US1721897A - Tennis racket and the like - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1929. s. o. cARDwELl.v

TENNIS RACKETr AND THE LIKE Filed March 30, 1928 1N VEA/Tok B .J4/#701:1 CAROWELL.

A TToR/VE y Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES g 1,721,897 PATENT oFF1jc1=;-qx

SAMUEL osWALD GARDWELL, or LoNDoN, ENGLAND, AssiGNoE To DUNLOP liwinana v coMPANY, LTD., or EoET DUNLOP, EEDINGTQN, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

TENNIS AND THE LIKE.

Appiieation mea March 3o, 192s, serial No. 266,004, and ni Great Bifam'March 31, 1927.

This invention has for its object to provide means Vfor strengthening woo-den and like articles; more particularly tennis rackets, cricket bats, golf clubs and the like. The article is provided with a groove in which is inserted a strengthening rib, strip or the like of metal which, though light in weight,

1 has correspondingly increased strength; con-` veniently such, for instance, as is known under the trade name duralumin. This is an alloy consisting mainly of aluminum but periphery of the frame a covering or con-4 cealing ply of wood which may be stuck to the main frame, thereby imparting the ap-y pearance of an ordinary one-,piece racket.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference should be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the frame of aV tennis or other racket shown partly in section;

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same, also partly in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarge-d view in cross section of the frame of the racket shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a similar view in cross section of a modified construction;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view in 'cross section of a further modification;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a manner of forming thestiffening -or reinforcing strip.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the racket shown therein and which may .be constructed in any convenient manner consists of a stem 1, the lower part 2, of which forms the handle while its upper end 3 constitutes what is generally known as the neck. Merging into or extending from the neck 3 is the hoop frame 4 in which holes 5 are provided for receiving therethrough strings shown) with which the racket is strung.

Provided in the outer peripheral surface of the frame 4 is a groove 6 extending around the greater part of the perimeter of the frame, the groove as shown in Fig. 1 terminating at (not points 7 at each side of and at equal distances from the neck 3 ofthe racket. Embedded within the groove 6 is astrip or rib 8 of metal of the kind described, the strip or ribbeing snugly fitted and retained therein, the dimension of the groove being y such as to tightly embrace the strip. Further, if desired, the strip or rib may be stuck and/or otherwise secured within the groove.

In order that the racket may present the ape pearance of lan `ordinary one-piece racket a covering or concealing ply 9 of any suitable material maybe provided upon and secured to the outer peripheral surface of the frame, the covering or concealing ply being finished or shaped in any convenient manner to allow its easy application to the frame, the construction shown in Fig. 1 being tapered in thickness at its ends in order to readily permit its application to the frame.

It is not to be construed that the constructional details are limited to any of the precise constructions hereinbefore described; I may Vmodify them without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, as in Fig. 4, the strengthening rib 8 and the concealing ply 9a of the frame 4 may both be embedded and retained Within grooves, Y

the groove 10 for receiving the concealing ply 9a being of greater width than the groove 6av in which the strengthening strip or rib 8 is embedded.k

- In Fig. 5, wherein a further modification is shown, the strengthening rib 8 and the concealing ply 9a may be identical in width, the groove 11 being of sufhcient depth to receive them. l

Inconstructing the strengthening strip or rib 8 I may form it with its width and thick-v ness constant throughout its length, or alternatively, it may be varied in any manner desirable; as, for instance, as shown in Fig. 6, where the ends 12 taper in both width and thickness; any arrangement, however, may

beadopted, it being. appreciated that thev groove is of corresponding depth and shape;

The strengthening strip preferably does not extend entirely around the blade, but

only extends to within say 1% inches from the wedge which is located in the neck 3.

As shown, the holes 5 for receiving the strings extend through the frame, the reinforcing or strengthening rib or strip and the concealing ply as a whole; and with rackets strengthened according to this invention, the

holes may vbe arranged at`A substantially less inclination-to the plane of theA frame than heretobefore, thereby lengthening the life ot the gut as the tendency to fray at the inner edge of the frame is materially lessened.

The covering ply as described aboveand when composed of Wood may be varranged With its grain running the length of the frame or be arranged With its grain obliquely With respect to the frame. In the first case the holes to receivethe strings Would be staggered with respect lto one another as is usual, as shown in Fig. 2, While in the second case `they would be arranged in line with one another around the blade of theracket. A convenient angle for thegrain of the covering ply is degrees to the-plane of the frame.

Although this invention has beenmore partic-ularly described with reference to tennis and like rackets, it will be appreciated that it is also applicable in Whole or in part to cricketJ bats, golf clubs andr any other Wood Illy Having now particularly described andv ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the samer is to be performed, I declare that What I claimv is:

A tennis racket having a main frame of a singley piece of comparatively thick Wood around the outerhperiphery of which is a groove, a reinforcing strip of greater tensile strength tightly embraced Within said groove and lying therein below the outer face of the frame and a concealing ply of comparatively thin Wood overlying and entirely concealing said reinforcing strip and lying also Within a groove in the main trame. f i Y In Witness whereof7 I have hereunto signed name. y, SAMUEL SWALD CARDWELL.

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