Appeal No. 2003-0918 Page 5
Application No. 09/395,659
handle which is polygonal in cross-section and which can be wound around with a grip
strip and whose blank is provided at the corners of the cross-section with longitudinal
edges which each separate two longitudinal surfaces. Kuebler teaches (column 1, lines
11-38) that:
A racket of that kind is to be found for example in the present applicant's
U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,380. The tennis player who is familiar with the racket is
possibly in a position to be aware of the position of the racket in his hand,
because of the longitudinal edges of the handle blank, which he can feel.
As it is increasingly attempted to increase the thickness of the grip strip
and to improve the damping properties of the racket, for example by cushioning,
the longitudinal edges can no longer be felt and the user of the tennis racket
does not have the above-indicated information.
In consideration of those factors the invention [sic] set himself the aim of
retaining the information-supplying capability of a racket handle, even when
using a relatively thick grip strip.
That object is attained by the teaching of the independent claim which
involves making the longitudinal edges raised relative to their longitudinal
surfaces.
In accordance with the invention, arranged at the longitudinal edges are
longitudinal ribs which can extend over the entire length of the blank or only over
a part of the blank.
By virtue of that configuration, the information relating to the position of
the tennis racket can still be felt, even when using handles which are
foam-encased.
The appendant claims set forth desirable configurations.
The longitudinal ribs according to the invention may be of different
cross-sections, for example they may be bead-like or ridge-like, round or
polygonal, and they may possibly also be of an undercut configuration.
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