US20060084531A1 - Tennis racket having a primarily rectangular shape - Google Patents

Tennis racket having a primarily rectangular shape Download PDF

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Publication number
US20060084531A1
US20060084531A1 US11/220,953 US22095305A US2006084531A1 US 20060084531 A1 US20060084531 A1 US 20060084531A1 US 22095305 A US22095305 A US 22095305A US 2006084531 A1 US2006084531 A1 US 2006084531A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
lateral
strings
section
tennis racket
proximal
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
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US11/220,953
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English (en)
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Richard Brandt
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Priority to US11/220,953 priority Critical patent/US20060084531A1/en
Publication of US20060084531A1 publication Critical patent/US20060084531A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B49/00—Stringed rackets, e.g. for tennis
    • A63B49/02—Frames
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
    • A63B60/02—Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass

Definitions

  • FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the better performance of a rectangular racket as compared to a conventional racket.
  • FIG. 1 shows velocity ratio (VR, the fraction of incident ball and racket speed returned to the ball) contours for a forehand swing of a conventional racket, where the lines denote regions of constant VRs.
  • the region 10 near the bottom of the racket face is known as the “sweet spot” and is the area of best performance for a ball strike (largest hit ball speed).
  • the regions farther away from the region 10 are of increasingly lower performance.
  • the corresponding contours for the rectangular racket are shown in FIG. 2 .
  • the regions of best performance are seen to be much larger for the rectangular racket.
  • the decrease in performance away from the sweet spot can be partially compensated for by changing the tensions in the strings in the outer portions of the racket face. Because of the large increase in the tensions of the strings involved during an impact with a ball, the choice of the optimal string tensions is not simple and must be determined by a sophisticated computer analysis of the impact between the racket and the ball.
  • a rectangular or nearly rectangular tennis racket frame made of contemporary composite material would have to be rather heavy in order to withstand the forces generated by the string tensions.
  • the present invention provides the advantages of a racket having a generally rectangular shape while minimizing the disadvantages noted above.
  • Various racket frame designs are described herein. These designs incorporate the performance advantages of a rectangular racket, but which result in frames that are both strong and light.
  • the tennis racket comprises a handle; an outer frame comprising: a proximal generally curved section proximate to and attached to the handle, a portion of the proximal generally curved section defining a portion of a throat section via which the outer frame is attached to the handle; a distal generally curved section opposite the proximal generally curved section; first and second straight sections lying between the proximal and distal generally curved sections; the tennis racket further comprising: a lateral frame section distinct from the outer frame and attached to one of the generally curved sections; a plurality of lateral strings having a generally common length directly attached to both the first and second straight sections of the outer frame; and a plurality of longitudinal strings having a generally common length directly attached to the lateral frame section.
  • the lateral frame section may be a distal lateral frame section and be attached to the distal generally curved section.
  • This racket may further comprise a proximal lateral frame section distinct from the outer frame and attached to the proximal generally curved section of the outer frame; wherein the plurality of longitudinal strings are further directly attached to the proximal lateral frame section.
  • the proximal lateral frame section and the distal lateral frame section may be formed as straight sections.
  • the distal lateral frame section may be formed as a curved section.
  • the curve of the distal lateral frame section may generally parallel to the proximal generally curved section of the outer frame.
  • the plurality of longitudinal strings may be directly attached to the proximal generally curved section of the outer frame.
  • a majority of the lateral strings are generally a same length, and a majority of the longitudinal strings are generally a same length.
  • the strings may utilize variable string tensions.
  • the frame may include perimeter weighting.
  • An additional embodiment of the invention is directed to a tennis racket comprising: a handle; an outer frame comprising: a proximal generally curved section proximate to and attached to the handle, a portion of the proximal generally curved section defining a portion of a throat section via which the outer frame is attached to the handle; a distal generally curved section opposite the proximal generally curved section; the tennis racket further comprising: a distal lateral frame section distinct from the outer frame and attached to the distal generally curved section; a plurality of lateral strings directly attached to the outer frame; and a plurality of longitudinal strings directly attached to the distal lateral frame section.
  • an additional embodiment of the invention is directed to a tennis racket comprising: a handle; a frame comprising longitudinal string attachment points and lateral string attachment points; a plurality of longitudinal strings attached to the longitudinal string attachment points, wherein a majority of the plurality of longitudinal strings are of generally a same length, and a minority of the plurality of longitudinal strings are of a length shorter than the length of the majority of the plurality of longitudinal strings; and a plurality of lateral strings attached to the lateral string attachment points, wherein a majority of the plurality of lateral strings are of generally a same length, and a minority of the plurality of lateral strings are of a length shorter than the length of the majority of the plurality of lateral strings.
