1,4279568°

W. T. ALDRICH.
TENNIS RACKET.
APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, I921.
1,4279568°
Patented Aug. 29, 19220
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W. T. ALDRICH.
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TENNIS RACKET.
APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1921.
1A2?,568,
, Patented Aug. 29, 1922.
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PATENT OFFICE.
WILLIAM TYLER ALDRICH, 0E‘ CHICOJPEE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB, TO A. G.
SJPAJLDING & BROS, OF NEW ‘YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETN.
TENNIS RACKE'I‘.
Speci?cation of Letters Patent.
11,427.561‘58.
Patented Aug. 29, 11%22.
Application filed May 10, 1921. Serial No. tdh?tw.
_ To a]? whom it may concern:
the wedge and the inner adjacent portions
Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. ALDRICH, of the bow and glued thereto. In order to
10
a citizen of the United States, and a resident protect the joints between these various parts
of Chicopee, in the county of Hampden and from’ the weather and prevent them from
State of Massachusetts, have invented cer opening up, I provide veneer facin lamina
tain new and useful Improvements in Tennis tions 5 glued to and overlapping t e throat
Rackets, of which the following is a speci piece 3. bow extensions 2“ and throat rein
forcement 4:, and these laminations are pref
?cation.
One of the objects of my said invention erably extended to the end of the'handle
is to provide a construction in which the and have applied to their exterior surfaces
'bow is provided with an internal reinforce the layers 6, 6, which serve to complete the
ment, and the joints between the bow, the handle and give the same the proper shape.
A racket so constructed gives no appear
throat piece or Wedge, and the reinforcement
are effectually sealed against the weather and ance of any throat piece or wedge as Will
prevented from opening up, and this with appear from Fig. 3, but as such appearance
60
d5
70
out detracting from the appearance of the is desirable, I paint or color the veneer to
give the appearance of a throat piece as indi=
racket.
.
A further object is to provide a racket hav cated at 3*’ m Fig. I.
ing means provided for preventing the gut _ In the stringin of a tennis racket, the gut
20
25
from cutting into the bow, and to reduce is drawn extreme y tight and the tension in
wear at the to of the bow where it contacts creases in inclement weather, the tendency
being in use and in restringing processes for
frequently wit 1 the ground.
Still another object is to provide a racket this tension to gradually cause the gut to
75
of stiffer construction and one which will be cut deeper into the wood of the bow, es
pecially at the top wherein the gut is set in 30
less liable to distortion.
With these and other objects in View the grooves, and ,it is not at all unusual for the
gut to pull entirely through the frame af
struction and arrangement and combinatiton ter several rest-ringings. Uneven tension in
of parts hereinafter described and particu the stringing operation is also liable to cause
larly defined by the appended claims. An distortion of the frame. To avoid this, I
embodiment of my invention is illustrated provide the bow with a peripheral groove in
which is inserted a strip of fibre which is
in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of a racket con indicated at 7 and which is ?rmly glued in
position. The groove or channel is ‘prefer
structed in accordance with my invention.
ably of semi-circular shape in cross section
Fig. 2 is an edge view.
.
Fig. 3 is a partial plan view showing the and the ?bre strip of similar formation. I
invention includes the novel features of con
30
35
40
45
85
90
racket as it appears before the protecting have found that the insertion of such a ?bre
- strip or reinforcement corrects the weakness
veneer is applied.
Fig. 4 is a similar view with the veneer here'inbefore referred to, prevents the cutting
action of the gut, and by a ‘better distribu 95
applied but uncolored.
tion
of pressure, tends to stiffen and increase
Fig. 5 is a section on line 5—5 of Fig. 1.
the resistance of the frame against distor
Fig. 6 is a section on line 6——6 of Fig. 1.
tion. This distortion is more especially
Fig. 7 is a section on line 7—7 of Fig. 1.
Referring by reference characters to this noticeable in frames that are beveled down
drawing, the numeral 1 designates the bow and rounded as illustrated in the "drawing 100
bent into the usual or any desired shape, and and the stiffening in?uence of the‘ ?bre is
having its terminal portlons 2“ incorporated therefore especially meritorious in this type
in the handle 2 in the customary manner, 3 of racket which is coming more and more
50
designates the usual wedge or throat piece into'general use. The. ?bre also by reason of
which has an extension 3*‘ extending between its toughness materially reduces wear at the 105
the bow extensions 2,1 and forming there top of the bow where the tendency to wear
with the main bod of the handle, the parts is very material. due to the scraping of the
being glued toget or as ‘is customary. 4 bow on the court in ground strokes.
In connection with the inside throat re—
designates a throat reinforcing lamination
extending across the exposed-edge face of inforcement 4 it may be observed that there 110
mamas
is a tendency for this to pull away from the inner edge of the reinforcing strip and seal
throat piece 3 by reason of the surface of the ing the jointure of said strip to the throat -‘
latter being edge grain when it abuts against vpiece.
10
the reinforcement. By having the veneers 5
2. In a tennis racket, a bow substantially
overlap the edges of the reinforcement 45 and oval in shape, a wedge inserted between the
glued thereto this tendency‘ is counteracted portions of the bow at the throat of the bow,
and the opening up of the joint prevented.
said bow and said wedge having extensions
Having'thus described my invention, what to the end of the racket, said parts being
I claim is:
glued together, outside laminations of wood
1. In a tennis racket7 a .bow substantially overlapping said throat piece ‘and adjacent 25
oval in shape, a wedge inserted between the bow portions and terminating at the edges
strips forming the bow and glued thereto, a thereof, and imitation wedges painted upon
H5
reinforcing strip located at the base of the the exterior surface of said laniinations.
oval as a binder for the bent form and out
In testimony whereof ll a?ix my signature,
side laminations of wood extending to the
‘WILLIAM TYLER ALDRICH.

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