Patent Publication Number: US-4322077-A

Title: Wrist band for tennis rackets and the like

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During tennis matches or other sporting events exertion and humid weather causes a player to perspire. This condition sometimes causes him to lose his grip on the racket. The ultimate outcome of a tennis match may depend on winning or losing a single point. If a player loses control over his racket when serving, or playing an overhead ball, the racket may slip and crash into the concrete court; the impact may break the racket. This event delays play, may cause the player to lose a point by default and incur the expense of new equipment. 
     Use of the tether eliminates fear of losing one&#39;s grip. This gives the player confidence and allows him to give maximum effort in the game. When a player under psychological pressure during a match loses his composure, the tether prevents him from throwing his racket. Another significant application of the tether concerns its use in the construction industry. For example, in the building trades, carpenters or steel workers, who work on high-rise buildings, may lose control of a hand tool. Work will be interrupted in order to retrieve the tool. The falling tool may also cause injury to people below. Such an event always lowers work productivity. 
     While applications of other types of wristbands are known, the use in tennis and in the construction industry, and the special construction of the snap-on fastener of this tether are unique. The demonstrated need of this tether in tennis matches and in the building trades indicates a potential usage of this invention not earlier envisioned. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a tether, or wrist band. It provides a secondary binding and safety strap. Surrounding the wrist and combined into a single leash, it is attached to tennis rackets, other sporting goods equipment, hand tools or other implements to safe-guard against loss during slippage. The tether can be manufactured from leather, plastic, nylon cord or other flexible material. Sliding beads may be used to tighten the looped portion of the tether, surrounding the wrist. The beads may be made of plastic, glass, wood or some other material. The tether&#39;s connection with the tennis racket is accomplished by using a special fastener. The tether is provided with a specially spliced terminal. The fastener and the splice are both part of this invention. The objective of the tether is to provide a loose, non-restrictive safety band. Many tennis players spin their rackets between points. The special fastener which allows rotation does not interfere with this habit. The execution of different strokes such as forehand strokes, backhand strokes, volleys, and particularly the service all may require changing the grip. This tether allows free racket handling to carry out such maneuvers. Free movement is also required in carpentery and handling of tools. To avoid the tether from cutting into the player&#39;s hand when a racket inadvertently slips out of his control, the band may be widened around the hand. The tether&#39;s appearance and strength can be enhanced by braiding the tether&#39;s loop. 
     Most tennis rackets now in use do not have the benefit of this safety tether. In the future rackets may be made with a tether already attached or be provided with the proper hole in the butt cap for attachment of a tether later when desired. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The construction of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tether showing also the fastener and the spliced ending. It shows further the leash portion between the beads, and the braided wrist portion of the tether. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section of the fastener detail showing the tumble self-locking base plate and the spliced ending. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section of the spliced ending. 
     FIG. 4 is a view of an alternative design of the wrist band with one end sliding over the other end. 
    
    
     PREFERRED CONCEPT OF THIS INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 represents the preferred concept of the invention. The tether band (1) is made out of one piece of flexible material such as leather, plastic, nylon, or other band material, The braided wrist band (2) consists of the three straps (11), (12) and (13) interwoven to form an elegant band surrounding the wrist. Each of the straps (11), (12) and (13) is equal in width and equal or slightly wider than the leash straps (14) and (15) which are held together by beads (6) and (7) to form the tether leash (3). Bead (6) may be used to tighten the tether around the wrist and bead (7) is used to secure the sleeve (9) when inserted into the butt cap of the tennis racket. The special snap-on fastener (4) has been invented for this tether. It is made simultaneusly a part of this disclosure, together with the spliced ending (5). The splice of both leash straps is made by fitting the single tubular sleeve (9) tightly over leash ends (14) and (15). A wedge screw (10) is screwed in between both leash ends (14) and (15). The sleeve (9) is provided with a rim (19) which has an outside dimension larger than the sleeve itself. The wedge provided by the screw (10) has the unique feature that the wedging action is activated either by a tensile force in the tether leash(3), or by tightening the screw(10) further into tubular sleeve (9). The exposed screw ending (10) may be dipped in liquid plastic, mainly for aestetic reasons. The leash ends (14) and (15) can also be spliced into a single end by the use of liquid plastic, or by injection molding. The shape of the mold is to resemble the shape of the tubular sleeve (9). 
     Though the tether could be permanently attached to newly fabricated tennis rackets or other implements, not every player may wish to use this safety band, in spite of the benefits. This will require that the tether can be attached only when desired. There are millions of tennis rackets already in use which may require a tether to be attached after manufacture. Therefore, the special fasterner (4) has been invented which snaps into the single hole (16) in the handle of the tennis racket (18), handtool, or implement. The fastener consists of the spliced ending (5), the base plate (8) and the bead (7). The base plate (8) is of an oval or elliptical shape, sometimes bent with a slot in the center which is fitted over the leash straps (14) and (15). The spliced end (5) and the base plate (8) are inserted separately through hole (16) in the handle of the tennis racket (18) or a hole provided in another implement. The base plate is made narrow enough to pass through the hole (16) in the tennis racket handle (18) or other implement. The hole in the base plate (8) is made large enough to fit over the main body of the tubular sleeve (9) but not over the rim (19) provided at the end of the sleeve. When the leash is pulled the base plate will tumble sideways bridging the opening. Bead (7) may be fitted over the tubular sleeve (9) to form a secure connection. The fastener forms a swival connection locked inside the opening allowing free rotation. The fastener unit as shown in FIG. 2 is installed in a hollow racket grip. The hole (16) was drilled through the butt cap in the handle (18) of the tennis racket. The tubular sleeve (9) and the base plate (8) are inserted through the hole (16). The tubular sleeve (9) is pulled back through both the hole provided in the base plate (8) and the hole which extends through the butt cap. (17). The rim (19) on the tubular sleeve (9) prevents it from slipping through the base plate (8). Bead (7) is placed on the portion of tubular sleeve (9) which now projects outside the racket butt cap to secure the connection. The free rotation of the tubular sleeve (9) forms a swivel or hinge connection. 
     The unit can also be easily installed in any wall or ceiling by drilling the hole (16) and inserting both the tubular sleeve (9) and the base plate (8) through the hole. 
     It is obvious to any one skilled in the art that when installed during the manufacturing of rackets the base plate can be eliminated if the rim (19) of the tubular sleeve (9) is made large enough. 
     The spliced ending (5) of the fastener unit as shown in FIG. 3 consists of a tubular sleeeve (9), in which the two flexible members or lease ends (14) and (15) are inserted and the tightening screw (10). By tightening screw (10) the two leash ends (14) and (15) are wedged firmly against the inside of tubular sleeve (9) forming a solid splice. This spliced end may also be made from epoxy or other plastics by injection molding. The enlarged rim (19) is used to secure the ending in a wall or ceiling or other implement. 
     The tether or wrist band shown in FIG. 4 is a variation on the preferred embodyment showing leash end (15) shortened and provided with a hole through which leash end (14) fits. Leash end (14) is provided with the fastener and attached to the racket or other implement while leash end (15) slides over leash end (14) to form a band around the wrist, eliminating bead (6). The portion around the wrist can be braided as shown in FIG. 4 or can be a straight or widened band.