PADDLE HAVING A RECESSED HITTING SURFACE FOR PADDLE AND BALL-BASED SPORTS

A paddle for use in a paddle and ball-based sport such as pickleball comprises a handle, a blade and a throat connecting the handle to the blade. The blade has a hitting surface which is continuous, devoid of apertures or indentations. The blade is thinner in its center than on its periphery, and may be completely concave or have a flat inner region surrounded by a concave periphery. The throat may comprise an aperture through the thickness of the paddle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of sport equipment. More specifically, the invention relates to a paddle for use in a paddle and ball-based sport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong where a paddle and a hollow plastic ball with holes are used. The sport was conceived in the 1960's in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Pickleball has rapidly gained acceptance in recent years. Its ease of play, low impact appeals to a wide range of people, from kids to senior citizens, providing an opportunity to socialize. The popularity of pickleball burst into the mainstream with the USA Pickleball Association's membership reaching 10,000 in 2015 with as many as 2 million playing nationwide at that time. The number of people playing pickleball grew by 159% over three years to 8.9 million in 2022. It is estimated that the pickleball equipment market reached a value of $518.98 million in 2022 and is projected to reach $1,063.66 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.52% from 2024 to 2030. As of now, pickleball is the fastest growing sport in North America.

The game is played by swinging a pickleball paddle to strike a hollow plastic ball. The paddles are made of rigid non-compressible materials, including but not limited to wood, plastic, aluminum, fiberglass, polymer composites, graphite, and carbon fibers. General physical characteristics of a pickleball paddle include a handle portion for gripping the paddle that provides leverage and a head or blade portion with a solid flat hitting face on each side for striking the perforated pickleball. These solid flat hitting surfaces however create much air resistance to stroking movement and impair accuracy of the movement.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,896 to Holmes is for a racquet with incurvate contact surfaces having apertures and texturing. Holmes' design is disadvantageous in that the apertures in the hitting surface of the racquet weaken the internal support of the racquet and create a hitting surface that would impart an inconsistent force reaction to a pickleball ball. Indeed, the apertures would produce dead spots that could not be avoided, especially when an aperture in the paddle aligns with a hole in a pickleball ball.

Australian patent 37281/89 to Cvetkovic discloses a vaulted tennis and/or squash racquet with concavities on both sides. However, the use of strings or netting inherently creates apertures in the hitting surface, making it unsuitable for striking pickleballs.

There is therefore a need for an improved paddle suitable for sports such as pickleball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a paddle for paddle and ball-based sports that overcomes or mitigates one or more disadvantages of known paddles.

The invention provides the advantages of improved directional control, spin and speed of the ball.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a paddle for use in a paddle and ball-based sports. The paddle, which extends along a length, a width and a thickness direction, comprises a handle, a blade and a throat connecting the handle to the blade. The blade has a hitting surface which is continuous, that is it is devoid of apertures or indentations. The blade is thinner in its center than on its periphery.

Optionally, the throat may comprise an aperture extending through the thickness.

The hitting surface may be at least partially concave or completely concave.

The hitting surface may comprise a central portion and a peripheral portion where the central portion may be substantially flat. The peripheral portion may be substantially concave or it may be flat and angled with respect to the central portion. The central portion may extend up to the aperture and its thickness may gradually decrease towards the aperture.

The blade may comprise two identical hitting surfaces located on opposite sides of the blade.

The hitting surface may be smooth, rigid and non-compressible.

The paddle may have a first combined dimension corresponding to a sum of the length and of the width of the paddle. A value of the first combined dimension may be at most 24 inches (60.96 cm). The length of the paddle may be at most 17 inches (43.19 cm).

The paddle may have a second combined dimension corresponding to a sum of a blade length and a throat length, the second combined dimension being at least twice as long as a handle length.

The paddle may be a pickleball paddle.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a paddle for use in a paddle and ball-based sports. The paddle, which extends along a length, a width and a thickness direction, comprises a handle, a blade and a throat connecting the handle to the blade. The blade, which has a continuous hitting surface, a center and a periphery, is thinner in the center than on the periphery. The throat comprises an aperture extending through the thickness.

The hitting surface may be partially or completely concave.

The hitting surface may comprise a central portion and a peripheral portion. The central portion may be substantially flat and the peripheral portion may be substantially concave. The central portion may extend up to the aperture and its thickness may gradually decrease towards the aperture.

The blade may comprise two identical hitting surfaces, each one of the two identical hitting surfaces being located on an opposite side of the blade.

The blade may comprise an embedded core.

