Abstract: A dynamic damper (10) having a viscoelastic part (12) and a mass-adding part (11) laminated on the viscoelastic part (12). The dynamic damper (10) has a horizontal frame (13) and a vertical frame (14) disposed at both sides of the horizontal frame (13) in such a way that the horizontal frame (13) and the vertical frame (14) continuous with the horizontal frame (13) in the shape of a lattice. The horizontal frame (13) and the vertical frame (14) are integral with each other or separately provided in the shape of a lattice.

Abstract: A tennis racket comprises a frame; a shaft connected to the frame at one end thereof; a grip into which the shaft is inserted at the other end thereof; and a pair of lightweight metal pieces attached to the shaft. The frame and the shaft are formed from fiber-reinforced synthetic resin, the pair of lightweight metal pieces has a U-shaped section and extends from inside the grip at a connecting portion with the shaft and along both sides of the shaft.

Abstract: A frame body (2) is formed separately from a yoke (10) connecting right and left parts of the frame body (2) to each other. The yoke (10) and the frame body (2) are connected to each other by a mechanical connection means, with both ends of the yoke (10) in contact with the right and left parts of the frame body (2) in an area of not less than 10 cm2. A shear force generated when the racket frame (1) deforms is collectively applied to a connection surface of the frame body (2) and that of the yoke (10) to increase a vibration-damping performance of the racket frame (1).

Abstract: A tennis racquet is provided with increased resistance against twisting of the racquet frame by increasing the width of the frame just above the area where the yoke and Y-shaped arms of the throat merge with the U-shaped upper portion of the head. The width of the frame in that area is preferably at least 0.600 inch, and more preferably about 0.640 inch. The ratio of the width and the height is about 0.54. The increased resistance to twisting permits the frame to be wider, thereby increasing the maximum width of the strings, reducing the difference between the maximum string width and maximum string length, and increasing the polar moment of inertia of the racquet.

Abstract: A throatless squash racquet includes a hollow tubular frame, preferably of graphite, bent to form a head in which the outer portion is generally circular. The opposing legs of the tubular frame curve inwardly toward one another and then converge linearly. The converging legs continue to converge, but in an inverse curve, to define a narrow neck region, and merge into an elongated shaft. Because of its geometry, the racquet exhibits improved strength and durability.

Abstract: A racket which is capable of mitigating the shock transmitted to the handle, improving the stability of the face of the head-frame, and enhancing the ability to damp the vibration imparted to the frame upon impact is disclosed. The racket has two meshed pieces (5) integrally attached to the surface of each of the lateral sides of a head-frame (1) so that the meshed pieces (5) are opposed to each other across the sweet spot of the racket. The meshed piece (5) is made from titanium and has a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A sports racquet has a lightweight frame and a pair of pods, having an increased cross-sectional width, at the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions of the head. The pods also preferably have an increased wall thickness, or a molded-in weight element, so as to provide increased weight at such regions,. Preferably also, the handle has at least one weight pod at the butt portion. The three pod weighting system, i.e., having weight pods located at the 11 o'clock, 1 o'clock, and butt end positions, not only increases the polar moment of inertia of the racquet about its longitudinal axis, but also increases the moment of inertia of the racquet about the center of gravity, providing a very stable racquet. Also, because the pods in the head portion increase the width of the frame, the torsion of the frame near the tip region is greatly increased, improving the power of the racquet with respect to balls hit further out on the string bed.

Abstract: A tennis racquet frame including a handle having a free end, a racquet head defined by a closed loop frame, a bridge that defines a portion of the closed loop frame of the racquet head and a throat connecting the racquet head to the handle, with the closed loop frame having a first half remote from the handle and a second half being closer to the handle. The mid-section of the racquet extends from and includes the second half of the closed loop frame and the throat, to a point approximately 20 centimeters to approximately 36 centimeters from the free end of the handle, in which the thickness of at least 25%, more at least preferably 50%, and most at least 75% of the mid-section is less than approximately 60% of the maximum thickness of the racquet in the first half of the closed loop frame. A tennis racquet having similar features for an open loop frame, but not having a bridge, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved sports racket design which makes the velocity and angle of the hit ball more nearly independent of the point of impact of the ball on the string bed than in the prior art. There are seven structural elements included. Each of which contribute independently toward this goal. String tension of the lateral and longitudinal strings are each approximately proportional to the mean lateral and longitudinal string lengths. The outermost longitudinal and lateral strings are spaced apart from the racket rails by at least 4 cm. and 5 cm. respectively. The throat piece, if it exists, weighs less than 28 grams. The string bed is asymmetrically extended toward a handgrip which is less than 40% of the racket length. The racket rail is made rigid in the long direction and more flexible in the plane of the string bed by a high ratio of rail height to rail thickness.

Abstract: A lightweight, high stiffness tennis racket includes a frame having a handle portion with butt end, head portion, and strings supported by the head portion. The racket is formed from a composite material including carbon fibers, titanium fibers, and epoxy resin and includes a length of at least about 27 inches, weight of less than about 9.2 ounces when strung, and a frequency of vibration of the first mode of bending under free-free constraint of at least about 175 Hz. The racket includes a vibration damping unit located about at the racket handle.

