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Patent 2023934 Summary

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2023934
(54) English Title: HIGH ASPECT RATIO TENNIS RACKET HEAD AND METHOD OF STRINGING
(54) French Title: TETE DE RAQUETTE DE TENNIS A RAPPORT HAUTEUR/LARGEUR ELEVE ET METHODE DE CORDAGE
Status: Deemed Abandoned and Beyond the Period of Reinstatement - Pending Response to Notice of Disregarded Communication
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • A63B 49/02 (2015.01)
  • A63B 51/00 (2015.01)
  • A63B 51/14 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • JANES, RICHARD (United States of America)
(73) Owners :
  • SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC.
(71) Applicants :
  • SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC. (United States of America)
(74) Agent: MACRAE & CO.
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(22) Filed Date: 1990-08-24
(41) Open to Public Inspection: 1991-05-01
Availability of licence: N/A
Dedicated to the Public: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
428,543 (United States of America) 1989-10-30

Abstracts

English Abstract


ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An improved tennis racket with a frame fabricated
of graphite fibers in an epoxy resin matrix formed in a
tubular configuration, the frame including a handle at one
end; a head at the other end; beams therebetween coupling the
head and handle; and a yoke cohered to the lower ends of the
head to thereby generally form an ellipse, the head having a
major axis coextensive with the axis of the frame and being
of a first dimension when measured at the widest point of the
interior edge and having a minor axis transverse with respect
thereto measured at the widest point of the interior edge of
the frame, the minor axis to major axis aspect ratio being
about 0.9:1, the beams being formed linearly and diverging
from the central axis equally and oppositely at about 30
degrees for supporting the head, at their upper ends, at
regions widely spaced from the axis, the area within the head
being between about 95 and 105 square inches. Also disclosed
is a frame for such tennis racket. Also disclosed is a
method of stringing such frame with the horizontal strings at
a higher pull tension than the vertical strings.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A tennis racket comprising a tubular frame
configured into a handle, a head, intermediate beams
therebetween and a yoke cohered to the lower portion of the
head to thereby generally form an ellipse, the head having a
major axis coextensive with the axis of the racket of a first
dimension and having a minor axis transverse with respect
thereto, the minor axis to major axis aspect ratio being
about 0.9:1, the beams of the frame being linear and
diverging from the central axis equally and oppositely for
supporting the head at locations widely spaced from the axis,
the racket also including strings strung horizontally and
vertically through the head to constitute the striking
surface of the racket.
2. The racket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the
beams extend at angles of about 30 degrees from the axis.
3. The racket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the
frame is fabricated of graphite fibers in an epoxy resin.
4. The racket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the
strings form an area of between about 95 and 105 square
inches.
5. The racket as set forth in claim 1 wherein the
head is formed as an ellipse with its two focal points lying
on the axis of the frame and racket.
- 23 -

6. The racket as set forth in claim 1 and further
including a grommet strip extending around the external
periphery of the head through which the strings pass in a
serpentine path to constitute the striking surface of the
racket.
7. The racket set forth in claim 6 and further
including a bumper guard on the upper external periphery of
the head.
8. For use in a tennis racket, an improved frame
fabricated of graphite fibers in an epoxy resin matrix formed
in a tubular configuration, the frame including: a handle at
one end; a head at the other end; beams therebetween coupling
the head and handle; and a yoke cohered to the lower ends of
the head to thereby form an ellipse with the two focal points
of the ellipse lying on the longitudinal axis of the frame,
the head having a major axis coextensive with the axis of the
frame and being of a first dimension when measured at the
widest point of the interior edge and having a minor axis
transverse with respect thereto measured at the widest point
of the interior edge of the frame, the minor axis to major
axis aspect ratio being about 0.9:1, the beams being formed
linearly and diverging from the central axis equally and
oppositely at about 30 degrees for supporting the frame, at
their upper ends, at regions widely spaced from the axis, the
- 24 -

area within the head being between about 95 and 105 square
inches.
9. A method of stringing a racket having a high
aspect ratio, the method including the steps of:
stringing a first common string in a serpentine
path through vertically displaced holes in the frame at a
first pull tension; and
thereafter, stringing a second common string in a
serpentine path through the horizontally displaced holes in
the frame and interleafed through the strings of the first
common string at a tension pull greater than the first
tension to thereby constitute primary and secondary string in
a grid pattern at an essentially common final tension without
distorting the frame.
10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the
tension of the second string is about 10 lbs. greater than
the first tension.
11. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein the
first string is strung vertically and the second string
strung horizontally.
12. The method as set forth in claim 11 wherein
the vertical strings are longer than the horizontal strings.
- 25 -

