US4283050A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Racket frame
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1979-05-29
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Granted: 1981-08-11
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Expires: 1999-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A fiber reinforced plastic racket frame advantageously usable for a tennis racket has a head portion accompanied with at least an elongated, relatively thin metallic protective member, which has cut-outs or meshes in the construction, formed integral with the outer surface layer of the fiber reinforced plastic envelope at the racket frame. Protection by this additional member assures enriched frictional resistance and reduced collapse of the head portion and presence of the meshes or cut-outs provides firm anchoring of the protective member to the envelope outer surface layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Itsushi Nagamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:20
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B49/00; A63B49/02; A63B49/14; A63B60/00; A63B60/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An improved racket frame comprising a generally rounded head portion accompanied by an elongated thin metallic plate formed integrally with a fiber reinforced plastic outer layer of said head portion, said metallic plate including a center extension in the form of first metallic strip means, and elongated branches each also in the form of a respective second metallic strip and extending laterally from and on both sides of said center extension, said center extension being positioned so that its width dimension is substantially normal to the playing faces of said racket and so that it is on the outer side of the curvature of the generally rounded head portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An improved racket frame comprising a generally rounded head portion accompanied by an elongated thin metallic plate formed integrally with a fiber reinforced plastic outer layer of said head portion, said metallic plate including a center extension in the form of first metallic strip means, and elongated branches each also in the form of a respective second metallic strip and extending laterally from and on both sides of said center extension, said center extension being positioned so that its width dimension is substantially normal to the playing faces of said racket and so that it is on the outer side of the curvature of the generally rounded head portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 1 in which said metallic plate is exposed on the outer side of said fiber reinforced plastic outer surface layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 1 in which said metallic plate extends along the length of said racket frame in said head portion over an area corresponding to a center angle amounting to 120 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 1 in which said metallic plate takes the form of a thin sheet made of a number of thin strips intersecting each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 1 in which the thickness of said plate is in a range from 0.1 to 0.5 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 1 in which said center extension is provided with a number of center cut-outs specially aligned in the longitudinal direction of said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 6 in which said center cut-outs are rectangular in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 6 further comprising cut-outs opening in said center cut-outs, said cut-outs opening in said fringes and said cut-outs opening in said center cut-outs are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction of said plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first metallic strip means comprises a first metallic strip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 9, wherein said first metallic strip has a plurality of cutouts through it arranged in a series along the length of said first metallic strip, and each said cutout being surrounded by the material of said first metallic strip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 10, wherein said cutouts are rectangular in shape.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of perforations through said metallic plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in claim 12, wherein there are said perforations through both said first metallic strip means and said second metallic strips.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
An improved racket frame as claimed in any of claims 1, 10 or 13, wherein said elongated branches extend long enough to be in planes substantially parallel to said playing face.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1984-08-10 | 1985-02-09 | 1985-08-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-10 | 1989-02-09 | 1989-08-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-10 | 1993-02-09 | 1993-08-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |