PICKLEBALL PADDLE WITH CONTROLLABLE BALL DWELL AND METHOD

Abstract

A composite molded sports paddle comprising a head with a paddle face; a handle; and a transition area between the head and the handle, wherein the transition area includes a ball dwell control mechanism.

Claims

1. A composite molded sports paddle, comprising: a head with a paddle face; a handle; and a transition area between the head and the handle, wherein the transition area includes a ball dwell control mechanism.

2. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the ball dwell control mechanism includes an open throat.

3. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 2, wherein the ball dwell control mechanism includes one or more tubular connections forming the open throat.

4. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the head includes a thickness, the handle includes a thickness, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes an reduced-thickness paddle throat section having a thickness less than the thickness of the head and thickness of the handle.

5. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 4, wherein the paddle face includes a plane and the reduced-thickness paddle throat section is on the same place as the plane of the paddle face.

6. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the reduced-thickness paddle throat section includes a handle transition area narrowing perpendicular to the paddle face.

7. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the head includes a thickness, the handle includes a thickness, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes an increased-thickness paddle throat section having a thickness greater than the thickness of the head and thickness of the handle.

8. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the handle includes a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the paddle face, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes an reduced-thickness paddle throat section having a thickness in the direction perpendicular to the paddle face that is less than the thickness of the handle in the direction perpendicular to the paddle face.

9. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the paddle is a two-piece paddle including a first piece with the head and a second piece with the handle, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes a connection section with an elastic material disposed between the head and the handle.

10. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the paddle includes opposite facing sides and the paddle face includes opposite facing paddle faces, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes a separation on one of sides of the paddle so that the handle is detached from the paddle face, and on the opposite side of the paddle is one continuous piece from the handle to the paddle face.

10. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 9, wherein the ball dwell control mechanism includes a membrane in the separation, and the membrane is configured to at least one of dampen and control stiffness in the sports paddle.

11. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the paddle includes opposite facing sides and the ball dwell control mechanism includes at least one of a slot and a window on at least one of the opposite facing sides of the paddle.

12. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 9, wherein the ball dwell control mechanism includes a hinge.

13. The composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, wherein the paddle face includes a plane and the ball dwell control mechanism includes a window that passes through an entirety of the handle in the same place as the plane of the paddle face.

14. A method of using the composite molded sports paddle of claim 1, comprising hitting a ball with the paddle face and using the ball dwell control mechanism to manage dwell time upon ball and paddle impact.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the ball dwell control mechanism includes an open throat, and using the ball dwell control mechanism includes using the open throat to increase flexibility and torsion to improve dwell time and, thus, improve control and spin.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the head includes a thickness, the handle includes a thickness, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes an reduced-thickness paddle throat section having a thickness less than the thickness of the head and thickness of the handle, and using the ball dwell control mechanism includes using the reduced-thickness paddle throat section to improve flexibility in the throat area, and, thus, improve dwell by having the paddle absorb part of a ball's energy resulting in improved control.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the handle includes a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the paddle face, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes an reduced-thickness paddle throat section having a thickness in the direction perpendicular to the paddle face that is less than the thickness of the handle in the direction perpendicular to the paddle face, and using the ball dwell control mechanism includes using the reduced-thickness paddle throat section to improve flexibility of the paddle face in the direction of a shot, improving ball dwell time on the paddle face, ball direction, control, and spin.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the paddle is a two-piece paddle including a first piece with the head and a second piece with the handle, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes a connection section with an elastic material disposed between the head and the handle, and using the ball dwell control mechanism includes using the two-piece paddle including the connection section with the elastic material to at least one of control flex dimension and dampen vibration frequency at ball impact.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the paddle includes opposite facing sides and the paddle face includes opposite facing paddle faces, and the ball dwell control mechanism includes a separation on one of sides of the paddle so that the handle is detached from the paddle face, and on the opposite side of the paddle is one continuous piece from the handle to the paddle face, and using the ball dwell control mechanism includes using the separation on one of sides of the paddle to create more flex when the ball strikes one paddle face and more power when the ball strikes the oppose facing paddle face.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the paddle includes opposite facing sides and the ball dwell control mechanism includes at least one of a slot and a window on at least one of the opposite facing sides of the paddle, and using the ball dwell control mechanism includes using at least one of the slot and the window on at least one of the opposite facing sides of the paddle to mechanically aid in creating a softer more flexible paddle on ball impact.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle including an open throat design.

[0024] FIGS. 2A, 2B are a left side elevational view and a front elevational view of another embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle including reduced thickness in a paddle throat section, in the same plane as the face of the paddle.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle including a reduced thickness in a paddle throat section perpendicular to the face of the paddle.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a still further embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle including a two-piece paddleone containing the head portion of the paddle and the second the handle of the paddle.

[0027] FIGS. 5A, 5B are a left side elevational view and a front elevational view of another embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle including power and control in one paddlea slit or separation in the transition area is created, where one side of the face is detached from the handle and face, yet the opposing side remains as one continuous piece.

[0028] FIGS. 6A, 6B are a left side elevational view and a front elevational view of another embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle including a slit and pass-through window.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6B, a number of embodiments of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle, where the shape of the paddles can be significantly altered, particularly in the region where the hitting surface and handle meet, to reduce or increase stiffness and further enhance the bending or stiffness characteristics of the fibrous materials that make up the paddle, will be described. The manipulation of stiffness and bending are directly proportional to ball exit velocity, increased dwell time for control, and ball spin.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle 100 including an open throat 110 can be created with the connection of paddle face/hitting surface 120 and handle 130 having one or two tubular connections 140 between a head 150 and the handle 130 of the paddle 100. Further, the connecting tubular sections 140 can be constructed in varying diameters, shapes, and lengths to help create desired elasticity and resistant moments to manage dwell time upon ball and paddle impact. Creating molded paddles, as opposed to the traditional methods of making pickleball paddles utilizing a honeycomb cut out structure, creating an open throat piece or section was not commercially possible, as the structure of the honeycomb would not be sufficient in strength. With the open throat 110, it is possible to encompass a honeycomb face or fibrous rib structure to make the stringing surface of the paddle 100 join the head 150 of the paddle 100 to the handle 130 by a couple of connection tubular surfaces 140. Equally, in making the open throat 110 and achieve improve bending and torsional enhancements, an opening can be created along a center line near the throat 110 of the paddle 100 on the same plane as a paddle face 120. Creating such a slot on a side and going through and between both paddle faces 120 near the handle 130, a more flexible throat region 110 is created to increase flexibility and torsion to improve dwell time and, thus, improve control and spin.

[0031] With reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B, another embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle 210, in which like elements to those shown and described herein are used with the same reference numbers, but an a suffix, includes a reduced-thickness paddle throat section 220, in the same plane as the face 170a of the paddle 210. In this aspect, the design is on the same plane as the face 170a of the paddle 210 and/or includes a narrowing of handle transition area 230 perpendicular to the striking surface 170a of the paddle 210. Thus, creating a narrower transition will improve flexibility in the throat area 220 and, thus, improve dwell by having the paddle 210 absorb part of the balls energy resulting in improved control. To produce a more powerful or stiffer paddle 210, we can increase the thickness at the throat region 220 along the planar direction of the paddle face 170a to minimize the paddle's overall flexibility and, thus, return more energy to the ball, resulting in a more powerful shot.

[0032] With reference to FIG. 3, a further embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle 240, in which like elements to those shown and described herein are used with the same reference numbers, but an b suffix, includes a reduced thickness in a paddle throat section 250 perpendicular to the face 170b of the paddle 240. A reduced or thinner section 250 at the throat will help create a hinge effect near the handle 130b and throat 250 to improve flexibility of the paddle face 170b in the direction of the shot. Having the paddle face 170b flex in the direction of the shot improves ball dwell time on the paddle face 170b and, thus, increasing the time the ball stays on the paddle face 170b, this additional time the ball stays on the paddle face 170b improves ball direction, more control, and significantly improve spin.

[0033] With reference to FIG. 4, a still further embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle 270, in which like elements to those shown and described herein are used with the same reference numbers, but a c suffix, includes a two-piece paddlea first piece 280 containing the head portion 150c of the paddle 270 and the second piece 290 containing the handle 130c of the paddle 270. The two pieces 280, 290 would be joined by a slot or connection section 300 in which an elastic material membrane 310 made of rubber or malleable material is sandwiched between the head portion 150c and handle section 130c in the area where the two pieces 280, 290 come together. In this design, the thickness, durometer and type of malleable material can vary to achieve varying flex dimensions. A further advantage of creating two separate paddle sections is to utilize materials that are vibration absorbing materials to damper the vibration frequency at ball impact.

[0034] With reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, an additional embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle 320, in which like elements to those shown and described herein are used with the same reference numbers, but a d suffix, includes power and control in one paddlea slit or separation 330 in a transition area 340 is created, where one side of the face 170d is detached from the handle 130d and face 170d, yet the opposing side 200d remains as one continuous piece. By creating a groove or slit 330 in a center 370 of the handle 130d in the planar direction of the paddle face 170d and disconnecting one face 170d, while leaving the other side 200d connected, one side 200d is made to have more power while the side 170d with the open slit 330, when a ball strikes the face 170d, will have more flex and, thus, create a softer volley. Conversely, when striking the side 200d, where both handle sides press against the ball, the paddle face 200d will not deflect as much and, thus, provide a stiffer ball strike for more powerful shot. The groove 330 create the paddle 320 to be created with one side 200d for power and the reverse side 170d for control. A urethane membrane 380 can be inserted into the groove 330 to provide damper and/or control stiffness in the direction of the power stroke.

[0035] With reference to FIGS. 6A, 6B, another embodiment of a composite internally pressurized molded paddle 400, in which like elements to those shown and described herein are used with the same reference numbers, but an e suffix, includes a slot/slit 410 and pass-through window 420a slot 410 and pass-through window 420 is created on either side 170e, 200e of the paddle 400 to help as well as the window 420 that will pass through the entire handle 130e in the same plane as the paddle face 170e, this combination of the slot 410 and window 420 will mechanically aid in creating a softer more flexible paddle 400 on ball impact. A hinge system 430 in transition area 440 of the paddle face 170e and handle 130e allow for improved ball dwell time, and, thus, improving control and spin.

[0036] The composite internally pressurized molded paddles 100, 210, 240, 270, 320, 400 described above and herein utilize variations in the frame shape to improve the ability to expand flexibility, torsion, and bending in the transition area of the paddle 100, 210, 240, 270, 320, 400, thus, further increasing the possibility to control the ability to manufacture paddles to meet the rapidly changing demands of todays and future players as the advancement of the sport continues to evolve.

[0037] The figures may depict exemplary configurations for the invention, which is done to aid in understanding the features and functionality that can be included in the invention. The invention is not restricted to the illustrated architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplary embodiments and implementations, it should be understood that the various features and functionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments with which they are described, but instead can be applied, alone or in some combination, to one or more of the other embodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments are described and whether or not such features are presented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention, especially in the following claims, should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

[0038] Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term including should be read as mean including, without limitation or the like; the term example is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as conventional, traditional, standard, known and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction and should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as and/or unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction or should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as and/or unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although item, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as one or more, at least, but not limited to or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.