Oh, patents! Vibration damper for tennis rackets (5)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Lacoste invented a small spool-looking device to dampen the vibrations produced by the strings of a tennis racket when a ball is hit. Lacoste noted that vibration frequency depends in part on the size and tension of the strings, and in general that tennis players dislike rackets that vibrate too much. Lacoste also noted that vibration frequency could be heard when the ball hits the strings, as sounds could be more or less, sharp or flat. 

The French patent, FR1398833A, titled Amortisseur de vibrations pour raquettes de tennis ou jeux analogues (Vibration damper for tennis rackets or similar games) was awarded to Jean René Lacoste on April 5th 1965. The invention comprises a small spool made of rubber, or similar elastomeric material, known for its vibration dampening properties. The spool is loosely positioned between upright and cross strings, close to the throat of the racket, so as to avoid disrupting the game. 

The scope of the invention extended to variations in the embodiment of the vibration damper. Indeed, to date, numerous ornamental variations of the vibration damper exist (as shown in the image below). Variations also exist in the ways in which the damper is attached to the racket strings. 

The patent Figures 1 and 2 are included below. The patent Figure 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the vibration damper, installed between  the cross strings 8 and 9 (also cross-sectioned), and the uprights 6 and 7  as shown in Figure 2. The Figure 2 is a sectional view of the damper according to II-II in Figure 1. Both Figures 1 and 2 show the spool damper 1 with a central opening 2, and flanges 4 and 3, connected to the hub 5.  

Below, the image of an assortment of marketed vibration dampers, displaying some of the ornamental variation, embodying this invention. The dampers are positioned everywhere on the racket for display purposes. Just one damper would be used for a game of tennis.

Reference

Lacoste

www.lacoste.com/us/