SPORTS RACQUET HAVING A BENDING ZONE

Abstract

The invention relates to a sports racquet having a head having a string bed is attached to two throat beams that extend continuously downward to a shaft having a handle. Each throat beam contains a bending zone in which the width of the throat beam parallel to the string bed and the width of the same throat beam perpendicular to the string bed gradually changes in equal, but opposite, dimensions such that the circumference of the throat beam remains substantially constant through at least the length of the bending zone or the length of the entire throat beam. Where the width of the throat beam parallel to the string bed is the widest and the width of the throat beam perpendicular to the string beg is the narrowest defines the flexible cross-section or flex point of the bending zone.

Claims

1. A sports racquet comprising: a head defining a string bed; a throat region comprising two throat beams, wherein each throat beam comprises a bending zone in which a first width of each throat beam and a second width of each throat beam change in substantially equal and opposite dimensions so the circumference of each throat beam remains substantially constant, wherein the first width is parallel to the string bed and the second width is perpendicular to the string bed; and a shaft comprising a handle.

2. The sports racquet of claim 1, wherein the bending zone further comprises a flex point.

3. The sports racquet of claim 2, wherein the first width having an original first width gradually increases in width to the flex point and thereafter gradually decreases to the original first width, and the second width of each throat beam having an original second width gradually decreases in width to the flex point and thereafter gradually increases to the original second width.

4. The sports racquet of claim 3, wherein the first original width is substantially the same as the second width at the flex point, and wherein the second original width is substantially the same as the first width at the flex point.

5. The sports racquet of claim 4, wherein the first original width is in a range of about 12 mm to about 18 mm, and wherein the second original width is in a range of about 20 mm to about 25 mm.

6. The sports racquet of claim 4, wherein the first original width is about 16 mm, wherein the second original width is about 22 mm, wherein the first width is about 22 mm at the flex point, and wherein the second width is about 16 mm at the flex point.

7. The sports racquet of claim 3, wherein the first width has an increased width in a range of about 120% to about 150% of the first original width at the flex point, and wherein the second width has a decreased width from about 50% to about 80% of the second original width at the flex point.

8. The sports racquet of claim 7, wherein the first width has a width of about 137% of the first original width at the flex point, and wherein the second width has a width of about 73% of the second original width at the flex point.

9. The sports racquet of claim 5, wherein the circumference of each throat beam is in a range of about 50 mm to about 75 mm.

10. The sports racquet of claim 5, wherein the circumference of each throat beam is about 60 mm to about 70 mm.

11. The sports racquet of claim 6, wherein the circumference of each throat beam is about 64 mm.

12. The sports racquet of claim 3, wherein the head is stiffened.

13. A sports racquet comprising: a head defining a string bed; a throat region comprising two throat beams, wherein each throat beam comprises a bending zone in which a first width of each throat beam gradually increases from about 16 mm to about 22 mm at a flex point, then gradually decreases to about 16 mm, while concurrently a second width of each throat beam gradually decreases from about 22 mm to about 16 mm at the flex point, then gradually increases to about 22 mm so the circumference of each throat beam remains about 64 mm, and wherein the first width is parallel to the string bed and the second width is perpendicular to the string bed; and a shaft comprising a handle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a front side perspective view of the sports racquet;

[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front side perspective view of the sports racquet of the sports racquet of FIG.1;

