Racket frame

A method of manufacturing a racket frame, comprising:

• forming a mixture of at least one thermoplastic material and a plurality of fibres;
• injection moulding said mixture to form an elongate element and simultaneously forming at least one elongate cavity in said elongate element;
• forming a plurality of holes along said elongate element;
• filling said at least one elongate cavity with foam;
• heating said elongate element to a temperature sufficient to render soft said elongate element;
• bending said elongate element to form a racket frame element having head and shaft portions;
• injection moulding at least one throat piece around a first shaft portion of said elongate element;
• and
• forming a handle for said frame around a second shaft portion of said frame element.

A method of manufacturing a racket frame comprising:

• forming a mixture of at least one thermoplastic material and a plurality of fibers;
• extruding said mixture through a die to form an elongated element;
• piercing a set of holes in the elongated element;
• forming from said elongated element a shaped racket frame element having head and shaft portions by bending the same;
• forming at least one throat element around a first shaft portion of said frame;
• and
• forming a handle around a second shaft portion of the frame element.

A method of manufacturing a racket frame comprising:

• forming a mixture that includes at least one thermoplastic material;
• extruding said mixture to form an elongate element and simultaneously forming at least two elongate cavities in said elongate element;
• allowing said element to cool;
• filling said at least two elongate cavities with a foamable resin and permitting the resin to foam;
• cutting said elongate element to a predetermined length and forming a plurality of transverse holes along said elongate element;
• heating said elongate element to a temperature to render soft said elongate element and bending said elongate element to form a racket frame element having a head and shaft portion;
• injection molding at least one throat piece around a first shaft portion of said frame element;
• and
• forming a handle for the frame around a second shaft portion of the frame element.