Patent Application
20120190487
The present invention relates generally to a sports racquet. In particular, the present invention relates to sports racquet configured for impacting a ball and for facilitating the opening of a cap on a bottle.
Sport racquets or paddles, such as platform tennis racquets, paddle tennis racquets, padel tennis racquets, tennis racquets, table tennis paddles, badminton racquets, racquetball racquets and squash racquets, are well known and enjoyed by users in many recreational activities. Platform tennis is an American racquet sport invented in 1928 in New York, and enjoyed by thousands of people of all ages. It is the only racquet sport that is frequently enjoyed outdoors in cold weather. This unique appeal attracts people who desire fresh air, competition, and social engagement. The game is typically played on an elevated aluminum deck on a court that is smaller than a tennis court. The deck or base of the court is usually enclosed allowing for a heating system to be positioned beneath the deck. The court is surrounded by a 12 foot high, taut wire fencing which allows play off the walls, as in racquetball and squash.
Paddle tennis, which also originated in New York, has existed for over a hundred years. Paddle tennis is a game derived from tennis and played on court that is smaller than a conventional tennis court. Paddle tennis courts are constructed in a manner similar to tennis courts, and can also exist on hard beach sand. Unlike platform tennis, paddle tennis does not require fencing positioned about the court. Paddle tennis is played with a depressurized tennis ball and an underhand serve. The smaller court size adds a strong emphasis and advantage to net play and creates a fast and reaction-based game.
Padel tennis (or just pádel) is a racquet sport similar to paddle tennis. It was invented in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969 and played extensively in Spain and Latin America. The court is about half the size of a tennis court and includes walls, which like platform tennis are in play.
Sports racquets for platform tennis, paddle tennis and padel tennis are constructed with a rigid rounded planar head portion connected to a handle portion. The head portion is unstrung and typically includes aerodynamic holes extending therethrough. Other sports racquets, such as tennis racquets, badminton racquets, racquetball racquets and squash racquets generally include a head portion that forms closed curved structure supporting a matrix of string segments (also referred to as a string bed). A handle portion is typically coupled to the head portion.
Many racquet sports are engaged in as part of a social gathering. Such social gatherings provide participants the opportunity to play the racquet sport and to enjoy the company of the other participants. During such social sports activities, it is common for the participants to take breaks, or to rotate in and out of play, to partake in and to enjoy beverages and other refreshments with other participants. During the colder months, platform tennis players will frequent warming huts or break areas to allow players to warm themselves and also to enjoy beverages and other refreshments.
During such events, it is common for players to enjoy bottled beverages. Many bottled beverages are secured with metal bottle caps that are pleated or ruffled around the upper rim of the bottle. Such bottles typically require a bottle opener or other tool to remove the cap from the bottle. Bottle opening tools are small devices that are easily misplaced, lost or forgotten. Accordingly, on many occasions, players engaging in social racquet sporting events can find themselves without a tool for removing caps from the bottles of beverages. Accordingly, a need exists for a convenient way to ensure that players at social racquet sporting events do not find themselves without a device or tool for removing the caps from beverage bottles. It would be advantageous to provide a mechanism for ensuring that a social sporting event can be held with refreshments without having to remember to bring, carry or obtain a tool for removing a cap from a beverage bottle.
The present invention provides a sports racquet for impacting a game ball and for facilitating the opening of a cap on a bottle. The sports racquet includes a head portion and a handle portion. The handle portion has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is coupled to the head portion. The proximal end defines a recess, and includes a projection spaced apart from a fulcrum. The recess is sized to removably receive a portion of the cap. The projection is configured to catch a portion of an underside of the cap and the fulcrum is configured to bear against the top of the cap as one or both of the handle portion and the bottle serve as a lever for prying the cap off of the bottle.
According to a principal aspect of a preferred form of the invention, a butt cap is configured for attachment to a handle portion of a sports racquet and for facilitating the removal of a cap from a bottle. The butt cap includes a body having a distal region and a proximal region. The distal and proximal regions define first and second opposing recesses, respectively. The first recess is sized to receive a proximal end of the handle portion of the sports racquet. The second recess is sized to removably receive at least a portion of the cap. The proximal region includes a projection and a fulcrum. The projection is configured to engage a portion of an underside of the cap and is spaced apart from the fulcrum. The fulcrum is configured to operably engage the top of the cap as one or both of the handle portion and the bottle serve as a lever for prying the cap off of the bottle.
