GB2279881A

GB2279881A - Racket frame and racket.

Info

Publication number: GB2279881A
Application number: GB9313134A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yu-Fu Tang
Original assignee: TANG YU FU
Current assignee: TANG YU FU
Priority date: 1993-06-24
Filing date: 1993-06-24
Publication date: 1995-01-18
Also published as: GB9313134D0

Abstract

A badminton racket includes a frame (10) having a series of first string holes equiangularly spaced around the periphery for inserting a cord (15) to set up main and cross strings (16, 17). The frame (10) also has second string holes at the four corners (14) of the racket and alternatively spaced by respective first string holes (11) for inserting the cord (15) to set up cross strings (17) so that each first or second string hole only accommodates either a single main string (16) or a single cross string (17). <IMAGE>

Description

RACKET FRAME AND RACKET The present invention relates to a racket frame for main and cross strings and to a racket incorporating such a frame.

Badminton is a court game played with light longhanded rackets and a shuttlecock volleyed over a net. A good racket is prerequisite to the successful performance in the game of badminton. The quality of a racket is determined according to its structural strength and the tension and flexibility of the gut (striking surface). The gut of a racket is formed of interlaced main and cross strings and stretched within the oval frame of the racket.

The crossed points between the main and cross strings are the points which determine the bearing force of the gut.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a prior art badminton racket having a frame 1 and a series of string holes 2 spaced around the periphery, through which a cord 3 is inserted to set up the gut. The string holes includes holes 2a for setting up main strings or cross strings only, and four or five holes 26 at the four so-called corners of the frame for receiving both main strings and cross strings. Because the crossed points between main strings and cross strings at the four corners of the frame are spaced far away from the frame, the strength of the gut at the four corners is relatively weak. Because the holes at the four corners of the frame receive main and cross strings, the hole diameter must be relatively broadened, and the respective protective tubular rubber inserts must be made relatively bigger.Broadening the diameter of the holes will relatively affect the structural strength of the frame.

An object of the present invention is to at least partly mitigate these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a racket frame having a series of first string holes spaced around the periphery thereof for strings parallel to a first direction and having plural second string holes for strings perpendicular to said first direction, whereby each first or second string hole is adapted to accommodate a single string.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a racket including a racket frame having a series of first string holes spaced around the periphery thereof for strings parallel to a first direction and having plural second string holes for strings perpendicular to said first direction, whereby each first or second string hole accommodates a single string only, said series of first string holes and said plural second string holes comprise a first plurality of main string holes spaced around the periphery of said racket frame, and a second plurality of auxiliary string holes, each auxiliary string hole being between two main string holes, whereby said auxiliary string holes carry cross strings of said racket.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the frame of a racket according to the prior art; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a prior art racket showing the gut stretched within the frame thereof; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame of a racket in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of a racket constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a plurality of string holes 11 are equiangularly spaced around the periphery of the frame 10. A plurality of auxiliary string holes 12 are made on the frame 10 at the four corners 14 around the gut (striking surface) 13 of the racket and alternatively spaced by respective string holes 11 (four or five string holes 11 at either corner). A cord 15 is inserted through the string holes 11 and the auxiliary string holes 12 to set up main strings 16 and cross strings 17. At either corner, the string holes 11 are for setting up main strings 16 while the auxiliary string holes 12 are for setting up cross strings 17 only. Therefore, main strings 16 and cross strings 17 are respectively extended from different string holes and interlaced at all angles around the frame 10.As the crossed points between main strings 16 and cross strings 17 at either corner are disposed adjacent to the frame 10, the strength of the gut 13 is greatly improved. As each string hole is provided for setting up a single main string or a single cross string only, the cord 15 can be stretched tightly when inserted through either string hole. Furthermore, the structural strength of the frame 10 is maintained unaffected because the diameter of the string holes 11;12 is minimized for passing one single string only, and the size of the protective tubular rubber inserts can be relatively reduced to save material consumption.

As indicated, the present invention provides a racket frame and racket which has string holes so arranged that the main and cross strings are separately inserted through respective string holes, and therefore the strength of the gut as well as the strength of the frame are improved.

The racket described is a badminton racket, but it will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other rackets.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A racket frame having a series of first string holes spaced around the periphery thereof for strings parallel to a first direction and having plural second string holes for strings perpendicular to said first direction, whereby each first or second string hole is adapted to accommodate a single string.

2. A racket including a racket frame having a series of first string holes spaced around the periphery thereof for strings parallel to a first direction and having plural second string holes for strings perpendicular to said first direction, whereby each first or second string hole accommodates a single string only, said series of first string holes and said plural second string holes comprise a first plurality of main string holes spaced around the periphery of said racket frame, and a second plurality of auxiliary string holes, each auxiliary string hole being between two main string holes, whereby said auxiliary string holes carry cross strings of said racket.

3. A racket frame or racket constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.