Optimized thermoplastic racquet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9192822-B2
Application number	US-201213686486-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2012
Priority date	Nov 27, 2012
Publication date	Nov 24, 2015
Grant date	Nov 24, 2015

Abstract

A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material. The frame includes two halves having two spaced apart hoop regions, two handle regions and two mating surfaces. One of the halves includes a set of projections extending from one of the mating surfaces. At least one of the halves defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to engage the bores. At least two of the projections are stepped projections having a proximal section and a distal section. The transverse cross-sectional area of the proximal section is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the distal section. Two of the bores are configured to receive the corresponding distal sections, but not the proximal sections, of the two stepped projections, such that the projected height of the proximal section of the two stepped projections substantially defines the spacing between the hoop portions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sports racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and configured for use with a quantity of racquet string about a string plane, the racquet comprising:
a frame formed of a thermoplastic material, the frame including first and second halves, the first and second halves including first and second spaced apart hoop regions, first and second handle regions, first and second mating surfaces and first and second outer surfaces, respectively, at least one of the first and second halves including a set of projections extending from at least one of the first and second mating surfaces and across the string plane, at least one of the first and second halves defining a set of bores, the set of projections being configured to matably engage the set of bores, at least two of the projections extending from at least one of the first and second hoop regions being stepped projections having a proximal section and a distal section, the proximal and distal sections having first and second transverse cross-sectional areas, respectively, the first transverse cross-sectional area measured with respect to the string plane being greater than the second transverse cross-sectional area measured with respect to the string plane, at least two of the set of bores of at least one of the first and second hoop portions being configured to receive the corresponding distal sections, but not the proximal sections, of the at least two stepped projections.

2. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material includes a thermoplastic resin and a plurality of fiber segments.

3. The sports racquet of claim 2 , wherein the thermoplastic resin is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, polytetrafluoroethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, acetal, phenylene oxide, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, other polyethylenes, and combinations thereof.

4. The sports racquet of claim 2 , wherein the fibers are formed of a material selected from the group consisting of carbon, glass, graphite, boron, basalt, carrot, aramid, Kevlar®, Spectra®, poly-para-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole (PBO), hemp, flax, and combinations thereof.

5. The sports racquet of claim 2 wherein the thermoplastic material forms a first thermoplastic layer of the first and second handle regions, wherein a second thermoplastic layer formed of a second thermoplastic material is molded over the first thermoplastic layer, and wherein the thermoplastic material of the first thermoplastic layer has a durometer value measured on the Shore A or Shore D hardness scale that is greater than the durometer value of the second thermoplastic material measured on the Shore A or Shore D hardness scale.

6. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the proximal section of each of the at least two stepped projections has a projected height measured with respect to a plane orthogonal to the string bed, wherein the projected height of the proximal section of the at least two stepped projections substantially defines the spacing between the first and second hoop portions.

7. The sports racquet of claim 6 , the projected height of the proximal section of the stepped projection is within the range of 2 to 12 mm.

8. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the first and second halves include first and second throat regions, respectively.

9. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein the first and second frame halves are substantially identical to each other.

10. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the first and second frame halves are formed in an injection molding operation.

11. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the first and second halves are coupled together by an adhesive, thermal bonding, chemical bonding, thermal welding, sonic welding, and combinations thereof.

12. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein the set of bores and the set of projections are aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis such that when the first and second frame halves are positioned with the mating surface of the first frame half facing the mating surface of the second frame half, the first and second frame halves fit together to form the frame.

13. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second handle regions includes a plurality of structural support member.

14. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the first and second handle regions include first and second proximal ends respectively, wherein the transverse cross-sectional area of the handle portion at the first and second proximal ends is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area at other locations along the handle portion, and wherein the first and second proximal ends form a butt end wall of the racquet, and wherein the first and second proximal ends and the butt end wall are shaped in the form of a butt cap.

15. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein the first and second hoop regions include a distal end area, and wherein the wall thickness of the first and second hoop regions at the distal end area is greater than other locations of the first and second hoop regions such that the distal end area forms a raised bumper guard.

16. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein at least one quarter of the set of projections have a non-circular cross-sectional area when measured about a plane extending parallel to the string plane.

17. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein at least one quarter of the plurality of projections are solid non-hollow projections.

18. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the handle portion formed by the first and second handle regions is configured in the shape of a pallet.

19. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material forming the frame has a durometer value within the range of 20 on the Shore A hardness scale to 40 on the Shore D hardness scale.

20. The sports racquet of claim 1 , wherein the handle portion is shaped to replicate the contour of a racquet pallet and a butt cap.

Assignees

• Wilson Sporting Goods

Inventors

• Severa William D
• Doyle Scott M
• Vogel David A
• Kapheim Robert T
• Thurman Robert T

Classifications

• A63B2049/0205

  comprising at least two similar parts assembled with the interface plane parallel to the string plane · CPC title

• A63B49/02

  Frames · CPC title

• A63B60/00 Primary

  Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like · CPC title

• A63B49/08

  with special construction of the handle · CPC title

• A63B49/03

  characterised by throat sections, i.e. sections or elements between the head and the shaft · CPC title