Pickleball paddle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pickleball paddle.

Description

[0001] Pickleball is becoming a more and more popular paddle sport, not only in the U.S. but also in other countries throughout the world. Accordingly, more advanced pickleball paddles have been developed in recent years. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 11,597,169 B2 discloses a pickleball paddle being manufactured by a composite material being wrapped around a center and placed in a mold to form a paddle frame.

[0002] In state of the art pickleball paddles, a honeycomb core is used for the hitting surface which has layers of glass fiber, carbon fiber or similar materials placed on both sides to form the hitting surface of the pickleball paddle. The honeycomb materials are advantageous in enabling a lightweight construction and a cost-efficient way to produce a pickleball paddle. However, one of the disadvantages of such honeycomb cores is that they do not offer any possibility to optimize paddle properties.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved pickleball paddle.

[0004] This object is achieved with a pickleball paddle according to claim 1. The inventive paddle comprises a handle portion configured to be gripped by a user, a head portion defining two opposing striking surfaces configured to strike a pickleball, and a heart portion with an opening, the heart portion being arranged between the handle portion and the head portion. The handle portion comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion attached to the heart portion. The heart portion comprises a proximal portion attached to the handle portion and a distal portion attached to the head portion. The paddle comprises an outer tube, wherein said outer tube extends from the proximal portion of the handle portion, along the handle portion, along the heart portion, around a partial circumference of the head portion and returns to the handle portion to again extend along the heart portion and along the handle portion towards the proximal portion of the handle portion. The paddle further comprises an inner tube, wherein said inner tube extends from the proximal portion of the handle portion, along the handle portion, around at least a partial circumference of the opening of the heart portion and returns to the handle portion to again extend along the handle portion towards the proximal portion of the handle portion.

[0005] This double tube construction of the inventive pickleball paddle offers a lot of flexibility to adjust the paddle and its construction for different playability needs. Generally speaking, the outer tube may be used for construction purposes of the paddle, wherein the inner tube may be utilized to manipulate certain properties of the paddle without compromising the overall construction.

[0006] As in known pickleball paddles, the head portion may further comprise a foam material extending from one striking surface to the other striking surface, the foam material being at least partially surrounded by the outer tube and the inner tube.

[0007] The outer tube may comprise a polymer reinforced matrix using one or more of the following materials: carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers and natural fibers.

[0008] Similarly, the inner tube may comprise a polymer reinforced matrix using one or more of the following materials: carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers and natural fibers.

[0009] In a cross-section through the handle portion and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the handle portion, the outer and inner tubes are preferably arranged adjacent to each other with a pattern of outer tube—inner tube—inner tube—outer tube. This arrangement may allow for an additional material to be arranged between the outer tube and the inner tube in order to manipulate the properties of the handle portion. With such additional material being present, the above-mentioned arrangement leads to a pattern of outer tube—additional material—inner tube—inner tube—additional material—outer tube. Said additional material may comprise one or a combination of the following materials: rubber, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, polymers and polymeric foams. If, for example, an additional material with a high density is chosen, more weight may be placed in the handle which is advantageous for certain paddles in order to lower the balance thereof. Alternatively or in addition, the additional material may be chosen to provide shock absorption or vibration dampening in the handle portion.

[0010] An additional material may also be arranged between outer tube and inner tube within the heart portion. Accordingly, the outer tube and the inner tube, in a cross section through the heart portion and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the handle portion, are preferably arranged adjacent to each other with a pattern of outer tube—inner tube—heart opening—inner tube—outer tube. This arrangement may allow, also in the heart portion, for an additional material to be arranged between the outer tube and the inner tube in order to manipulate the properties of the heart portion. With such additional material being present, the above-mentioned arrangement leads to a pattern of outer tube—additional material—inner tube—heart opening—inner tube—additional material—outer tube. Again, said additional material may comprise one or a combination of the following materials: rubber, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, polymers and polymeric foams. The additional material may, e.g., be chosen to provide shock absorption and / or vibration dampening in the heart portion of the handle. Of course, it may also be utilized to distribute the weight throughout the handle.

