Tennis racket having an optimized striking area

Abstract

A tennis racket having an optimized striking area made from a frame forming a ball striking portion and a handle, the ball striking portion including vertical and horizontal strings configured so as to form sweet spot areas, and a first horizontal bar integrally attached to the frame perpendicular to the handle, wherein the placement of the first horizontal bar affects characteristics of the sweet spot areas. The tennis racket may also include a second horizontal bar and/or two vertical bars.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tennis racket comprising:
 a frame forming a ball striking portion and a handle, the ball striking portion including vertical and horizontal strings configured so as to form sweet spot areas;   a first horizontal bar integrally attached to said frame perpendicular to said handle;   wherein the placement of said first horizontal bar affects characteristics of the sweet spot areas.   
     
     
         2 . The tennis racket of  claim 1 , wherein said frame is oval. 
     
     
         3 . The tennis racket of  claim 1 , wherein said first horizontal bar is distal to said handle with respect to said frame. 
     
     
         4 . The tennis racket of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stabilizing bar. 
     
     
         5 . The tennis racket of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical and horizontal strings have a string tension of between 35 and 58 pounds. 
     
     
         6 . The tennis racket of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical and horizontal strings have a string tension of greater than 68 pounds. 
     
     
         7 . The tennis racket of  claim 1 , further comprising a second horizontal bar integrally attached to said frame perpendicular to said handle, wherein placement of the second horizontal bar affects characteristics of the sweet spot areas. 
     
     
         8 . The tennis racket of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second horizontal bars are symmetrical within said frame. 
     
     
         9 . The tennis racket of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second vertical bars integrally attached to said frame, said first and second vertical bars arranged perpendicular to said first horizontal bar. 
     
     
         10 . The tennis racket of  claim 7 , further comprising first and second vertical bars integrally attached to said frame, said first and second vertical bars arranged perpendicular to said first and second horizontal bars. 
     
     
         11 . A tennis racket comprising:
 an oval frame;   a handle integrally attached to said oval frame;   a first horizontal bar spanning said oval frame perpendicular to said handle;   a second horizontal bar spanning said oval frame perpendicular to said handle;   horizontal and vertical strings forming sweet spot areas within said oval frame and between said first and second horizontal bars.   
     
     
         12 . The tennis racket of  claim 11 , wherein said first and second horizontal bars are different lengths. 
     
     
         13 . The tennis racket of  claim 12 , further comprising first and second vertical bars extending between said first and second horizontal bars. 
     
     
         14 . The tennis racket of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical and horizontal strings have a string tension of between 35 and 58 pounds. 
     
     
         15 . The tennis racket of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical and horizontal strings have a string tension of greater than 68 pounds. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a tennis racket having an oval frame, a handle integrally attached to the oval frame, a horizontal bar spanning the oval frame, and a plurality of strings forming a dead spot area and sweet spots areas, the method comprising:
 locating the horizontal bar relative to the handle such that at least one of the sweet spot areas is maximized.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising locating the horizontal bar relative to the handle such that the dead spot is minimized. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sweet spot area being maximized is the first harmonic area. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sweet spot area being maximized is the center of percussion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of locating the horizontal bar relative to the handle such that at least one of the sweet spot areas is maximized maximizes two of the sweet spot areas.