End cap for racket handle

An end cap for a racket handle is disclosed. The end cap is located at the free end of the handle with the cap having a thickness greater than the thickness of the remainder of the handle. The thickest portion of the cap has a rounded outermost longitudinal cross section which is disposed adjacent the end of the handle and a bridging section which has an "S" shaped longitudinal cross section as it extends inwardly of the handle. This permits the innermost portion of the cap relative to the handle to be at a narrow angle at the end of the cap closest the head of the racket to form a smooth transition to the handle. The end cap is comprised of a cushioning material to absorb some of the shock caused by impact with the racket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The background of the invention will be set forth in three parts. 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a revolutionary shape of a sport racquet 
or hammer handle that improves control of the movement of such racquet or 
hammer head. More particularly, the present invention relates to an 
accessory that can be used in all the competitive racquet sport's racquets 
such as tennis, racquetball, squash, and badminton racquets. This 
accessory also has other non-racquet handle applications, such as, in the 
golf stick, polo stick, and even in the ordinary construction hammer. 
2. Technological Facts about Tennis 
As the competition in racquet sports increases, new racquet designs have 
been developed to increase the power, control, and maneuverability of such 
racquets. 
In theory, racquet design is fundamentally based on the need to increase 
two things: a) the power imparted to the ball and b) the control over the 
ball as it contacts the racquet head. 
Power in tennis is a function of the force transferred from a player's body 
to the ball with the use of the tennis racquet. Therefore, a powerful 
racquet is such racquet that permits players of lesser strength to hit 
comparable shots. 
Power without control is known to give players no extra benefit in the 
competitive arena. However, control over a shot depends on the spin 
imparted to the ball at the point when power is implemented. For this 
reason, new technology has always improved the power of such frames first 
and then improved the control of such new power. This game has been a race 
between the technology of power against the technology of control. 
The ability to impart control (spin) to the ball depends also on different 
physical characteristics of the racquet such as: string thickness, string 
tension, balance of the racquet weight, flexibility of the frame, amount 
of frame vibration and grip quality. 
It is known that all these physical characteristics of the racquet affect 
the player's ability to impart a rotational torque (spin) on the ball. The 
other obvious factor which is essential to a player's control is his body 
movement technique. These body movements include footwork, body position 
and shoulder, elbow, hand, and wrist movements. 
Therefore, since the entire body movement technique is for the sole purpose 
of controlling the racquet head, and the physical characteristics of the 
racquet are so important; we can say that the link (grip) between the 
racquet and the hand of the player is perhaps the most essential in the 
manipulation of the racquet head. It is in this link or joint that we have 
an accessory that will benefit millions of players of all ages and levels. 
3. Description of the Prior Art 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,213,609 (Swanson) 3,905,598 (Ballog), and 3,817,521 
(Wright) add a structure above the hand on the racquet shaft. These 
patents do not allow the player to lock his hand to the shaft. We know 
that as a racquet is swung in an arc, the centrifugal force acting on the 
racquet urges the racquet away from the player and the player's grasp. We 
also know that perspiration on the grip reduces the coefficient of 
friction between the racquet grip and the player's hand. In fact, the 
player must grip the racquet shaft even more tightly to prevent the 
racquet from flying out of this hand. We conclude from our experiments 
that the problem of slippage was not solved by the above patents. 
Some new developments have focused on the racquet handle as the link 
between the racquet head and the muscle and sinew of a player's arm and 
hand. However, only the so called "hightech" synthetic grips and 
"overwraps" have improved the racquet handles of today's new high tech 
racquets. "Overwraps" seek to overcome problems caused by perspiration of 
the player's hand. "Hightech" synthetic grips overcome three problems; the 
uncomfortable sensation of a wet grip due to perspiration, substantial 
friction reduction and some shock absorbtion. 