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


~ 3 ~ ~ ~
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HIGH ASPECT RATIO TENNIS RACRET HEAD AND METHOD OF STRINGING
BACl!tGROUND OF T~E INVENTION
Field of the Invention
I This invention relate~ ~o a high aspect ratio
., .~i tennis racket head and method of ~tringing and, more
particularly, to a tenni~ racket having an elliptical head ~:
- with about an 0.9 to 1 aspect ratio with linear be2m portions
coupling the head and handle and to a method of stringing
such racket to insure proper ten~ioning without deformation
of the racket frame.
Backqround of the Prior Art -
: In tennis, players u~e rackets to ~trike a
resilient ball acros~ a net. The racket is constructed of a
frame having a handle end gripped by the player, and having a
looped head portion with crossed strings, and having an
intermediate portion or beam~ coupling the handle and head. -
Rackets are normally symmetric about a central axis
along the length of the handle and through the head. Most
rackets have head~ which are oval or elliptical in shape with
itB longer dimension in the direction of the axis and with
it~ smaller dimension tran~verse thereto. The strings are
strung through the head at a predetermined tension ad~usted
to the style of play of the u~er.. Generally, the string~
define a sweet spot located at or sligh~ly below the
... . .
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, .
l geometric center of the head. The 6weet spot i8 that point
i where, when ~triking a ball, minimum vibrations are imparted
to the player and near maxlmum power i8 generated for
propelling the ball away from the strings. A particular
distance from the sweet spot in all directions i8 the power
zone where ignificant power is 8till imparted to a ~truck
ball even though not at the sweet ~pot it~elf. Ihe power
zone may al~o be defined as any point on the ~trings with a
0.35 or greater coefficient of restitution.
Head~ are elliptically designed with their
~ transver~e dimen~ion, mea~ured at their widest point, being
- about 75 percent of their longitudinal or axial dimension,
measured at their widest point. This i8 a 0.75 to 1.0
(0.75:1) aspect ratio. By having hi~her aspect ratio~
approaching 1:1 or even higher, there will be a movement of
` the sweet ~pot higher on the racket head away from the
i handle. Due to the shorter overall head length, the sweet
i~ ~pot i8 moved a greater distance from the handle. Thi~
incresses the mechanical advantage of the racket ~ince the
~weet spot is further from the handle and area of holding by
the player.
;~ Increa~e~ of the aspect ratio ha~e the positive
effect of abating twistinq of the racket about its axis in
the hand of the player when a ball i~ ~truck laterally off~et ?
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~- h ~ J ~
,
from th~ sweet spot and axis. However, most beam portions
coupling the head and handle are curved in a rever~e
direction, concave, with respect to the curvature of the
head, convex. Such a curved beam configuration generates
conta~t points on the head undesirably close to the
axis,weakening head support and reducing racket ~tability
while increasing the tendency of racket twisting during off-
axis hits. In sddition, any curvature of the beams
structurally weakens them from a mechanical ~tandpoint when
compared to 6traight beams. Curved beams, whether concave or
convex, deform more than straight beams. Further straight -~
beams couple with and ~upport the head at widely spaced
tangent point~ for greater head stability.
`A collateral problem encountered with attempt~ to
increase the aspect ratio of tennis racket heads i8 in the
stringing. Tennis racket~ are normally held in a vice and
~trung by a machine preset to apply a particular nominal
tension to the strings while interweaving them through hole6
; in the frame. The ma~or or vertical string~, parallel with
the axis, are normally strung from a first common string.
The minor or horizontal or cross string~, transverse to the
axis, are then ~trung from a ~econd common string at the same
!`~ tension. Becau~e of their ~hape approaching a circle, high
~ a3pect ratio rackets do not provide adequate frame strength
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2 f~ 3 ~ ~ ~
'
and/or predetermined string ten~ion when strung in the
conventional manner. AB a re~ult, it i8 not unconm~Smon to ~ee
high aspect ratio heads which are deformsed and/or play with -~
string tensions at variance from their intended tensions due
to unpredictable tensions and/or deformations of the frame
during stringing. ~he present invention provide~ a more even
response on the ball by the string~ ~n both axes.
The patent literature discloses various approache~
to high aspect ratio tenni~ racket frames. Note, for
exam~sple, U.S. Patent No. 4,732,384 to SeymSour wherein a 1:1
a~pect ratio is utilized thus resulting in a totally circular
frame. Such tennis racket feature~ a high 6weet spot with
respect to the handle but, unfortunately ~uffers from the
,
defect of difficulty to string accurately. Further, the beam
portions of the frame coupling the head and handle are in a
`~reverse curve thereby weakening the frame at this area. The
weakening is sufficient that it could deform during hitting
to create errant ~hots. Further, such reverse curve makes
":
the beam contact with the ad~acent portions of the head
excessively close to the axis thereby increa~ing the tendency
of the racket to twist about it~ axis or the player's hand
when striking the ball on the strings laterally off~et fro~
the sweet ~pot and axis. Lastly, such reverse curve makes
contact lower on the head further weakening the coupling.
- 4 ~
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United Kingdom Patent No. 427,206 to Naah disclose~
another circular racket having a 1:1 aspect ratio. It~ bea~ -~-
portions of the frame coupling the head and handle are
e~sentially linear. Such tennis racket wa~ designed in 1933
or earlier and was obviously constructed of wood and not of
the more advanced material~ in a cylindrical configuration a~
utilized today.
7 Another patent, U.S. Patent No. 3,801,099 to Lair,
illustrates an aspect ratio in a tenni~ racket head in exces~
of 1:1. In other words, its head width is greater than its
length measured along the axi~. Such a design increa~es the
mechanical advantage of the racket by raising the ~weet spot
i with respect to the handle. Such racket, however, even
further increa~es the problem of Rtringing and frame
~tability and, from a playing standpoint, i~ generally
' con~idered unwieldy.
A last patent of note is ~.S. Patent Number
;i 3,999,75 to Head. One of the ma~or disadvantages of the
over~ized racket~ a8 disclosed in this patent is the fact
that in order to realize control, the strings must be strung
,. ~
at extremely high tensions. This adds vibrations and
i detracts from gripping of the ball by the string~ during
hitting. This high string tension al~o adds to the danger of
racket breakage due to the increased amount of force being
f ~ :
' ~ .

