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  RacketUSPTO Application #: 20080102995Title: Racket Abstract: A racket includes a handle, a frame connected to the handle and having a longitudinal axis extending from and aligned with the handle, and a stringed web supported on the frame. The frame has two ends that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal axis. The stringed web is formed by a plurality of intersecting longitudinal strings and transversal strings defining a plurality of meshes. The longitudinal strings and the transversal strings together further define a primary ball-striking portion on a substantially central portion of the stringed web, and the meshes located in the primary ball-striking portion gradually increase in size in a direction from one of the two ends to the other one of the two ends of the frame. (end of abstract) Agent: Weide & Miller, Ltd. - Las Vegas, NV, US Inventors: Chia-Yuan Chang, Feng-Hsiang Chang USPTO Applicaton #: 20080102995 - Class: 473543 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080102995. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIOR APPLICATION DATA [0001]This application claims priority to Taiwan Application No. 95139333, entitled Racket which is entitled to a priority date of Oct. 25, 2006. [0002]1. Field of the Invention [0003]The present invention relates to a racket for ball games, more particularly to a racket for ball games having a stringed web that may be combined with a handle of different rigidity or flexibility so as to produce various ball-striking effects and to fit users or players of various playing skill and strength, and specifically a 10 stringed web that produces a greater ball striking effect, so as to extensively increase the speed of racket swing and ball rebound as well as stability in hitting. [0004]2. Related Art [0005]FIG. 1 shows a conventional racket 1 for ball games comprising a handle 3 and a racket head with a frame 2 connected to the handle 3 and supporting a stringed web 4 that forms the hitting face of the racket 1. A badminton racket with a substantially oval-shape racket head is described herein as the representative prior art, and the shuttlecock used in relation thereto is termed herein generally as the "ball." [0006]The frame 2 has a lower end 21 connected to the handle 3 and an upper end 22 opposite to the handle 3. A longitudinal axis X extends from the lower end 21 to the upper end 22. [0007]The handle 3 includes a shaft portion 32 connected to the frame 2 and a grip portion 31 connected to the shaft portion 32. The shaft portion 32 is generally made of alloy (such as titanium alloy or aluminum alloy) or composite material 2 (such as carbon fibers). [0008]A stringed web 4 is formed by a plurality of longitudinal strings 41 running generally parallel to the longitudinal axis X, and a plurality of transversal strings 42 running generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X and intersecting the longitudinal strings 41 to define a plurality of meshes 40. The longitudinal strings 41 and transversal strings 42 further define a primary ball-striking portion C on a substantially central region of the web 4 and a secondary ball-striking portion D extending from the outer periphery of the primary ball-striking portion C to the frame 2. The secondary ball-striking portion D has an upper section D2 extending from the primary ball-striking portion C to the upper end 22 of the frame 2 and a lower section D1 extending from the primary ball-striking portion C to the lower end 21 of the frame 2. The meshes 40 located within the primary ball-striking portion C, defined by the longitudinal strings 41 and the transversal strings 42, are substantially equal in size. The distance between two adjacent transversal strings 42 located at the lower section D1 outside the primary ball-striking portion C gradually increases in a direction towards the lower end 21 of the frame 2. Similarly, the distance between two adjacent ones of the transversal strings 42 located at the upper section D2 outside the primary ball-striking portion C gradually increases in a direction toward the upper end 22 of the frame 2. In other words, the meshes 40 located outside the primary ball-striking portion C gradually increase in size in a direction from around the primary ball-striking portion C toward the lower end 21 and toward the upper end 22 of the frame 2. [0009]By such design of the racket 1, assuming that all the strings of the web 4 are equally tensioned on the frame 2, the primary ball-striking portion C, where the transversal strings are more closely spaced and the meshes 40 are smaller in size, is provided with a stiffer ball-hitting face and consequently produces greater ball rebound speed. The optimal ball-hitting area, called the "sweet spot" of the racket 1 falls mainly on the center of the primary ball-striking portion C. When the impact of the ball is at the center of the primary ball-striking portion C, an excellent hitting force is produced thus achieving a solid ball-striking effect. [0010]Under the same force applied to hit the ball, a greater arm of force will produce a greater torque. Thus, because the distance from the grip portion 31 to the upper section D2 is longer than to the primary ball-striking