String vibration dampener for a tennis racquet
AssigneePrince Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsStephen J. Davis, Kenneth A. Stevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vibration absorber for tennis racquet strings includes a thin, flexible strip with a relatively massive donut shape member at either end. The device is weaved over and under the racquet main strings, so that the flexible strip contacts preferably between 4 and 6 of the center main strings, and the donut members engage, through a clamping groove, a pair of outlying strings. The device provides a good vibration dampening on the outer part of the string area, for dampening off center hits, whereas the center main strings remain lively and resilient.
Claims11
A vibration absorber for use on a sports racquet having adjacent, parallel strings, said absorber comprising:
- an elongated member, including a connecting portion which is flexible and thin so as to effect relatively little vibration dampening;
- vibration dampening means on either end of said elongated member for effecting vibration dampening greater than said connecting portion, wherein said vibration dampening means constitute end members;
- wherein said connecting member is adapted to be weaved over and under adjacent, parallel strings of a sports racquet so as to contact at least two strings, and wherein each end member is sized to fit between a pair of adjacent, parallel strings of a sports racquet so that opposite sides of the end member are in frictional contact with the two parallel strings and thereby produce variable vibration dampening across the stringing plane of the racquet.
A vibration absorber for use on a tennis racquet having center main strings and outlying main strings, said absorber comprising:
- a relatively thin, elastomeric strip having a length which is greater than the distance between the center main strings, and a pair of end sections having a relatively greater mass;
- wherein each end section includes at least two grooves each sized to receive a string of a tennis racquet so as to be in frictional contact with the string, said grooves on the respective opposite end sections being spaced apart approximately the distance between a pair of outlying main strings of a tennis racquet, wherein the vibration absorber is adapted to be weaved over and under the main strings of a tennis racquet so that the strip contacts the center main strings of the racquet and each end section receives at least two outlying strings of the racquet, said vibration absorber thereby effecting greater vibration dampening in the outlying strings than in the center main strings.
A vibration absorber for use on a sports racquet having strings defining a stringing plane, comprising an elongated flexible member adapted to be weaved over and under at least four strings, and vibration dampening means on at least one end of said elongated member for effecting vibration dampening greater than said elongated flexible member, wherein said vibration dampening means includes at least one groove adapted to receive a string of a sports racquet so as to be in frictional contact with the string, wherein said elongated flexible member is adapted to be weaved into at least four strings of a sports racquet such that at least one string is received in said groove and at least two other strings contact said elongated flexible member, thereby to produce variable vibration dampening across the stringing plane of the racquet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.