[0011] While the same additional material may be present in the handle portion and in the heart portion and extend continuously or intermittently from the proximal portion of the handle portion to a distal portion of the heart portion, different additional materials may also be utilized in the handle portion on the one hand and in the heart portion on the other hand in order to achieve or optimize different properties in the different portions.

[0012] The outer tube preferably comprises a lumen filled with air or another gas. The inner tube preferably comprises a lumen which is partially or completely filled with one or a combination of the following materials: air, foam, liquid, rubber, silicon, and granules having a diameter smaller than 3 mm and being made of any one of metal, rubber, ceramic or polymer. Again, the material within the inner tube may be used for, e.g., weight distribution. The material within the inner tube may also have other effects such as shock absorption, vibration dampening, and the like. The outer tube has a tube wall thickness, wherein the tube wall thickness along the entire outer tube is preferably within the range between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm. The inner tube has a tube wall thickness, wherein the tube wall thickness along the entire inner tube is preferably within the range of 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm. Preferably, the tube wall thickness of the outer tube is, at least, in sections and preferably over the entire tube length, greater than the tube wall thickness of the inner tube.

[0013] In the handle portion, where due to the arrangement of inner and outer tubes four vertical walls are present, the thickness of these walls may be made particularly thin. Preferably, the wall thickness of the inner and / or outer tube(s) within the handle portion is smaller than 1.0 mm, preferably smaller than 0.8 mm, even more preferably smaller than 0.6 mm and particularly preferably smaller than 0.5 mm.

[0014] The head portion may have a first thickness defined as distance between the two opposing striking surface and the handle portion may have a second thickness measured perpendicular to the two opposing striking surfaces, wherein the second thickness is preferably greater than the first thickness. Preferably, the ratio between the second thickness and the first thickness is within the range between 0.1 and 2.5, more preferably between 1.2 and 2.0 and particularly preferably between 1.3 and 1.5.

[0015] The inventive pickleball paddle has a number of advantages over the prior art. For example, the presence of the second tube may increase the strength, especially in the handle portion. In particular, an increased stiffness of the handle portion and / or the heart portion may compensate for a lack of stiffness due to the open throat. Due to the double tube construction, the differences in diameter of the air tubes in the head and the handle may be accommodated. By means of additional material being present between the tubes it is possible to customize the paddle and to strategically place weight at certain sections to improve the performance.

[0016] In the following, a preferred embodiment of a pickleball paddle according to the present invention is described in further detail based on the figures, which show

[0017] FIG. 1 a top view of a preferred embodiment of a pickleball paddle according to the present invention; and

[0018] FIG. 2 a cross section through the handle portion of the pickleball paddle according to FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a preferred embodiment of a pickleball paddle 1 according to the present invention. The pickleball paddle 1 comprises a handle portion 2 configured to be gripped by a user, a head portion 3 defining two opposing striking surfaces 4 configured to strike a pickleball, and a heart portion 5 with an opening 6, the heart portion 5 being arranged between the handle portion 2 and the head portion 3. The handle portion 2 comprises a proximal portion 2a and a distal portion 2b attached to the heart portion 5. The heart portion 5 comprises a proximal portion 5a attached to the handle portion 2 and a distal portion 5b attached to the head portion 3. The paddle 1 comprises an outer tube 7, wherein said outer tube 7 extends from the proximal portion 2a of the handle portion 2, along the handle portion 2, along the heart portion 5, around a partial circumference of the head portion 3 and returns to the handle portion 2 to again extend along the heart portion 5 and along the handle portion 2 towards the proximal portion 2a of the handle portion 2. The paddle 1 further comprises an inner tube 8, wherein said inner tube 8 extends from the proximal portion 2a of the handle portion 2, along the handle portion 2, around at least a partial circumference of the opening 6 of the heart portion 5 and returns to the handle portion 2 to again extend along the handle portion 2 towards the proximal portion 2a of the handle portion 2.

[0020] Between the outer tube 7 and the inner tube 8, an additional material 9, 10 may be present, which additional material 9, 10 may comprise one or a combination of the following materials: rubber, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, polymers and polymeric foams. As discussed above, said additional material may be utilized to specifically adapt the properties of the pickle paddle in defined sections.