According to another preferred aspect of the invention, a sports racquet for impacting a game ball and for facilitating the opening of a cap on a bottle includes a rigid head portion, a handle portion and a butt cap. The head portion includes opposing first and second planar surfaces. The head portion defines a plurality of holes perpendicularly extending from the first surface through to the second surface. The holes are configured to allow for air to flow through the head portion while the racquet is swung to impact the ball. The handle portion has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is coupled to the head portion, and the butt cap is coupled to the proximal end of the handle portion. The butt cap defines an open recess, and includes a projection spaced apart from a fulcrum. The recess is sized to removably receive a portion of the cap. The projection is configured to catch a portion of an underside of the cap and the fulcrum is configured to bear against the top of the cap as one or both of the handle portion and the bottle serve as a lever for prying the cap off of the bottle.
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.
a through 2d are front views of other forms of sports racquets in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
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In a preferred embodiment, the racquet 10 a length of approximately 18 inches, a maximum width of approximately 9.5 inches, and a weight of approximately 13.2 ounces. In other preferred embodiments, the racquet can be formed of other dimensions and weights. The racquet 10 includes a head portion 12 coupled to a handle portion 14. The head portion 12 is a rigid planar structure configured for impacting a game ball. The head portion 12 includes first and second opposing planar surfaces 16 and 18 and an edging 20. In a preferred embodiment, the head portion 12 has a thickness measured from the first planar surface 16 to the second planar surface 18 of approximately 0.7 inches. In alternative preferred embodiments, the head portion can be formed of other thicknesses. The head portion 12 preferably includes a plurality of holes 22 perpendicularly extending from the first planar surface 16 to the second planar surface 18. The holes 22 are spaced apart from each other and facilitate the swinging of the racquet 10 by enabling air to flow through the head portion 12 during use. In one particularly preferred embodiment, the head portion 12 can include 87 holes, each with a diameter of approximately 0.375 inch. In alternative preferred embodiments, other numbers and sizes of holes can be used.
The first and second planar surfaces 16 and 18 can include a roughened texture 24. The roughened texture 24 can be formed by sand or other particles applied to, or positioned under one or more coatings applied to, the first and second planar surfaces 16 and 18. Alternatively, the roughened texture 24 can result from a surface treatment performed on the first and second planar surfaces 16 and 18. The roughened texture 24 enhances a player's ability to impart a spin or otherwise control the motion of the ball during impact with the head portion 12. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the first and second planar surfaces can be smooth and not roughened or textured. The first and second planar surfaces 16 and 18 can also include alpha-numeric and/or graphical indicia 26. The indicia 26 can include one or more of the following items: trademarks, logos, symbols, patterns, designs, instructions, racquet design characteristics, advertisements, playing rules, warnings and combinations thereof.
The edging 20 preferably extends about the periphery of the head portion 12 between the first and second planar surfaces 16 and 18. The edging 20 can be integrally formed as part of the head portion 12 or can be applied to the head portion 12 as a separate structure. The edging 20 can have a thickness (or width) that is equal to the thickness of the head portion 12 measured from the first planar surface 16 to the second planar surface 18. Alternatively, thickness of the edging 20 can extend approximately 0.125 inch beyond the first planar surface 16 and the second planar surface 18. The edging can also overlap or extend over a portion of the first and second planar surfaces 16 and 18 by 0.5 inch or less from the periphery of the head portion 12. The edging 20 is preferably formed of a tough, durable material, such as, a thermoplastic. Alpha-numeric and/or graphical indicia can also be applied to the outer surface of the edging. Alternatively, the edging 20 can be formed of other durable materials, such as for example, other plastic materials, a rubber, a thermoset material, a fiber composite material, a metallic alloy, wood and combinations thereof. The edging 20 can provide a flat, convex or concave contour to the side or periphery of the head portion 12.
