Sports racquet

Abstract

An improved sports racquet is provided having elements placed between the outer edge of the frame and the strings. The elements prevent the strings from touching the outer edge of the frame and rotate in response to a force applied in a direction generally perpendicular to the strings, thereby expanding the sweet spot, providing improved playability of the racquet, and significantly reducing the .[.fibration.]. .Iadd.vibration .Iaddend.that is transferred to the player's arm. The elements are preferably spherical in shape and may be comprised of various materials, including acetal, plastic and metal. The elements preferably rest in receptacles in the racquet frame, which may be integral with the frame or separate pieces, such as sleeves or grommets, that are connected to the frame. The receptacles are preferably designed to have a surface with substantially the same curvature as the bottom surface of the elements.

I claim: 
     
       1. A sports racquet comprising: (a) a handle   (b) a frame attached to or integral with said handle, said frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter thereof for receiving strings;   (c) strings disposed within said frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface; said strings extending through said frame passages; and   (d) a plurality of elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of said frame, the surface of said elements that contacts the outer perimeter of said frame being convex, such that the location of each element with respect to the frame is fixed, each element having a passage extending through said element for receiving said strings, .Iadd.each element having a bottom portion on its outer surface that is closest to the center of said playing surface and a top portion on its outer surface that is further from the center of said playing surface, each element having a rotational axis that is generally parallel to said playing surface and generally orthogonal to the string received in said element, .Iaddend.each of said elements being aligned with one of said frame passages such that each of said strings passes through said frame passage and said element passage so that said strings are prevented from contacting the frame, said elements being positioned such that.Iadd., when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface, .Iaddend.the axis of said element passage moves, but the location of said element with respect to the frame does not change, .[.when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface.]. .Iadd.the top portion of said element rotating about the rotational axis of said element toward a direction opposite to the direction of application of the force.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein said elements have a substantially spherical shape. 
     
     
       3. The sports racquet of claim 2 wherein said elements are about one eighth inch to about one half inch in diameter. 
     
     
       4. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein said elements have a substantially hemispherical shape. 
     
     
       5. The sports racquet of claim 4 wherein the spherical portion of said elements has a radius of about one sixteenth inch to about one quarter inch. 
     
     
       6. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein said elements have a substantially .[.elliptical.]. .Iadd.ellipsoidal .Iaddend.shape, each of said elements being aligned such that its major axis extends along the outer perimeter of said frame along a line that is parallel to a line tangent to the outer perimeter of said frame at the point of contact between the element and the frame .Iadd.generally parallel to said playing surface and generally orthogonal to the string received in said element.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       7. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein said elements have a hardness ranging from about R-85 to about R-120 on the Rockwell hardness scale. 
     
     
       8. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein said elements are made of plastics or metals or a composite of both. 
     
     
       9. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein the passage through said element is linear. 
     
     
       10. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein the outer perimeter of the frame has a plurality of concave surfaces located at the outer end of each frame passage to matingly receive the convex surface of each element. 
     
     
       11. The sports racquet of claim 10 wherein a sleeve extends from said element toward the inner perimeter of said frame. 
     
     
       12. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein the portion of said frame passages on the inside perimeter of said frame are of sufficient diameter such that said strings do not contact the frame when said sufficient force is applied to said playing surface. 
     
     
       13. A sports racquet comprising: (a) a handle   (b) a frame attached to or integral with said handle, said frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter thereof for receiving strings;   (c) strings disposed within said frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface; said strings extending through said frame passages; and   (d) a plurality of elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of said frame, such that the location of each element with respect to the frame is fixed, each element having a passage extending through said element for receiving said strings, .Iadd.each element having a bottom portion on its outer surface that is closet to the center of said playing surface and a top portion on its outer surface that is further from the center of said playing surface, each element having a rotational axis that is generally parallel to said playing surface and generally orthogonal to the string received in said element, .Iaddend.each of said elements being aligned with one of said frame passages such that each of said strings passes through said frame passage and said element passage so that said strings are prevented from contacting the frame, said elements having a cylinder integral therewith extending from said elements, said cylinder having an internal passage along its major axis that is aligned with said element passage, said elements being positioned such that, .Iadd.when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface, .Iaddend.the axis of said element passage moves, but the location of said element with respect to the frame does not change, .[.when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface.]. .Iadd.the top portion of said element rotating about the rotational axis of said element toward a direction opposite to the direction of application of the force.Iaddend..   
     
     
       14. A sports racquet comprising: (a) a handle;   (b) a frame attached to or integral with said handle, ssaid frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter thereof for receiving strings;   (c) strings disposed within said frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface; said strings extending through said frame passages; and   (d) a plurality of elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of said frame such that the location of each element with respect to the frame is fixed, each element having a non-linear passage extending through said element for receiving said strings, .Iadd.each element having a bottom portion on its outer surface that is closet to the center of said playing surface and a top portion on its outer surface that is further from the center of said playing surface, each element having a rotational axis that is generally parallel to said playing surface and generally orthogonal to the string received in said element, .Iaddend.each of said elements being aligned with one of said frame passages such that each of said strings passes through said frame passage and said element passage so that said strings are prevented from contacting the frame, said elements being positioned such that, .Iadd.when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface, .Iaddend.the axis of said element passage moves, but the location of said element with respect to the frame does not change, .[.when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface.]. .Iadd.the top portion of said elements rotating about the rotational axis of said element toward a direction opposite to the direction of application of the force.Iaddend..   
     