[0021] While the additional material 9 in the handle portion 2 and the additional material 10 in the heart portion 5 are shown in FIG. 1 as a continuous layer of material extending from the proximal portion 2a of the handle portion 2 all the way to the distal portion 5b of the heart portion 5, different additional materials 9 and 10 may be provided in the handle portion 2 on the one hand and the heart portion 5 on the other hand. These additional materials 9 and 10 may be arranged adjacent to each other or with a gap therebetween.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the handle portion 2 of the pickleball paddle 1 shown in FIG. 1. As may be seen in FIG. 2, the outer tube 7 and the inner tube 8, in a cross section through the handle portion and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the handle portion, are arranged adjacent to each other with a pattern of outer tube 7—inner tube 8—inner tube 8—outer tube 7. On both sides, the additional material 9 is present between the outer tube 7 and the inner tube 8.

[0023] The outer tube 7 comprises a lumen 11 filled with air or another gas. The inner tube 8 comprises a lumen 12 which may be partially or completely filled with one or a combination of the following materials: foam, liquid, rubber, silicon, and metal, rubber, ceramic or polymeric granules smaller than 3 mm in diameter.

[0024] While the tube wall thickness of the outer tube 7 and the inner tube 8 is shown to be constant in FIG. 2, the outer tube may have a tube wall thickness being greater than the tube wall of the inner tube.

Claims

1. A pickleball paddle comprising a handle portion configured to be gripped by a user, a head portion defining two opposing striking surfaces configured to strike a pickleball, and a heart portion with an opening, the heart portion being arranged between the handle portion and the head portion;wherein the handle portion comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion attached to the heart portion;wherein the heart portion comprises a proximal portion attached to the handle portion and a distal portion attached to the head portion;wherein the paddle comprises an outer tube, wherein said outer tube extends from the proximal portion of the handle portion, along the handle portion, along the heart portion, around a partial circumference of the head portion and returns to the handle portion to again extend along the heart portion and along the handle portion towards the proximal portion of the handle portion;wherein the paddle further comprises an inner tube, wherein said inner tube extends from the proximal portion of the handle portion, along the handle portion, around at least a partial circumference of the opening of the heart portion and returns to the handle portion to again extend along the handle portion towards the proximal portion of the handle portion.

2. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the head portion further comprises a foam material extending from one striking surface to the other striking surface, the foam material being at least partially surrounded by the outer tube and the inner tube.

3. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the outer tube comprises a polymer reinforced matrix using one or more of the following materials: carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers and natural fibers.

4. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube comprises a polymer reinforced matrix using one or more of the following materials: carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers and natural fibers.

5. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the outer and inner tube, in a cross-section through the handle portion and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the handle portion, are arranged adjacent to each other with a pattern of outer tube—inner tube—inner tube—outer tube.

6. The pickleball paddle according to claim 5, wherein an additional material may be arranged between outer tube and inner tube.

7. The pickleball paddle according to claim 6, wherein the additional material comprises one or a combination of the following materials: rubber, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, polymers and polymeric foams.

8. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the outer and inner tube, in a cross-section through the heart portion and perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the handle portion, are arranged adjacent to each other with a pattern of outer tube—inner tube—opening—inner tube—outer tube.

9. The pickleball paddle according to claim 8, wherein an additional material may be arranged between outer tube and inner tube.

10. The pickleball paddle according to claim 9, wherein the additional material comprises one or a combination of the following materials: rubber, aluminum alloys, titanium alloys, polymers and polymeric foams.

11. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the outer tube comprises a lumen filled with air.

12. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube comprises a lumen partially or completely filled with one or a combination of the following materials: air, foam, liquid, rubber, silicone, and metal, rubber, ceramic or polymeric granules smaller than 3 mm in diameter.

13. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the outer tube has a tube wall thickness, wherein the tube wall thickness along the entire outer tube is within the range between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

14. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the inner tube has a tube wall thickness, wherein the tube wall thickness along the entire inner tube is within the range between 0.2 mm and 0.8 mm.

15. The pickleball paddle according to claim 1, wherein the head portion has a first thickness defined as distance between the two opposing striking surfaces and wherein the handle portion has a second thickness measured perpendicular to the two opposing striking surfaces, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

16. The pickleball paddle according to claim 15, wherein the ratio between the second thickness and the first thickness is within the range between 1.1 and 2.5.

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