Patent ID: 6234921
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
A sports racquet having a tubular frame including an enclosed head portion, defining a stringing area for supporting a string bed lying generally in a string bed plane, and a handle portion, wherein the head portion has opposing tip and throat regions and a geometric center ""GC"", wherein said tip region is centered about a 12 o'clock position relative to said geometric center, and said throat region is centered about a 6 o'clock position relative to said geometric center, wherein said frame includes opposed top and bottom walls and opposed side walls, said opposed side walls having outwardly facing surfaces, wherein said side walls are oriented generally perpendicular to said string bed plane, and wherein the cross-sectional distance between the outwardly facing surfaces of said side walls, at a region between 12 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, and at a region between 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions, is increased to form a pod, thereby to increase locally the torsional stiffness and strength of the frame, said pods having a weight-per-unit length which is greater than the weight-per-unit length of the frame at said 9 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 3 o'clock positions, and wherein said head portion, other than at said pods, is a lightweight, hollow tubular construction without additional weights.