The problem of perspiration has been addressed and successful developments 
attained in the construction of new grip materials which replace the 
customary leather grips. These synthetic grip materials do not absorb 
moisture and do not become as slick as traditional leather grips. In 
addition, slightly flared racquet end caps or butt caps have been utilized 
for many years to close the end of the racquet handle and to reduce the 
possibility that the racquet might slip from the player's grasp. 
Other attempts of improving the racquet handle such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 
3,817,521, (Wright); 3,905,598 (Ballog); 4,033,583 (Ehrhart); 4,213,609 
(Swanson); 4,226,418 (Balfour), and Des. 289,671 (Abel) for example have 
not been proven successful in overcoming the problems mentioned above. 
Other patents that have shown development of the conventional handle are: 
4,072,312 (kahn), and 3,501,148, (Cheris, Bigos, and Mox) which emphasize 
the importance of the octagonal shape shaft. 
The octagonal shape shaft and butt cap have been used for many years. The 
basic reasoning behind the importance of the octagonal shape is the 
following: since the baseline to baseline length of a tennis court is 78 
feet, the angle that the ball is initially projected is critical to the 
path of the ball over the length of a tennis court. For example, a one 
degree change in the angle of force will result in a one and one half foot 
elevation change in the flight of the ball over the length of a tennis 
court. A slight variation in the angle of the racquet head will determine 
whether the ball lands within the boundaries of the court or if the ball 
lands out of play. The only way a player can feel the position of the head 
of the racquet, without looking at it, is by feeling the bevels of the 
octagonal shaft. Since the octagonal shaft has a side parallel to the face 
of the racquet, the player can determine the position of such face by mere 
tact. 
The octagonal shape shaft is therefore useful. However, the sides of such 
polygonal shaft and butt cap continue to cause friction to the hands of 
the players. 
The optimal grip would be such handle that would give us orientation of the 
head, shock absorbtion, minimal friction, and repel perspiration without 
causing perspiration. 
Recent developments in racquet handles are described on pages 146 and 147 
of the September, 1989 issue of Tennis Magazine. The importance of the 
racquet grip to the control of the racquet head is described in an article 
entitled "Handle Systems, Get a Grip!" In an illustration entitled "Shapes 
of the Future" on page 147, the hourglass and ribbed overwrap concepts are 
described. In the hourglass concept, the player grips the most narrow, 
tapered portion of a racquet handle. In the ribbed overwrap concept, the 
traditionally shaped rib to reduce slippage of the hand relative to the 
racquet handle is also described. Neither of these concepts have become 
widely accepted since the hourglass grip cannot be used by players who 
grip the racquet handle with both hands and because the hourglass slope 
does not fit the natural contour of a player's hand. 
Although the ribbed overwrap concept is likely to reduce slippage of the 
player's hand relative to the racquet handle, the increased friction does 
not permit fine finger control over the racquet by players who adjust 
their hand and finger position during the operation of the racquet. 
It is apparent that all known racquet handles do not overcome all the 
problems set forth above. Accordingly, a need exists for a racquet handle 
which permits a person to control racquet head movement without slippage 
of the handle, a handle that absorbs shock and a handle which reduces 
friction without losing sensory perception of the position of the head of 
the racquet. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by 
disclosing a racquet handle accessory or butt cap. Such R.J.C. gives the 
player more maneuverability because of its thickness between 51/2 and 63/4 
inches, it reduces the possibility of undesirable slippage due to the "S" 
shape bridge characteristic of the R.J.C., it allows orientation of the 
head of the racquet because it does not interfere with the octagonal shape 
of the shaft, it reduces the possibility of injuries to the player due to 
friction because of its rounded shape. Most importantly, it gives the 
player more power because it allows him to lock his hand with the handle 
with a relax grip, giving him the ability to whip the ball, and it adds 
control because it allows the player to strike the ball in a fashion which 
causes the ball to rotate about its center with much more ease than the 
conventional art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to FIG. 1, the distance of the circumference of the conventional 
butt cap is illustrated. We researched butt caps from different 
manufacturing companies and found that not one butt cap had a perimeter 
larger than 51/4 inches. (FIGS. 1 and 3). 
