Double Grip Tennis Racquet

The present invention relates generally to the sport of tennis, and more particularly to a tennis racquet having two grips for double-handed play.

The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Traditionally, tennis racquets are manufactured with a single elongated grip that extends downward from the center line of the racquet head via a throat and handle assembly to the single elongated grip. When playing tennis, a user will typically grasp the grip with one hand while swinging the racquet in either a forehand or backhand motion.

However, at times where a user wishes to impart maximum force into their swing, they may choose to grasp the grip with both hands aligned serially (e.g., top to bottom) in order to use the muscles from both arms to swing the racquet. Although this is quite useful for increasing the force of the swing, the serial alignment and close proximity of the user's hands results in an unnatural body position that causes one arm to stretch much further than a normal swing. Such a situation greatly reduces the accuracy of the swing and prevents the user from applying even greater force from the second hand.

To this end, it would be beneficial if a user were able to grasp the racquet using both hands that are arranged parallel to each other, and where the hands are separated from each other, thus reducing the reach of the arm located opposite to the side of the body the swing is being performed at. Because the International Tennis Federation (ITF) requires that any tennis racquet have a single handle, prior attempts at creating a useful dual grip racquet were unsuccessful. However, the inventor of the presently claimed invention has created a novel dual grip tennis racquet that complies with all applicable ITF rules, so as to allow users to achieve greater performance and ball control that what is possible using a single grip racquet, and to allow ambidextrous play whereby users can use one grip to perform forehand swings with one hand, and can use the other grip to perform forehand swings with their other hand.

Accordingly, the present invention directed to a double grip tennis racquet differs from the conventional art in a number of aspects. The manner by which will become more apparent in the description which follows, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The present invention is directed to a double grip tennis racquet. One embodiment of the present invention can include a racquet head, a throat that extends downward from the bottom end of the racquet head, a handle that is positioned along a bottom end of the throat, a pair of struts that extend diagonally outward from the handle, and a pair of grips that extend downward from the struts.

Each of the grips can be positioned parallel both to each other, and to the centerline of the racquet. Each of the grips include a layered construction having a core layer that is formed as a unitary member with the struts, the handle, throat and racquet head, and an impact absorbing outer layer. Each of the grips can include a separation distance of about 3 inches and a length of about 8 inches. The overall length of the racquet can be about 29 inches to conform to ITF standards.

This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.

As described herein, a “unit” means a series of identified physical components which are linked together and/or function together to perform a specified function.

As described throughout this document, the term “about” “approximately” “substantially” and “generally” shall be used interchangeably to describe a feature, shape, or measurement of a component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.

As described herein, the term “removably secured,” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated.

As described throughout this document, the term “complementary shape,” and “complementary dimension,” shall be used to describe a shape and size of a component that is identical to, or substantially identical to the shape and size of another identified component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.

illustrate one embodiment of a double grip tennis racquetthat are useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. In each of the drawings, identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in.

As shown and described herein, the tennis racquetcan include, essentially, a racquet head, a throat, a handle, and a pair of grips.

The racquet headcan include a generally oval shaped member having any number of different sizes based on the intended skill level of a user. A plurality of stringscan be positioned along the head in a crisscross pattern and function to strike a tennis ball during game play. The racquet head can be formed from any number of different materials that are, for example, relatively strong and stiff for their weight. Several nonlimiting examples include but are not limited to various metals or metal alloys (e.g., titanium, graphite, aluminum, or alloys thereof), plastic/polymers, and/or various composite materials.

The throatcan be positioned between the racquet headand the handle. In one embodiment, the throat can be formed by two generally diagonal throat membersandthat extend downward from the bottom of the racquet head before terminating into the top of the handle. In the preferred embodiment, the throat members can be separated by an openingto form an open throat design that allows air to flow through the opening, thus reducing drag during swings and contributing to a stiffer frame feel. Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the opening is filled with a solid material and/or wherein the throat includes a different shape or size.

