Racket with lengthened longitudinal strings

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a racket, and more particularly to a racket that lengthens the longitudinal strings of the racket and the longitudinal strings are not parallel to one another.

2. Description of Related Art

With reference to FIG. 4, a conventional racket ( 90 ) in accordance with the prior has a frame ( 92 ) and a handle ( 94 ) integrally formed on one plane. Multiple strings ( 96 ) are interlocked within the frame ( 92 ) to form a net-like structure for striking a ball (not shown).

Sport's injuries to a player's wrist occur due to the reactive force generated when striking the ball so a shock absorbing device is mounted on an outer periphery of the frame ( 92 ) between the frame ( 92 ) and the strings. However, the manufacturing cost of such a racket is very high because it is hard to make. Some manufacturers changed the material of the strings to reduce the manufacturing cost. However, just changing the material of the string without altering the fundamental structure of the racket will provide very little absorbing effect and will not satisfy many players.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the disadvantages of the conventional racket.

The main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved racket that will absorb a significant amount of the reactive force generated when the racket strikes a ball. To achieve the objective, the racket in accordance with the present invention comprises an elliptical frame, a Y-shaped throat integrally extending from the frame, a shaft integrally extending from the throat and a handle formed on the free end of the-shaft. All the elements of the racket are arranged one plane. An end piece is attached to a free end of the handle. The end piece includes a rod integrally formed in the end piece and is perpendicular to the plane in which the elements of the racket are arranged. The throat includes two hollow arms each having a slot defined to face the frame. The shaft and the handle are hollow.

By such a configuration, the longitudinal strings near the middle portion of the frame can pass through the slot into the shaft, loop around the rod and pass through the shaft and the slot to lengthen the string. The lengthened string can absorb the reactive force and prevent players from sustaining sport injuries.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front plan view in partial section of a racket in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, partially exploded perspective view in partial section of the handle and neck of the racket in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional front plan view of the handle, throat and lower frame of the racket in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a conventional racket on accordance with the prior art.

With reference to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1, a racket ( 10 ) in accordance with the present invention comprises an elliptical frame ( 11 ), a Y-shaped throat ( 15 ), a shaft ( 12 ) and a handle ( 16 ) integrally formed on one plane. Multiple through holes ( 17 ) are defined in the frame ( 11 ) to allow the strings ( 50 ) to interlock inside the confines of the frame ( 11 ) to form a net-like structure for striking a ball.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the shaft ( 12 ) and the Y-shaped throat ( 15 ) are hollow and communicate with each other. A partition ( 121 ) is longitudinally and centrally formed in the shaft ( 12 ). The throat ( 15 ) includes two hollow arms ( 13 ) respectively integrally connected to the frame ( 11 ). The two arms ( 13 ) of the throat ( 15 ) forms a V-shape, and each has a slot ( 19 ) defined to face the frame ( 11 ). The racket ( 10 ) includes an end piece ( 20 ) attached to one end of the handle ( 16 ) opposite to the frame ( 11 ). The end piece ( 20 ) includes a bottom having a through hole ( 23 ) defined in the bottom of the end piece ( 20 ). An interior skirt ( 21 ) extends toward the handle ( 16 ) from and around the bottom of the end piece ( 20 ). The skirt ( 21 ) is received in the handle ( 16 ) to hold the end piece ( 20 ) on the handle ( 16 ). A rod ( 22 ) is diametrically formed in the end piece ( 20 ) to allow strings ( 50 ) to change direction in the end piece ( 20 ). A groove ( 221 ) is defined longitudinally in the rod ( 11 ) to receive the end of the partition ( 121 ). A plug ( 24 ) is attached to the end piece ( 20 ) to close the through hole ( 23 ) in the bottom of the end piece ( 20 ).

As described above, the longitudinal strings near the middle portion of the frame can pass through the throat ( 15 ), the slot ( 19 ) into the shaft ( 12 ) and loop around the rod ( 22 ) in the end piece ( 20 ). Then the string ( 50 ) passes through the shaft ( 12 ) and the slot ( 19 ) into the frame again to lengthen the longitudinal string. The lengthened longitudinal strings can absorb the reactive force and prevent the players from sustaining sport injuries. Furthermore, the lengthened strings is looped around the rod ( 22 ) so that a pulling force is formed by the lengthened strings to pull the end piece ( 20 ) to securely abut the handle ( 16 ). Consequently, the groove ( 221 ) in the rod ( 22 ) is securely mounted on the end of the partition ( 121 ) to strengthen the structure of the racket.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.