The central portion may extend approximately 90 mm (3.5 in) widthwise and at least 135 mm (5.3 in) lengthwise.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paddle for use in a paddle and ball-based sport such as pickleball. The paddle has a recessed hitting surface, such as a concave surface, and may incorporate a vent to let air flow through the paddle.

FIGS.1,1A,1B,2,2A and2B, depict two related embodiments of the present invention. A paddle1or101, in the present case a pickleball paddle, comprises a blade2, a handle8and an intermediate throat12connecting the handle8to the blade2. The paddle1is suitable for use with a ball, such as the pickleball ball18shown inFIG.5.

As best shown inFIGS.1A and1B, the paddle1of a first embodiment is provided with an inner core5covered by an outer layer6on each side14,15of the core5. The use of such a core5is optional and the paddle1could be solid inside. Although manufacturing a paddle with a solid interior is cheaper, a lighter paddle results from using a light core5and is often used for performance paddles. When a core is used, the core5is typically of a constant thickness for cost and performance reasons, and each outer layer6has a flat inner surface7that contacts the core. A flat and constant thickness core5provides a relatively uniform level of support and energy transfer to all areas of the outer layer6. The core5is typically made of honeycomb polymers, foam, pressurized air pockets, etc.

On its exterior face, each outer layer6has a solid, continuous, smooth and seamless hitting surface13. In the present application, continuous shall be understood to mean devoid of apertures or indentations. This solid hitting surface13without perforations maximizes the contact area between the paddle1and the ball18, therefore achieving greater friction between the two. Additionally, the hitting surfaces13(one on each side of the paddle1) contribute to the strength, stability, and performance of the blade2. As the hitting surfaces13have no apertures, thinner, higher performing and lighter weight materials can be used than would be possible with an apertured surface. The outer layers6are made of a rigid and non-compressible material and are typically harder than the core5. Non-compressible herein means that a hitting surface13is not significantly deformed by the striking of a ball such as pickleball ball18, as opposed to the strings of a tennis or badminton racquet, or to the spongy surface of a ping-pong paddle. The outer layers6may be made of materials such as fiberglass, polymer composites, graphite, and carbon fibers, using various known techniques such as injection molding, vacuum forming, machining, 3D printing, etc.

As can be observed inFIGS.1A,1B and2A,2B, the thickness of each outer layer6varies such that the hitting surface13is thinner in its center10than on its outer edge or periphery9. In other words, the hitting surface13is generally recessed, thereby increasing the area of the hitting surface13compared to a standard flat hitting surface. Increased contact area typically improves friction, control, and spin applied by the paddle1to the ball18. As is known in the art, there is a range of incident angles at which the paddle1better “grips” the ball18, i.e. when a degree of friction is higher. When the angle of the blade2is too shallow with respect to the ball direction, e.g. near parallel to the ball direction, the ball will slide more easily along the surface of the paddle. When the angle of the blade2is perpendicular to the direction of movement, there will be no slip relative to the hitting surface13. Somewhere in between, there is a transition range of angles where the ball decreasingly slides and increasingly grips to the hitting surface13. Consequently, for a given striking angle of the paddle1, the central portion3may be at a first angle where the ball slides while for the same striking angle of the paddle1, the peripheral portion4may be at a second angle at which the ball grips the hitting surface13. Hence, the depth of the recessed hitting surface13may vary, with greater depth intensifying a slide to grip transition of the ball18. Each outer layer6may be made of one or more pieces. For example, it may be made of a single piece that is thinnest in the center10, or in the central portion3, and which is increasingly thicker in the peripheral portion4towards the edge or periphery9. Alternatively, the outer layer6may be of a constant thickness, extending over both the flat central portion3and the concave peripheral portion4, while the increased thickness towards the periphery9is achieved using one of two ways. One embodiment includes a peripheral wedge positioned in the peripheral portion4, between the flat core5and the outer layer6, gradually increasing in thickness towards the periphery9and thereby increasing its thickness and stiffness. In another embodiment, the outer layer6is still of a uniform thickness over the flat central portion3and the concave peripheral portion4, while the core5adopts a non-uniform thickness, gradually increasing in thickness in the peripheral portion4from the central portion3towards the periphery9. The exact design of the recessed hitting surface13may have variants, each variant providing different advantages.

For example,FIGS.2,2A and2Bdepict a variant ofFIGS.1,1A and1Bwhere the paddle101has a hitting surface113having the shape of a dish or bowl across its entire surface, thereby providing a fully concave hitting surface113. This particular shape deflects air from the periphery109of the blade102to the central portion103, improving paddle stability.

It may also be noted that paddle101is not depicted with a core to better highlight other features of the invention. A core, similar to the core5of the first embodiment could, however, be used. The same is applicable for other embodiments described later for paddles201and301as well.