[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the sports racquet of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the sports racquet of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The invention is described below with reference to the drawings in which the reference numbers identified in the drawings are used to refer to the various elements described in this detailed description. Although the invention can be used with any sports racquet having a head, throat region and handle for hitting an object, the invention is described below for tennis racquets by way of explanation and is not intended to be limited to tennis racquets.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a racquet 10 is composed of a head 12 converging into a throat region 14 having two throat beams 16, which in turn converge continuously downward into a shaft 18 that includes a handle 20. The head 12 and throat bridge 24 define a string bed 22 that can be strung with a plurality of interwoven main and cross strings for hitting a ball.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the throat region 14 comprises two throat beams 16 and a throat bridge 24 to form an elongated triangular area 34. The two throat beams 16 converge from opposing sides (i.e., the left and right sides) of the head 12 and begin at the point where the head 12 connects to the throat bridge 24 and extends continuously downward until they converge into the shaft 18 at the lower portion of the triangular area 34.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, each throat beam includes a bending zone 26 for imparting flexion to the racquet 10 when a ball is struck. The bending zone 26 is created by the gradual increase, then reduction in the width parallel to the string bed 22 (the first width), with the concurrent equal, but opposite gradual decrease, then increase in the width perpendicular to the string bed 22 (the second width). In addition, the throat beam retains a substantially constant circumference due to the concurrent equal and opposite gradual variation in width in those two dimensions, at least within the bending zone 26. However, it is contemplated that the circumference of a throat beam can be substantially constant throughout its entire length, including the bending zone 26. Accordingly, for every measureable increase in the first width, there is an equal and measureable decrease in the second width and vice versa throughout the bending zone 26 to maintain the substantially constant circumference of a throat beam.

[0030] The bending zone 26 can span the entire throat beam or any portion therein. The choice of location can be readily determined by those skilled in the art depending on various factors such as the type of sport racquet, size of the racquet, type of player (competitive vs. recreational), and other factors described in this detailed description. For example, the bending zone can be located in the upper two-thirds of a throat beam 26, centrally of a throat beam 26 or in the lower two-thirds of a throat beam 26. Preferably, the bending zone 26 is located approximately centrally within each throat beam 16, and most preferably just off-center of each throat beam 16 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0031] The point within the bending zone where each throat beam is concurrently at its widest (FIG. 3) and its narrowest (FIG. 4) is referred to herein as the flex point 28. As used herein, the term flex point is used interchangeably with the term flexible cross-section. The flexible cross-section or flex point 28 can be located at any desired location within a bending zone 26. Those skilled in the art can readily determine the desired location of the flex point 28 depending on similar factors used to determine the location of the bending zone 26 as noted above and other factors as described in this detailed description. In one embodiment, the flex point 26 is located centrally within the bending zone 26.

[0032] The desired circumference of each throat beam 16 can be readily determined by those skilled in the art depending on several factors, including, but not limited to, the overall size of the racquet, and the height, weight and length of the handle 20, as well as the amount of desired flexion. Other factors in determining the desired circumference of each throat beam 16 can also include, for example, the intended use of the sports racquet, the cost the racquet and proficiency of the players (i.e., beginner, intermediate or advanced) for the target market of a particular racquet. For a tennis racquet, the circumference of each throat beam 16 can range from about 50 mm to about 75 mm, preferably from about 60 mm to about 70 mm, and is most preferably about 64 mm.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a front perspective (i.e., the perspective parallel to the string bed 22) of the bending zone 26. The beginning of the bending zone 26 is defined when the first width gradually increases until a maximum or largest width is attained at the flex point 28. Thereafter, the first width gradually decreases until the original first width is attained, which at that location defines the lower end of the bending zone 26.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a side perspective (i.e., the perspective perpendicular to the string bed 22 not shown) of the bending zone 26. The uppermost portion of the bending zone 26 is defined when the second width begins to gradually decrease to a minimum or narrowest width at the flex point 28. Thereafter, the second width gradually increases until the original second width is attained, which at that location defines the lower end of the bending zone 26.

[0035] In one embodiment for a tennis racquet, the first original width of a throat beam 16 can range from about 12 mm to about 18 mm, with the first width being in a range from about 20 mm to about 25 mm at the flex point 28. Similarly, the second original width of a throat beam 16 can range from about 20 mm to about 25 mm, with the second width being in a range from about 12 mm to about 18 mm at the flex point 28. In a preferred embodiment, the first original width is substantially the same as the second width at the flex point 28, while the second original width is substantially the same as the first width at the flex point 28. As an example of this embodiment, the first original width is about 16 mm, the second original width is about 22 mm, the first width is about 22 mm at the flex point 28, and the second width is about 16 mm at the flex point 28.

