US4070019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laminated game rackets and method of constructing same
Assignee: Groves Kelco Sales Inc
•
Filing: 1975-12-08
•
Granted: 1978-01-24
•
Expires: 1995-12-08
Abstract
Abstract A laminated game racket frame having a closed hoop-shaped inner frame and an outer frame with the outer part of the inner frame integrally bonded to the inner part of the outer frame to form a unitized body, each frame being formed as a laminate comprised of a plurality of strips. Some of these strips are made of wood, thermoplastic resin or metal, and some are made as laminates themselves from plies of reinforced thermosetting resins.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles L. Segal
- 👤 Michael G. Anderson
- 👤 David N. Vincent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:18
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B49/00; A63B49/02; A63B49/10; A63B60/00; A63B60/54; A63B2209/00; A63B2209/02; A63B2209/026; A63B49/11; A63B60/06; A63B60/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S273/00; Y10S273/07; Y10S273/23
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A game racket frame comprising: an outer frame including a shaft portion, a throat portion in the form of two outwardly curving throat members, each integrally formed with the top of said shaft portion, a head portion in the form of a curvilinear rim member having two portions at the bottom thereof, each portion integrally formed with the top of one of said throat members, and a handle coupled to the bottom of said shaft portion; and an inner frame formed of a closed inner hoop member; said inner hoop member being formed as a laminate, said outer frame being formed as a laminate, and means for bonding said inner hoop member and said outer frame together to form a unitized body, said inner hoop member laminate comprising a plurality of adhesively bonded, distinct strips of material, said strips being arranged perpendicular to the faces of said racket, at least one of said strips comprising a preformed, precured strip of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin, said outer frame laminate comprising a plurality of adhesively bonded, distinct strips of material, said strips being arranged perpendicular to the faces of said racket, at least one of said strips comprising a preformed, precured strip of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A game racket frame comprising: an outer frame including a shaft portion, a throat portion in the form of two outwardly curving throat members, each integrally formed with the top of said shaft portion, a head portion in the form of a curvilinear rim member having two portions at the bottom thereof, each portion integrally formed with the top of one of said throat members, and a handle coupled to the bottom of said shaft portion; and an inner frame formed of a closed inner hoop member; said inner hoop member being formed as a laminate, said outer frame being formed as a laminate, and means for bonding said inner hoop member and said outer frame together to form a unitized body, said inner hoop member laminate comprising a plurality of adhesively bonded, distinct strips of material, said strips being arranged perpendicular to the faces of said racket, at least one of said strips comprising a preformed, precured strip of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin, said outer frame laminate comprising a plurality of adhesively bonded, distinct strips of material, said strips being arranged perpendicular to the faces of said racket, at least one of said strips comprising a preformed, precured strip of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said fiber comprises graphite fiber
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said fiber comprises fiber glass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said fiber comprises graphite fiber and fiber glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein some of said strips are formed of thermoplastic resins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1, and further including a plurality of reinforcing strips coupled to said outer frame along at least a portion of said throat portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said inner hoop member has a thickness at the bottom which is substantially twice the thickness of the remaining parts of said inner hoop member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
98 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said inner hoop member laminate comprising an inner strip, an outer strip and a plurality of interior strips located between said inner and outer strips, said inner and outer strips being preformed, precured laminates of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin, at least one of said interior strips being formed of wood; and said outer frame laminate comprising an inner strip, an outer strip and a plurality of interior strips located between said inner and outer strips, said inner and outer strips being preformed, precured laminates of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A game racket frame according to claim 8 and further including a plurality of reinforcing strips coupled to said outer frame along said shaft portion and at least a part of said throat portion, said reinforcing strips being comprised of wood.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein each strip of said inner hoop member is a laminate of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin; and each strip of said outer frame is a laminate of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A game racket frame according to claim 10 and further including a plurality of reinforcing strips coupled to said outer frame along said shaft portion and at least a part of said throat portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said inner hoop member laminate and said outer frame laminate are formed from 0 to about 90% graphite fiber reinforced thermosetting resin, from about 10 to 100% fiber glass reinforced thermosetting resin and from 0 to about 80% wood.