portion C, when the ball hits the upper section D2, the ball rebound force is large and the flying speed of the ball is fast. In contrast, since the distance from the grip portion 31 to the lower section D1 is less than to the center of the primary ball-striking portion C, when the ball hits the lower section D1, the ball rebound force as well as the flying speed is reduced. [0011]Players with ordinary playing skill and normal strength are usually not able to make center hits, i.e., to hit the ball exactly at the center, which is the sweet spot, of the primary ball-striking portion C, and thus, a good hit is seldom produced, much less a solid ball-striking effect. Furthermore, as the stiffness of the striking face of the stringed web 4 gradually decreases in a direction toward the upper region of the primary ball-striking portion C, the ball rebound force generated at the upper region decreases accordingly. This limits the ball-striking effect even when a player of good skill and strength tries to produce a stronger ball hitting effect by hitting the ball at the upper region of the primary ball-striking portion C where the arm of force is longer. [0012]In addition, for players with ordinary playing skill and normal strength, if the racket 1 has a shaft portion 32 that is more flexible and less rigid, swinging the racket can be more comfortable and relaxed; however, an excellent ball striking effect cannot be achieved if the ball is not hit at the sweet spot of the racket face. Meanwhile, to those players with good skill and strength, if the racket 1 is made of a shaft portion 32 that is less flexible and more rigid, the racket 1 can be swung at greater speed, however, the ball rebound speed and the hitting force are still subject to some limitations as explained above. [0013]In view of this, in terms of the design of rackets in general, even if the shaft portion 32 can be made more flexible or more rigid as required, this still cannot satisfy the demands of different players with different skill and strength. SUMMARY [0014]Various embodiments are disclosed herein for overcoming the drawbacks in the prior art and for providing additional advantages and benefits for the invention associated therewith. [0015]It would be advantageous to provide a racket with a stringed web capable of generating various ball-striking effects when combined with a shaft portion of different rigidity or flexibility to suit players of different skill and strength. It would particularly be advantageous to provide a racket with a stringed web which produces greater ball swing impact and ball rebound speed and stability in hitting. [0016]The racket according to the present invention comprises a handle, a frame connected to the handle, and has a longitudinal axis extending from and aligned with the handle. The frame further having two ends that are opposite to each along the longitudinal axis, and a stringed web supported on the frame and formed by a plurality of longitudinal strings running generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and a plurality of transversal strings running generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and intersecting the longitudinal strings to define a plurality of meshes, the longitudinal strings and the transversal strings together further defining a primary ball-striking portion on a substantially central portion of the stringed web and a secondary ball-striking portion extending around the primary ball-striking portion, characterized by the fact that meshes located in the primary ball-striking portion gradually increase in size in a direction from one of the two ends of the frame to the other one of the two ends of the frame. [0017]In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frame has one end connected to the handle and another end opposite to the handle, and the meshes gradually increase in size from the other end to the one end of the frame or, in other words, the meshes gradually decrease in size from the one end to the other end of the frame. By such design, the stiffness of the upper section of the primary ball-striking portion can be enhanced, and a greater striking force on the ball can be affected. Thus, when a player of good skill and strength takes an offensive attack, he has the option, if he considers it necessary, to hit the ball at the upper section of the primary ball striking area to lengthen the arm of force to thereby produce greater power when hitting the ball. An even greater power when hitting the ball is produced with a racket made of a shaft portion that is more rigid and less flexible, resulting in even greater ball rebound speed and stability. [0018]Therefore, by such design of the stringed web and by varying the stiffness or flexibility of the shaft portion, various ball striking effects may be produced to suit different players of different skill and strength. [0019]Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0020]The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. [0021]Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Continue reading... Full patent description for Racket Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Racket patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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