In either instance, the throat will preferably be constructed from the same material as the racquet head and will be constructed as a unitary component with the head, this greatly increasing the strength and rigidity of the racquet. However, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the throat is constructed from a different material and/or different manufacturing methods.

The handlecan include a solid, generally rectangular-shaped member that is connected to the bottom end of the throatand the top ends of the strutsandThe handle is positioned along the centerline/central axis X of the racquetand acts to impart the force applied by a user swinging the grips onto the racquet head via the throat.

In the preferred embodiment, the handle will be constructed from the same material as the racquet head and throat, and will be constructed as a unitary component therewith, so as to greatly increase the strength and rigidity of the racquet. However, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the handle includes a different shape or size and wherein the handle is constructed from a different material and/or different manufacturing method.

In one embodiment, two strutsandcan extend downward from the bottom of the handlein a diagonal orientation from the central axis X of the racquet. In the preferred embodiment, the struts will be positioned such that strutis oriented serially with throat memberand perpendicularly with throat memberwhereas strutis oriented serially with throat memberand perpendicularly with throat memberThe struts can function to separate the below described grips to permit double handed play.

In the preferred embodiment, the struts will also be constructed from the same material as the racquet head, throat, and handle, and will be constructed as unitary components therewith, so as to greatly increase the strength and rigidity of the racquet. However, other embodiments are contemplated wherein one or both of the struts include a different shape or size and wherein one or both of the struts are constructed from a different material and/or different manufacturing method.

In one embodiment, two complementary shaped gripsandcan extend downward from the ends of the strutsandrespectively. As shown, each of the grips can be oriented parallel both to each other, and to the central axis X, so as to be spaced evenly from the centerline of the racquet. In the preferred embodiment, the grips can be separated by about 3 inches, thus each having an offset of about 1.5 inches from the central axis X; however, other embodiments are contemplated wherein different orientations, separation distances and/or offsets are provided. Such a feature being beneficial for youth players with smaller hands.

Additionally, each of the grips are positioned along the same plane (e.g., X) as the racquet, and do not extend in a different plane (e.g., Y) so as to extend forward or backward relative to the racket.

The positioning of the gripsandin a parallel orientation that are evenly offset from the centerline X of the racquet is critical. Such a feature advantageously omits the need for a user to align their hands serially thus ensuring completely accurate swings and allows the user to apply full power into their swing compared with situations where a user places both hands serially along a single grip. Additionally, such a feature allows ambidextrous play whereby a user can use one grip to perform forehand swings with one hand, and can use the other grip to perform forehand swings with their other hand.

In the preferred embodiment, each grip can include an elongated octagonally-shaped member having eight bevels to provide a comfortable and secure hold compared to a round-shaped handle. Each grip can ideally include a length of about 8 inches so as to ensure the overall length of the racquetremains at or less than 29 inches so as to conform to ITF standards. Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein each of the grips include different shapes, sizes and/or separation distances from each other and/or the centerline of the racquet.

As shown best at, each of the grips can include a layered construction having a rigid core layerand an impact absorbing outer layerIn the preferred embodiment, the core layerof each grip may be constructed from the same material as the racquet head, throat, handle and struts, and will be constructed as a unitary component therewith, so as to greatly increase the strength and rigidity of the racquet. In the preferred embodiment, the outer layerof each grip will be constructed from a synthetic material such as synthetic rubber or poly foam, for example, that is coated or otherwise encompasses the core layer. Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein different materials and/or different manufacturing methods are provided.

In various embodiments, each of the gripsandmay be provided with a removeable tacky material such as grip tapeor other such material, for example, that can be wrapped around a portion of, or the entirety of each grip before terminating into butt capsfor protecting the end of the handle and/or grip tape from fraying.

Although described above with regard to a tennis racquet, this is but one possible implementation of the inventive concepts. To this end, other types of racquets such as pickleball, badminton, and others, for example, can be constructed to include the inventive features without undue experimentation.

As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

As described herein, one or more elements of the devicecan be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings and welds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Likewise, the term “consisting” shall be used to describe only those components identified. In each instance where a device comprises certain elements, it will inherently consist of each of those identified elements as well.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.