US1559986A - Tennis racket - Google Patents

Description

Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. QUICK, OF DALLAS,.TEXAS.

TENNIS RACKET.

Application filed January 17, 1925. Serial No. 3,184.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. QUICK, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and 5 State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tennis Rackets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tennis rackets. v

The object of the invention is to provide a tennis racket in which the strings are constantly held under tension, whereby the racket is always in maximum playing condition irrespective of weather or the number 5 of games which have been played.

5 form of string spacing and supporting de- 'VICBS.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a racket constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, a portion of the handle being illustrated in section, and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the string mountings.

In the drawings the numeral 1.0 designates an elliptical frame having the general shape of the ordinary tennis racket now in common use. At the base of the frame is a cross bar 11 and a yoke 12. A suitable handle 13 is secured in the yoke. This handle may be counter-bored at 14 either to lighten the weight or to receive a weight. By this means'the racket is balanced;-

The frame may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, bamboo, wood or other material suitably formed 01, built 4 pose. a

up. The frame has a channel 15 open around its outer side. Inthe bottom of the channel are spaced bosses 16 having flat heads. Strings 17 and 18. are laced, respectively longitudinally and transversely of the frame, alternately crossing each other in the ;manner common to the lacing of tennis rackets. These strings may be of wire, gut

or any other material suitable One of the features of theinventionare curved stirrups 19 around whichthe strings are looped. These stirrups space :the complementary lengths or strands apart and thus give to the lacing the proper mesh. As the-strings are looped around the stirrups, sharp or acute bends are thus avoided.- For securing the ends of the strings posts 20 are fastened in the channel of the frame; Each end of the string is fastened to a post, as isshown best in Fig. 3, and the string is passed through an aperture 21 in the frame.

Each stirrup is supported in the eye 21 on the inner end of a stem 22. Each stem passes through an aperture 23 in the frame and the boss 16, except at the bar 11 where the bossesare omitted, and has its outer end screw threaded. A spanner nut 2a is mounted on each stem and has a reduced shank 25 for engaging in the outer end of a coiled spring 26 surrounding the stem and resting against the boss.

The strings are looped around the stirrups 19 which have their convex sides grooved to receive the strings. The stirrups thus support the ends of the loops. The nuts are adjusted to draw the string taut and to place the springs under compression. It will be seen that the nuts may be adjusted to tension the springs to the desired degree as well as to stretch the strings as desired.

Owing to'the curvature of the stirrups the strings will readily slide through the grooves thereof when the nuts are tightened. The strings are unlikely to be broken because the springs yield when the ball is struck. By reason of the rebound incidental to the yielding of the springs and strings. the ball is gotten away with greater force and speed. Should the strings require adjusting at any time it is merely necessary to turn the nuts 24 and increase the tension of the springs. However the tension of the springs is sufiicientto compensate considerfor, the purable variation in the tautness of the strings.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as Well as modifications and alterations 'be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. In a tennis racket, a frame, a plurality of resiliently sustained members movable through the frame, and strings carried by said members.

2. A. tennis racket comprising resiliently supported strings, and means for varying thetension on the strings,

3. In a tennis racket, a frame, a plurality of spring tensi'onedmembers, strings supported by said members, and means for varying the tension of' said members.

4'. In a tennis racket, a frame, a plurality of strings: meshed Within the frame, and means for resiliently supporting the strings adjustable to give a substantially uniform tension t-o-thestrings.

5. In a tennis racket, a frame, strings laced across the frame, and? adjustable spring tensfoned supports for the strings carried by the frame. 7

6 In a tennis racket, a: frame, strings looped across the frame, and adjustable itaaese spring tensioned supports for the ends of supported stirrups carried by theframe, and

strings looped from one stirrup to another.

8. In a tennis, racket, a frame, strings looped across the frame, curved stirrups supporting the ends of the loops and spacing the strands of the loops apart, and spring tensioned supports for the stirrups engaged in the frame.

9. In a tennis; racket,- a frame, stems slidable in, the frame, stirrups carried? by the stems, strings looped from one stirrupto another, coiled springs on the stems, and adjusting nuts on the stems bearing against springs. V

10 In a. tennis racket, a framehaving a channel therearound, stems slidable tlh iqugh the frame altdhaving eyes, curved stirrups In testimony whereof. I aflix' my; signature.

GHARIJES F QUICK.

in the-eyes Withinthe; frame, strings. looped

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