US4471958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Racket concentration aid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-12-13
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Granted: 1984-09-18
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Expires: 2002-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A concentration aid for strung rackets used in various sports wherein the object is to hit a projectile, comprising a racket having a head portion provided with a netting matrix, and a handle; a bead made of rigid aesthetic material and having a through-bore. The bead is located in one of the as square openings of the "sweet spot" area of the netting and is held in place by a pair of strings under slight tension and passing through the through-bore and extending on either side thereof, having their opposite ends fastened to the racket frame or to the matrix netting. A projectile striking the bead produces a distinctive vibration felt in the player's forearm thereby helping him or her to properly localize the "sweet spot". The bead does not deviate the trajectory of the projectile on either forehand or backhand strokes of the racket since it is free to retract within the netting opening when struck by the projectile.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Piche
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:34
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B69/00; A63B69/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A racket suitable for propelling a game projectile, said racket having a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion including a frame member defining an included area and a plurality of longitudinal and intersecting lateral strings forming a netting matrix extending within said included area and secured to said frame member under a predetermined tension, said strings defining a plurality of substantially square openings; the longest of said longitudinal and the longest of said lateral strings defining a "sweet spot" area of said openings; a bead made of rigid material, of a size smaller than that of said square openings and located in one of said openings in said "sweet spot" area in a normal position in which said bead protrudes from both sides of said netting matrix, said bead having a through bore, at least one bead string passing through said through bore and extending away from said bead on either side thereof, said bead string being woven into said netting matrix and fastened to said head portion at its opposite ends, said bead string being under significantly less tension than said predetermined tension, said bead string tension being low enough to enable said head to temporarily yieldingly move within said one of said openings when hit by said projectile, but high enough to normally resiliently maintain said bead in said normal position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A racket suitable for propelling a game projectile, said racket having a head portion and a handle portion, said head portion including a frame member defining an included area and a plurality of longitudinal and intersecting lateral strings forming a netting matrix extending within said included area and secured to said frame member under a predetermined tension, said strings defining a plurality of substantially square openings; the longest of said longitudinal and the longest of said lateral strings defining a "sweet spot" area of said openings; a bead made of rigid material, of a size smaller than that of said square openings and located in one of said openings in said "sweet spot" area in a normal position in which said bead protrudes from both sides of said netting matrix, said bead having a through bore, at least one bead string passing through said through bore and extending away from said bead on either side thereof, said bead string being woven into said netting matrix and fastened to said head portion at its opposite ends, said bead string being under significantly less tension than said predetermined tension, said bead string tension being low enough to enable said head to temporarily yieldingly move within said one of said openings when hit by said projectile, but high enough to normally resiliently maintain said bead in said normal position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A racket concentration aid as defined in claim 1 wherein said bead is located in the central square opening of said "sweet spot" area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A racket concentration aid as defined in claim 2 wherein there are two strings passing through said through-bore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A racket concentration aid as defined in claim 3 wherein the portions of said two strings adjacent said bead are generally parallel to said through-bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A racket concentration aid as defined in claim 3 wherein said two strings are turned at a right angle to said through-bore and in said central square, each string being looped in opposite directions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2094536A
Cited
US3545756A
Cited
US4076239A
Cited
US4189142A
Cited
US4141549A
Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-18 | 1988-03-19 | 1988-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-18 | 1992-03-19 | 1992-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-18 | 1996-03-19 | 1996-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |