WO1994015674A2 - Long string tennis racquet - Google Patents
Long string tennis racquet Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1994015674A2 WO1994015674A2 PCT/US1993/007204 US9307204W WO9415674A2 WO 1994015674 A2 WO1994015674 A2 WO 1994015674A2 US 9307204 W US9307204 W US 9307204W WO 9415674 A2 WO9415674 A2 WO 9415674A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- racquet
- inches
- strings
- frame
- stringing
- Prior art date
Links
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
-
- 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
- A63B2049/0201—Frames with defined head dimensions
- A63B2049/0202—Frames with defined head dimensions surface area
-
- 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
- A63B2049/0201—Frames with defined head dimensions
- A63B2049/0203—Frames with defined head dimensions height
-
- 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
- A63B2049/0201—Frames with defined head dimensions
- A63B2049/0204—Frames with defined head dimensions width
-
- 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
- A63B2049/0207—Frames with defined overall length
-
- 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
- A63B60/002—Resonance frequency related characteristics
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an improvement in oversized tennis racquets.
- Howard Head U.S. patent No. 3,999,756 discloses a tennis racquet having a strung surface with a length between 12 and 15 inches, a maximum width in the range of 9 to 11*. inches, and a strung surface area between 85 and 130 square inches.
- Racquets made in accordance with the principles of the Howard Head invention have a larger sweet spot, and exhibit better power and performance, than prior racquets, and accordingly most tennis racquets made today are made according to the Howard Head invention.
- racquets While most tennis racquets have a conventional overall length of about 27 inches, racquets are made in varying head sizes. Two of the more common head sizes are, respectively, the so-called “mid-size” racquet, with a head strung surface size of about 90-95 square inches, and the “oversize” racquet, with a head size of about 110 square inches, although these can vary.
- While the Howard Head patent discloses head sizes larger than 110 square inches, as a practical matter racquets with a strung surface area much above 110 square inches are not popular. This is due to the fact that, aside from the weight penalty, the racquet becomes unwieldy if the frame is made too large, particularly if the width increases excessively.
- a tennis racquet which is provided with certain structural characteristics can be made light weight, and at the same time exhibit a surprising improvement in maneuverability and stability while retaining good power.
- These properties are achieved by providing a lightweight racquet with properties including an increased mass moment of inertia and increased radius of gyration about the center of mass, compared to conventional racquets; by elongating the stringing area without increasing the maximum width or polar moment of inertia; by locating the longest cross strings (the widest portion of the frame) between the geometric center of the stringing area and the tip; by making the racquet slightly head heavy; and by providing a certain minimum frequency to maintain good power.
- a tennis racquet frame and bridge piece are configured so as to define a novel, egg-shape stringing area containing interwoven main and cross strings.
- the term "egg-shape” refers to a geometry wherein the border of the stringing area is a continuous convex curve, formed of a multitude of radii, and wherein the radius of curvature at the six o'clock position (the end of the stringing area adjacent the handle) is smaller than at the 12 o'clock position (the racquet tip) .
- the radius at the 12:00 o'clock position (tip) is between 100 -170 mm, and the radius at the 6:00 o'clock position is between 30 - 100 mm.
- the stringing area has an aspect ratio (ratio of length/width) in the range of 1.3 - 1.7, and most preferably about 1.4.
- the widest point of the strung surface is located at a point greater than 5% of the distance from the geometric center of the strung surface (the mid-point of the long axis of the strung surface) toward the tip, and most preferably about 17 mm from the geometric center toward the tip.
- the frame is sized so that the major axis of the egg (length of the stringing surface) is at least 14-s inches, the maximum width of the stringing surface is less than 10.75 inches, and the overall string plane area defined by the egg is between 112 in 2 and 120 in 2 .
- this egg-shape frame due to its novel geometry, produces a surprisingly controllable, yet quite powerful, racquet which is stronger than comparable racquets of other shapes.
- the shorter cross strings are disposed at the highest power zone of the racquet (i.e., closer to throat), whereas the longest cross strings are located at a lower coefficient of restitution zone nearer the tip.
