Protective device for rackets

Claim 2

In combination: a. a racket of the type including a handle and a string network frame having a curved end portion forward of said handle, and b. a protective device removably attached to said curved end portion, said device comprising a one-piece resilient body adapted to snap over said curved end portion and defined by an elongated strip substantially coextensive with, and disposed flush against, the forward end of said curved end portion, a plurality of fingers transversely intersecting said elongated strip solely along loci of intersection coextensive with the opposed edges of said forward end of said curved end portion, adjacent ones of said fingers being joined together through said elongated strip solely at said loci of intersection and being otherwise spaced apart a sufficient distance to enable relative movement between adjacent fingers during attachment to said curved end portion, and keeper portions transversely intersecting respective end portions of said fingers gripably engaging the underside of said curved end portion, said fingers and keeper portions being of a trapezoid configuration and arranged in paired sets, each keeper portion of a paired set being spaced apart from, but mutually aligned with, the other keeper portion of said paired set; whereby said plurality of fingers and keeper portions provide the sole means for attaching said protective device to the curved end portion of said racket.

Claim 3

The combination as defined by claim 1 wherein said keeper portions are preformed in said transversely intersecting position.

Claim 4

A protective device for removable attachment to the curved end portion of the string network frame of a racket of the type including a handle and said string network frame, said protective device being a one-piece resilient body adapted to snap over said curved end portion and comprising: a. an elongated strip so formed to be substantially coextensive with, and disposed flush against, the forward end of said curved end portion, b. a plurality of fingers transversely intersecting said elongated strip along loci of intersection which, when said protective device is attached to said curved end portion, are coextensive with the opposed edges of said forward end of said curved end portion, adjacent ones of said fingers being joined together through said elongated strip solely at loci of intersection and being otherwise spaced apart a sufficient distance to enable relative movement between adjacent fingers during attachment to said curved end portion, and c. keeper portions transversely intersecting respective end portions of said fingers and adapted to gripably engage the underside of said curved end portion, said fingers and keeper portions being of a trapezoidal configuration and arranged in paired sets, each keeper portion of a paired set being spaced apart from, but mutually aligned with, the other keeper portion of said paired set; whereby said plurality of fingers and keeper portions provide the sole means for attaching said protective device to the curved end portion of said racket.

Claim 5

A protective device for removable attachment to the curved end portion of the string network frame of a racket of the type including a handle and said string network frame, said protective device being a one-piece resilient body adapted to snap over said curved end portion and comprising: a. an elongated strip so formed to be substantially coextensive with, and disposed flush against, the forward end of said curved end portion, b. a plurality of fingers transversely intersecting said elongated strip along loci of intersection which, when said protective device is attached to said curved end portion, are coextensive with the opposed edges of said forward end of said curved end portion, adjacent ones of said fingers being joined together through said elongated strip solely at loci of intersection and being otherwise spaced apart a sufficient distance to enable relative movement between adjacent fingers during attachment to said curved end portion, and c. keeper portions transversely intersecting respective end portions of said fingers and adapted to gripably engage the underside of said curved end portion, said fingers and keeper portions being of a trapezoidal configuration and arranged in paired sets, each keeper portion of a paired set being spaced apart from, but mutually aligned with, the other keeper portion of said paired set; whereby said plurality of fingers and keeper portions provide the sole means for attaching said protective device to the curved end portion of said racket.