# US 5,342,045 A · Reverse sunburst string pattern for racquetball rackets

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- Number: US 5,342,045 A
- Document ID: US5342045A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/169,022
- Filed: 1993-12-20
- Granted: 1994-08-30
- Earliest claimed: 1993-12-20
- Assignees: Lisco, Inc.
- Inventors: Brian P. Feeney
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5342045A

## CPC

- A63B 51/00: Stringing tennis, badminton or like rackets; Strings therefor; Maintenance of racket strings
- A63B 49/022: String guides on frames, e.g. grommets
- A63B 49/08: with special construction of the handle
- A63B 49/14: Protection devices on the frame
- A63B 60/16: Caps; Ferrules
- A63B 51/023: {Strings having characteristics varying along the length of the string, e.g. diameter or elasticity}
- A63B 2049/0203: {height}
- A63B 2049/0204: {width}
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A game ball racket with a reverse sunburst string pattern comprising a frame shaped to have its free ends extend parallel to form a handle, with its central extent in a general loop shaped configuration to constitute a head, the frame has an axis centrally disposed through the center of the handle and head, the head is formed with a plurality of spaced apertures extending through its periphery. A first string is positioned through first selected apertures in the head to form cross strings perpendicular to the axis and parallel with each other, the cross strings are spaced from adjacent cross strings a distance greater at the end adjacent the handle than at the opposite end with such spacing decreasing in such direction. A second string is threaded through second selected apertures in the head to form main strings nearly parallel to, but offset from, the axis, each main string is positioned at a small angle with respect to the axis and with the main strings further remote from the center line being at a greater angle than the angle of the strings adjacent to the axis with the angle between adjacent strings increasing with the distance away from the axis, the main strings are spaced more widely apart adjacent to the handle than at the end remote therefrom, the main strings and cross strings constituting a planar string bed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A new and improved racquetball racket with a reverse sunburst string pattern comprising, in combination:
a frame formed with an oval cross sectional configuration and shaped to have its free ends extend parallel to form a handle, with its central extent in a general loop shaped configuration to constitute a head and two intermediate portions forming angled beams therebetween to couple the handle and head, the frame having an axis centrally disposed through the center of the handle and head, the head being formed with a plurality of spaced apertures extending through its periphery;
a first string positioned through first selected apertures in the head to form cross strings perpendicular to the axis and parallel with each other, the cross strings being spaced from adjacent cross strings a distance greater at the end adjacent the handle than at the opposite end with such spacing decreasing with distance away from the handle in such direction;
a second string threaded through second selected apertures in the head to form main strings nearly parallel to, but offset from, the axis, each main string being positioned at a small angle with respect to the axis and with the main strings further remote from the center line being at a successively greater angle than the angle of the strings adjacent to the axis with the angle between adjacent strings increasing with the distance away from the axis, the main strings being spaced more widely apart adjacent to the handle than at the end remote therefrom, the main strings and cross strings constituting a planar string bed;
a bumper strip located on the radially exterior surface of the head at the end thereof remote from the handle;
grommet strips located on the radially exterior surface of the frame on opposite sides thereof;
a pallet formed on the ends of the frame at the handle to facilitate proper sizing at the discretion of the user and with a spiral wrap grip thereover and with a butt cap thereover; and
a tie string secured to the handle at its end thereof and with an aperture in the butt cap for the passage of the tie string therethrough.

### Claim 2

A game ball racket with a reverse sunburst string pattern comprising:
a frame shaped to have its face ends extend parallel to form a handle, with its central extent in a general loop shaped configuration to constitute a head, the frame having an axis centrally disposed through the center of the handle and head, the head being formed with a plurality of spaced apertures extending through its periphery;
a first string positioned through first selected apertures in the head to form cross strings perpendicular to the axis and parallel with each other, the cross strings being spaced from adjacent cross strings a distance greater at the end adjacent to the handle than at the opposite end with the string spacing decreasing with distance away from the handle in such direction; and
a second string threaded through second selected apertures in the head to form main strings nearly parallel to, but offset from, the axis, each main string being positioned at a small angle with respect to the axis and with the main strings further remote from the center line being at a greater angle than the angle of the strings adjacent to the axis with the angle between adjacent strings increasing with the distance away from the axis, the main strings being spaced more widely apart adjacent to the handle than at the end remote therefrom, the main strings and cross strings constituting a planar string bed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The racket as set forth in claim 2 wherein the spacing between the cross strings closest to the handle is 26.5 millimeters and the spacing between the cross strings furthest from the handle is 13.4 millimeters.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The racket as set forth in claim 2 wherein spacing between the main strings closest to the axis is 16 millimeters at their ends closest to the handle and 12 millimeters at their ends furthest from the handle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The racket as set forth in claim 2 wherein the angle from the axis is 0.5 degrees for the strings closest to the axis and 5.0 degrees for the strings furthest from the axis.

### Claim 6

A game ball racket frame for a reverse sunburst string pattern comprising:
a frame shaped to have its free ends extend parallel to form a handle, with its central extent in a general loop shaped configuration to constitute a head, the frame having an axis centrally disposed through the center of the handle and head, the head being formed with a plurality of spaced apertures extending through its periphery;
a first set of string holes arranged in pairs and positioned to support cross strings perpendicular to the axis and parallel with each other, the hole pairs being spaced from adjacent hole pairs a distance greater at the end adjacent the handle than at the opposite end with the spacing between hole pairs decreasing with distance from the handle in such direction; and
a second set of string holes arranged in pairs and positioned to support main strings nearly parallel to, but offset from, the axis, with each main string being positioned at a small angle with respect to the axis and with the main strings further remote from the center line being at a greater angle than the angle of the strings adjacent to the axis with the angle between adjacent strings increasing with the distance away from the axis, the holes supporting the main strings being spaced more widely apart adjacent to the handle then at the end remote therefrom.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The frame as set forth in claim 6 wherein such frame is fabricated of a composite material.