The head portion 12 can be formed of one or more materials preferably a carbon-fiber composite material surrounding a foamed material. As used herein, the term “composite material” refers to a plurality of fibers impregnated (or permeated throughout) with a resin. The fibers can be co-axially aligned in sheets or layers, braided or weaved in sheets or layers, and/or chopped and randomly dispersed in one or more layers. The composite material may be formed of a single layer or multiple layers comprising a matrix of fibers impregnated with resin. In multiple layer constructions, the fibers can be aligned in different directions with respect to a longitudinal axis 28 of the racquet 10, and/or in braids or weaves from layer to layer. The fibers are formed of a high tensile strength material such as carbon. Alternatively, the fibers can be formed of other materials such as, for example, glass, graphite, boron, basalt, carrot, flax, Kevlar®, Spectra®, poly-para-phenylene-2, 6-benzobisoxazole (PBO), hemp and combinations thereof. In one set of preferred embodiments, the resin is preferably a thermosetting resin such as epoxy or polyester resins. In other sets of preferred embodiments, the resin can be a thermoplastic resin. The composite material is typically wrapped about a mandrel and/or a comparable structure, and cured under heat and/or pressure. While curing, the resin is configured to flow and fully disperse and impregnate the matrix of fibers. In alternative embodiments, the head portion 12 can be formed of other materials such as, for example, a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, aluminum, other metals, wood, and combinations thereof. The foam material can be an open or closed cell material formed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). Alternatively, other foamed materials can be used such as for example, polyurethane, rubber, polyethylene, other lightweight elastic foams, and combinations thereof.
The handle portion 14 is a longitudinal tubular structure having a distal and proximal end 30 and 32. The distal end 30 of the handle portion 14 is coupled to the head portion 12. In one preferred embodiment, the handle portion 14 can be integrally formed with and connected to the head portion 12 to form a one piece frame. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the handle portion 14 can be formed separate from and coupled to the distal end 30 of the handle portion 14. The handle portion 14 is configured for grasping by one or more hands of a user during play. The handle portion 14 can be formed of one or more materials such as a carbon-fiber composite material. Alternatively, the handle portion 14 can be formed of other materials such as other composite materials, aluminum, other metallic alloys, wood, a polyurethane foam, a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material and combinations thereof. The handle portion 14 can include a grip 34 to enhance the ability of a player to grasp, hold and manipulate the racquet 10.
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The butt cap 40 includes a body having a distal region 42 and a proximal region 44. The butt cap 40 includes peripheral wall 46 longitudinally extending about a portion of the proximal end 32 of the handle portion 14. The peripheral wall 46 preferably forms a generally octagonal shaped outer surface including eight generally planar portions 48. The octagonal shaped outer surface and planar portions 48 correspond to flats defined into the outer surface of the handle portion 14 for facilitating proper grip positioning for players. In alternative preferred embodiments, the outer surface of the butt cap can take other shapes, such as, other cylindrical shapes, other tubular shapes and other elongate polygonal shapes. The butt cap 40 further includes an end wall 50 that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 28 of the racquet 10. The end wall 50 at least partially covers the termination of the proximal end 32 of the handle portion 14. Referring to
The proximal region 44 includes a rim 60 formed about at least a portion of the peripheral wall 46. In one preferred embodiment, the rim 60 extends 360 degrees about the peripheral wall 46. In other embodiments, the rim 60 can extend over a portion or portions of the peripheral wall. The rim 60 can be integrally formed as part of the proximal region 44 or can be formed as a separate component that is fixedly secured to the proximal region 44. The rim 60 includes a projection 62 and a fulcrum 64 spaced apart from the projection 62. The projection 62 preferably projects toward the fulcrum 64 and extends over or into the second recess 54. The projection 62 and/or the fulcrum 64 are preferably formed of a hard material, preferably a metallic alloy. Alternatively, the projection and/or the fulcrum can be formed of other materials, such as, for example, a fiber composite material, aluminum, a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, a ceramic or combinations thereof.
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The incorporation of the present invention improves a user's ability to enjoy racquet sports and the social gatherings commonly associated with the recreational play of racquet sports. The present invention enables a user to play the racquet sports and also be equipped to remove caps from bottles during social gatherings associated with the racquet sports activity. The present invention makes racquet sports and their accompanying social events simpler and more efficient. The application of the rim, the projection and the fulcrum to the proximal end and/or the butt cap of a sports racquet does not negatively affect the operation, use or play of the racquet. In some embodiments of the present invention, the addition of the projection and the fulcrum can be used to improve or optimize the moment of inertia of the sports racquet for certain players or applications. Further, the addition of the projection 62 and the fulcrum 64 can also improve swing weight of some racquet embodiments further improving the playability of such racquets.
While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, numerous departures therefrom can be contemplated by persons skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing description but only by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
