Dual-stringing conversion and playing surface separation ring for sports racquet

Abstract

A devise that enables the conversion of any sports racquet, such as a tennis racquet or a squash racquet, from a conventional “single-strung” configuration to a “dual-strung” configuration without altering or making any changes to the racquet frame itself. Whereas all embodiments to date for the dual stringing of a sports racquet utilize a specialized racquet frame specifically designed to accommodate or provide for the two generally parallel planes of crisscross strings that comprise the two playing surfaces, this invention requires no such specialized frame or alteration to the existing frame. The invention consists of an inner conversion ring that is used in conjunction with, or as an accessory to, any conventional racquet frame and permits said conventional frame to be “dual-strung” yielding two playing surfaces of generally parallel planes of crisscross strings. The conversion ring itself can be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material such as wood, plastic, metal, rubber or composite material. It is shaped and sized to fit within the more or less oval frame structure of the racquet head. The thickness of the ring can be varied and determines the separation between the two string playing surfaces. The racquet is then strung twice, using conventional techniques, so that the strings pass over each side of the conversion ring that acts as the separator between the two playing surfaces. Different string tensions and / or different sting types may be used for the playing surface on each side of the separation ring. This permits any ordinary sports racquet to be further tailored to the player's forehand and backhand.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to sports racquets used in playing games such as tennis, racquetball, and other similar games, and more particularly to a novel means of converting a conventional racquet frame have a single plane of playing surface strings into a “double-strung” racquet having two generally parallel planes of playing surface strings. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The conventional racquets used today to play games such as tennis, racquetball, and other racquet similar games, consist of a frame that contains a handle used by the player to hold the racquet and an elliptical or oval shaped head section of the frame used to support the playing surface. The playing surface is formed by the opposite sides of a single set of interwoven strings in tension that pass through holes in the opposing sides of the frame forming a single plane playing surface that spans the opening bounded by the head of the frame. Conventional racquets are therefore ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention is an improved method of “double-stringing” a sports racquet so as to have two generally parallel planes of playing surface strings. The requirement of the above prior art to have a specialized racquet frame with a head specifically designed to accept the two string playing surfaces, is eliminated. Thus, by using any conventional frame without additional holes, groves, or channels, the structural integrality and strength of the frame is not compromised. In addition, since no special frame is required, with the present invention, any sports racquet frame can be converted to a “double-strung” configuration and then converted back to a “single-string” configuration, as desired.

[0008] Rather than requiring a specifically designed or modified sports racquet frame, the present invention uses a conversion and playing surface separation ring (hereinafter “conversion ring”) to “double-string” any conventional sports racquet. The conversion ring itself can be made of any rigid or semi-rigid material such as wood, plastic, metal, rubber or composite material. The shape of the ring approximates the shape of the racquet head, but is of a smaller overall dimension. This smaller dimension permits the conversion ring to fit within the racquet head and leaves a small area between the inside dimension of the racquet head frame and the outside dimension of the conversion ring. The racquet is then strung in a convention manner with one set of interwoven strings on each side of the conversion ring. The width or thickness of the vertical surface of the conversion ring determines the separation between the two parallel planes of strings. The space between the frame head and the conversion ring permits the strings that pass over each side of the conversion ring to converge into the single ring of opposing holes in the conventional racquet frame head.

[0009] A further embodiment of this invention has a modified shape such that the top vertical edge of the conversion ring that corresponds to the head of the racquet frame and the bottom vertical edge of the conversion ring that corresponds to the throat of the racquet frame are a further distance from the racquet frame than the other vertical edges of the conversion ring to permit the mounting posts and brackets of a sports racquet stringing machine to hold the racquet frame during stringing without interference from the conversion ring.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, in addition to requiring a non-conventional frame that is specifically designed to accommodate the two separate planes of interwoven strings, the previous attempts to provide a “double-strung” racquet use channels, grooves, or double rows of holes drilled or built into the frame head that affect its structural integrity.

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