Abstract:
An improved ball launching racket has a flexible net disposed within a central opening of a racket by a plurality of removable clip and elastomeric band assemblies. The construction of the clip facilitates expedient mounting and removal of the elastomeric bands, thereby allowing a user to expeditiously change the tension in the net, which in turn, changes the launching characteristics of the ball launching racket. The clip construction promotes usage of elastomeric bands that are free from apertures or slits, so that stress concentration points within the elatomeric bands are eliminated, increasing the useful life of each band.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention generally relates to sports equipment and more particularly to a racket for launching baseballs and softballs as a means for improving ball catching techniques. 
     More specifically, the invention concerns an improved ball launching racquet which can be quickly and effectively modified for use as either a ground ball or fly ball hitting device, and which can be interchanged between hardball and softball applications. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Conventional training rackets for propelling baseballs and softballs operate by taking advantage of the tension held in the net by a plurality of elastic bands, whereby the energy of the impact between the ball and the net is initially stored in the elastic bands. The stored energy is almost immediately transferred and released to the ball, allowing the ball to be accurately placed and propelled great distances. 
     However, one disadvantage of prior ball launching racquets is that their optimal performance is limited to a specific mode of operation, i.e., use as a fly ball or ground ball launcher. Thus, it should be appreciated that once a racket is set with a predetermined net tension, for instance a soft net tension, the racket is only suited for launching ground balls. 
     Another disadvantage of conventional launching rackets is that they have very limited cross-usage between different types of balls once the net tension is initially set. For example, once a racket is set with a tightly-tensioned net, (ideal for hardball applications) it is not well-suited for softball applications. 
     Another disadvantage of prior ball launching rackets concerns the racket structural arrangement for holding the elastomeric bands. Most of the previous designs are overly complex, making net tension-adjustments and net change-outs time consuming and frustrating. Moreover, many of the prior designs incorporate elastomeric bands that are formed with an aperture, open slit, or a reduced cross sectional area, thereby creating a localized area of highly concentrated stresses which cause the bands to prematurely wear and fail. A further disadvantage with using these types of bands is that they are not available as an over-the-counter purchase, meaning they must be repurchased from the racket manufacturer. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a ball launching racket that can be easily adapted to utilize commercially available elastomeric bands which can be expediently added or removed from the racket to adjust the net tension according to a specific type of hardball and softball application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a sports racket for propelling softballs and baseballs, wherein the racket comprises a frame and a handle extending from the frame. The frame has a perimeter that defines a central opening, and a detachable net is disposed within the central opening. The net is under a continuous state of tension, wherein the net stores and releases the momentum energy of the softball or baseball to thereby launch the ball. 
     It is also a principal object of the invention to attach the net to the frame by a plurality of removable clips secured at spaced intervals about the frame, wherein a plurality of elastomeric bands hold the net in a state of tension, and wherein each elastomeric band is associated with a respective clip. 
     It is another object of the invention in a preferred form, that each of the elastomeric bands have a unitary, continuous construction of constant cross sectional thickness and width, being free of apertures and slits. 
     It is another object of the invention that the net perimeter be delimited by a flexible strand, wherein each elastomeric band is folded about said flexible strand, thereby forming a pair of ends which extend towards said frame and are attached thereto by the same clip. 
     It is another object of the invention in a preferred form that the removable clip comprise a base portion having opposed ends and a top portion integrally formed with said base portion, wherein the top portion includes a pair of spaced opposed arms, a respective arm integrally formed at a respective said end of said base portion, and that each of the arms receives a respective end of each of the elastomeric bands. 
     In this preferred form, each arm of the clip includes a respective upstanding portion that terminates in a hand portion, wherein each of the hand portions contacts the outside surface of the frame to prevent the elastomeric bands from disengaging from the arms of the clip. Each of the arms will be interposed between a respective end of said elastomeric band and that the elastomeric band be in restrained engagement between the upstanding portions of said clip and that the upstanding portions of the clip be adapted to provide a tolerance between said elastomeric band and said frame when said clip and said elastomeric band are secured to said frame. 
     It is still another object of the invention that the central opening of the frame is to be configured into one of the configurations selected from the group consisting of a circle, an oval, a rectangle, a square, and a triangle and wherein the net has a configuration which is substantially the same configuration of the central opening, and is spaced from the frame when disposed within the opening. 
     Yet still another object of the invention is to provide the same cross sectional thickness and width for each the elastomeric bands so that the net tension along the perimeter of the net is equal. 
