US4119313A — Games racquets

Claim 1

Independent Claim 85 words

A frame for a games racquet having a head portion and a handle portion, the head being at least partly constructed of plastics material in which is incorporated a circumferentially-extending tubular metal reinforcement having a portion of its outer circumference defining substantially the entire inner periphery of the finished head portion, the tubular metal reinforcement having flanged stringing apertures with the flanges extending radially outwardly of the head of the frame and the plastics material defining substantially the entire outer periphery of the head portion.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 85 words

A frame for a games racquet having a head portion and a handle portion, the head being at least partly constructed of plastics material in which is incorporated a circumferentially-extending tubular metal reinforcement having a portion of its outer circumference defining substantially the entire inner periphery of the finished head portion, the tubular metal reinforcement having flanged stringing apertures with the flanges extending radially outwardly of the head of the frame and the plastics material defining substantially the entire outer periphery of the head portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

A frame according to claim 1, in which the head portion is in the form of a loop and the tubular metal reinforcement runs around substantially the whole loop.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

A frame according to claim 1, in which the plastics material is selected from the class consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, and is reinforced with carbon fibres.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

A frame according to claim 1, in which the tubular metal reinforcement has a transverse cross-section of substantially `D` shape but with the straight side of the `D` being arched slightly away from the curved portion of the `D`.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

A frame according to claim 1, in which the tubular metal reinforcement is filled with a plastics material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

A frame according to claim 1, in which the tubular metal reinforcement is in the form of an oval shaped loop having one end of the oval inserted into the other end and a pin holding the two ends together.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 44 words

A frame according to claim 1, in which the plastics material in that area of the frame adjacent the point of fastening the handle portion to the head portion is formed to a greater thickness than the remainder of the head of the racquet.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

A frame according to claim 1, which is for use in a tennis racquet, the tubular metal reinforcement having a major external transverse cross-sectional dimension of from 3/8 to 5/8 inch (9.50 to 16.0 mm) and a wall thickness from 0.010 to 0.015 inch (0.25 to 0.40 mm).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

A frame according to claim 1, which is for use in a squash racquet, the tubular metal reinforcement having a major external transverse cross-sectional dimension of 1/4 to 3/8 inch (6.30 to 9.60 mm) and a wall thickness of 0.008 to 0.014 inch (0.20 to 0.36 mm).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 47 words

A frame according to claim 1, which is for use in a badminton racquet, the tubular metal reinforcement having a major external transverse cross-sectional dimension of 1/4 to 1/3 inch (6.30 to 8.40 mm) and a wall thickness of 0.006 to 0.012 inch (0.15 to 0.30 mm).

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

A frame according to claim 1 in which the tubular metal reinforcement has unflanged holes spaced between the stringing apertures to assist ingress of plastics material into the tube.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 25 words

A frame according to claim 1 in which the stringing apertures are insulated from the edges of the flanges by a lining of plastics material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

A frame according to claim 1 including a second set of flanged stringing apertures in radial alignment with said stringing apertures, said second set of flanged stringing apertures being in the surface of the tubular metal reinforcement which is in contact with the plastics material on the outer periphery and having their flanges extending radially outwardly and into said plastics material.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 102 words

A badminton racquet frame having a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion comprising a loop of moulded plastics material on the outer periphery of the head reinforced with a tubular metal member running around the loop, the member being partially embedded in the plastics material and partially visible and defining the inner periphery of the loop, the member being of substantially `D` shape in transverse cross-section but with the straight side of the `D` being arched away from the curved portion of the `D,` the curved portion of the `D` being that part of the member that is visible.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 102 words

A badminton racquet frame having a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion comprising a loop of moulded plastics material on the outer periphery of the head reinforced with a tubular metal member running around the loop, the member being partially embedded in the plastics material and partially visible and defining the inner periphery of the loop, the member being of substantially `D` shape in transverse cross-section but with the straight side of the `D` being arched away from the curved portion of the `D,` the curved portion of the `D` being that part of the member that is visible.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 60 words

A badminton racquet frame according to claim 14, in which the major axis of the `D` is from 1/4 to 1/3 inch (6.30 to 8.40 mm), and the minor axis of the `D` is from 0.170 to 0.200 inch (4.32 to 5.08 mm) and the wall thickness of the tube is from 0.006 to 0.012 inch (0.15 to 0.30 mm).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

A badminton racquet frame according to claim 14, in which the arching of the `D` contributes up to one third of the length of the minor axis of the `D`.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 77 words

A frame for a games racquet, said frame comprising a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion being in the form of a loop having injection-moulded plastics material defining substantially the entire outer periphery thereof and secured to a tubular metal reinforcement, said tubular metal reinforcement running circumferentially around substantially the whole loop and being positioned so that a portion of its circumference is visible and defines substantially the entire inner periphery of said loop.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 77 words

A frame for a games racquet, said frame comprising a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion being in the form of a loop having injection-moulded plastics material defining substantially the entire outer periphery thereof and secured to a tubular metal reinforcement, said tubular metal reinforcement running circumferentially around substantially the whole loop and being positioned so that a portion of its circumference is visible and defines substantially the entire inner periphery of said loop.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

A frame according to claim 17, in which the plastics material is selected from the class consisting of nylon, polypropylene, polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, and is reinforced with carbon fibres.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

A frame according to claim 17, in which the tubular metal reinforcement has a transverse cross-section of substantially `D` shape but with the straight side of the `D` being arched slightly away from the curved portion of the `D`.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

A frame according to claim 17, in which the tubular metal reinforcement is filled with plastics material.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 40 words

A frame according to claim 17, in which the tubular metal reinforcement is in the form of an oval shaped loop having one end of the oval inserted into the other end and a pin holding the two ends together.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 44 words

A frame according to claim 17, in which the plastics material in that area of the frame adjacent the point of fastening the handle portion to the head portion is formed to a greater thickness than the remainder of the head of the racquet.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 48 words

A frame according to claim 17, which is for use in a tennis racquet, the tubular metal reinforcement having a major external transverse cross-sectional dimension of from 3/8 to 5/8 inch (9.50 to 16.0 mm) and a wall thickness from 0.010 to 0.015 inch (0.25 to 0.40 mm).

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 47 words

A frame according to claim 17, which is for use in a squash racquet, the tubular metal reinforcement having a major external transverse cross-sectional dimension of 1/4 to 3/8 inch (6.30 to 9.60 mm) and a wall thickness of 0.008 to 0.014 inch (0.20 to 0.36 mm).

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 47 words

A frame according to claim 17, which is for use in a badminton racquet, the tubular metal reinforcement having a major external transverse cross-sectional dimension of 1/4 to 1/3 inch (6.30 to 8.40 mm) and a wall thickness of 0.006 to 0.012 inch (0.15 to 0.30 mm).

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 27 words

A frame according to claim 17, in which the tubular metal reinforcement has flanged stringing apertures, the flanges extending radially outwards of the head of the frame.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

A frame according to claim 26, in which the tubular metal reinforcement has unflanged holes spaced between the stringing apertures to assist ingress of plastics material into the tube.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 25 words

A frame according to claim 26 in which the stringing apertures are insulated from the edges of the flanges by a lining of plastics material.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-10-09	1982-04-10	1982-10-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-10-09	1986-04-10	1986-10-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-10-09	1990-04-10	1990-10-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Games racquets

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