applied to the racket during ~tringin~. The pre~ent
invention create~ a unique combination of characteristics not
all present in the current over-sized racket. Th~ present
racket has equal or greater stability due to the width of the
head and throat which $8 the distance of the beam from the
twist axis which i8 an imaginary line extending
longitudinally along the center of the racket and handle.
Additionally, the present racket differs from the typical
oversize racket in that the head is very ~hort instead of
very long to thereby combine the stability advantage of wide
head~ with the mechanical advantage of a short head. This i~
because the average player ~lway~ tries to hit the ball in
the center of the head. Therefore, the center of the head of
the present invention is a significant distance greater from
~: .
the player~ hand than in the prior art. Another distinct
advantage i~ that due to the shorter string lengths, the
present rackets are strung at`~ relatively lower string
tension providing final tensions which are even in the cross
and main strings.
The final prior art are those small headed rackets
which have been commercially sold for several years. Such
rackets have aspect ratios approaching 0.89sl but the area of
the strings in the head is less than 70 square inche~. Such
rackets used curved beams and have short ~trings. They do
~.~
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~J23i~3~
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not have the stability of racket~ with wider heads and their
` target area are unacceptably ~mall. Simply ~tated, they were
not very playable.
A~ illustrated by these patent~ and a great number
- of other patents as well as commercial rackets, effort~ ara
continuously being made in an attempt improve tennis rackets.
Such effort~ are made to render tenni~ racket~ of ever
increasing capabilities during play. None of these previou~
efforts, however, provide~ the benefits attendant with the
present invention. Additionally, the prior patents and
commercial device~ do not suggest the present inventive
combination of method steps and component elements arranged
~`
and configured as disclosed and claimed herein. The present ~-
f~`i invention achieves its intended purposes, ob~ects and - ;
advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of
method step~ and component elements, with the use of a
~` minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to
manufacture and by employing only readily available
; materials.
~` Therefore, it i8 an ob~ect of thi~ invention to
provide an improved tennis racket with a frame fabricated of
,,.~ ,
graphite fibers in an epoxy resin matrix f~rmed in a tubular
conf~guration, the frame includ~ng a handle at one end; a
.. .
~`~ head at `the other end; beams therebetween coupling the head
.~ ' -. '~ "'.
t~ _ 7 ~
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Z/,iJ~33~
and handle; and a yoke cohered to the lower ends of the head
to thereby ganerally form an ellipse, the head having a ma~or
axis coextensive with the axis of the frame and bein~ of a
first dimension when mea~ured at the wides~ point of the
interior edge of the frame and having a minor axis transverse
with respect thereto when measured at the widest point of the
interior edge of the frame, the minor axis to ma~Zor axis
aspect ratio being about 0.9:1, the beams being formed
linearly and diverging from the central axi~ equally and
oppositely at about 30 degree~ for supporting the head, at
their upper ends, at region~ widely spaced from the axis, the
area within the head being between about 95 and 105 square
~nches and to provide a frame for such tennis racket and to
provide a method of ~tringing such frame with the horizontal
strings at a higher pull tension than the vertical stringZ~.
It is a further ob~ect of this invention to
increase the aapect ratio of tennis rackets and thereby
create a higher sweet ~pot and power zona with respect to the
handle
It is a further ob~ect of this invention to
increase the mechanical advantage and stability of tennis
rackets.
It iB a further ob~ect of this invention to coupl~
.:.
;~ the head and handle of high aspect ratio tennis racket~ by
.;~
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:
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.~
essentially linear beam portions coupling with the head
tangentially at widely spaced points high on the head.
La~tly, it i8 an ob~ect of thi~ invention to string
high a~pect ratio tennis rackets at different pull tensions
- horizontally and vertically in order to attain resultant
similarity of final tensions ~n the cross and main string~ ~ -
..,
; and without deormation of the frame.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more
!
'` pertinent ob~ects of the invention. ~he~e ob~ects ~hould be
con~trued to be merely illu6trative of ~ome of the more
, prominent feature~ and applicat~ons of the intended
invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by
applying the di~clo~ed invention in a different manner or by
; modifying the invention within the ~cope of the disclosure.
,:,
Accordingly, other ob~ects and a fuller under3tanding of the
invention may be had by referring to the ~ummary of the
invention and the detailed description of the preferred
embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined
by the claims taken in con~unction with the accompanying
drawings.
S~RY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is defined by the attached claims
with the specific embodiments shown in the attached drawings.
For the purpo8e of summarizing the invention, the invention
, .
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~ ~J ~ 3 ~ ~ 4
may be incorporated into an impro~ed tenni~ racket comprising
! a tubular fram~ configured into a handle, a head,
intermediate beam~ therebetween and a yoke cohered to the
lower portion of the head to thereby generally form an
ellip~e, the head having a ma~or axis coextensive with the
axis of the racket of a first ~imen~ion and having a minor
axis trans~erse with re~pect thereto, the minor axis to ma~or
axis aspect ratio being about 0.9:1, the beam~ of the frame
being linear and diverging from the central axis equally and
oppositely for supporting the head at location~ widely spaced
from the axi~, the racket also including string~ ~trung
hor~zontally and vertically through the head to constitute
the striking surface of the racket.
' The beam~ extend at angles of about 30 degree~ from
`~ the axis. The frame is fabricated of graphite fibers in an ~--
epoxy resin. The strings form an area of between about 95
y and 105 sguare inches. The head is formed as an ellipse with
its two focal point lying on the axis of the frame and
racket. The racket further includes a grommet strip
extending around the external periphery of ths head through
which the strings pass in a serpentine path to con~titute the
striking surface of the racket. The racket further include~
a bumper guard on the upper external periphery of the head.
- 10 ,- ' '
. , ~

