OPEN THROAT PADDLE

Abstract

A paddle includes a head. The head includes a pair of oppositely facing playing surfaces, and an opening passing through both of the pair of oppositely facing playing surfaces. The opening extends bilaterally across a central axis through the head of the paddle. A handle is attached to the head.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/290,461, filed on Dec. 16, 2021, and titled “OPEN THROAT PADDLE,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The disclosure herein relates to a paddle for a ball and paddle sport, such as pickleball. While other sports such as tennis have been known to have a paddle that has an open throat, pickleball paddles have not generally. As the sport begins to become more open to the idea of allowing an open throat paddle, those involved may find advantages to such and/or may develop ways to create such.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Detailed Description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items. Furthermore, the drawings may be considered as providing an approximate depiction of the relative sizes of the individual components within individual figures. However, the drawings are not to scale, and the relative sizes of the individual components, both within individual figures and between the different figures, may vary from what is depicted. In particular, some of the figures may depict components as a certain size or shape, while other figures may depict the same components on a larger scale or differently shaped for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of an open throat paddle, according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the open throat paddle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the open throat paddle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of another open throat paddle according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the open throat paddle of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

This disclosure is more specifically directed to a pickleball paddle having an opening, i.e., aperture, through-hole, void, etc., through a lower end of the paddle face, near the handle. The opening goes all the way through the paddle so as to be open through both playable faces (i.e., front and back) of the paddle. Note, for clarity, the opposing playable faces of the paddle discussed herein are the largest two opposing planar faces of the paddle body. Moreover, though referred to herein as “first” and “second” or “front” and “back,” such labels are merely used for the sake of orienting the reader to assist in defining the structure of the paddle. Nevertheless, the labels are not intended to definitively mean that one face is a “front” face and the other is a “back” face as if to assert that a player using the paddle could only play with the “front” face facing forward in the act of playing the game of pickleball. Rather, in play, either of the opposing faces are equally usable for gameplay.

In an embodiment, the opening may be disposed at a portion of the paddle faces that is within a lower third of the opposing playable paddle faces (front and back). That is, an opening may be confined to a dimensional area (i.e., larger or smaller) within the lower third of a paddle face between the edging and the predominant playing surface above the aperture. The dimensional area of the opening may be limited to a certain percentage of the total area of the lower third of the faces of the paddle.

In an embodiment, the inside peripheral borders of the opening may be reinforced. For example, adhesive, additional material, structured reinforcement measures such taping, rigid border seals, and other materials distinct from those existing in the rest of the paddle face may be used to strengthen the border of the aperture.

In an embodiment, the opening in the paddle face may improve the performance of the user and the paddle. For example, the opening reduces the air resistance and drag on the paddle surface when a user swings the paddle. Accordingly, possible advantages of the opening include: increasing a user's ability to control the paddle, providing the option of a faster swing, increased power in the hit, and modification of the position, size, and dynamic characteristics of the paddle's sweetspot (i.e., a location on a paddle where the ball engages the paddle at the peak hit effectiveness).

Illustrative Embodiments of Paddle with an Opening

In an embodiment, FIG. 1 depicts a paddle 100, which may be used as a pickleball paddle. The paddle 100 includes a head 102 with which the ball is to be hit during play, and a handle 104 with which to hold the paddle 100 during play. The portion of the head 102 at which the head 102 transitions to the handle 104 may be considered (for the sake of convenience here) a transition portion 106 (i.e., the throat). Nevertheless, the transition portion 106 is still considered part of the head 102. Moreover, the head may be defined by a first playing surface 108 that is oriented to face opposite a second playing surface 110, which sandwich a core therebetween (not expressly shown). The first playing surface 108 and the second playing surface 110 may be separated by a predetermined distance, and which space is maintained in part due to the density of the core, and all of which is surrounded side edge support 112. The core between the first playing surface 108 and the second playing surface 110 may be formed in various manners—varying even among a single manufacturer of paddles depending on the type or characteristics desired. However, none of the methods of formation of the core or the materials of the core are relevant in this particular disclosure.

In an embodiment, the first playing surface 108 and the second playing surface 110 have an opening 114 (e.g., aperture, through hole, hole, void, gap, empty space, etc.) that passes completely through both surfaces 108, 110. The perimeter of the opening 114 may further be coated, sealed, or other covered with an inner cover 116. The inner cover 116 may provide structural support to reduce the risk of causing damage to the core of the paddle 100 during play.

