GB2252505A

GB2252505A - Racket frame with string adjustment

Info

Publication number: GB2252505A
Application number: GB9102613A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kun-Nan Lo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-07
Filing date: 1991-02-07
Publication date: 1992-08-12
Also published as: FR2673544A1; GB9102613D0

Abstract

A racket frame includes a looped head (10) with an opening 9, a grip member and a throat portion (11) connecting the looped head (10) to the grip member. The looped head (10) has an adjustment seat (20) to which strings 23 extending longitudinally of the racket are connected and therein which seat is connected to the throat portion (11) by a screw member (30). The seat 20 is movable in the opening 9 longitudinally of the racket by operating the screw member 30 to adjust the tension on strings 23. The seat 20 is constructed of composite material such as carbon fibre. A metal plate 21 may be embedded within seat 20. <IMAGE>

Description

RACKET FRAME WITH STRING ADJUSTMENT The invention relates to a racket frame, more particularly to a tennis racket frame having a device to adjust the tension of the string web which is woven across the opening of the looped head of the racket frame.

Conventional rackets includes a looped frame having an opening therein, a handle and a throat portion connecting the looped frame to the handle A string web is provided in the opening of the looped frame, by which to strike a ball. The string web of the racket has a predetermined tension, since it is strung in advance. While playing a game, the continued impacts of balls on the string web may weaken the tension of the string webbing. If that happens, a player can not strike the advancing ball as effectively as he normally could. He must therefore have the string web re-woven to meet the required tension of the string webbing, or buy a new tennis racket which will provide sufficient tension.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tennis racket having a string web, the tension of which can be adjusted selectively.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tennis racket having a device mounted thereon by which to adjust the tension of the string web of the racket so that reweaving of the string web to meet the required tension or buying a new ones to replace the used ones can be avoided.

According to the present invention, an adjustment seat is provided in an opening defined by a looped frame of a racket frame and a screw connecting between the adjustment seat and the throat portion of the same racket. The adjustment seat is movable in the opening of the looped frame. The first ends of a predetermined number of strings extending longitudinally in the opening of the looped frame, are connected to the adjustment seat and the second ends are connected to a portion of the looped frame opposite the adjustment seat under tension. The strings so connected are woven into the web as in conventional rackets. The adjustment seat is movable longitudinally in the opening of the looped frame, so it can alter the tension of the strings connected to it.

This and other features of the present invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description, including drawings, all of which show a non-liviting form of the invention, and of which: Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a racket frame according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective, schematic view of the racket frame of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows another preferred embodiment of a racket frame according to the present invention.

A conventional racket frame includes a looped head defining an opening therein, a handle portion and a throat portion having a T shape, is connecting the looped head and the handle portion. The racket frame further includes a first string means including a horizontal plurality of strings extending substantially at right angles to the axis of the handle portion and spaced across the opening and attached under tension trough a plurality of holes in the looped head.

The racket frame further includes a second strings means having a longitudinal plurality of strings crisscrossing and meshing with the first strings means, also spaced over the opening, extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the handle portion of the same.

according to the present invention, a notch (111) is formed on the looped head (10) on the side of the opening (9) of the same, see in Fig. 1. An adjustment seat (20) constructed of composite material such as carbon fiber and having a shape to be accommodated in the notch (111) is provided in the opening (9) of the looped head (10). To make it more rigid and durable, a metal plate (21) is embedded within the same. The adjustment seat (20) is connected to the throat portion (11) by a screw means (30) in such a manner that it is movable longitudinally in the opening (9). The screw means (30) includes a screw (31) fixed in the adjustment seat (20) and the threaded end of which passes through a through-holes (13) on a section ( of the throat portion (11) and engaged to a nut (32).

Alternatively, the nut (32) is fixed in the adjustment seat (20) anfl the screw (31) further includes a head (34) at one end thereof. The head (34) of the screw (31) prevents the same from sliding into the opening of the looped head (10) when the screw is inserted through holes in a portion (12) of the throat portion (11) to engage the nut in the adjustment seat (20). For the nut (32) to be turned easily, the outer surface (33) of the nut (32) is designed to have different forms so that it can be clamped, turned by different wrench.

In another emnodiment, a hexagonal recess (311) is formed in the head (312) of the screw (31). The threaded end of the screw (31) can be inserted through a hole in a portion (12) of the throat portion (11) and engaged with the nut (32) fixed in the adjustment seat (20). The screw of this type can be rotated by an Lshaped key having a hex head, see in Fig. 3.

The second string means includes a predetermined number of strings (23) having first ends connected to the adjustment seat (20) and second ends connected to a portion of the looped head (10) opposite to the adjustment seat (20). The strings (23) thus provide are held tight ny the adjustment seat. If the player wishes to alter the tension of those strings (23), he can simply tighten or loosen the screw member (30), so that the adjustment seat (20) will move in the opening of the looped head (10) to adjust the tension of the strings (23).

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A racket frame including a looped head defining a central opening therein, a handle portion and a throat portion connecting said looped head to said handle portion, a plurality of lattitudinal strings extending substantially at right angles to the axis of said handle and spaced across said central opening and attached to said looped head under tension, and a plurality of longitudinal strings spaced across said central opening and meshed with said plurality of latitudinal strings and connected to said looped head under tension, wherein the imDrovement is characterized in that said looped head has an adjustment seat provided in said central opening of said looped head adjacent to said throat portion and an adjustable screw member connected between said adjustment seat and said throat portion, said adjustment seat being movable in said opening of said looped head, and said plurality of longitudinal strings including a predetermined number of strings each having a first end connected to said adjustment seat and a second end passing across the central portion of said central opening and connected to a portion of said looped head opposite to said adjustment seat, said adjustment seat being movable longitudinally in said central opening of said looped head to adjust the tension of said predetermined number. of strings.

2. A racket frame as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said screw member includes a screw and a nut, said screw being fixed to either of said adjustment seat or said throat portion, and said nut being fixed to other one of said adjustment seat and said throat portion.

3. A racket frame as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said looped head further comprises a notch formed therein adjacent to said throat portion, said notch being transverse to the axis of said handle portion.

4. A racket frame as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said adjustment seat is an arcuate elongated rod, said arcuate elongated rod being accommodatable in said notch of said looped head.

5. A racket frame as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said arcuate elongated rod is made of composite material with a metal piece inbedded within the same.

6. A racket frame substantially as described here in before with reference-to Figs. i to 3.