Abstract: A game racquet for tennis, racquetball, squash and the like, includes a handle having a free end and a racquet head defined by an open loop frame and having no weight heads. A throat connects the racquet head to the handle at an end of the handle opposite the free end thereof, with the open loop frame of the racquet head having a first half remote from the handle and a second half in closer proximity to the handle. A mid-section of the game racquet extends from, and includes, the second half of the open loop frame and the throat, to a point approximately 20 centimeters from the free end of the handle, with the weight of the mid-section of the game racquet being 25%, or less, of the total weight of the game racquet, when in an unstrung condition. In an alternative embodiment, the game racquet includes defining a portion of a closed loop frame of the racquet head.

Abstract: This invention provides for a racquetball racquet combining enhanced ball acceleration, high precision, and comfort. These optimum characteristics are achieved though a racquetball racquet having, in combination, an overall length of between 500 mm and 580 mm, an unstrung weight of between 140 g and 195 g, a head weight of between 52% and 65% of the overall racquet weight, and a center of gravity located between 25 mm relative to the racquet head handle end and 75 mm relative to the distal head end, measured along the longitudinal axis of the racket. The longitudinal strings of the racquetball racquet extend from the racquet head handle end to the racket head distal end are arranged so as to diverge to form a V-configuration. Two neighboring longitudinal strings are each led to a common location on the racquet head handle end.

Abstract: A tennis racquet frame including a handle having a free end, a racquet head defined by a closed loop frame, a bridge that defines a portion of the closed loop frame of the racquet head and a throat connecting the racquet head to the handle, with the closed loop frame having a first half remote from the handle and a second half being closer to the handle. The mid-section of the racquet extends from and includes the second half of the closed loop frame and the throat, to a point approximately 20 centimeters from the free end of the handle, in which the thickness of at least 25% of the mid-section, more preferably, at least 50% of the mid-section, and most preferably, at least 75% of the mid-section, is less than approximately 60% of the maximum thickness of the racquet in the first half of the closed loop frame. A tennis racquet having similar features for an open loop frame, but not having a bridge, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tennis racquet which is made up of a handle, a throat and a head. The head of the racquet is designed to increase power and control during play. The head includes at least one section having a varying thickness and width along the length of the head. The head can be designed such that the bottom section has a greater thickness, width and/or cross-sectional shape than the top section. The racquet head is also designed to shift the center of gravity of the racquet toward the handle of the racquet.

Abstract: A tennis racket having a striking surface and a handle in combination has a strung total weight of less than 245 g, an overall length larger than 70 cm, a free-free vibrational frequency in the first mode of more than 210 Hz, a center of gravity of more than 41 cm, and a dynamic center of gravity of more than 50 cm, measured from the handle end.

Abstract: The present invention is a racquetball racquet that is substantially longer than a conventional 21 inch racquet, but which has a maneuverability comparable to existing racquets, and on overall playability exceeding conventional 21 inch racquetball racquets. More particularly, a racquetball racquet comprises a frame having a head portion, a handle connected to the head portion, and stringing. The head portion is a thin-wall, hollow composite tubular member having a minimum weight per unit length, and has a cross-sectional height between 15 and 28 mm, a cross-sectional width between 9 and 13 mm, and defines an egg shape strung surface having a length of at least 14 inches, and preferably between 14 and 15.5 inches, and a strung surface area greater than 95 square inches, and preferably between 100 and 125 square inches. The racquet has an overall length that is substantially greater than 21.

Abstract: A sports racquet, preferably a tennis racquet, includes an open throat frame in which at least most of the head portion has an aerodynamic cross-section, and at least most of the shaft portions have a box-like cross-section, the two regions being connected by a morph region for smoothly blending the cross-section of one region into the cross-section of the other region. Preferably, the morph region extends from the throat bridge toward the racquet tip, and the transition from the box-like cross-section to the aerodynamic cross-section occurs over a distance of less than 15% of the overall racquet length and substantially simultaneously with the merging of the ends of the throat bridge into the head portion of the racquet.

Abstract: A tennis racquet (1) is disclosed. The racquet (1) comprises a handle (3) having a free end (6), a racquet head (2) having a loop frame (7), a throat (4) connecting the racquet head (2) to the handle (3) with the loop frame (7) having a first half (9) remote from the handle (3) and a second half (10) being closer to the handle (3). A mid-section (15) of the racquet (1) extends from and includes the second half (10) of the loop frame (7) and the throat (4), to a point approximately 20 centimeters from the free end of the handle (3), characterized in that the thickness of the racquet (1) of any part of the mid-section (15) is less than 12 millimeters or 60% of the maximum thickness of the first half (9) of the racquet head (2).

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 racket frame of extruded aluminum with a common cross-section along its entire length. The frame has free ends with frame portions adjacent to the free ends shaped parallel with each other to constitute a handle. The frame is shaped in a curved configuration remote from the handle with a central opening therewithin to form a head. The opening has a central axis. The frame is shaped with a transition zone between the head and the handle. The cross-section of the frame is of an exterior closed configuration with a major axis parallel with the central axis and a minor axis perpendicular to the major axis. The cross-section of the frame has two interior ribs spaced from each other to divide the cross-sectional configuration into three linear openings with the ribs being angled equally and oppositely with respect to each other.