GB2291809A - Racket frames - Google Patents

Abstract

A racket head frame includes a ridge (27) at the inner wall of the head frame, the ridge portion being provided with a plurality of through holes (252, 262) for supporting and passing of the strings. String guides 6 are provided. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE IMPROVED RACKET This invention relates to a racket, more particularly, to a racket for badminton or the like.

This improved racket facilities a stronger gut and decreases the worn of the strings.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the conventional racket for a head which are interconnected by a neck.

The head portion includes a frame 1 which forms a gut defines by the main strings and cross strings. A plurality of through holes 13 are provided in the inner wall 11 and outer wall 12. Then a string 14 is guided and passed those through holes 13 to form a gut which is defined by the main strings and the cross strings intersected with each other to strike the shuttlecock.

But the conventional racket configuration can be concluded with the following defects.

1. The strings 14 extends and exposes outside the outer wall 12 of the frame 1, accordingly, the strings 14 is readily worn out when the racket is in contact with the ground. Accordingly, the gut is useless when the strings are broken.

2. Because the strength of the gut is based on the strength of the frame 1, accordingly, when a plurality of through holes 13 are provided at the inner wall 11 and the outer wall 12, the integrity and strength of the frame 1 is considerably decreased. In general, the conventional frame 1 can be made with a tube with thicker wall, but the weight of the racket is inevitably increased, consequestly, the flexibility of the racket is negatively influenced.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved racket which can protect the strings suitably to prevent the string being contact with the ground.

It is still the object of this invention to provide an improved racket wherein the frame of the racket is free from through holes, accordingly, the integrity and strength of the frame are ensured.

In order to achieve the object set forth, the improved racket made according to this invention includes a rim portion at the inner wall of the frame.

This rim portion is provided with a plurality of through holes for mounting a string guider which has a flare opening at both end to facilitate an easy passing of the string.

The structural and operational characteristics of the present invention and its advantages as compared to known state of the prior art will be better understood from the following description, in conjunction with the attached drawings which show illustratively but not restrictively an example of an improved racket.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional racket; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the portion circled X in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the improved racket made according to this invention; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the portion circled Y in Figure 3; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the portion circled Z in Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken from A-A in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 3 to 6, the racket generally includes a head frame 2, a neck 3 and a shaft 4 which includes a grip. The head frame 2 is defined a hollow and enclosed portion. The head frame 2 includes an inner wall 21 and an outer wall 22. A space 23 is defined between the inner wall 21 and the outer wall 22.

The inner wall 21 and the outer wall 22 are interconnected by the top portion 211, 221 and the bottom portion 212, 222 respectively.

A planar gut 24 is defined by a plurality of main strings 5 and cross strings 5 which are supported by the frame 2.

The inner wall 21 of the head frame 2 is further provided with a pair of ridge portions 25, 26 which extends parallel and radially inward to a preset distance. These two ridge portions 25, 26 are further interconnected by a rim portion 27 at their inner edges 251, 261. A space 28 is defined by the ridge portions 25, 26 and the rim portion 27. The space 28 is intercommunicated with the space 23 defined by those two ridge portions 25, 26. Each of the ridge portion has the identical through holes 252 (262) and the through holes 252, 262 are in line with each other.

Each pair of through holes 252, 262 is further disposed with string guider 6 which has an enlarge end portion 61. The enlarges end portion 61 is retained by the edge of the through holes 252, 262. Then a planar gut 24 can be completely formed by the strings 5 which passed through the through holes 252, 262 sequentially and orderly.

The head frame 2 and the shaft 4 is interconnected by a neck 3 which has a preset length.

The length of the head frame 2, neck 3 and the shaft 4 is predetermined and had a reasonably ratio therebetween.

In constructing the planar guts 24, the strings 5 is first passing through the holes 252, 262 of the ridge portions 25, 26 at one side and then passing through the holes 252, 262 of the ridge portions 25, 26 at the opposite side. By this arrangement, the gut 24 defines by the main strings and the cross strings are at last formed.

Since, the ridge portions 25, 26 are disposed within the inner edge of the frame 2, accordingly, the strings 5 supported by the through holes 252, 262 are protected by the outer wall 22 of the frame 2. In light of this, even the outer wall 22 of the frame 2 is in contact with the ground, the strings 5 is free from worn out.

In the improved racket provided by the present invention, the strings 5 is supported by the ridge portions 25, 26 and is not by the outer wall 22 and this is different from the conventional racket. In the conventional racket, the through holes on the frame is in line with the direction of the strings. But in the present invention, the through holes 252, 262 are perpendicular to the direction of the strings 5.

Accordingly, the thickness of the outer wall 22 can be reduced because the outer wall 22 sustained no force.

On the other hand, the ridge portions 25, 26 provides a reinforced support to the head frame 2. Therefore, the weight of the frame can be reduced.

Besides, each pair of through holes 252, 262 are disposed with a string guider 6 having an enlarged ends 61. By this arrangement, the strings 6 is free from being cut off by the sharp edge of the through holes 252, 262. The string guider 6 is first made with one enlarged end 61, when the string guider 6 is completely inserted into the through holes 252, 262, a heat means will apply to form the other enlarged end 61.

Figure 3 shows a racket for playing badminton.

the neck 3 is a three-way connector. I order to confirm to the racket made according to this invention, the neck 3 can be made with the structure disclosed in Figure 5. In the neck 3 shown in Figure 5, a projected rim portion 31 is provided for supporting the string 5 by means of the through holes disposed thereof.

On the other hand, the ridge portion 252, 262 disclosed in this invention can also be made with other types but not limited only to the disclosure in Figures.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, the badminton, it can be readily appreciated that the racket can also be applied to racket for tennis and squash. Accordingly, many other variations and modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is preferred, therefore, that the present is not limited by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. An improved racket comprising a shaft having grip at lower portion; a neck portion being disposed the upper portion of the shaft; and a head frame defining an enclosed portion for forming a gut therein, said head frame being constructed by a hollow tube; characterized in that said head frame further including a ridge at the inner wall of the head frame, said ridge portion further being provided with a plurality of through holes supporting and passing of the strings to form a gut.

2. A racket as claimed in claim 1, wherein a string guider is disposed within each of said through holes.

3. A racket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said neck is constructed by a three-way connector and a projected rim is provided for supporting strings by the through holes disposed thereof.

4. A racket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ridge portion is an integral part of said frame.

5. A racket substantially as described herein and exemplified and as illustrated by the Figures 3 to 6 of the drawings.