  • FIG. 1 is a graphical diagram illustrating velocity ratio contours for an oval racket
  • FIG. 2 is a graphical diagram illustrating velocity ratio contours for a rectangular racket
  • FIG. 3 is a graphical diagram illustrating velocity ratio contours for an oval racket with optimal tension values
  • FIG. 4 is a graphical diagram illustrating velocity ratio contours for a rectangular racket with optimal tension values
  • FIG. 5 is a graphical diagram illustrating velocity ratio contours for an oval racket with a weighted frame
  • FIG. 6 is a graphical diagram illustrating velocity ratio contours for a rectangular racket with a weighted frame
  • FIG. 7 is a pictorial diagram of a first embodiment according to the invention comprising straight components
  • FIG. 8 is a pictorial diagram of a second embodiment according to the invention comprising curved components
  • FIG. 9 is a pictorial diagram of a rectangular racket with a superimposed sweet spot illustration
  • FIG. 10 is a pictorial diagram of the first embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 7 with a superimposed sweet spot illustration
  • FIG. 11 is a pictorial diagram of the first embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 8 with a superimposed sweet spot illustration
  • FIG. 12 is a pictorial diagram of a conventional oval racket with a superimposed sweet spot illustration.
  • an outer frame 20 which has a distal frame curve 22 and proximal frame curve 24 , as in conventional rackets, but which incorporates straight parallel components 25 a, 25 b at the top and bottom portions of the frame 20 , which connect to these curved sections 22 , 24 .
  • proximal relates to being proximate the racket handle 21
  • distal relates to being distal from the racket handle 21 .
  • the frame incorporates parallel vertical sections, including a distal straight frame component 26 . 1 and a proximal straight frame component 28 . 1 located near the right and left ends of the frame respectively.
  • These vertical sections 26 . 1 , 28 . 1 strengthen the frame, to compensate for the inherent weakness of the straight components, and also provide interior anchors for most of the longitudinal strings 30 (left-right strings in the Figures).
  • the upper- and lower-most of these strings 30 a, 30 b have slightly shorter lengths, but these strings 30 a, 30 b are in areas of the racket face of low performance and so the effect of their shortening is minimal.
  • Most of the lateral strings 32 (up-down strings in the Figures) on the proximal side of the face are also of equal length.
  • the lateral strings 32 b on the distal side of the face are of increasingly shorter length, but again, these strings 32 b are in areas of low performance.
  • the sweet spot of this racket will be almost as large as that of a rectangular racket, but this embodiment of the racket frame will be much stronger for a given weight.
  • FIG. 8 there is also an outer frame 20 which is curved at the distal 22 and proximal 24 ends, as in conventional rackets, and which incorporates straight parallel components 25 a, 25 b at the top and bottom, which connect to these curved sections 22 , 24 .
  • an internal curved section 26 . 2 at the distal end, which is parallel to a curved section 28 . 2 at the left end of the frame.
  • This vertical section 26 . 2 strengthens the distal half of the frame, again to compensate for the inherent weakness of the straight components, and it also provides an interior anchor for most of the longitudinal strings 30 .
  • the throat section 27 at the proximal end similarly strengthens the proximal half of the frame. Notice that the added curved section 26 . 2 on the distal end serves to structurally balance the effect of the throat 27 on the proximal end.
  • the longitudinal strings 30 running between the parallel distal 26 . 2 and proximal 28 . 2 curved sections will all be of equal length, as will the lateral strings 32 running between the parallel upper and lower straight segments 25 a, 25 b.
  • the longitudinal strings 30 a, 30 b running between the left curved section 28 . 2 and the right curved 26 . 2 sections above and below the parallel segment are of shorter lengths, as are the lateral strings 32 b to the right of the straight segments 25 a, 25 b, but these strings 32 b are again in areas of the racket face of low performance, and so the effect is again minimal.
  • the lateral strings 32 a to the left of the straight segments 25 a, 25 b are also of shorter length.
  • the central parts of these strings lie in an area of high-performance, and so the negative effect of these shorter strings is minimal and can be compensated for by decreasing the tensions in these strings.
  • the sweet spot of this racket will again be almost as large as that of a rectangular racket, and again this racket frame will be much stronger for a given weight.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 are compared with a conventional racket and a rectangular racket in FIGS. 9-12 .
  • the frames are drawn to scale, with selected strings and sweet spots indicated.
  • the length of the handle 21 and throat 27 is the same for each racket (about 13′′).
  • the length of the longest horizontal string (14′′) and the longest vertical string (11′′) is also the same for each racket.
  • the overall lengths of the rectangular racket shown in FIG. 9 and the conventional racket shown in FIG. 12 are about 27′′, whereas the new rackets shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are about 2′′ longer because of the added structures at the right/distal ends.
  • the sweet spot 10 of the rectangular racket shown in FIG. 9 is much larger than that of the conventional racket shown in FIG. 12 .
  • the sweet spots 10 of the new rackets shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are seen to be nearly as large as that of the rectangular racket, and still much larger than that of the conventional racket.
  • These new rackets also have larger moments of inertia and better improvements from using variable string tensions and perimeter weighting.
  • the new racket designs have the advantages of lighter weight (for the same degree of stability) and better playability.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Golf Clubs (AREA)
US11/220,953 2004-09-07 2005-09-07 Tennis racket having a primarily rectangular shape Abandoned US20060084531A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/220,953 US20060084531A1 (en) 2004-09-07 2005-09-07 Tennis racket having a primarily rectangular shape

