Racquet display system

Abstract

A racquet display system wherein of the racquets includes a head portion and a handle portion and optionally a throat portion. The head portion of each of the racquets defines a string bed plane. The system includes a first horizontally extending support configured to engage the racquets at first contact points, a second horizontally extending support configured to engage the racquets at second contact points, and a first spacing assembly. The first and second contact points define first and second average heights. The first height is greater than the second height. The system supports the racquets such that the string bed planes are vertical, and parallel with respect to each other. The handle portions of the racquets extend in a direction perpendicular to the first and second supports. Each of the handle portions extends at an angle within the range of 0 to 80 degrees with respect to horizontal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A racquet display system for displaying a first plurality of sports racquets in an area having a floor, each of the sports racquets including a head portion and at least one of a handle portion and a throat portion, the head portion of each of the sports racquets defining a string bed plane, the system comprising:
 a first generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage one of the handle portion and the throat portion of the first plurality of racquets at a first plurality of contact points, the first plurality of contact points defining a first average height with respect to the floor;   a second generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage the head portion of the first plurality of racquets at a second plurality of contact points, the second support assembly spaced apart from and positioned parallel to the first support assembly, the second plurality of contact points defining a second average height with respect to the floor, the first average height being greater than the second average height; and   a first spacing assembly coupled to at least one of the first and second support assemblies, the first spacing assembly configured to facilitate the spacing apart of the first plurality of racquets, the first and second support assemblies and the first spacing assembly configured to support the first plurality of racquets such that the string bed planes are vertically orientated and generally parallel with respect to each other, the handle portions of the first plurality of racquets extending in a direction perpendicular to the first and second horizontal support assemblies, and each of the handle portions of the first plurality of racquets extend at a projecting angle, the projecting angle being within the range of 0 to 80 degrees with respect to horizontal.   
     
     
         2 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing assembly includes a plurality of projections outwardly extending from at least one of the first and second horizontal support assemblies, and wherein at least a portion of the projections are configured to extend between two adjacent racquets of the first plurality of racquets. 
     
     
         3 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , wherein the spacing assembly includes a plurality of members, wherein each of the members extends between a portion of at least one of the head portion and the throat portion of two adjacent racquets of the first plurality of racquets, and wherein each of the members extends about a plane that is generally parallel to the string bed plane. 
     
     
         4 . The racquet display system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of members are a plurality of curved spacing strips. 
     
     
         5 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second support assemblies and the spacing assembly are configured to support the first plurality of racquets such that the projecting angle of each of the handle portions of the first plurality of racquets is within the range of 5 to 60 degrees from horizontal. 
     
     
         6 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second support assemblies and the spacing assembly are configured to support the first plurality of racquets such that the projecting angle of any one of the handle portions of the first plurality of racquets is within plus or minus 15 degrees of the projecting angle of the remaining handle portions of the first plurality of racquets. 
     
     
         7 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage the head portion of the first plurality of racquets at a third plurality of contact points, the third support assembly spaced apart from and positioned parallel to the first and second support assemblies, the third plurality of contact points defining a third average height with respect to the floor, the third average height being less than the first average height and less than the second average height. 
     
     
         8 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one divider, wherein the at least one divider is configured to separate the first plurality of racquets into at least first and second categories. 
     
     
         9 . The racquet display system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one divider is at least two dividers configured to separate the first plurality of racquets into at least three categories. 
     
     
         10 . The racquet display system of  claim 8 , further comprising at least first and second category description panels coupled to and configured to be positioned in close relation to the at least first and second categories of the first plurality of racquets, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The racquet display system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least first and second category description panels are positioned above the at least first and second categories of the first plurality of racquets, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second end panels coupled to first and second ends of the first support, respectively, and wherein the first and second end panels include graphical and/or alphanumeric indicia. 
     
     
         13 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second support assemblies are coupled to one of a wall and a frame. 
     
     
         14 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fourth generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage one of the handle portion and the throat portion of the second plurality of racquets at a fourth plurality of contact points, the fourth plurality of contact points defining a fourth average height with respect to the floor;   a fifth generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage the head portion of the second plurality of racquets at a fifth plurality of contact points, the fifth support assembly spaced apart from and positioned parallel to the fourth support assembly, the fifth plurality of contact points defining a fifth average height with respect to the floor, the fourth average height being greater than the fifth average height; and   a second spacing assembly coupled to at least one of the fourth and fifth support assemblies, the second spacing assembly configured to facilitate the spacing apart of the second plurality of racquets, the fourth and fifth support assemblies and the second spacing assembly configured to support the second plurality of racquets such that the string bed planes are vertically orientated and parallel with respect to each other, the handle portions of the second plurality of racquets extend in a direction perpendicular to the fourth and fifth horizontal supports, and each of the handle portions of the second plurality of racquets extend at a projecting angle with respect to horizontal within the range of 0 to 80 degrees.   
     
