US3330560A

US3330560A - Tennis racket with weight attachment

Info

Publication number: US3330560A
Application number: US450731A
Authority: US
Inventors: Mark A Higdon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-04-26
Filing date: 1965-04-26
Publication date: 1967-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-11

Description

July 11, 1967 M. A. HIGDON 3,330,560

TENNIS RACKET WITH WEIGHT ATTACHMENT Filed April 26, 1965 United States Patent 0.

3,330,560 TENNIS RACKET WITH WEIGHT ATTACHMENT Mark A. Higdon, 1405 N. 11th St.,

Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,731 9 Claims. (Cl. 273-73) This invention relates to a practice weight attachment and more particularly to a practice weight attachment for tennis rackets and the like.

It is a well proven theory that the use of weighted sports equipment is a desirable technique in strengthening the muscles of the athlete. Such sports equipment as baseball bats, golf clubs, etc. have been weighted with much success. An example of a practice weight attachment is to be found in my pending application, Ser. No. 351,422.

Therefore, a principal object of this invention is to provide a practice weight attachment for a tennis racket.

A further object of this invention is to provide a practice weight attachment for a tennis racket which may be left on the racket during actual practice.

A further object of this invention is to provide a practice weight attachment for a tennis racket which will not become inadvertently detached therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide a :practice weight attachment for a tennis racket which is adjustable to receive different sizes of weights.

A further object of this invention is to provide a practice weight attachment for a tennis racket which is secured to the outer end of the frame portion of the tennis racket to place the weight as far as possible from the users hand to utilize the weight to the greatest degree.

A further object of this invention is to provide a practice weight attachment for tennis rackets which will strengthen the hand, wrist, arm and shoulder of the user.

A further object of this invention is to provide a practice weight attachment for a tennis racket which may be deflected to conform to the shape of the frame portion of a tennis racket.

A further object of this invention is to provide a practice weight attachment for a tennis racket which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. V

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a back view of the sheet member and pocket means;

' FIG. 2 is an end view of the sheet member and pocket means as viewed from the right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the weight portion of the device;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the weight portion of the device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the practice weight attachment;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the attachment secured to a tennis racket; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the attachment mounted on a tennis racket.

The numeral 10 generally designates a tennis racket having a handle portion 11, a substantially elliptical frame portion 13 and a string network 15 strung on frame 13.

The numeral 17 generally designates the practice weight attachment which includes a flexible sheet member 18 having an inner surface 19, an outer surface 21, opposite ends 23 and 25, and

opposite sides

27 and 29. As

best seen in FIG. 1, sheet member 18 has a plurality of V-shaped notches 31 extending inwardly from side 27 and a plurality of V-shaped notches 33 extending inwardly from side 29. It can be seen that the notches at the opposite ends -of the sheet member are shaped somewhat differently than the notches therebetween to facilitate the securing of the attachment to the racket as seen in FIG. 6. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, a plurality of grommets 35 extend through sheet member 18 adjacent side 27 and a plurality of grommets 37 extend through sheet member 18 adjacent side 29. Sheet member 18 is also provided with a pair of

grommets

39 and 41 extending therethrough at its opposite ends. Grommets 35, 37, 39 and 41 are adapted to receive

laces

43 and 45 to secure the attachment to the tennis racket in the manner seen in FIG. 6.

An elastic pocket means 47 is secured to inner surface 19 of sheet member 18 by stitching 49 extending therethrough and is comprised of spaced apart

pocket members

51, 53 and 55. As best seen in FIG. 1,

pocket members

51 and 55 are identical while pocket member 53 is substantially smaller than the other two pocket members. It can be seen that the outer ends of

pocket members

51 and 55 have not been stitched to permit a curved weight 57 to be slidably inserted in pocket means 47 as seen in FIG. 5. As best seen in FIG. 3, weight 57 is tapered at its opposite ends 59' and 61 and has substantially smooth, curved inner and outer surfaces which conform to the curvature of the frame of the tennis racket as seen in FIG. 6.