, V~393~
The invention may also be incorporated into an
. improved frame fabricated of graphite fibers in an epoxy
resin matrix formed in a tubular configuration, the frams
including a handle at one end; a head at the other end; beams
therebetween coupling the head and handle; and a yoke cohered
3 to the lower end~ of the head to thereby form an ellipse with
the two focal point~ of the ellip~e lying on the longitudinal
axis of the frame, the head havin~ a ma~or axi~ coexten3ive
with the axis of the frame and being of a first dimen~ion
when measured at the widest point of the interior edge of the
: frame and having a minor axis transverse with respect thereto
when measured at the widest point of the interior edge of the
frame, the minor axis to major axis aspect ratio being about
O.9sl, the beams being formed linearly and diverging from the
central axi~ equally and oppositely at about 30 degree3 for
.~ supporting the frame, at their upper ends, at regions widely
paced from the axis, the area within the head being about 95 ;~
and 105 square inches. ;~:
Lastly, the invention may be incorporated into an
` improvad method of ~tringing a racket having a high a~pect
ratio, the method including the ~teps of stringing a first
common ~tring in a serpentine path through vertically ~:
di~placed holes in the frama at a first pull tension; and, ;-.
thereafter strLnging a ~econd common ~tring in a ~erpent~ne
. ~,
~ .
-- 11 -- :
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~:s`~
3 ~ ~ 4
;
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:
path through the horizontally displaced holes in th~ frame
and interleafed through the ~trings of the first common
, ~tring at a pull tension greater than the first tension to
- thereby constitute primary and secondary string in a grid
j pattern at an essentially common final tension without
,~ distorting the frame. The tension of the Recond ~tring is
,
i`1
`7-i about 10 lbs. greater than the firs~ tension. The first
string is strung vertically and the second string i8 strung
~; horizontally. The vertical strings are longer than the
horizontal 6trings.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more
~ pertinent and important feature~ of the present invention in
', order that the detailed description of the invention that
b ~
~`i follows may be better understood 80 that the present
contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated.
Additional features of the invention will be described
~` hereinafter which form the sub~ect of the claims of the
invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the conception and the disclosed specific ambodiment
may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing
other structures for carrying out the same purpose~ of the
;
present invention. It should also be realized by thosQ
skilled in the art that ~uch equivalent conRtructions do not
. . .
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depart from the ~pirit and scope of the invent~on as ~et
forth in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and
ob~ects of the inventlon, reference should be had to the
following detailed de~cription taken in con~unction with the -
accompanying drawing~ in whichs
Figure 1 is a perspective illustration of a tennis
racket con~tructed in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
Figure 2 i~ a plan ~iew of the frame of the tennis
racket ~hown in Figure 1.
~ Similar reference characters refer to similar part~ -~
;` throughout the several figures.
DETAI~ED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With particular reference to the Figures, there i8
~hown in Figures 1, a perspective illustration of a tennis
racket lO constructed in accordance with the principles of
the present invention. The frame 12, by 1tself, is shown in
Figure 2, a plsn view.
The ma~or component of the tenni~ racket iB the
frsme 12. Th~ frsme is constructed of conventional materiRls
prefersbly graphite fiber impregnated with an epoxy resin a~
i~ commonly used in tenni~ rac}cets today. Other acceptable
:-.
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''