     
         15 . The racquet display system of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second support assemblies are positioned above the fourth and fifth support assemblies. 
     
     
         16 . The racquet display system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to enable one of the racquets of the first plurality of racquets to be removed from the display system without disturbing the remaining of the first plurality of racquets. 
     
     
         17 . A sports racquet display system configured for displaying at least two different categories of sports racquets, each of the sports racquets including a head portion and at least one of a handle portion and a throat portion, the head portion of each of the sports racquets defining a string bed plane, the display system having a front configured to be accessible to a user facing the display system, the system comprising:
 at least first and second category description regions, each of the at least first and second category description regions directed to at least first and second racquet categories, each racquet category being defined by at least one characteristic, each of the at least first and second category description regions configured for supporting at least one racquet from the at least first and second racquet categories, respectively, in a first position in which the head portion of the racquet is positioned above the handle portion of the racquet, the first and second category description regions including graphical and/or alphanumeric indicia;   at least first and second racquet retrieval regions positioned in close relation to the at least first and second racquet retrieval regions, respectively, each of the at least first and second racquet retrieval regions configured for supporting a plurality of racquets from the at least first and second racquet categories, respectively, in a second position in which the string bed plane is substantially vertical and the handle portion extends from the head portion toward the user facing the display system at a projecting angle, the projecting angle being within the range of 0 to 85 degrees from horizontal.   
     
     
         18 . The racquet display system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of the following racquet characteristics: length, weight, swing weight, head size, string pattern, moment of inertia about a longitudinal axis, vibrational frequency, coefficient of restitution, brand name, model name, color, graphical design, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The racquet display system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of the following player characteristics: age, height, gender, skill level, swing speed, desired feedback level, desired power level, desired control level, desired level of spin imparted to a ball, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The racquet display system of  claim 17 , wherein the projecting angle is within the range of 5 to 60 degrees from horizontal. 
     
     
         21 . The racquet display system of  claim 17 , wherein the projecting angle of any one of the handle portions of the plurality of racquets is within plus or minus 10 degrees of the projecting angle of the remaining handle portions of the plurality of racquets. 
     
     
         22 . The racquet display system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least first and second racquet retrieval regions include:
 a first generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage one of the handle portion and the throat portion of the at least two different categories of sports racquets;   a second generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage the head portion of the at least two different categories of sports racquets, the second support assembly spaced apart from and positioned parallel to the first support assembly; and   a first spacing assembly coupled to at least one of the first and second support assemblies, the first spacing assembly configured to facilitate the spacing apart of the at least two different categories of sports racquets.   
     
     
         23 . The racquet display system of  claim 22 , wherein the first spacing assembly includes a plurality of members, wherein each of the members extends between a portion of at least one of the head portion and the throat portion of two adjacent racquets of the at least two different categories of sports racquets, and wherein each of the members extends about a plane that is generally parallel to the string bed plane. 
     
     
         24 . The racquet display system of  claim 22 , further comprising a third generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage the head portion of the at least two different categories of sports racquets at a third plurality of contact points. 
     
     
         25 . The racquet display system of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one divider, wherein the at least one divider is configured to separate the at least two different categories of sports racquets. 
     
     
         26 . The racquet display system of  claim 17 , wherein the system is configured to enable one of the racquets of the at least two different categories of sports racquets to be removed from the display system without disturbing the remaining racquets. 
     
     
         27 . A racquet display system for displaying a first plurality of sports racquets in an area having a floor, each of the sports racquets including a head portion and a handle portion, the head portion of each of the sports racquets defining a string bed plane, the display system having a front configured to be accessible to a user facing the display system, the system comprising:
 a first generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage the handle portion of the first plurality of racquets at a first plurality of contact points, the first plurality of contact points defining a first average height with respect to the floor;   a second generally horizontally extending support assembly configured to engage the head portion of the first plurality of racquets at a second plurality of contact points, the second support assembly spaced apart from and positioned parallel to the first support assembly, the second plurality of contact points defining a second average height with respect to the floor, the first average height being less than the second average height; and   a first spacing assembly coupled to at least one of the first and second support assemblies, the first spacing assembly configured to facilitate the spacing apart of the first plurality of racquets, the first and second support assemblies and the first spacing assembly configured to support the first plurality of racquets such that the string bed planes are vertically orientated and generally parallel with respect to each other, the display system configured to support the first plurality of racquets such that the head portions are above the handle portions, string bed planes of the first plurality of racquets are perpendicular to the first and second support assemblies, and each of the handle portions of the first plurality of racquets extend at a projecting angle, the projecting angle being within the range of 5 to 45 degrees with respect to vertical, the display system configured to enable one of the racquets of the first plurality of racquets to be removed from the display system without disturbing the remaining of the first plurality of racquets.