Claims
- 1. A game racquet comprising:a one-piece head portion including a hoop and a throat portion, the throat portion integrally connected to and outwardly extending from the hoop; a handle portion formed separately from the head portion, the head and handle portions formed of substantially the same material; and shock and/or vibration absorbing material positioned between the head portion and the handle portion, the head portion and the handle portion being secured to the absorbing material, the absorbing material being positioned between the throat portion and the handle portion and also positioned between the hoop and the handle portion.
- 2. The racquet of claim 1, wherein the absorbing material is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butyl rubber, urethane, and combinations thereof.
- 3. The racquet of claim 1, wherein the head and handle portions are each formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic, a thermoset material and combinations thereof.
- 4. The racquet of claim 1, wherein the head and handle portions are each formed of a graphite and resin composite.
- 5. The racquet of claim 1, wherein the hoop and the handle portion are secured to the absorbing material by adhesive.
- 6. The racquet of claim 1, wherein the throat portion is V-shaped.
- 7. The racquet of claim 1, wherein each of the head portion and the handle portion directly contact the absorbing material.
- 8. A game racquet having a string bed including main and cross strings, the racquet comprising:a head portion including a hoop having an outer periphery; a handle portion formed separately from the head portion; and shock and/or vibration absorbing material disposed between and directly connecting the head portion and the handle portion at at least one location about the outer periphery of the hoop, the at least one location generally extending at a position toward the handle portion and beneath the lowest cross string when viewed with the racquet positioned vertically and the head portion generally positioned above the handle portion.
- 9. The racquet of claim 8, wherein the head portion includes a throat portion outwardly extending from the outer periphery of the hoop.
- 10. The racquet of claim 8, wherein the at least one location includes two or more spaced apart locations about the outer periphery of the hoop.
- 11. The racquet of claim 9, wherein the absorbing material is also disposed between the throat portion and the handle portion.
- 12. The racquet of claim 8, wherein the hoop and the handle portion are secured to the absorbing material by adhesive.
- 13. The racquet of claim 8, wherein the absorbing material is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butyl rubber, urethane, and combinations thereof.
- 14. A game racquet comprising:a head portion including a hoop having a top portion, first and second side portions and a bottom portion, the first side portion having a first top segment, a first middle segment and a first bottom segment, the second side portion having a second top segment, a second middle segment and a second bottom segment; a handle portion formed separately from the head portion; and shock and/or vibration absorbing material disposed between the head portion and the handle portion at only the bottom portion, the first bottom segment and the second bottom segment.
- 15. The racquet of claim 14, wherein the head portion includes a throat portion outwardly extending from the outer periphery of the hoop.
- 16. The racquet of claim 15, wherein the absorbing material is also disposed between the throat portion and the handle portion.
- 17. The racquet of claim 14, wherein the hoop and the handle portion are secured to the absorbing material.
- 18. The racquet of claim 14, wherein the hoop and the handle portion are secured to the absorbing material by adhesive.
- 19. The racquet of claim 14, wherein the absorbing material is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butyl rubber, urethane, and combinations thereof.
- 20. A game racquet having a string bed including main and cross strings, the racquet comprising:a head portion including a hoop having an outer periphery; a handle portion formed separately from the head portion; and shock and/or vibration absorbing material disposed between the head portion and the handle portion at two or more spaced apart locations about the outer periphery of the hoop, the at least two locations generally located toward the handle portion and beneath the lowest cross string, when viewed with the racquet positioned vertically and the head portion generally positioned above the handle portion.
- 21. The racquet of claim 20, wherein the head portion includes a throat portion outwardly extending from the outer periphery of the hoop.
- 22. The racquet of claim 20, wherein the absorbing material is also disposed between the throat portion and the handle portion.
- 23. The racquet of claim 20, wherein the absorbing material is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butyl rubber, urethane, and combinations thereof.
- 24. A game racquet comprising:a head portion including a hoop having a top portion, first and second side portions and a bottom portion, the first side portion having a first top segment, a first middle segment and a first bottom segment, the second side portion having a second top segment, a second middle segment and a second bottom segment; a handle portion formed separately from the head portion; and shock and/or vibration absorbing material disposed between the head portion and the handle portion at at least one location on at least one of the bottom portion, the first bottom segment and the second bottom segment, the first and second top segments and the first and second middle segments being free of contact with the shock and/or vibration absorbing material.
- 25. The racquet of claim 24, wherein the absorbing material is disposed between the head and handle portions at the first and second bottom segments.
- 26. The racquet of claim 24, wherein the absorbing material is disposed between the head and handle portions at the bottom portion and at the first and second bottom segments.
- 27. The racquet of claim 24, wherein the head portion includes a throat portion outwardly extending from the outer periphery of the hoop.
- 28. The racquet of claim 24, wherein the absorbing material is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, butyl rubber, urethane, and combinations thereof.
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/849,965, entitled “Game Racquet With Separate Head And Handle Portions For Reducing Vibration,” filed on May 4, 2001 by Severa et al now U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,080.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3521621 |
Jan 1986 |
DE |
2590802 |
Jun 1987 |
FR |
2230458 |
Oct 1990 |
GB |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/849965 |
May 2001 |
US |
Child |
10/277672 |
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US |