US1588139A - Game frame and method of manufacturing same - Google Patents

Description

June 8 1926.

H. D. PENNEY GAME FRAME AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME n 1 b um 10 w d 2 l M w H3 A M u m w H m m B With/e55 e5 June 8, 1926. 1,588,139

. H. D .PENNEY GAME FRAME METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME Filed June 14, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor.- Ha/ro l'zfifi. Penna]- J 1 u E 2 r 2 w 2 N N ulm Witt-M955 e5.-

assembled racket frame;

Patented June 8, 1926.

Qumran states Par-am; oFFlcE. v

HAROLD n. rnmmx-or PELH'AM, new YORK, ASSIGNOR, .ZBY MESNE Assreivmnnms,

TO A. s. 'sPALnINe & Bnos, on NEW YORK, 1v. Y.,- A CORPORATION OF NEW.

JERSEY.

GAME FRAMEAND METHOD or ANUFACTURING SAME.

Application'filed June 14,1922. Serial No. 568,343-

This "invention relates to striking implements, especially tenn s rackets, and to apparatus or processes for making the same though itis noted that the invention is not limited in all respects to these. 7

One object of the invention is to provide an improved process and construction whereby maximum strength combined with the necessary flexibility-and proper weight and balance are imparted to the implement, and aframe provided which is practically indestructible.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a device of this kind improved means and construction whereby balance can be imparted to the racket tosuit individual uses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind in which the permanent inherent tension of the metal or material used is utilized to maintain the form and elasticity of the implement. I Other objects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efliciency of such devices and processes for making the same and to provide a device of this kind facture. e

The inventive features for the accomplishment of these and other objects are embodied in an improved racket or implement which, briefly stated, comprises a'tubular metallic frame having a body portion and handle portions integral therewith, a center piece between said handle portions, means for securing said piece and handle'portions together. and a balancing filler or fillers'disposed in said frame to give proper weight and balance to the implement.

Figure 1 is an edge view of a frame for a tennis racket embodying the features of the present invention; A

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the completely Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged transverse sectional views taken respectively. on the lines 33, 4-4, 55. and 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan of the formed meta-1 blank respectively. 7 which is durable, and economical to manu- 7 natural. position of the handle portions of V the frame relatively to the centerpiece before-securing them together; v v I,

Figs. 9 andlO are respectively side ele-j vation'ja'nd transverse section ofthe metal blank before shaping; A

Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively fragmem tal side elevation and cross-section'of said blank with a-filler partially inserted.

'Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the blank with the filler positioned therein;

Fig. 14Ais a plan showing thepartially shaped metal blank'and theforming block on which-it is shaped;

Figsnlti and 16 are respectively plan and horizontal .sectionof the shaped blank showing difierent'positions of fillers therein; and

Figs." 17 and 18 are 'respectively transverse sections, on enlarged'scales, taken onthelines 1717-and 1818 of Figs. 15 and-l6 Referring'to, the drawings, A designates generally a tubular frame formed of a light metal such for instance as magnesium or duralumin and bent so as to'form a bodyportion 1 and a pair of leg .orfhandle portions 2, as shown in' Fig. 7; -The handle walls with longitudinally extending grooves -or channels; 3 (Fig. 5), which aredeeper at the grip portion of the handle and become shallower as they'approach the body until they disappear entirely at the points where the handle merges into the body, as'shown portions are provided in their opposing insection in Figs. 4:, 5 and 6 andin dotted piece itself being, shaped so' as'to have an enlarged portion or head 4: anda narrow throat or neck portion 6, whereby when the center piece is placed between the handle portions of the frame and the latter are pressed towardeach other they grip the center piece. at i s throat portion after the manner of a pair ofpincers, as indicated in Fig.

8, the'handle portions 2,.with the center piece between them, being thensecuredtogether by means of a number of rivets T which pass through transversely registering openings in the frame and center piece.

It has been found that the handle port ons 2 of the frame grip the center piece in a permanent manner, and that the tension of the handle portions 2 continues to ezrerta gripping pressure on the neck portion 6 (without the necessity of screws or, the like hrough the neck portion, as in wooden r ckets) even af er exposure to weather and atrncsnheric, conditions, or fter swelling orshrii c of the center piece. It is also found that under had exposure to the weatherthat the curve of the handle POI- tions ,2- wheretheyigrip the neck 6 shows no endency-to straighten out as does the .s-lm J V lar curve of wooden frames.

ln order to impart st; greater strength to the frame and particularly to give a finish t0 e acket, curvedchannel or bridge member 8 is provided, which is-secured to the body 1 by means of rivets '9, as shown in 2, the channel thereo re eiving h end of theheadv 50f the center piece, said head being preferably; rabbeted at. its op p site sides to receive theside Walls of t c a el member, so tha t e nter surfac s f s id Wallsare flush with the surfaces Qt the center piece, as shown in Fig, 4;. 'It will,

' of course, be understood that the groove and tongue connection between the center p ece,

' .The racket above descri and handle portions of the frame may be reversed if desired; that is to say, the grooves may be formed in the center p ece and the tongues on the handle portions or other forms of connection may be used, The handle is finished by securing thereto at opposite sides, by means of glue or in any other suitable mannen theusual grip portions 10 forproviding the desired hand hold.

