| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 473535000 | Fiber reinforced plastic frame | 17 |
| 20090191989 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SHEAR THICKENING MATERIALS IN SPORTS PRODUCTS - A sports product may include a support member and an impact region configured to impact an object. The impact region may be coupled to the support member. The sports product may also include a shear thickening material in at least one of the support member or the impact region. The shear thickening material may be configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the impact region and the object. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20100190591 | BALL-STRIKING IMPLEMENT - A novel ball-striking implement, in particular a tennis, squash or badminton racket, is described, with a head frame ( | 07-29-2010 |
| 20110009216 | RACKET FRAME - A racket frame | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110136602 | FIBER COMPOSITE AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE - The inventive fiber manufacturing process is particularly adapted for demanding applications such as sports racquets, including tennis racquets, badminton racquets and other sports applications. Because of the improved strength to weight ratio of components formed using the inventive method, a wide range of flexibility is achieved, allowing use of the inventive process to manufacture, for example, a fiber reinforced (for example, graphite) modular sports racquet, optionally provided with user-selectable weights and/or handle replacements. From the standpoint of the player, this allows a racquet frame featuring self customization. From the standpoint of a retailer, the benefit provided is reduction of inventory. The inventive fiber, for example graphite fiber) racquet frame is filled with a plastic foam and is formed using, for example, microencapsulation technology to time, generate and apply the pressure used to form the graphite composite material of which the racquet is comprised. Advantageously, inner and outer tubular members may be used to form the racquet frame, with the inner tubular member extending around the head of the racquet frame. This compares to the standard industry technique of air injection. The racquet is thus not hollow like conventional graphite racquets, and the walls therefore can be made thinner than those of existing graphite racquets still being of the same strength or being stronger, which gives the racquet exceptional performance. In addition, the overall dimensions of, for example the cross-section, of the racquet can also be reduced while still maintaining performance characteristics. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110165975 | System and Method for a Pre-Formed Reinforcement Member for an Opening in a Game Racket - A system and method for creating a game racket with pre-formed reinforcement members in various openings in the game racket. A composite game racket frame comprising at least one elongated string channel opening in the frame head, bridge or other area, at least one reinforcement member adapted to fit within the elongated opening and configured to allow one or more game racket string to pass through the reinforcement member, and at least one string bearing member adapted to fit on the outside of the game racket frame to support the game racket string. A method for producing a game racket frame comprising the acts of preparing a single or double bladder with at least one elongated opening for molding in a mold cavity, wrapping the exposed bladder surfaces with a pre-preg material, placing the wrapped bladder in a mold cavity in the shape similar to a game racket frame, placing at least one spacer within an elongated opening, closing the mold cavity and heating it to fully prepare the pre-preg material, and then opening the mold cavity and removing the composite game racket frame. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110195807 | SPORTS RACQUET WITH STRING PORT HOLES - A sports racquet having a plurality of string port holes and conventional string holes is formed of a single tube of prepreg material. When molded, mold elements press opposed portions of the prepreg tube into contact with one another, and shape the adjoining prepreg material into a string port hole blanks. The portion of the pressed-together material which initially blocks the string port hole is removed after molding so that the string port holes extend through the frame. Alternatively, the mold elements cause the prepreg tube to follow a serpentine shape, thereby defining string port holes which are open alternately along the top and bottom surface of the frame. A pair of cover rings may be secured to the top and bottom racquet surfaces to cover the open sides of the string port holes. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110312451 | RACKET - The present invention relates to a racket for ball games having a frame comprising a head portion for receiving a stringing and a handle portion for gripping the racket, wherein the frame comprises at least one transparent or translucent portion formed from a transparent or translucent material, said transparent or translucent portion being integrally bonded to the remaining frame. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing such a racket is described. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20120094789 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SHEAR THICKENING MATERIALS IN SPORTS PRODUCTS - A sports product may include a support member and an impact region configured to impact an object. The impact region may be coupled to the support member. The sports product may also include a shear thickening material in at least one of the support member or the impact region. The shear thickening material may be configured to exhibit shear thickening behavior when an impact occurs between the impact region and the object. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120322590 | BALL-STRIKING IMPLEMENT - A ball-striking implement, in particular a tennis, squash or badminton racket, is described, the implement having a head frame including an impact surface and a stem, which is formed integrally thereon and has a handle, the impact surface being determined by at least one string which is stretched crosswise and forms string portions fastened to the head frame substantially parallel to one another. The string portions are guided in holding elements on the inside of the head frame such that the string portions are positioned in a single plane forming the impact surface. | 12-20-2012 |
