Tennis racket cover and bag with measuring strap

A tennis racket cover is provided with a measuring strap for measuring the height of a tennis net. A first end of the strap is attached to the cover, and a second end of the strap can be pulled away from the cover and positioned beyond a first end of the cover. The distance between a second end of the cover and the second end of the strap is about 36 inches.

Background 
This invention relates to a measuring device for a tennis net, and, more 
particularly, to a measuring device which is incorporated into a cover for 
a tennis racket. 
The standard height of a tennis net at the center of the net is 36 inches. 
The support posts for the net at the sides of the tennis court are higher 
than 36 inches, and the center of the net is pulled down to a height of 36 
inches by a strap which is secured to the tennis court. The tension of the 
strap should be adjusted periodically to ensure that the height of the 
center of the net is correct. 
In order to avoid the necessity of carrying a yardstick or other measuring 
instrument, various measuring devices have been provided as part of 
conventional tennis equipment. For example, for a long time tennis rackets 
have been provided in a standard length of 27 inches and a standard head 
width of 9 inches. Players could measure the height of the net by 
utilizing the length of one racket and the head width of a second racket. 
Rackets in recent years have been provided with various sized heads or 
strung surfaces. For example, head sizes are generally grouped within the 
terms large size, midsize, and standard size. The length of current 
rackets might also be more or less than 27 inches. Accordingly, it is not 
always possible to use the length and head width of current tennis rackets 
to measure the net. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,795 describes a tennis racket which is provided with a 
mark so that a pair of rackets can be combined in a way that the distance 
from the end of one racket to the mark on another racket is 36 inches. 
However, the procedure described in the patent requires either two 
identical rackets or at least one racket having a known length. 
Other measuring devices have utilized other items of tennis equipment, for 
example, the shoulder strap of a tennis carrying case. However, those 
devices generally require some adjustment of the device before it can be 
used for measuring. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention provides a measuring device which is incorporated as part of 
a tennis racket cover. A strap is attached to the inside of the cover so 
that the strap is not visible when it is not being used. One end of the 
strap is permanently attached to the inside of the cover, and when the 
strap is pulled away from one end of the racket cover, the distance 
between the end of the racket cover and the free end of the strap is 36 
inches without the need for any adjustment. The free end of the strap can 
be removably retained in a storage position inside the cover by hook and 
loop fasteners on the strap and on the cover. The length of the measuring 
device is independent of the total length of the cover, and the cover can 
be used with rackets of various sizes.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, a tennis racket cover and bag 10 comprises a casing 
provided by front and rear panels 11 and 12 and a side panel 12 which is 
stitched or otherwise secured to the panels 11 and 12. If desired, the 
front and rear panels can be secured directly to each other. Each of the 
front and rear panels has the shape of a tennis racket and includes an 
oval top portion 14 which is sized to enclose the head of a tennis racket 
and an elongated narrow bottom portion 15 which encloses the handle of a 
tennis racket. A zipper 16 is provided in the side panel 13 for inserting 
and removing the tennis racket. A shoulder strap 17 may be used to 
facilitate carrying the racket. 
The panels 11-13 can be made from any suitable material, for example 
fabric, vinyl, etc. Referring to FIG. 3, the panel 12 includes inner and 
outer layers 18 and 19 of sheet material which enclose padding 20. The 
inner and outer layers are stitched together at the peripheries by 
stitching 21, which also attaches the zipper 16. A roll or bead 22 is 
secured within a looped portion of the sheet 19 by the stitching. The 
cover can be sized to enclose a particular size of tennis racket, for 
example, a large head or a midsize, or the cover can be big enough to be 
used for any size of racket. 
The cover which has been described is conventional, and the measuring strap 
of the invention can be used with any conventional cover. 
Referring to FIGS. 2-4, a measuring strap 24 has a pair of ends 25 and 26. 
The end 25 is secured to the inside surface of the panel 12 adjacent the 
top end thereof. The strap can be secured by any suitable means, such as 
stitching, adhesive, rivets, etc. In the embodiment illustrated the strap 
is secured by the stitching 21 and a cover strip 27. The end 26 of the 
strap can remain unsecured, but in the preferred embodiment the end 26 is 
detachably secured to the panel 12 by a hook and loop fastener of the type 
which is sold under the trademark VELCRO. A hook or loop pad 28 is secured 
to the panel 12, and a complementary pad 29 is attached to the strap 
adjacent the end 26. 
When the measuring strap is not being used, it is secured in a storage 
position inside of the racket cover as illustrated in FIG. 2. The strap is 
not visible from outside of the racket, and the strap does not interfere 
with inserting or removing the tennis racket. 
When the measuring strap is used to measure the height of a tennis net, the 
hook and loop pads 28 and 29 are detached, and the strap is extended 
upwardly through the zipper opening to a measuring position illustrated in 
FIGS. 4 and 5. 
The length of the measuring strap and the point of attachment of the fixed 
end 25 are selected so that the distance between the bottom end 30 of the 
cover and the free end 26 of the strap in the measuring position is 36 
inches or approximately 36 inches. The strap need not be secured at any 
particular location on the head portion of the panel 12 so long as the 
length of the strap provides a total measuring distance of 36 inches. 
Accordingly, the measuring distance is independent of the length of the 
racket cover, and the measuring strap can be used with any size cover. 
FIG. 5 illustrates the measuring device being used to measure the height of 
the center of a tennis net 31. The bottom end 30 of the racket cover is 
held against the surface of the tennis court, and the measuring strap 24 
is pulled upwardly. The height of the tennis net is adjusted until it is 
level with the upper end 26 of the measuring strap. The measuring strap 
provides an immediate reference point for the net without any adjustment 
since the position of the fixed end 25 is selected by the manufacturer to 
provide a total length of 36 inches from the bottom end of the racket 
cover to the free end of the strap. 
While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of a specific 
embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, 
it will be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied 
considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit 
and scope of the invention.