The body portion '1 of the frame is provided around its periphery with a line of perforations 11 for the passage of the gut used in stringing the racket, and around its end with a groove 12 for the protection of the gut from injury when the endof the racket strikes'the ground,

I bed maybe made of materials of the proper size, shapeand proportion to 'g'ivethe required weight and balance to the racketybut a better way is to have said size, shape and proportions so selected ,as'to give a racket of standard balance and minimum weight and to provide greater weights and different balances by the addition, during construction, of fillers of wood or other material lnserted at the proper parts, or throughout, the tubular frame. Balsa-wood, because of its lightness and softness has been found very suitable for this purpose;

One method of 15 of proper size and Weight for the lightest weight of racket is selected and into this is insert-ed a filler 1.6 of balsa wood or other material which has been previously weighed to give to the completed racket the final required weight. This filler is disposed symmetrically within the blank,'that is, so that of the blank, as in Fig. 13:. The blank with the filler therein is then shaped over the forming block 19 14), and the racket of Fig. 13 are required, this is easily accom-.

plished by disposing two fillerslfi 1.5) of the required weight and length at that point in the tubular frame that will give the required balance. Or, as in Fig, 16, five fillers 16 may be disposed at pointsto give the required balance. I v

The fillers may be of any suitable number and location to give the required balance to suit any condition or individual.

"While I have described in detail the structure and process herein illustrated, it is to be understood that I do not thereby limit my invention to the features of construction shown, as I am aware that many mechanicalchanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention :s set forth in the claims hereto appended. it will further be understood that while I havedescribed the invention in connectimrwith a tennis racket, the construction is equally applicabl to many other implements which must possess a re quired flexibility, elasticity, light- "ness and balance combined with strength.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is I i i 1. An implement of theclass described, comprisinga metallic frame havin body portion and a pair of integral handle for .113; portionsin opposing relation to each other and each having inits inner side a longiinserting the filler is shown i in Figs. 9 to 1 In this case a tubular blank its ends 17 are equal distances from the ends I tudinally extending groovetmerging into a flat surface adjacent to the body portion, an intermediate piece between said handle portions and provided at opposite sides, thereof with a longitudinally eXtendvto theirffree ends and drawn together into substantially parallel relation for forming a handle and exerting tension on the neck, the'tubular member being four-sided and the portion of said member forming the body having in cross-section four straight sides and said inwardly curved portions and said free-ended portions having three straight sides and an inwardly grooved side.

7 3. A racket comprising a frame composed of a. tubular member forming the body, neck and handle, the tubular member being foursided and at the body having in cross-section four straight sides and at the neck and handle having in cross-section-three straight sides and an inwardlygrooved 'side.

at. A racket comprising a tubular member having an oval portion forming a body por tion and extended to form a throat portion,

a bridge member for the throat portion, inwardly curved portions of the tubular member adjoining the throat portion and forming a neck, normally divergent straight free-ended portions of the tubular member adjoining the neck and drawn together into substantially parallel relation for forming .a handle and exercising tension on the neck, a filler between said free-ended portions extending longitudinally thereof, and grips on the handle.

, 5. A racket comprising a tubular member having an oval I portion straight-sided in cross-section and forming a body portion and extended to form a throat portion,inwardly curved portions of said member adjoining the throat portion and having in cross-section three straight sides and'aninwardly grooved side and forming a neck, a bridge member for the throat portion, normally divergent straight free-ended portions of the tubular member adjoining the neck and having in cross-section three straight sides and an inwardly groovedside and drawn together. into substantially parallel relation for forming a handle and exerting tension on the neck, a filler between said free ended portions the inwardly grooved sides and extending longitudinally of said portions, and grips on the handle.

I 6. A racket comprising a tubular member having .an oval portion forming body portion and extended-to form a throat portion, a bridge member for. the throat portion, 1

inwardly curved portions of the tubular member adj oining the throat portion and forming a neck, normally divergent straight free-ended portions of the tubular member adjoining the neck and drawn together into substantially parallel relations for forming a handle and exerting tension on the neck and I a filler between said free-ended portions extending longitudinally of said portions and into the space between the portions of the tubular member forming-the neck and throat and conforming to the shape of said space.

7. A racket formed of resilient tubing and comprising a body portion, a throat'portion adjoining the body portion, a'neck adjoining the throat portion, and a handle adjoining the neck, the throat portion having space between the portions of the tubing forming' the throat portion, and a ,liller member in said space and conforming to the shape thereof, said han-dlejbeing formed bynormally div r ent end portions of the tubing-drawn together into substantially parallel relation for forming the handle andexerting tension on the neck and thereby re-V taming said fillerxmember"inthe space of the throatportion.

