US3805366A - Method of manufacturing a tennis racket - Google Patents
Method of manufacturing a tennis racket Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3805366A US3805366A US00261345A US26134572A US3805366A US 3805366 A US3805366 A US 3805366A US 00261345 A US00261345 A US 00261345A US 26134572 A US26134572 A US 26134572A US 3805366 A US3805366 A US 3805366A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- racket
- strip
- frame strip
- plastic
- stringing
- Prior art date
- 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.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- 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
- A63B49/12—Frames made of metal
-
- 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
- A63B49/022—String guides on frames, e.g. grommets
-
- 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
- A63B49/03—Frames characterised by throat sections, i.e. sections or elements between the head and the shaft
-
- 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
- A63B49/08—Frames with special construction of the handle
-
- 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
- A63B49/028—Means for achieving greater mobility of the string bed
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
- Y10T29/49838—Assembling or joining by stringing
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
- Y10T29/49888—Subsequently coating
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
- Y10T29/49947—Assembling or joining by applying separate fastener
- Y10T29/49963—Threaded fastener
- Y10T29/49964—At least one part nonmetallic
Definitions
- FIG. 1 A first figure.
- This invention relates to tennis rackets and methods for their manufacture.
- edges of the holes on the inner surface of the tube are inaccessible to finishing procedures and as such ordinarily present sharp edges which cause failure of the strings or string accommodating grommets provided therethrough.
- grommets Even the provision of grommets has not satisfactorily overcome this problem since the sharp edges are equally destructive of the grommet material which, upon failure, exposes the strings to wear.
- workers such as La Coste have suggested the elimination of stringing holes and have proposed that the strings be supported by a wire coiled around the racket frame.
- Such structure has subjected the string material to short radius deflections which generate rapid wear and for this, as well as other reasons recognizable to those in the art, is considered to be unsatis' factory.
- a final difficulty experienced in the prior art metal frame strip racket structures has been a lack of strength in the throat of the racket.
- rackets of known structure have been subject to deformation in torsion around the throat, which deformation has often resulted in the permanent deformation of the racket material thus misaligning the racket.
- the tennis racket of the invention may include a racket frame having a frame strip defining a stringing section and a handle section, a throat piece and a handle means, wherein the frame strip has a cross-sectional configuration with a strength factor in the range of .0516Y, to .0580Y,.
- Another aspect of the invention comprises a novel aluminum frame strip for manufacturing tennis rackets, which strip comprises first and second tubular portions separated by a web portion, and wherein the strip is configured in cross-section to provide a strength factor in the range of .0516Y, to .0580Y,.
- Yet another aspect of the invention comprises a method of manufacturing a tennis racket having a metal frame strip, comprising the steps of punching string receiving holes in a metal frame strip, bending the frame strip to define a stringing sectionand a handle section, securing a throat piece in the throat of the stringing section, molding a handle on the handle section and stringing the racket.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tennis racket according to the invention
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1;
- FIGS. 3 A-D are a schematic presentation of the steps of manufacturing a tennis racket according to the method of the invention.
- a tennis racket according to the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral l0.
- Racket includes a racket frame comprising a frame strip 12 which is bent to form a generally oval stringing section 14 and a handle section 16 defined by the opposed end sections l7, 18 of frame strip 12 extending from stringing section 14 in parallel spaced relationship.
- Throat piece 19 cooperates with oval string section 14 of frame strip 12 to define the generally oval impact area of the racket 10.
- Frame strip 12 comprises a monolithic strip having first and second outer tubular portions 21 and 22, which tubular portions are separated by a web section 23.
- Tubular portions 21 and 22, and web section 23 are cooperatively shaped on their one surface to define a generally rectangular channel 25, and on their opposed surface to define a generally trapezoidal channel 26.
- Rectangular channel 25 accommodates the positioning therein of a grommet strip 28 comprising a base strip of material having formed thereon a plurality of integral grommets 29.
- grommets 29 extend through holes 31 formed in the web section 23 of frame strip 12. It is to be recognized that although grommet strip 28 is shown as a single element, more than a single strip can be utilized equally as effectively.
