Patent Publication Number: US-2023149780-A1

Title: Y-String Racket

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/279,361, which was filed on Nov. 15, 2021, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of rackets. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new, improved way of stringing sports rackets. The device is primarily comprised of frame with at least one string, a handle, and grommets protecting string(s). The device has at least three angled string areas passing through grommets in the frame. Said angled string areas do not sit in plane with the frame and other strings of the device. Due to the angled positioning of the outer string hitting area, a ball is prevented from hitting the frame of the racket, thereby preventing mishits and errant shots. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Existing rackets used for tennis, racquetball, squash, and other similar sports of the like are typically strung through the center of the frame. Most tennis players typically hit a ball with a topspin, which requires lifting the racket up and forward to impart spin on the ball causing the ball to fall quicker than a flat hit. However, if a player hits a ball too close to the frame of a racket, a mishit will occur. This is undesirable and can be extremely frustrating, especially in a competitive game environment. 
     Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a racket device that offers an improved string configuration, as compared with the original string configuration of 1873 origin. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a racket design that offers an improved string configuration that prevents mishits on the frame from a plurality of different hits and serves. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises what the inventor calls a Y-String Racket. The racket is primarily comprised of frame with at least one string, a handle, and grommets in the frame to protect the string from abrasion. The Y-String Racket has at least one angled string areas having at least one string that is received by the grommet, wherein said angled string areas do not sit in plane with the main grid of crossed strings. Due to the angled positioning of the angled string area, a ball struck by the Y-String Racket is generally prevented from hitting the frame, thereby preventing mishits. 
     In this manner, the Y-String Racket accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides an improved racket. Furthermore, the improved string configuration prevents mishits on the frame of the device. As a result, the device is easier to use for racket sport players of all levels. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a racket device primarily comprised of frame with at least one string, a handle, and at least one grommet. In differing embodiments, the frame may be shaped and sized accordingly to be used as a stringed racket in any racket sport such as, but not limited to: tennis, racquetball, squash, etc. The frame has a handle that is comprised of a grip which is preferably made of a leather, rubber, polyurethane or other material that promotes adequate retention of the racket in the hand or hands of a user. 
     The frame also has a flat or rounded top surface and bottom surface in addition to a central opening that is covered by at least one (but preferably a plurality of) string(s). The inner surface of the frame has a plurality of continuous string openings located in the middle of the inner surface that receive the strings, wherein the strings are strung through the inner surface of the frame and to grommets located within a recessed channel in the outer surface of the frame. The grommets prevent the strings from being cut by the frame. The bottom surface of the grommet has at least one cylindrical protrusion with an opening that exits through the top surface of the grommet. Accordingly, each protrusion can be inserted into each string opening of the frame to allow each string to be strung through the grommet and tied on the outer or inner surface of the frame to secure the strings to the frame. 
     The Y-String Racket has at least one, but preferably two, angled string areas comprised of any number of strings. Said string area(s) are not in plane with the main string area. In contrast, the strings of the angled string area are positioned at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the top surface of the frame and relative to the rest of the strings which are in plane with the frame. As a result, the strings of the raised area attach at an angle to the frame such that mishits on the frame are prevented, as a ball will simply strike the angled string area instead of the frame. 
     Accordingly, the Y-String Racket of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides players with an improved string configuration that prevents mishits on the frame of the device. In doing so, the device is easier to use for racket sport players of all levels. In this manner, the racket device overcomes the limitations of existing rackets known in the art as originally configured in 1873 in tennis. 
     To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a Y-String Racket of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a perspective view of a full grommet and a half-grommet of one potential embodiment of a racket device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of a racket device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of a racket device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture; and 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an enhanced perspective view of one potential embodiment of a racket device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined. 
     As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for rackets that offer an improved string configuration. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a racket that offers an improved string configuration wherein said string configuration prevents mishits on the frame of the device. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a racket that offers an improved string configuration that prevents mishits on the frame of the device from a plurality of different racket hits and serves. 
     The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a racket device. The device is primarily comprised of frame with at least one string, a handle, and at least one grommet. In differing embodiments, the frame may be shaped and sized accordingly to be used as a stringed racket in any racket sport such as, but not limited to: tennis, racquetball, squash, etc. In addition, the frame has a handle that is comprised of a grip which is preferably made of a leather, rubber, polyurethane or other synthetic material that promotes adequate retention of the device in the hand or hands of a user. 
     The frame has a flat or rounded top surface and bottom surface in addition to a central opening. Said opening is covered by at least one (but preferably a plurality of) string(s). The inner surface of the frame has a plurality of continuous string openings located in the middle of the inner surface. The openings receive the strings and allow the strings to be strung through the inner surface of the frame and to a full grommet located within a recessed channel in the outer surface of the frame. A full grommet allows the strings to sit in plane (i.e., parallel) with the top surface and bottom surface of the frame, wherein the bottom surface of the full grommet has at least one cylindrical protrusion with an opening that exits through the top surface of the grommet. Accordingly, each protrusion can be inserted into each string opening of the frame to allow each string to be strung through the grommet and tied on the outer surface or inner surface of the frame to secure the strings to the frame. 