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US60763204P 2004-09-07 2004-09-07
US11/220,953 US20060084531A1 (en) 2004-09-07 2005-09-07 Tennis racket having a primarily rectangular shape

Publications (1)

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US20060084531A1 true US20060084531A1 (en) 2006-04-20

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US11/220,953 Abandoned US20060084531A1 (en) 2004-09-07 2005-09-07 Tennis racket having a primarily rectangular shape

Country Status (2)

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US (1) US20060084531A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2006029170A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013028860A1 (fr) * 2011-08-24 2013-02-28 Ojoee Industries, Inc. Raquette de tennis qui présente une aire de frappe optimisée et une partie de ramassage de balle

Citations (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1536255A (en) * 1922-10-23 1925-05-05 Beal Frank Peer Racket
US3507494A (en) * 1967-08-09 1970-04-21 Harry Finkel Game racket with resiliently supported net
US3734499A (en) * 1971-12-28 1973-05-22 F Goldstein Racket with resilient surface
US4013289A (en) * 1975-06-30 1977-03-22 Bernard Kaminstein Tennis racket
US4212461A (en) * 1978-07-10 1980-07-15 Fansteel Inc. Composite high strength to weight structure having shell and weight controlled core
US4439908A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-04-03 Mcdonald Ernest Method for stringing a racquet
US4512575A (en) * 1982-11-30 1985-04-23 Tzeng Kuo Nan Racquet having strings of equal length
US4566695A (en) * 1983-03-17 1986-01-28 Melby Phillip J Game racket having adjustable string mounts
USD292522S (en) * 1985-03-12 1987-10-27 Thompson Larry D Tennis racquet
US4750742A (en) * 1986-06-17 1988-06-14 Coupar Robert B Modified one-span stringing racquet and method of stringing
US4798382A (en) * 1987-01-16 1989-01-17 Spalding & Evenflo Companies, Inc. Double inverted bridge tennis racket
US4834383A (en) * 1986-09-11 1989-05-30 Skis Rossignol S. A. Tennis racket with equal string lengths
US4861029A (en) * 1987-01-26 1989-08-29 Yamaha Corp. Racket frame
US4880234A (en) * 1984-02-13 1989-11-14 Salisbury William F Training racket for propelling baseballs and softballs
USD306054S (en) * 1986-12-19 1990-02-13 Cheng-Sheng Chen Racket
US4964635A (en) * 1989-04-14 1990-10-23 Fitzgerald Gary C Tennis racket
US5037097A (en) * 1988-08-18 1991-08-06 Athletic Alternatives, Inc. Sports racket
USD339394S (en) * 1992-01-06 1993-09-14 Rammer, Inc. Ball racket
US5386991A (en) * 1992-09-30 1995-02-07 Rochette; Robert C. Games rackets
USD367904S (en) * 1994-09-06 1996-03-12 Hodges Joseph J Tennis racket
US5702313A (en) * 1997-02-13 1997-12-30 Lisco, Inc. Game racket with primary and secondary yokes
US6132325A (en) * 1997-06-25 2000-10-17 Bertolotti; Fabio P Interlocking string network for sport rackets
US6344006B1 (en) * 2000-11-17 2002-02-05 Richard A. Brandt Sports racket having a uniform string structure
US20020098924A1 (en) * 2001-01-23 2002-07-25 Houser Russell A. Athletic devices and other devices with superelastic components
US20020142869A1 (en) * 2001-03-28 2002-10-03 Nevers Larry J. Ball launching racket

