This invention relates to a novel racket _/ particu¬ larly to a racket provided with a shock absorbent and equalizing elastic band.

Conventionally/ the racket mainly comprises a frame/ a throat and a handle. Within said frame the lon¬ gitudinal and transverse interweaving strings form the strike surface. The present invention provides an improved racket with respect to the kind mentioned above, in which at the position inside the frame near to the throat is provided with an elastic band extending transversely over the width of the strike surface, preferably intermitted at the center/ which is preformed with a plurality of apertures in a number and at intervals corresponding to the longitu¬ dinal strings, so that said longitudinal strings are extended in parallel to each other f om top of the frame until passing through said apertures in said band, then extended convergently to the throat.

The aforementioned and other objects, features and advantages will be better understood ^' from the following description in detail, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is plane view of one embodiment in tennis racket type of novel racket according to the present invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse cross section of the elastic band according to the present invention. Now, referring ' to Fig. 1, the present novel racket, as usual racket, mainly comprises a frame 1, a throat 2 and a handle 3. Within the area bound by the frame 1, a plurality of longitudinal ^' strings 4 and a plurality of transverse strings 5 are interwoven to form the stirke surface. In a kind of conventional racket, the longitu¬ dinal strings 4 are extended from top 6 of the frame 1

until the throat 2. Since the width of the frame 1 is far greater than the width of the throat 2, in the conven¬ tional racket either the longitudinal strings 4 have no identical length, or the longitudinal strings 4 at both sides are convergently extended to the throat 2 and those closer to the frame sides have greater inclination, except that only two central longitudinal strings 4 are extend, substantial parallel to each other until said throat 2. The present invention is characterized that within the strike surface near to the throat 2 out of the sweet spot is provided with an elastic band 7 extending trans¬ versely over the width of the frame 1, namely, from one side to another side of the frame, and preferably inter¬ mitted at the center as shown, so that a pair of band sections are substantially presented. The band 7 is made of elastic material, preferably elastomeric resin, in par¬ ticular polyamides. Meanwhile, as referred to Fig. 2, the band 7 is preformed with a plurality of longitudinal aper¬ tures 8 in a number equal to the longitudinal strings 4 which will be passed through. The interval between adja¬ cent apertures 8 corresponds to that between adjacent strings 4. Thereby, all of longitudinal strings 4 are extended in parallel to each other within entire sweet spot of the strike surface until passing through respective aper- tures 8 of the band 7, then extended convergently from the. band 7 to the throat 2 as illustrated.

In cooperation with the inclination when the strings 4 extend from, said band 7 to throat 2 convergently, the apertures 8 in the band 7, except those two at center, are formed inclindly towards the center, with inclination incrementally increased towards both sides. The obligue openings 9 at both margin edges are inclined at an angle corresponding to the configuration of the frame 1 at which location the band 7 is mounted, and extend out of the frame 1 to be secured by inserting respective pins 10.

The fastening strength of said band 7 will be enhanced by

the stress exerted by the longitudinal strings 4 when convergently passing through said band 7. The band 7 is preferably widened at both outer sides since the stress at said outer sides is greater than at inner sides which 5 are thinner.

Two outmost longitudinal strings 4 at each side are fastened through the - frame 1 as shown rather than extended passing through the band 7, but additional secondary shorter elastic bands (not shown) may be optionally 0 provided therefor.

The present invention providing the elastic band 7 in the racket, performs not only to keep all of the longitu¬ dinal strings 4 extended within the sweet spot in parallel to each other to obtain stable strike and control of the

15 balls, but also to increase the rebound effect and to reduce the vibration. Moreover, the band 7 is located out of the sweet spot without impairing any strike per¬ formances.

The present invention may be formed in tennis racket

20 as shown in Fig.l or other racket, such as squash racket and the like, not shown.

While there have been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in

25 the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing form the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For Example, the band 7 may be enlarged at margin edges for stopping at outside of the frame 1, when said band 7 is inserted therefrom,

^•■ * ^■ * ^• * ^• to be secured thereon, then said oblique openings 9 and the pins 10 can be neglected.