{~ ~ ~
:
materials include epoxy re~in with ceramic fiber, kevlar
fiber or fiberglass fiber as well a~ aluminum. It is of a
hollow tubular construction shaped in an oval configuration
at the head or head end 14 and with the tube in parallel,
~ide-by-side relationship at the handle end or handle 16.
Therebetween, the frame ha~ an intermediate portion or beams
lB coupling the head and the handle. A yoke 20 clo~e~ the
oval at itCi lower end. The yoke i~ initially formed
separately but coupled to the remainder of the frame during
the fabrication process to thereby become an essentially
integral component of the frame and racket. The beams and ~ -
yoke form an open throat. The ~oining of the yoke with the
head and the beam~ with the head i~ by cohe~ion, an
intermingling of common components including fiber~ of the
cohered material~. Adhered material~ such as wood components
~oined by glue are simply inadequate for the reguirements of
the pre~ent lnvention. ?
The other principle component of the racket i~ the
strings 24 and 26 which are ei6entially interwoven through
holes in the frame along parallel lines. Main or vertical
i stringi 24 extend parallel with the central axi~ 30 of the
frame and racket. Minor or cross horizontal ~tring~ are
strung in the head perpendicular to the central axis in an
axis 32 and are interwoven through the vertical strings.
.~
- 14 - ~
` ' ' '~' '.

