US1562881A - Tennis racket and the like - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 24, 1925- F. w. GOWER Er AL TENNIS RACKET AND THE um:

fire/172K? z mm' 'w Filed June 29, 1923 Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

warren FRANCIS? wrnnraivr eownn; Hoeii AMIE-s ownn, A BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

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TENN-Is RACKET A-Ni) TH'ELIKE; 1-

Application filed June 29, 1923. Serial No. 648,539.

To all w/zom it may CORK/CPR! I Be lllliDUWll that we, FRANCIS lvlner rir ain, 1'QS1Cl1Ilg2li Dunoom Russell Road,

Moseley, Birn'nngham, in the county of War "wick En 'land HUGH JAMES OWEN a subject of tlie King;- of Great Britain, residing mentsin or Relating. to Tennis Rackets and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The-present invention comprehends a tennis racket or thelike having in combination a frame and a handle formedby bendinga single strip of solid section bar to a bow formation and directing extremities parallel relation to constitute the handle, a spacing piece immovably or permanently secured across the how or frame at its junc tion'wit-h the limbs of the-handle and a'wire striking: face engaged with apertures in the frame andintlie spacing; piece.

In order that this invention may be clear reimderstood and readily carried into practice reference may be had to the appended explanatory sheet of drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of a tennis racket constructedaccordingto the present invention liig'ur'e is a longitudinal section takenon line (t(t of Figure 1. v I

Figure Pris atransverse section taken on the line 7)-?) of Figure 1.

Figures t and 5 illustrate in enlarged section and plan res fiectively fragments of the frame showing the pz'rrtieular apertures (herein.

Tn a convenient embodiment of the present-invention a strip of aluminium or other suitable metal of rectangular fiat or solid section is bentto the bow formation to form the frame land its-extremities ems directed outwardly in parallelism to constitute the handle. -This strip maybe of slightly reduced transverse ineasurement at or towards its centre. part 8 to obtain the correct'bal ance and" strength for the bow. A; spacing or wedge-piece l isincorporated atthe june tion of the bow 1 with the handle 2 between the two limbs. This spacing or wedge pi'ece is of alun'iinium formed by casting, pressing: or other suitable operation and is riveted or otherwise permanently secured in position as for eXa-mpleat This spacing or wedge-pieceis in the forni'of a hollow framethe outer faces of which bear against the inner convergingfaces of the frame or bow, and the inner element indicated by the numeral l completes the'bow or frame of the racket. The spacing piece may'involve a frame 6 adapted to wedge between the lunbsof the handle and lee-riveted thereto,

a't the points 5 aforesaidywhich frame has integrally formed therewith the curved or segmental part L which completes the contour of the bow or frame and isperforated for the wireahd gradually diminishes at its extremities into such bow on frame beingrivetedthereto; The parallel limbs 2 of the handle are transversely drilled for lightness at '7, an-d'are' spaced apart by small bridging pieces 8,-9 secured by rivets, screws or the like, and the handle iscompleted by two sheet metalchannel members 10 which" are placed between parallel limbs of the handle and adapted to bear on the bridge pieces 8, 9 on each side of the saidhandle. The bridge piece 8 may be undercut as shown to accommodate the-extremities ofthe members 10.- These channel members 10 are afterwards suitably boundor secured in position by anycovering or other suitable means and] the extremity of the handle is closed by-a inetalcap l1 and rubber or other cover 12. The how 1 has a series-ofperforations 13 around its periphery for the receptionof the striking face whielrinvolves ahiglr tensile bani steeliustless wire or twisted strand wire l l threaded through the apertures backwards andforwards in the usual nu. r. The apertures 13 are sub ected at their outer extremities, that is, from outside of the frame to a punchingwor pressing operation from a pointed die or tool. adapted around the entire frame and the spacing or wedge piece and force the whole outwardly and thereby very efficiently tighten the striking face. Alternatively, the planishing operation may be effected manually.

Instead of such planishing operation to tension the striking face we may employ the method of wiring the frame under tension produced by a temporary deformation of the frame as set forth in our divisional application which has eventuated into Patent 1,545,314, dated July 7, 1925.

