Abstract
A set of racket cross-string guides which are pre-woven over a string guide holder in the same pattern used for inserting the racket cross-strings.
Claims
1. A collection of parallel hollow longitudinal guides, each having a longitudinal opening on one side, with cross-string guides woven around the hollow longitudinal guides to facilitate the placement and pulling of cross-strings through the main strings during the racket stringing process wherein one or both ends of each cross-string guide contains a loop which is used for connecting the racket string to the cross-string guide while pulling the racket string through the main strings.
2. The collection of longitudinal and cross-string guides of claim 1, wherein the hollow longitudinal guides are connected together at one end.
3. The collection of longitudinal and cross-string guides of claim 1, wherein the hollow longitudinal guides are connected together at both ends.
4. The collection of longitudinal and cross-string guides of claim 1, wherein the hollow longitudinal guides are connected together in the middle.
5. The collection of longitudinal and cross-string guides of claim 1, wherein the hollow longitudinal guides are connected together and have an attached handle used for positioning the collection of hollow longitudinal guides.
6. A collection of parallel hollow longitudinal guides, each having a longitudinal opening on one side, with cross-string guides woven around the hollow longitudinal guides to facilitate the placement and pulling of cross-strings through the main strings during the racket stringing process wherein one or both ends of each cross-string guide contain an attached fixture which is used for connecting the racket string to the cross-string guide while pulling the racket string through the main strings.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Various objects and advantages and a more complete understanding of the present invention are apparent and more readily appreciated by reference to the following Detailed Description and to the appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:
(2) FIG. 1A is a top view of a cross-string guide with a loop where the string end is pulled back inside the hollow-core dacron in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(3) FIG. 1B is a top view of a cross-string guide with a knot tied in it to create a loop in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(4) FIG. 1C is a top view of a cross-string guide where a glue joint is used to create a loop in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(5) FIG. 1D is a top view of a cross-string guide where a piece of material is crimped or heat sealed to create a loop in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(6) FIG. 2A is a top view of a one-piece solid construction string guide holder in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(7) FIG. 2B is a front view of a one-piece solid construction string guide holder in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(8) FIG. 2C is a bottom view of a one-piece solid construction string guide holder in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(9) FIG. 2D is an isometric view of a one-piece solid construction string guide holder in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(10) FIG. 3A is a top view of a heavy card stock string guide holder template in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(11) FIG. 3B is a front view of a partially-folded string guide holder which is ready to have string guides loaded onto it in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(12) FIG. 3C is a front view of a partially-folded string guide holder which has 2 string guides loaded onto it in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(13) FIG. 3D is a top view of a fully-folded string guide holder which has 20 string guides loaded onto it in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(14) FIG. 3E is a bottom view of a fully-folded string guide holder which has 20 string guides loaded onto it in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(15) FIG. 4A is a top view of a fully-folded string guide holder, with cross-string guides, placed across an unstrung racket in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(16) FIG. 4B is a top view of a string guide holder, with cross-string guides, placed across a racket with the main strings in place in the racket frame and extending through the string guide holder in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(17) FIG. 4C is a top view of a racket with the string guide holder removed and the cross-string guides in place on the main strings in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(18) FIG. 4D is a top view of a racket with the string guide holder removed and the cross-string guides in place on the main strings and one of the cross-strings partially woven through the main strings by one of the string guides in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
(19) FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide illustrating a circular shape.
(20) FIG. 5B is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide illustrating a hexagonal shape.
(21) FIG. 5C is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide illustrating a rectangular shape.
(22) FIG. 5D is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide illustrating a triangular shape.
(23) FIG. 5E is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide illustrating a U shape.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS ON FIGURES
(24) 100. Cross-string guide 101. Loop with hollow core dacron loop connection 102. Loop with knot 103. Loop with glue joint 104. Loop created with crimp or heat seal 105. Hollow longitudinal guides 106. Connecting bar 107. Centrally placed handle 108. Tie-down straps 109. Tie-down hole 110. String guide hollow longitudinal guide opening 111. Tie-down strap connecting nub 112. String guide holder 113. Support fin 114. Folding tab 115. Folding tab slot 116. Spindle 117. Spindle end holes 118. Spindle side flaps 119. Guide removal slit 120. Spindle slots 121. Unstrung racket frame 122. Racket main strings 123. Roll of racket string 124. Racket frame grommet hole
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(25) Referring now to the drawings, where like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views where appropriate. FIG. 1A shows one embodiment of the cross-string guide.
(26) FIG. 1A shows one embodiment of a cross-string guide. This embodiment comprises the cross-string guide 100 with a loop 101 where the string end is pulled back inside the hollow-core dacron.
(27) FIG. 1B shows a second embodiment of a cross-string guide. This embodiment comprises the cross-string guide 100 with a knot tied in it to create a loop 102.
(28) FIG. 1C shows a third embodiment of a cross-string guide. This embodiment comprises the cross-string guide 100 where a glue joint is used to create a loop 103.
