Patent Application
20250108275
Paddles for pickleball, a game in which players hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball across a net, are known in the prior art patent literature.
For example, US20210252356 discloses a pickleball paddle comprising: a handle; and a head coupled to the handle, the head comprising an inner layer sandwiched between a first outer faceplate and a second outer faceplate, the inner layer comprising a lattice, wherein at least portions of the handle, the inner layer, the first outer faceplate, and the second outer faceplate are integrally formed as a single unitary body.
However, prior art pickleball paddles are prone to miss hit balls, leading to lost points. Pickleball paddles which allow for improved performance are desirable.
Therefore, the present invention provides a paddle with increased surface area and lower swing weight, leading to better pickleball shots for a player.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pickleball paddle, comprising: carbon fiber, wherein the carbon fiber forms a single body head and handle; and a foam piece covering the carbon fiber handle, wherein: the carbon fiber runs to the edges of the head; and rubberized paint is applied to the edges of the carbon fiber head to define the boundaries of the paddle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a pickleball paddle, comprising: heating carbon fiber to a pliable forming temperature; and forming the carbon fiber to a head and handle shape in a mold.
The present invention provides an edgeless raw carbon fiber edgeless pickleball paddle. Prior art paddles typically feature PVC plastic edge guards. Hitting a pickleball with the PVC plastic edge guard part of a prior art paddle generally leads to a poor shot.
One of the main advantages of the edgeless raw carbon fiber edgeless pickleball paddle according to the present invention is that the paddle increases the surface area leading to less “miss hits” of balls. It is not possible to hit a poor shot by contacting PVC plastic edge guard since there is none on the paddles according to embodiments of the present invention.
The paddles of the present invention also lower the “swing weight” of the paddle compared to the prior art because there is less material around the perimeter of the paddle which in turn allows the paddle to swing quicker. Also, by having the edgeless design, it increases the length of the handle usable because the hands of the user of the paddle can slide up closer to the throat of the paddle.
Prior art paddles utilize a polypropylene sandwiched in the middle of carbon fiber top and bottom. With prior art paddles, a PVC edge guard is used, and beneath the edge guard is a poly core which is not suitable for defining the boundary of a pickleball paddle.
Thermoforming enables the edgeless design of the present invention. With thermoforming there is a mold which is the shape of the paddle, and the entire paddle is carbon fiber. There is a honeycomb core and thermoformed carbon fiber wraps around the outside of the honeycomb. The carbon fiber completely wraps all over the top and bottom of the honeycomb.
Paddle 10 comprises a head and a handle. Head 14 is coupled to handle 12 and provides two opposing faces for striking a pickleball ball (only one side is shown in the view of
Boundary 16 is edgeless according to the present invention and comprises a rubberized paint applied to carbon fiber. A raw carbon fiber Peel Ply runs along the faces of the head up to boundary 16. A raw carbon fiber Peel Ply is a carbon fiber layer placed on the surface of the carbon fiber body which provides a textured surface on the surface of the laminate. This is an excellent preparation for parts which are subsequently bonded or painted. Boundary 16 replaces the wrap-around edge guard of the prior art.
The perspective view illustrates how head 14 coupled to handle 12 provides two opposing faces for striking a pickleball ball.
In another possible embodiment, there is PVC plastic that wraps boundary 16, but creates an edgeless design in which the edge guard is still there. In this embodiment, the PVC is a different size than prior art edges which wrap around the boundary on three sides. In this other embodiment, the edge guard is just flush with the edge of the paddle. With thermoformed carbon fiber, there is a solid wall that an edge guard can just directly adhere to, so it is essentially possible to take the PVC edge guard and be able to adhere it to the edge of the paddle flush with the edge. This creates a new edge guard that takes the place of the old wrap-around one and creates an edgeless paddle. With a raw carbon fiber thermoformed paddle, the edge guard is a new type of edge guard that allows it to be edgeless.
The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed.
