Sports equipment

• US 4,079,935 A
• Filed: 03/25/1976
• Issued: 03/21/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zimm-Zamm AG
• Original Assignee: Zimm-Zamm AG
• Inventors: Gormley, Ian G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US05/670,168
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 273/26 B, 273/29 A, 273/67 R, 273/67 A, 273/67 B, 273/72 R, 273/73 R, 273/73 C, 273/73 D, 273/76, 273/96 R, 273/96 D, 273/97 R, 273/98, 273/162 R , 273/162 F, 273/164, 273/183 R, 273/183 D, 273/186 R, 273/186 A, 273/186 C, 273/186 D, 273/193 R, 273/194 R, 273/194 A, D34/5 S, 46/175, 46/177
• US Class Current: 473/530
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/80 Circular bats or paddles not provided for in groups A63B59/20 - A63B59/70
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/38 for tennis A63B61/006, A63B69/0073 and A63B69/0097 take precedence

Abstract

A sports implement comprising head and handle, the head including an integral lacunar structure with a desired striking zone thereof indicated by means chosen from the group comprising a prominent visual indicator whereby the zone is demarcated for visual identification by the player, an impact sensation indicator comprising a material increase in mass of the zone having regard to the total mass of the implement, and an aural indicator comprising means to emit a distinctive sound when the zone is struck.

Claims

1. A sports racket consisting of a head and a handle, the head having a frame that borders the head, an unstressed monolithic lattice structure within the frame and extending from side to side of the frame and having a multiplicity of openings therein, and means in the centre of the head closing a plurality of openings only in the centre of the head without prejudicing the playing characteristics of the surface of the lattice structure.

2. A sports racket as claimed in claim 1 in which the means is integral with the lattice structure.

3. A sports racket as claimed in claim 2, said means being in the form of webs of a thickness less than the thickness of the remainder of said lattice structure.

4. A sports racket as claimed in claim 1, which is moulded integrally of plastics, said lattice structure consisting of a first plurality of spaced filaments that extend across the frame in one direction, said first filaments intersecting a further plurality of spaced filaments that extend across the frame in another direction, said first filaments being integral with said further filaments and forming with said further filaments said multiplicity of openings, said means closing a plurality of of said openings in the centre of the head and consisting of portions integral with the lattice.

5. A sports racket as claimed in claim 4 in which said integral portions of plastic closing said central openings are in the form of webs of a thickness less than the thickness of the filaments.