Patent Application
20080274842
This is a Sports Racket with innovative uniform elongated spring bed, uniform main stings and cross strings segments, uniform elongated sweet spot, uniform head structure, innovative robust yoke design, and handle.
Sport racquets, such as tennis, racquetball, squash and badminton racquets, are well known and typically include a frame having a head portion coupled to a handle portion. The head portion supports a string bed having a plurality of main string segments interwoven with a plurality of cross string segments. Many racquets also include a throat portion positioned between and connecting the handle portion to the head portion. The typical string bed of a sports racquet includes a central region, that provides the most responsiveness, the greatest power and the best “feel” to the player, upon impact with a ball, and a peripheral region. The central region, (the middle third of the racket) commonly referred to as the “sweet spot,” is typically defined as the area of the string bed that produces higher power and control values. A higher power and control value generally directly corresponds to greater power and greater responsiveness.
The peripheral region is the region between the sweet spot and the hoop of the head portion of the racquet. The peripheral region provides increasingly reduced levels of responsiveness, power and feels to the player, the further away the location of impact occurs from the sweet spot. As a result, a typical racquet provides a wide variety of responsiveness and power depending upon the location of the impact. In many racquets, a miss-hit, occurring just a small distance away from the sweet spot, can produce an undesired response from the racquet. The significant variability in a string bed's power and responsiveness between the sweet spot and locations about the peripheral region can result in inconsistent play, if the player's racket does not consistently impact the ball at the sweet spot. The variability of the string bed response can also reduce the margin of error afforded to the player upon impact with a ball, which can contribute to unforced errors.
Some existing racquets incorporate a larger sized hoop portion supporting a larger sized string bed (i.e., a larger head size) in an effort to increase the size of the string bed and the sweet spot. However, as the head size of a racquet increases so does the polar moment of inertia of the racquet. A racquet with a higher polar moment of inertia can be more difficult to maneuver, particularly at the net or upon return of serve, than a racquet with a lower moment of inertia. Additionally, some users find a large head racquets to be more difficult to swing than racquets with normal sized heads.
Other existing racquets extend the length of the central most main string segments in order to increase the size of the racquet's sweet spot. However, the central main string segments of a typical string bed are generally already of sufficient length to provide the desired response at the central most portions of the string. Further increasing the length of the already elongated central main string segments can produce too much variability in the string bed performance and potentially lead to a string bed with undesirable variability in response and performance.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a racquet having a string bed with an enlarged sweet spot, which does not negatively affect the overall performance of the racquet. It would be advantageous to produce a racquet with a string bed that provides a high level of response and power over a larger area, without producing excessive or undesirable variability in response or performance across the string bed. A racquet is needed, that can increase performance at the peripheral regions of the string bed and generally enlarge the sweet spot of the racquet. It would be advantageous to provide a racquet with an enlarged sweet spot without increasing the polar moment of inertia of the racquet head and without negatively affecting the maneuverability of the racquet. There is also a need for a racquet having a string bed with an enlarged sweet spot that is not a radical departure in look and design from traditional sport racquet designs.
There also exists a continuing need for innovative approaches to efficiently and reliably secure elongated racquet string(s) to a racquet. In particular, it would be advantageous to provide a racquet that-allows elongated main string segments to be coupled or engaged to the yoke or handle of the racquet without producing unnecessary stress risers in the racquet frame. It would be desirable to produce a lightweight durable article for facilitating the passage of racquet string through the racquet frame, and a method of making such an article, that can be incorporated into a composite racquet in a reliable and cost efficient manner. It would be advantageous if such a method were applicable to other composite sporting goods such as, for example, ball bats and golf shafts.
The present invention provides a sports racquet including a frame, a yoke and a string bed, a racquet with uniform elongated spring bed, uniform main stings and cross strings segments, uniform elongated sweet spot, uniform head structure, innovative/robust yoke design, and handle. The frame includes a head portion, a handle portion, and a yoke portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head portion includes an upper region, and first and second side regions. The yoke is coupled to, and extending between, the first and second side regions. 'she head portion and the yoke define a string bed area. The string bed is formed of a plurality of cross string segments and a plurality of main string segments. The main string segments include at least one central main string segment and at least two peripheral main string segments. Each central main string segment has first and second ends wherein the first end engages the upper region of the head portion and the second end engages the yoke without engaging the handle portion. Each of the peripheral main string segments extends, across the string bed area, and through the yoke portion. Each peripheral main string segment is coupled at a distal end to the upper region of the head portion and at a proximal end to at least one of the yoke portion.
According to a principal aspect of the invention, a sports racquet configured to support a string bed formed by a plurality of transversely extending cross string segments and a plurality of longitudinally extending central main string segments and a plurality of longitudinally extending peripheral main string segments, wherein each of the central and peripheral main string segments have a distal end and a proximal end includes a frame, a yoke and at least two peripheral main string. The frame includes a head portion, a handle portion, and a yoke portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head portion includes an upper region, and first and second side regions. The yoke is coupled to and extends between, the first and second side regions. The head portion and the yoke define a string bed area. The yoke include a central section and first and second side sections. The central section is configured for engaging the proximal end of at least one central main string segment and the first and second side sections is configured to allow at least one peripheral main string segment to extend through the yoke.