The opening 114, as shown, is wholly contained within approximately a lower third portion 102a of the head 102 of the paddle 100. The term “approximately” as used with respect to defining the lower third portion 102a may include a range of the paddle surface area of the head 102 that extends from the handle 104 (through the transition portion 106) up toward the upper edge of the head 102, which range extends as much as 5% greater than a third (i.e., 33%) of the length of the head 102. Accordingly, in an embodiment, the opening 114 may extend within the transition portion 106, which is located in the lower third portion 102a of the head 102, and may not extend into the upper two thirds portion 102b of the head 102.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, it is contemplated that a single opening (either alone or as an additional opening in combination with an opening defined as opening 114), or a pair of symmetrically spaced openings, may extend into the upper two thirds portion 102b of the head 102. In such an embodiment of symmetrically spaced openings, the openings may be confined within opposing, laterally-spaced, third portions of the paddle 100 in the lateral direction (i.e., adjacent opposite lateral sides of the paddle). Note the lateral direction is considered to extend transversely to the direction of extension between the lower third portion 106a and the upper two thirds portion 106b.

In an embodiment, the opening 114 may be considered to be in the “throat” area of the paddle 100. In the example of a pickleball paddle, such paddles are known to have an entirely of the head formed as a playable surface. In the instant disclosure, however, the opening 114 is fully contained in the frame of the head, in the playing surface area (i.e., within the first playing surface 108 and the second playing surface 110) of the paddle 100. That is, the opening 114 passes directly through the playing surfaces 108, 110 and the core materials, creating a void. Thus, the remaining portions of the head 102 (i.e., the playing surfaces 108, 110 and core materials therebetween), next to the opening that abut the side edge 112 of the paddle 100, still contain core materials and are not modified to be structural reinforced frame elements, like the frames found in a traditional tennis racket having an open throat. Moreover, unlike a tennis racket with a hole in the “throat” of the racket where there is no string anyway, the paddle 100 has an opening 114 in framed playing area, and as such, actually reduces the amount of surface from which a user might have otherwise engaged a ball during play.

Despite the reduction in playable surface area on the head 102, unique improvements are found in the paddle 100. In an embodiment, the placement of opening 114 as described above, which is directly in the first playing surface 108 and the second playing surface 110, may create a different sweetspot and provide additional advantages, some of which are described above. For example, the sweetspot may be displaced further up the head 102 of the paddle 100 and/or, in some instances, the size of the sweetspot may be actually reduced in size. However, it is contemplated that paddles with openings such as opening 114 make have the sweetspot increase in size and/or the sweetspot may be displaced lower on the head 102 of the paddle. The potential alteration of the sweetspot on the paddle 100 may further depend on other characteristics, such as the material and structure of the core, and/or the shape of the opening 114, and/or the orientation/size of the opening 114.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, opening 114 may be the sole opening in the entire paddle. Further, the voided area that defines the opening 114 is significant in size when compared to a ball for pickleball, for example. That is, during play with the paddle 100, the opening 114 is so large that, in the event a ball hits the center or the perimeter of the opening 114, the user will likely have little controllability of the direction desired for the return of the ball. Accordingly, the opening 114 may be the sole opening on the paddle 100 (as shown) to avoid further reduction of the playable area on the first playing surface 108 and the second playing surface 110. Nevertheless, in exchange for the reduction of quality playable surface area on the head 102, other advantages are included as mentioned above.

In addition to the above defining characteristics, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening 114 has a perimeter that extends bilaterally across a central axis “A” of the paddle on both of the first playing surface 108 and the second playing surface 110. In other words, compared to a mere perforation (as with padel sport paddles, for example), the opening 114 may extend bilaterally across a substantial amount of the lateral width of the head 102. In an embodiment, the amount of the width of the head 102 across which the opening 114 may extend ranges from 25% to 85%. Therefore, considering the information given above regarding the vertical expanse (i.e., height) of the opening 114 being limited to the lower third portion 102b of the head 102 (i.e., 33%), it is conceivable that the size of the opening 114 is significant.

In an embodiment, the significance of the overall size including the vertical expanse and the lateral expanse (i.e., width) of the opening 114 may be quantified as follows. For example, an average height (H) of the shape of the opening 114 may be about 2 inches (e.g., +/−0.25 inches). In other embodiments, the average height (H) may range from 0.5 inch to 3 inches; from 1 inch to 2.5 inches; or from 1.5 inches to 2 inches. Inasmuch as the height (H) varies along the width (W) direction of the opening 114, the average height (H) may be determined as the average of the sum of the distances measured from top to bottom of the void in the opening 114 in the head 102.

