GB2076295A - Games racket - Google Patents

Abstract

A badminton or other games racket of the kind in which a head or frame of tubular metal or alloy is secured to a metal or carbon-graphite shaft by means which include a T-shaped connector of strong rigid material secured at its stem and cross-piece to the shaft and racket head respectively, is characterised by the use of a one-piece T-shaped connector having a solid cross-piece (4) which is located and secured within the ends (1, 2) of the racket head. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Games racket This invention relates to games rackets and more particularly to badminton rackets of the kind having a head or frame of tubular metal or alloy which is secured to a metal or carbongraphite shaft by means of a substantially Tshaped connector of strong rigid material, the stem and cross-piece of which are fixed to the shaft and head of the racket respectively.

It has already been proposed to make the connector of tubular metal to receive the end of the shaft and the free ends of a head formed by bending a length of metal tube and to secure the parts together by welding or brazing or by means of a strong adhesive.

It is the object of the present invention to replace the aforesaid external connector by one which wholly or mainly fits within the parts to be connected and thus serves as an internal reinforcement which serves to strengthen the throat of the racket, and to this end, according to the invention, at least the cross-piece of the connector is of solid construction and enters and is secured within the ends of the racket head and a throat-piece of relatively thin material is applied externally to hide the joint.

The connector may be cast or moulded from a metal or an alloy and the stem portion may be solid or wholly or partly hollow, depending upon whether the racket shaft is of tubular or solid construction.

The throat-piece may be made of metal or synthetic plastics material and may be formed in one piece for fitting over the joint or in two pieces for application to opposite sides thereof. It may also bear advertising or other distinguishing matter.

The connector may be secured to the shaft and the head by pins, by welding or brazing or by means of a suitable adhesive and, with the connector in place, holes are drilled through the head and cross-piece for the passage of the racket strings.

A joint embodying the connector in accordance with the invention and some examples of throat-pieces are shown, by way of example, in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the throat section of a badminton racket in accordance with the invention, with the throat-piece removed; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the joint in the plane of the racket head; and Figures 3a to 3c are views of three embodiments of throat piece fitted to a badminton racket.

Fig. 1 shows a badminton racket with a tubular steel head having two ends 1 and 2 which are screwed to a tubular steel shaft 3.

An internal reinforcing connector which reinforces the joint between the shaft and the head is not visible in Fig. 1. This connector is seen in section in Fig. 2, and has a crosspiece 4 which is integral with a stem 5. The connector is shown loose in the head and shaft, prior to the brazing. Stringing holes 6 are drilled through the head and the crosspiece 4.

A throat piece 7 covers the finished joint.

This may be fabricated from sheet metal as in Fig. 3a, or may be a one- or two-piece moulded component, as in Figs. 3b and 3c.

1. A games racket of which the racket head is of tubular construction and is secured at its ends to the racket shaft, characterised by a one-piece T-shaped connector, at least the cross-piece of which is solid and is located and secured within the ends of the racket head.

2. A racket according to Claim 1, wherein both the stem and the cross-piece of the connector are of metal and of solid construction and the stem is secured within a receptacle in one end portion of the shaft.

3. A racket according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the racket head and the shaft are of tubular metal or alloy construction and are welded to the connector.

4. A racket according to Claim 3, wherein the welded connection between the racket head, the shaft and the connector is a brazed connection.

5. A racket according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the connector is secured to the racket head by pins.

6. A racket according to any preceding claim, wherein the two ends of the head and the adjacent end of the shaft are covered by an external throat-piece of relatively thin material.

7. A racket according to Claim 6, wherein the throat-piece is of plastics material.

8. A racket according to Claim 6, wherein the throat-piece is formed from sheet metal or alloy.

9. A racket according to any preceding claim, wherein racket head stringing holes are formed in the connector cross-piece.

1 0. A games racket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Games racket This invention relates to games rackets and more particularly to badminton rackets of the kind having a head or frame of tubular metal or alloy which is secured to a metal or carbongraphite shaft by means of a substantially Tshaped connector of strong rigid material, the stem and cross-piece of which are fixed to the shaft and head of the racket respectively. It has already been proposed to make the connector of tubular metal to receive the end of the shaft and the free ends of a head formed by bending a length of metal tube and to secure the parts together by welding or brazing or by means of a strong adhesive. It is the object of the present invention to replace the aforesaid external connector by one which wholly or mainly fits within the parts to be connected and thus serves as an internal reinforcement which serves to strengthen the throat of the racket, and to this end, according to the invention, at least the cross-piece of the connector is of solid construction and enters and is secured within the ends of the racket head and a throat-piece of relatively thin material is applied externally to hide the joint. The connector may be cast or moulded from a metal or an alloy and the stem portion may be solid or wholly or partly hollow, depending upon whether the racket shaft is of tubular or solid construction. The throat-piece may be made of metal or synthetic plastics material and may be formed in one piece for fitting over the joint or in two pieces for application to opposite sides thereof. It may also bear advertising or other distinguishing matter. The connector may be secured to the shaft and the head by pins, by welding or brazing or by means of a suitable adhesive and, with the connector in place, holes are drilled through the head and cross-piece for the passage of the racket strings. A joint embodying the connector in accordance with the invention and some examples of throat-pieces are shown, by way of example, in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the throat section of a badminton racket in accordance with the invention, with the throat-piece removed; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the joint in the plane of the racket head; and Figures 3a to 3c are views of three embodiments of throat piece fitted to a badminton racket. Fig. 1 shows a badminton racket with a tubular steel head having two ends 1 and 2 which are screwed to a tubular steel shaft 3. An internal reinforcing connector which reinforces the joint between the shaft and the head is not visible in Fig. 1. This connector is seen in section in Fig. 2, and has a crosspiece 4 which is integral with a stem 5. The connector is shown loose in the head and shaft, prior to the brazing. Stringing holes 6 are drilled through the head and the crosspiece 4. A throat piece 7 covers the finished joint. This may be fabricated from sheet metal as in Fig. 3a, or may be a one- or two-piece moulded component, as in Figs. 3b and 3c. CLAIMS

1. A games racket of which the racket head is of tubular construction and is secured at its ends to the racket shaft, characterised by a one-piece T-shaped connector, at least the cross-piece of which is solid and is located and secured within the ends of the racket head.

2. A racket according to Claim 1, wherein both the stem and the cross-piece of the connector are of metal and of solid construction and the stem is secured within a receptacle in one end portion of the shaft.

3. A racket according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the racket head and the shaft are of tubular metal or alloy construction and are welded to the connector.

4. A racket according to Claim 3, wherein the welded connection between the racket head, the shaft and the connector is a brazed connection.

5. A racket according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the connector is secured to the racket head by pins.

6. A racket according to any preceding claim, wherein the two ends of the head and the adjacent end of the shaft are covered by an external throat-piece of relatively thin material.

7. A racket according to Claim 6, wherein the throat-piece is of plastics material.

8. A racket according to Claim 6, wherein the throat-piece is formed from sheet metal or alloy.

9. A racket according to any preceding claim, wherein racket head stringing holes are formed in the connector cross-piece.

1 0. A games racket substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.