A tennis racket and a method of manufacturing same are disclosed. The racket comprises two half-frame members each provided with a respective generally annular portion defining a rim element of the racket, and also provided with a handle portion connected to the respective generally annular portion. The face of the racket is formed by a plurality of tensioned strings clamped between the annular portions to define a netting. The netting is secured to each of the rim elements of the respective half-frame members by binders, which also secure the two rim elements to one another. The strings are subjected to tension by a tensioning device before the two rim elements of the racket are pressed together to clamp the strings therebetween and the strings are secured to the rim elements and the latter to one another by binders, which have been applied to at least the mutually facing surface portions of the rim elements prior to their being pressed together.

A frame structure adapted for use as a tennis racket. The frame structure includes a frame body made from either wood, metal or plastic having a tubular structure with inside and outside surfaces. A composite material jacket having an outer layer adjacent and bonded to the frame outside surface and an inner layer adjacent and bonded to the frame body inside surface is provided. The composite material jacket is made from composite materials such as resin impregnated boron, graphite, polyamide aromatic and glass fibers. In addition, plastic throat pieces commonly used to connect and support racket necks and handles are replaced by composite material cross-member supports which are integrally molded to the composite material jacket. The composite material jacket provides structural reinforcement as well as desirable shock and vibration dampening characteristics. In addition, the tubular frame is provided with elongated slots through which racket strings are attached for mounting. The composite material jacket when molded into place on the frame structure fills these slots with cured composite material thus providing a ribbed integral connection between the outer and inner jacket layers. Holes provided through these ribbed sections have cross-sectional areas smaller than the elongated slots thereby preventing undesirable contact of the racket strings passing therethrough with the metal frame structure.

The present invention is directed to a hollow frame for a game racket substantially constructed from a first fiber reinforced thermoplastic frame member which continuously provides outside peripheral portions of the tadpole shape of the frame including a head portion, a straight handle portion and a triangular throat portion which connects the head and handle portions, and a second fiber reinforced thermoplastic frame member which integrally provides the inside remaining portions, as viewed in the tadpole plan view, of the head, throat and handle portion, wherein the first and second frame members are joined together so as to form a hollow frame.

A construction for a tennis racket is provided which includes a frame formed of graphite material, or the like, which defines a loop, and a handle formed of two longitudinal sections, and composed of aluminum, or other light metal or alloy. The handle is formed of two stampings which are held together by elongated brackets extending along each side of the handle and adhesively bonded to the respective edges of the stampings. The frame has an integral neck formed at one end thereof which extends radially outwardly from the loop. The inner ends of the stampings extend over the neck and partially around the outer periphery of the frame to sandwich the frame and neck between the stampings. The stampings are also adhesively bonded to the neck and frame so that the handle is securely attached to the frame.

A form box for manufacturing a form, which form box is adapted to hold a reinforcing preform in position during the period of time that an expanding foam mass is injected into the area between the reinforcing preform and the form box. Pins are secured to the form box and project inwardly into the form cavity in which is located the reinforcing preform. The free ends of the pins engage the reinforcing preform to hold same in a fixed position during the period of time that the expanding foam mass is injected into the cavity between the reinforcing preform and the form box.