Device for hitting a ball, shuttlecock or the like

Claim 2

A racket comprising an open, peripheral head frame having its ends extended beyond one side at its throat portion and continuing parallel to each other to form a handle for said racket, and a cross-piece extending between the sides of said head frame at said throat portion and complementary to the opposite side of said head frame, thereby forming a closed loop head frame, at least said head frame and throat portion having an external channel formed therein, said head frame and throat portion being formed with string holes therethrough, an array of strings extending in longitudinal and transverse directions across said peripheral head frame to form a striking surface, a plurality of the centrally located strings in at least the longitudinal direction extending from said throat portion to said opposite side of said head frame, said centrally located strings being connected to said head frame by first string connecting means, said first string connecting means connecting said centrally located strings to said frame comprising resiliently cushioned segments having inner surfaces and outer surfaces, coil springs seated in said channel between said frame and the inner surfaces of said segments to cushion movement of said segments and resiliently tension said centrally located strings, tubular string guide means in said channel through which said strings pass and are guided around the outer surfaces of said segments, the centrally located strings on the side adjacent said throat portion passing through said cross-piece and outwardly through said frame and connected to second string connecting means, said second string connecting means comprising spring-pressed segments seated in the channel of said frame at said throat portion and coil springs in said channel between said frame and the inner surfaces of said segments, the remaining strings in the longitudinal direction passing through the string holes in the frame and being connected directly to the frame.

Claim 3

A racket comprising an open, peripheral head frame with an integral handle formed by the ends of said head frame at its throat portion extending from one side, at least said head frame and throat portion having an external channel formed therein, said head frame and throat portion being formed with string holes therethrough, an array of strings extending across said head frame in longitudinal and transverse directions to form a striking surface, a plurality of centrally located strings in each of said directions being resiliently connected to said frame by resilient cushioning means, the strings in each of said directions on both sides of the center strings being connected directly to said head frame, sid cushioning means comprising a plurality of segments fitting in said channel, said segments having inner and outer surfaces, one of said segments being located on the side opposite said handle and two other segments being located along the transverse axis on the diametrically opposite sides, each of said segments having a length equal to the width of said centrally located strings which pass through said segment and are retained thereby, a plurality of coil springs seated in said channel between the inner surface of each segment and frame to resist movement of said segment and tension the springs connected thereto, said one segment on the side of the frame opposite the handle receiving and connecting the center strings extending from the handle side, the other two segments on the diametrically opposite sides receiving and connecting the center strings in the other direction to the opposite sides of said frame, a cross-piece located across the two sides of said frame at said throat portion complementary to the opposite side of said frame and through which the center strings in the longitudinal direction pass, the center strings in said longitudinal direction also passing through the sides of the frame at the side portions of said cross-piece at said throat portion by additional segments seated in said channel at saiD side portions for connecting said longitudinal centrally located strings to said frame, and coil springs seated in said channel between said additional segments and said frame.

Claim 4

A racket comprising an open, peripheral head frame with an integral handle formed by the ends of said head frame at its throat portion extending from one side, at least said head frame and throat portion having an external channel formed therein, said head frame and throat portion being formed with string holes therethrough, an array of strings extending across said head frame in longitudinal and transverse directions to form a striking surface, a plurality of centrally located strings in each of said directions being resiliently connected to said frame by resilient cushioning means, the strings in each of said directions on both sides of the center strings being connected directly to said head frame, sid cushioning means comprising a plurality of segments fitting in said channel, said segments having inner and outer surfaces, one of said segments being located on the side opposite said handle and two other segments being located along the transverse axis on the diametrically opposite sides, each of said segments having a length equal to the width of said centrally located strings which pass through said segment and are retained thereby, a plurality of coil springs seated in said channel between the inner surface of each segment and frame to resist movement of said segment and tension the springs connected thereto, said one segment on the side of the frame opposite the handle receiving and connecting the center strings extending from the handle side, the other two segments on the diametrically opposite sides receiving and connecting the center strings in the other direction to the opposite sides of said frame, a cross-piece located across the two sides of said frame at said throat portion complementary to the opposite side of said frame and through which the center strings in the longitudinal direction pass, the center strings in said longitudinal direction also passing through the sides of the frame at the side portions of said cross-piece at said throat portion by additional segments seated in said channel at saiD side portions for connecting said longitudinal centrally located strings to said frame, and coil springs seated in said channel between said additional segments and said frame.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 2, in which said cross-piece includes deflecting means for changing direction of said strings to extend outwardly normal to said frame.

Claim 6

A device according to claim 3 in which said deflecting means comprises pins.

Claim 7

A device according to claim 4 in which at least some of said pins are rotatable in the transition region.

Claim 8

A device according to claim 4 in which at least some of said pins are cross sectionally in the form of segments of a circle with the curved side facing said centrally located strings passing through said cross-piece.

Claim 9

A device according to claim 2 in which said segments and said additional segments include grooves on their outer surfaces for receiving said strings.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 2, in which tubular string guiding means are positioned in said channel through which said strings pass and are guided around the outer surfaces of said segments and said additional segments.