String for sporting goods

A string comprises an elongated member having a plurality of protuberances extending outwardly therefrom. These protuberances include a first set of protuberances which are disposed along a first perimeter of the elongated member. The plurality of protuberances also includes a second set of protuberances which are disposed along a second perimeter of the elongated member. Each of these protuberances of the second set is offset from each of the protuberances of the first set. In particular, the two sets of protuberances are positioned so that they are substantially parallel to respective radii which are in the opposite set of protuberances and which bisect consecutive ones of the radii with which the protuberances within that opposite set are associated. The line forms an improvement in an article for imparting spin to a ball of the type including a framework having a handle and a hoop extending from one end of the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to network strings used for sporting goods and more 
particularly, but not by way of limitation, to line for stringing tennis 
rackets and the like. 
Heretofore, substantially smooth-surfaced materials have been used for 
stringing tennis rackets and the like. With such smooth-surfaced 
materials, engagement of a ball or other object by the racket is generally 
by means of the angular relationship between the racket and the ball and 
by means of friction between the surface of the string and the surface of 
the ball. Such smooth-surfaced lines provides little mechanical 
engagement, other than the frictional engagement, with the ball for 
assisting in spinning the ball when the string engages the ball. 
However, because it is at times advantageous to impart various types of 
spin to a tennis ball or the like during the playing of a game, for 
example, there is a need for a suitable string or line which provides or 
increases the mechanical connection between the ball and the line 
comprising the network of the racket so that improved spin can be imparted 
to the ball. Such a mechanical connection is advantageous, for example, in 
providing top spin to a ball struck by a tennis racket. I do not believe 
that such an increase in the mechanical connection between a line and an 
object has been previously achieved in the manner contemplated by my 
invention. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention overcomes the above-noted and other shortcomings of 
the prior art by providing a novel and improved string for sporting goods. 
This string includes means for mechanically engaging a ball which 
increases the grip or engagement achieved between the string and the ball 
to impart improved spin to the ball. 
Broadly, the string of the present invention comprises an elongated member 
or line and a plurality of protuberances extending outwardly therefrom. 
The inventive string provides an improvement in an article for imparting 
spin to a ball of the type including a framework having a handle and 
further having a hoop extendng from one end of the handle. In such an 
article the inventive string includes a line which has the plurality of 
protuberances extending therefrom for engaging the ball and which is 
connected to the hoop in a network. 
Therefore, from the foregoing, it is a general object of the present 
invention to provide a novel and improved string for sporting goods. Other 
and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will 
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art when the following 
description of the preferred embodiment is read in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTON 
With reference to the drawings a description of the preferred embodiment of 
the present invention will be given. FIG. 1 discloses that the string of 
the present invention includes an elongated member or line 2 which in the 
preferred embodiment is a monofilament line made of a suitable substance. 
Extending outwardly from the line 2 is a plurality of protuberances which 
are formed integrally from or with the line 2. 
In the preferred embodiment the protuberances comprise a first group 4 and 
a second group 6 of protuberances. The first group 4 of protuberances 
includes a plurality of sets of protuberances specifically identified in 
FIG. 1 to include a set 8, another set 10, and a further set 12 of 
individual protuberances. By way of example, the set 8 of protuberances 
includes individual protuberances 14, 16, 18 and 20 which, in the 
preferred embodiment, are formed with a substantially cylindrical base and 
a substantially conical top. 
The individual protuberances 14, 16, 18 and 20 are spaced along a 
respective perimeter of the elongated member 2. In the preferred 
embodiment, the elongated member is substantially cylindrically shaped so 
that the spacing is specifically along a respective circumference of the 
preferred embodiment elongated member. 
Also in the preferred embodiment each individual protuberance extends 
substantially radially outwardly from the elongated member and has a 
respective radius of the elongated member associated therewith. The radii 
associated with consecutive ones of the protuberances (e.g., protuberances 
14 and 16 or protuberances 16 and 18) form an angle therebetween. 
As will be noted in FIG. 1, each of the sets 8, 10 and 12 of protuberances 
contained within the first group 4 of the protuberances is aligned with 
each other along the length of the elongated member 2. In other words, 
corresponding protuberances within each set of protuberances are 
colinearly disposed along the side of the elongated member 2. 
The second group 6 of protuberances similarly includes a plurality of sets 
of protuberances. The sets of protuberances shown in FIG. 1 to be within 
the second group 6 of protuberances are identified by the reference 
numerals 22 and 24. As with the sets of protuberances in the first group 
of protuberances, each set in the second group 6 includes individual 
protuberances such as those identified in FIGS. 1 and 2 by the reference 
numerals 26, 28, 30 and 32. 
