Strings for racquets

Abstract

Novel racquet strings and methods for making the same. A polymer cover combined with a low temperature adhesive is provided to the strings. The string of the present invention may employ a conventional string, such as a string having a center core comprising gut or synthetic material such as nylon, and a polymer cover impregnated with low temperature adhesive. The polymer cover covers the string along at least a portion of the length of the string.

1 . A racquet string comprising: 
 a) a string; and    b) a composite comprising a polymeric membrane having at least some porosity and an adhesive disposed within said at least some porosity, the composite covering at least a portion of said string.    
   
   
       2 . The racquet string of  claim 1  wherein said at least some porosity is filled with the adhesive.  
   
   
       3 . The racquet string of  claim 2  further comprising an adhesive layer disposed upon at least one surface of said polymeric membrane.  
   
   
       4 . The racquet string of  claim 3  wherein the adhesive layer is discontinuous.  
   
   
       5 . The racquet string of  claim 3  wherein the adhesive layer is continuous.  
   
   
       6 . The racquet string of  claim 1  in which the adhesive comprises a low temperature adhesive.  
   
   
       7 . The racquet string of  claim 6  in which the low temperature adhesive is UV cured.  
   
   
       8 . The racquet string of  claim 6  wherein the low temperature adhesive further comprises at least one filler material.  
   
   
       9 . The racquet string of  claim 8  wherein the at least one filler material comprises at least a material selected from the group consisting of: ceramics, metals, metal coated fillers, metallized fillers, inorganic oxides, carbon, pigments, lubricants and polymers.  
   
   
       10 . The racquet string of  claim 6  wherein the low temperature adhesive comprises at least a material selected from the group consisting of urethane acrylates and cationic epoxies.  
   
   
       11 . The racquet string of  claim 1  in which the composite is helically wrapped around at least a portion of the string.  
   
   
       12 . The racquet string of  claim 1  in which the composite is longitudinally wrapped around at least a portion of the string.  
   
   
       13 . The racquet string of  claim 1  wherein the polymeric membrane comprises fluoropolymer.  
   
   
       14 . The racquet string of  claim 13  wherein the fluoropolymer is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.  
   
   
       15 . The racquet string of  claim 1  in which the composite has a thickness of less than about 5 percent of the string diameter.  
   
   
       16 . The racquet string of  claim 1  in which the composite has a thickness of less than about 3 percent of the string diameter.  
   
   
       17 . The racquet string of  claim 1  in which the composite has a thickness of less than about 1 percent of the string diameter.  
   
   
       18 . The racquet string of  claim 1 , wherein the string comprises natural gut.  
   
   
       19 . The racquet string of  claim 1 , wherein the string is a mono-filament.  
   
   
       20 . The racquet string of  claim 1 , wherein the string comprises a plurality of filaments.  
   
   
       21 . The racquet string of  claim 20 , wherein said filaments are of substantially the same diameter.  
   
   
       22 . A racquet string having a diameter of less than about 1.34 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 2200.  
   
   
       23 . A racquet string having a diameter of less than about 1.25 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 500.  
   
   
       24 . A racquet string having a diameter of less than about 1.25 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 1000.  
   
   
       25 . A racquet string having a diameter of less than about 1.20 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 500.  
   
   
       26 . A racquet string having a diameter of less than about 1.20 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 800.  
   
   
       27 . The racquet string of  claim 1 , wherein the string comprises synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       28 . The racquet string of  claim 27 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise polyamide.  
   
   
       29 . The racquet string of  claim 28 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise nylon.  
   
   
       30 . The racquet string of  claim 27 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise polyester.  
   
   
       31 . The racquet string of  claim 27 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise PEEK.  
   
   
       32 . A racquet comprising: 
 a) a frame;    b) a string disposed in the frame, and    c) a composite comprising a polymeric membrane having at least some porosity and an adhesive disposed within said at least some porosity, the composite covering at least a portion of the string.    
   
   
       33 . The racquet of  claim 32  wherein the at least some porosity is filled with the adhesive.  
   
   
       34 . The racquet of  claim 33  further comprising an adhesive layer disposed upon at least one surface of the polymeric membrane.  
   
   
       35 . The racquet of  claim 34  wherein the adhesive layer is discontinuous.  
   