8. A racket form-ed of resilient tubing.

comprising a body portion, a throat portion adjoining the body portion, a neck ad oining the throat portion, and a handle adjoining the neck, the throat portion having space between the portions of tubing'forming. the throat portion and the neck having space between the portions of tubing forming the neck and" these spaces communicating With each other, and a' filler meinber in the space of the EhIOEIlSPOlilOll and extendmg into the space ofthe neck and conforming to the shape of the respectivespaces,

said handle being formed by normally divergent end port ons of the tub ng drawn together into substantially parallel relations,

for forming thehandle and exerting tension on the neck and thereby retaining Said 1 ler member. 1n the space of the throatp'on tion and neck.

9.-A frame ---for use in construction of striking in'iplements, said frame comprising a metallic tube bent to form a body portion at the midpart ofthetube, widely spaced handle portions at the end portion of the tube, and gripping portions between the body portion and'the handles and nearer together than the handles. v

l0.' A frame for use in construction of tennis rackets, said frame comprising a tempered elastic light weight metallic tube of substantially-square cross-section bent to form a snbstantiallyoval body portion at the mid part of the tube, divergent widely spaced handle portions at the end portions of the tube, and inwardly curved gripping portions between'thebody portion and the handles.

' edge of the head and secured at its opposite ends to said body portion. J 7

12. An implement of the class described,

comprising a metallic frame-having a body portion merging into a pair of integral handle iiorming portions; an intermediate piece secured between said handle portions and havimg a head disposed at the juncture of the handle portions and body; and a curved metallic member of channel fo-rmae tionengaging the end of said head and bridging the space occupied by the head. and

1 secured at its opposite'euds to said; body portion.

13; An implement of the class described, comprising a metallic frame having a body portion, a pair of integral handle forming portions, and inwardly curved gripping portions between the body portion and handles: an intermediate piece disposed between said handle portions and having inwardly curved side faces forming a throat; and means for securing the handle por ions and intermediate pieces together in position to cause said handle and gripping portions to clan the intermediate piece and said throat.

1 1-. An implement of th'e class described,

7 comprising a metallic, frame having a substantially oval body portion and a pair of integral handle forming portions, the inherent elasticity of the frame tending to hold the handle portions spaced apart and diverging from each other toward their free ends; an intermediate piece disposed between. said handle porions; and means for securing the handle portions and interinediate piece together in position to cause the elasticity of the frame to cause said handle portions to immovably clamp the intermediate piece;

15. An implement of the classdescribed .comnrisin' a metallic frame havin a bod portion, a pair of integral handleforming portions and inwardly bent grippino' portions between "the body portionand handles, 7

the inherent elasticity of the frame tending to hold the handle portions further apart than the gripping portions; an intermediate piece disposed between said gripping portions; and means for securing the handle portions in position tocause the elasticity A portion.

of the frame to cause said gripping portions to immovably clamp the intermediate piece.

16. An implement of the class described, comprising a tempered tubular metallic frame having a substantially oval body portion,'a pair of integral handle-forming portions and inwardly curved gripping portions between the body portion and handles, the inherent elasticity of the frame tending" to hold the handle portions spaced apart and diverging from each other toward their ner end of said handle portion, said frame being under tension so as to grip said tapered member.

18. A racket having a resilientmetal frame formed of a body portion and opposed handle portions, awooden member held between said opposed portions, said opposed portions being under such tension asto grip said wooden member. I r i a 19. A racket formed of elastic. corrugated light metal tubing and a wedge at the inner end of the handle of said racket, and shaped to conform to the corrugation of said tubing, said tubing being under ten'sionso as'to grip said wedge.

20. A racket having a frame of resilient tubing, the framecomprisingopposed por tions of the tubing and a filler mcmberbetween the opposed portions and conforming to the space therebetween, and normally divergent end portions of the tubing drawn together into substantially parallel relation and thereby exerting tension on the opposed portions of the tubing and retaining said tiller member therebetween.

21. A racket having frame of resilient tubing the frame comprising opposed por tions or the tubing having substantially triangular shaped space therebetween, a wedge member in said space and conforming tothc shapethereof, and normally divergent end portions of the tubing drawn together into substantially parallel relation and thereby exerting tension on the opposed portions of the tubing said space.

22. A racliet formed of a metal frame having handle and body portions, the frame prior to stringing being under. a tension tending toseparate the sides of the body and retaining said member in' 23. A process for forming a: racket which comprises bending a metal tube to form a substantial oval body portion at the. mid part of said tube and divergently spaced handle portions at the end portions of said tube and securing said handle portions to I an intermediate member in such a manner that said tube grips said intermediate memher by the force of its elasticity.

24. A process of forming a frame for use in construction of a striking implement, said 10 process comprising lnserting fillers of soft Wood into predetermined parts of a tempered elastic metallic tube of substantially square cross-section; and then bending said tube to form a substantially oval body portion at the mid part of the tube, and divergently Widely spaced handle portions at the end portions of the tube, and securing said handle portions together in such a manner that such frame is held under tension.

HAROLD D. PENNEY.

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