Togather the stringR lie in a plane and constitute the
striking surface for hitting the ball during play. The
string~ extend through small hole~ or apertures 36 and 38
around the entire periphery of the head including the yoke
which can be considered as an integral extension of the lower
portion of the head. The main string~ are formed from a
common first string extending through vertically aligned
holes 36 while the minor strings are formed from a common
~econd string extending through horizontally aligned holes
-~8.
` Another principle component of the racket i~ the
handle 16. The handle is fa~ricated of a pallet or
underlisting on the frame which i~ then covered by ~pirally
wrapping leather or synthetic grip thereover. Neight~, as of
lead, may be added to the handle portion of the frame beneath
~; the pallet for balancing purposes.
The head end of the frame may be provided with a
grommet ~trip 42 and/or bumper strip 44. The ~rommet ~trip
42 is a moldable, hsrd, ~ynthetic material ~uch as nylon on
` the radial exterior of the head with barrel~ extending
through the head hole~ through wh~ch the strings pass. The
bumper ~trip 44 is also of a similar material and extend~
radlally exterior of the head at its upper extent. It
extend~ axially a greater di~tance than the grommet strip to
,;
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~ ~3~3~
pre,clude scraping the frame. Such components are
conventional in the tennia art.
A~ can be seen in the Figures, the inner periphery
of the head is of an elliptical shape. The two focal points
48 and 50 of the ellip3e are located on the main axis 30 of
the frame within the head. The ma~or dimen~ion of the racket
along the axi~ 30 i~ greater than the minor dim~,en~ion axis 32
which i~c~ perpendicular with respect to the ma~or dimen~Zion
and axi~. Note the X and Y arrows of Figures 2. When
measured at their w~dest points, the ratio of the minor axis
to the ma~or axis is 0.9:1 plus or minu~ 5 percent. Thia~
relationship constitutea~ the aspect ratio of the head and
racket. An aspect ratio iB defined as the ratio of one
dimension to another. In the instant application the aspect
ratio of the head aa referred to herein is the ratio of the
width of the head measured at its wide~t point to the length
of the head measured at its widest po$nt. In one preferred
embodiment, the minor axis i~ 10.44 inches and the ma~or axi~
~'8 11.60 inches measured at the interior edges of the frame.
The overall length of the racket i~ 27 inche~. This
represents a O.9sl aspect ratio with a 95 ~quare inch face ~;
within the head. In another preferred embodiment, the minor
axi~ iB 10.98 inche~ and the ma~or axis i~ 12.20 inche~
meaRured at the interior edge~ of thZ'- fram~,e. Z~''he ov,erall
- 16 -
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.,
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~ length of the racket iB 27 inches. This repxesents a O.9sl
; aspect ratio with 105.1 ~suare inch face within the head. A
tring area of betw~en about 90 quare inche~ plu8 or minu~ 5
i
percent i~ preferred, i.e., 95 to 105 ~quare inches.
The ma~ority of tenni~ racket~ in use today have an
, aspect ratio of about 0.75sl. By keeping the overall length
of the tennis racket of the present invention e~3entially the
same a~ that of the conventional racket, the ~weet spot of
the racket, a~ well a~ the peripherally ad~acent power zone
.
arGund the sweet spot, is located upwardly with re~pect to
the handle.
~ he ~weet ~pot 54 i6 that particular point on th~
strings of a racket where, when ~triking the ball, the
vibration imparted to the racket and hand of the player are
at a minimum. The sweet spot i~ at or slightly below the
geometric center of the head. At the ~weet ~pot the power
transferred by the string~ to struck ball approach the
greatest. This iB the preferred place for the player to
~trike the ball with the racket. Peripherally therearound i8
the power zone where vibration~ are al~o minimal and power
approaches the power of the ~weet ~pot. The more remote from
: .
the sweet spot, the more vibration~ ar~ generated and the
less power i~ tran~ferred from the ~trings to the ball.
:
; - 17 -
,

