Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention consists of a type o-f structurally-
im~roved racket handle specifically offering improvements
over presently available versions that fit loosely against
the palm ~due to areas of no contact) leading to a loose
grip and loss of power application through the addition of a
type of hand and finger support base wherein the muscles of
the palm and hypothenar eminence are able to grasp the
racket handle naturally, resulting in automatic grip
adjustment for the tightest grip possible in the hand of the
tennis player as well as ease of stroking powerfully due to
the efficient and improved structure of this new type racket
handle.
Racket spor-ts require high levels of aggressive
physical technique and, from the standpoint of racket sport
skills, racket sport players focus mainly on how to perfect
the returning of serves, volleying, and serving. As is
commonly known, a racket ma]ces contact wi-th the human body
at several points, including the fingers, palm, wris-t,
forearm, upper arm, and shoulder. Of -these, -the fingers,
palm, and wrist have the mos-t d:irect contact during usage
(actual contact area). Since the index einger exerts the
most pressure on the hand:Le of sports racke-ts, it is the key
determining factor in whe-ther or not a secure grip is
attained. In other words, it affec-ts power control and the
degree of success in the execution of technique. I-t is
generally understood tha-t the inability oE the hand and
fingers to grasp firmly during training or competitive
matches influences the execution of -technique since the
forearm is inhibi-ted from generating solid hiting power or
even subjected to a number of sports injuries. Thus the
creative motive of the invention herein was based on
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overcoming the shortcomings of conventional racket handles
as previously described above by providing a type of racket
handle that naturally accommodates the surface of the palm
firmly, while offering a circular grip for the hand and
fingers which is comfortable and allows users to easily
apply strength with precision due to the improved structure
of the racket handle.
Thus, with respect to the type of structurally-
improved handle of the invention herein, the most important
aspect of the same racket handle is the 11 cm. (the width of
the palm) surface extending from the bottom end of the
racket handle in alignment with its cen-tral axis and beveled
from the butt in a graduated, constant, or curved manner,
forming a wedge-shaped edge on the side opposite to the face
of the racketA When holding the racket handle, this edge
fits naturally into the palm and hypothenar eminence, while
permitting a circular gripping pos-ture that is firm and
comfortable, enabling users to easily achieve an enhanced
degree of control when returning serves, volleying, and
serving, with excellent hitt:ing power atta:inable during the
execution of -these and o-ther racket sport techniques.
The objectives attained by the invention herein as
described above include improvements to practical technigue,
hand control, and overall efEiciency as clearly illustrated
in the detailed diagrams below and will presen-t a deeper and
fuller understanding of the merits of -the racket handle
introduced herein.
According to the present invention, there is
provided a handle for a racket having a head por-tion with a
generally planar hitting surface, the handle having a first
end oriented toward the head portion and a second end
oriented away from the head portion and comprising a pair of
surfaces formed on the exterior of -the handle adjacent to
the second end of the handle, one surface located on each
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side of the plane of the hitting surface, each surace being
obliquely oriented with respect to the plane of the hitting
surface such that opposite edges of each surface meet to
form a vertex pointing generally towards the first end of
the handle.
Preferred embodiments will now be described as
examples without limitative manner, having re-ference to the
attached drawings, wherein:
FIG. lA is a partial side view of a known racke-t
handle.
FIG. lB is an end view of a known racket handle
taken in the direction of arrow I in FIG. lA.
FIG. 2 is a partial view a hand graspi.ng the known
racket handle of FIGS. 1 A and lB.
15FIG. 3A is a front view of a racket incorporating
a handle according -to the present invention.
FIG. 3B is a side view of the racket shown in FIG.
2A.
FIG. 3C is a bot-tom view of the racket shown in
20FIGS. 3A and 3B.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view oE the racket handle
according to the present inven-tion.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the slop:ing
surfaces according to the present invention.
25FIG. 6A is an end view of the racket handle
according to presen-t invention.
FIGS. 6B-6E are cross-sectional view taken along
lines A-A through lines D-D, respectively, in FIG. 6A.
FIG. 7 is a side view of a hand grasping a racket
30having a handle according to the present invention.
FIG. ~ is a front view of a hand grasping the
racket shown in FIG. 7.
Prior to introducing the invention herein, the
handle structure of presently used sports rackets must be
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explained in terms of points of needed improvement -to
provide a relative basis of contrast, fuller understanding,
and recognition of the unique merits of the invention
herein.
5FIGS. lA, lB and 2 are a depiction of the handle
of conventional rackets and typical method of gripping,
respectively, and show the raised posturing (at the butt of
the racket handle) of the hypothenar eminence and the palm.
When a player grasps such a handle, a space can be observed
10between the surface of -the palm and the highest point of the
hypothenar eminence inclined towards the hollow of the palm;
thus, when par-tially gripped, the surface portion gradually
diminishes and, when completely gripped, the portion between
the palm and the bottom end of the racket handle forms a
15triangulated space resulting in the gradual heightening of
the racke-t in the hollow of the palm, with its highest
point, relative to the hollow of the palm, receiving the
most impact. To accommodate the raised area, the handle in
the palm extends from the hypothenar eminence to face -the
20rear of the hollow oE the palm. With -this portion, such as
in presently used racket handles with a widened butt, the
palm tends to be set apart from the racket handle, with no
way to achieve a complete and firm yrip, leaving most racket
sports players with no alterna-tive other than to grip with
25-the fingers rather than solve the problem of par-tial palm
contact w:i-th the racket handle, involving compensation
through the use of the finger muscles, finger joints, and
thumb, which still does not result in the hand and fingers
achieving a complete grip of the racket handle. Under these
30conditions, the palm is disabled from achieving firm contact
with the racket handle, with a correspondinc~ decrease in the
efficiency of the palm muscles in transferring power and
resulting in a relative lessening of delivery power.
Because of this situation, the bottom end of the racket
handle rises abruptly under the covering, resulting in poor
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wrist control and difficulty in -the wris-t exerting power
(for example, serving is severly hampered).
FIGS. 3A-3C, 4 and 5 are graphic illustra-tions of
the invention herein (structurally-improved racket handle).
With reference to these diagrams r the most important
advantage of the invention herein is the addition of an 11
cm. surface (the width of the palm) extending upward from
the bottom end of the racket handle in alignment with its
cental axis, with the A surfaces inclined from the butt in a
graduated, constant, or curved manner and achieved by the
vertical beveling of the racket handle indicated; thus, the
graduated sloped surfaces (depicted in FIG. 6) merge into a
single connected curved surEace A, resulting in B a wedge-
shaped edge oriented towards the face of the racket an~
formed to fit into the muscles and bones of the hand and
palm which, when held, eliminates the occurence of spaces
between the palm and the racket handle, a loose gxip, and
other factors which decrease the efficient transfer of power
and rela-ted defects. Moreover, -the palm is able to grasp
the racket in a circular manner tha-t is comfortable due to
the improved positioning of -the hypothenar eminence on the
constant, graduated, or curved surfaces of -the invent:ion
herein and eliminating excessive strain on the os pisiforme
and oss' a hamate in the wrist, which allows an easier
ability to maximize both hitting power and technique.
As previously stated above, the invention herein
Eeatures a s-tructural breakthrough that is practical and
efficient, not only in terms of a circularly orien-ted,
comfortable, and tight grip, but also in terms o~
eliminating spaces between the palm and the racket handle,
allowing an appropriately firm grip by minimizing excess
pressure on the wrist bones and affording ease of power
delivery, all of which leads to improved performance in ball
hitting and technique.
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