Patent ID: 6506134
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
In combination with a sport racket having a frame with a handle, a throat connected to the handle, and a head connected to the throat, the head having an inner head surface enclosing an area to be spanned by strings, each of the strings having individual free ends, and an outer head surface opposite the inner head surface, the head further having a plurality of fixing means for securing the individual string free-ends to the frame, the improvement comprising:at least one string having a string enlarged section at only one free-end, and a regular string section, the string enlarged section having a cross-sectional area greater than the maximum cross-sectional area of the regular string section; the frame having a first cavity extending from the inner head surface to the outer head surface, the first cavity having a first opening on the inner head surface and a second, larger, opening on the outer head surface, the regular portion of the string being received in the first cavity with the regular string section protruding through the first opening, the first cavity restraining the string enlarged section from further movement into the first cavity beyond a predetermined advancement of the string enlarged section into the cavity; and a flexible spacer under compressive strain between the cavity and the string enlarged section, and having an elastic modulus and cross-sectional area that allow further compressive strain within the general recoverable stress-strain relation of the flexible spacer, the flexible spacer undergoing the further compressive strain to absorb and store at least a substantial part of the kinetic energy of an impact to the string, and the flexible spacer returning much of the stored energy to the string.