J2~34
A
If one would con~ider the sweet spot as the
striking surface of a hammer, it can be readily under~tood
that the present racket, in effec~, increase5 the length
between the handle and the striking surface. This increa~e~
the mechanical advantage of the racket of the present
invention over prior art rackets gi~en the same head size.
And, since the power zone is also rendered higher on the
axi~, the racket provides a greater mechanical advantage for
~tronger shot making by the player.
Another feature of the present invention is in the
intermediate portion or beam~ of the frame coupling the head
and the handle. The beam~ are linear in oonstruction over
the ma~ority of their lengths and are each angled at about 30
degrees from the central axi~. All known racket~ of modern
tubular design, 6uch as those fabricated of graphite as in
.~
the preferred embodiment, have beams coupling the head to the
handle which are curved concave, oppo~itely from the convex
,. . .
` beam curvature. The present invention, however, ha~ straight
; or linear segment~ of frame along their entire extent of the
beam~ 18 except at the point~ of merging the handle.
The straight line design of thi~ portion of the
frame adds ~tability to the frame and racket when a ball iB
~truck on the string3 offset from the axi~. The further the ;~
ball strike~ the string~ from the axi~ the greater will be
,
- 18 -

3 J34
,
the force tending to twi~t the frame about its axis and the
racket ~n the hand of the player. Such force~ tending to
twist the racket create an adverse torque force,
unintentionally twisting the plane of the string3. This
tend~ to propel the ball from the ~trings in uther than its
intended line of motion resulting in bad shots. By
strengthening the intermediate portion of the frame, such
torquing is abated and truer shots will be hit. This benefit
comes from the qtrength of the ~traight line design of the
beam~ a~ opposed to the prior art curved design.
The straight line design of the beam~ 18, at the
angle~ utilized in the present invention, adds a further
benefit. Specifically, the beam portions of the frame make
contact tangentially with the head for coupling at a distance
further removed from the axis than in prior art designs.
This design feature adds further stability against torquing
forces since the stabilizing forces of the frame coupling the
head are further separated. This is akin to attempting to ~ ~-
~top rotation of a body by holding it at two point~ close to
the point of rotation. By holding the rotating body further
from the axis of rotation, the rotation inhibiting moment
,........ -
forces are increa~ed tending to more efficiently abate ~ ~-
rotation. The beam to head contact i~ also higher on the
- 19 - . '
.'` ' ~ ;;'

