Protective Casing for a Racket Frame

The present invention is related to a protective casing for a game racket which can protect a racket frame more effectively.

In the applicant's patent application (U.S. Ser. No. 07/966,554), a plurality of floating plates (82) are located on the protective plates (81) of the protective casing (8). There is a predetermined space between said floating plates' (82) inner walls and the racket frame's (9) outer wall (91). Said floating plates (82) have connecting plates (83) which can connect with said protective plates (81) and form a predetermined space between said floating plates (82) and said protective plates (81). Therefore, said protective plates (81) provide a better buffer effect for collision. But, if there are too many collisions on the racket frame, said floating plates (82) still will be worn down or broken eventually.

The main purpose of present invention is to solve the problem mentioned above. The structure not only can provide an effective protective casing for a game racket, but also can prolong the life of the protective casing itself.

The present invention provide a protective casing for a game racket. The protective casing comprises a long groove from one end to the other end of said casing. Said groove has a plurality of string holes for stringing the racket's striking network. Around the string holes, a plurality of string-protection pipes is extended from the peripheries of corresponding string holes and further extended through the groove bottom with certain length over said groove's convex side. In the two sides of said groove, the protective plates are extended according to the shape of said racket frame's outer wall. The major improvement comprises as follows: said protective plates have a plurality of predetermined floating portions. A plurality of insert holes with prescribed geometry is on the top of said floating portions. A plurality of insert elements is embedded in said insert holes accordingly. Also, the top portions of said insert elements are protruded over the top surfaces of said floating portions.

The attached drawings illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention as follows.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the III--III line.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the IV--IV line (In which, the present invention has already been installed on the racket frame)

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the cited prior art.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4 the protective casing (1) for a game racket of the present invention comprises: a long groove (11) from one end to the other end of said protective casing (1); a plurality of string holes (12) on said groove (11) for stringing the racket's striking network; a plurality of string-protection pipes (13) extended from the peripheries of said corresponding string holes (12) and further extended through the groove (11) bottom with certain length over said groove's (11) convex side; in the two sides of said groove (11), two protective plates (14) extended according to the shape of said racket frame's outer wall; a plurality of predetermined floating portions (15) on said protective plates (14) so that a buffer space (17) is generated inside said floating portions (15); a plurality of circular insert holes (16) with prescribed geometry locating on and passing through the tops of said floating portions (15); on the tops of said floating portions, a plurality of gutters (18) which is through the tops and parallel to the outer edges of said protective plates (14) and passing through said holes' (16) centers for the convenience of replacing insert elements (2); and a plurality of insert elements (2) embedded in said insert holes of floating portions accordingly.

Moreover, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, each insert element (2) is made of plastic material and includes a semi-spherical top portion (21), a semi-spherical bottom portion (22), and a neck-like middle portion (23) in the middle; such that said insert element (2) can be embedded and then form said buffer space (17) beneath said bottom portion (22) inside said floating portion (15). Said middle portion (23) is embedded in said insert hole (16). The top portion (21) of said insert element (2) is protruded over the top surface of said floating portion.

When the racket frame (3) hits the ground or strikes something, said insert elements (2) mentioned above become a first protection layer for said protective casing (1) of the racket frame (3). Said top portions (21) of the insert elements (2) embedded in said floating portions (15) will touch some object first and to protect the protective plates (14) of said protective casing (1). Furthermore, this will reduce the possibility of the wearing or breakage of said protective casing (1). So, the present invention prolongs the life of said protective casing (1) and the life of racket. The function of said gutters (18) on the tops of said floating plates is to make the replacement of said insert elements (2) more convenient, especially when said insert elements (2) are worn down or broken.

Said floating portions and said insert elements of the present invention can be any other possible geometries to enhance the ornamentation effects. Please refer to the FIG. 5, the geometry of said floating portions (42) is long plate-like and is parallel to the groove (41) of said protective casing (4) from one end to the other end of said groove (41). On the tops of said floating portions (42), there is a plurality of circular through insert holes (41). Said insert elements' (5) strip-like top portions (51) are extended along the center line of said insert holes (41). The middle portions (52) are circular neck-like cylinders and are disposed with equally space. Said middle portions (52) are embedded in said floating portions (42). Said bottom portion (53) of said insert elements (5) are semi-spherical.

In addition, please refer to the preferred embodiment in FIG. 6. The floating portions (6) are rectangular plate-like. On the top of each floating portion (6), there is a circular through insert hole (61). So the corresponding insert element (7) can be embedded into said insert hole (61). Said top portion (71) of said insert element (7) is a A-shaped plate. The middle portion (72) of said insert element (7) is a cylinder and can be embedded in said floating portion (6) firmly; so that the top portion (71) protrudes over the top surface of said floating portion (6). The bottom portion (73) is semi-spherical.