Abstract: A shoe, in particular a sports shoe, which includes a front body for accommodating phalanxes of a foot, a rear body for accommodating a heel of the foot, an internal lateral body and an external lateral body linking the front body and the rear body, and a sole. The shoe has a clamping device for exerting a pressure essentially laterally on the rear body and a clamping member and pinching members for cooperating with the clamping device and wherein the pinching members are positioned laterally on either side of a median strip of the rear body and whereby the pinching members place force against the median strip by tightening of the clamping device.

Abstract: The racket includes a handle (2) and a frame (4) defined by an inner frame (40) and an outer frame (42), said frame further including shock-absorbing means (50) positioned between the peripheral outer surface of the inner frame and the peripheral inner surface of the outer frame. The frame further includes at least one fitting member (60) having an elongate body (62) and extending against the outer surface of the outer frame (42), and at least one tube (66) for passing a string yarn (10, 12), extending both in first openings (40?) formed in the inner frame and in second openings (42?) formed in the outer frame.

Abstract: A tennis racquet frame including a handle, a rim and arms connecting the handle and the rim and wherein each arm includes two fingers extending one above and one below the rim when the racquet frame is laid flat on a support surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a string for a racket, particularly for a tennis racket, which includes: a central core (2) and a peripheral protective layer (6). Additionally, the string includes an intermediate reinforcing layer (4) made of a composite material and placed between the central core (2) and the peripheral protective layer (6), the hardness of the reinforcing layer (4; 14; 24; 34) being greater than the hardness of the protective layer (6; 16; 26; 36), the reinforcing layer providing a function of increasing the resistance to wear and tear, while the protective layer provides a function of increasing sliding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a racket handle insert which is intended to be placed around at least part of the core (2) of the handle and which, once in position, forms a first bulbous configuration (40, 50) having a central bulge (R, R?), the transverse dimensions of each bulbous configuration diminishing continuously from the bulge towards the two axial ends thereof.

Abstract: This shoe, in particular sports shoe, comprises: a front body (2), suitable for accommodating the phalanxes of a foot, a rear body (4), suitable for accommodating a heel of the foot, an internal lateral body (6) and an external lateral body (7) linking the front body and the rear body, a sole (8) on which are positioned these bodies (2, 4, 6, 7), the sole defining a longitudinal axis (X-X), a clamping device, suitable for holding the foot in the shoe. Furthermore, the clamping device is suitable for exerting a pressure essentially laterally on the rear body (4), according to a transversal axis (Y-Y) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X-X).

Abstract: This tennis racquet frame comprises a handle (2), a rim (4) and arms (6) connecting this handle and this rim. Each arm comprises two fingers (101, 102) extending one above and one below the rim when the racquet frame is laid flat.

Abstract: The invention relates to a footwear item that is designed for racket sports. The inventive item includes a sole that includes a dynamic element that stores and releases energy when the sole is subjected to lateral stresses. The dynamic element includes at least two pair of elastically deformable support parts which are located longitudinally on either side of the metatarsus support area of the sole and which extend opposite to one another such that a first pair extend on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the sole and toward an arch portion of the sole and the second pair extend on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the sole and toward a front part of the sole.

Abstract: The handle (2) has at least a first bulb (10) defined by a first constriction (E1), a thickening (R1), and another constriction (E2), the first bulb presenting a section that is octagonal at all points, being defined by a rectangle truncated by four chamfers, the transverse dimensions of the first bulb increasing substantially continuously from each constriction (E1, E2) going towards the thickening (R1), the transverse dimensions of the bulb being as follows: AE1 lies in the range 31.25 mm to 33.25 mm; BE1 lies in the range 27 mm to 29 mm; CE1 lies in the range 8 mm to 14 mm; AR1 lies in the range 34.5 mm to 36.5 mm; BR1 lies in the range 30 mm to 32 mm; CR1 lies in the range 10 mm to 16 mm; AE2 lies in the range 30.5 mm to 32.5 mm; BE2 lies in the range 26.5 mm to 28.5 mm; and CE2 lies in the range 8 mm to 14 mm.

Abstract: A sports racket frame including a main body which has an intermediate portion in the vicinity of which is provided at least one reinforcing member which defines, with the intermediate portion, an inner volume therebetween which extends about an outer periphery of the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A racket includes a frame in which through-holes are made, shank carrying cleats including a pair of shanks which are engaged in the holes, and a stringing mounted on the frame by threading through the shank-carrying cleats, so as to produce a string pattern within the frame. The shank carrying cleats contact the frame between the through-holes. Each cleat has at least one bearing surface which is located between each pair of adjacent shanks and on which a stringing loop bears. At least some of the bearing surfaces include gaps located between the bearing surfaces and the frame.

Abstract: A vibration reducing device for a sports racket made up of a one-piece flexible elongated block includes at least one elastically compressible viscoelastic material, the block having first and second end faces, a front face and rear face, at least three blind slots distributed along the block. Each of the slots extends substantially perpendicularly to the elongate block from the front face and terminates opposite the front face in a channel passing through the block parallel to the front and rear faces. The channels have cross dimensions adapted to receive a string, the blind slots thus dividing the block into at least two divisions, each division having, in its unconstrained form, a longitudinal dimension greater than the spacing gap between two corresponding parallel strings that enter respectively two channels on either side of the division.

Abstract: Racket stringing equipment having movable jaws, for holding the racket on the stringing cradle as the racket is strung, includes profiled gripping jaws to bring the string mesh plane of the racket into alignment with a predefined stringing plane. The string tensioner holds the string being applied to the racket in a raised position in alignment with the reference stringing plane, as the racket is being strung. The string tensioner moves to a retracted position as the stringing cradle is rotated, to allow the handle of the racket to pass over the string tensioner, and returns to the raised position when the racket handle has passed. The clips for holding tension in the strings strung on the racket are freely rotatably mounted on a rotatable satellite arm. An electromagnetic lock simultaneously locks the satellite arm and the mounting arm of the clip to prevent movement of the clip with respect to the stringing cradle.

Abstract: Racket stringing equipment having movable arms, for holding the racket on the stringing cradle as the racket is strung, includes profiled gripping jaws to bring the string mesh plane of the racket into alignment with a predefined stringing plane. The string tensioner holds the string being applied to the racket in a raised position in alignment with the reference stringing plane, as the racket is being strung. The string tensioner moves to a retracted position as the stringing cradle is rotated, to allow the handle of the racket to pass over the string tensioner, and returns to the raised position when the racket handle has passed. The clips for holding tension in the strings strung on the racket are freely rotatably mounted on a rotatable satellite arm. An electromagnetic lock simultaneously locks the satellite arm and the mounting arm of the clip to prevent movement of the clip with respect to the stringing cradle.

Abstract: A process according to which filaments are embedded in a thermoplastic substance. The filaments pass through a chamber which is filled with a thermoplastic substance under pressure and made viscous by heating and the filaments run over a number of return members, thus having the effect of embedding the filaments in a matrix consisting of the thermoplastic. On leaving the chamber, the filaments pass through at least one die with the matrix in which they are embedded. The pseudo monofilament thus formed is subjected to a twist and is coated with a sheath of wear-resistant thermoplastic substance.