# US 5,702,313 A · Game racket with primary and secondary yokes

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- Number: US 5,702,313 A
- Document ID: US5702313A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/799,286
- Filed: 1997-02-13
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1997-02-13
- Assignees: Lisco, Inc.
- Inventors: Patrick G. Stennett
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702313A

## CPC

- A63B 51/00: Stringing tennis, badminton or like rackets; Strings therefor; Maintenance of racket strings
- A63B 49/02: Frames
- A63B 49/022: String guides on frames, e.g. grommets
- A63B 49/028: Means for achieving greater mobility of the string bed
- A63B 49/03: characterised by throat sections, i.e. sections or elements between the head and the shaft
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a game racquet with employs a hitting area composed of a longitudinal and a lateral string. Specifically, the present invention is directed to such a racquet with a frame that allows for centrally disposed longitudinal string segments of an extended length. These centrally disposed longitudinal segments extend through enlarged apertures within a primary yoke, or throat bridge, and are anchored through a secondary yoke, or throat bridge. Thus, the game racquet of the present invention includes a plurality of longitudinal segments with the center most segments having a length greater than that of the adjacent lengths. Such a construction gives the string bed increased resiliency without increasing the string bed area.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A game racquet comprising, in combination:
a handle end with a grip portion formed thereon, the handle end having a lower butt end and an upper extent;
a throat region having a lower extent coextensive with the upper extent of the handle end, and a upper extent which is wider than the lower extent;
a generally oval hitting region, the hitting region having a length, and a lower extent coextensive with the upper extent of the throat region;
an arcuate primary throat bridge forming the lower extent of the oval hitting region, the primary throat bridge having four oversized apertures formed therethrough, an oversize grommet positioned within each of the oversized apertures, each of the grommets being defined by an internal surface and a diameter;
an arcuate secondary throat bridge formed intermediate the primary throat bridge and the lower extent of the throat region;
a longitudinal string strung in longitudinal segments which extend the length of the hitting region, the longitudinal string having a diameter, four of the longitudinal segments extending through the grommets of the primary throat bridge, the grommets of the primary throat bridge having a diameter several times larger than the diameter of the longitudinal string such that each of the longitudinal segments are suspended from the internal surface of the corresponding grommet when the string is in an undisturbed state;
each of the four longitudinal segments being secured through the secondary throat bridge;
a lateral string strung in lateral segments, wherein the lateral and the longitudinal lengths are in equal tension.

### Claim 2

A game racquet comprising, in combination:
a handle end with a grip portion formed thereon, the handle end having a lower butt end and an upper extent;
a throat region having a lower extent coextensive with the upper extent of the handle end, and a upper extent which is wider than the lower extent;
a hitting region, the hitting region having a length, and a lower extent coextensive with the upper extent of the throat region;
a primary throat bridge forming the lower extent of the hitting region, the primary throat bridge having a number of apertures formed therethrough, each of the apertures being defined by an internal surface and a diameter;
a secondary throat bridge formed intermediate the primary throat bridge and the lower extent of the throat region;
a longitudinal string strung in longitudinal segments which extend the length of the hitting region, the longitudinal string having a diameter, a number of centrally positioned longitudinal segments, the number corresponding with the number of apertures formed within the primary throat bridge, each of the centrally positioned longitudinal segments extending through the apertures of the primary throat bridge,
each of the centrally positioned longitudinal segments being secured through the secondary throat bridge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The racquet frame as described in claim 2 wherein:
the apertures of the primary throat bridge having a diameter several times larger than the diameter of the longitudinal string such that each of the longitudinal segments is suspended from the internal surface of the corresponding aperture when the string is in an undisturbed state.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The racquet frame as described in claim 2 wherein:
each of the longitudinal segments is parallel to one another, and;
the primary and secondary throat bridges are arcuate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The racquet frame as described in claim 2 further comprising:
an oversize grommet positioned within each of the oversized apertures, each of the grommets being defined by an internal surface and a diameter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The racquet frame as described in claim 5 wherein:
each of the centrally positioned longitudinal segments extending through a corresponding grommet; and
wherein the grommets of the primary throat bridge have a diameter several times larger than the diameter of the longitudinal string such that each of the centrally positioned longitudinal lengths is suspended from the internal surface of the corresponding grommet when the string is in an undisturbed state.