System and method of using shear thickening materials in sports products

Abstract

A sports product may include a support member and an impact region configured to impact an object. The impact region may be coupled to the support member. The sports product may also include a shear thickening material in at least one of the support member or the impact region. The shear thickening material may be configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the impact region and the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A racket, comprising:
 a head region;   a striking region;   a throat region;   a shaft region;   a handle region; and   a shear thickening material in at least one of the head region, striking region, throat region, shaft region, or handle region, the shear thickening material being configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the racket and an object.   
     
     
         2 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the head region, striking region, throat region, shaft region, or handle region that includes the shear thickening material includes one or more reinforcing fibers impregnated with the shear thickening material. 
     
     
         3 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the shear thickening material is at a flexpoint of the racket. 
     
     
         4 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the head region, striking region, throat region, shaft region, or handle region that includes the shear thickening material includes an epoxy material that includes shear thickening material. 
     
     
         5 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the shear thickening material is in a layer forming at least a portion of a wall of one of the head region, throat region, shaft region, or handle region. 
     
     
         6 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the shear thickening material is at an antinode of the racket. 
     
     
         7 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the shear thickening material at least partially fills a cavity in one of the head region, throat region, shaft region, or handle region. 
     
     
         8 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the shear thickening material is in a grip tape in the handle region. 
     
     
         9 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the shear thickening material is in a filament in the striking region. 
     
     
         10 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the shear thickening material is a shear thickening layer in the striking region. 
     
     
         11 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the shear thickening material includes particles suspended in a fluid medium. 
     
     
         12 . The racket of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the head region, striking region, throat region, shaft region, or handle region that includes the shear thickening material includes:
 an inner layer,   an outer layer at least partially surrounding the inner layer; and   a layer of shear thickening material disposed at least partially between the inner layer and the outer layer, the shear thickening material being configured to selectively stiffen to control relative movement between the inner layer and the outer layer.   
     
     
         13 . A sports product, comprising:
 a support member;   an impact region configured to impact an object, the impact region being coupled to the support member; and   a shear thickening material in at least one of the support member or the impact region, the shear thickening material being configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the impact region and the object.   
     
     
         14 . The sports product of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the support member or the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes one or more reinforcing fibers impregnated with the shear thickening material. 
     
     
         15 . The sports product of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the support member or the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes a solid foamed synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The sports product of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the support member or the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes a polymer-based dilatant distributed through the solid foamed synthetic polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The sports product of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the support member or the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes a solid closed cell foam matrix. 
     
     
         18 . The sports product of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the support member or the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes a polymer-based dilatant distributed through the solid closed cell foam matrix. 
     
     
         19 . The sports product of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the support member or the impact region that includes the shear thickening material includes:
 an inner layer,   an outer layer at least partially surrounding the inner layer; and   a layer of shear thickening material disposed at least partially between the inner layer and the outer layer, the shear thickening material being configured to selectively stiffen to control relative movement between the inner layer and the outer layer.   
     
     
         20 . A method for manufacturing a sports product, the method comprising:
 manufacturing a first layer of material;   manufacturing a second layer of material;   depositing a shear thickening material between the first layer of material and the second layer of material, the shear thickening material providing a first level of flexibility when a first type of impact occurs between at least one of the first layer of material and the second layer of material, and an object, and   the shear thickening material providing a second level of flexibility when a second type of impact occurs between at least one of the first layer of material and the second layer of material, and the object.