| 20130090193 | SPORTING GOODS WITH GRAPHENE MATERIAL - A racket may include a frame including at least one prepreg layer. The at least one prepreg layer may include reinforcing fibers. The at least one prepreg layer may also include a matrix at least partially surrounding the reinforcing fibers. The at least one prepreg layer may also include graphene material. | 04-11-2013 |
| 20130274037 | FIBER COMPOSITE AND PROCESS OF MANUFACTURE - The inventive fiber manufacturing process is particularly adapted for demanding applications such as sports racquets. Because of the improved strength to weight ratio of components formed using the inventive method, a wide range of flexibility is achieved, allowing use of the inventive process to manufacture, for example, a fiber reinforced (for example, graphite) modular sports racquet, optionally provided with user-selectable weights and/or handle replacements. The inventive fiber (for example, graphite fiber) racquet frame is filled with a plastic foam and is formed using, for example, microencapsulation technology to time, generate and apply the pressure and gives the same or greater strength for a given size compared to conventional racquets. Advantageously, an outer tubular member may be used to form the racquet frame, with an inner tubular member extending around the head of the racquet frame. | 10-17-2013 |
| 20140148275 | OPTIMIZED THERMOPLASTIC RACQUET - A sports racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and configured for supporting a quantity of racquet string generally about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material and including a head portion and a handle portion. The head portion is formed of first and second hoop regions. At least one of the first and second hoop regions includes a first set of projections extending from one of the first and second hoop regions across the string plane and engaging the other of the first and second hoop regions. The first set of projections space apart the first and second hoop regions by a first predetermined dimension to define a plurality of through-hoop region openings. The handle portion is formed of first and second handle regions directly coupled together without defining either a plurality of handle openings. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140148276 | OPTIMIZED THERMOPLASTIC RACQUET - A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material. The frame includes two halves having two spaced apart hoop regions, two handle regions and two mating surfaces. One of the halves includes a set of projections extending from one of the mating surfaces. At least one of the halves defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to engage the bores. At least two of the projections are stepped projections having a proximal section and a distal section. The transverse cross-sectional area of the proximal section is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the distal section. Two of the bores are configured to receive the corresponding distal sections, but not the proximal sections, of the two stepped projections, such that the projected height of the proximal section of the two stepped projections substantially defines the spacing between the hoop portions. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140148277 | OPTIMIZED THERMOPLASTIC RACQUET - A sports racquet extends along a longitudinal axis and is configured for use with a quantity of racquet string about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material. The frame includes a first frame half coupled to a second frame half. The first and second halves include first and second hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively. The first and second handle regions include first and second distal end sections, first and second proximal sections and first and second central sections, respectively. The first and second proximal end sections include transversely extending end wall segments that form a butt end wall. The transverse cross-sectional area of the coupled first and second proximal ends is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the coupled first and second distal end sections. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20140148278 | OPTIMIZED THERMOPLASTIC RACQUET - A sports racquet extends along an axis and is configured for use with a quantity of racquet string forming a string bed about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material, and including first and second halves including first and second spaced apart hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively. The hoop regions includes projections extending from hoop regions in a direction orthogonal to the string plane. At least one of the hoop regions defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to matably engage the bores. The projections extend through the string plane and define curved bearing surfaces configured for engaging and supporting the racquet string. The projections include first and second projections having first and second radii of curvature, respectively. The first radius of curvature being at least 0.5 mm greater than the second radius of curvature. | 05-29-2014 |
| 20150051027 | SPORTING GOODS WITH GRAPHENE MATERIAL - A racket may include a frame including at least one prepreg layer. The at least one prepreg layer may include reinforcing fibers. The at least one prepreg layer may also include a matrix at least partially surrounding the reinforcing fibers. The at least one prepreg layer may also include graphene material. | 02-19-2015 |
| 473536000 | Plural fiber compositions | 1 |
| 20080274843 | Method for Manufacturing a Racquet Frame for Sports Racquet and a Racquet Frame Thereof - A racquet frame has one or more string holes formed therein and a string bed plane, along which the string holes extend. The racquet frame is preferably formed by providing a frame bearing structure, which is aimed at providing flexural stiffness to said racquet frame, and structurally integrating the frame bearing structure with a frame binding structure, which is aimed at providing torsional stiffness to the racquet frame. The mutual integration of the frame bearing structure and the frame binding structure forms a composite frame structure, in which one or more of said string holes may be provided. | 11-06-2008 |
