Handle Design

Abstract

Various handles for sports equipment, such as rackets and/or paddles, are provided. The handle includes an ergonomic handle that is more comfortable grip for a variety of gripping configurations compared to other handles for sports equipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handle for a racket including a striking surface, the handle comprising:
 an upper portion positioned below and extending away from the striking surface;   a first arm extending from a first side of the upper portion;   a second arm extending from a second side of the upper portion opposite the first side;   a body extending from the first arm and the second arm away from the upper portion to a bottom point, the body defining a thickness that continuously increases from a periphery of the body to a thickest point within an interior of the periphery;   an aperture extending through the handle and defined by the upper portion, the first arm, the second arm, and the body, the aperture defining a vertical axis that extends vertically through the aperture bisecting the aperture, the aperture defining a linear lower surface perpendicular to the vertical axis;   a first side surface of the handle defined by the first side of the upper portion, the first arm, and the body, the first side surface facing away from the vertical axis, the first side surface extending from the upper portion inwardly towards the vertical axis into a first recess defined by the first arm, and outwardly away from the vertical axis to a first portion defined by the first side of the body; and   a second side surface of the handle opposite the first side surface and facing away from the vertical axis, the second side surface defined by the second side of the upper portion, the second arm, and the body, the second side surface extending from the upper portion inwardly towards the vertical axis into a second recess defined by the second arm, and outwardly away from the vertical axis to a second portion defined by the second side of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The handle of  claim 1 , the aperture comprising an upper portion defining a radius between 0.4 inches and 0.65 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The handle of  claim 2 , the body defining a lower portion including the bottom point, the lower portion defining a radius between 0.7 inches and 1.1 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The handle of  claim 1 , the body defining a lower portion including the bottom point, the lower portion defining a radius between 0.75 inches and 1.0 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The handle of  claim 1 , comprising a recess width between the first recess and the second recess along a horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical axis, wherein the recess width is between 1.5 inches and 2.0 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The handle of  claim 1 , comprising an aperture width along a horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical axis, wherein the aperture width is between 0.8 inches and 1.2 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The handle of  claim 1 , comprising a recess width between the first recess and the second recess along a horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical axis, and an aperture width along the horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical axis, wherein a ratio of the aperture width to the recess width is between 1:1.5 and 1:2.25. 
     
     
         8 . The handle of  claim 7 , wherein the ratio is between 1:1.65 and 1:2. 
     
     
         9 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the first recess and the second recess are the same distance from the aperture along a horizontal axis perpendicular to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         10 . The handle of  claim 1 , the body defining a front face and an opposing rear face, wherein the thickness of the body linearly increases from the periphery of the front face of the body to the thickest point of the body. 
     
     
         11 . A handle for a racket including a striking surface, the handle comprising:
 an upper portion positioned below and extending away from the striking surface;   a first arm extending from a first side of the upper portion;   a second arm extending from a second side of the upper portion opposite the first side;   a body extending from the first arm and the second arm away from the upper portion to a bottom point, the body defining a thickness that continuously increases from a periphery of the body to a thickest point within an interior of the periphery of the body;   an aperture extending through the handle and defined by the upper portion, the first arm, the second arm, and the body, the aperture defining a vertical axis that extends vertically through the aperture bisecting the aperture, the aperture defining a left surface extending linearly and parallel to the vertical axis and a right surface opposite the left surface extending linearly and parallel to the vertical axis;   a first side surface of the handle defined by the first side of the upper portion, the first arm, and the body, the first side surface facing away from the vertical axis, the first side surface extending from the upper portion inwardly towards the vertical axis into a first recess defined by the first arm, and outwardly away from the vertical axis to a first portion defined by the first side of the body; and   a second side surface of the handle opposite the first side surface and facing away from the vertical axis, the second side surface defined by the second side of the upper portion, the second arm, and the body, the second side surface extending from the upper portion inwardly towards the vertical axis into a second recess defined by the second arm, and outwardly away from the vertical axis to a second portion defined by the second side of the body.   
     
     
         12 . The handle of  claim 11 , the aperture defining a lower surface extending linearly and perpendicular to the vertical axis, the lower surface extending between the left surface and the right surface. 
     
     
         13 . The handle of  claim 12 , the aperture defining a first corner extending between the left surface and the lower surface, the first corner defining a radius between 0.2 inches and 0.4 inches, the aperture defining a second corner extending between the right surface and the lower surface, the first corner defining a radius between 0.2 inches and 0.4 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The handle of  claim 11 , the body defining a front face and an opposing rear face, wherein the thickness of the body linearly increases from the periphery of the front face of the body to the thickest point of the body. 
     
     
         15 . The handle of  claim 14 , wherein the body defines a first thickness at the periphery of the front face and a second thickness at the thickest point, and wherein a ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness is between 1:1.3 and 1:1.8. 
     
     
         16 . A handle for a racket including a striking surface, the handle comprising:
 an upper portion positioned below and extending away from the striking surface;   a first arm extending from a first side of the upper portion;   a second arm extending from a second side of the upper portion opposite the first side;   a body extending from the first arm and the second arm away from the upper portion to a bottom point, the body defining a thickness that continuously increases from a periphery of the body to a thickest point within an interior of the periphery;   an aperture defined by the first arm and the second arm, the aperture extending through the handle, the aperture defining a vertical axis that extends vertically through the aperture bisecting the aperture;   a first side surface of the handle defined by the first side of the upper portion, the first arm, and the body, the first side surface facing away from the vertical axis, the first side surface extending from the upper portion inwardly towards the vertical axis into a first recess defined by the first arm, and outwardly away from the vertical axis to a first portion defined by the first side of the body, the first portion extending linearly and defining a first angle with respect to a first line parallel to the vertical axis between 0 degrees and 15 degrees, the first portion extending linearly at least 30% of the distance between the aperture and the bottom point of the body along the vertical axis; and   a second side surface of the handle opposite the first side surface and facing away from the vertical axis, the second side surface defined by the second side of the upper portion, the second arm, and the body, the second side surface extending from the upper portion inwardly towards the vertical axis into a second recess defined by the second arm, and outwardly away from the vertical axis to a second portion defined by the second side of the body, the second portion extending linearly and defining a second angle with respect to a second line parallel to the vertical axis between 20 degrees and 40 degrees, the second portion extending linearly at least 40% of the distance between the aperture and the bottom point of the body along the vertical axis.   
     
     
         17 . The handle of  claim 16 , the second portion extending linearly no more than 70% of the distance between the aperture and the bottom point of the body along the vertical axis. 
     
     
         18 . The handle of  claim 17 , the second portion extending linearly at least 50% of the distance between the aperture and the bottom point of the body along the vertical axis. 
     
     
         19 . The handle of  claim 16 , the first portion extending linearly no more than 60% of the distance between the aperture and the bottom point of the body along the vertical axis. 
     
     
         20 . The handle of  claim 19 , the first portion extending linearly at least 30% of the distance between the aperture and the bottom point of the body along the vertical axis.