     A final object of the invention is to provide a varied net tension about the perimeter of the net, whereby the cross sectional thickness and width of every other elasotmeric band is the same to the other. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more readily understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein the reference numerals designate the structural elements, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball launching racket according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a retention clip according to the present invention, wherein the clip attaches the launching net to the racket frame; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an elastomeric band and retention clip before the clip is attached to the frame of the launching racket; and 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an elastomeric band used in accordance with the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 generally shows the ball launching racket  10  of the present invention, comprising a net-retaining section  12 , or frame, that includes an upper portion  12   t , a lower portion  12   b , and an elongate handle  14  that is interconnected to the frame  12 . The frame  12  defines an opening  13  which may have a round or oval configuration, although the shape of the frame which defines the opening should not be considered to be limiting. It is seen that frame  12  has an outside surface  12   d  for receiving thereon a net retaining clip  30 , as will be explained in greater detail herein. The frame  12  also has an inside surface  12   l  that faces frame opening  13 . In one embodiment, the frame  12  and handle  14  may be constructed of a unitary, tubular metallic material, while in another embodiment, the unitary material is comprised of either wood or a composite. 
     The handle  14  extends downwardly and away from frame  12  by an extent which will facilitate comfort, control and stability to the user when launching balls, and may be of a the length that is at least equivalent to the extent of the size of the opening  13 . The handle may include a grip  16  for facilitating the gripping of the racket, especially a perspiring palm. The grip may be comprised of various types of materials commonly used in racket sports, i.e., leather, foam rubber, etc., and may further include preformed finger grips (not shown) to further improve the gripping of the racket  10 . The distal end  16   e  of the handle  16  may also be enlarged so as to prevent the racket slipping out of the hand of a user during use. 
     FIG. 1 also illustrates that a net  20  that functions to launch the ball from the racket, is disposed within the frame opening  13 . The net  20  may be formed of interwoven nylon or polyester strands or cords that ultimately form an open grid pattern of substantially equally-sized apertures. The illustration shows the apertures being formed as squares, as defined by the pattern of the interwoven cords, although other patterns may be provided, such as a honeycomb or rectangular pattern, preferably so long as the apertures are of the same size. The perimeter of the net  20  is comprised of an outermost flexible strand or binding  22  that delimits the size of the launching net  20 . The outermost strand  22  may be heavier than the interior interwoven cords and may be complementary to the configuration of the frame opening  13 . The net  20  is secured to the frame  12  by a plurality of resilient elastomeric bands  50  which are looped around the outermost strand of the net at equally spaced locations from each other, thereby encircling the perimeter of the net. Each band  50  is attached to a set of arms  32 ,  34  of a respective anchoring clip  30 , as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. Looping of the individual bands  50  is best understood by referring to the FIG. 4 illustration, where it is seen that each band  50  is formed as a continuous closed loop. When folded flat, each band  50  forms a pair of loop ends  52  and  54  that are defined from a combination of the top strand portion  51  and the bottom strand portion  53 . The elastomeric band  50  is folded around the binding strand  22  such that the band center  56  of either the top or bottom strand portion  51  or  53 , will be the only part of the elastomeric band  50  contacting the binding strand  22  of the net  20 . Because each band  50  is formed as a continuous, closed loop, the looped ends  52  and  54  will be folded around the net binding  22 , and the same two looped ends  52 ,  54 , will be folded around a respective arm  32 ,  34  associated at each end  33   a  and  33   b  of the arcuately configured trunk  33  of clip  30 . The trunk  33  forms a base portion of the clip, while the arms  32 ,  34  form a top portion. Each arm  32 ,  34 , extends away from the base of the clip  30  in the same direction and the same extent. Each arm  32 ,  34  includes a respective proximate end  32   a  or  34   a , and a respective terminal end  32   b  or  34   b . Each of the proximate ends  32   a ,  34   a , are integrally formed with trunk  33  at a respective end  33   a  or  33   b . The terminal ends  32   b ,  34   b  of each arm  32 ,  34 , include a respective hand portion  40 ,  42  that is integrally formed thereon. More specifically, the inside surface  55 ,  57  of each looped end  52 ,  54 , is respectively in resting contact against an upstanding portion  36 ,  38  formed on each arm  32 ,  34 . FIG. 3 shows that each loop end  52 ,  54 , is slid in the direction of the heavy arrow and between the gap “G” existing between each arm  32 ,  34 , such that the top strand portion  51  and the bottom strand portion  53  of each looped end  52 ,  54 , is in effect, looped only about the respective upstanding portions  36  or  38  such that a respective arm  32 ,  34  is interposed