Abstract: The present invention discloses a badminton racket, which includes a frame, a grip, a cap and a shaft. The grip includes a gripping portion, a sleeved portion, and a fastening element connected to the gripping portion. The sleeved portion has a first top surface and a first opening. The fastening element is connected to the first top surface, and the fastening element extends from the first opening to the inside of the gripping portion. The cap is sleeved onto the sleeved portion and has a second top surface and a second opening. There is a spacing length between the first top surface and the second top surface, and the cap has a cap length. The ratio of the spacing length to the cap length is between 0.39 and 0.83. One end of the shaft is connected to the frame, and another end is inserted into the fastening element.

Abstract: A sports racquet extends along a longitudinal axis and is configured for use with a quantity of racquet string about a string plane. The racquet includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material. The frame includes a first frame half coupled to a second frame half. The first and second halves include first and second hoop regions, and first and second handle regions, respectively. The first and second handle regions include first and second distal end sections, first and second proximal sections and first and second central sections, respectively. The first and second proximal end sections include transversely extending end wall segments that form a butt end wall. The transverse cross-sectional area of the coupled first and second proximal ends is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the coupled first and second distal end sections.

Abstract: A racquet extending along a longitudinal axis includes a frame formed of a thermoplastic material. The frame includes two halves having two spaced apart hoop regions, two handle regions and two mating surfaces. One of the halves includes a set of projections extending from one of the mating surfaces. At least one of the halves defines a set of bores. The projections are configured to engage the bores. At least two of the projections are stepped projections having a proximal section and a distal section. The transverse cross-sectional area of the proximal section is greater than the transverse cross-sectional area of the distal section. Two of the bores are configured to receive the corresponding distal sections, but not the proximal sections, of the two stepped projections, such that the projected height of the proximal section of the two stepped projections substantially defines the spacing between the hoop portions.

Abstract: A racquet frame including a light-weight, semi-permanent protective layer covering portions of the racquet frame is described. The semi-permanent protective layer may be applied to significant portions of the racquet frame without substantially changing performance features of the racquet frame. The semi-permanent protective layer reduces cosmetic damage to the frame of the racquet and may be replaced from time to time as needed. Further, the protective layer can be graphically enhanced providing a level of graphical customization to the racquet frame.

Abstract: A racket for ball games may include a frame which is formed by a frame profile or a hollow profile and has a racket head and a handle portion connected thereto preferably via a heart region. Two indentations that are symmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis of the racket may be provided in the heart region of the frame. A vibrating device may be arranged in each of the two indentations. The vibrating means of the racket may preferably be effective for vibrations having at least two vibration modes or degrees of freedom. Additionally or alternatively, a racket for ball games may include a frame which forms a head region for receiving strings and a handle portion for holding the racket. The frame may include one respective inwardly-facing C-profile in at least two segments of the head region.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an article that generally consists of a silicone material in combination with a fastening member, such as an adhesive backing, is provided and configured for easy application to a surface, including those associated with a variety of racquet sports, sporting goods, etc. The combination of the silicone material with the fastening member is hereby referred to as a “silicone adhesive product” that, as described below, overcomes the deficiencies of conventional sports equipment accessories, protects the sports equipment, reduces vibration; and can offer the degree of customization desired by some sports participants.

Abstract: The present invention is intended for use as a game racket including a handle and a head frame with strings held in tension. In particular as a high performance game racket frame including at least one generally tubular, substantially circular pivot element located at least partially within a substantially circular mating recess on at least one portion of an outside-facing peripheral surface of the head frame profile that can rotate to cooperate with at least one string. The pivot element can rest upon at least a portion of the mating recess and therefore can have at least one adjoining surface portion. In order to reduce friction, adjoining surface(s) can be coated with a suitable anti-friction agent such as silicone or it can include a “frictionless” repelling permanent magnet portion capable of sustaining magnetic levitation between the two parts.

Abstract: A game racket frame is provided including at least one substantially fluid tight portion. The racket includes a handle and a head frame with strings laced through and held in tension to form a stringed hitting surface. Alternatively, the game racket of the present invention could be formed of at least one substantially fluid tight part including a handle portion and a head frame portion. The head frame includes at least one substantially fluid tight portion and has at least one unitary multi-component spring suspension module disposed on its periphery to cooperate with at least one string. The profile of the generally tubular, spring suspension module is formed by at least two components, having at least one common wall. The profile includes a first side portion and a second side portion, is closed on at least two ends, and can have at least one communicating means in common with the racket.

Abstract: An institutional badminton racket including a head and a flexible plastic handle. The head has a metal rim around a shuttlecock striking face, and a neck rigidly secured to the rim, where the neck includes a hollow throat extending from the rim away from the striking face with lateral openings through the throat. The handle connecting end includes a first portion extending into the hollow throat, a second portion surrounding the throat, pin portions extending through the throat lateral openings and integral with the first and second portions, and a pair of wings extending generally in the plane in a lateral direction toward the head and including openings therethrough. A Y-clamp is secured around the handle connecting end and the head rim adjacent the head neck and including pins extending through the wing openings.

Abstract: A racket frame guard assembly is provided. The assembly includes a flexible abrasion-resistant section (ARS) for covering an outside portion of a racket frame, and a collar with a fastener cavity, formed with the ARS. The assembly also includes either a separate or attached fastener strip, insertible through the collar fastener cavity, having a length sufficient to wrap around a radial circumference of the racket frame. The fastener strip is used to secure the ARS to a racket frame. For example, the fastener strip can be a tie wrap, Velcro tie, or even a twist tie. Typically, the ARS has a tubular-shape with an inside surface formed along an interior axis, and the collar fastener cavity is formed by the ARS inside surface. The ARS inside surface can be an inside cylinder surface or a rectangular slit for example.

