Abstract: A handle for a sports implement comprises a handle portion having an outer surface containing a decorative design. A grip sleeve made of a relatively thin, translucent, and preferably transparent, elastomeric material, is sized to cover the handle portion and be in frictional contact therewith, such that said decorative design shows clearly through. In the case of sports racquets, the handle portion may be formed either by a pallet on the racquet shaft, or by a molded-in handle.

Abstract: A sports racquet has a head portion with an elliptical cross-section in which the major axis is oriented parallel to the string plane. Preferably, the racquet includes a pair of converging throat frame members, and a throat bridge, which also have elliptical cross-sections oriented parallel to the string plane. As an alternative to a conventional throat bridge, in which some of the main strings are secured to the sides of the frame, a power ring, which bows inwardly toward the strung surface, spans the throat area, and supports the all the main strings, which are wrapped therearound. The racquet provides improved playability for hitting spin shots, by reducing wind resistance and reducing the minimum required angle of incidence (making it easier to hit the ball). Also, the hoop strength of the racquet is increased, which is particularly advantageous when using a power ring, which needs to provide tension to all the main strings.

Abstract: A sports racquet, e.g., a tennis racquet, has an elastomeric pallet that slides onto the racquet shaft. The pallet is formed preferably with a pair of opposed axially extending guides formed on opposed interior surfaces of the pallet. Each guide defines a pawl member. The racquet shaft includes a pair of guide grooves, to receive a respective guide and pawl member, and each groove contains a mating ratchet member. When the pallet slides on the shaft, the guides slide along the guide grooves, until the pawl members and ratchet members engage, which locks the pallet at a predetermined position on the shaft against reverse movement. Due to the fact that the pallet can be easily mounted on the shaft, without the need for adhesive or mechanical fasteners, retailers can carry separate inventories of pallets and racquets, and the customer can select the desired pallet model and handle size at the time of purchase.

Abstract: A sports racquet includes a power ring, spanning the throat region of the head, which has an arcuate bearing surface facing away from the outer head portion of the racquet. The bearing surface bows in the direction of the stringing area. The lower ends of the main strings wrap about the bearing surface of the power ring, and the strings extend outwardly in a fan shape configuration to frame. The power ring has the effect of shortening the center strings, and lengthening the outlying main strings, so that the power provided by the strings is more uniform over the string bed.

Abstract: A tennis ball is provided which has an elastomeric core and a cover having a seam. A colored seam adhesive bridges the seam and desirably matches the preferred yellowish color of the cover.

Abstract: A tennis racquet comprising a continuous convex bow containing a plurality of interlaced strings attached under tension, and a handle formed integrally with the bow. The racquet is free of a yoke and a shaft and has a sweet spot located relatively closer to the distal end of the racquet. The racquet exhibits improved stiffness, bending moments and leverage in a racquet having a relatively large head size. The racquet has a higher relative swing weight than other light-weight, large-head racquets by reducing weight at the center of the racquet by eliminating the yoke and throat, thereby providing improved power.

Abstract: An improved acoustic guitar soundboard comprising a composite sheet formed of multiple layers of epoxy impregnated graphite fibers which have been accurately preimpregnated at about 33% resin to 67% fiber, after which they are layed up in laminates of unidirectional fibers with a woven graphite fiber fabric located as both top and bottom surfaces. The fiber orientation is preferably three to four times as many fibers in the longitudinal direction as in the latitudinal direction. The layups also are always equal and opposite in layered sequence so as to eliminate uneven stress. The sheet is cured in a heated platen press at uniform pressure and temperature. The soundboard may also have either standard wood bracing, rib-like bracing or no bracing at all. The waves applied in radial orientation enhance vibration, while orienting the waves into surrounds for individual sound plates tend to create individual resonance reservoirs for specific sound frequencies.

