US4000893A — Tennis racket weight holder and method of use

Claim 1

Independent Claim 245 words

A tennis racket accessory that adds weight at a selected position on a tennis racket and allows the player to position and remove the weight on tennis rackets of different sizes, comprising a flexible material, said holder having first and second opposite ends and extending lengthwise a sufficient distance to wrap around a tennis racket handle, with said ends overlapping each other, said holder having a width dimension along the racket handle length, said holder comprising two, spaced pockets extending in said width dimension direction, said pockets each having a weight therein, said weight being in the shape of a cylinder with a lengthwise dimension greater than the diameter and having the cylinder axis generally in the width dimension direction, each of said pockets being of sufficient size to permit said weight to roll inside said pocket along the holder lengthwise dimension over a distance that permits each of said weights to be moved inside said pocket by hand to opposite sides of the racket handle and to be properly positioned for the contour of the handle sides, and to be moveable angularly inside said pocket to line up with the direction of the respective racket handle side, means on said overlapable holder ends to removably fasten said ends together after said holder has been wrapped around the racket handle and said weights are rolled in said positions to press tightly said weights against the racket handle sides and retain said holder on said handle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 245 words

A tennis racket accessory that adds weight at a selected position on a tennis racket and allows the player to position and remove the weight on tennis rackets of different sizes, comprising a flexible material, said holder having first and second opposite ends and extending lengthwise a sufficient distance to wrap around a tennis racket handle, with said ends overlapping each other, said holder having a width dimension along the racket handle length, said holder comprising two, spaced pockets extending in said width dimension direction, said pockets each having a weight therein, said weight being in the shape of a cylinder with a lengthwise dimension greater than the diameter and having the cylinder axis generally in the width dimension direction, each of said pockets being of sufficient size to permit said weight to roll inside said pocket along the holder lengthwise dimension over a distance that permits each of said weights to be moved inside said pocket by hand to opposite sides of the racket handle and to be properly positioned for the contour of the handle sides, and to be moveable angularly inside said pocket to line up with the direction of the respective racket handle side, means on said overlapable holder ends to removably fasten said ends together after said holder has been wrapped around the racket handle and said weights are rolled in said positions to press tightly said weights against the racket handle sides and retain said holder on said handle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 312 words

A tennis racket accessory, as described in claim 1, wherein said holder comprising two sheets of flexible, substantially non-stretchable material, each of said sheets having substantially the same length dimensions and width dimensions, one of said sheets overlying the other sheet, the lengthwise dimension of each of said sheets being sufficient to wrap around tennis racket handles of different cross-sectional dimensions and configurations, so that the opposite lengthwise ends of said sheets overlap, said holder sheets being fastened together along a first seam that follows along the outer edge of said sheets, each of said cylinder weights being placed between said strips before said first seam is made, the axial length of said cylinder weights extending in a widthwise direction of said strips and being spaced apart, said sheets being fastened together along a second seam extending spaced from said weight axes and in a widthwise direction of said sheets between said weight axes, thereby forming a pocket for each of said weights, said pockets being of sufficient size to allow each of said cylinder weights to be rolled in said respective pocket in a lengthwise direction of said sheets, to fit different racket handle cross-section dimensions, so that said weights can be spaced on opposite sides of the handle in a position that is most suitable for the particular racket handle configuration, and said sheets then can be wrapped around the racket handle to overlap each other, said fastening means comprising strips to Velcro hook material attached to and spaced apart and extending lengthwise along one of said overlapping holder sheet portions, and Velcro loop mating strips attached to and spaced apart on the other of said overlapping sheet positions to mate with a respective one of said Velcro hook strips, said Velcro hook strips and mating loop strips being arranged to overlap for various racket handle cross-sections dimensions and configurations.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 275 words

A tennis racket accessory, as described in claim 2, wherein, said second seam forms a flat portion on said sheets between said pockets, said flat portion being formed by first and second straight line and parallel connections between said sheets, extending in a width dimension of said sheets, one side of a tennis racket handle fitting against said flat portion as the said weights are rolled in said respective pockets to position them properly against the adjacent handle sides, one of said pockets being formed by said second seam on one edge and a third seam on the other edge of said one pocket, said third seam being spaced from said adjacent widthwise sheet ends, and extending along said sheet width dimension, the other of said pockets being formed by said second seam on one edge and a fourth seam on the other edge, said fourth seam being spaced from said adjacent widthwise sheet ends and extending along said sheet width dimension, said overlapable sheet end portions with said Velcro hooks and loops being formed between one of said lengthwise ends and said third seams on one end and the other of said lengthwise ends and said fourth seam, said Velcro hook strips being attached to one lengthwise end of said sheet, extending in the lengthwise dimension and spaced apart to permit fastening to the mating loops for various amounts of overlap, said Velcro loop strips being attached to the other lengthwise end of said sheets, on the opposite side from said hook strips, and extending in the lengthwise dimension and spaced apart to permit fastening to the mating loops for various amounts of overlap.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 239 words

