Pickleball Paddle

Abstract

A pickleball paddle provides a narrow neck portion offering a finger notch for registering the paddle position in the hand. The notch may include a material having high specific stiffness (stiffness to weight) accommodating this notch and providing desired resilience.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally paddles for use in playing pickleball and in particular to a paddle having an improved neck portion joining the paddle head to the paddle handle.

Pickleball was originally created in 1965 as a children's backyard game but is now the fastest growing sport in the United States with over 4.8 million players. Pickleball uses a hard plastic ball having less bounce than a tennis ball and follows a set of rules that make it easier for beginners to learn but still allows for fast-paced, competitive play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved pickleball paddle providing a high stiffness portion that admits to a finger notch allowing the user's finger to rest in the notch for stabilization during play. A high-pressure laminate surface may be used to produce high-energy rebounds.

These particular objects and advantages may apply to only some embodiments falling within the claims and thus do not define the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a pickleball paddle constructed according to the present invention showing a narrow neck portion positioned between the paddle face and grip;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the paddle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the neck portion of the paddle of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a pair of tubes used for the neck portion;

FIG. 4 is a figure similar to that of FIG. 3 showing a single solid shape used for the neck portion;

FIG. 5 is a figure similar to FIG. 1 in partial cutaway to show the core construction of the paddle face;

FIG. 6 is a figure similar to that of FIG. 2 showing an alternative embodiment of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a figure similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The enclosed descriptions and drawings offer a new way of making a paddle by attaching a grip to the paddle face at a neck portion using two round tubes/rods or a flat thin material. In a first embodiment, the tubes 102 may have a nominal outer diameter of one-quarter of an inch to ⅜ of an inch and may be placed side-by-side and spaced apart along a plane defined by the broad face of the paddle. The tubes 102 are ideally a highly stiff material such as a Fiber polymer composite, such as a carbon fiber composite or aluminum, and are securely adhered in holes drilled into grip 103 and receiver 105 to provide an exposed length of ⅜ of an inch to 1 inch. Alternatively solid rods may be used or a flat material that spans an equal width along the paddle plane.

Generally these materials will have a specific stiffness of greater than 20 (Young's modulus per density (10⁶ m²s⁻²)) and a modulus of elasticity of greater than 60 (Young's modulus (GPa)).

The tubes 102 or flat stock separate the paddle body from the grip giving the paddle distinct advantages over the conventional grip. These advantages come from the fact that the width of the tubes 102 (or their equivalent) is less than the width of the handle 103 creating a recessed space between receiver 105 and grip 103. This recess creates a place to rest one's finger, making for a more comfortable and natural feel. Another advantage of said recess is a stronger grip giving more control of the paddle. This recess may have a height ranging from ½ inch to 1½ inches and a depth along the paddle face plane measured inward from the outermost edge of the handle 103 of ¼ inch to ½ inch. The upper edge of the handle 103 may be curved inwardly to provide a more comfortable grip for the player's finger.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 (duplicated on two different sheets) show the paddle 100 in its entirety with its laminate face 101; wood grip 103; double tubes 102; and receiver 105. FIG. 3 is a cut away view showing tubes 102.

FIGS. 6 and 7 and FIG. 4 show flat stock 107 used as another form of connecting grip 103 to paddle 100.

FIG. 5 is a partial cut away of paddle 100 exposing the core 106 and frame 104 that surround the core 106 on all sides and provide for an attachment at its lowest edge to the receiver 105. Frame 104 is effectively a hidden rim with the purpose of protecting the fragile core. Many current paddles use a thicker plastic protecting rim which is subject to coming loose over time. That rim is thicker than the paddle itself thereby it is not flush with the surface. In contrast, in the present invention, the core 106 and the protecting frame 104 are equal in thickness and securely adhered to each other along their interface and by means of the spanning laminate face 101 which extends substantially to the outer periphery of the protecting frame 104. Frame 104 can measure between 6 mm and 12 mm thick depending on desired overall weight of the paddle. Frame and core materials are covered with and adhered to a high-pressure laminate 101 on both surfaces. A suitable high-pressure laminate is commercially sold under the trade name Formica® and may provide for a resilient outer surface in a variety of different colors. Said laminate is between 0.027 and 0.035 inches thick. Frame 104 is preferably made from plywood, wood, or any lightweight rigid material including, for example, a thermoplastic material less frangible than the high-pressure laminate. The single core 106 is made with a firm but lightweight material such as foam board but can be any of the lightweight cores common to pickleball paddles including, for example, honeycombed paper or the like. As is understood in the art, high-pressure laminates are produced by saturating multiple layers of Kraft paper with phenolic resin and fusing these together under high heat and pressure of more than 1000 psi