(29) FIG. 1D shows a fourth embodiment of a cross-string guide. This embodiment comprises the cross-string guide 100 where a piece of material is crimped, or heat sealed to create a loop 104.
(30) FIG. 2A shows a top view embodiment of a one-piece solid construction string guide holder 112. This embodiment comprises a number of parallel, equally spaced, hollow longitudinal guides 105 which are joined together at one end with a connecting bar 106 that is perpendicular to the hollow longitudinal guides. Connecting bar 106 also has attached a centrally placed handle 107 and a number of tie-down straps 108 each of which has a tie-down hole 109 on the end opposite the connecting bar 106.
(31) FIG. 2B shows a front view embodiment of a one-piece solid construction string guide holder 112. This embodiment view shows the string guide hollow longitudinal guide opening 110 along the top of each hollow longitudinal guide. This embodiment view also shows the tie-down strap connecting nubs 111 located on the connecting bar 106 at the juncture of each tie-down strap 108.
(32) FIG. 2C shows a bottom view embodiment of a one-piece solid construction string guide holder 112. This embodiment view comprises a number of parallel, equally spaced, hollow longitudinal guides 105 which are joined together at one end with a connecting bar 106 that is perpendicular to the hollow longitudinal guides. Connecting bar 106 also has attached a centrally placed handle 107 and a number of tie-down straps 108 each of which has a tie-down hole 109 on the end opposite the connecting bar 106.
(33) FIG. 2D shows an isometric view embodiment of a one-piece solid construction string guide holder 112. This embodiment view comprises a number of parallel, equally spaced, hollow longitudinal guides 105 with a string guide hollow longitudinal guide opening 110. The hollow longitudinal guides 105 are joined together at one end with a connecting bar 106 that is perpendicular to the hollow longitudinal guides. Connecting bar 106 also has attached a centrally placed handle 107 and a number of tie-down straps 108 each of which has a tie-down hole 109 on the end opposite the connecting bar 106.
(34) FIG. 3A shows one embodiment of the cross-string guide holder which can be stamped or cut and then folded to hold the cross-string guides. This embodiment comprises the string guide holder 112 with support fin 113 which holds the string guide holder on top of the racket. Folding tabs 114 are inserted into folding tab slots 115 which causes formation of spindle 116. Spindle 116 is composed of spindle end holes 117 and spindle side flaps 118 as well as a guide removal slit 119 which is instrumental in removal of the string guide holder during the stringing process. Spindle slots 120 are used for holding one end of the spindles after cross-string guides are placed upon the string guide holder.
(35) FIG. 3B shows a partially folded string guide holder 112 with spindles 116 protruding and ready to accept the string guides.
(36) FIG. 3C shows a partially folded string guide holder 112 with spindles 116 protruding and with two cross-string guides 100 woven on the spindles 116 in the alternating pattern used for racket cross-strings.
(37) FIG. 3D is a top view of the completely assembled string guide holder 112 with cross-string guides 100 woven on the spindles 116.
(38) FIG. 3E is a bottom view of the completely assembled string guide holder 112 with cross-string guides 100 woven on the spindles 116.
(39) FIG. 4A is an oblique view illustrating the placement of a string guide holder 112 on top of an unstrung racket frame 121 comprising cross-string guides 100 each terminating in a loop with hollow core dacron loop connection 101.
(40) FIG. 4B is an oblique view illustrating the placement of a string guide holder 100 on top of a racket frame 121 which has the racket main strings 122 inserted through the spindle holes 117 in the string guide holder 112 and which has cross-string guides 100 each terminating in a loop with hollow core dacron loop connection 101.
(41) FIG. 4C is an oblique view of a racket frame 121 illustrating the placement of string guides 100 woven through the racket main strings 122 after removal of the string guide holder.
(42) FIG. 4D is an oblique view of a racket frame 121 illustrating the placement of string guides 100 woven through the racket main strings 122 after removal of the string guide holder. This illustration also shows a roll of racket string 123 with one end of the racket string being pulled through the racket frame grommet hole 124 and then about 6 inches is fed through the cross-string guides loop with hollow core dacron loop connection 101. The person stringing the racket then pulls the string guide loop 101 on the other end of the string guide 100 causing the racket string to pull through the racket main strings 122 in the proper weave pattern.
(43) FIG. 5A is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide 105 illustrating a circular shape and a hollow longitudinal guide opening 110.
(44) FIG. 5B is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide 105 illustrating a hexagonal shape and a hollow longitudinal guide opening 110.
(45) FIG. 5C is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide 105 illustrating a rectangular shape and a hollow longitudinal guide opening 110.
(46) FIG. 5D is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide 105 illustrating a triangular shape and a hollow longitudinal guide opening 110.
(47) FIG. 5E is an isometric view of a hollow longitudinal guide 105 illustrating a U shape and a hollow longitudinal guide opening 110.
(48) Those skilled in the art can readily recognize that numerous variations and substitutions may be made in the invention, its use and its configuration to achieve substantially the same results as achieved by the embodiments described herein. Accordingly, there is no intention to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary forms. Many variations, modifications and alternative constructions fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention.
