摘要 |
A frame structure adapted for use as a tennis racket. The frame structure includes a frame body made from either wood, metal or plastic having a tubular structure with inside and outside surfaces. A composite material jacket having an outer layer adjacent and bonded to the frame outside surface and an inner layer adjacent and bonded to the frame body inside surface is provided. The composite material jacket is made from composite materials such as resin impregnated boron, graphite, polyamide aromatic and glass fibers. In addition, plastic throat pieces commonly used to connect and support racket necks and handles are replaced by composite material cross-member supports which are integrally molded to the composite material jacket. The composite material jacket provides structural reinforcement as well as desirable shock and vibration dampening characteristics. In addition, the tubular frame is provided with elongated slots through which racket strings are attached for mounting. The composite material jacket when molded into place on the frame structure fills these slots with cured composite material thus providing a ribbed integral connection between the outer and inner jacket layers. Holes provided through these ribbed sections have cross-sectional areas smaller than the elongated slots thereby preventing undesirable contact of the racket strings passing therethrough with the metal frame structure.
|