Patent Application
20240293713
The subject matter of this disclosure generally relates to the field of sports paddles, and more particularly pickleball paddles for various training regimens and playing styles.
Pickleball is a fast-paced sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played on a court similar in size to a double's badminton court with paddles and a whiffle ball. People of all ages and abilities often enjoy the sport since it is easy to learn and can be played at a variety of speeds while also providing an excellent workout for players. Players can compete in singles or doubles matches, making it the perfect socially distanced activity for groups of friends or family members. Pickleball can be played indoors or outdoors with a paddle where two players compete in a singles match or four players compete in a doubles match, hitting a perforated hollow plastic ball over a 36-inch-high net using solid-faced paddles. Opponents on either side of the net hit the ball back and forth until one side commits a rule infraction.
Pickleball paddles are a key component of the game and come in different shapes, sizes, and materials. Paddles range from larger wooden versions to lighter composite paddles made from carbon fiber or graphite. Some players may opt for specialty paddles due to the fact that they have a unique playing style, or there is a certain comfort that is desired.
The present invention provides a new pickleball paddle training device construction wherein a truncated and narrower paddle can be utilized to increase the paddle skills and hand-eye coordination of a pickleball player.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new pickleball paddle training device that has many of the advantages of other athletic training devices mentioned heretofore and a novel design that leverages a narrower design that improves the striking capabilities of a user. This new creation results in a new pickleball training device that is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art athletic training devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a unique shape that minimizes the sweet spot of the paddle but maintains a practical and aesthetic design. In some cases, adds weight to the paddle to strengthen the user's arm for additional strength and endurance training.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described here and after and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction into the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a training pickleball paddle device that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
A second object is to provide a training pickleball paddle device for increasing the pickleball training paddle skills of a pickleball player.
Another object is to provide a pickleball training device that increases a pickleball player's mental and physical focus for making contact with a pickleball.
An additional object is to provide a pickleball training device that may be utilized within various sports that utilize a paddle to engage a ball, such as but not limited to paddle tennis, platform tennis, paddle, and similar sports.
A further object is to provide a pickleball paddle training device that improves the hand-eye coordination of a player.
Another object is to provide a pickleball training device that may be utilized by individuals of various ages, sizes, skills, and levels.
Another object is to provide a pickleball training paddle device that may be utilized either on your own against a wall, against an opponent(s), or with a practice machine that launches a ball for the purpose of being hit for the sake of practice.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader, and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be a body in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.
Details of one or more aspects of the subject matter described in this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. However, the accompanying drawings illustrate only some typical aspects of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting in its scope. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description of the principles briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific examples, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary examples of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.
Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence, while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above, except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.
Various examples of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an example in the present disclosure can be references to the same example or any example; and such references mean at least one of the examples.
Reference to “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one example” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example, nor are separate or alternative examples mutually exclusive of other examples. Moreover, various features are described which can be exhibited by some examples and not by others.
The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the disclosure, and in the specific context where each term is used. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, and no special significance should be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. In some cases, synonyms for certain terms are provided. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only and is not intended to limit further the scope and meaning of the disclosure or of any example term. Likewise, the disclosure is not limited to various examples given in this specification.
Without intent to limit the scope of the disclosure, examples of instruments, apparatus, methods, and their related results according to the examples of the present disclosure are given below. Note that titles or subtitles can be used in the examples for the convenience of a reader, which in no way should limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, technical and scientific terms herein have the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. In the case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control.
Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the description that follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosed principles. The features and advantages of the disclosure can be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or can be learned by the practice of the principles set forth herein.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters note similar elements throughout the several views.
The pickleball paddle 100 is engineered with a focus on functionality and ergonomic considerations. Constructed from a monolithic piece of textured plastic with either a smooth or wood-grain style texture, the paddle 100 exhibits a substantial thickness of approximately ¾ of an inch, contributing to enhanced control and power during gameplay.
The paddle 100 is characterized by a streamlined composition consisting of three primary components: the handle 102, the narrow midsection 104, and the primary hitting surface 106. The narrow midsection 104, intentionally thinner than the handle 102, introduces a precision-oriented dynamic, challenging players to refine their striking accuracy and hand-eye coordination.
A notable aspect of the pickleball paddle 100 is its integrated aesthetic features achieved through material composition, eliminating the need for external painting. This design choice ensures resistance to wear and discoloration, enhancing the overall durability of the paddle 100.
Furthermore, the paddle 100 adheres to size constraints, intentionally designed to be smaller than 5.5 inches. This specific sizing aims to narrow the striking zone, compelling players to focus their efforts within a confined area, promoting skill development and strategic gameplay. The combination of size constraints and innovative design elements positions the pickleball paddle 100 as an advanced equipment choice for players seeking enhanced performance in paddleball.
In an illustrative embodiment, the disclosed pickleball training device incorporates a paddle 100 comprising distinct components. The device encompasses a handle 102, a midsection 104 characterized by reduced thickness compared to the handle, presenting a narrow composition, and a primary hitting surface 106 featuring a surface area smaller than the remaining section of the paddle 100.
Handle 102 serves as the gripping component, facilitating user control and manipulation during gameplay. The midsection, intentionally designed with reduced thickness, introduces precision-oriented dynamic, challenging users to refine striking accuracy and enhance hand-eye coordination. This midsection is structurally narrow, emphasizing a focused approach to striking engagements.
A critical element of the disclosed device is the primary hitting surface 106, distinguished by a deliberately smaller surface area relative to the remaining portion of the paddle 100. This design choice seeks to narrow the effective striking zone, prompting users to concentrate their efforts within a confined area, fostering skill development and strategic gameplay.
The technical configuration of the paddle 100, with its distinct handle 102, narrow midsection 104, and reduced surface area on the hitting side, positions the disclosed pickleball training device as an advanced equipment choice for users seeking improved performance and skill refinement in the context of paddleball training.
In one embodiment, paddle 100 comprises a solid piece of textured plastic with a wood-grain style texture.
In one embodiment, the primary hitting surface 106 is centrally located on paddle 100, which is optimal for returning a ball.
In one embodiment, the pickleball training device further includes a sweet spot in the primary hitting surface 106, wherein the sweet spot is centrally located to provide for increased focus and difficulty in returning the ball.
The ¾-inch thickness of the paddle 100 introduces a denser and more substantial hitting surface 106, impacting the interaction dynamics between the paddle 100 and the ball during training sessions. The increased density adds weight to the paddle 100, influencing the user's perception of paddle 100 responsiveness and control.
In one example, the technical advantage of the ¾-inch thickness lies in its capacity to provide users with a more substantial and tactile hitting experience. The weight distribution resulting from this thickness enhances the overall stability of the paddle 100 during striking actions, promoting a consistent and controlled response to ball engagements.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of the operation, assembly and use, are deemed to be within the expertise of the skilled and art, and all equal and structural variations in relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to go skilled in the ART, it does not desire to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modification and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Accordingly, example embodiments having thus been described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the intended spirit and scope of example embodiments, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Although the present invention has been described in terms of various embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these embodiments. Modification within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
It is additionally noted and anticipated that although the device is shown in its most simple form, various components and aspects of the device may be differently shaped or modified when forming the invention herein. As such those skilled in the art will appreciate the descriptions and depictions set forth in this disclosure or merely meant to portray examples of preferred modes within the overall scope and intent of the invention and are not to be considered limiting in any manner. While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the invention have been shown and described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention may be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/449,958 filed Mar. 3, 2023, of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63449958 | Mar 2023 | US |
