RACQUET CONFIGURED WITH INCREASED FLEXIBILITY IN MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO A LONGITUDINAL AXIS

• Main Authors: ZWACK, Dale J, SEVERA, William D, KAPHEIM, Robert T, COMPOSTIZO, Eloisa
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 28.07.2021
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; AMUSEMENTS; APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING,CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; GAMES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SPORTS; TESTING; TRAINING EQUIPMENT; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A tennis racquet (10) extending along a longitudinal axis (16) and capable of being tested under a lateral bending test and a forward/rearward bending test, includes a frame (12) having a head portion (18), a handle portion (20), and a throat portion (22) positioned between the head and handle portions (18, 20). The head portion (18) forms a hoop (36) that defines a string bed plane (56). At least the head portion (18) and the throat portion (22) of the racquet (10) are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. The throat portion (22) includes a pair of throat elements. When the racquet (10) is tested under the lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction parallel to the string bed plane (56) and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (16).