Patent Application
20250205576
The present invention relates generally to a pickleball training apparatus. More specifically, the present invention is a pickleball training apparatus comprising a tethered pickleball and a locking strap.
Pickleball is a fast-growing sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Its growing popularity has led to an increasing demand for training aids and devices to help players improve their skills independently. One critical skill in pickleball is the ability to control volleys, which requires precision, timing, and consistency. However, traditional practice methods typically necessitate a partner or access to a training facility, creating barriers for players who wish to practice alone.
Several training aids and apparatuses have been developed to address the need for independent practice in paddle sports. Among the most common devices is the paddleball toy, which features a ball attached to a paddle via a flexible elastic chord. This design allows users to hit the ball repeatedly without needing a partner, as the ball is tethered to the paddle and returns to the user after each strike. The paddleball toy provides a self-contained practice experience but is not designed for serious training in sports like pickleball due to several limitations.
The traditional paddleball toy integrates the ball and elastic chord directly into the paddle. This fixed design makes the toy unsuitable for use with regulation pickleball paddles, as it lacks the ability to mimic the weight, feel, and balance of equipment used in actual gameplay. Additionally, the paddleball toy is not adaptable to the techniques and motions used in pickleball, which involve specific volleying skills and paddle angles distinct from the toy's simple design.
Other prior art includes standalone tethered ball systems designed for racket or paddle sports, where the ball is connected to a stationary base via a chord. While these devices address some of the limitations of the paddleball toy, they often require significant setup and space for use, making them inconvenient for casual practice. Moreover, the stationary nature of these systems does not replicate the dynamic interactions between a paddle and ball during a live volley, further reducing their effectiveness as training tools for pickleball players.
One of the most significant challenges in existing tethered ball training systems is the attachment mechanism used to connect the chord to the paddle or user. Many devices use rigid or cumbersome connectors that do not integrate seamlessly with regulation pickleball paddles. These attachment methods may interfere with the grip or handling of the paddle, disrupting the user's natural swing and making it difficult to replicate the feel of actual gameplay.
Additionally, existing tethered ball systems often lack portability and versatility. Many designs require the user to secure the apparatus to a fixed surface, such as a post or ground anchor, which limits the user's ability to practice in different locations. For players seeking a simple, portable solution for practicing volleys at home or on the go, these systems are often impractical.
There remains a need for a pickleball training apparatus that allows players to practice volleys independently without sacrificing the feel and functionality of a regulation pickleball paddle. The ideal solution would provide a tethered ball system that is easy to attach, use, and transport while maintaining compatibility with standard pickleball paddles. Such a device should enable players to develop their volleying skills in a manner that closely simulates actual gameplay, including the weight and handling characteristics of their equipment.
The present invention addresses these deficiencies by introducing a pickleball training apparatus featuring a hook-and-loop strap with a slot for securely wrapping the device around the handle of a regulation pickleball paddle. This design allows the user to attach the apparatus to their own paddle, preserving the natural feel and weight distribution of their equipment during practice. The chord connects the strap to a regulation pickleball ball, enabling users to practice volleys without the need for a partner or large practice area.
Unlike prior art, the use of a hook-and-loop strap makes the device highly adjustable, ensuring compatibility with various paddle sizes and shapes. The simple yet secure attachment mechanism allows users to quickly set up the device and begin practicing, while the portable design ensures that training can take place in any setting. By combining ease of use, portability, and realistic gameplay simulation, this invention represents a significant advancement in pickleball training apparatuses, empowering players to refine their skills independently.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one having ordinary skill in the relevant art that the present disclosure has broad utility and application. As should be understood, any embodiment may incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed aspects of the disclosure and may further incorporate only one or a plurality of the above-disclosed features. Furthermore, any embodiment discussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be part of a best mode contemplated for carrying out the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrative purposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosed by the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, while embodiments are described herein in detail in relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present disclosure, and are made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection afforded in any claim of a patent issuing here from, which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.
Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refers to that which an ordinary artisan would understand such term to mean based on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that the meaning of a term used herein—as understood by the ordinary artisan based on the contextual use of such term-differs in any way from any particular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that the meaning of the term as understood by the ordinary artisan should prevail.
Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an” each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a plurality unless the contextual use dictates otherwise. When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one of the items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and” denotes “all of the items of the list.”
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While many embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims. The present disclosure contains headers. It should be understood that these headers are used as references and are not to be construed as limiting upon the subjected matter disclosed under the header.
Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures and description. It should be understood at the outset that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up”, “down” and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, “radially”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly,” “outwardly” and “radially” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
The present disclosure includes many aspects and features. Moreover, while many aspects and features relate to, and are described in the context of a pickleball training apparatus 1, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to use only in this context.
As shown in
Furthermore, within the context of the present invention, the strap 10 is an elongated member having a plurality of surfaces, specifically two surfaces such that said surfaces, a first side 151 and a second side 152, are opposing surfaces. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opposing surfaces comprise a hook and loop fastener mechanism such that each surface comprises a portion of the hook and loop fastener that is complimentary to the opposite side. For example, in one embodiment, the first side 151 of the strap 10 may comprise the hooks of the hook and loop fastener, while the second side 152 may comprise the loops of the hook and loop fastener.
Additionally, as shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the eyelet 12 is a reinforced through-hole traversing the flap 11 of the strap 10. The slot 13, in the context of the present invention, is a through channel traversing the flap 11 wherein the width of the slot 13 is greater than the minor width of the strap 10, thereby enabling the portions of the strap 10 comprising the minor width (i.e. the distal end 14 of the strap 10) to be able to traverse through the slot 13.
As further shown in
In the preferred embodiment, the pickleball training apparatus is coupled to a pickleball paddle 2, as shown in
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63614337 | Dec 2023 | US |