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said inner hoop member laminate and said outer frame laminate are formed from about 25% to about 75% wood, from about 10% to about 60% fiber glass reinforced thermosetting resin and from about 2% to about 40% graphite fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said inner hoop member laminate and said outer frame laminate are formed from about 10% to about 90% fiber glass reinforced thermosetting resin and from about 10% to about 90% graphite fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said inner hoop member laminate has an outermost strip which comprises a first fiber reinforced thermosetting resin, and said outer frame laminate has an innermost strip which comprises a second fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A game racket frame according to claim 15 wherein said first and second fiber reinforced thermosetting resins are the same.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A game racket frame according to claim 15 wherein said first and second fiber reinforced thermosetting resins are epoxy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A game racket frame according to claim 17 wherein said means for bonding comprises an epoxy thermosetting resin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said means for bonding includes a thermosetting resin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The game racket frame according to claim 19 wherein said thermosetting resin is epoxy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A game racket frame according to claim 19 wherein said thermosetting resin is polyester.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A game racket frame according to claim 19 wherein said thermosetting resin is phenolic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
A game racket frame according to claim 19 wherein at least one of said inner hoop member laminate strips comprises wood which is permeable by the thermosetting resin bonding these inner hoop member laminate strips together, and at least one of said outer frame laminate strips comprises wood which is permeable by the thermosetting resin bonding these outer frame laminate strips together.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
A game racket frame according to claim 1 wherein said at least one strip additionally comprises a plurality of plies comprising at least one ply of glass fiber reinforced thermosetting resin and at least one ply of graphite fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A game racket frame according to claim 24 wherein some of said fibers are unidirectional and some are woven.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A game racket frame according to claim 24 wherein the outermost strip in said outer frame laminate comprises glass fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
101 words
A game racket frame comprising: a shaft portion; a throat portion; a head portion in the form of a curvilinear rim member having two portions at the bottom thereof, said portions being integral with the top of said throat portion; a handle coupled to the bottom of said shaft portion; and support means, coupled at least to said throat portion, for reinforcing said frame, said head portion comprising a plurality of adhesively bonded, distinct strips of material, said strips being arranged perpendicular to the faces of said racket, at least one of said strips comprising preformed, precured fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
101 words
A game racket frame comprising: a shaft portion; a throat portion; a head portion in the form of a curvilinear rim member having two portions at the bottom thereof, said portions being integral with the top of said throat portion; a handle coupled to the bottom of said shaft portion; and support means, coupled at least to said throat portion, for reinforcing said frame, said head portion comprising a plurality of adhesively bonded, distinct strips of material, said strips being arranged perpendicular to the faces of said racket, at least one of said strips comprising preformed, precured fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A game racket frame according to claim 27 wherein at least one of said strips is formed of wood.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A game racket frame according to claim 27 wherein at least one of said strips is formed of metal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
A grame racket frame according to claim 27 wherein said fiber comprises graphite fiber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
A game racket frame according to claim 27 wherein said fiber comprises fiber glass.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
A game racket frame according to claim 27 wherein said fiber comprises fiber glass and graphite.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
A game racket frame according to claim 32 wherein said shaft, throat and head portions comprise at least two spaced apart strips each comprising a preformed, precured strip of fiber reinforced thermosetting resin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1054059A
Cited
US1094705A
Cited
US2029193A
Cited
GB585489A
Cited
US2878020A
Cited
GB695064A
Cited
GB769606A
Cited
FR1180866A
Cited
US2945488A
Cited
US3171397A
Cited
US3483055A
Cited
US3993308A
Cited
GB1312253A
Cited
DE1940524A1
Cited
GB1293767A
Cited
GB1351732A
Cited
US3787051A
Cited
US3691000A
Cited
US3827689A
Cited
US3850156A
Cited
US4023799A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-01-23 | 1981-07-25 | 1982-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-23 | 1985-07-25 | 1986-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-23 | 1989-07-25 | 1990-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |