US 11,986,705 B2
Racquet configured with increased flexibility in multiple directions with respect to a longitudinal axis
William D. Severa, Lombard, IL (US); Dale J. Zwack, Bartlett, IL (US); Robert T. Kapheim, Downers Grove, IL (US); and Eloisa M. Compostizo, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to Wilson Sporting Goods Co., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/703,398.
Application 17/703,398 is a continuation of application No. 17/171,297, filed on Feb. 9, 2021, granted, now 11,541,282.
Application 17/171,297 is a continuation of application No. 15/929,517, filed on May 6, 2020, granted, now 10,946,253, issued on Mar. 16, 2021.
Application 15/929,517 is a continuation of application No. 16/012,344, filed on Jun. 19, 2018, granted, now 10,646,753, issued on May 12, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/641,600, filed on Mar. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0212064 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A63B 49/02 (2015.01); A63B 1/00 (2006.01); A63B 49/028 (2015.01); A63B 49/10 (2015.01); A63B 60/42 (2015.01); G01N 3/04 (2006.01); G01N 3/14 (2006.01); G01N 3/20 (2006.01); G01N 3/22 (2006.01); G01N 3/26 (2006.01); G01N 3/34 (2006.01); A63B 102/02 (2015.01)
CPC A63B 49/028 (2015.10) [A63B 1/00 (2013.01); A63B 49/10 (2013.01); A63B 60/42 (2015.10); G01N 3/04 (2013.01); G01N 3/14 (2013.01); G01N 3/20 (2013.01); G01N 3/22 (2013.01); G01N 3/26 (2013.01); G01N 3/34 (2013.01); A63B 2102/02 (2015.10); A63B 2209/02 (2013.01); A63B 2225/02 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0003 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0021 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0023 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0033 (2013.01); G01N 2203/0096 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tennis racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and capable of being tested under a racquet forward/rearward bending test including a first test fixture and a deflection indicator, and a racquet torsional stability test including a test frame having second and third test fixtures, wherein the racquet forward/rearward bending test includes securely mounting the racquet in a first orientation to the first test fixture at a first longitudinal location, applying a first predetermined weight of 2.8 Kg to the racquet at a second longitudinal location, operably engaging the deflection indicator to the racquet at a third longitudinal location, and removing the first predetermined weight to obtain a forward/rearward deflection measurement with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the racquet is capable of being tested under the racquet torsional stability test, wherein the racquet torsional stability test includes mounting the racquet to the second and third test fixtures at fourth and fifth longitudinal locations of the racquet, respectively, placing a second predetermined weight of 6.9 Kg at a sixth location on an arm extending from the second test fixture that is 40 cm from the longitudinal axis to place a torsional load on to the racquet, removing the second predetermined weight to obtain an angular deflection about the longitudinal axis, and wherein, when the racquet is tested under the racquet torsional stability test, the racquet has an angular deflection of less than 5.5 degrees about the longitudinal axis, the racquet comprising:
a frame including a head portion, a handle portion including a proximal end, and a throat portion positioned between the head portion and the handle portion, the head portion forming a hoop that defines a string bed plane, the throat portion including a pair of throat elements, at least the head portion and the throat portion of the frame of the racquet being formed at least in part of a fiber composite material, wherein, when the racquet is tested under the racquet forward/rearward bending test, the racquet has a forward/rearward deflection with respect to the longitudinal axis of at least 8.5 mm when measured in a direction that is perpendicular to the string bed plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first test fixture includes a racquet contact surface, wherein the first longitudinal location of the racquet is adjacent to the proximal end of the handle portion with the proximal end of the handle portion contacting of the racquet contact surface of the first test fixture, wherein the second longitudinal location is at a distal end region of the head portion at a 12 o'clock position of the hoop, wherein the third longitudinal location is positioned at the distal end region of the head portion at a 12 o'clock position of the hoop, wherein the second test fixture is fixed secured to the handle portion of the frame of the racquet and is pivotally mounted to the test frame to allow for rotational movement of the handle portion about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the third test fixture fixedly secures the head portion of the test frame.