US 11,986,706 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. 17/703,426.
Application 17/703,426 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 2022/0212065 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 lateral bending test including a first test fixture, a deflection indicator and a clamp, wherein the racquet lateral bending test includes mounting the racquet in a first orientation to the first test fixture at a first longitudinal location, attaching the clamp to the racquet at a second longitudinal location, operably engaging the deflection indicator to the clamp, applying a first predetermined weight of 3 Kg to the racquet at a third longitudinal location, and removing the first predetermined weight to obtain a lateral deflection measurement of the racquet with respect to 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 lateral bending test, the racquet has a lateral deflection of at least 6.0 mm when measured in a direction that is parallel 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 a side region of the head portion at the 3 o'clock position of the hoop at a distance that is 20 inches from the proximal end of the racquet along the longitudinal axis.