Patent Citations (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1536255A (en) * 1922-10-23 1925-05-05 Beal Frank Peer Racket
US3507494A (en) * 1967-08-09 1970-04-21 Harry Finkel Game racket with resiliently supported net
US3734499A (en) * 1971-12-28 1973-05-22 F Goldstein Racket with resilient surface
US4013289A (en) * 1975-06-30 1977-03-22 Bernard Kaminstein Tennis racket
US4212461A (en) * 1978-07-10 1980-07-15 Fansteel Inc. Composite high strength to weight structure having shell and weight controlled core
US4439908A (en) * 1982-09-30 1984-04-03 Mcdonald Ernest Method for stringing a racquet
US4512575A (en) * 1982-11-30 1985-04-23 Tzeng Kuo Nan Racquet having strings of equal length
US4566695A (en) * 1983-03-17 1986-01-28 Melby Phillip J Game racket having adjustable string mounts
US4880234A (en) * 1984-02-13 1989-11-14 Salisbury William F Training racket for propelling baseballs and softballs
USD292522S (en) * 1985-03-12 1987-10-27 Thompson Larry D Tennis racquet
US4750742A (en) * 1986-06-17 1988-06-14 Coupar Robert B Modified one-span stringing racquet and method of stringing
US4834383A (en) * 1986-09-11 1989-05-30 Skis Rossignol S. A. Tennis racket with equal string lengths
USD306054S (en) * 1986-12-19 1990-02-13 Cheng-Sheng Chen Racket
US4798382A (en) * 1987-01-16 1989-01-17 Spalding & Evenflo Companies, Inc. Double inverted bridge tennis racket
US4861029A (en) * 1987-01-26 1989-08-29 Yamaha Corp. Racket frame
US5037097A (en) * 1988-08-18 1991-08-06 Athletic Alternatives, Inc. Sports racket
US4964635A (en) * 1989-04-14 1990-10-23 Fitzgerald Gary C Tennis racket
USD339394S (en) * 1992-01-06 1993-09-14 Rammer, Inc. Ball racket
US5386991A (en) * 1992-09-30 1995-02-07 Rochette; Robert C. Games rackets
USD367904S (en) * 1994-09-06 1996-03-12 Hodges Joseph J Tennis racket
US5702313A (en) * 1997-02-13 1997-12-30 Lisco, Inc. Game racket with primary and secondary yokes
US6132325A (en) * 1997-06-25 2000-10-17 Bertolotti; Fabio P Interlocking string network for sport rackets
US6344006B1 (en) * 2000-11-17 2002-02-05 Richard A. Brandt Sports racket having a uniform string structure
US20020098924A1 (en) * 2001-01-23 2002-07-25 Houser Russell A. Athletic devices and other devices with superelastic components
US20020142869A1 (en) * 2001-03-28 2002-10-03 Nevers Larry J. Ball launching racket
US6572498B2 (en) * 2001-03-28 2003-06-03 Larry J. Nevers Ball launching racket
US20030190986A1 (en) * 2001-03-28 2003-10-09 Nevers Larry J. Ball launching racket

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013028860A1 (fr) * 2011-08-24 2013-02-28 Ojoee Industries, Inc. Raquette de tennis qui présente une aire de frappe optimisée et une partie de ramassage de balle
CN103889516A (zh) * 2011-08-24 2014-06-25 奥乔伊工业股份有限公司 具有优化的击球区域和球收集部分的网球拍
US9119993B2 (en) 2011-08-24 2015-09-01 Ojoee Industries, Inc. Tennis racket having an optimized striking area
US20150335960A1 (en) * 2011-08-24 2015-11-26 Ojoee Industries, Inc. Tennis racket having an optimized striking area

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WO2006029170A3 (fr) 2006-10-26
WO2006029170A2 (fr) 2006-03-16

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