US1630683A - Tennis racket - Google Patents

Description

y 1927' F. s. WILLIAMSON TENNIS RAGKET Filed May l4, 1926 lnueni'or:

filth k Shaver Ml Zianwon,

PATENT OFFMZE.

FRANK Ei-HilrVER TW'ILLIAMSDN, F CHICOPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO A. G.

ETEALIJIIJG d7 1333203., OF NEW YORK, N.

TENNIS Application filed May 14,

lily said invention aims to provide a reinforcing finish for tennis rackets at points where overlay pieces are thinned down to a feather edge to eti'ect a smooth terminal joint with the main frame parts. In the ordinary practice these over ay strips are glued to the frame parts, and thinned down at their extremities by hand scraping to pro- (lure a terminal feat-her edge. These feather edges are liable to separate from the surface to which they are glued and thus expose their sharp edges which readily split.

.l.he invention comprises a sleeve of plastic material applied to the joint for protecting such feather edges and forming an attractive finish and a method of applying the same as defined by the appended claim.

.ln the accompanying drawings Figure l. is. a plan view of a racket frame as it appears before my improved sleeves are applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a similar view withthe sleeves in place.

.lleferring by reference characters to this drawing the numeral 1 designates the bow having the usual extensions 1 which are incorporated in the handle 2 in the usual manner. 3 designates the usual throat piece. The handle extensions are faced with strips or layers of wood a glued thereto which at the bow and are tapered down to feather edges indic: led at t. 5 designates the enclosing sleeve which completely encircles the handle for a suitable distance on each side of these feather edges. In applying this sleeve it take a sheet of celluloid of suitable size and soften it by the use of a suit-- able material such as amyl acetate, the surfaces being wet with the solvent in order to insure adhesion, and while it is in a softened condition, .l wrap it around the joint and allow it to dry. in so doing it shrinks and lirinly bound to the wood, not only by reason of its shrinking but by its adhesive nature, the shrinking causing the sleeve to accoinniodate.itself to any irregularitles 1n the shape of the joint parts. i

in the same manner sleeves indicated at 6 may be applied to the bow on each side of the throat to cover the feather edges 6 of the crescent shaped throat reinforcement 7 which is glued to the inside of the bow and Y., A CORPORATION GTE NEW JERSEY.

RACKET.

1926. Serial No. 109.135.

shaped down in the same manner as are the handle strips d.

Protecting strips such as above described not only fit accurately and retain their positron permanently, but they are sufficiently flexible after hardening to accommodate themselves to any'spring of the frame when the racket is in use. Furthermore the celluloid may be given any desired color or ornamentation, and when the lacquer is applied to the frame the celluloid, being of a similar nature. will unite homogeneously with the lacquer.

This method of finishing also permits a material reduction in the cost of manufacture. In the operation as heretofore practiced the working down of the enlarged handle to the smaller bow diameter is accomplished by hand scraping which is a hard and tedious job, requiring extensive training andpractice by the operators. The appearance of the racket at the featheredgepoints is an important detail and so far as applicant is aware no successful substitute for the hand scraping has heretofore been provided.

Under the present invention the reduction or sizing down may be accomplished by a suit-able cutting or sanding machine and any roughness left thereby is not material as it is covered up by the celluloid or fibreloid, and as this may be easily applied by unskilled workers, such as girls for example a material reduction in cost is secured.

till

It will be noted from the drawing that I the sheet of material is of such form that.

the lines of juncture between the parts thereof, where they overlap or join, run in various directions and at an angle to each other, instead of spirally.

'lh-e sheet is wrapped in place like a band age and is manipulated to lie upon the surface to which it is applied, and upon shrinkage a close smooth fit is secured, the resultant sleeve being homogeneous, for while the lines of juncture are visible the portions of the sheetwhich come together at these lines are joined together into one body by reason of the plastic and adherent character of the material.

The softened plastic sheet of celluloid of suitable size and shape is wrapped upon the joint with its edges overlapping to various degrees along lines running in various directions at an angle to each other, and upon hardening forms a homogeneous sleeve. 5 1 claim:

A tennis racket having a joint covered with plastic material in sheet form Wrapped.

thereon with edges overlapping to various degrees along lines running in various d1- rections at an angle to each other, and formxng a homogeneous sleeve.

In testimony whereof, 1.8.1112: my signature.

FRANK SHAVER WILLIAMSON.

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