# US 8,784,241 B2 · Racquet identification system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,241 B2 - Document ID: US8784241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/663,859 - Filed: 2012-10-30 - Published: 2013-09-26 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-03-21 - Assignees: Wilson Sporting Goods Co. - Applicants: Christopher W. Ryan; John B. Lyons; Ryan Dowd; Kyle Dowd - Inventors: Christopher W. Ryan; John B. Lyons; Ryan Dowd; Kyle Dowd - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784241B2 ## CPC - G09F 23/0066: {on sports articles, e.g. golf clubs} - G09F 3/00: Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means (medals or badges A44C3/00; making labels B31D1/02; sheets temporarily attached together B42F; labelling B65C; labels on record carriers G11B23/38, G11B23/40); Seals; Postage or like stamps - G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS ## Abstract A racquet identification system for use with at least first and second racquets supported by a multi-racquet support structure. Each of the first and second racquets includes a head portion. The system includes first and second head cards coupled to the head portion of the first and second racquets, respectively. The first and second head cards include first and second bodies and first and second projections extending from the first and second bodies, respectively. The shape of the first body is similar to the shape of the second body. The first body and the first projection define a first orientation. The second body and the second projection define a second orientation. The first and second orientations are different. The first and second racquets have at least one characteristic that varies between the first and second racquets, and the first and second projections are configured to highlight the characteristic. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A racquet identification system for use with a multi-racquet support structure, the identification system comprising: at least first and second racquets, each of the at least first and second racquets having opposing front and back sides and including a head portion, the at least first and second racquets configured to be supported by the multi-racquet support structure such that the back side of one of the at least first and second racquets is adjacent to the front side of another of the at least first and second racquets, the at least first and second racquets having at least one characteristic that varies between at least the first and second racquets; and at least first and second head cards coupled to the head portion of the at least first and second racquets, respectively, the at least first and second head cards including at least first and second bodies and at least first and second projections extending from the at least first and second bodies, respectively, the shape of the first body being substantially similar to the shape of the second body, the first body and the first projection defining a first spacial orientation, the second body and the second projection defining a second spacial orientation, the first spacial orientation being different than the second spacial orientation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein the at least first and second projections are configured to highlight the at least one characteristic that varies between the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second racquets define a longitudinal axis, wherein the first body defines a first center point and the first projection radially extends from the first center point to define a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first racquet, wherein the second body defines a second center point and the second projection radially extends from the second center point to define a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second racquet, and wherein the first angle and second angles are different. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The racquet identification system of claim 3, wherein the first and second angles are radially spaced apart by at least 10 degrees. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein, when viewed facing the outermost front surface of the at least first and second racquets, the body of the head card of the outermost of the first and second racquets substantially overlaps the body of the head card of the other of the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein the head portion of each of the at least first and second racquets defines a hoop, and wherein the at least first and second head cards are positioned within the hoops of the at least first and second racquets, respectively. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The racquet identification system of claim 6, wherein each of the at least first and second head cards extends over at least 25 percent of the transverse area defined by the hoop. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein the at least first and second racquets further include at least first and second string beds coupled to the at least first and second head portions, respectively; and wherein the at least first and second head cards are attached to the at least first and second string beds, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, further comprising at least first and second head card attachment elements configured to attach the at least first and second head cards to the at least first and second racquets, respectively. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least the length of the racquet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least the target age range of the users of the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least the target height range of the users of the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least the ball type intended to be used with the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The racquet identification system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of racquet head size, racquet weight, racquet swing weight, racquet balance point, moment of inertia about a longitudinal axis, color, color pattern, trademarks, alpha-numeric and/or graphical indicia and combinations thereof. ### Claim 15 A racquet identification system for use with at least first and second racquets supported by a multi-racquet support structure, each of the at least first and second racquets including a head portion, the identification system comprising: at least first and second head cards coupled to the head portion of the at least first and second racquets, respectively, the at least first and second head cards including at least first and second bodies and at least first and second projections extending from the first and second bodies, respectively, the shape of the first body being substantially similar to the shape of the second body, the first body and the first projection defining a first spacial orientation, the second body and the second projection defining a second spacial orientation, the first spacial orientation being different than the second spacial orientation, the at least first and second racquets having at least one characteristic that varies between at least the first and second racquets, and the at least first and second projections being configured to highlight the at least one characteristic. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The racquet identification system of claim 15, wherein each of the at least first and second racquets has opposing front and back sides, wherein the at least first and second racquets supported by the multi-racquet support structure such that the back side of one of the at least first and second racquets is adjacent to the front side of another of the at least first and second racquets, and wherein, when viewed facing the outermost front surface of the at least first and second racquets, the body of the head card of the outermost of the first and second racquets substantially overlaps the body of the head card of the other of the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The racquet identification system of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least the length of the racquet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The racquet identification system of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least the target age range of the users of the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The racquet identification system of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least the target height range of the users of the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The racquet identification system of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic is at least the ball type intended to be used with the at least first and second racquets. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The racquet identification system of claim 15, wherein the at least one characteristic is selected from the group consisting of racquet head size, racquet weight, racquet swing weight, racquet balance point, moment of inertia about a longitudinal axis, color, color pattern, trademarks, alpha-numeric and/or graphical indicia and combinations thereof.