Abstract: A racket for playing games using balls or for similar purposes (tennis, squash, badminton, etc.) has a frame (6) which is visually symmetric with respect to its median longitudinal plane (1) passing through its handle (3) and containing the center of gravity of the racket, but, for example, through the incorporation of shock absorbers (9-11) on one side (6g) of frame (6) it is divided into two right-left half parts which, although visually identical in shape, actually have different physical properties.

Abstract: A racket for ball games includes a frame having a shaped cross-section. The shape of the cross-section varies along the periphery of the frame so that the neutral axis of the racket is situated at a varying distance from the internal edge and external edge of the frame along the periphery of the racket. The neutral axis is located closer to the edge being subjected to compressive stress than the edge subjected to tensile stress. The shape of the cross-section may be such that the ratio of the distances between neutral axis and the internal and external edges, respectively, is equal to the ratio of the tensile and compressive strains of the material forming the frame. In four spaced zones of the frame, the neutral axis is closer to the external edge and in four zones spaced intermediate each of the first four zones, the neutral axis is closer to the internal edge of the frame. The cross-section of the frame may have a rounded trapezoidal shape.

Abstract: A racket for a racket sport has a frame having a handle and an annular frame head carried on the handle and formed with throughgoing stringing holes each having an outer end and an inner end. Liners define rigid edges around the outer edges of at least selected ones of the holes and strings pass through the holes in the frame, those strings passing through the selected ones of the holes being bent around and in contact with the rigid edges thereof. Respective pliable washers received in the selected ones of the holes offset from the respective ridged edges thereof each have an inner periphery elastically hugging the string traversing the respective hole for damping vibration in the head and an outer periphery fixed relative to the frame head.

Abstract: A tennis racket has an elongated handle defining a longitudinal main axis and having an outer end and an annular frame fixed to the outer handle end and bisected by the axis. The frame has an arcuate crown concave toward the handle and an arcuate throat concave toward the handle and of substantially the same transverse size and curvature as the crown. The crown and throat are formed with respective longitudinally aligned sets of longitudinally throughgoing and transversely spaced holes. In addition the frame has a pair of sides substantially symmetrically flanking the axis and longitudinally bridging the crown and throat. These sides are formed with respective transversely aligned sets of transversely throughgoing and longitudinally spaced holes. The crown and sides together define an oval outer periphery. The side holes open outward at their outer ends into respective outwardly open grooves in the sides of the frame.

Abstract: A racket body formed of composite materials in which the shaft portion of the handle, two branches of a throat portion and a frame portion, which can be completed by a bridging portion, adjoin in end to end relationship and have cores and sheaths composed of different materials. The sheaths are comprised of fiber webs or braids impregnated with synthetic resin, the fibers differing along the length of the racket from at least one portion to another, while the orientations of the fibers with respect to the axes of the respective cores can differ from place to place as well. The end portions of thetwo branches of the throat are axially offset from one another so as to avoid the formation of a rupture zone.