The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 05, 1993
Filed:
Jan. 24, 1991
Stephen J Davis, Yardley, PA (US);
Prince Manufacturing, Inc., Lawrenceville, NJ (US);
Abstract
A long fiber, thermoplastic frame for a tennis racquet or other implement is formed of fibers of carbon or other reinforcement material, which are oriented at desired angles, and which are intimately embedded in thermoplastic resin. A frame according to the invention is made by co-winding or commingling tows of carbon or other reinforcing fibers with filaments of thermoplastic material, or by preimpregnating fibers with a thermoplastic powder. The fibers, which are preferable formed into a braided sleeve for ease of handling, are disposed in a heated mold, and internally pressurized to conform to the mold and such that the thermoplastic melts and flows into intimate contact with the fiber material. A frame according to the invention possesses the strength and stiffness of a long fiber, thermoset frame, but unlike a thermoset frame has dynamic stiffness due to the visco-elastic properties of the thermoplastic resin.