Abstract: A compound spring element for a game racket frame is provided. A resilient casing forms the spring element, with its profile having a first side portion and a second side portion defining at least one space between them. The at least one space contains at least one damping and/or tension element which interacts with the casing to form a semi-rigid, damped, compound structural unit that is flexurally resistant to string tension. It can be disposed in any number of advantageous positions on at least one part of a head frame to cooperate with at least one string.

Abstract: A bumper guard for attachment to a sports racquet. The sports racquet includes a frame having a head portion with an outer peripheral surface and a plurality of grommet holes formed into the head portion for supporting a string bed. The bumper guard includes an elongate body having a first length, an inner surface and an outer surface. The body includes a central region and first and second wings. The central region, when installed on the racquet, is generally centered about a plane defined by the string bed. The first and second wings extend from the central region. The inner surface of the body configured to generally conform with the peripheral outer surface of the head portion. Each of the first and second wings has an inner wall and an outer wall defining at least one elongate hollow cavity.

Abstract: A sports racquet strung with a bypass string pattern has a frame with a first side and an opposed second side. The second side of the frame has a plurality of spaced apart string anchoring points. A string bed including a string having a plurality of string segments each strung between the first side and the second side of the frame using the string anchoring points. The string bed includes first and second string segments that are adjacent each other on the string, substantially parallel to each other in the string bed, but are spaced apart from each other in the string bed by at least two other string segments strung substantially parallel to the first and second string segments.

Abstract: A sports racquet including a frame, a yoke and a string bed. The frame includes a head portion, a handle portion, and a throat portion positioned between the head and handle portions. The head portion includes an upper region, and first and second side regions. The yoke is coupled to the first and second side regions. The head portion and the yoke define a string bed area. The string bed is formed of a number of cross and main string segments. The main string segments include at least one central main string segment and at least two peripheral main string segments. Each central main string segment has first and second ends wherein the first end engages the head portion and the second end engages the yoke. Each peripheral main string segment is coupled at a proximal end to at least one of the throat portion and the handle portion.

Abstract: A sports racquet strung with a bypass string pattern. The sports racquet includes a frame having a first side and an opposed second side. The second side of the frame has a plurality of spaced apart string anchoring points. A string bed including a string having a plurality of string segments each strung between the first side and the second side of the frame using the string anchoring points. The string bed includes first and second string segments that are adjacent each other on the string, substantially parallel to each other in the string bed, but are spaced apart from each other in the string bed by at least two other string segments strung substantially parallel to the first and second string segments.

Abstract: This invention refers to a novel ballgame racket, especially a tennis racket, including a racket head formed by a tension frame with stringing, and also having a grip portion joining the tension frame, for example by means of a crossing and formed by a gripping shaft or a racket neck and a handle. The racket has a mechanism for tensioning the strings which includes a two part tension frame of the racket head. The frame has a closed hollow profile with a second wing like profile in touch with the closed profile with a damping element placed therebetween.

Abstract: A two-piece grommet assembly for a sports racquet. The sports racquet includes a frame having a plurality of grommet holes and at least one racquet string. The grommet assembly includes first and second grommet members. The first grommet member includes a first strip and at least two spaced-apart barrels extending generally perpendicular from the first strip. Each barrel includes a first string hole and is configured to extend through a separate grommet hole in the frame. The second grommet member includes a second strip and at least two spaced-apart pegs extending generally perpendicular from the second strip. Each peg has a second string hole. The second strip contacts the first strip, and the pegs extend into the barrels such that the first and second string holes are generally co-axially aligned. The first grommet member is configured to substantially isolate the pegs and the second strip from the frame.

Abstract: Racket string tension-maintaining means includes a plurality of surface areas between the string receiving openings in the frame of said racket, the surfaces incorporating frictional means engagable with the bights of said strings to prevent the movement thereof relative to said frame.

Abstract: A bumper strip assembly for sports racquets comprises a bumper strip portion, which may be a conventional bumper strip, and preferably a pair of polymeric felt or urethane foam strips. The cushion strips preferably have a density in the range of 0.35-0.60 g/cc and a hardness in the range of 50-60 Shore A durometer, and are disposed between the bumper strip flanges and the outer surface of the racquet frame. The cushioning strips are very lightweight, having a combined weight on the order of 3 grams, yet are extremely effective in protecting the frame from damage due to impact with a hard court surface.

Abstract: A game racket has a head frame consisting of a string protective strip and a shock-absorbing strip. The string protective strip is provided with a plurality of string protective jackets tubular in shape and having an axial through hole. The string protective strip is secured to a recessed portion of the outer wall of the head frame such that the string protective jackets are received in the string holes of the head frame. The shock-absorbing strip is provided with a plurality of shock-absorbing bodies each having a fitting portion, a shock-absorbing portion and a through hole for accommodating the string. The shock-absorbing strip is secured to a recess of the string protective strip such that shock-absorbing bodies are fitted into the axial through holes of the string protective jackets, and that the shock-absorbing portions of the shock-absorbing bodies are exposed from the free ends of the string protective jackets.

Abstract: A tennis racquet has string holes which lie alternately on opposite sides of the center plane completely around the racquet head. Except in the corners, the cross string holes, and the upper main strings holes, are located at a constant offset distance of 4.5 millimeters (mm) away from the center plane of the frame. The corner string holes and remaining lower main string holes, which mainly lie in the throat bridge, all have a constant reduced stagger of 2 mm.