[0036] Alternatively, the first width can increase in width in a range of about 120% to about 150% of the first original width at the flex point 28, while the second width can decrease in the range of about 50% to about 80% of the second original width at the flex point 28. In one embodiment, the first width can increase to a maximum of about 137% of the first original width, while the second width can decrease to a minimum of about 73% of the second original width.

[0037] There are several advantages to a sports racquet having a bending zone 26, including, but not limited to, the following:

[0038] (a) the substantially constant circumference of each throat beam 16 throughout its length eliminates any material (e.g., carbon fiber) wrinkling during the molding process of the hollow throat beam 16, thereby reliably producing substantially identical racquets and decreasing the risk of creating a weakened area that could initiate longitudinal cracking, unlike certain prior art racquets;

[0039] (b) the bending of a racquet 10 seeks the direction of least resistance; therefore, due to the narrowing of the throat beam 26 perpendicular to the string bed 22 as shown in FIG. 4, the racquet is capable of bending from the top of the head 10 down to the flexible cross-section 28 when a ball is struck, which greatly reduces any uneven frame distortion, especially in the head 12 for more controlled play;

[0040] (c) the increase in the first width of the throat beam 16 parallel to the string bed 22 as shown in FIG. 3 provides increased torsional strength of the racquet 10, with increased resistance to yaw or bending brought on by off-center hits on the string bed 22, thereby minimizing head 12 distortion and creating a larger sweet spot;

[0041] d. as a result of (b) and (c) above, the racquet 10 is more reliable and predictable, thus allowing a player to swing harder to produce increased ball velocity for greater success during play (i.e., the racquet head 12 accelerates through the contact point of the ball, for example during a serve or groundstroke, since it moves through air with less friction increasing velocity and spin);

[0042] e. the bending zone 26 creates increased dwell time during ball impact, thus allowing more spin production as well as increased feel by the player for greater topspin, slice, approach and passing shots; and

[0043] f. the increased dwell time created by the bending zone 26 also spreads out the shock of the ball impact, resulting in a significant reduction of the shock received by the player's hand during ball impact.

[0044] The sports racquet 10 can have any desired head shape, for example, round, oval, tear drop or the like. The racquet can also be any height, weight, desired number of points head light and have a desired square-inch head size depending on the sport and desired features, such as control, power, spin and the like. Those skilled in the art can readily determine the appropriate height, weight, head light and square-inches typically found in racquets within a particular sport. Other features can be added to the sports racquet to provide additional desired benefits known to those skilled in the art, such as to increase power, dampen shock, or to increase control.

[0045] Competitive tennis players tend to prefer tennis racquets having a 100 square-inch head size. Accordingly, one embodiment is a tennis racquet having a round 100 square-inch head, with a height ranging from any value within, for example, 25-30 inches, preferably 27 inches, and with a weight ranging from 10.0-12.0 ounces strung, preferably 11.2 ounces strung. The tennis racquet is between 5-10 points head light, and preferably about 7 points head light. As shown in FIG. 1, the head 12 of the racquet 10 can be stiffened at the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions to create more power. Suitable methods for stiffening the head portion of racquets are known to those skilled in the art, including, for example, increasing the cross-section of the head 12 or adjusting the material composition at the desired location(s). Adjusting the material composition at a desired location can include, for example, using denser material or adding inserts. Therefore, the combination of a stiffened head 12 with the bending zone 26 can promote increased power with greater spin and enhanced control.

[0046] The racquet 10 can be made composed of any material or composite materials suitable to accommodate the bending zone 26 and promote its advantages as described above. For tennis racquets, suitable materials include aluminum, graphite, titanium, nanomaterials, resins, carbon-fiber-reinforced composite and other materials known to those skilled in the art, such as those described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014/0031150 entitled Racquet Configured With Fewer Cross Strings Than Main Strings, incorporated herein by reference.

[0047] The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustration and description only. The foregoing is not intended to limit the full scope of the invention to the embodiments disclosed herein. The features of the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the invention described herein can be combined in alternate aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations other than those described above. Moreover, variations, combinations, and modifications to the aspect, embodiments and/or configurations whether described above or not are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention and all rights thereto are not intended to be publicly dedicated.