US4023799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Game racket
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1974-01-24
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Granted: 1977-05-17
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Expires: 1994-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A game racket is provided that has high bending and torsional stiffness. The racket has a central core and a fiber reinforced plastic skin on the core. The fiber reinforced plastic skin is generally disposed on the faces of the core parallel to the striking plane and covering at least the head portion and the throat sections of the racket. The fibers are continuous and layered. The fiber in the throat section is crossplied at alternating angles as measured from the longitudinal axis of the racket frame. The fibers on the surface of the head portion are aligned with the general contour of the head portion.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Van Auken
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:15
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B49/00; A63B49/02; A63B49/10; A63B60/00; A63B2209/00; A63B2209/02; A63B2209/023; A63B60/06; A63B60/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/07; Y10S273/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A racket comprising: a frame core having a head portion of curvilinear shape defining a striking plane and a handle portion integral therewith, said head portion and handle portion defining a throat section at the junction of the handle and the head portion; a fiber reinforced plastic skin on each of the opposing faces of the head portion of the core parallel to the striking plane, said skin on the head portion of the core having continuous fibers oriented solely in a closed curvilinear pattern following the curvilinear shape of the core in the head portion of the racket whereby circumferential stiffness is imparted to said frame; a fiber reinforced plastic skin on each of the opposing faces of the throat section of the core, said skin on the throat section of the core overlapping the skin on the head portion of the core only at the junction of the handle and the head portion, said skin on the throat section of the core having fibers oriented at an angle of about ±25° to ±45° as measured from the longitudinal axis of the frame whereby torsional stiffness is imparted to said frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A racket comprising: a frame core having a head portion of curvilinear shape defining a striking plane and a handle portion integral therewith, said head portion and handle portion defining a throat section at the junction of the handle and the head portion; a fiber reinforced plastic skin on each of the opposing faces of the head portion of the core parallel to the striking plane, said skin on the head portion of the core having continuous fibers oriented solely in a closed curvilinear pattern following the curvilinear shape of the core in the head portion of the racket whereby circumferential stiffness is imparted to said frame; a fiber reinforced plastic skin on each of the opposing faces of the throat section of the core, said skin on the throat section of the core overlapping the skin on the head portion of the core only at the junction of the handle and the head portion, said skin on the throat section of the core having fibers oriented at an angle of about ±25° to ±45° as measured from the longitudinal axis of the frame whereby torsional stiffness is imparted to said frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The racket of claim 1 wherein the core is fabricated from materials selected from the group of wood, plastic composites and cellular plastic materials.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The racket of claim 1 wherein the core is fabricated of wood.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The racket of claim 1 wherein said fiber reinforced plastic skin is selected from the group consisting of graphite fiber, glass fiber, organic and inorganic fiber reinforced thermoplastic and modified thermoset resins and mixed glass fiber, graphite fiber, organic and inorganic fiber reinforced thermoplastic and modified thermoset resins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The racket of claim 1 wherein the fibers in the throat section are oriented at ±30° as measured from the longitudinal axis of the core.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The racket of claim 5 wherein the fiber reinforced skin of the throat section includes not more than 50% of fibers oriented at 0° from the longitudinal axis of the frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The racket of claim 1 wherein said skin has a thickness ranging from about 20 to 60 mils.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The racket of claim 1 wherein the thickness of the skin ranges from about 35 to 40 mils.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The racket of claim 1 wherein the plastic of the fiber reinforced plastic skin is nylon and the fiber is graphite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The racket of claim 1 wherein the fiber reinforced plastic skin is bonded to a wooden core by means of an elastomer modified thermoset adhesive.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
156 words
The method of making a frame of a game racket comprising: forming a central core having an integral head portion and handle portion defining there between the throat section, said head portion having a generally curvilinear shape; forming a fiber reinforced plastic skin having continuous fibers oriented therein solely in a closed curvilinear pattern following the general curvilinear shape of said head portion bonding said fiber reinforced skin to each of the opposing surfaces of the central core on the head portion; forming a fiber reinforced plastic skin for the throat section having fibers oriented at an angle from ±25° to ±45° as measured from the longitudinal axis of the frame; bonding a fiber reinforced plastic skin to each of the opposing surfaces of the central core in the throat section, said skin in the throat section overlapping the skin on the head portion of the core at the junction of the handle and head portion.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
156 words
The method of making a frame of a game racket comprising: forming a central core having an integral head portion and handle portion defining there between the throat section, said head portion having a generally curvilinear shape; forming a fiber reinforced plastic skin having continuous fibers oriented therein solely in a closed curvilinear pattern following the general curvilinear shape of said head portion bonding said fiber reinforced skin to each of the opposing surfaces of the central core on the head portion; forming a fiber reinforced plastic skin for the throat section having fibers oriented at an angle from ±25° to ±45° as measured from the longitudinal axis of the frame; bonding a fiber reinforced plastic skin to each of the opposing surfaces of the central core in the throat section, said skin in the throat section overlapping the skin on the head portion of the core at the junction of the handle and head portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the skins are bonded to the core at temperature ranging from ambient temperature to about 120° C. and at pressures ranging from about atmospheric pressure to about 3 atmospheres pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-16 | 1980-11-15 | 1981-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-16 | 1984-11-15 | 1985-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-16 | 1988-11-15 | 1989-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |