TELESCOPING DEVICE FOR A PADDLE

Abstract

A device for use with a paddle including a telescoping device coupled to a paddle at an end of the paddle and collapsible into the end of the paddle and the telescoping device having a picker on a first end of the telescoping device wherein the picker is configured to attach to an aperture in a ball.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 63/202,363, filed Jun. 8, 2021, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sporting equipment, and more particularly to a multipurpose pickleball paddle comprising a built-in mechanical device that permits the user to pick up a ball without bending over.

Conventional pickleball paddles are too short to pick up a pickleball without bending over. When playing pickleball, in order to pick up a pickleball, a pickleball player must bend over to pick up the pickleball. There is no existing solution to this problem.

Normal pickleball paddles are too short for a player to use to pick up the ball: the player is therefore unable to pick up a ball without bending over. As can be seen, there is a need for a device, extendable from a pickleball paddle capable of assisting the user in picking up a pickleball without having to bend over.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a device for use with a paddle comprises a telescoping device coupled to a paddle at an end of the paddle and collapsible into the end of the paddle and the telescoping device having a picker on a first end of the telescoping device wherein the picker is configured to attach to an aperture in a ball.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a pickleball paddle with a telescoping device in a stored position according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of FIG. 3 with the telescoping device in an extended position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pickleball paddle with the telescoping device in the extended position shown in use according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a picker according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a picker thereof;

and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a third embodiment of a picker thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims with reference to the drawings.

A general overview of the various features of the invention will be provided, with a detailed description following. Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a telescoping, mechanical device configured coupled to or couplable to a paddle, such as a pickleball paddle, that permits a user to pick up a ball without bending over. The telescoping device may be collapsible into a first position for storage (or a storage position) and extendable into a second position for use (or an extended position).

The present invention may permit a user to extend the device from the first position to the second position. While extended and in the second position, the user may operate the device to pick up a pickleball ball by a picker on a first end of the telescoping device, advantageously, without bending over. The user may then return the device to the first storage position to use the paddle for playing pickleball.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the device may be integral to or integrated with a pickleball paddle. In other embodiments, the present invention may be constructed and arranged to be provided as a separate attachment or attachments to be installed by purchasers or users on their own pickleball paddles.

In some embodiments, the telescoping device may be mounted or integrated in a different position into the paddleball paddle. For example, the telescoping device may extend from a top of the paddleball paddle or from the handle of the pickleball paddle.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the device may extend into a second position when actuated by the user. The user may eject the telescoping device from the paddle by means of a button or push button. The push button may enable the telescoping device to extend or retract by mechanical or electrical forces. For example, the device may be spring loaded. In such embodiments, the device may be pressured by a spring when in the storage position and may extend into the extended position at a touch of the button which releases the telescoping device from the storage position. In some embodiments, the push button may be in electronic communication with a motor. The motor may be configured to eject or retract the telescoping device. The motor may be housed within a handle of the paddle.

When in use, the user may extend the telescoping device from the pickleball paddle, utilize the device to retrieve a pickleball ball in an ergonomically friendly manner, and then retract the device into the paddle.

In some embodiments, the present invention may include a locking mechanism to prevent the device from being deployed into the second position during regular use of the pickleball paddle. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism may be provided by friction. In some embodiments, the push button may be configured to release the telescoping device from the collapsed position by releasing the locking mechanism.

The extending mechanism of the present invention may have a picker on its end. The picker may be a hook, a cup, or a sphere. The picker may be configured to attach to or pick up pickleball balls.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a pickleball paddle 10 comprises a handle 12, a frame 14, a paddle 16, and a telescoping device 18. The telescoping device 18 is in a collapsed position, not extended from the pickleball paddle 10. A picker 18A extends from a first end of the telescoping device 18.

In FIGS. 4-6, the telescoping device 18 is in an extended position, extended from inside of the paddle 16 through an opening 20 on a top end of the pickleball paddle 10. As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the picker 18A retrieves a pickleball 22 by insertion of the picker 18A into an aperture 22A in the pickleball 22.

FIG. 7 gives a detailed view of the picker 18A according to an embodiment of the present invention. The picker 18A is an L shaped and extends from the telescoping device 18. The picker 18A may be exchanged with a second embodiment of the picker 18B or a third embodiment of the picker 18C, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively. In some embodiments, the pickers 18A, 18B, 18C may be releasably exchanged and interchangeable. The second embodiment of the picker 18B may be a half sphere or a reverse plunger. The third embodiment of the picker 18C may be a sphere. The sphere may include barbs 19. The barbs 19 may assist with attaching to the pickleball 22.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for use with a paddle comprising:

a telescoping device coupled to a paddle at an end of the paddle and collapsible into the end of the paddle; and

the telescoping device having a picker on a first end of the telescoping device wherein the picker is configured to attach to an aperture in a ball.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the picker is an L shape.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the picker is a half sphere.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the picker is a sphere.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the telescoping device is integrated into the paddle.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the telescoping device is configured to be installed into the paddle by a purchaser.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a button on a handle of the paddle configured to release the telescoping device from a collapsed position within the end of the paddle.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the button is operative to mechanically ejecting the telescoping device from the collapsed position into an extended position by a spring.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the button is in electronic communication with a motor wherein the motor is configured to eject the telescoping device from the collapsed position into an extended position.