Striking implements

Claim 2

A tennis racket incorporating means for minimizing shock imparted to the arm of a user, comprising: (a) a head portion, (b) an elongated handle affixed to said head portion and including a gripping portion near the end thereof remote from said head portion, said handle consisting of a single longitudinal slot therein lying in a plane substantially parallel to that of said head portion, extending part of the length of said handle from the end thereof farthest from said head and laterally through said handle so as to divide said handle into two unitary parts and so as to permit longitudinal movement of said parts relative to each other, and said gripping portion having a longitudinal hole in the distal end thereof remote from said head portion and extending a part of the length of said gripping portion, said hole being of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, wherein its length is substantially the same as the length of an object inserted therein, and having bounding surfaces substantially free from obstructions so that an object inserted therein is free to move in relation to said surfaces subject only to frictional forces exerted between said surfaces and said object whenever longitudinal movement between said parts of said handle occurs when an object is struck with said racket, (c) an insert of resilient elastic material contained in said hole, said insert having a dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis of said handle which is somewhat larger than the transverse dimension of said hole prior to insertion thereof, such as to spread the parts of said handle upon insertion, and (d) a grip-enhancing binding applied to the exterior of said gripping portion in a manner to urge the parts of said handle toward each other and to compress said insert.

Claim 3

A striking implement incorporating means for minimizing shock imparted to the arm of a user, comprising: (a) a head portion having a striking face adapted to engage an object to be struck, (b) an elongated handle affixed to said head portion and having an axis substantially parallel to said striking face, said handle consisting of a single longitudinal slot therein lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said striking face, extending at least part of the length of said handle from the end thereof farthest from said head portion and laterally through said handle so as to divide said handle into two unitary parts and so as to permit longitudinal movement of said parts relative to each other, and said handle having a longitudinal hole in the distal end thereof remote from said head portion and extending part of the length of said handle, said hole being of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, wherein its length is substantially the same as the length of an object inserted therein, and having bounding surfaces substantially free from obstructions so that an object inserted therein is free to move in relation to said surfaces subject only to frictional forces exerted between said surfaces and said object whenever longitudinal movement between said parts of said handle occurs when an object is struck with said implement, (c) an insert of resilient elastic material contained in said hole, said insert having a dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis of said handle which is somewhat larger than the transverse dimension of said hole prior to insertion thereof, such as to spread the parts of said handle upon insertion, and (d) a grip-enhancing binding applied to the exterior of said handle near the end thereof farthest from said head portion in a manner to urge the parts of said handle toward each other and to compress said insert.

Claim 4

A striking implement incorporating means for minimizing shock imparted to the arm of a user, comprising: (a) a head portion having a striking face adapted to engage an object to be struck, (b) an elongated handle affixed to said head portion and having an axis substantially parallel to said striking face, said handle consisting of a single longitudinal slot therein lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said striking face, extending at least part of the length of said handle from the end thereof farthest from said head portion and laterally through said handle so as to divide said handle into two unitary parts and so as to permit longitudinal movement of said parts relative to each other, and said handle having a longitudinal hole in the distal end thereof remote from said head portion and extending part of the length of said handle, said hole being of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, wherein its length is substantially the same as the length of an object inserted therein, and having bounding surfaces substantially free from obstructions so that an object inserted therein is free to move in relation to said surfaces subject only to frictional forces exerted between said surfaces and said object whenever longitudinal movement between said parts of said handle occurs when an object is struck with said implement, (c) an insert of resilient elastic material contained in said hole, said insert having a dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis of said handle which is somewhat larger than the transverse dimension of said hole prior to insertion thereof, such as to spread the parts of said handle upon insertion, and (d) a grip-enhancing binding applied to the exterior of said handle near the end thereof farthest from said head portion in a manner to urge the parts of said handle toward each other and to compress said insert.

Claim 5

A striking implement according to claim 2 in which said insert comprises compressed rubber.

Claim 6

A striking implement according to claim 2 in which said slot is substantially coextensive in length with said gripping portion of said handle.

Claim 7

A striking implement according to claim 2 in which the depth of said hole is substantially the same as the length of said insert so that the insert contacts both the side and the bottom of said hole.

Claim 8

A striking implement according to claim 2 in which said insert comprises a ball of resilient elastic material.

Claim 9

A striking implement according to claim 2 in which said handle is tubular and is provided with a circular interior barrier defining a hole to receive said insert.

Claim 10

A striking implement according to claim 7 in which the internal surface of said tubular handle is roughened in the region occupied by said insert to increase friction between said insert and the parts of said handle on either side of said slot.

Claim 11

A striking implement according to claim 2 in which said insert comprises silicone rubber.