw and in particular
also an angular position of the clamping jaw lever relative to
a table tennis table. It can thus be ensured that preferably
the entire surface of the movable clamping jaw bears against
the table tennis table in its clamping position. In this case,
the movable clamping jaw may be pivotably mounted for example
at a free end of the clamping jaw lever.
The clamping lever may be arranged on a side of the net holder
facing away from the movable clamping jaw. In this way, when
the net holder is in the use position on a table tennis table,
the clamping lever is particularly readily accessible for the
user of the net holder. The net holder can thus be mounted and
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also released from the table tennis table again in a
convenient manner. The side of the net holder facing away from
the movable clamping jaw may be that side of the net holder on
which the net post of the net holder is also arranged.
In an embodiment of the net holder, provision is made for the
clamping lever mechanism to comprise a toggle clamp which can
be used to move the movable clamping jaw into its clamping
position. A toggle clamp comprises at least two levers which
are connected to one another in an articulated manner and
which permit a relatively high force/travel ratio. In this
way, a particularly high clamping force can be achieved with a
relatively smaller actuating force, with the result that the
net holder can be fixed to a table tennis table in a
particularly secure manner by means of a toggle clamp.
The clamping lever mechanism may comprise a clamping width-
adjusting apparatus. By means of this clamping width-adjusting
apparatus, the net holder can be fastened to table tennis
tables of differing size or thickness. By means of the
clamping width-adjusting apparatus, a distance between the
movable clamping jaw, which is located in the clamping
position, and a stationary clamping jaw, for example the
stationary clamping jaw already mentioned above, can be
adjusted.
The clamping width-adjusting apparatus may comprise an
actuating screw. The above-mentioned distance between the
movable clamping jaw, which is located in the clamping
position, and the stationary clamping jaw of the net holder
can be adjusted by means of the actuating screw. It is
particularly advantageous if the actuating screw is assigned a
locknut, which may be provided with knurling. The actuating
screw can thus be fixed at the selected screwing-in depth by
means of the locknut, with the result that a selected clamping
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width of the net holder remains unchanged even if the net
holder is demounted from the table tennis table and stowed
after use.
5 The clamping lever mechanism may comprise a clamping element
which can be pushed against the movable clamping jaw and/or
the clamping jaw lever by means of the clamping lever. The
clamping element can thus function as an intermediate element
and/or force transmission element between the clamping lever,
which is adjusted for actuation of the clamping lever
mechanism, and the movable clamping jaw or the clamping jaw
lever. During actuation of the clamping lever, the adjusting
movement of the clamping lever is transmitted via the clamping
element to the movable clamping jaw or the clamping jaw lever
which is connected to the movable clamping jaw.
An angular position of the clamping element with respect to
the clamping lever, and thus the clamping width of the net
holder already mentioned above, can be adjusted or changed by
means of the clamping width-adjusting apparatus. Here, in
dependence on its screwing-in depth, the actuating screw
already mentioned above can change the angular position of the
clamping element with respect to the clamping lever. The
further the actuating screw is screwed in, the greater the
angle between the clamping element and the clamping lever can
be. As the angle between the clamping element and the clamping
lever increases, the distance between the movable clamping
jaw, which is located in the clamping position, and the
stationary clamping jaw of the net holder, and thus a clamping
width of the clamping lever mechanism, can be reduced.
In order to permit a relative movement between the clamping
element and the movable clamping jaw and/or the clamping jaw
lever, it may be advantageous if the free end of the clamping
element facing the movable clamping jaw and/or the clamping
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jaw lever has a sliding surface and/or is provided with a
roller.
The clamping element may be pivotably mounted on the clamping
jaw lever. Here, the clamping element may be pivotably mounted
on the clamping jaw lever in such a way that a projection of a
pivot joint, for example of a pivot bearing and/or of a film
hinge, of the clamping element on a horizontal section plane
of the net holder lies between a projection of a pivot joint
of the clamping jaw lever and a projection of a pivot joint of
the clamping lever on the same horizontal section plane. As a
result of the selection of the positions of the pivot joints
and the selection of the lever lengths, it is possible to
achieve a particularly good travel/force ratio, which can
facilitate simple handling of the net holder and reliable
functioning of the clamping mechanism.
The clamping element may be pivotably mounted on the clamping
lever. Here, the clamping element may be pivotably mounted on
the clamping lever in such a way that a projection of a pivot
joint, for example of a pivot bearing and/or of a film hinge,
of the clamping element on a horizontal section plane of the
net holder lies between a projection of a pivot joint of the
clamping jaw lever and a projection of a pivot joint of the
clamping lever on the same horizontal section plane. As a
result of the selection of the positions of the pivot joints
and the selection of the lever lengths, it is possible to
achieve a particularly good travel/force ratio, which can
facilitate simple handling of the net holder and reliable
functioning of the clamping mechanism.
The movable clamping jaw may have an end stop for a clamping
element, for example the clamping element already mentioned
above. By means of this end stop, it is possible, on the one
hand, to define the end position of the clamping element on
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the movable clamping jaw and it is possible, on the other
hand, to deflect a force of the possibly oblique clamping
element to the movable clamping jaw.
A clamping lever stop may also be assigned to the clamping
lever. A movement of the clamping lever beyond its open
position can be restricted by means of the clamping lever
stop. The clamping lever stop is thus used to prevent the
clamping lever from hanging loosely on the net holder when the
clamping lever mechanism is open.
In order to protect a table tennis table when the net holder
is being used, it may be advantageous if the movable clamping
jaw and/or the stationary clamping jaw has/have a protective
covering. This protective covering/these protective coverings
can preferably be composed of velour and/or of rubber, for
example silicone rubber.
To achieve the stated object, what is finally also proposed is
a table tennis net set comprising a net holder as claimed in
one of the claims directed to such a net holder.
The invention will now be described in more detail on the
basis of an exemplary embodiment, but is not restricted to
this exemplary embodiment. Further exemplary embodiments will
emerge from combination of the features of individual or
several patent claims with one another and/or in the
combination of individual or several features of the exemplary
embodiment. In the figures, in part in a highly schematic
illustration:
fig. 1 shows a side view of a net holder with a clamping
apparatus located in the clamping position,
fig. 2 shows a perspective side view of the net holder,
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wherein a side part of a housing of the net holder is
omitted for better illustration of a clamping
apparatus of the net holder,
fig. 3 shows the net holder shown in the preceding figures
with an open clamping apparatus, and
fig. 4 shows a further perspective side view of the net
holder with a complete housing.
All the figures show a net holder, which is denoted throughout
by 1, for a table tennis net set. The net holder 1 has a base
carrier 2. A net post 3 is arranged or configured on the base
carrier 2. A table tennis net, which is not illustrated in the
figures, can be mounted on the net post 3.
The net holder 1 comprises a clamping apparatus 4 which can be
used to clamp the base carrier 2 to a table tennis table,
which is also not illustrated in the figures.
The clamping apparatus 4 has a movable clamping jaw 5 and a
clamping lever mechanism 6. The clamping lever mechanism 6 can
be used to move the movable clamping jaw 5 from a starting
position or open position, illustrated in figure 3, to a
clamping position which is shown in figures 1, 2 and 4, in
order to fasten the base carrier 2 to a table tennis table in
a simple and convenient manner.
The movable clamping jaw 5 is arranged on a clamping jaw lever
7 of the clamping lever mechanism 6. The clamping jaw lever 7
is connected to the base carrier 2 via a pivot joint 8 and a
force support 9. The force support 9 is at the same time one
of two side parts 25 of a housing 26 of the net holder 1, in
which at least parts of the clamping lever mechanism 6 are
arranged.
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The clamping lever mechanism 6 also has a clamping lever 10.
By means of the clamping lever 10, the clamping lever
mechanism 6 can be actuated by a user of the net holder 1 and
the net holder 1 can ultimately be clamped to a table tennis
table. In this respect, the clamping lever 10 functions as an
actuating lever of the clamping lever mechanism 6 and can also
be referred to as such. The clamping lever 10 is connected to
the base carrier 2 via a clamping lever pivot joint 11 and the
two side parts 25 of the housing 26. The two side parts 25
also function as force supports 9 for the clamping lever 10.
The clamping jaw lever 7 is arranged between a stationary
clamping jaw 12, which is connected to the base carrier 2, and
the clamping lever 10. In the case of the net holder 1 shown
in the figures, the stationary clamping jaw 12 is configured
on a side of the base carrier 2 of the net holder 1, said side
facing away from the net post 3.
The movable clamping jaw 5 is, for its part, pivotably mounted
on the clamping jaw lever 7. For this purpose, a clamping jaw
pivot joint 27 is arranged on the clamping jaw lever 7 at a
free end 13 of the clamping jaw lever 7.
The clamping lever 10 is arranged on a side 14 of the net
holder 1 facing away from the movable clamping jaw 5 and thus,
in the use position of the net holder 1, below the net post 3
and also below a table tennis table to which the net holder 1
is fastened.
