Prince Sports Group, Inc.

Composite Building Systems, Inc.

Benetton Sportsystem Usa, Inc.

Brian J Blonski

Stephen J Davis

Paul M Clark, Jr

Joseph J Wolverton

Richard Janes

William Harvie, Iii

Jr Clark Paul M

A connector assembly is used to secure a building panel (e.g., building panel) to a building structural element. The connector assembly can be formed of structural materials to effectively transfer load between the panel and the structural element. The connector assembly can include one or more insulating materials to reduce heat transfer between the panel and the structural element.

Building panel connector

A connector is used to secure a concrete panel to a structural member. The connector is formed of a composite material and thermally insulates the concrete panel from the structural member.

Concrete panel connector

A sports racquet has a lightweight frame and a pair of pods, having an increased cross-sectional width, at the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions of the head. The pods also preferably have an increased wall thickness, or a molded-in weight element, so as to provide increased weight at such regions,. Preferably also, the handle has at least one weight pod at the butt portion. The three pod weighting system, i.e., having weight pods located at the 11 o'clock, 1 o'clock, and butt end positions, not only increases the polar moment of inertia of the racquet about its longitudinal axis, but also increases the moment of inertia of the racquet about the center of gravity, providing a very stable racquet. Also, because the pods in the head portion increase the width of the frame, the torsion of the frame near the tip region is greatly increased, improving the power of the racquet with respect to balls hit further out on the string bed. In a preferred embodiment, the weight pods are formed of metal coated carbon fibers.

Sports racquets with tripod weighting

A composite sports racquet includes a head portion which is formed by an upper frame half and a lower frame half. Each frame half is a tubular frame section, and includes a generally flat wall. The two walls are bonded to one another to form a unitary head portion, whereby the first and second walls form internal frame ribs oriented generally parallel to the string bed plane and extending continuously around the head portion. The upper and lower frame halves are preferably pre-molded individually and thereafter glued to one another. Alternatively, one of the frame halves can be pre-molded, with the other frame half thereafter molded onto the pre-molded half Preferably, the first and second walls include a plurality of channel portions which, when the racquet halves are joined, define the string holes. Preferably, the channel portions are contoured at the outer frame surface to form curved bearing surfaces for string entry. Also, if desired, the string holes can be molded so as to extend parallel to the string ends, rather than perpendicular to the racquet frame as is generally done with drilled string holes. Preferably, the string holes have a dimension, in a direction perpendicular to the string bed plane, which is substantially greater than the diameter of standard racquet strings, so that the strings are supported only on the outer portion of the frame, thereby extending the effective string length.

Two piece sports racquet

A sports racquet includes grommet members anchoring the strings in at least the central regions of the string bed which include grommet pegs which have grommet holes that, in cross-section, are elongated in a direction perpendicular to the string bed, and preferably include notches at their distal end. The slotted grommets and notches allow the strings to deflect, in a direction perpendicular to the string bed, upon ball impact. The strings are anchored only outside of the frame proper, and their effective string length is thus substantially increased. Preferably, the grommet members include a concave lip to act as a string guide, adjacent the grommet hole entrance to prevent string movement as it enters the slot. Preferably, the sidewalls of the grommet holes are spaced slightly farther apart than the width of the string so that the string can deflect freely upon ball impact with the string bed. The string hugs one of sidewalls, however, so that vibrations are damped after the ball has left the string bed.

Growing community of inventors

Yardley, PA, United States of America

Brian J Blonski