- Throat piece 19 comprises a molded structure having outer curved surfaces which conform in curvature to the desired curve of frame strip 12 in the area of the racket throat so that when assembled, the throat piece 19 and the frame strip 12 are in surface-to-surface engagement.
- the outer surfaces of throat piece 19 are also shaped to conform to the crosssectional configuration of channel 26 in frame strip 12 so that the surface-to-surface contact and therewith the structural integrity of the racket is enhanced.
- the inner surface 35 of throat piece 19 is provided with a plurality of raised portions 37 adjacent the surface openings of passages (not shown) provided in throat piece 19 to accommodate the passage of racket strings therethrough.
- Raised portions 37 define fillets or curved support surfaces for the strings passing from the throat piece passages to the ball impact area of the racket. Such surfaces are provided to define string support surfaces of relatively large radii so that the problem of excessive string wear discussed above will not be experienced at the passage openings of throat piece 19.
- Handle section 16 of racket 10 comprises the opposed end sections 17 and 18 of frame strip 12 which, because of the bending of the frame strip to define oval stringing section 14, extend in parallel spaced relationship.
- the lower extremities of end sections 17 and 18 are rigidly secured in parallel spaced relationship by being encased in a plastic material such as foamed polyurethane.
- the foamed polyurethane serves the dual function of rigidly securing frame strip end sections 17 and 18 and defining the desired octagonal shape around which a strip of handle material 38 may be wrapped to form a handle 39.
- the racket frame may be strung with suitable stringing material such as gut 41 as shown or other materials known to those skilled in the art.
- a frame strip 12 which has been extruded into the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 2 by conventional extrusion methods, is provided with a plurality of holes 31 by punching or similar operations.
- the frame strip 12 may be formed from an aluminum alloy and, in this regard, 606l-T6 aluminum alloy is the material of choice. Holes 31 are formed through web 23 and as such generate no internal sharp edges as has been experienced in holes through tubular shapes as discussed above.
- throat piece 19 is positioned in the throat of frame 12, snugly within channel 26, and secured to the frame strip by self tapping screws 41.
- the piece may be manufac tured by molding into the desired shape using a material such as nylon.
- Other materials such as polypropylene and ABS (acrylonitriIe-butadiene-styrene) may be used with satisfactory results. 7
- grommet strip 28 which may be a preformed strip manufactured from suitable material such as nylon, may be inserted in channel 25 of strip 12 in such a manner that grommets 29 extend through holes 31 (FIGS. 2 and 3C). With the grommet strip 28 so positioned, its ends are secured to frame strip 12 by securing with screws 42.
- Ends 17 and 18 of handle section 16 of the racket are then positioned within the die cavity 45 of a molding die 46 shown schematically in FIG. 3C, so that the lower extremity of the end sections 17 and 18 is spaced from the bottom of the cavity 45.
- the particular spacing is considered to be a matter of choice; however,
- the inner surface of die cavity 45 is shaped to define the desired shape of handle 38 which in the racket is octagonal.
- a charge of suitable foamable molding material such as polyurethane foam is introduced into the die cavity and allowed to expand therein.
- curing is permitted for asuitable period (e.g., 20 minutes) until the handle can be removed from the die 46 without experiencing deformation of the molding material.
- a further curing period e.g., 24 hours
- the handle may be wrapped (FIG. 3D) with a suitable handle strip material such as leather which is known to those skilled in the art.
- the racket may be strung.
- the racket may be finished for sale by the addition of suitable labels, a surface finish or other finishing touches which are both known by and within the skill of those in the art.
- racket strength factor is equal to I Y,/A where I is the moment of inertia of the frame strip shape around its longitudinal axis, Y, is the yield stress of the material being used and A is the area of material exposed by a transverse cross-section of the strip shape, e.g., the area of strip material shown in FIG. 2.
- tennis rackets range in weight from approximately 12.5 ounces to 14.5 ounces, which range defines the light to heavy range generally accepted in thesport. If, in order to provide racket strength, it becomes necessary to utilize substantially ble and the racket must either become too heavy or inferior by reason of racket strength.
