Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Elding Ind. Co., Ltd.

William D Severa

Robert T Kapheim

Ronald R Rocchi

Donald G Loeffler

Eloisa M Compostizo

David A Vogel

Po-Jen Cheng

Dale J Zwack

John B Lyons

Robert T Thurman

Gerald J LeVault

Ravi Itiravivong

Scott M Doyle

Willie H McMillan

Daniel Roger Nett

Craig P Conner

Saud Khazal

Brian D Dillman

Ami Marie Verhalen

Tong Jin Kim

David E Barnard

Richard A Nelipovich

Paul Terry

Garrick D S Smith

Mark W Lin

Michael Moon

Erik Bernard Van Der Pols

Brad M Skoryl

Antoine Ballon

Michael W Schaeffer

Gerald J Le Vault

Brad M Skoryi

Cory R Boudreau

Frank Garrett, Jr

John D Hartman

Richard Janes

Hudson R Vantrease

Joey Gyomay Nakayama

Michael R Moon

Daniel R Hernandez

Erik B Van Der Pols

Kristin M Bachochin

Eric C Strauch

A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.5 mm when measured in a first direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of less than 7.3 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Racquet configured with increased lateral flexibility with respect to a longitudinal axis

A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under the racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about the longitudinal axis. The head portion has a maximum beam height distance of at least 20 mm.

Racquet configured with increased flexibility in multiple directions with respect to a longitudinal axis

Central portion of a racquet

A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. When the racquet is tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 8.5 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under a racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about a longitudinal axis.

A racquet including a frame including a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion. The head portion is a tubular structure including inner and outer peripheral walls, each having inner and outer surfaces. The head portion of the racquet being formed of a fiber composite material. The fiber composite material includes a plurality of ply arrangements. Each includes a pair of plies defining first and second angles with respect to a composite axis. A section of the outer peripheral wall from the inner surface to the outer surface includes at least three ply arrangements overlaying each other, and the first and second angles of at least two of the at least three ply arrangements being at least 35 degrees. When the racquet is tested under a racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about a longitudinal axis.

A racquet extends along a longitudinal axis and is capable of being tested under a racquet lateral bending test and a racquet torsional stability test. The racquet lateral bending test includes mounting the racquet in a first orientation to a first test fixture at a first longitudinal location, attaching a clamp to the racquet at a second location, operably engaging a deflection indicator to the clamp, applying a first predetermined weight to the racquet at a third location, and removing the first weight to obtain a lateral deflection measurement of the racquet with respect to the longitudinal axis. The racquet torsional stability test includes mounting the racquet to second and third test fixtures at sixth and seventh locations of the racquet, respectively, placing a third predetermined weight on an arm extending from the second test fixture, removing the third predetermined weight to obtain an angular deflection about the axis. The racquet comprises a frame including head and handle portions and a throat portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. When the racquet is tested under the racquet lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel to the plane and perpendicular to the axis. When the racquet is tested under the racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.0 degrees about the axis.

A tennis racquet extending along the longitudinal axis and capable of being tested under a forward/rearward bending test and a torsional stability test includes a frame having a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion positioned between the head portion and the handle portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the racquet are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. The throat portion includes a pair of throat elements. When the racquet is tested under the forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 9.0 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. When the racquet is tested under the torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about the longitudinal axis.

A sports racquet capable of being tested under a racquet vibration test, and including a frame extending along a longitudinal axis. The frame includes a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion positioned between the head portion and the handle portion. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. The throat portion includes a pair of throat elements. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the racquet are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. The head portion including a forward hoop surface and a rearward hoop surface. The distance between the forward and rearward hoop surfaces defines a beam height distance. The head portion has a maximum beam height distance of at least 19 mm. When the racquet is tested under the racquet vibration test, the racquet has a vibration of no greater than 130 Hz.

A racquet includes a frame extending along a longitudinal axis. The frame includes head and handle portions, and a throat portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head and throat portions are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. The material includes a plurality of ply arrangements. Each of the arrangements includes one ply having a first plurality of fibers defining a first angle with respect to a composite axis, and another ply having a second plurality of fibers defining a second angle with respect to the composite axis. The first and second angles are substantially the same except the angles have opposite polarities with respect to the composite axis. The head portion includes at least three arrangements overlaying each other, and the first and second angles of at least two of the at least three arrangements are at least 35 degrees.

A tennis racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and capable of being tested under a lateral bending test and a forward/rearward bending test, includes a frame having a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head portion forms a hoop that defines a string bed plane. At least the head portion and the throat portion of the racquet are formed at least in part of a fiber composite material. The throat portion includes a pair of throat elements. When the racquet 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 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

An apparatus including a sensor carried by a racquet and an indicator in communication with the sensor. The sensor outputs a notification based on (a) the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor and (b) at least one of an elapsed time since a last stringing of the racquet and an input skill level of a person using the racquet. Additionally, an apparatus including a racquet, a sensor carried by the racquet, and an indicator in communication with the sensor. The sensor can be a strain gauge, a load cell, an acoustic sensor and a vibro-acoustic sensor. The sensor outputs a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor.

Racquet hit notification

An apparatus for use with a sports racquet. The apparatus including a sensor to be carried by the racquet and an indicator in communication with the sensor to output a notification based on the number of hits by the racquet based on signals from the sensor.

A sports racquet extends along an axis and is configured for use with a quantity of racquet string forming a string bed about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material, and including first and second halves including first and second spaced apart hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively. The hoop regions includes projections extending from hoop regions in a direction orthogonal to the string plane. At least one of the hoop regions defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to matably engage the bores. The projections extend through the string plane and define curved bearing surfaces configured for engaging and supporting the racquet string. The projections include first and second projections having first and second radii of curvature, respectively. The first radius of curvature being at least 0.5 mm greater than the second radius of curvature.

Growing community of inventors

Darien, IL, United States of America

William D Severa