Generally, the pickleball paddle of this embodiment adheres to the USA pickleball equipment standards of 2021 promulgated by the International Federation of Pickleball, hereby incorporated by reference, having a combined length and width not exceeding 24 inches and a length not exceeding 17 inches and will have a weight greater than 5 ounces.

Pickleball is a fast paced sport and is commonly played outside. One of the issues with common wrapped grips is they are not always effective in wicking away perspiration from the players hand. The preferred material of grip 103 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is unfinished wood because of its moisture absorbing characteristics. In one embodiment the wood may be an open grain wood such as mahogany. In some embodiments, the wood may be lightly coated with a food-safe oil or in some cases a rubberized coating may be applied to wood grip 103 when hand perspiration is not an issue.

Certain terminology is used herein for purposes of reference only, and thus is not intended to be limiting. For example, terms such as “upper”, “lower”, “above”, and “below” refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Terms such as “front”, “back”, “rear”, “bottom” and “side”, describe the orientation of portions of the component within a consistent but arbitrary frame of reference which is made clear by reference to the text and the associated drawings describing the component under discussion. Such terminology may include the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Similarly, the terms “first”, “second” and other such numerical terms referring to structures do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context.

When introducing elements or features of the present disclosure and the exemplary embodiments, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of such elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features other than those specifically noted. It is further to be understood that the method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

It is specifically intended that the present invention not be limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein and the claims should be understood to include modified forms of those embodiments including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments as come within the scope of the following claims. All of the publications described herein, including patents and non-patent publications, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

To aid the Patent Office and any readers of any patent issued on this application in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants wish to note that they do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.

Claims

1. A pickleball paddle comprising: a planar paddle face extending along a plane between lateral edges to present a front and rear surface for striking a pickleball during play;a grip extending along an axis parallel to the plane and sized to receive a user's fingers around opposed lateral surfaces for holding the pickleball paddle; anda neck joining the face to the grip and providing a finger recess displaced inwardly from a lateral extent of the grip over an axial length of at least ½ inch and less than 1½ inches and reaching a depth of at least one-half inch inside the lateral extent of the grip and adapted to allow a player's index finger to rest within the finger recess during play.

2. The pickleball paddle of claim 1 wherein the neck provides opposed lateral finger recesses each displaced inwardly from a lateral extent of the grip over an axial length of at least ½ inch and less than 1½ inches and reaching a depth of at least one half inch inside the lateral extent of the grip and adapted to allow a player's index finger to rest within the finger recess during play.

3. The pickleball paddle of claim 1 wherein the neck is formed of a material having a specific stiffness of greater than 20 and a modulus of elasticity of greater than 60.

4. The pickleball paddle of claim 1 wherein the material of the neck is selected from the group consisting of fiber reinforced polymers and aluminum.

5. The pickleball paddle of claim 1 wherein the neck comprises at least one axially extending tubular shaft joining the handle in the face.

6. The pickleball paddle of claim 1 wherein the neck comprises at least two axially extending tubular shafts separated within the plane joining the handle to the face.

7. The pickleball paddle of claim 1 wherein the face is a high pressure laminate.

8. The pickleball paddle of claim 1 wherein the lateral edges of the high pressure laminate are rimmed by a protecting frame having greater resilience than the high pressure laminate.

9. The pickleball paddle of claim 1 wherein the pickleball paddle conforms to the equipment standards of 2021 promulgated by the International Federation of Pickleball and is greater than 5 ounces in weight.