PADDLE WITH INTERNAL RIBS

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure describe a pickleball paddle. A hollow interior structure is formed between front and rear shells of the paddle and reinforced with internal ribs.

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Description
FIELD OF THE ENDEAVOR

The present disclosure deals with racquet sports.

BACKGROUND

Pickleball is a racquet sport played with paddles and a perforated plastic ball on a court that is similar to a tennis court. Players hit the ball over a net placed on the ground, similar to tennis, with the goal of hitting the ball so the opposing player cannot return the shot.

Typically paddles used in pickleball may be made of metal, wood or composite materials. The construction and the weight characteristics of the paddle can have an effect on how a ball rebounds off of the paddle when a player hits a shot. When a player hits a ball near an edge of the paddle, the result of the shot is different than when the ball is hit near the center of the paddle. Often, when the ball is hit near the edge of the paddle, power on the shot is lost, while more power is generated when the ball is hit near the center of the paddle. Different players may prefer either more power or more control. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a paddle that has easily variable characteristics yet also has sufficient rigidity and strength.

SUMMARY

Certain embodiments include a paddle that includes interior ribs. The paddle may include a handle and a blade with opposing faces. The paddle may be formed from a composite material. The blade is formed from front and rear shells that are attached to form a hollow interior structure. The hollow interior structure is reinforced with a rib system that includes internal ribs between the front and rear shells of the paddle.

The rib structure allows the blade to have a hollow interior to reduce the weight of the paddle, yet the rib structure can be designed to maintain and configure the blade's rigidity. Optionally, a filler material may be inserted into voids formed between the ribs to control the balance point of the paddle.

In certain embodiments, the rib system includes a first pattern of parallel ribs and a second pattern of parallel ribs. Each pattern of parallel ribs is perpendicular to a corresponding axis that extends across the blade. The axis of the first pattern of ribs is non-parallel to the axis of the second pattern of ribs. In some embodiments, at least one of the first pattern of parallel ribs and the second pattern of parallel ribs includes ribs that are non-uniformly spaced along the corresponding axis. The spacing of each pattern of parallel ribs may be selectively adjusted to control the balance point and the playing characteristics of the paddle. Optionally, the ribs in the first plurality of parallel ribs may be perpendicular to the ribs of the second plurality of parallel ribs to form a grid pattern. In other embodiments, the ribs in the first plurality of parallel ribs may be oblique to the ribs of the second plurality of parallel ribs to form a diamond pattern.

In other embodiments, the rib system may be a single pattern of parallel ribs. The single pattern of parallel ribs may be perpendicular to a corresponding axis that extends across the blade. The ribs of the single pattern of parallel ribs may be evenly spaced along the corresponding axis, or may be non-uniformly spaced along the corresponding axis. The spacing of the ribs may be selectively chosen to adjust the playing characteristics of the paddle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle with internal ribs.

FIG. 2 is an interior perspective view of the paddle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an interior perspective view of the paddle of FIG. 1 with axes for patterns of ribs.

FIG. 4 is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle with internal ribs.

FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of the paddle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle with internal ribs.

FIG. 7 is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle with internal ribs.

FIG. 8 is an interior perspective view of an embodiment of a paddle with internal ribs.

 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the disclosure as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosure relates.

The present disclosure pertains generally to the field of paddles used for racquet sports such as pickleball and particularly to a paddle including interior ribs. Aspects of the present disclosure include a paddle that is formed using a plastic or composite molded material. More specifically, the paddle has opposing faces yet defines a hollow interior volume. The interior volume is selectively divided and reinforced with internal ribs which extend between front and rear shells of the paddle.

The rebound characteristics of a ball hit off a paddle depend on the location at which the ball hits the paddle. Traditional pickleball paddles of a uniform density have a center of balance that is found near the middle of the blade portion of the paddle. This portion of the paddle is often referred to as the sweet spot. A ball hit near the sweet spot of the paddle has more rebound power than a ball that is hit near the edges of the paddle with the same effort. Therefore, it is often desirable to have a paddle that has a large sweet spot located at the portion of the paddle at which the player is most likely to strike the ball.

