TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved handle which is particularly, though not exclusively, for use with or as part of a racket such as a tennis or squash racket.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional racket handles coκpriEs a elongate member which is basically rectangular in cross-section but with the corner edges flattened to form a eight-sided handle.

In cross-section, the perimeter of such a conventional handle is constant over the whole of its length, as is the cross-sectiona.1 shape, and this type of handle is normally referred to as a parallel eight-sided handle.

This conventional type of handle suffers from a number of disadvantages. The constant cross-sectional perimeter means that the cubital digits of the hand gripping the handle are forced into a false, unnatural position, and this increases the strain on certain muscle groups of the hand, for example the radial extensor muscle. Furthermore, the unnatural position of the fingers of the hand means that digital extensor muscle tension is unevenly distributed between the different branches of the common digital extensor, the extensor carpi ulnaris, the extensor of the little (fifth) finger, the first (short) extensor carpi radialis and the second (long) extensor carpi radialiε. All of these muscles originate from the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. They are all important muscles, especially in backhand strokes, the most important cause of tennis elbow, and it is thought that the uneven distribution of tension between these muscles is an important factor in tennis elbow. The tensions created by

conventional racket handles also give rise to specific muscle strain.

Many people find that they cannot exert a sufficient grip on a conventional racket handle, due partly to the reasons outlined above and also due to the fact that the conventional handle induces uneven distribution of tension in the flexor muscles of the hand, which tends to increase muscle fatigue.

There have been various proposals in the past for alleviating strain due to holding a racket, and for improving comfort and grip, many involving complex εnaping of the handle as, for example, in Vest German patent specification 2445877, 2923042, 3312927, 3414293, 2815884 and 2458132; West German Gebrauchmuεterε 8608907.2 and 7737938; French patent 2472939; European published application 0134369 and International publication V085/04592.

It has also been proposed in French patent 2232337 and intervening publication US patent 4717152 that a racket handle taper uniformaly from the free end of the handle towards the head of the racket.

However, even these proposalε do not counteract fatigue of specific muscle groups by evenly distributing the strain and thus reducing the formation of tennis elbow, especially in connection with the backhand stroke.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports racket having a head and a handle extending from the head to terminate in a free end _r the handle comprising a first elongate portion extending towards the head from adjacent to the free end of the handle and having throughout its length an outer surface of substantially constant cross-section, a second elongate portion lying between the first elongate portion and the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

head, the second portion having throughout its length an outer surface of substantially constant cross-section, and a tapering intermediate portion joining said first and second portions, said intermediate portion having an outer surface the cross-section of which increases from the first portion towards the second portion and is always larger than the cross-section of the first portion but always smaller than the cross-section of the second portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a handle that is continuous with or for attachment to the head of an article such as a sports , t e handle comprising a first elongate portion extending towards the head from adjacent to the free end of the handle and having throughout its length an outer surface of substan ially constant cross-section, a second elongate portion lying between the first elongate portion and the head, the second portion having throughout its length an outer surface of substantially constant cross-section, and a tapering intermediate portion joining said first and second portions, said intermediate portion having an outer surface the cross-section of which increases from the first portion towards the second portion and is always larger than the cross-section of the first portion but always smaller than the cross-section of the second portion.

Thus, in use, when the hand closes around the handle in the grip position, the fifth (little) finger rests on the first portion of smallest cross-section, the fourth (annular) finger rests on the tapering intermediate portion, and the third and (major) second (index) fingers rest on the second portion of the largest cross-section. Only the fourth finger lies on a tapering part of the handle, and this profile causes the fingers of the hand to assume a much more natural grip position, since the handle of the present invention is adapted to the natural form of the hand in its semi-closed, gripping position.

Because of this more natural grip, there is a much

SUBSTITUTESHEET

more even distribution of digital extensor muscle tension, thus relieving specific muscle strain and alleviating the problem of tennis elbow. Also, the handle provides for a better, more even distribution of tension in the flexor muscles of the hand, thus decreasing muscle fatigue.

The handle of the present invention also increases the efficiency of the grip, so giving the player better control of the racket, as well as offering resistance to rotational forces caused when a ball hits the edge of the racket.

Preferably, the first, second and intermediate portions of the handle are basically octpgonel in cross- section, comprising two. equal and opposite long parallel sides, two equal and opposite short parallel sides each perpendicular to the long sides, and four εubstantially equal corner sections, each joining a long side to a short side. In applying the invention to such an octagonal handle, the _^ cross-section of the first portion is preferably made smaller than the cross-section of the second portion by virtue of one pair of parallel sides of the first portion being shorter than the corresponding pair of parallel sides of the second portion. More preferably, the cross-section of the first portion is made smaller than the the cross-section of the second portion by virtue of the pair of long parallel sides of the first portion being shorter than the corresponding pair of long parallel sides of the second portion.