The normal method of operation is as follows. The particular weight to be used in the attachment may vary according to the wishes of the user and is inserted into pocket means 47 from the outer end of either pocket member 51 or pocket member 55. The tapered ends of the weight 57 permits the weight to be easily inserted in the pocket means while the elastic construction of the pocket means will stretch as seen in FIGS. 5 to permit various sizes of weights to be inserted into pocket means 47. The attachment is then placed on the outer end of the frame of the tennis racket as seen in FIG. 6 and se cured thereto by

laces

43 and 45 in the manner illustrated. It can be seen that each of

laces

43 and 45 extend from the center of the attachment and terminate at the opposite ends of the sheet member. Such a lace arrangement prevents any shifting of the weight attachment with respect to the tennis racket. It can be seen in FIG. 6 that the opposite ends 23 and 25 of sheet member 18 are drawn adjacent to frame 13 to prevent the weight 57 from inadvertently slipping from the attachment. The reason that pocket means 47 is comprised of three spaced apart pocket members is to prevent a bulging or folding of the pocket means when the curved weight is inserted thereinto. If a fold or bulge were created, it would not be pos sible to place the attachment in close proximity to the frame 13 of the tennis racket.

If it is desired to utilize a heavier weight in the attachrnent, it is simply necessary to substitute a ditlerent weight. Larger and heavier weights would normally have a thicker central diameter but the curvature of the weight would remain the same to permit it to be placed adjacent frame 13' of the tennis racket. The ability of pocket means 47 to expand to receive larger weights makes the attachment much more versatile. The V-shaped notches at either side of the attachment permits the sheet member to be bent or deflected to the position of FIG. 6 without undesirable wrinkling or bulging of the attachment. The attachment may be secured to the tennis racket and left thereon during periods of actual practice without interfering with the ball striking the string network. It can be appreciated that the weight added to the tennis racket will elfectively strengthen the hand, wrist, arm and shoulder of the user.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my practice weight attachment for tennis rackets without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may 'be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with a tennis racket having a frame, a practice weight attachment for said tennis racket,

a flexible sheet member having inner and outer surfaces, opposite sides and opposite ends,

a pocket means on the inner surface of said sheet member,

a weight means in said pocket means,

and means on said sheet member securing it to said frame of said tennis racket.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said weight means is elongated and is curved along its length to conform to the shape of a portion of said frame.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pocket means is expandable to receive different sizes of weights therein.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said sheet member to said frame of said tennis racket includes a lace means extending through openings along said opposite sides of said sheet member and around said frame.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said weight means is elongated and curved along its length, the opposite ends of said weight means being tapered with respect to the central portion of said weight means to facilitate insertion of said weight means into said pocket means.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pocket means is comprised of three spaced apart elastic pocket members.

7. In combination with a tennis racket having a frame, a practice weight attachment for said tennis racket,

an elongated flexible sheet member having inner and outer surfaces, opposite sides and opposite ends,

an elongated pocket means secured to the inner surface of said sheet member,

a weight means in said pocket means,

said sheet member having a plurality of openings formed along each of its sides adapted to receive a lace means extending therethrough to secure said sheet member to said frame of said tennis racket so that said pocket means is adjacent a portion of said frame.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said sheet member has a plurality of V-shaped notches at each of its opposite sides so that said sheet member may be deflected to conform to the shape of a portion of said frame.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said pocket means is comprised of three spaced apart pocket members so that said sheet member may be deflected to conform to the shape of a portion of said frame of said tennis racket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,241,833 5/ 1941 Waller 272-57 2,620,186 12/1952 Beeaff 273194 2,737,394 3/1956 Abel 273-194 FOREIGN PATENTS 211,176 2/1924 Great Britain. 310,350 4/ 1929 Great Britain. 310,566 5/ 1929 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

R. I. APLEY, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A TENNIS RACKET HAVING A FRAME, A PRACTICE WEIGHT ATTACHMENT FOR SAID TENNIS RACKET, A FLEXIBLE SHEET MEMBER HAVING INNER AND OUTER SURFACES, OPPOSITE SIDES AND OPPOSITE ENDS, A POCKET MEANS ON THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID SHEET MEMBER, A WEIGHT MEANS IN SAID POCKET MEANS, AND MEANS ON SAID SHEET MEMBER SECURING IT TO SAID FRAME OF SAID TENNIS RACKET.