The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) endorses rules of pickleball for tournament play and international competitions. The rules of the IFP include equipment requirements that specify allowable paddle characteristics. A pickleball paddle must be constructed from a relatively rigid, non-compressible material. The hitting surface of the paddle cannot include holes, indentations, textured material, or any feature that applies additional spin to the ball. Rubber, synthetic rubber, sandpaper, moving parts that increase momentum, springs or spring-like material, and flexible membranes or compressive material that creates a trampoline effect are not allowed on the surface of the paddle.

The rigidity and compressibility of a paddle is determined using a deflection test. A common deflection test used to determine the rigidity of a paddle applies a force of 3 kg to the center of the paddle. The distance the paddle deflects due to the 3 kg force is recorded to provide a measurement of the paddle's rigidity. A paddle that has a deflection of 0.005 inches or less in the 3 kg test is considered to meet the IFP rigidity specifications.

In addition to regulating the rigidity of a paddle, the IFP also specifies size requirements. The combined length and width of a paddle cannot exceed 24 inches. These measurements include any additional length or width added by an edge guard or a butt cap added to the end of the handle. There are no restrictions on the weight of the paddle or the thickness of the paddle.

It may be desirable to adjust the weight distribution and the rigidity of a paddle to adjust the playing characteristics of the paddle to fit different styles of play, while also staying within the paddle requirements and rules set forth by the IFP. Adjustments made to the weight distribution and balance point of a paddle may alter the size and location of the sweet spot and the rebound characteristics of portions of the paddle. These adjustments may be used, for example, to increase the size and optimize the location of the sweet spot, but also to improve or adjust the characteristics of those areas of the paddle found on the periphery or elsewhere on the paddle blade.

Ribs within a hollow interior of a paddle may be used to reduce the weight of the paddle. Also, the ribs can be selectively arranged to control the rigidity of the paddle at different locations. In certain options, a filler material such as foam, rubber, or silicone, can be placed around and/or between the ribs to assist in holding the rib material during the molding process and also to control characteristics of the finished paddles such as noise or vibration dampening aspects. The placement of the ribs and the choice of filler material between the ribs may be used to selectively adjust the playing characteristics of different portions of the paddle while keeping the playing characteristics of the paddle within the requirements set forth by the IFP.

FIG. 1 illustrates a representative example of a paddle 20 including a handle 30 and a blade 40. Blade 40 is formed from a front shell 42 and a rear shell 44 and includes a center area 43 and an edge area 45. Front shell 42 defines a planar front face 46 and rear shell defines a planar rear face 47 (shown in FIG. 5). The faces 46, 47 are the parts of blade 40 that strike the ball during play. The perimeters of front shell 42 and rear shell 44 form an edge 48. It should be understood that the terms “front” and “rear” to describe the shells are relative terms that describe the paddle as shown in the figures are and merely used for ease of description. In use, the orientation of the shells of the paddle is not important and either side of the paddle may be used to strike a playing object such as a table tennis ball or pickleball.

Edge 48 is formed by the edges of front shell 42 and rear shell 44. Edge 48 may have a height and include a seam where front shell 42 connects to rear shell 44. The seam may be located at the top of edge 48 near front shell 42, near the bottom of edge 48 near rear shell 44, or in the middle of edge 48. Alternatively, edge 48 may include two seams where a spacer attaches to front shell 42 on one side and to rear shell 44 on the other side. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is no edge guard attached to edge 48. However, in other embodiments, an edge guard may be used to keep edge 48 from being damaged. The edge guard may be made of rubber, plastic, or any other suitable material for protecting edge 48.