We found that the optimal circumference of the R.J.C. was 2/3 of an inch 11 
thicker (FIGS. 2 and 4) than the 51/4 inches in perimeter of the 
conventional butt caps (FIG. 3). The 2/3 of an inch thickness 11 allows 
the R.J.C. to have a bridge 12 (FIG. 5). 
The bridge 12 (FIG. 5) is the characteristic of the R.J.C. butt cap that 
helps the player to lock his hand when he strikes the ball with the 
racquet (not pictured). On (FIG. 6) the conventional butt cap does not 
have an "S" shape bridge 12 but a ramp 13. This conventional butt cap does 
not lock the hand with the racquet. 
On (FIG. 5) the R.J.C. butt cap is manufactured out of a spongy, shock 
absorbent material 14. This thickness gives the player extra cushioning 
and feel for the grip. The thickness traps the vibrations that are so 
common now with stiffer frames. 
On (FIG. 7) the shaft 18 is shown with a conventional butt cap measuring 
one inch in length 19. It is well known by competitive tennis players that 
conventional butt caps like this one have the tendency to break from the 
handle. Most of these butt caps have to be nailed to the shaft which 
damages the shaft of the racquet. Since conventional butt caps (FIG. 6) 
are made out of plastic, the area of the butt cap 20 bends easily and is 
not as stable as the R.J.C. butt cap on (FIG. 8). 
The R.J.C. butt cap (FIG. 10), wrap (FIG. 9), and blanket (FIG. 11) have a 
rounded edge 15 (FIG. 5) that does not puncture the hand of the player. 
Sharp angles such as the conventional butt caps 16 and their plastic 
material 17 not only cause blisters to the hand but also do not stop any 
racquet vibration. 
The R.J.C. butt cap (FIG. 8) measures two inches in length and its length 
by itself makes the butt cap very stable. the R.J.C. blanket method on 
(FIG. 11) does not need to be nailed, glued, or stapled to the shaft at 
all. The blanket is positioned on top of the conventional butt cap. After 
is positioned and cut to fit the perimeter of the handle, it only needs 
one layer of overwrap (FIG. 12) on top of it. 
The blanket method of implementing the R.J.C. (FIG. 11) is perhaps the most 
desirable method for several reasons. The spongy material 21 reduces 
shock. The blanket is made longer with cutting lines 22 to fit the 
different thicknesses of the handles. The blanket has an inner 
circumference 23 of at least 51/4 inches and an outer circumference 24 of 
at least 41/4 inches. The top part of the blanket 25 forms the bridge 
characteristic of the R.J.C. and the middle thick part of the blanket 26 
forms the thickness of 2/3 of an inch thicker (FIG. 2) than the perimeter 
of the conventional butt cap (FIG. 3). 
The R.J.C. blanket (FIG. 11) and the R.J.C. wrap (FIG. 13) are methods of 
implementing the characteristics of the R.J.C. without having to take away 
anything from the existing art. These methods will allow manufacturing 
companies to test the market of the R.J.C. without abandoning the 
conventional methods used today. 
The R.J.C. butt cap (FIG. 10) is installed in the shaft 27 (FIG. 5) after 
removing the old conventional butt cap 28 (FIG. 6), this method of 
implementing the R.J.C. is beneficial to those players who know the R.J.C. 
benefits and want a long lasting secure butt cap. 
From the foregoing, it should be evident that a very advantageous and novel 
improvement in tennis racquet accessories has been described which 
significantly advances the art. 
Although only a limited number of embodiments of the invention have been 
described in detail, it should be understood that other embodiments and 
modifications of the invention may be constructed in accordance with the 
teachings of this invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the 
foregoing disclosure and drawings are to be considered only as 
illustrations of the principles of this invention.