     The device has at least one, and up to four, angled string areas on each side of the racket. Said areas may be comprised of any number of strings, wherein said strings are not in plane with the large, main, central surface of the device. In contrast, the strings of the angled string area are positioned at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the top surface of the frame and the other strings which are in plane with the frame. As a result, the strings of the raised area attach at an angle to the frame such that mishits on the frame are prevented as a ball will simply strike the angled string area instead of the frame. 
     Accordingly, the racket device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides a racket with an improved string configuration that prevents mishits on the frame of the device. In doing so, the device is easier to use for racket sport players of all levels. In this manner, the Y-String Racket overcomes the limitations of existing rackets known in the art. 
     Referring initially to the drawings,  FIG.  1    illustrates a perspective view of one potential embodiment of a racket device  100  of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The device  100  is primarily comprised of frame  110  with at least one string  160 , a handle  120 , and at least one grommet  140 , 150 . In differing embodiments, the frame  110  may be shaped and sized accordingly to be used as a stringed racket in any racket sport such as, but not limited to: tennis, racquetball, etc. In differing embodiments, the frame  110  may be manufactured from a plurality of materials such as, but not limited to, graphite, wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, plastic, fiberglass, etc. The frame  110  may further be any color known in the art and may feature any number of indicia  170  such as, but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, numbers, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc. The frame  110  further has a handle  120  that is comprised of a grip  122 . The grip  122  is preferably made of a leather, rubber, polyurethane or other material that promotes adequate retention of the device  100  in the hand or hands of a user. 
     The frame  110  has a flat or rounded top surface  114  and bottom surface  116 . The frame  110  further has a central opening  119  that is covered by at least one (but preferably a plurality of) string(s)  160 . The string(s)  160  is preferably manufactured from a natural gut, nylon, polyester, or other racket string material of the like. The inner surface  118  of the frame  110  has a plurality of continuous string openings  130  located in the middle of the inner surface  118  that allows the strings  160  to be strung through the inner surface  118  of the frame  110  and to a full grommet  140  located within a recessed channel  1120  in the outer surface  112  of the frame  110 . 
     As best seen in  FIG.  2   , the full grommet  140  allows the strings  160  to sit in plane (i.e., parallel) with the top surface  114  and bottom surface  116  of the frame  110 , such that the strings  160  form a first plane and a non-angled string area. The full grommet  140  may have a rounded or flat top surface  142 , and a bottom surface  144  with at least one cylindrical protrusion  146  with an opening  148  that ultimately exits through the top surface  142  of the grommet  140 . Each protrusion  146  can be inserted into each string opening  130  of the frame  110  to allow each string  160  to be strung through the grommet  140  and tied on the outer surface  112  and/or inner surface  118  of the frame  110 , thereby securing the strings  160  in position on the frame  110 . 
     Although the majority of the strings  160  of the device  100  are in plane with the top surface  114  and bottom surface  116  of the frame  110 , the device  100  has at least one, but preferably two or more, angled string areas  162  (as best seen in  FIG.  3   ,  FIG.  4   , and  FIG.  5   ). Said areas  162  may feature any number of strings  160 , wherein said strings  160  of the area  162  are not in plane with the top surface  114 , bottom surface  116  or other strings  160  (i.e., the strings  160  in plane with the top surface  114  and bottom surface  116 ) of the device  100 . Instead, the strings  160  of the angled string area  162  form a second plane and are positioned at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to the top surface  114  of the frame and relative to the remainder of the strings  160  which are in plane with the frame  110 . In this manner, the strings  160  of the raised area  162  attach at an angle to the frame  110 . As a result, mishits on the frame  110  are prevented, as a ball will simply strike the angled string area  162  instead of the frame  110 . 
     It should be appreciated that the string openings  130  for the strings  160  of the angled string area  162  are positioned above the string openings  130  for the majority of the in-plane strings  160  of the device  100 . In one embodiment, a second full grommet  140  may be used to secure the strings  160  of the angled string area  162  to the frame  110 . In a differing embodiment, at least one half-grommet  150  may be used. In contrast to a full grommet  140 , the half grommet has a top surface  152  and a bottom surface  154  with at least one angled protrusion  156  that has no opening. The protrusion  156  may be placed in and received by the opening  130  of the frame  110 , wherein the string  160  of the angled string area  162  may then be laid across and tied/secured to the top surface  152  of the grommet  150 , which may be flat or channeled. 
     Furthermore, differing embodiments of the device  100  may have a plurality of differing angled string areas  162  on various locations around the frame  110  and central opening  119 . In this manner, the areas  162  can prevent the frame  110  from being struck on a plurality of shot types such as, but not limited to: topspin, overhead, short hop, volley, half-volley, forehand, etc. As a result, the device  100  is easier to use for players of all skill levels than existing rackets known in the art. Further, the string openings  130  may be spaced apart at any distance that produces desirable string  160  tension and device  100  performance. 
     Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “racket device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the racket device  100  of the present invention. 
     Notwithstanding the forgoing, the racket device  100  of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the racket device  100  as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the racket device  100  are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the racket device  100  are important design parameters for user convenience, the racket device  100  may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user&#39;s needs and/or preferences. 
     Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof. 
     What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.