GB1470980A - Rackets - Google Patents

Abstract

1470980 Games racket R M BLACKBURNE 28 Feb 1975 [6 March 1974 31 May 19741 10120/74 Heading A6D A games racket has a frame 2 adapted to receive couble stringing" 6; i.e. stringing disposed in two parallel planes separated by a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the frame 2. The stringing 6 passes through apertures which may be formed in the frame 2) (Fig 1) or through apertures or grooves formed in one or more separate members 10, (Fig. 4) situated around the periphery of the frame. The stringing may comprise two groups of substantially parallel string portions the string portions 6a or 6c of one group being generally perpendicular to and interwoven with the strings portions 6b or 6d respectively of the other group. Fig 1 shows a racket adapted to receive "double stringing having a frame which may be formed from laminated material such as wood and/or glass fibre and/or plastics and/or metal, the planes of the laminations extending perpendicular to or parallel to the planes of the stringing 6. Alternatively the frame may be formed, moulded or extruded from a metal. Stringing receiving apertures 4 may be provided with grommets or inserts to protect the stringing 6 from chafing against the frame 2 Fig 4 shows a racket adapted to receive double stringing comprising a head frame 8b and handle portions 8a formed from a metal strip (e.g. an extruded aluminium strip A strip 10 may be moulded, extruded of otherwise formed from a synthetic plastic material and is shaped (e.g. dove-tailed) to co-operate with the complementary shaped periphery of the frame 8b. Stringing-receiving apertures 11 or grooves in the outer peripheral surface) are bored-or moulded in the strip 10 and a throat piece 9, which is held in place by screws, rivets or an adhesive. A conventionally strung racket may be converted to "double stringing" by removing the conventional stringing and attaching a flexible strip, similar to strip 10, having stringing receiving apertures or grooves, to the periphery of the frame. The strip may be secured in place by screws, rivets or adhesive or held in place by the tensioned stringing. The stringing receiving apertures may be disposed parallel to each other and perpendicular to the planes of the stringing, or alternatively they may be inclined relative to said planes. In a further embodiment the apertures may extend between the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the frame as in a conventionally strung racket. In order to withstand the increased forces acting on thes frame of a racket adapted to receive "double stringing the frame may be reinforced (e.g. with carbon fibres). When separate member or members are incorporate round the periphery of the frame as in Fig. 4 the member or members may be similarly reinforced.