Granted Patent B2

US 8,079,924 · App. 12/400,097 · Granted Dec 20, 2011

Abstract

Claims (16)

1. A sports racquet frame comprising a lower frame portion, frame sides joined to said lower frame portion, a tip section, and a pair of corner sections joined to and separating the frame sides and the tip section, wherein the corner sections are formed of a single tubular member and the frame sides are formed of a pair of tubular members.

2. A sports racquet as defined in claim 1 , wherein each said side section includes a plurality of string port holes.

3. A sports racquet as defined in claim 1 , wherein said tip section is formed of a pair of tubular members.

4. A sports racquet as defined in claim 1 , wherein said corner sections and tip section are formed of a single tubular member.

5. A sports racquet as defined in claim 1 , wherein said side sections and corner sections are formed of different materials.

6. A sports racquet as defined in claim 1 , wherein said frame includes a second pair of corner sections joined to said side sections, and wherein each of said second pair of said corner sections is formed of a single tubular member.

7. A sports racquet as defined in claim 6 , wherein said frame includes a pair of converging shafts, each joined to one of said second pair of corner sections, and a handle portion joined to said shafts, and wherein said second pair of said corner sections, shafts, and handle portion are formed by a pair of tubular members.

8. A sports racquet frame including a pair of opposed side sections, a tip section, and a pair of corner sections joined to and separating the side sections and tip section, wherein said corner sections are formed of a single tubular member and said side sections are each formed of a pair of tubular members.

9. A sports racquet as defined in claim 8 , wherein each said side section includes a plurality of string port holes.

10. A sports racquet as defined in claim 8 , wherein said tip section is formed of a pair of tubular members.

11. A sports racquet as defined in claim 8 , wherein said corner sections and tip section are formed of a single tubular member.

12. A sports racquet as defined in claim 8 , wherein said side sections and corner sections are formed of different materials.

13. A sports racquet as defined in claim 8 , wherein said frame includes a second pair of corner sections joined to said side sections, and wherein each of said second pair of corner sections is formed of a single tubular member.

14. A sports racquet as defined in claim 13 , wherein said frame includes a pair of converging shafts, each joined to one of said second pair of said corner sections, and a handle portion joined to said shafts, and wherein said second pair of said corner sections, shafts, and handle portion are formed by a pair of tubular members.

15. A process for making a sports racquet having side sections and upper corner sections comprising forming a pair of side sections each formed of a single tubular member and a pair of upper corner sections, each formed of a single tubular member, and joining each upper corner section to a side section.

16. A process according to claim 15 , further comprising providing a pair of prepreg tubes for forming one of said side sections and a single prepreg tube for forming an upper corner section; joining an end of said single prepreg tube with ends of said pair at a joint region; providing a pair of inflatable bladders; directing one bladder through each of said pair of prepreg tubes and both bladders through said single prepreg tube; positioning said prepreg tubes in a mold; positioning a plurality of mold insert members, each shaped to form a string port hole, between said pair of prepreg tubes; inflating said bladders while heating said mold to form said frame; and removing said mold insert members from said frame.

Assignments (10)