RACKET WITH VIBRATION DAMPENER

Abstract

A racket includes a frame and strings carried within the frame. A vibration dampening member is carried by the frame and can be positioned in a groove in the outer periphery of the frame. A vibration dampening member can also be positioned in a neck attached to the frame and carried by a handle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a racket such as that used in tennis. More particularly, this invention relates to such a racket which is provided with a dampening member to reduce the vibration caused by striking a ball with the racket.

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional racket as used to play tennis or the like includes a frame carried by a handle, the frame carrying taut strings for striking a ball. When a ball is struck with the racket, the vibration of the strings is transmitted to the frame and the handle causing an undesirable and stressful force on the user of the racket.

In an attempt to solve this problem, a small vibration damper has been placed between two adjacent vertical strings and two adjacent horizontal strings. However, because the damper is only in contact with two vertical and two horizontal strings, vibrations are not efficiently minimized. Moreover, such can be detrimental to the playing of the game should the ball strike the damper.

Thus, the need exists for a racket which will successfully dampen vibrations caused by the strings hitting a ball without being detrimental to the game being played.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide a racket for playing tennis or the like which dampens vibrations caused by the strings of the racket hitting a ball.

It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide a racket, as above, which is provided with a dampening member in contact with the frame of the racket.

It is an object of an additional aspect of the present invention to provide a racket, as above, in which the dampener is in contact with substantially the entire surface of the frame.

It is an object of yet another aspect of the present invention to provide a racket, as above, in which the dampener, in addition to dampening vibrations, can protect the frame from damage.

These and other objects of the present invention, as well as the advantages thereof over existing prior art forms, which will become apparent from the description to follow, are accomplished by the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.

In general, a racket for playing tennis or the like includes a frame with strings being carried within the frame. A vibration dampening member is positioned in contact with the frame.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the racket includes a frame with strings being carried within the frame. The frame has a peripheral groove, and a vibration dampening member is positioned in the groove.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the racket includes a frame with strings being attached to the inner periphery of the frame. A vibration dampening member is carried by substantially the entire outer periphery of the frame.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the racket includes a frame with strings being carried within the frame. A neck is positioned between the frame and a handle, and a vibration dampening member is positioned in the neck.

Preferred exemplary rackets according to the concepts of the present invention are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings without attempting to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied, the invention being measured by the appended claims and not by the details of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a racket made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmented side elevational view of the frame of the racket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dampening member that can be utilized in the racket of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a racket made in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a racket made in accordance with yet another aspect of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A tennis racket made in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10 in FIG. 1. Racket 10 includes a generally oval frame 11, a handle 12, and a V-shaped neck 13 between handle 12 and frame 11. An opening 14 is formed between neck 13 and the bottom of frame 11. A plurality of strings 15 are conventionally mounted within frame 11.

Frame 11 is provided with a peripheral groove 16 which receives a vibration dampening member 17. Dampening member 17 can be a visco-elastic polymer such as rubber, neoprene, silicone and the like, all of which having a high vibration dampening coefficient. An ideal material for dampening member 17 is a thermoset, polyester-based, polyurethane material sold by Sorbothane, Inc. under the trademark SORBOTHANE®.

If desired, dampening member 17 can extend out of groove 16 to protect racket 10 should an edge of frame 11 hit the ground or another object. In this situation, the outer peripheral surface of member 17 can be rounded or dimpled so as to improve the air flow around the racket as it is being used. As another alternative, if the user of the racket 10 would desire to alter the weight distribution of the racket, small weights could be embedded in the dampening member 17 at selected locations. Finally, an additional dampening affect can be optionally provided by filling opening 14 with a vibration dampening material.

One configuration of dampening member 17 is shown in FIG. 4. A generally oval loop 18 is formed and is of a size somewhat less than the peripheral size of frame 11. A somewhat oval ring 19 is formed at the bottom of loop 18. A dampening member 17 is installed on frame 11 by threading handle 12 and neck 13 through ring 19 and stretching loop 18 so that it can be snugly received in groove 16 when it is relaxed.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. There, the racket is generally indicated by the numeral 20 and includes a frame 21, a handle 22, and a V-shaped neck 23 forming an opening 24. A plurality of strings 25 are conventionally mounted within frame 21.

In this embodiment a vibration dampening member 26 is attached, as by glue or the like, to the outer periphery of frame 21. Dampening member 26 may be made of the same material as dampening member 17 and cannot only dampen the vibrations when strings 25 contact a ball, but also can protect racket 20 should the edge of frame 21 hit the ground or another object. In this embodiment, the alternative features described with respect to racket 10 could also be provided. That is, the dampening member 26 may be provided with a rounded peripheral edge for aerodynamic efficiency and also could receive weights to provide a desired racket weight distribution.

It is also contemplated that the dampening member 26 of racket 20 could be mounted inside of frame 21. Such would provide strings 25 with direct contact with the dampening member 26 for vibration control.

FIG. 6 depicts yet another embodiment of a racket made in accordance with the present invention which is generally indicated by the numeral 30. Like the other embodiments, racket 30 includes a frame 31, a handle 32, and a V-shaped neck 33. A plurality of strings 34 are conventionally mounted within the frame 31.

In this embodiment, a vibration dampening member 35 is positioned within the opening in neck 33 and attached thereto by glue or the like. Dampening member 35 may be made of the same material as dampening members 17 and 26. Racket 30 would be particularly useful where extreme vibrations, which could be dampened by rackets 10 and 20, are not expected or do not need to be accommodated.

In view of the foregoing, it should be evident that a racket made in accordance with any of the embodiments described herein accomplishes the objects of the present invention and otherwise significantly improves the art.

Claims

1. A racket for playing tennis or the like comprising a frame, strings carried within said frame, and a vibration dampening member in contact with said frame.

2. The racket of claim 1 wherein said frame has a peripheral outer groove and said dampening member is received in said groove.

3. The racket of claim 2 wherein said dampening member extends outwardly from said groove.

4. The racket of claim 1 further comprising weights positioned in said dampening member.

5. The racket of claim 1 wherein said dampening member is made of a visco-elastic polymer.

6. The racket of claim 1 wherein said dampening member is positioned inside of said frame and in contact with said strings.

7. The racket of claim 1 wherein said dampening member is the form of a loop having a ring attached to said loop.

8. The racket of claim 1 further comprising a handle carrying said frame, and a neck between said handle and said frame, said dampening member being positioned in said neck.

9. A racket for playing tennis or the like comprising a frame, strings carried within said frame, said frame having a peripheral groove, and a vibration dampening member positioned in said groove.

10. The racket of claim 9 wherein said dampening member extends outwardly from said groove.

11. The racket of claim 9 further comprising weights positioned in said dampening member.

12. The racket of claim 9 wherein said dampening member is made of a visco-elastic polymer.

13. A racket for playing tennis or the like comprising a frame, strings attached to the inner periphery of said frame, and a vibration dampening member carried by substantially the entire outer periphery of said frame.

14. The racket of claim 13 further comprising weights positioned in said dampening member.

15. The racket of claim 13 wherein said dampening member is made of a visco-elastic polymer.

16. The racket of claim 13 further comprising a handle carrying said frame, and a neck between said handle and said frame, said dampening member being positioned in said neck.

17. A racket for playing tennis or the like comprising a frame, strings carried within said frame, a handle, a neck between said handle and said frame, and a vibration dampening member positioned in said neck.