Patent US5374057A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5374057A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rackets having damping elements
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1993-11-19
•
Granted: 1994-12-20
•
Expires: 2013-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A racket is provided with at least one damping element which is secured and positioned on the racket to substantially dampen the frame vibration of the racket when hit by a ball, shuttlecock or other object.
Inventors
- 👤 Ming-Lai Lai
- 👤 Edmond J. Nielsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:23
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B49/00; A63B60/00; A63B60/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A tennis racket, comprising a tubular frame defining a i) head having a first face and a second face, ii) bridge and iii) handle, and at least one vibration damping element secured to a surface within said tubular frame corresponding to the inner surface of said first face, said vibration damping element extending substantially only from about a point equidistant from the top of said head and the center of said head, through said bridge, to the top of said handle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A tennis racket, comprising a tubular frame defining a i) head having a first face and a second face, ii) bridge and iii) handle, and at least one vibration damping element secured to a surface within said tubular frame corresponding to the inner surface of said first face, said vibration damping element extending substantially only from about a point equidistant from the top of said head and the center of said head, through said bridge, to the top of said handle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A tennis racket according to claim 1, comprising a second vibration damping element secured to the surface within said tubular frame corresponding to the inner surface of said second face and extending substantially only from about a point equidistant from the top of said head and the center of said head, through said bridge, to the top of said handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tennis racket according to claim 2, wherein said second vibration damping element is substantially unconstrained.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tennis racket according to claim 1, wherein said damping element comprises a viscoelastic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tennis racket according to claim 4, wherein said viscoelastic material comprises an acrylic viscoelastic polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tennis racket according to claim 1, wherein said vibration damping element is substantially unconstrained.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR55184E
Cited
US4368886A
Cited
US4627635A
Cited
US4609194A
Cited
US4684131A
Cited
GB2163963A
Cited
US4875679A
Cited
US4953861A
Cited
EP0304324A1
Cited
US4876169A
Cited
US4983242A
Cited
US5088734A
Cited
US5029858A
Cited
US5122405A
Cited
US5262232A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-19 | 1998-06-20 | 1998-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-19 | 2002-06-20 | 2002-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-19 | 2006-06-20 | 2006-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |