Ektelon

Ef Composite Technologies, L.p.

Todd B Colburn

John Francis Lorentzen

Raymond L Mortvedt

Ronald Alan Grimes

Ray Mortvedt

A racquet with strings and a handle has at least a portion of the strung length of at least some of its strings at least partially within a cavity defined by the racquet's handle, and/or, in the case of a racquet having a shaft, a cavity defined by the racquet's shaft. Typically two, or some multiple of two, strings are extended in strung length by at least a portion of the length of the handle's (shaft's) cavity. The cavity may be but only slightly recessed into the handle (shaft), and may be nearly as long as is the handle (shaft) itself. Particularly in the case those racquetball racquets qualified by the 1996 rules of the American Amateur Racquetball Association to twenty one inches (21') in total length, each of preferably two or more 'long' strings commonly extend at least fifteen and one-half inches (.gtoreq.51/2'), and may extend as long as twenty and one-half inches (&gt;201/2'), in strung length by virtue of extending within the cavity of a hollow handle. The 'long' strings are subject to being displaced a greater distance from the plane of the racquet during ball strikes and strokes than are the shorter strings for which they substitute, beneficially permitting (i) a greater energy storage in the strings and racquet frame, (ii) a larger sweet spot, longer ball contact, and (iii) a more prolonged and greater return of energy to the struck ball.

Long string racquets, particularly for racquetball

An improved racquet stringing machine having a new table featuring a built-in glide bar groove, an improved string clamp, a new tip riser having integrated, threaded height adjustment, an adjustable throat riser carried by an internal sliding bar having improved position lock, and machine height adjustment by a foot operated mechanism.

Racquet stringing machine

Racquetball racquet having a frame forming a head and a handle characterized by a side profile comprising two intersecting arcs having different radii of curvature and intersecting at a point of intersection which is in the region of but above the throat of the racquet. These two arcs define two oppositely tapered frame segments. The first frame segment extends from the tip of the racquet, where the frame height is at a maximum, to the point of intersection, where the frame height is at a minimum. The second frame segment extends from the handle, at or below the throat, to the point of intersection. The arc defining the first segment is of much larger radius of curvature than the arc defining the second segment. This affords a maximum frame cross-sectional area at the tip and a smaller frame cross-sectional area in a flex zone which includes the point of intersection. The resulting racquet has a greater stiffness moment at the tip and a smaller stiffness in the flex zone which may afford more power and greater control.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Todd B Colburn