- the novel extrusion shape for frame strip 12 defines a shape of such high moment of inertia that less structural material is required and devices such as grommets 29 and in particular grommet strip 28, which materially simplifies manufacturing procedures, can be utilized.
- the moment of inertia defining shape of frame strip 12 thus becomes a critical shape in taking full advantage of the present invention and, in this regard, the criticality of the shape can best be defined by the racket strength factor which it renders possible. More particularly, the frame strip 12 shown incross-section in FIG. 2 has enabled the achievement of strength factors in the range of from .0516 Y, to .0580Y,, which factors have not heretofore been achievable in aluminum rackets.
- One example of a frame strip shape such. as that shown in FIG. 2 which has provided a strength factor in the above-defined critical range is a strip manufactured from 6061-T6 aluminum alloy with the following dimensions:
- the racket of the invention defines a substantial step forward in the art. Among other advantages it is capable of being conventionally strung, i.e., through frame holes, without the incidence of excessive string wear, it provides racket strength factors which are over 20 per cent greater than known first quality aluminum rackets without exceeding the accepted range of total racket weight, it provides a racket which is stronger in torsion than known rackets, and it comprises a racket capable of being manufactured by a novel process which is less complicated and less expensive than any others known in the art. V
- the method according to claim 1 further including the steps of positioning a grommet strip having a plurality of grommets formed thereon around said generally oval stringing section formed by said bent frame strip and inserting said grommets into said spaced holes formed in said bent frame strip.
- Method according to claim 2 including the further step of stringing said racket.
- plastic throat piece in said second channel of said bent extruded metal frame strip with selftapping screws, said plastic throat piece having outer surfaces formed complementary to said second channel and said secured plastic throat piece forming, in combination with said partially oval section of said bent frame strip, an oval stringing section for said racket, and said plastic throat piece having passages formed therein; and inserting predetermined lower portions of said handle end sections into a mold and positioning the ends of said handle end sections at a predetermined distance from the bottom of the mold;
- Method according to claim 10 wherein said step of increasing the capability to deform is accomplished by soaking the material of said plastic throat piece and said grommet strip in a predetermined fluid for a predetermined amount of time and at a predetermined temperature.
- step of molding said plastic handle about said spaced apart generally parallel handle end sections is accomplished by placing a charge of foamable plastic molding material in said die cavity, allowing said foamable plastic molding material to expand, and curing said ex-
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Pulmonology (AREA)
- Laminated Bodies (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (12)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US00261345A US3805366A (en) | 1969-08-28 | 1972-06-09 | Method of manufacturing a tennis racket |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US85367669A | 1969-08-28 | 1969-08-28 | |
US00261345A US3805366A (en) | 1969-08-28 | 1972-06-09 | Method of manufacturing a tennis racket |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3805366A true US3805366A (en) | 1974-04-23 |
Family
ID=26948541
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00261345A Expired - Lifetime US3805366A (en) | 1969-08-28 | 1972-06-09 | Method of manufacturing a tennis racket |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3805366A (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4220335A (en) * | 1977-12-31 | 1980-09-02 | Alloway Trust Limited | Games rackets |
USRE31224E (en) * | 1976-10-15 | 1983-05-03 | Leach Industries, Inc. | Metal-plastic composite racquet |
DE3324140C1 (en) * | 1983-07-05 | 1985-02-21 | Puma-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler Kg, 8522 Herzogenaurach | Flexible sleeve band with protective sleeves for ball game, especially tennis rackets |
