1. Technical Field
The present invention is in the field of sports racquets, especially tennis racquets, and more specifically relates to a new racquet component system with interchangeable components, which address performance characteristics.
2. Background
In the field of tennis racquet design, much of the evolution in the design of racquets has been motivated concomitantly by a search for a larger sweet spot in the racquet and improved matching between the racquet specifications and an individual player's needs.
The sweet spot is defined as the most responsive part of the tennis racquet face. The sweet spot of the racquet provides improved power and control of racquet and ball, and transfers less vibration and shock to the racquet. From the player's perspective, the sweet spot is the area of the racquet face which gives the player the most power and control and the most solid hit. It is also the place on the racquet where the player feels the least vibration or shock. From a technical perspective, the sweet spot is the area of the racquet that is defined as having at least a 40% return rate. That is, for example, if a ball travels into the racquet at 100 miles per hour, it will leave the strings traveling at least 40 miles per hour.
A number of changes have been made in racquet design in the prior art in pursuit of a larger sweet spot and greater dovetailing between the racquet specifications and individual player profiles. For example, the materials used to construct the racquet have gone from wood to metal, aluminum, graphite and various other combinations of synthetic and composite materials. The shape of the head of the racquet frame has been changed and made larger to increase the likelihood of ball contact and increase the area of the sweet spot. The larger head size of the racquet also increases the power of the racquet.
The new materials used to make the racquets are much lighter and stronger, giving the player more power and control but also causing the racquet to transfer more vibration to the player because of the lightness of the racquet. One response to this increase in vibration transferred to the player from the racquet has been to make the racquet stiffer. Another response to the problem of transferred vibration is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,242, Reed, which shows a tennis racquet that is formed with a damping sleeve to reduce the vibrations produced by the lighter racquet frames.
In addition to changes in the materials and the racquet head size, racquet design changes have also incorporated greater stiffness into the racquet. The increased stiffness in the racquet results in greater energy being returned to the ball, and again decreased vibration perceived by the player.
What is still needed is a racquet which provides a quick and convenient means for custom tailoring a match between an individual player's needs and the racquet, allowing the player to change the performance characteristics of the racquet along with the "feel" of the racquet, for example, to increase the player's perception of the size of the sweet spot.
What is also needed is a racquet component system that allows quick interchangeability of string heads. String heads can be interchanged to allow rapid repair of damaged strings during a game or match or at any time that it is not possible or appropriate to repair the damaged strings. Interchangeable string heads also allow for the rapid and convenient substitution of different string types and varying string tensions into the racquet. String heads may also be interchanged to allow the introduction of a different weight of string head into the racquet system.
What is also needed is a racquet component system that allows quick and improved means for changing any component of the racquet component system to change the performance characteristics of the racquet under a long term or permanent change in conditions or the player's ability. For example, interchanging the racquet head or racquet frame to alter the control or power characteristics of the racquet or the damping and shock absorbing features of the racquet in response to player skill or to player injury.
What is also needed is a racquet component system that allows quick interchangeability of racquet components to implement changing the performance characteristics of the racquet in response to changing conditions. These conditions encompass changes in either playing conditions, player conditions, racquet conditions or any combination of the three. Changes in the player's conditions include, for example, improvements in the player's skill and changes in the player's ability due to temporary injuries the player may sustain. Changes in playing conditions that a player can encounter include changes in the environment, such as the weather, or different court surfaces as well as varying styles of the player or the player's opponents.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to supply a racquet component system with interchangeable components, allowing better ability to control the "feel" of the racquet and a quick and convenient means for custom tailoring a match between an individual player and the racquet performance characteristics.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a racquet that allows quick interchangeability of string heads. String heads can be interchanged to allow rapid repair of damaged strings during a game or match or at any time that it is not possible or appropriate to repair the damaged strings. Interchangeable string heads also allow for the rapid and convenient substitution of different string types and varying string tensions into the racquet. String heads may also be interchanged to allow the introduction of a different weight of string head into the racquet system.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a racquet that allows quick and improved means for changing any component or any combination of the components of the racquet system, to change the performance characteristics of the racquet under constant conditions. For example, interchanging the racquet head or racquet frame to alter the control or power characteristics of the racquet or the damping and shock absorbing features of the racquet.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a racquet that allows quick interchangeability of racquet components to implement changing the performance characteristics of the racquet in response to changing conditions. These conditions encompass changes in racquet conditions, playing conditions, player conditions, or any combination of the three. Changes in the player's conditions include, for example, improvements in the player's skill and changes in the player's ability due to injuries. Changes in playing conditions that a player can encounter include changes in the environment, such as the weather, or different court surfaces as well as varying styles of the player's opponents, changes in racquet conditions would include, for example, changing the weight of the string head to change the damping characteristics of the racquet system or to change the overall weight of the racquet to effect a change of performance. An example of changing the overall weight of the racquet to effect a change of performance would be making the racquet light for playing close to the net versus making the racquet heavier for playing the baseline.