Racquet

Abstract

The invention relates to a racquet that is provided for use in games in which it is used for striking a ball that has a tail, the tail being in the form of a plurality of elongate streamer elements that are anchored to the ball. Such a ball generally has a mass less than 30 g and thus requires the racquet to have a mass less than 200 g. In order to avoid tangling of the tail of the ball with the racquet after the ball has been struck with the racquet, the frame of the racquet is provided with anti-tangle formations that effectively space the exposed part of the strings of the racquet from the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame by between 20 and 30 mm.

1 . A racquet for striking a ball that has a tail, in the form of a plurality of streamer elements, anchored thereto and extending therefrom and where the ball has a mass less than 30 g, which includes
 a frame including a head part and a shaft extending from the head part; and   racquet strings carried in a tensioned lattice configuration by the head part of the frame,   and in which the racquet has an overall mass less than 200 g and the closest distance between the outer peripheral edge of the racquet around the head part of the frame and the edge of the respective opposite faces of the strings that are exposed for striking a ball is at least 15 mm.   
   
   
       2 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the closest distance between the outer peripheral edge of the racquet around the head part of the frame and the edge of the respective opposite faces of the strings that are exposed for striking a ball is between 20 mm and 30 mm. 
   
   
       3 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the outer peripheral edge of the racquet around the head part of the frame is defined by the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame. 
   
   
       4 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes two anti-tangle formations, that extend operatively inwardly with respect to the head part of the frame covering outer segments of the respective opposite faces of the strings adjacent the head part of the frame, for spacing the edge of the respective opposite faces of the strings that are exposed for striking a ball away from the outer peripheral edge of the racquet around the head part of the frame. 
   
   
       5 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the anti-tangle formations define holes therethrough. 
   
   
       6 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the operative outer faces of the anti-tangle formations are substantially parallel to one another. 
   
   
       7 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the operative outer faces of the anti-tangle formations are slanted towards the strings of the racquet from their location nearest the frame of the racquet. 
   
   
       8 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the anti-tangle formations are two separate formations that are each formed of at least one part and that are carried by the strings of the racquet. 
   
   
       9 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 8 , in which each anti-tangle formation is a substantially planar body located within the head part of the frame on the side of the strings, the two anti-tangle formations being secured together by securing means via spaces defined by the strings, to thereby be carried by the strings. 
   
   
       10 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 9 , in which each anti-tangle formation forms an effective extension of the side of the head part of the frame from which it extends. 
   
   
       11 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 9 , in which each anti-tangle formation is spaced from the head part of the frame. 
   
   
       12 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the anti-tangle formations are of a light weight synthetic plastics material. 
   
   
       13 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the anti-tangle formations are of a light weight foam material. 
   
   
       14 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the anti-tangle formations are carried by the head part of the frame. 
   
   
       15 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 14 , in which the anti-tangle formations form part of a single integrated body that defines a U-shaped profile in cross-section and that fits over and around the head part of the frame, the opposite walls of the body defining the legs of the U-shaped cross-sectional profile forming the anti-tangle formations. 
   
   
       16 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 14 , in which the anti-tangle formations are of a light weight synthetic plastics material. 
   
   
       17 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 14 , in which the anti-tangle formations are of a light weight foam material. 
   
   
       18 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the anti-tangle formations are formed as an integral part of the head part of the frame of the racquet. 
   
   
       19 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the outer peripheral edge of the racquet around the head part of the frame is defined by the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame and the head part of the frame defines string engagement formations whereby the strings engage the head part of the frame, the string engagement formations being spaced from the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame so that the faces of the strings that are exposed for striking a ball are spaced from the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame by at least 15 mm. 
   
   
       20 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 19 , in which the frame has a substantially planar formation protecting radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame and the string engagement formations that are engaged by the strings of the racquet are defined by the planar formation adjacent a peripheral inner edge of the planar formation. 
   
   
       21 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the outer peripheral edge of the racquet is defined by the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame and in which the operative width of the frame is such that the opposite faces of the strings that are exposed for striking a ball is spaced from the outer peripheral edge of the head part of the frame by at least 15 mm. 
   
   
       22 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes an outer edge formation which surrounds and extends outwardly with respect to the head part of the frame of the racquet and the outer peripheral edge of which forms the outer peripheral edge of the racquet. 
   
   
       23 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 22 , in which the outer edge formation is a formation integrally formed with the head part of the frame of the racquet. 
   
   
       24 . A racquet as claimed in  claim 22 , in which the outer edge formation is a separate formation engaged with the head part of the frame of the racquet.