Abstract: A handle pallet for a tennis racquet includes an elongated rigid underlayment member formed integrally with the racquet head in a one-step compression molding operation, to form a one-piece racquet head/handle pallet underlayment member article. The underlayment member generally is octagonal-shaped, and includes sides having a concave-shaped exterior surface and sides having a flat exterior surface, with the widths of the sides being generally uniform. Spaced elongated edges of the sides form prominent, outwardly directed ridges at each interface of pairs of said edges for indexing of the racquet orientation by the player. An elongated soft overlayment member also is octagonal-shaped and is disposed on the underlayment member for shock absorption. The sides of the overlayment member each have a flat exterior surface, and the interior surface of the overlayment member is complementary in shape to the exterior surface of the underlayment member.

Abstract: A tennis racquet comprising a continuous convex bow containing a plurality of interlaced strings attached under tension, and a handle formed integrally with the bow. The racquet is free of a yoke and a shaft and has a sweet spot located relatively closer to the distal end of the racquet. The racquet exhibits improved stiffness, bending moments and leverage in a racquet having a relatively large head size.

Abstract: The present application describes a pallet positionable on the handle of a rigid tennis racket frame having a bow end with strings and a handle end opposite therefrom. The pallet is formed with an external cross-sectional configuration having six flat faces and edges extending along a majority of its length. The pallet is fabricated of a dense urethane having a durometer of about between 50 and 80 on a Shore A hardness scale.

Abstract: A tennis racket adapted to isolate and diminish shock and vibrations comprising a frame having a head end and a handle end and having recesses in the frame adjacent to an intermediate extent, the recesses being in a curved configuration; a yoke piece having a central extent and free ends, the free ends being curved in configuration essentially conforming to the recesses; and an elastomeric cushion positioned between the racket recesses and the yoke ends.

Abstract: A tennis racket comprising a frame formed of a pair of tubes attached together throughout the majority of the bow and then separated in the throat-beams for at least a portion of their extents; a yoke attached to the tubes adjacent to the ends of the throat-beams to form, in association with the portions of the tube, an essentially oval-shaped bow, the periphery of the bow having spaced holes therethrough; a single groove formed around the entire external periphery of the bow; a continuous grommet strip positioned within the groove and extending through the openings in the throat-beams and around the entire external periphery of the bow, the grommet strip being provided with spaced holes aligned with the holes of the bow; a bumper strip positioned under a portion of the grommet strip including the tip, the bumper strip being provided with spaced holes aligned with the holes of both the bow and the grommet strip, the holes of the bumper strip, grommet strip and bow being perpendicular to the tangent of the inn

Abstract: A tennis racket having a graphite fiber containing frame with an opening at the head end constituting a bow and with a handle pallet at the handle end. The handle pallet is formed of a soft, dense, indexable urethane. The bow is formed with a common cross-sectional configuration enlarged in the direction of the axis of the opening and located around the majority of the opening. The racket also includes a grommet strip formed of a soft, durable, wear resistant polyurethane-polycarbonate blend secured to the radially exterior edge of the bow around the majority of the opening.

Abstract: A midsize tennis racket is disclosed which utilizes two arcuate bridges, inverted with respect to the arc of the head of the racket, and includes grommets at opposite ends of the head in order to shorten the length of the center main string so as to provide more uniform power response in the central hitting area. A selected number of the center main strings are crisscrossed between the arcuate bridges and their support locations on the frame. The construction provides the playability of a small headed racket while maintaining the stability of a large headed racket. Further embodiments are disclosed which effectively shorten the length of the main strings by effectively creating two arcuate bridges. In one embodiment, the arcuate bridges are formed by elongated projections which have boreholes at their distal ends. In a further embodiment, inelastic loops are used to form the arcuate bridges.

Abstract: A dampening mechanism for sports implements such as tennis rackets comprising an elongated vibratable member formed of an elastomeric, energy absorbing material. The vibrational member is integral with a grommet strip which mates with the underside of the yoke of the racket and the string holes therethrough. The unit is held firmly to the frame, with the vibrational member fixed within the throat of the frame below the yoke, by the strings when the racket is strung.