The individual protuberances comprising each set of protuberances in the 
second group 6 are disposed along a respective perimeter of the elongated 
member 2. Specifically for the cylindrically shaped elongated member 2 
shown in the drawings, the disposition of the protuberances 26-32 is 
circumferentially around the elongated member 2. 
Each protuberance of a particular set of protuberances in the second group 
6 is associated with a respective radius which extends to the respective 
perimeter or circumference of the elongated member. Each such respective 
radius also extends substantially parallel to a radius extending to the 
perimeter or circumference of one of the sets of protuberances of the 
first group 4 and lying between consecutive ones of the respective radii 
associated with respective protuberances of a respective set of 
protuberances in the first group 4 of protuberances. For example, the 
protuberance 26 is shown in FIG. 2 to have a radius 34 associated 
therewith. The radius 34 extends substantially parallel to a radius which 
extends to the perimeter of the elongated member 2 with which the first 
set 8 of protuberances is associated and which lies between a radius 36 
and a radius 38 associated with consecutive protuberances 14 and 16. 
Another way of stating the relationship between each protuberance within 
the sets of protuberances of the second group 6 of protuberances and each 
protuberance of each set of the first group 4 of protuberances is that the 
protuberances of the second group 6 are offset, specifically 
perimetrically or circumferentially offset, from the protuberances of the 
first group 4. In the preferred embodiment the radius to which a 
respective radius of a protuberance of the second group 6 of protuberances 
is substantially parallel bisects the angle formed by the respective 
consecutive radii (e.g., radii 36 and 38) associated with respective 
protuberances of the first set 4 of protuberances. 
In the preferred embodiment each perimeter or circumference, along which 
the protuberances of the individual sets of protuberances within the 
second group 6 are spaced, lies between consecutive ones of the perimeters 
along which respective sets of protuberances of the first group 4 are 
spaced. Additionally, each set of protuberances of the second group 6 of 
protuberances is aligned with each other set of protuberances of the 
second group 6 of protuberances along the length of the elongated member 
2. In other words, corresponding protuberances in each set of 
protuberances of the second group 6 are collinearly positioned along the 
length of the elongated member 2. 
By way of a specific example, various dimensions of the elongated member 
and the protuberances will be given; however, it is to be noted that these 
dimensions may be varied without departing from the scope of the present 
invention. Additionally, the shapes of the elongated member 2 and the 
individual protuberances can be varied and the number of protuberances in 
each set can also be modified without departing from the scope of the 
invention. 
In the specific embodiment, the elongated member has a diameter of 
approximately 0.058 inch, and each set of protuberances contains four 
protuberances spaced circumferentially around the elongated member on a 
center-to-center spacing of approximately 0.0455 inch. 
Each protuberance is approximately 0.015 inch high (i.e., each extends 
0.015 inch away from the surface of the elongated member to the apex of 
the protuberance). As with the other dimensions, the height of the 
protuberances can vary, but the height is believed to be the most 
advantageous if it is within the range of approximately 0.005 inch to 
approximately 0.020 inch. The diameter of the cylindrical wall of the 
specific embodiment of each protuberance is approximately 0.016 inch. 
In the specific embodiment, the preferred spacing between consecutive sets 
of protuberances within each group of protuberances (e.g., the distance 
between the set 8 and the set 10 or the distance between the set 22 and 
the set 24) is approximately 0.0416 inch. Each set of protuberances of the 
second group is spaced equidistantly between the respective consecutive 
sets of the first group 4 of protuberances. 
To manufacture the specific embodiment of the present invention, it is 
contemplated to use a monofilament line made of a suitable substance which 
can be heated and then molded to form each of the protuberances integrally 
from the elongated member 2. 
Once the string of the present invention is made, it can be specifically 
used to form a network in a racket 40 including a framework having a 
handle 42 and a hoop 44 extending from one end of the handle as 
illustrated in FIG. 3. Specifically, the line can be used to string a 
tennis racket or the like. Because of the protuberances extending from the 
line, the tennis racket having the inventive line or string will be better 
able to engage a tennis ball and impart appropriate spin thereto. 
Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and 
attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent 
therein. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described 
for the purpose of this disclosure, numerous changes in the construction 
and arrangement of parts can be made by those skilled in the art, which 
changes are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by 
the appended claims.