Patent · US Expired

Tennis practice device

US4531734A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
9References
2Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 30, 1984
Grant dateJul 30, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 30, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63B69/0091
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A tennis practice device for indoor use has a swingable upright arm pivotally connected to a weighted base. A tennis ball is connected to the top of the arm, and movement of the arm is limited and dampened by two cushions. An elastic strap normally holds the arm against one of the cushions. In the arm, an elongated wire with a spring trunk is surrounded by lengths of tubing arranged in telescopic fashion. The arm is resilient and capable of whip-like movement, rendering the impact resistance presented by the ball against a racquet similar to the resistance of a ball in actual play. Simultaneously, the combination of the pivot means with the resilient nature of the arm permits the ball to escape the follow-through stroke of the racquet, yet quickly return to its normal position to allow the tennis player to repeat strokes in rapid succession.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.