between the strand portions comprising the respective elastomeric band  50 . The remaining and opposite loop end  52  or  54  of each band is likewise looped about the other upstanding portion  36  or  38 . In this way, one elastomeric band  50  will be strung around the binding strand  22  of the net  20  at a predetermined location, and then attached to the arms of a respective clip  30  so as to be restrained between the upstanding portions  36 ,  38 . The clip is then attached to the racket frame  12  by pushing the base portion of the clip (the arcuately configured trunk  33 ) securely against the frame surface until the inside surface  35  of the trunk  33  is in resting contact against outside surface  12   d  of the frame  12  (FIG.  3 ). Due to the construction of upstanding portions  36 ,  38 , a tolerance is provided between the arms  32 ,  34  of each clip  30  and the frame  12  when the clip/band assembly is secured to the frame  12 . This tolerance facilitates holding the clip  30  and band  50  to the frame  12 , otherwise, the thickness of the strands forming the elastomeric bands  50  would interfere and prevent the clip  30  from securely seating against the frame  12  if the upstanding portion  36 ,  38  were not provided. The hand portions  40 ,  42 , of each arm  32 ,  34 , also contact the outside frame surface  12   d  when the clip  30  is secured to the frame  12 , thereby providing additional stability to the top portion of the clip  30 , additionally helping the retain it against the frame  12 . Furthermore, hand portions  40 ,  42 , cooperate to prevent each of the looped ends  52 ,  54 , of elastomeric band  50  from unworking themselves from the upstanding portions  36 ,  38  when in use. It is important that the clips  30  be positioned with the semi-circular portion of the trunk  33  encircling the outside surface  12   d  of the frame so that the tensile forces which continuously pull on the band  50  and keep the net  20  taunt, will also simultaneously pull the clip in contact against the outside surface  12   d  of the frame  12 . In this way, the two looped ends  52 ,  54 , of the elastomeric band  50  actually pulling on the clip  30  in a direction towards the net  20 , while the center  56  of the band  50  is pulling on the net  20  in a direction towards the frame  12 , and hence towards the clip  30 . For this reason, it is not necessary that the trunk  33  of the clip  30  be made to frictionally snap-fit to the frame  12 , although the clip  30  may be formed to frictionally snap-fit to the frame. Thus, it can be appreciated that since each looped end  52 ,  54 , are continuously in a state of tension and are pulled towards the net  20 , a tensile state condition will continuously exist in each looped end  52 ,  54 , and in each strand  51 ,  53  (except for the area immediately around center  56 ), thereby maintaining clip  30  in a firmly secured fashion against the frame  12 . This is especially true during use, where the tension forces in these same locations become even greater. The orientation of the clip arms  32 ,  34  with respect to the arms of an adjacent clip is not important to the function of the clip and band as an assembly. 
     As FIG. 1 shows, the racket there is provided with eight clips  30  and eight elastomeric bands  50 , thereby forming eight assemblies, although a plurality of additional assemblies can be expediently added to the frame as a means to stiffen the tension in the net  20  and to expediently change the launching characteristics of the racket. Likewise, the clip and band assemblies can be expediently removed from the frame  12  to create a soft or spongy net tension, which is akin to a racket performance best suited for launching pop flies. It should be understood that when viewing FIG. 1, the net  20  is provided with a complementary configuration to that of the frame  12 . However, the net  20  will be smaller than the frame opening in order to ensure that the elastomeric bands  50  will remain in a taunt state during non-launching periods and have clearance from the frame  12  in order to unrestrictively stretch during launching periods. This clearance further allows the net to freely move within the central opening  13  of the frame  12  and transfer its stored energy to the ball. However, the size of the net should not be made too small, so as to compromise the surface contact between the ball and the net. 
     Another advantage of the present launching racket is that it can be converted for use with baseballs although it might have been initially set for use with softballs. Since a baseball is harder and less deformable than a softball, a hardball will absorb less impact energy when contacted against the net  20 . Moreover, when the racket  10  is to be used with baseballs, a generally softer, more spongy net tension is desired. Thus, several clip/elastomeric band assemblies can be expediently removed to create this condition. Alternatively, all of the elastomeric bands  50  can be replaced with elastomeric bands of a different tensile strength, which of course, is factor controlled by the physical dimensions (width, strand thickness, rubber composition) of the band itself. One of the most favorable advantages of the present racket is that the elastomeric bands are free from apertures or slits therein, meaning that stress concentration points along the apertures or slits, are eliminated, thus eliminating the potential for premature failure. Since most bands incorporating apertures or slits require custom manufacture, the present racket may incorporate the use of over-the-counter, heavy-duty rubber bands that are available to public in most retail office supply stores. 
     The above mentioned embodiments are exemplary only and it is envisioned that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is to be limited only by the appended claims.