According to another principal aspect of the invention, a sports racquet includes a frame and a string bed. The frame includes a head portion, a handle portion, and a yoke portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The string bed is coupled to the frame and is formed of a plurality of cross and main string segments. She main string segments include at least one central main string segments and at least two peripheral main string segments, wherein the string bed area, the length of each of the peripheral main string segments is shorter than the length of each of the central main string segments.
According to another principal aspect of the invention, a sports racquet includes a frame a yoke, at least two central main string segments, and at least two peripheral main string segments. The frame extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a head portion, a handle portion, and a yoke portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head portion includes first and second side regions. The yoke is coupled to, and extends between, the first and second side regions. The central main string segments include at least one central-most main string segment having a first length. The central-most main string segment is positioned at, or adjacent to, the longitudinal axis, the second length being at least (99.67) percent of the first length, the third length being at least (99.35) percent of the first length, the fourth length being at least (97.06) percent of the first length, the fifth length being at least (94.72) percent of the first length, the sixth length being at least (91.60) percent of the first length, the seventh length being at least (87.63) percent of the first length, the eighth length being at least (82.66) percent of the first length, the ninth length being at least (76.49) percent of the first length. The peripheral main string segments include at least one outermost peripheral main string segment. The outermost peripheral main string segment has a second length. The outermost peripheral main string segment is spaced apart from the latitudinal axis and is positioned perpendicular to one of the first and second side regions of the head portion, the second length being at least (100) percent of the first length, the third length being at least (100) percent of the first length, the fourth length being at least (99.62) percent of the first length, the fifth length being at least (99.24) percent of the first length, the sixth length being at least (96.52) percent of the first length, the seventh length being at least (93.76) percent of the first length, the eighth length being at least (90.07) percent of the first length, the ninth length being at least (85.38) percent of the first length, the tenth length being at least (79.51) percent of the first length, the eleventh length being at least (72.22) percent of the first length.
According to another principal aspect of the invention, a method of producing a sporting goods article includes obtaining a structural element formed of a thermoplastic material, the thermoplastic material having a melting point greater than 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
This invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings described herein below, and wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts.
The present invention relates generally to a sports racquet. In particular, the present invention relates to a racquet including innovative uniform elongated string bed, with uniform elongated peripheral and main string segments providing a uniform elongated and enlarged sweet spot, uniform head structure, innovative robust yoke design, and handle.
Referring to
In a preferred embodiment, the first and second side regions 17 and 18 downwardly extend from the head portion 15. The converged first aid second side regions 17 and 18 then further downwardly extend to form the lower uniform radius 26, the open chambers 27, channels of holes and airways 28, and the handle portion 116. The handle portion 16 includes a grip (not shown). In alternative preferred embodiments, the handle portion 16 can be a tubular structure that is formed separately from either the yoke portion or the head portion of the frame and is attached to the first and second side region through use of conventional fasteners, adhesives or combinations thereof.
In another preferred embodiment, the head portion 15 is directly connected to both of the side regions and the yoke 13 using conventional fastener, adhesives, mechanical bonding, thermal bonding, or other combinations thereof. Alternatively, the head portion 15 can be separated from one or both of the side regions and the yoke by a vibration and shock absorbing material, such as an elastomer. In yet another alternative preferred embodiment, the head portion 15 is integrally formed with one or both of the side regions 17 and 18 and the yoke 13.
The string bed 12 is formed by a plurality of main string segments interwoven with a plurality of cross string segments 19. The main and cross string segments can be formed from one continuous piece of racquet string, or from two or more pieces of racquet string. The cross string segments 19 and most of the main string segments are engaged with the head portion 15 of the frame, preferably by extending through string holes (not shown) within the head portion 15. Alternatively, the string segments can be wrapped around or otherwise secured to the head portion through fasteners or other conventional means.
The cross string segments 19 generally transversely extend from the first side region 17 across the string bed area 12 to the second side region 18.
The main string segments extend from the upper region 11 and the upper ends of the first and second side regions 17 and 18 of the head portion 15 generally downward across the string bed area 12 toward the yoke 13. The main string segments include at least one central main string segment(s) 14 and a plurality of peripheral main string segments 19. The central main string segments 14 are positioned at or near the centrally positioned longitudinal axis 14 of the racquet 10. The number of central main string segments 14 in a racquet 10 of the present invention can vary from one to a value equivalent to two less than the total number of main string segments. In a particularly preferred embodiment (
The yoke 13 is an elongate tubular structural member, which extends from the first side region 17 to the second side region 18 of the head portion 15. In one preferred embodiment, the yoke 13 is integrally formed with the frame 11. In alternative preferred embodiments, the yoke 13 can be connected through use of adhesives, fasteners, bonding and combinations thereof In another embodiment, the yoke 13 can be separated from the frame 11 by vibration absorbing material, such as, for example, an elastomer. The yoke 13 is formed of a light eight, durable material preferably a carbon-fiber composite material. Alternatively, the yoke 13 can be formed of other materials, such as, for example, metallic alloys, other composite materials, and combinations thereof The yoke 13 provides structural support to the frame 11, as well as a means for defining the lower portion of the string bed area 12 and a support for engaging, routing or directing the main string segments.
The above specifications are detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention and was set forth for the purpose of illustration. It will be understood that many of the details herein given can be varied considerably, by those skilled in the arts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
