The present invention relates to sports products and more particularly, to a multifunction racket that reduces air resistance, and allows shifting of the gravity center and changing the shock absorbing characteristic.

A conventional racket, for example, tennis racket, badminton racket or squash racket, has fixed characteristics of weight, location of gravity center, string tension, and shock absorbing effect. The user may select a racket with specific characteristics according to one's preferences. A player needs to carry many rackets having different characteristics for selection subject to the environmental conditions or personal physical conditions when going to a court to play tennis, badminton, or squash. It is inconvenient and not economical to carry many rackets when going to play tennis, badminton, or squash.

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a multifunction racket, which allows adjustment of racket characteristics.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a multifunction racket, which is convenient for carrying by user and is economical therefore.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multifunction racket, which reduces air resistance, and allows shifting of the gravity center and changing the shock absorbing characteristic.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the multifunction racket comprises a head frame located at a main imaginary plane and having at least one elongated slot and at least one rib positioned in the elongated slot. The elongated slot extends substantially in a direction perpendicular to the main imaginary plane. By means of the aforesaid arrangement, the air resistance of the racket of the present invention can be lowered when the user swings the racket to hit a ball.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the multifunction racket further comprises at least one shock absorbing member received in the elongated slot of the head frame to shift the gravity center of the racket and to change the shock absorbing characteristic of the racket.

• FIG 1 is a front view of a multifunction racket in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG 2 is a sectional view of a part of the multifunction racket in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a front view of a part of the head frame of the multifunction racket in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG 4 is a perspective view of a shock absorbing member for the multifunction racket in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2.
• FIG 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG 2.
• FIG 7 is a front view of a multifunction racket in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a multifunction racket 10 in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a head frame 20, a throat 30 extending from one side of the head frame 20, a handle 32 connected to the distal end of the throat 30, and four shock absorbing members 40. According to this embodiment, the multifunction racket 10 is a tennis racket.

The head frame 20 has two elongated slots 22, and eight ribs 24 symmetrically positioned in the elongated slots 22. The head frame 20 is located at a main imaginary plane P. The elongated slots 22 extend in a direction X as shown in FIG 5, which is perpendicular to the main imaginary plane P. The head frame 20 has a plurality of string holes 26 through which a string 28 passes and the string interweaves to form a network 29 for hitting a ball. The string holes 26 are disposed at two sides relative to the ribs 24 inside the elongated slots 22.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the shock absorbing members 40 each have a head 42 stopped against an outer periphery of the head frame 20, and a body 44 extending from the head 42 and positioned in the elongated slot 22 of the head frame 20. The body 44 has four first notches 45 for receiving the four ribs 24 in the elongated slot 22, and eight second notches 46 through which the string 28 passes. During installation, two shock absorbing members 40 are inserted into one elongated slot 22 from two opposite sides such that an distal end 48 of each of the bodies 44 of the two shock absorbing members 40 is abutted against each other and then bonded together. In other words, the two distal ends 48 of the two shock absorbing members 40 are bonded together. After installation, the heads 42 of the two shock absorbing members 40 are respectively stopped against two opposite sides of the elongated slot 22 of the head frame 20 such that the two shock absorbing members 40 and the head frame 20 are connected together.

The shock absorbing members 40 are made of elastic rubber or plastics, such as thermoplastic rubber, polyurethane, polyether block amides, etc., to absorb shocks from the head frame 20 when striking a ball. Different shock absorbing members 40 with specific characteristics, such as weights and shock absorbing ability, may be prepared and selectively installed in the head frame 20 to adjust the gravity center and shock absorbing characteristic of the multifunction racket 10 to achieve different ball-hitting effect.

Further, the shock absorbing members 40 may be removed from the head frame 20. Because the extending direction X of the elongated slots 22 is approximately perpendicular to the main imaginary plane P (i.e., the network 29) and about in parallel to the ball-hitting direction, air can pass through the head frame 20 via the elongated slots 22 when the user swings the multifunction racket 10 such that the air resistance of the racket can be greatly reduced. The existence of the elongated slots 22 lowers the structural strength of the head frame 20. However, the ribs 24 are respectively disposed between two string holes 26 such that the structural strength of the head frame 20 can be reinforced.

In other words, the multifunction racket 10 of the present invention allows the user to install different specifications of shock absorbing members 40 in the head frame 20 to shift the gravity center of the multifunction racket 10 and/or to change the shock absorbing characteristic of the multifunction racket 10. The user can also remove the shock absorbing members 40 from the head frame 20 to reduce the weight of the multifunction racket 10 and air resistance. The user needs not to carry many rackets since the characteristics of the multifunction racket 10 can be adjusted easily. It's convenient for the user to carry only one multifunction racket 10 instead of several single function rackets and it's also economical for the user.

Based on the spirit of the present invention, the multifunction racket may be variously embodied. FIG. 7 shows a multifunction racket 50 in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the multifunction racket 50 is a squash racket. The head frame 52 of the multifunction racket 50 has three elongated slots 54 respectively disposed at the top side, left side, and right side. Each elongated slot 54 allows installation of two shock absorbing members 56. This second embodiment achieves more characteristic variation than the aforesaid first embodiment.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the head frame can be made having only one elongated slot for the installation of at least one shock absorbing member. The number and the location of the elongated slots may be changed. The number and shape of ribs in each elongated slot of the head frame may also be changed. The shock absorbing members may be inserted tightly into the elongated slot(s) such that the shock absorbing members can be connected with the head frame. The number and location of the first notches and second notches of the shock absorbing members may be changed. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.