- the geometry of the cross strings helps even out the power zone.
- a tennis racquet has a standard overall length of about 27 inches and includes a head portion and throat bridge defining a generally egg-shape stringing area.
- a plurality of interwoven main and cross strings form a strung surface and are received in holes in the frame.
- the stringing area has a maximum width of about 10.75 inches or less, and a length greater than 14 inches, and preferably about 15 inches or more.
- a conventional 110 square inch racquet has a strung surface length of about 13 h inches, and a maximum width of about 10.4 inches.
- a racquet according to the present invention has an increased strung surface length while at least generally maintaining the same overall width. This may be accomplished by using a similar frame head shape but relocating the bridge piece toward the handle.
- the holes for at least some, and preferably most or all, of the main and cross strings are staggered such that the strings cross their respective outer-most crossing string on one string surface, i.e., facing one side of the central stringing plane, and engage the frame on the opposite side of the central plane.
- the strung surface exhibits a more uniform string plane response.
- Fig. 1 is a front view of a tennis racquet according to the invention
- Fig. 2 is a side view of the tennis racquet of Fig. 1, in which the strings have been omitted for clarity;
- Fig. 3 is a view a portion of the frame of the racquet of Fig. 1, with the strings omitted for clarity, taken in the direction of lines 3-3 of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 4 is a view of a portion of the frame of the racquet of Fig. 1, with the strings omitted for clarity, taken in the direction of lines 4-4 of Fig. 1; and
- Fig. 5 is a view, taken in the direction of lines 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the string ends of a pair of cross strings intersecting the outermost main string.
- a tennis racquet includes generally a frame 10 and a handle 12.
- the frame is preferably formed of a composite material (e.g., fiber-reinforced thermoset or thermoplastic resin), but may also be formed of metal.
- the handle is a light weight handle, such as a molded in handle such as used in the Prince Graphite Lite XB tennis racquet.
- the racquet has a standard overall length of about 27 inches.
- the frame 10 includes a head portion 14, a pair of converging frame portions 16 extending from said head portion 14 and forming a throat region, a shaft 18 extending from the converging frame portions 16 and supporting the handle 12, and a bridge piece 20 arranged between said converging frame portions 16 to define, with said head portion 14, a generally egg shape stringing area 22.
- the head portion 14, converging frame portions 16, shaft 18, and handle 12 may have conventional dimensions, e.g., for a 110 square inch racquet.
- the bridge piece 20 is located further toward the handle 12, so that the strung surface area 22 is larger than 110 square inches, e.g. 116 square inches.
- the head portion and throat piece define an egg shape stringing area.
- the radius of the stringing area at the 12:00 o'clock position is 124 mm, whereas the radius at 6:00 is 50 mm, and increases to a maximum radius of 209 mm at about the 3:30 and 8:30 positions.
- the racquet frame has a constant cross sectional height (the dimension perpendicular to the stringing plane) , preferably between 22 and 26mm.
- the frame employs a constant taper system geometry, as disclosed in U.S. patent No. 5,037,098.
- the frame height varies from 24mm just above the handle to 34mm at the tip. However, other dimensions, such as 24mm at the handle to 30mm at the tip, may be employed, depending on the desired frame characteristics.
- the stringing area 22 has a conventional maximum width which is less than about 10.75 inches, and a length (along the central axis 24) of greater than 14% inches, and most preferably between about 15 inches (e.g., 14.9 inches) and about 15 inches.
- the racquet further includes a plurality of interwoven main 26 and cross 28 strings forming a strung surface.
- the racquet is constructed so as to have certain properties.
- the strung weight of the racquet should preferably be less than 300 grams.
- the polar moment of inertia (the mass moment of inertia about the longitudinal axis of the racquet) should be less than 1.90 gram-m 2 , and preferably between 1.6 - 1.7 gram-m 2 , and the balance point (center of gravity) should be located at least 13.4 inches from the butt end.
- the strung surface length should be greater than 14% inches
- the frame should have a minimum free space frequency of 140 Hz for a composite racquet (100 Hz for a metal racquet) .
