US3975017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tennis racket
Assignee: Professional Amateur Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1974-05-10
•
Granted: 1976-08-17
•
Expires: 1994-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A tennis racket which exhibits, through a novel combination of critical material characteristics (composition, treatment, weight distribution and, particularly, the dimensions of width and thickness of various interrelated frame elements) optimum strength, playability, weight, stability and freedom from deleterious vibration during use. The racket frame is a one-piece forged metal (preferably aluminum) unit having a thickness throughout the head and shaft in the range of 0.580-0.600 inches. The width dimension of the head portion remote from the handle is critically determined at 0.280 ± 0.020 inches. The width of the side portions of the head is critically determined at 0.230 ± 0.020 inches. The width dimension for the portion of the head adjacent the handle is critically determined at 0.200 ± 0.020 inches. Between the respective adjacent portions of the head, the width dimension tapers gradually between the dimensions specified.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Patrick Galich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:54
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B49/00; A63B49/02; A63B49/12; A63B60/00; A63B60/06; A63B60/08; A63B60/10; A63B60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A tennis racket comprising: a one-piece forged metal frame having a longitudinal dimension of approximately 27 inches and a thickness dimension of 0.580 inches plus 0.020 inches, minus 0.000 inches, the frame having a standard oval head portion and a handle portion interconnected by a shaft portion, said head portion comprising opposed ends and opposed sides and having a first thickness dimension in the range of 0.580-0.600 inches and a first width dimension tapering from 0.280 ± 0.020 inches at the end remote from the shaft portion to 0.200 ± 0.020 inches at the end adjacent the shaft portion, the sides being 0.230 ± 0.020 inches in width; said shaft portion including a first arm having second width and second thickness dimensions and a second arm having third width and third thickness dimensions; said second and third width dimensions being equal; and said second and third thickness dimensions being equal, the material of the frame including aluminum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A tennis racket comprising: a one-piece forged metal frame having a longitudinal dimension of approximately 27 inches and a thickness dimension of 0.580 inches plus 0.020 inches, minus 0.000 inches, the frame having a standard oval head portion and a handle portion interconnected by a shaft portion, said head portion comprising opposed ends and opposed sides and having a first thickness dimension in the range of 0.580-0.600 inches and a first width dimension tapering from 0.280 ± 0.020 inches at the end remote from the shaft portion to 0.200 ± 0.020 inches at the end adjacent the shaft portion, the sides being 0.230 ± 0.020 inches in width; said shaft portion including a first arm having second width and second thickness dimensions and a second arm having third width and third thickness dimensions; said second and third width dimensions being equal; and said second and third thickness dimensions being equal, the material of the frame including aluminum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A racket according to claim 1 in which said first and second arms are interconnected by first and second transverse struts spaced along the length of said arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A racket according to claim 2 in which said second strut is spaced substantially midway between said handle portion and said first strut.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A racket according to claim 3 wherein said first and second struts are located on opposite sides of the balance point of the frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A racket according to claim 2 wherein the struts have a width dimension in the range of 0.100-0.120 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A racket according to claim 1 in which said second and third width dimensions lie in the range from 0.150 inches to 0.160 inches and said second and third thickness dimensions are approximately 0.600 inches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A racket according to claim 1 in which the balance point along the length of the racket is displaced from the longitudinal dimensional centerpoint toward said handle portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A racket according to claim 7 in which said displacement of said balance point is approximately 0.375 inches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A racket according to claim 1 in which the width of the head portion between each side and its adjacent ends tapers smoothly between the side width dimension and the corresponding end width dimensions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A racket according to claim 9 wherein the thickness of the head is less than 0.600 inches and is uniform throughout, and wherein the thickness of the frame changes gradually from the thickness of the head to approximately 0.600 inches thickness in the shaft portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A racket according to claim 10 further including a pair of yoke portions respectively joining the shaft portions to the head portion, the yoke portions having a width dimension in the range of 0.155-0.175 inches and tapering smoothly to the width dimension of the adjacent shaft portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tennis racket in accordance with claim 1 wherein the material of the frame is 2014-T6 aluminum alloy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tennis racket in accordance with claim 1 wherein the material of the frame comprises one of the 7000 series aluminums.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB190121122A
Cited
US1587918A
Cited
US2282195A
Cited
US2395864A
Cited
GB755257A
Cited
US3187376A
Cited
US3547440A
Cited
US3582073A
Cited
US3664668A
Cited
US3765055A
Cited
US3702189A
Cited
US3734499A
Cited
US3815660A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-17 | 1980-02-16 | 1980-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-17 | 1984-02-16 | 1984-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-17 | 1988-02-16 | 1988-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |