Patent ID: 8016702
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A handle configuration for a racquet that supports a stringed racquet head at its outer end and is terminated at a handle base or butt end, comprising: a racquet handle shaft having a defined exterior shape; a butt cap at said butt end of said racquet handle shaft; a plurality of mounting apertures in said racquet handle shaft; a contour assembly having an exterior of designed contour, including an upper protrusion and a lower trigger, said contour assembly being mountable on said racquet handle shaft at a plurality of discrete locations defined by said mounting apertures; said upper protrusion being located at a top side of said racquet handle shaft and being angled with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said racquet handle shaft to provide a surface against which a saddle formed by an index finger and a thumb of a player's hand is placed; said lower trigger being located at a bottom side of said racquet handle shaft to provide a surface against which an index figure of a player's hand is placed; said contour assembly having an interior shape conforming to said handle shaft shape to allow said contour assembly to be received on said handle shaft for attachment thereto; one or more mounting elements on said contour assembly configured to align with said handle shaft mounting apertures for attachment of said contour assembly thereto; and said contour assembly being selected from the group consisting of: (1) a contour assembly comprising a sleeve surrounding said racquet handle shaft, said sleeve being formed with a contour portion defining said upper protrusion and said lower trigger and a base portion defining a hand grip area for grasping said contour assembly with a hand while portions of said hand engage said upper protrusion and said lower trigger, said sleeve being slidably received in said butt cap such that said base portion can be lengthened or shortened according to a mounting position of said contour assembly on said racquet handle shaft; or (2) a contour assembly wherein said upper protrusion and said lower trigger respectively comprise an upper protrusion member and a lower trigger member formed as discrete structural members that are separately mountable to said racquet handle shaft, said upper protrusion member being formed as a raised ridge member and said trigger member being formed as a raised dome member with no ancillary structure being associated with either member, each said member having its own said one or more mounting elements.