FIG. 2 shows an interior view of paddle 20, namely the inside surface of one shell. A rib system 50 that provides support and rigidity to paddle 20 is located on the interior of paddle 20 between front shell 42 and rear shell 44. Rib system 50 includes ribs 52 that extend in height between front shell 42 and rear shell 44 (see FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, rib system 50 includes a first pattern of parallel ribs and a second pattern of parallel ribs. Each pattern of parallel ribs is perpendicular to a corresponding axis that extends across the blade area. For example, the first pattern of parallel ribs 57 is perpendicular to an axis L, and the second pattern of parallel ribs 58 is perpendicular to an axis W. Axes L and W are non-parallel so that the first pattern of parallel ribs 57 is non-parallel with the second pattern of parallel ribs 58. Each pattern of parallel ribs may be uniformly spaced along its corresponding axis (see FIG. 3), or each pattern of parallel ribs may be non-uniformly spaced along its corresponding axis (see FIGS. 6-7). Ribs 52 may be non-uniformly spaced within each pattern so that ribs 52 are closer together near the edge area of axes L and W and spaced further apart near the center area of axes L and W, or ribs 52 may be spaced so that ribs 52 are spaced farther apart near the edge area of axes L and W and spaced closer together near the center area of axes L and W. In other embodiments, one pattern of parallel ribs may be uniformly spaced along its corresponding axis while the other pattern may be non-uniformly spaced along its corresponding axis.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, rib system 50 includes vertical ribs and horizontal ribs that are arranged to form a grid pattern. However, in other embodiments, the positioning, number, and the pattern arrangement of the ribs 52 may be altered as desired. For example, ribs 52 may only extend vertically, or ribs 52 may be circular or arcuate, and/or arranged concentrically, or ribs 52 may be angled to form a cross-hatched pattern. As another example, shown in FIG. 4, axis W may be oblique to axis L, so that ribs 52 form a diamond pattern.

Ribs 52 are made from a material that helps provide paddle 20 with sufficient strength and rigidity to withstand repeated impact with a playing object like a pickleball while still staying within IFP guidelines. In one example, ribs 52 may be made from the same material as shells 42, 44 and molded into a shell as part of an injection molding process. As an alternate example, ribs 52 may be formed from a pre-preg material such as carbon fibers impregnated with a resin.

Each of the ribs extends between the shells of paddle 20, nominally illustrated as edges 62 and 64, although there may not be a defined separable edge. As a representative example, one of the edges 62 of ribs 52 joins front shell 42 and the other edge 64 of rib 52 joins rear shell 44. Ribs 52 have to be strong enough to not break when paddle 20 contacts a pickleball or another object during gameplay. In some embodiments, ribs 52 may be attached to shells 42, 44 through a molding process. Ribs 52 may also be fused or bonded between shells during assembly. In other embodiments, ribs 52 are attached to shells 42, 44 using an adhesive or any other suitable method.

Voids 54 are defined in the spaces between ribs 52. In some embodiments, voids 54 are left empty; however, in other embodiments, voids 54 are filled with a filler material 56, such as foam, rubber, or silicone. Filler material 56 may be used to provide additional support to paddle 20 and may also reduce sound when a playing object, such as a pickleball, is struck by paddle 20. As an example, filler material 56 may support ribs 52 while paddle 20 is assembled and may help prevent ribs 52 from bending or breaking when paddle 20 is in use.

Other embodiments of paddle 20 may include different layouts for rib system 50. For example, more or fewer ribs may be added. The spacing between each of the ribs on a paddle may be the same or the spacing between ribs may be non-uniform. Some embodiments may have ribs that are curved or circular. The density or spacing of ribs 52 at different portions of paddle 20 may affect how a playing object such as a ball rebounds from the paddle. For example, the sweet spot of the paddle is the portion of the paddle that transfers the greatest amount of momentum from the paddle to a ball or other playing object. This results in the ball having greater velocity when hit off the sweet spot compared to other parts of the paddle. The sweet spot of the paddle is often found at the balance point of the paddle.

The balance point of paddle 20 may be altered by changing the position of ribs 52. Therefore, the layout of ribs 52 may be designed to give the paddle 20 a balance point at a desired position. For example, placing more ribs near the end of paddle 20 moves the balance point toward the end of paddle 20, and placing more ribs 52 near handle 30 of paddle 20 moves the balance point closer to handle 30. Moving the balance point of paddle 20 moves the sweet spot of the paddle, so the sweet spot may be moved to an optimal location for where a player is most likely to hit the ball off of the paddle.

In addition to controlling the location and the size of the sweet spot of the paddle, the placement of ribs 52 may be used to selectively adjust the rebound characteristics of the different portions of paddle 20. Fewer ribs may be desired in places that are farther from the sweet spot of paddle 20 (see FIG. 6). Fewer ribs results in less rigidity and produces more rebound energy transferred to the ball from the paddle 20. This generates greater power to make up for power that is lost due to deflection of the paddle and inefficient transfer of momentum when missing the sweet spot.

