Tennis racket

Claim 2

A racket suitable for use in propelling a game projectile by striking the projectile, said racket comprising a frame iNcluding a head and a manipulating stem, string means forming a projectile striking matrix in the head, the head including means providing substantially uniform response characteristics over the striking matrix, said uniform response means including a first pair of substantially straight parallel sides and a second pair of substantially straight parallel sides in said head, each of the sides of the second pair of sides being substantially equal in length to the sides of the first pair, a first series of string reaches spanning between the first pair of sides, and a second series of string reaches spanning between the second pair of sides, all of the string reaches in the first series being of equal length and parallel to one another, all of the string reaches in the second series being of equal length and parallel to one another, and the stem having handle means for facilitating the movement of the racket to various positions and for impelling the striking matrix against the projectile to propel the projectile during game play, the axis of the stem being coincident with a diagonal of the head, whereby effective striking response characteristics will be substantially constant regardless of the point of contact on the striking matrix.

Claim 3

A racket constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frame is of one piece metal construction, the racket further including at least one casing, the casing peripherally overlapping the frame at the head and including brace means for frame reinforcement, and means securing the casing to the frame, whereby the racket is capable of withstanding the stress fatigues of competitive playing.

Claim 4

A racket constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the sides of the first and second pairs intersect one another at mutual terminal ends, and the casing includes a gusset web registered with the intersecting ends.

Claim 5

A racket constructed in accordance with claim 2 wherein the head and the stem are joined at a juncture and the casing includes a depending gusset throat web formed in registry with the juncture.

Claim 6

A racket constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frame further comprises two segments, each of the segments being formed of one piece construction, the two segments being in registry and joined at the medial thickness plane of the composite racket.

Claim 7

A racket constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first pair of sides are perpendicularly oriented with respect to the second pair of sides.

Claim 8

A racket constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a metal channel of generally U-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration with open channel surfaces facing each other in the head.

Claim 9

A racket suitable for use in propelling a game projectile, said racket comprising a frame including a head and a manipulating stem, string means lying within a string plane and forming a projectile striking matrix in the head, the head including means providing substantially uniform response characteristics over the striking matrix, said uniform response means including a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides in said head, each of the sides of the second pair being substantially equal in length to the sides of the first pair, a first series of string reaches spanning between the first pair of sides, and a second series of string reaches spanning between the second pair of sides, all of the string reaches in the first series being of equal length and parallel to one another, all of the string reaches in the second series being of equal length and parallel to one another, and the stem having handle means for facilitating the movement of the racket to various positions and for impelling the striking matrix against the projectile to propel the projectile during game play, the racket further including a casing, the casing peripherally overlapping the frame at the head and including brace means for frame reinforcement, the brace means comprising a gusset web overlApping the striking matrix adjacent each intersection of the sides of the first and second pairs, all of said gusset webs being spaced from the string plane to permit unobstructed string movement and to maintain equal effective lengths of the string reaches of each series, whereby effective striking response characteristics will be substantially constant regardless of the point of contact on the striking matrix.

Claim 10

A racket suitable for use in propelling a game projectile, said racket comprising a frame including a head and a manipulating stem, string means lying within a string plane and forming a projectile striking matrix in the head, the head including means providing substantially uniform response characteristics over the striking matrix, said uniform response means including a first pair of parallel sides and a second pair of parallel sides in said head, each of the sides of the second pair being substantially equal in length to the sides of the first pair, a first series of string reaches spanning between the first pair of sides, and a second series of string reaches spanning between the second pair of sides, all of the string reaches in the first series being of equal length and parallel to one another, all of the string reaches in the second series being of equal length and parallel to one another, and the stem having handle means for facilitating the movement of the racket to various positions and for impelling the striking matrix against the projectile to propel the projectile during game play, the racket further including a casing, the casing peripherally overlapping the frame at the head and including brace means for frame reinforcement, the brace means comprising a gusset web overlApping the striking matrix adjacent each intersection of the sides of the first and second pairs, all of said gusset webs being spaced from the string plane to permit unobstructed string movement and to maintain equal effective lengths of the string reaches of each series, whereby effective striking response characteristics will be substantially constant regardless of the point of contact on the striking matrix.