     
       15. A sports racquet comprising: (a) a handle   (b) a frame attached to or integral with said handle, said frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter thereof for receiving strings;   (c) strings disposed within said frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface; said strings extending through said frame passages; and   (d) a plurality of elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of said frame such that the location of each element with respect to the frame is fixed, each element having a passage extending through said element for receiving said strings, .Iadd.each element having a bottom portion on its outer surface that is closet to the center of said playing surface and a top portion on its outer surface that is further from the center of said playing surface, each element having a rotational axis that is generally parallel to said playing surface and generally orthogonal to the string received in said element, .Iaddend.each of said elements being aligned with one of said frame passages such that each of said strings passes through said frame passage and said element passage so that said strings are prevented from contacting the frame, each of said spaced passages being on the same axis as the string that passes through that particular passage, said elements being positioned such that .Iadd.when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface, .Iaddend.the axis of said element passage moves, but the location of said element with respect to the frame does not change, .[.when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface.]. .Iadd.the top portion of said element rotating about the rotational axis of said element toward a direction opposite to the direction of application of the force.Iaddend..   
     
     
       16. A sports racquet comprising: (a) a handle   (b) a frame attached to or integral with said handle, said frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter thereof for receiving strings and having a receptacle portion;   (c) strings disposed within said frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface, said strings extending through said frame passages; and   (d) a plurality of spherical elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of said frame such that the location of each element with respect to the frame is fixed, each element having a passage extending through said element for receiving said strings each of said elements contacting the receptacle portion of said frame passages such that each of said strings passes through said frame passage and said element passage, so that said strings are prevented from contacting said frame, said elements being positioned such that said elements rotate when a sufficient force is applied to said playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to said playing surface. .Iadd.   
     
     
       17.  In a sports racquet comprising a handle; a frame attached to or integral with the handle; the frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter for receiving strings; strings disposed within the frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface; the strings extending through the frame passages; wherein the improvement comprises the provision of: (a) a plurality of elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of the frame;   (b) receptacle means in the outer perimeter of the frame for fixing the location of each element with respect to the frame;   (c) each element having passageway means extending through the element for receiving a portion of the strings, each element having a bottom portion on its outer surface that is closest to the center of said playing surface and a top portion on its outer surface that is further from the center of said playing surface, each element having a rotational axis that is generally parallel to said playing surface and generally orthogonal to the string received in said element;   (d) each element having alignment means for aligning the element with the frame passages such that each of the strings passes through the frame passage and the passageway to prevent the strings from contacting the frame;   (e) the receptacle means positioning the elements such that when a sufficient force is applied to the playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the playing surface, the top portion of said element rotating about the rotational axis of said element toward a direction opposite to the direction of application of the force. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       18.  The improved sports racquet of claim 17 at least a first portion of each element has a curvilinear shape. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. In a frame for a sports racquet the frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter; strings disposed within the frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface; the strings extending through the frame passages; wherein the improvement comprises the provision of: a plurality of elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of the frame, each element having at least one element passage extending through the element for receiving the strings, each element passage having an axis, each of the elements having at least one bearing portion, which is aligned with one of the frame passages such that each of the strings passes through the frame passage and the element passage so that the strings are prevented from contacting the frame, receptacles in the outer perimeter for receiving the elements, the receptacles having curvilinear surfaces corresponding to the shape of a seating portion for receiving the bearing portion, each element having a bottom portion on its outer surface that is closest to the center of said playing surface and a top portion on its outer surface that is further from the center of said playing surface, each element having a rotational axis that is generally parallel to said playing surface and generally orthogonal to the string received in said element, the elements being positioned such that, when a sufficient force is applied to the playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the playing surface, the axis of the element passage moves, but the location of the element with respect to the frame does not change, the top portion of said element rotating about the rotational axis of said element toward a direction opposite to the direction of application of the force. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. In a frame for a sports racquet the frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter; strings disposed within the frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface; the strings extending through the frame passages; wherein the improvement comprises the provision of:   a plurality of elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of the frame, each element having at least one element passage extending through the element for receiving the strings, each element passage having an axis; each of the elements having at least one bearing portion, which is aligned with one of the frame passages such that each of the strings passes through the frame passage and the element passage so that the strings are prevented from contacting the frame, receptacles in the outer perimeter for receiving the elements, the receptacles having curvilinear seating surfaces for receiving a bearing portion, the elements being positioned such that the axis of the element passage moves when a sufficient force is applied to the playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the playing surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The sports racquet of claim 1 wherein the outer perimeter of said frame has a plurality of curvilinear, concave receptacles for receiving the convex element, each element having an outer surface and each receptacle having an inner surface contacting the element's outer surface, the element's outer surface sliding along the receptacle's inner surface when the axis of said element passage moves. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The sports racquet of claim 10 wherein the convex surface of each element extends along the entire surface of each element facing the outer perimeter of said frame, said concave surfaces at the outer end of each frame passage extending substantially around the concave surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. In a sports racquet comprising a handle; a frame attached to or integral with the handle; the frame having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter, and having a plurality of spaced frame passages disposed in the frame and extending between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter for receiving strings; strings disposed within the frame in a generally cross-networked array to form a playing surface; the strings extending through the frame passages; wherein the improvement comprises the provision of:   (a) a plurality of elements contacting and resting on the outer perimeter of the frame;   (b) at least one receptacle in the outer perimeter of the frame;   )c) each element having at least one passageway extending through the element for receiving a portion of the strings;   (d) each element having a bottom portion on its outer surface that is closest to the center of said playing surface and a top portion on its outer surface that is further from the center of said playing surface, each element having a rotational axis that is generally parallel to said playing surface and generally orthogonal to the string received in said element;   (e) each element being aligned with the frame passages such that each of the strings passes through the frame passage and the passageway to prevent the strings from contacting the frame;   (f) the receptacle positioning the elements such that when a sufficient force is applied to the playing surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the playing surface, the top portion of said element rotating about the rotational axis of said element toward a direction opposite to the direction of application of the force. .Iaddend.