~a~3~)~4
head further increasing stability and the strength of the
coupling.
The last significant feature of the present
invention is in the ~tringing of the racket. In the
conventional racket, which i8 more elongated along the axis
- 30 as compared to the present racket, the main or vertical
strings 24 ara strung first and unre~tricted. The cross or
horizontal strings 26, however, being 6trung second are
restricted by the friction of the main strings.
Consequently, when the racket is fully strung, the vertical
i strings are usually about 10 lbs~ greater in tension than the
horizontal strings. The rea~on for this is the friction of
the vertical ~tring~ inhibits the horizontal strings to
i decrease their tension and also act to deform the vertical
strings to increase their tension. Secondly, the vertical
strings are displaced slightly by the interweaving horizontal
stringq 80 the vertical strings will pick up a slight amount
;~ .
of additional ~ension. The displacement of the strings is ~;
perpendicular to the plane of the strings. For example, when
a racket i8 completely strung, with the stringing machine set
at about 60 lbs. nominally it will have a finished string
tension of strings about 50 lb~. in the vertical strings.
The horizontal string~ will have a tension of about 40 lbs.
- 20 -
-
'. ~ , :

Conventional racket~ have greater frame strength at
their upper and lower ends where they are formed with smaller
radii of curvature than the side~ at 3 o~clock and 9 o'clock.
The string tensions are matched to accommodate thi~ feature
of ~tructural difference with greater ~tring tension
vertically than horizontally. It can thu~ be ~een that
variations from the standard in either frame design 6hould be
compensated for by a correlated variation in ~tring tension.
Such was not understood by ~he prior art designers of tennis
racket frames.
. .
This example i~ exaggerated when one deviates from
the standard type elliptical head in favor of the present
0.9:1 aspect ratio or greater. Elliptical rackets of the
past were designed to overcome the inherent problems of
:' :
variation of string rate because they were designed to have
an aspect ratio of 0.75:1. When aspect ratio is increased to
about 0.9 or greater, the vertical 6tring~ and the cross
string~ mu~t be very close to equal in final ~tring ten~ionR.
The reason for this i8 because the arcs at 3 and 9 o'clock on
ths frame are almost identical to the arc~ at 12 and 6
o'clock. Therefore, the load bearing capability of all
strings have to be equal. In order to make the load bearing
capabilities equal, one must string the vertical ~tring3 at
lO lb~. lower in pull tension than the horizontal ~trin~s.
- 21 -
.

Then the final finished string tension will be es~entially
equal in all directions. Such ~tring tensioning provide~ the
benefit of equal forceis being applied to the ball. Because
;i of strings of equal length, the main ~trings are reduced in
length which result~ in reduced trampolining during a shot, a
further benefit. Trampolining i~ too much elastic reaction
during a i6hot due to long 6trings. The present invention
pro~ides isuperior reisulti~ with less trampolining Strings of
equal length and tension horizontally and vertically abate
trampolining due to the two above described factors. Such
equal stringis provide greater control of the depth of the
shot when compared wi~h larger area racket heads or high
aspect ratio heads ~trung conventionally.
~; The pre~ent disclosure includes that contsined in
i the appended claimis as well as that of the foregoing
"
description. Although this invention has been deqcribed in
its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity,
~i it i8 understood that the present disclosure of the preferred
form has been made only by way of example and numerous
., -
changes in the details of construction and combination and
- arrangement of part~ may be resorted to without departing
from the spirit and ~cope of the invention.
Now that the invention has been described,
"
.
- 22 -
,~ ' ,: ~

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

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Event History

Description Date
Inactive: IPC deactivated 2017-09-16
Inactive: IPC deactivated 2017-09-16
Inactive: IPC assigned 2016-07-21
Inactive: IPC assigned 2016-07-21
Inactive: First IPC assigned 2016-07-21
Inactive: IPC assigned 2016-07-21
Inactive: IPC expired 2015-01-01
Inactive: IPC expired 2015-01-01
Application Not Reinstated by Deadline 1993-02-24
Time Limit for Reversal Expired 1993-02-24
Inactive: Adhoc Request Documented 1992-08-24
Deemed Abandoned - Failure to Respond to Maintenance Fee Notice 1992-08-24
Application Published (Open to Public Inspection) 1991-05-01

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
1992-08-24
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC.
Past Owners on Record
RICHARD JANES
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
Documents

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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Cover Page 1991-05-01 1 45
Claims 1991-05-01 3 129
Drawings 1991-05-01 1 38
Abstract 1991-05-01 1 45
Descriptions 1991-05-01 22 1,024
Representative drawing 1999-07-14 1 15