Conveniently, the octagonal, substantially constant cross-sectional shape of part of the first portion is modified by forming a concave depression in a face of that portion that would otherwise be represented in cross- section by one of the parallel sides. This concave depression serves, is use, to provide a more comfortable seating for the fifth (little) finger.

Fig 1 is a schematic drawing of the hand showing the differences in length between the fingers of the hand,

Fig 2 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of a

SUBSTITUTESHEET

handle in accordance with the present invention.

Fig 2A is a cross-section on line I-I of Fig 2,

Figs 2B, 2C and 2D all represent cross-sections on line 11—11 of Fig 2, showing the different ways in which the cross-section may be reduced,

Fig 3 is a plan view of handle including a concave depression in the first portion for accommodating the fifth

(little) finger.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig 1, the handle of the present invention has been developed as a result of the appreciation of the fact that the metacarpal and first phalangeal bones of the fourth and fifth fingers (4,5) are short in relation to those of the third and second fingers (3,2), which Reduces the natural circumference of the hand when it is in the gripping position in the area of the fourth and fifth fingers, as compared to the area of the second and third fingers. The thumb 1 (the first digit of the hand) merely closes the grip on the handle and does not play a role in the determination of the optimum shape of the handle.

In order to conform more closely to the natural form of the hand in the gripping position, a preferred embodiment of the handle is shown in Fig 2 and comprises an elongate member having an end stop 8, a first portion 22, an intermediate portion 23 and a second portion 24. The second portion 24 is of constant cross-sectional perimeter as determined by dimensions X and Y. The cross-sectional shape is basically octagonal with two parallel long sides, two parallel short sides and four flattened corner sections.

The first portion 22 is also of substantially constant cross-section and the same basically octagonal shape, but the dimension X' is less than the dimension X of the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

second portion 24. The first and second portions 22, 24 are joined by the intermediate, tapering portion 23 the cross-section of which increases from the first towards the second portion but is always larger than the cross-section of the first portion 22 and always smaller than the cross- section of the second portion 24. The change in cross- section is achieved by varying the X dimension only.

In the particular embodiment shown in Fig 2, the Y dimension is not reduced at all between the first and second portions, as illustrated in Figs 2A and 2B ^" . However, the same advantageous effect of the ^' inven ioi could be achieved by reducing the Y dimension from Y to Y' while keeping X the same, as shown in Fig 2C, or alternatively reducing the X dimension to X' and at the same time reducing the Y dimension to Y', as shown in Fig 2D.

In use, the second and third fingers (2,3) rest on the second portion 24, the fourth finger 4 rests on the intermediate, tapering portion 23, and the fifth finger rests on the first portion 22, just before the stop 8, where the cross-section is smallest. This allows the fingers of the hand to assume a more natural position, with resultant advantages being in the reduction of muscle strain and fatigue, and the alleviation of the problem of tennis elbow.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the second portion 24 of substantially constant cross-section extends for approximately ten centimetres along the length of the handle. The second portion 24 is followed by an intermediate portion 23 which tapers (by reducing the X dimension only as shown in Figs 2A and 2B) for a length of approximately four centimetres, and which is in turn followed by a first portion 22 of substantially constant cross-section which is smaller than that of portions 24 and 23. One or more faces of the first portion 22 may be concavely curved, (as indicated by reference

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

numeral 22a in figure 3) for a length of approximately one and a half centimetres preceding the end The fifth finger then rests on portion 22, with part being received in the concave section 22a to give additional comfort.

The essential aspect of the invention is the provision of two portions of substantially constant cross-section, namely a first portion of substantially constant cross- section for receiving the fifth (little) finger of the hand and a second portion of substantially constant crosε- reαtion for receiving the second and third fingers of the hand, as well as an intermediate portion of capei ii.g c-c _^ - section for receiving the fourth finger of the hand, the cross-section of the first portion being smaller than that of the second portion.

The handle itself may be conεtructed to have the desired formation, or the same effect can be achieved by providing a sheath which is slid over the handle and secured in place by any suitable means, or alternatively by winding a grip band or tape around the handle to the "approximate thickness in the the different regions. It should be appreciated that the exact form of the handle may be adapted to suit different sizes and shapes of hands.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is particularly advantageous when used with or as part of a stringed racket. The strings of such a racket are under high tension, and the effect of the ball hitting the strings and the recovery of the strings is such as to cause shock vibrations in the handle which are tranεmitted to the player's hand, wrist and arm.