US1942479A

US1942479A - Tennis racket

Info

Publication number: US1942479A
Application number: US431150A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jacob L Kleinman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-02-25
Filing date: 1930-02-25
Publication date: 1934-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1951-01-09

Description

Jan. 9, 1934. J L, KLEINMAN 1,942,479

TENNIS RACKET Filed Feb. 25, 1930 Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12 Claims.

This invention refers to improvements relating generally to tennis rackets.

' A primary object of this invention is to provide a racket having a reinforced frame and neck. '5 Another object is to provide a bridge portion forming a part of a racket frame, said bridge portion provided with wings or flanges adapted to overlapand strengthen the frame.

A further object is to provide a racket having a reinforced frame.

A still further object is to provide a frame having a protector.

Still another object is to provide a racket having a groove around its frame.

Another object is to provide a racket having a reinforcing member around its frame forming a seat for the strings and having openings therethrough.

A further object is to provide a racket having means around its frame to prevent the splitting of such a frame while stringing same.

A still further object is to provide a racket having openings in the neck portion and handle in order to reduce wind resistance while playing.

Still another object is to provide a racket having portions overlapping each other and also having windings around the joints in order to keep same tightly together and preventing the loosening or displacement of parts when the glue dries.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a racket of a strong solid structure, light in weight, useful, practical, convenient, durable in use, simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this present invention will appear from the description thereof to follow taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which-- Fig. 1 is a front view of a racket embodying my present invention, the handle broken away at the neck portion.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front view showing the construction of the frame at the neck portion.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the bridge portion.

Fig. 4 is a portion of the handle of the racket showing the slot disposed from front to rear.

Fig. 5 is a side view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the plane in- 50 dicated by line 66 of Figure 5, showing how the reinforcing member is built onto the frame at the neck portion of the racket.

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view of the plane indicated by line 7-7 of Fig. 5 showing how the reinforcing member is built onto the sides of the frame, forming a channel, for the protection of the strings. Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the plane indi cated by line 88 of Fig. 5 showing how the reinforcing member is built onto the top of the frame, in addition to the channel portion also overlapping both sides of the frame protecting same against injury while playing. Y

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved racket comprises a frame 9 having side portions 10 a top portion 11 a neck portion 12 and a handle 12 which is broken away as shown in Figures 1 and 2. An important feature of my invention is the novel way of forming the bridge portion and at 7 taching same to the lower part of the frame at the neck portion; when stringing a racket, the main strings are inserted first, then tightened, thenthe cross strings are inserted and tightened. It is a well known fact among manufacturers, that when the main strings are tightened thus pulling the top of the frame towards the neck portion the frame then spreads sideways, at that time, the glue -joints at the neck portion open and come apart, this is due to the factthat the bridge at 0 the neck portion consists of several different pieces and are generally glued together to each other, various ways and means have been sought to overcome this difiiculty, but without any success. Applicant has, during the course of experi- 35 menting with rackets for years, discovered and invented the following:

A portion of wood or any other suitable material, shaped to form a bridge portion 13 as shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the centre part is then cut out thereby forming side portions, flanges, or wings 14, the bridge 13 is then placed into the frame, lowered towards the neck portion, the wings 14 are then placed close to both sides of the frame overlapping and tightly engaging the walls of side portions 10 of frame 9, as shown in Fig. 2, holes 15 are then drilled through wings 14 and portions 10 and pins are then inserted thus holding same tightly together. Glue of course may also be used if desired. In order to press tightly the ends of wings 14 to portions 10 thus making a smoother finish, applicant has cut out a portion of bridge 13 as shown at 16 thus giving the ends of Wings 16 more spring, of course this cut out portion 16 may be made at both ends of the bridge 13. The cut out center part of bridge 13 as indicated by 17 may be all around, from one end to the other, in such a case, said wings 14 would also overlap portion 18 and hold same against displacement as shown in Fig. l,

but in case of an open throat racket, portion 18 is of course eliminated, in such a case, the cut 17 is made only to match the shape of

portions

10 and 12 of frame 9 and the portion 13 that bridges from one side 10 to the other side 10 is of solid material, thus making a solid rigid open throat racket as shown in Fig. 2, of course the idea of having holes 15 and pins running throuh wings 14 and portion 10 holding same tightly together is very important, and may be used in different frames for various purposes, for instance, the neck portion 12 although not shown in the drawing yet may also be reinforced with such as wings 14 in any suitable manner, answering about the same purposes, and I desire it to be understood that I have same in mind when describing this invention andam seeking ,protection by Letters Patent.

Referring to Fig. 4, since tennis of now-a-days is generally a fast and hard hitting game and it is sought to overcome and eliminate all wind resistance, applicant has therefore provided a slot 12 in the handle of the racket disposed from front to rear, thereby providing a passageway for the wind while playing, thus greatly reducing wind resistance.

With reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, a reinforcing member 19 of fibre or any other suitable material, is built on to the neck portion, as shown in Fig. 6, said reinforcing member runs up to a certain point as indicated by arrows 20, then said member 19 is formed with a recess or channel 21, and placed in a groove of the side portions 10 as shown in Fig. 7. Said channel 21 continues to run upwards to a point as indicated by arrows 22 and then said channel portion 21 is formed with extensions 23 overlapping the top portions 11 of frame 9 thus protecting said frame when hitting the ground, as shown in Figs. 5, 6, -7 and 8, holes or openings 24 are formed'through said reinforc ing member and frame, this is done for the following purposes. First, while stringing a racket, the stringer when tightening the strings, forces a pointed metal tool into the'holes' against the string to hold same from sliding back, by doing so, quite often the frame splits, in applicants case reinforcing member of fibre or any other suitable material around the frame will to a certain extent check the movement of that tool and not split, this certainly will save many frames, especially when restringing old frames. Secondly, in ordinary frames at present, slots are formed from one hole to the other, the strings are placed in those slots in order to protect them when touching the ground, but due to the fact that rackets are being strung very tightly, therefore the strings that are placed in these slots, cut through the wood, especially when hitting the ball, for this reason, quite often a good frame cannot be restrung, whereas'in applicant's case the string is placed over the reinforcing member and therefore will not cut the wooden frame, it certainly will prove a great saving to both'the manufacturer and user.

The recess or channel 21 is formed in order. to shield or protect the strings when hitting the ground while playing and also acts to stiifen the reinforcing member 19, thereby strengthening the frame, helping to' prevent the warping of same, thus acting together with member 13 of Fig. 3 in producing a strong, solid racket. Holes 24 have been rounded as at 25 to prevent the cutting. of strings at this point. Due to the fact that this structure strengthens the frame it is therefore possible to build sections of the frame much thinner in size than usually as shown in Figs. 6, '7, and 8 and thus greatly reducing the weight and wind resistance, two matters which are-very important in tennis of today. It will also be noticed that the extensions or portions 26 are quite strong and are holding secure the walls 27 of the reinforcing member 19. (See Fig. 7).

By showing a preferred structure, I do not, by any means, limit myself to this structure only. Various'suggestions of this invention may be used or be applied to any racket. And I desire it to be understood, that I have same in mind when describing this invention, and seek protection by Letters Patent, and although I have mentioned in describing my invention of what materials same may be made, yet, I desire to be understood,

that this racket, or parts thereof, may be made of any suitable material, and that various changes in details may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention.

' I claim:

1. A racket comprising a frame, a necksection, a handle, an arcuate member fastened to the lower portion of the frame at the neck section and comprising a concave central web overlying and fitting within the inner surface of the bottom portion of said frame, and side flanges overlying at least in part the front and 'rear faces of said bottom portion of the frame, said web being cut away at the ends thereof to leave the adjacent portions of said flanges free of direct connection with each other.

1 2. A ra'cketcomprising' a frame, a neck section, a handle, a member bridging said necksection and comprising a central portion overlying and fitting within the inner surface of the "neck section and side flanges overlying at least in part the front and rear faces of said neck section, said central portion being cutaway at the ends thereof to leave the adjacent portions of'said flanges free of direct contact with each'other.

3. A racket as set forth in claim' 1, including fastening elements passing through said flanges and penetrating. said frame in a'direction. at right angles to the plane of the frame.

4. A racket'as set forth in claim 2, including fastening. elements passing through said flanges and penetrating said frame in a direction at right angles to the plane of the frame.

5. In a racket, a frame, a handle, a neck section, a groove in the outer wall of the frame, a non-metallic strip of channel 'form wedged within said groove reinforcing said frame, the upper surface of the central web of said channeled strip being below the outer edges of the frame, and registering openings in the frame "and strip for receiving and anchoring the strings of the racket.

6. In a racket, a frame, a handle, 'a neck portion, the periphery of a portion of the frame having a groove, said groove provided with a "spacious floor, a non-metallic member having upwardly projecting side walls mounted within said groove, holes formed within said frame and said member, said holes adapted to receive a string therethrough, the floor of said member covering the floor of said groove and providing a seat for said string keeping'same from direct contact with the fioor of said groove, the side walls of said member engaging the side walls of said groove thus supporting and reinforcing same thereby strengthening the frame.

7. A racket as set forth in claim 5, wherein said non-metallic strip is composed of fiber provided with two rows of openings, said string crossing said rows.

12. A structure as set forth in claim 6, wherein the holes in said non-metallic member are positioned in the floor thereof in a zig-zag manner, the string being anchored within said holes in such zig-zag manner thereby crossing the grain of said non-metallic member and of the wood comprising the frame, thus reducing the possibilities of the string splitting the frame.

JACOB L. KLEINMAN.