   
       36 . The racquet of  claim 34  wherein the adhesive layer is continuous.  
   
   
       37 . The racquet of  claim 32  in which the adhesive comprises a low temperature curable adhesive.  
   
   
       38 . The racquet of  claim 38  in which the low temperature adhesive is UV cured.  
   
   
       39 . The racquet of  claim 37  wherein the low temperature adhesive further comprises at least one filler material.  
   
   
       40 . The racquet of  claim 39  wherein the at least one filler material comprises at least a material selected from the group consisting of: ceramics, metals, metal coated fillers, metallized fillers, inorganic oxides, carbon, pigments, lubricants and polymers.  
   
   
       41 . The racquet of  claim 37  wherein the low temperature adhesive comprises at least a material selected from the group consisting of urethane acrylates and cationic epoxies.  
   
   
       42 . The racquet of  claim 32  in which the composite is helically wrapped around at least a portion of the string.  
   
   
       43 . The racquet of  claim 32  in which the composite is longitudinally wrapped around at least a portion of the string.  
   
   
       44 . The racquet of  claim 34  wherein the polymeric membrane comprises a fluoropolymer.  
   
   
       45 . The racquet of  claim 44  wherein the fluoropolymer is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.  
   
   
       46 . The racquet of  claim 32  in which the composite has a thickness of less than about 5 percent of the string diameter.  
   
   
       47 . The racquet of  claim 32  in which the composite has a thickness of less than about 3 percent of the string diameter.  
   
   
       48 . The racquet of  claim 32  in which the composite has a thickness of less than about 1 percent of the string diameter.  
   
   
       49 . The racquet of  claim 32 , wherein the string comprises natural gut.  
   
   
       50 . The racquet of  claim 32  wherein the string is a mono-filament.  
   
   
       51 . The racquet of  claim 32 , wherein the string comprises a plurality of filaments.  
   
   
       52 . The racquet of  claim 49 , wherein said filaments are of substantially the same diameter.  
   
   
       53 . The racquet of  claim 32 , wherein the string comprises synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       54 . The racquet of  claim 53 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise polyamide.  
   
   
       55 . The racquet of  claim 54 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise nylon.  
   
   
       56 . The racquet of  claim 53 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise polyester.  
   
   
       57 . The racquet string of  claim 53 , wherein the synthetic fibers comprise PEEK.  
   
   
       58 . A racquet comprising a frame and a string disposed within the frame, the string having a diameter of less than about 1.34 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 2200.  
   
   
       59 . A racquet comprising a frame and a string disposed within the frame, the string having a diameter of less than about 1.25 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 500.  
   
   
       60 . A racquet comprising a frame and a string disposed within the frame, the string having a diameter of less than about 1.25 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 1000.  
   
   
       61 . A racquet comprising a frame and a string disposed within the frame, the string having a diameter of less than about 1.20 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 500.  
   
   
       62 . A racquet comprising a frame and a string disposed within the frame, the string having a diameter of less than about 1.20 mm and having dynamic modulus of less than about 30 kN/m and a durability of at least about 800.  
   
   
       63 . A racquet string comprising: 
 a) a core; and    b) a composite comprising a polymeric membrane having at least some porosity and an adhesive disposed within at least some of said at least some porosity, the composite covering at least a portion of the core.    
   
   
       64 . A racquet comprising: 
 a) a frame;    b) a string comprising a core, the string disposed within the frame; and    c) a composite comprising a polymeric membrane having at least some porosity and an adhesive disposed within said at least some porosity, the composite covering at least a portion of the core.    
   
   
       65 . The method of covering a racquet string comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a racquet string;    b) providing a polymeric membrane having at least some porosity    c) filling at least some of said at least some porosity with an adhesive to form a composite; and    d) wrapping at least a portion of the string with the composite.    
   
   
       66 . A racquet string comprising: 
 a) a string; and    b) a composite comprising: an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having at least some porosity, an adhesive substantially filling said at least some porosity, and a continuous adhesive layer disposed upon at least one surface of said expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, said composite covering at least a portion of said string.    
   
   
       67 . A racquet string comprising: 
 a) a string; and    b) a composite comprising an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane having at least some porosity, an adhesive substantially filling said at least some porosity, and a discontinuous adhesive layer disposed upon at least one surface of said expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, said composite covering at least a portion of said string.