Composite synthetic string for tennis racket

• US 6,978,593 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cousin Biotech
• Original Assignee: Cousin Biotech
• Inventors: Delvael, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hurley, Shaun R.
• Application Number:
  US10/258,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20030145574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 572/10, 572/31, 572/32, 572/34, 572/43, 572/44, 572/50, 572/51, 428/371, 428/407
• US Class Current: 57/232
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 51/02 Strings; String substitutes; Products applied on strings, e.g. for protection against humidity or wear
• CPC Class Codes: D07B 1/02 Ropes built-up from fibrous or filamentary material, e.g. of vegetable origin, of animal origin, regenerated cellulose, plastics

Abstract

The invention concerns a composite synthetic delaminated string in particular for a tennis racket. The string includes central monofilaments surrounded by multifilament yarns, the assembly being impregnated and coated with polyurethane and is subjected to tensile bending after it has been formed. The invention is useful for tennis strings with novel appearance, with long life span and quick reaction when hitting a ball.

Claims

1. A synthetic composite delaminated string for a tennis racket comprising:

threads comprising a first synthetic material and including multifilaments, the threads being spirally wound;

a transparent binder comprising a second synthetic material, the binder impregnating the string and connecting and covering the threads, the binder having a melting point that is less than that of the threads, and having an elasticity that is higher than that of the threads;

the string having a center, and including at least one monofilament with two flat sides arranged in the center of the string;

wherein the binder impregnated string underwent tensile bending to produce the synthetic composite delaminated string wherein the monofilament is separated from the surrounding synthetic material so that the monofilament appears as a contrasted spiral through the transparent binder and multifilaments.

2. The composite delaminated string according to claim 1, wherein the at least one monofilament comprises an oblong monofilament, the oblong monofilament appearing as a contrasted spiral through the transparent binder and multifilaments.

3. The composite delaminated string according to claim 2, wherein the at least one monofilament and the multifilaments comprise polyamide, and the binder consists of polyurethane.

4. The composite delaminated string according to claim 1, wherein the at least one monofilament and the multifilaments comprise polyamide, and the binder consists of polyurethane.

5. The composite delaminated string according to claim 1, wherein the binder impregnated string underwent tensile bending by means of a capstan, passage over an axle, or passage through a squeezing die.

6. A synthetic composite delaminated string for a tennis racket produced by a method comprising:

winding threads spirally to form a string having a center, wherein the threads comprise a first synthetic material and multifilaments and wherein the string includes at least one monofilament with two flat sides arranged in the center of the string;

connecting and covering the threads and impregnating the string with a transparent binder comprising a second synthetic material, wherein the binder has a melting point that is less than that of the threads and an elasticity that is higher than that of the threads; and

delaminating the binder impregnated string through tensile bending to produce the synthetic composite delaminated string having a monofilament that is visible as a contrasted spiral through the transparent binder and multifilaments.

7. The synthetic composite delaminated string according to claim 6, wherein the binder impregnated string underwent tensile bending that separated the monofilament from the surrounding synthetic material so that the monofilament appears as a contrasted spiral through the transparent binder and multifilaments.

8. The composite delaminated string according to claim 6, wherein the at least one monofilament comprises an oblong monofilament.

9. The composite delaminated string according to claim 8, wherein the at least one monofilament and the multifilaments comprise polyamide, and the binder consists of polyurethane.

10. The composite delaminated string according to claim 6, wherein the at least one monofilament and the multifilaments comprise polyamide, and the binder consists of polyurethane.

11. The composite delaminated string according to claim 6, wherein the binder impregnated string is delaminated through tensile bending by means of a capstan, passage over an axle or passage through a squeezing die.