The embodiment depicted inFIGS.1,1A and1Bis actually a variant of the embodiment depicted inFIGS.2,2A and2B. Indeed, the hitting surface13is partially concave in the sense that it is shaped like a truncated concave hitting surface. Whereas hitting surface113of the embodiment ofFIGS.2,2A and2Bis fully concave, the hitting surface13has a substantially flat central portion3surrounded by a concave peripheral portion4. As best shown inFIGS.1A and1B, a thickness of the peripheral portion4increases from the flat central portion3towards the periphery9of the hitting surface13. In a variant, instead of being concave and have a curved cross-section, the peripheral portion4may have a gradient that is rectilinear and angled with respect to the central portion3and thereby have a rectilinear and angled cross-section. In both cases, the peripheral portion4connects the central portion3to the periphery9and runs all around the central portion3. This is depicted inFIGS.1A and1Bin which it can be seen that the cross section of the peripheral portion4is continuously curved in both the lengthwise and widthwise directions. It should be noted that when the central portion3is flat, a transition between this flat central portion3and the peripheral portion4is preferably smooth and seamless.

What is commonly known as a sweet spot corresponds to an area of the hitting surface that transfers an optimal amount of energy from the paddle to the ball18as they come into contact. Generally, the area of the hitting surface corresponding to the sweet spot is centered on the center of the blade and gradually diminishes towards the periphery, where power dwindles. Hence, the limits of the sweet spot are not exactly defined and may vary from one model of paddle to another.

It is common knowledge in the art that hitting the ball with the sweet spot of the paddle produces the most desirable rebound reaction of the ball and that when the ball is hit outside the sweet spot, its rebound reaction is dull in comparison. It is also a common belief in the art that thicker paddles have a softer play feel. Consequently, one would expect the sweet spot17,117of the paddle1,101of the instant invention to be reduced due to its thicker blade2,102at the periphery9,109. It was therefore an unexpected discovery that the design of the present paddle provides an enlarged sweet spot17,117. This enlarged sweet spot17,117is made possible by providing a hitting surface13,113having a central portion3,103recessed with respect to the thickness of the blade2,102at the periphery9,109, or with respect to the peripheral portion4. In other words, the thickness of the blade2,102at the central portion3,103is less than the thickness of the blade2,102at its periphery9,109and that allows an enlarged sweet spot17,117with respect to prior art paddles having a blade of constant thickness.

The expansion of the sweet spot17,117area is attributed to the increase in thickness of the outer layer6,106along the periphery9,109. This increased thickness along the perimeter of the blade2,102provides enhanced mass and stiffness, which increases from the central portion3,103towards the periphery9,109. Consequently, the increased mass and stiffness of the hitting surface13,113proportionally contributes to an increase in the energy transferred from the paddle1,101to the ball18, effectively enlarging the sweet spot17,117of the paddle1,101.

The thickness of the outer layer6,106may vary depending on the type of material used. For example, this thickness may be in the range of 0.30 mm to 0.9 mm for an outer layer made of carbon fiber or other types of fiber reinforced composite materials. For lower end paddles made of non-reinforced plastics, the outer layer may be approximately 1 mm or more. Typically, however, the outer layer thickness varies between 0.25 mm to 2.0 mm, preferably between 0.25 mm to 1.0 mm.

A thickness ratio between the thinnest portion in the central portion3,103and the thickest portion at the periphery9,109, is preferably between 1:1.1 and 1:2.5. However, different ratios may be experimented with inasmuch as they provide the desired results.

The blade2,102may be composed of two identical hitting surfaces13,113each located on an opposite side of the blade2,102as depicted inFIGS.1A and2A. It is, however, possible that the two hitting surfaces13,113on either side14,15of the blade2and114,115of the blade102are different, providing different characteristics to each side of the blade.

The dimensions of the central portion3of the blade2may vary in dimension, providing a smaller or larger proportion of the hitting surface13that is flat. In a non-limiting example, the central portion3of the blade2measures approximately 90 mm (3.54 in) widthwise and 135 mm (5.3 in) lengthwise.

In action, when the pickleball paddle1,101collides with the pickleball ball18on the flat central portion3,103while being pronated, the ball18slides or rolls on the flat central portion3,103and gradually transitions towards the periphery9,109. The increasing slope of the curved peripheral portion4,104accelerates a transition to better grip the ball18. The improved grip increases the rebound spin rate of the ball18and enhances the spin performance capability of the paddle. Greater top spin will increase a downward curved trajectory that will enable faster ball speed while staying within the boundary lines of the court. Faster bottom spin revolutions induce greater lift so that the ball18will stay in the air longer and drop further from launch. Increased spin rate will make the ball18more difficult for the opponent to return, because of reactions when the ball18strikes the ground or hitting surface13,113.