- the cross sectional width of the frame is 11% - 12 mm.
- the throat piece is located further away from the center of gravity than in conventional racquets. This acts not only to increase the string length, but also to increase the mass moment of inertia about the center of gravity and improve the stability of the racquet by reducing the tendency of the racquet to kick upon impact of balls away from the center of percussion.
- the ends of the respective main and cross strings are arranged in a staggered pattern, described further below.
- the main strings 26 include a pair of strings 30 located outermost from the geometric center GC of the strung surface at opposed locations; similarly, the cross strings include a pair of strings 32 located outermost from the geometric center. Each of these outermost strings 30, 32 form the last crossing string of the respective cross or main string before it engages the frame head portion 13.
- Fig. 2 illustrates holes 34 which have been drilled in the frame head portion 14 for receiving the racquet strings.
- the holes are not located in the central stringing plane 36, but rather are staggered such as to lie alternatively on opposite sides of the plane 36.
- the amount of stagger is reduced in the corners of the racquet, as described further in connection with Figures 3-5.
- the holes 40 for the cross strings lie at a constant distance from the center stringing plane 36, but on alternate sides. This will be referred to herein as a full stagger, and is employed for most of the cross strings 28 and for the upper ends of the main strings 26, except for the upper corners.
- Fig. 5 which illustrates a full stagger for two successive cross strings 28a and 28b
- the first 28a of the two cross strings extends over the outermost main string 30, and is thereafter directed to engage the frame head portion 14, through grommet 40a, which extends through a pair of string holes 40a formed in the hollow frame, which is located below the central stringing plane 36.
- the cross string 28a engages the outermost main string 30 at an angle ⁇ which is less than 180°.
- the string 28a passes through string hole 40a and enters the stringing groove 15, where it crosses the central plane 36 to string hole 40b.
- the next cross string 28b extends under the outermost main string 30, and then extends upwardly to engage the next main string (not shown) .
- the angle by which the cross strings 28a, 28b diverge toward the center of the stringing surface i.e. toward the right in Fig. 5
- the angle by which the cross strings 28a, 28b diverge toward the center of the stringing surface has been exaggerated slightly in
- the strings would need to diverge at a sharp angle.
- the amount of stagger is reduced in the four corners of the racquet, as exemplified in Fig. 4 by corner string holes 42, to a half stagger.
- the string holes in bridge piece 20 are also at a half, rather than a full stagger. In this manner, all of the string holes between the lower two corners are at a half stagger.
- a full stagger can be employed in the bridge piece 20 if desired.
- the strings can be left unstaggered (zero stagger) in the corners and/or the throat piece 20.
- a conventional stringing pattern in which none of the strings are staggered, may be employed.
- a constant stagger may be employed completely around the frame. In the latter case, the amount of stagger would be generally reduced, compared to Figures 2-5, to avoid sharp angles in the corners (e.g., a half stagger).
