US1585416A - Tennis-racket construction - Google Patents

Description

May 18 1926.

W. C. RASTETTER TENNIS RACKET CONSTRUCTION Filed April 5. 1924 Wmm ATTOR'NEY Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. RASTETT B, OF FOB/'1. WAYNE, INDIANA.

TElTNIS-RACKET CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed April 5,

This invention relates to improvements in tennis racket construction wherein a strip of wood is bent in the form of a loop and with its ends connected to a handle, there being a wooden block, or heart, interposed between the ends of the strip at their juncture with the handle, the loop of the frame being strung with a series of longitudinal and transverse strands. In ordinary practice some of the strands extend through holes in the heart and adjacent portions of the bent strip, which openings, especially at their upper ends where the strands emerge into the loop, are left exposed and unprotected as well as the top surface of the heart which extends in a plane transverse to the grain of the wood of which the heart is made. In some instances an extra strip of wood or other material is superimposed upon the exposed top surface of the heart to cover the end grain and is held thereon by glue.

The templates the provision of a shelter for the top of the heart in conjunction with a securing means for clamping the heart permanently between the shelter and the corresponding adjacent portions of the loop strip, and incidentally to aiford openings through which some of the strands are strung.

The object of the improvement is accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing which is a fragmentary elevation of a tennis racket structure embodying the invention.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawing and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a tennis racket frame made of a wooden strip 1 bent to form a loop, the ends 2 of the strip being connected with a handle 3, there being a wooden block 4: interposed between the opposite portions of the strip adjacent their juncture with the handle. Upon the top of the heart is positioned a metallic shelter which consists of a saddle 5 permanently and rigidly held thereon by opposite groups of tubular nipples 6 that extend through the corresponding portions of the loop strip 1 and the heart, and have threaded connections respectively with the saddle. Each nipple extends entirely through the saddle and has an axial opening 7 throughout its object of the present invention con- 1924. Serial No. 704,379.

length. Also, each nipple has at its end opposite the saddle a head 8 that is countersunk into the strip 1, there being a washer 9 interposed back of the head After the nipples have been lodged in place so that the heart is clamped between the saddle and the corresponding adjacent portionsof the loop strip, the upper ends of the nipples are dressed off flush with the top of the saddle.

The frame is then strung in the usual manner. In the present instance those longitudinal strands 10 that ordinarily extend through the heart are drawn through the corresponding nipples which are made hollow for their reception.

' By arranging the two groups of nipples so that those of one group extend divergently relative to those of the other group of nipples, the opposite portions of the strip through which the nipples extend are braced and the heart is clamped against said portions by the saddle, and thus a high degree of rigidity in the frame structure is attained.

What I claim is 1. In a tennis racket construction, a frame made of a wooden strip bent in the form of a loop; a handle in connection with the ends of the strip; a wooden heart interposed between those portions of the strip adjacent their juncture with the handle; a metallic shelter superimposed upon the top of the heart and extending thereover; and opposite groups of nipples extending through the opposite portions of the strip and the heart, each nipple having threaded connection with the shelter and a head at its opposite end countersunk in the strip, there being an axial opening extending throughout the length of each nipple for the reception of the corresponding strands of the racket, the nipples of one of said groups extending divergently relative to those nipples of the opposite group.

2. In a tennis racket including a frame having a loop formed of a bent wooden strip and a handle connected with the ends thereof and a wooden heart interposed between those portions of said strip adjacent their juncture with the handle, a metallic saddle completely covering the top of the heart; and opposite relatively divergent groups of nipples extending through the heart and engaging those corresponding portions of the strip adj aeent the heart and the Saddle for clampmg the interposed heart between the saddle and said portions of the strip, there being a: longitudinal axial opening extending throughout the length of each nipple for the reception of the correspond ing strands of the racket.

3. In a tennis racket including a frame having a loop formed of a bent wooden strip and a handle in connection with the ends of the strip, a wooden heart interposed between those portions of the strip adjacent their juncture with the handle; a metallic shelter superimposed upon the top of the heart; and means engaged in the portions of the strip adjacent the corresponding sides of the heart, and. the-shelter for cla-mp ing the heart, between the shelter and said to a of the heart havin connections throu h the heart with the corresponding portions of the strip adjacent the heart and affording openings therethrough for the corresponding strands of the racket.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM G. RASTETTER.

Images