For some paddles 20, more ribs 52 may be desired near the sweet spot of paddle 20. There is already greater rebound energy transferred to a ball when hit at the sweet spot compared to other portions of the paddle. Adding more ribs 20 at the sweet spot results in increased rigidity causing the paddle to transfer less rebound energy to the ball and generate less power on a shot. However, a player will have increased control on the direction of a shot when the ball is hit on a portion of the paddle 20 that is denser. It may be desirable to trade some of this greater rebound energy in exchange for the greater control provided by increased rigidity.

In other embodiments, it may be desired to have more ribs 52 near the edge of the paddle and fewer ribs 52 near the sweet spot of paddle 20 (see FIG. 7). This distribution of ribs 52 increases rigidity near the edge of the paddle 20 so that less rebound energy is transferred to the ball when a ball hits the edge of paddle 20. Fewer ribs 52 near the sweet spot of the paddle 20 decreases the rigidity of paddle 20 at the sweet spot so that paddle 20 transfers more rebound energy when a ball contacts the sweet spot. More rebound energy generates more power on a shot.

Additionally, varying the density of filler material 56 used in opening 54 may control the location of the balance point of the paddle 20 and the size of the sweet spot of paddle 20. Using denser filler material 56 in certain voids 54 of paddle 20 moves the balance point of paddle 20 toward those voids 54 that have the denser filler material 56. The filler material 56 used in voids 54 may also be used to selectively adjust the rebound characteristics of the different portions of paddle 20.

In some embodiments, filler material 56 may be added to all the voids 54, but in other embodiments, filler material 56 may only be inserted into some of the voids 54. Also, the type of material in each of the voids 54 within the same paddle may be varied. For example, the density of the filler material 56 used in each opening 54 may be different depending on the location of the void 54.

FIG. 8 shows an internal view of an embodiment of a paddle 120 with a rib system 150 that has a different layout than rib system 50 (see FIG. 2). All of the ribs 152 in rib system 150 extend parallel across rear shell 44 in the same direction, unlike rib system 50 where some of the ribs 52 cross to form a grid. Also, paddle 120 includes more ribs than paddle 20.

Paddles 20, 120 may be formed using a variety of methods. For example, paddle 20 may be made from separate pieces. Front shell 42 and rear shell 44 may be two separate sheets of material, such as plastic or carbon fiber, that are attached to rib system 50, or rib system 50 may be molded with one of the shells 42, 44 and the other shell 42, 44 is later attached. Likewise, handle 30 may be integrally formed with shells 42, 44, or may be formed as a separate piece that is later attached to blade 40.

As an example, rib system 50, front shell 42, and rear shell 44 may each be molded as separate pieces. Edges 62, 64 of ribs 52 may be heated, then front shell 42 is positioned on edges 62 and rear shell 44 is positioned on edges 64 under pressure. Ribs 52 are allowed to cool, attaching front shell 42 and rear shell 44 to rib system 50. Alternatively, instead of heating rib system 50, an adhesive may be used to attach rib system 50 to front shell 42 and rear shell 44.

In another example, rib system 50 and rear shell 44 are integrally molded as one piece, while front shell 42 is molded as a separate piece. The top edges 62 of ribs 52 are heated and front shell 42 is positioned on the heated edges 62 under pressure. Edges 62 of ribs 52 cool to attach front shell 42 to rib system 50 and rear shell 44. In other embodiments, rib system 50 may be integrally molded with front shell 42. Also, rib system 50 may be attached to front shell 42 using an adhesive rather than heat bonding.

In some embodiments, rib system 50 may contact only one of front shell 42 or rear shell 44 instead of contacting both front shell 42 and rear shell 44. For example, rib system 50 may be positioned so edges 62 are attached to front shell 42, but edges 64 do not touch rear shell 44. Instead, edges 64 float within the interior volume. This could cause paddle 20 to have opposing playing faces with different playing characteristics. Similar embodiments may have a rib system 50 that is attached to rear shell 44 but does not contact front shell 42. Still other embodiments may have some ribs 52 attached to front shell 42 but not contacting rear shell 44, and ribs attached to rear shell 44 that do not contact front shell 42.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

Claims

1. A paddle comprising:

a handle;
a blade including a length and a width extending from said handle, said blade including a front shell and a rear shell, wherein said front shell includes a planar front face and said rear shell includes a planar rear face opposite said front face, and wherein said blade defines a hollow interior volume between said front shell and said rear shell;
a rib system including a first pattern of parallel ribs and a second pattern of parallel ribs, wherein each of said ribs include a first edge and a second edge, wherein said first edges of said ribs join said front shell and said second edges of said ribs join said rear shell;
wherein each pattern of parallel ribs is perpendicular to a corresponding axis across the blade area, wherein the axis of the first pattern of ribs is non-parallel to the axis of the second pattern of ribs;
wherein at least one of said first pattern of ribs and said second pattern of ribs includes a plurality of ribs non-uniformly spaced along the corresponding axis;
wherein said rib system is located within said hollow interior portion and said rib system defines a plurality of voids between said ribs.

2. The paddle of claim 1, wherein said first pattern of ribs and said second pattern of ribs each includes a plurality of non-uniformly spaced parallel ribs along a corresponding axis.

3. The paddle of claim 1, wherein the axis of the first pattern of ribs is along the length of said blade, and wherein the axis of the second pattern of ribs is along the width of said blade.

4. The paddle of claim 1, wherein the ribs of said first plurality of parallel ribs are perpendicular to the ribs of said second plurality of parallel ribs to form a grid pattern.

5. The paddle of claim 1, wherein the ribs of said first plurality of parallel ribs are oblique to the ribs of said second plurality of parallel ribs so that said voids between said ribs are diamond shaped.

6. The paddle of claim 1, wherein said blade defines an area including an edge area and a center area along the axis of the non-uniformly spaced parallel ribs, and wherein the ribs in the pattern are distributed along the axis such that the spacing between the ribs near the center of the blade area is greater than the spacing between ribs near the edge area of the blade.

7. The paddle of claim 1, wherein said blade is made from a rigid, non-compressible material.

8. The paddle of claim 1, wherein the deflection of the blade is 0.005 inches or less when said blade is subjected to a force of 3 kg.

9. The paddle of claim 1, wherein the paddle has a length and a width, and wherein the combined length and width of the paddle does not exceed 24 inches.

10. The paddle of claim 1, comprising a filler material inserted into at least one of said voids between said ribs.

11. The paddle of claim 10, wherein said filler material is inserted into each of said voids between said ribs.

12. The paddle of claim 10, wherein said filler material is foam.

13. The paddle of claim 10, wherein said filler material is rubber.

14. The paddle of claim 1, comprising:

a first filler material inserted into at least one of said voids between said ribs;
a second filler material inserted into at least one of a different one of said voids between said ribs; and,
wherein the density of said first filler material is different than said density of said second filler material.

15. The paddle of claim 1, wherein said ribs are formed from carbon fibers impregnated with a resin.

16. A paddle comprising:

a handle;
a blade extending from said handle including an edge area and a center area, said blade including a front shell and a rear shell, wherein said front shell includes a planar front face and said rear shell includes a planar rear face opposite said front face, and wherein said blade defines a hollow interior volume between said front shell and said rear shell;
a rib system including a plurality of ribs positioned in said hollow interior volume between said front shell and said rear shell;
wherein said ribs are parallel and perpendicular to an axis across the blade area, and wherein said ribs are non-uniformly spaced along the axis.

17. The paddle of claim 16, wherein the spacing between ribs along the axis near the center area of the blade is greater than the spacing between ribs near the edge area of the blade.

18. The paddle of claim 16, wherein the spacing between ribs along the axis near the edge area of the blade is greater than the spacing between ribs near the center area of the blade.

19. The paddle of claim 16, wherein said rib system defines a plurality of voids between said ribs and wherein a filler material is inserted into at least one of said voids between said ribs.

20. The paddle of claim 19, comprising:

a first filler material inserted into at least one of said voids between said ribs;
a second filler material inserted into at least one of a different one of said voids between said ribs; and,
wherein the density of said first filler material is different than said density of said second filler material.
Patent History
Publication number: 20170021248
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 20, 2016
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2017
Inventor: ERIC MARVIN (Evansville, IN)
Application Number: 15/214,948
Classifications
International Classification: A63B 59/42 (20060101); A63B 59/45 (20060101);