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP94916478A EP0652795A1 (en) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-07-30 | Long string tennis racquet |
JP6513516A JPH08506739A (en) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-07-30 | Long string tennis racket |
AU68116/94A AU6811694A (en) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-07-30 | Long string tennis racquet |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US92293092A | 1992-07-31 | 1992-07-31 | |
US07/922,930 | 1992-07-31 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1994015674A2 true WO1994015674A2 (en) | 1994-07-21 |
WO1994015674A3 WO1994015674A3 (en) | 1995-01-05 |
Family
ID=25447816
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1993/007204 WO1994015674A2 (en) | 1992-07-31 | 1993-07-30 | Long string tennis racquet |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0652795A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH08506739A (en) |
AU (1) | AU6811694A (en) |
CA (1) | CA2141438A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1994015674A2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996005891A1 (en) * | 1994-08-24 | 1996-02-29 | Prince Sports Group, Inc. | Long tennis racquet |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7297080B2 (en) | 2001-05-04 | 2007-11-20 | Wilson Sporting Goods Co. | Game racquet with separate head and handle portions for reducing vibration |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3999756A (en) * | 1974-10-21 | 1976-12-28 | Prince Manufacturing, Inc. | Tennis racket |
US4151995A (en) * | 1976-04-23 | 1979-05-01 | Thurlow Weed | Tennis racket with playable throat area |
US4165071A (en) * | 1976-01-05 | 1979-08-21 | Frolow Jack L | Tennis racket |
EP0149301A2 (en) * | 1983-12-12 | 1985-07-24 | Ektelon | Improved racquetball racquet construction |
WO1990001974A1 (en) * | 1988-08-18 | 1990-03-08 | Rodney Svoma | Sports racket |
-
1993
- 1993-07-30 EP EP94916478A patent/EP0652795A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1993-07-30 JP JP6513516A patent/JPH08506739A/en active Pending
- 1993-07-30 CA CA002141438A patent/CA2141438A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-07-30 AU AU68116/94A patent/AU6811694A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-07-30 WO PCT/US1993/007204 patent/WO1994015674A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3999756A (en) * | 1974-10-21 | 1976-12-28 | Prince Manufacturing, Inc. | Tennis racket |
US3999756B1 (en) * | 1974-10-21 | 1985-12-24 | ||
US4165071A (en) * | 1976-01-05 | 1979-08-21 | Frolow Jack L | Tennis racket |
US4151995A (en) * | 1976-04-23 | 1979-05-01 | Thurlow Weed | Tennis racket with playable throat area |
EP0149301A2 (en) * | 1983-12-12 | 1985-07-24 | Ektelon | Improved racquetball racquet construction |
WO1990001974A1 (en) * | 1988-08-18 | 1990-03-08 | Rodney Svoma | Sports racket |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996005891A1 (en) * | 1994-08-24 | 1996-02-29 | Prince Sports Group, Inc. | Long tennis racquet |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPH08506739A (en) | 1996-07-23 |
CA2141438A1 (en) | 1994-07-21 |
AU6811694A (en) | 1994-08-15 |
EP0652795A1 (en) | 1995-05-17 |
WO1994015674A3 (en) | 1995-01-05 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
EP0723470B1 (en) | Long tennis racquet | |
EP0317711B1 (en) | Racket for playing a game with a ball | |
US20040121864A1 (en) | Lacrosse handle | |
US4997186A (en) | Racket frame having multi-dimensional cross-sectional construction | |
EP0132993B1 (en) | A racquet | |
US5540434A (en) | Tennis racket | |
US5368295A (en) | Tennis racket | |
US5219165A (en) | Tennis racquet | |
US4076241A (en) | Sports racket | |
US4662634A (en) | Tennis racket with convex throat | |
US5277422A (en) | Games racket frame | |
EP0207308A2 (en) | Improvements to sports rackets | |
WO1994015674A2 (en) | Long string tennis racquet | |
US5833560A (en) | Racquetball racquet | |
US5037098A (en) | Tennis racquet with tapered profile frame | |
US5816958A (en) | Tennis racket | |
US4964635A (en) | Tennis racket | |
US5417418A (en) | Monoshaft composite tennis racquet | |
US5823899A (en) | Games racket frame | |
US5470061A (en) | Racquetball racquet having increased stiffness at tip | |
US5324030A (en) | Shock absorbing throatpiece of game racket | |
CA2023934A1 (en) | High aspect ratio tennis racket head and method of stringing | |
US6358165B1 (en) | Throatless squash racquet | |
GB2232605A (en) | Golf club shafts | |
JPH038306Y2 (en) |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): AU CA CZ JP SK UA |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A2 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE |
|
121 | Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application | ||
AK | Designated states |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): AU CA CZ JP SK UA |
|
AL | Designated countries for regional patents |
Kind code of ref document: A3 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 1994916478 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWE | Wipo information: entry into national phase |
Ref document number: 2141438 Country of ref document: CA |
|
WWP | Wipo information: published in national office |
Ref document number: 1994916478 Country of ref document: EP |
|
WWW | Wipo information: withdrawn in national office |
Ref document number: 1994916478 Country of ref document: EP |