A tennis racket accessory, as described in claim 2 wherein, one of said pockets is formed by said second seam on one edge and a third seam on the opposite edge, said second seam being a single, straight line connection between said sheets, said third seam being spaced from said adjacent widthwise sheet end and extending along said sheet width dimension and said third seam being a single, straight line connection between said sheets, the other of said pockets being formed by said second seam on one edge and a fourth seam on the opposite edge, said fourth seam being spaced from said adjacent widthwise sheet end and extending along said sheet width dimension, said fourth seam being a single, straight line connection between said sheets, said overlapable sheet end portions with said Velcro hooks and loops being formed between one of said sheet lengthwise ends and said third seam on one end and the other of said lengthwise ends and said fourth seam, said Velcro strips being attached to one lengthwise end of said sheet, extending in the lengthwise dimension and spaced apart to permit fastening to the mating loops for various amounts of overlap, said Velcro loop strips being attached to the other lengthwise end of said sheets, on the opposite side from said hook strips, and extending in the lengthwise dimension and spaced apart to permit fastening to the mating loops for various amounts of overlap.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 346 words

A method of using a tennis racket accessory that adds weight at a desired location on the tennis racket handle for racket handles of various cross-sectional dimensions and configurations, said accessory comprising a flexible material holder having first and second opposite ends and extending lengthwise a sufficient distance to wrap around a tennis racket handle, with said ends overlapping each other, said holder having a width dimension along the racket handle length, said holder comprising two, spaced pockets extending in said width dimension direction, said pockets each having a weight therein, said weight being in the shape of a cylinder with a lengthwise dimension greater than the diameter and having the cylinder axis generally in the width dimension direction, each of said pockets being of sufficient size to permit said weight to roll along the lengthwise dimension in said respective pocket over a distance that permits each of said weights to be moved by hand to opposite sides of the racket handle and to be properly positioned for the contour of the handle sides and to be moveable angularly to line up with the direction of the respective racket handle side, and means on said overlapable holder ends to fasten said ends together after said holder has been wrapped around the racket handle and said weights are rolled into said positions and thereby tightly press said weights against the racket handle sides and retain said holder on said handle, the steps comprising, 1. loosely wrapping said holder around said racket handle at a location where it is desired to add weight, 2. rotating each of said weights in said pockets to move said weights to press against opposite sides of said handle at a position suitable for the configuration of the handle sides, to maintain said weights in position, each of said weights being positioned to have its axis parallel to the handle side and extending along the handle length, and 3. completing the wrapping of said holder around said handle to have said holder ends overlapping fastened, to tightly wrap said holder to said handle.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 346 words

A method of using a tennis racket accessory that adds weight at a desired location on the tennis racket handle for racket handles of various cross-sectional dimensions and configurations, said accessory comprising a flexible material holder having first and second opposite ends and extending lengthwise a sufficient distance to wrap around a tennis racket handle, with said ends overlapping each other, said holder having a width dimension along the racket handle length, said holder comprising two, spaced pockets extending in said width dimension direction, said pockets each having a weight therein, said weight being in the shape of a cylinder with a lengthwise dimension greater than the diameter and having the cylinder axis generally in the width dimension direction, each of said pockets being of sufficient size to permit said weight to roll along the lengthwise dimension in said respective pocket over a distance that permits each of said weights to be moved by hand to opposite sides of the racket handle and to be properly positioned for the contour of the handle sides and to be moveable angularly to line up with the direction of the respective racket handle side, and means on said overlapable holder ends to fasten said ends together after said holder has been wrapped around the racket handle and said weights are rolled into said positions and thereby tightly press said weights against the racket handle sides and retain said holder on said handle, the steps comprising, 1. loosely wrapping said holder around said racket handle at a location where it is desired to add weight, 2. rotating each of said weights in said pockets to move said weights to press against opposite sides of said handle at a position suitable for the configuration of the handle sides, to maintain said weights in position, each of said weights being positioned to have its axis parallel to the handle side and extending along the handle length, and 3. completing the wrapping of said holder around said handle to have said holder ends overlapping fastened, to tightly wrap said holder to said handle.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method, as described in claim 5, wherein said holder is wrapped on said handle at at location where the racket balance point remains the same, with or without said holder on said handle, so that the racket is heavier and has the same feel to the user, said weights being disposed about the handle balance point to provide this balanced condition.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1980-01-04	1980-07-05	1981-01-04	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1984-01-04	1984-07-05	1985-01-04	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1988-01-04	1988-07-05	1989-01-04	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Tennis racket weight holder and method of use

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