Likewise, an average width (W) of the shape of the opening 114 may be about 4 inches (e.g., +/−0.25 inches). In other embodiments, the average width (W) may range from 1.5 inches to 5 inches; from 2 inches to 4.5 inches; from 2.5 inches to 4 inches; or from 3 inches to 3.5 inches. Inasmuch as the width (W) varies along the height (H) direction of the opening 114, the average width (W) may be determined as the average of the sum of the distances measured from lateral side to lateral side of the void in the opening 114 in the head 102.

Further, the shape of the opening 114 may differ from what is depicted in the figures, as the shapes depicted are merely exemplary. Thus, while the shape of the opening 114, as shown, may be symmetrical about one or more axes along the paddle 100 (e.g., along A), and/or may conform with a standard geometric shape (e.g., triangle, square, ellipsis, etc.) (see FIGS. 4 and 5), the perimetric shape of the opening 114 may form shapes other than traditional triangular, rhomboidal, or circular shapes found as apertures in the playing faces of known rackets for sports such as tennis, padel, squash, etc. Such non-traditional shapes may include irregular shapes including: the “banana-like” shape depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, shapes of logos, unsymmetrical shapes, etc.

FIG. 2 illustrates the planar rear view of the embodiment of paddle 100 in FIG. 1, thereby confirming the opening 114 extends through both of the first playing surface 108 and the second playing surface 110. FIG. 3 depicts a side view of paddle 100 for reference.

In FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of a paddle 400 is illustrated, in which FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of paddle 400, and FIG. 5 depicts a planar front view of paddle 400. The paddle 400 has a playing surface 402 and an opening 404. The shape 406 of opening 404 is different than that depicted of opening 114 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the opening in a paddle according to the instant disclosure may vary according to desired characteristics and sizes by the manufacturer.

CONCLUSION

Although several embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.

Claims

1. A paddle comprising:

a head including: a pair of oppositely facing playing surfaces, and an opening passing through both of the pair of oppositely facing playing surfaces, the opening extending bilaterally across a central axis through the head of the paddle; and

a handle attached to the head.

2. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the opening is confined within the lower third portion of the head.

3. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the opening does not extend into an area including an upper two thirds portion of the paddle.

4. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the opening is sized to extend across a width of the head in a range from 25% to 85% of an entire width dimension of the paddle.

5. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the opening has an average width ranging from 1.5 inches to 5 inches.

6. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the opening has an average height ranging from 0.5 inches to 3 inches.

7. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the opening is shaped as a triangular shape.

8. The paddle according to claim 1, wherein the opening is shaped as a company logo.

9. A paddle comprising:

a head including a playing surface;

an opening passing through playing surface, the opening extending bilaterally across a central axis through the head of the paddle, and the opening being confined within a lower third portion of the playing surface of the head; and

a handle attached to the head.

10. The paddle according to claim 9, wherein the opening extends in a throat of the paddle.

11. The paddle according to claim 9, wherein a sweetspot of the paddle is displaced upward toward a top end of the head due to the opening.

12. The paddle according to claim 9, wherein the paddle the opening reduces air resistance on the head of the paddle.

13. The paddle according to claim 9, wherein an average height of the opening is about 2 inches.

14. The paddle according to claim 9, wherein an average width of the opening is about 4 inches.

15. The paddle according to claim 9, wherein the playing surface of an upper two thirds portion of the head is continuous.

16. A paddle comprising:

a head including a playing surface;

an opening passing through playing surface, the opening extending bilaterally across a central axis through the head of the paddle, and the opening having an average width ranging from 1.5 inches to 5 inches, and an average height ranging from 0.5 inches to 3 inches; and

a handle attached to the head.

17. The paddle according to claim 16, wherein a perimetric shape of the opening is one of triangular, rhomboidal, or circular.

18. The paddle according to claim 16, wherein the opening extends no higher on the head than approximately 33% from the handle upward.

19. The paddle according to claim 16, wherein the opening extends no wider than 85% of a lateral width of the head.

20. The paddle according to claim 16, wherein a perimetric shape of the opening is non-triangular, non-rhomboidal, and non-circular.