US5029859A (en) * | 1989-04-10 | 1991-07-09 | Prince Manufacturing, Inc. | Protective bumper strip, especially for wide body tennis racquets |
US20040031127A1 (en) * | 2002-08-13 | 2004-02-19 | Sheng-Jen Chen | Handle grip structure |
US20040031128A1 (en) * | 2002-08-13 | 2004-02-19 | Sheng-Jen Chen | Handle grip structure |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1536288A (en) * | 1922-12-26 | 1925-05-05 | Rubber Dev Company | Method of manufacture of rubber compound |
GB269955A (en) * | 1926-01-02 | 1927-05-02 | Neville Alexander Thomas Nix F | Improvements in tennis racquets |
US1750644A (en) * | 1922-11-20 | 1930-03-18 | Dayton Steel Racquet Company | Handle for tennis rackets and the like |
US2171223A (en) * | 1937-12-02 | 1939-08-29 | Roy H Robinson | Racket for tennis and batting games and method of manufacturing same |
US3528658A (en) * | 1968-03-06 | 1970-09-15 | Charger Corp | Racket and method of making same |
US3533154A (en) * | 1969-03-17 | 1970-10-13 | Howard R Ward | Process for separating rubber and plastic from metal bushings |
US3540728A (en) * | 1967-11-08 | 1970-11-17 | George R Palmer | Racket with metal frame welded to handle sleeve |
US3625512A (en) * | 1968-01-26 | 1971-12-07 | Peter A Latham | Extruded racket having two seamless hollow tubes formed with an interconnecting web |
-
1972
- 1972-06-09 US US00261345A patent/US3805366A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1750644A (en) * | 1922-11-20 | 1930-03-18 | Dayton Steel Racquet Company | Handle for tennis rackets and the like |
US1536288A (en) * | 1922-12-26 | 1925-05-05 | Rubber Dev Company | Method of manufacture of rubber compound |
GB269955A (en) * | 1926-01-02 | 1927-05-02 | Neville Alexander Thomas Nix F | Improvements in tennis racquets |
US2171223A (en) * | 1937-12-02 | 1939-08-29 | Roy H Robinson | Racket for tennis and batting games and method of manufacturing same |
US3540728A (en) * | 1967-11-08 | 1970-11-17 | George R Palmer | Racket with metal frame welded to handle sleeve |
US3625512A (en) * | 1968-01-26 | 1971-12-07 | Peter A Latham | Extruded racket having two seamless hollow tubes formed with an interconnecting web |
US3528658A (en) * | 1968-03-06 | 1970-09-15 | Charger Corp | Racket and method of making same |
US3533154A (en) * | 1969-03-17 | 1970-10-13 | Howard R Ward | Process for separating rubber and plastic from metal bushings |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USRE31224E (en) * | 1976-10-15 | 1983-05-03 | Leach Industries, Inc. | Metal-plastic composite racquet |
US4220335A (en) * | 1977-12-31 | 1980-09-02 | Alloway Trust Limited | Games rackets |
DE3324140C1 (en) * | 1983-07-05 | 1985-02-21 | Puma-Sportschuhfabriken Rudolf Dassler Kg, 8522 Herzogenaurach | Flexible sleeve band with protective sleeves for ball game, especially tennis rackets |
US5029859A (en) * | 1989-04-10 | 1991-07-09 | Prince Manufacturing, Inc. | Protective bumper strip, especially for wide body tennis racquets |
US20040031127A1 (en) * | 2002-08-13 | 2004-02-19 | Sheng-Jen Chen | Handle grip structure |
US20040031128A1 (en) * | 2002-08-13 | 2004-02-19 | Sheng-Jen Chen | Handle grip structure |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED FILE - (OLD CASE ADDED FOR FILE TRACKING PURPOSES) |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AMF HEAD INC., 4801 NORTH 63RD ST., BOULDER, CO. 8 Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMF INCORPORATED, A NJ. CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004688/0110 Effective date: 19870227 Owner name: AMF HEAD INC.,COLORADO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMF INCORPORATED, A NJ. CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004688/0110 Effective date: 19870227 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HEAD SPORTS, INC., A CORP. OF DE., COLORADO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:AMF INCORPORATED;REEL/FRAME:005201/0022 Effective date: 19890302 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SUMITOMO BANK, LIMITED, THE, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:HEAD SPORTS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005150/0490 Effective date: 19890331 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS AGENT Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SPALDING & EVENFLO COMPANIES, INC.5750A NORTH NOOVER BLVD., TAMPA, FL. 33630, A CORP. OF DE.;REEL/FRAME:005249/0749 Effective date: 19900103 |