On account of its design, the clamping lever mechanism 6 can
also be regarded as a toggle clamp which can be used to move
the movable clamping jaw 5 into its clamping position.
The clamping lever mechanism 6 also has a clamping width-
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adjusting apparatus 15. By means of the clamping width-
adjusting apparatus 15, a distance between the movable
clamping jaw 5, which is located in the clamping position, and
the stationary clamping jaw 12 can be adjusted in order to be
5 able to adapt the net holder 1 and the clamping lever
mechanism 6 to different table thicknesses.
The clamping width-adjusting apparatus 15 comprises an
actuating screw 16, the screwing-in depth of which can be
10 fixed by means of a locknut 17. The locknut 17 is provided
with knurling so that it can be adjusted more easily on the
actuating screw 16.
The clamping lever mechanism 6 furthermore comprises a
clamping element 19. On account of its function, the clamping
element 19 can also be referred to as a pressure beam, since
it can be pushed against the movable clamping jaw 5 by means
of the clamping lever 10 in order to move said movable
clamping jaw into its clamping position and hold it there
under a certain amount of pressure.
The clamping width-adjusting apparatus 15 and the actuating
screw 16 already mentioned above can be used to change an
angular position of the clamping element 19 with respect to
the clamping lever 10, in order to ultimately adjust the
distance between the movable clamping jaw 5, which is located
in the clamping position, and the stationary clamping jaw 12.
The free end of the clamping element 19 facing the movable
clamping jaw 5 and the clamping jaw lever 7 has two rollers
20. The rollers 20 permit a low-friction movement of the
clamping element 19 relative to the movable clamping jaw 5 in
order to bring said movable clamping jaw into its clamping
position and hold it there.
The clamping element 19 is pivotably mounted on the clamping
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lever 10 via a pivot joint 21. The position of the pivot joint
21 is in this case selected such that a projection of the
pivot joint 21 on a horizontal section plane of the net holder
1 lies between a projection of a pivot joint 8 of the clamping
jaw lever and a projection of the clamping lever pivot joint
11 of the clamping lever 10 on the same horizontal section
plane.
The movable clamping jaw 5 has an end stop 22 for the clamping
element 19. When the clamping apparatus 4 is closed, a further
movement of the clamping element 19 and its rollers 20 is
limited by the end stop 22, and the force transmitted by the
clamping lever 10 via the clamping element 19 and its roller
to the movable clamping jaw 5 is transmitted in the
15 direction of a table tennis table which is located between the
two clamping jaws 5 and 12. In its open position which is
shown by way of example in figure 3, the clamping lever 10 is
held from below by a clamping lever stop 23.
20 The movable clamping jaw 5 and the stationary clamping jaw 12
of the net holder 1 are each provided with a protective
covering 24. This can be composed of rubber, for example of
silicone rubber, or alternatively of velour. Together with a
further net holder 1 and a table tennis net, the net holder 1
shown in the figures forms a table tennis net set which can be
fastened to a table tennis table.
In order to adjust the actuating screw 16, the latter has a
rotary handle 18 at its freely accessible end. A height-
adjusting device 28 with a comparable rotary handle 18 is
assigned to the net post 3 of the net holder 1. A net height
of a table tennis net held by the net holder 1 can be adapted
by means of the height-adjusting device 18. The table tennis
net can be mounted from above into the net post 3 of the net
holder 1. The net post 3 has a guide groove 29, from which the
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mounted table tennis net can be guided over to another net
post of the table tennis net set and mounted there.
The invention concerns a net holder 1 for a table tennis net
set. The net holder 1 comprises the clamping apparatus 4
having the movable clamping jaw 5 and the clamping lever
mechanism 6 which can be used to move the movable clamping jaw
from a starting position to a clamping position in order to
fix the net holder 1 to a table tennis table.
/ List of reference designations
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List of reference designations
1 Net holder
2 Base carrier
3 Net post
4 Clamping apparatus
5 Clamping jaw
6 Clamping lever mechanism
7 Clamping jaw lever
8 Pivot joint of 7
9 Force support
10 Clamping lever
11 Clamping lever pivot joint
12 Stationary clamping jaw
13 Free end of 7
14 Side of 1
15 Clamping width-adjusting apparatus
16 Actuating screw
17 Locknut
18 Rotary handle
19 Clamping element
20 Roller
21 Pivot joint of 19
22 End stop
23 Clamping lever stop
24 Protective covering
25 Side part
26 Housing
27 Clamping jaw pivot joint
28 Height-adjusting device
29 Guide groove for net in 3
/ Claims
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