The section of the bar or strip may vary considerably; it may be internally or externally grooved and is of a solid character.

In another. embodiment of the present invention, a length of extruded bar may be bent to constitute the bow and the handle.

If desired, instead of using ordinary straight wire for the striking face, spirally wound or crinkled wire may be employed to give a flexible striking face. Further, in anyof the striking faces aforesaid, lengths of rubber or rubber strip, tubing, or the like may be threaded through the wire striking face with a view to avoiding any sound or noise which may occur upon striking the ball. i

In the present invention, an all metal racket or bat is presented with the exception, perhaps, of the binding orgripping surface upon the handle and its rubber extremity.

and rackets constructed according to this invention can have their striking face tightened at any time should they become slack by the mechanical or other planishing operation, aforestated.

lVhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A tennis racket or the like, having in combination'a frame and a handle formed by bending a single strip ofsolid section bar to a bow formation and directing and fastening its extremities in parallel relation to constitute the handle, an arcuate metal spacing piece secured across the bow frame at its junction with the limbs'of the handle to complete the elliptical configuration of the frame and to support, in corn junction with said bow frame, a wire striking face the components of which are engaged with apertures in the frame and in the arcuate piece, said arcuate spacing piece having an integral hollow wedge which fits between the limbs of the handle andis secured thereto.

2. A tennis racket or the like, having in combination a frame and a handle formed by bending a single strip of solid section bar to a bow formation and directing its extremities in parallel relation to constitute the handle,ean arcuate piece having an integral hollow wedge secured across the bow frame at its junction with the limbs of the handle, said hollow wedge fitting between and being secured to said limbs, a wire striking face engaged with apertures in the frame and in the spacing piece, and a number of bridge pieces secured between the said limbs of the handle beyond the said wedge.

3. A tennis racket or the like, having in combination a frame and a handle formed by bending a single strip of solid section bar to a bow formation and directing and fastening its extremities in parallel relation to constitute the handle, an arcuate metal spacing piece secured across the bow frame at its junction with the limbs of the handle to complete the elliptical configuration of the frame, said arcuate piece having an integral hollow wedge frame for fitting between said limbs of the handle, said arcuate piece further supporting in conjunction with the said how frame a wire striking face the components of which are engaged with apertures in the frame and in the arcuate piece, some of said components engag ing said arcuate piece on each side of the wedge, and a number of bridge pieces secured between the limbs of the handle beyond said wedge;

4. A tennis racket or the like having in combination a bent metal bow frame the extremities whereof are continued to constitute thehandle, an arcuate spacing piece the ends'of which seat against and are socured to the sides of the bow frame, said spacing piece having a rigid wedge frame PIOJGCtJHg from it intermediate of its ends which wedge fits between and is secured to the limbs of said handle andterminates at the throat portion of said bow frame and handle, said spacing member thus having a four point attachment .across the throat portion of the racket frame, and a flexible striking face for the racket laced in said bow frame and in the arcuate spacing piece. 5. A tennis racket or the like, having in combination a frame and a handle formed from a single strip of solid section bar, having a central part of reduced section tapering from the ends, by bending said tapered strip to a bow formation and directing its extremities in parallel relation to constitute the handle, an arcuate spacing piece secured across the bow frame at its juuctiouivith the limbs of the handle, a wedge on said spacing piece, said. wedge engaging said limbs and a wire striking face engagec'l with apertures in the frame and in the spacing piece.

6. A tennis racket or the like, having in combination a frame and a handle formed by bending a single strip of solid section bar, the central part of which is of reduceiil section tapering from the ends, to a bow formation and continuing the extremities in parallel relation for the full length of a handle, an arcuate metal spacing piece so- 1,5ea,ee1 :3

cured across the bow frame at its junction said limbs upon which hand grip portions with the limbs of the handle to complete the are secured. 1 elliptical configuration of the frame and to In witness whereof we have hereunto set support, in conjunction with said bow our hands.

frame, a wire striking face the components of which are engaged with apertures in the FRANCIS \VILLIAM GOVVER. frame and in the arcnate piece, and a num- HUGH JAMES OWEN.

her of bridge pieces at intervals between ROBERT JOHN NASH.

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