NOTCHED, SLOTTED GROMMET FOR SPORTS RACQUET

摘要

A sports racquet includes grommet members (40, 42, 44) anchoring the strings (18, 20) in at least the central regions of the string bed which include grommet pegs (52) which have grommet holes (54) that, in cross section, are elongated in a direction perpendicular to the string bed, and preferably include notches (62) at their distal end (64). The slotted grommets and notches allow the strings to deflect, in a direction perpendicular to the string bed, upon ball impact. The strings are anchored only outside of the frame proper, and their effective string length is thus substantially increased. Preferably, the grommet members (40, 42, 44) include a means, such as a concave lip (60) to acts as a string guide, adjacent the grommet hole (54) entrance to prevent string movement as it enters the slot. Preferably, the sidewalls of the grommet holes (54) are spaced slightly farther apart than the width of the string so that the string can deflect freely upon ball impact with the string bed. The string hugs one of the sidewalls, however, so that vibrations are damped after the ball has left the string bed.