Spin is induced in the ball18by forcing the ball18to move from the flat central portion3, or concave central portion103, towards the peripheral portion4,104of the paddle. Having such an angled or raising peripheral portion4,104(with respect to the central portion3,103) allows decreasing paddle angle adjustments by the player and potentially reduces the risk of errors by the player.

FIGS.3,3A and3B, depict another embodiment of the present invention related to that depicted inFIGS.1,1A and1B. In this embodiment, the blade202and the handle208, as well as the working principles, are similar to those of the blade2and the handle8already described for the embodiment ofFIGS.1-1Band their description will therefore not be repeated herein. The hitting surface213of theFIG.3paddle comprises a flat central portion203and an angled or concave peripheral portion204. The throat212, however, differs from that of the previously described embodiments in that it comprises an aperture216which extends through the thickness of the paddle201. As can be seen, the flat central portion203extends up to the aperture216, which functions as a vent, while the peripheral portion204surrounds the aperture216, thereby extending up to the throat212. This design somewhat blends together the blade202and the throat212portions. The aperture216is located in the throat212and, as depicted inFIG.3A, outside the hitting surface213, near the handle208. This disposition is preferred so as not to interfere with the ball18. The aperture216is intended to let air flow from a high-pressure side of the blade202(the side with which the ball18is struck, or the side that faces a direction of movement) to a low-pressure side of the blade202, thereby reducing air resistance and allowing a faster and more consistent movement of the paddle and reducing induced fatigue in a player. The raised peripheral portion204contributes to directing the air towards the central portion203which, in turn, acts as a channel directing air towards the aperture216. To further help in channeling air towards the aperture216, the flat central portion203may taper (e.g. its thickness decreases) towards the aperture216, as is best shown inFIG.3A.

Similarly to the central portion3of the embodiment ofFIG.1, the central portion203may vary in dimension. In a non-limiting example, the central portion203also measures approximately 90 mm (3.54 in) widthwise, but extends more than 135 mm (5.3 in) lengthwise as it reaches up to the aperture216.

In action, the player holding the paddle201by the handle208swings the paddle201at an incident angle to impact the ball18with the hitting surface213. This movement generates wind resistance and creates a wake, imparting drag forces on the paddle201. Further, natural wind forces, including ambient wind, and wind gusts onto the blade202may impart erratic drag and misdirection to the paddle stroke. Advantageously, the up-wind recessed hitting surface213cups wind, redirects air to the central portion203, and funnels this air through the vent216, thereby releasing air pressure on the up-wind side (high pressure side). This combination of features thereby results in a lower drag coefficient of the paddle201. Moreover, the vent216consolidates pressure release near the hand of the player, thereby increasing paddle control. This combination results in smoother and faster swing strokes with less drag, reduced interference from wind forces, and improved aerodynamic stability of the paddle201.

FIGS.4,4A and4B, depict yet another embodiment of the present invention closely related to that depicted inFIGS.2,2A and2B. In this embodiment, the blade302and the handle308, as well as the working principles, are similar to those of the blade102and the handle108already described for the embodiment ofFIGS.2,2A and2Band their description will therefore not be repeated. The hitting surface313is completely concave, similarly to that of hitting surface113of paddle101. Different from the throat112of paddle101but similar to the throat212of paddle201, the throat312comprises an aperture316which extends through the thickness of the paddle at the throat312. As with the embodiment ofFIGS.3,3A and3B, when swinging the paddle301, the up-wind recessed hitting surface313cups wind, redirects air to the central portion303, and funnels this air through the vent316, thereby releasing air pressure on the up-wind side (high pressure side). Again, this combination of features thereby results in a lower drag coefficient of the paddle301. Similarly, the vent316consolidates pressure release near the hand of the player, thereby increasing paddle control. This combination also results in smoother and faster swing strokes with less drag, reduced interference from wind forces, and improved aerodynamic stability of the paddle301. Paddle301otherwise works similarly to the other paddles1,101and201described herein.

In any of the disclosed embodiments, the paddle1,101,201,301, if it is intended to be used as a pickleball paddle, may have a first combined dimension, which corresponds to a sum of its length and of its width, of at most 24 inches (60.96 cm). The length of the paddle may be at most 17 inches (43.19 cm). A second combined dimension corresponds to a sum of a length of the blade2with a length of the throat12,112,212,312. This second combined dimension may be at least twice the length of the handle8,108,208,308.

The present invention has been described with regard to preferred embodiments. The description as much as the drawings are intended to help the understanding of the invention, rather than to limit its scope. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the present description. The invention is defined by the claims that follow.