Abstract:
An adjustable sports paddle including a handle that extends to a neck portion and a substantially ovular frame. The frame supports first and second striking surfaces, which are sandwiched about an inflatable bladder. A conduit extends from the bladder to the handle through the neck, and the handle further includes a pressurizing mechanism for increasing an air pressure in the bladder via the conduit. In a preferred embodiment, the paddle can also include an adjustable handle having multiple lengths.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Beach paddle ball, or “Matkot,” is a growing beach pastime that is increasing in popularity. It is believed that the game originated along the Mediterranean Sea, and has migrated to the United States and is played throughout the country. Beach paddle ball is played with multiple players, typically two to three participants, where a small rubber ball is volleyed back and forth between the players using a wooden paddle. The broad wooden paddle or racket is called a matka—for which the game is named—and the object of the game is for the players to hit the ball back and forth in an effort to keep it from hitting the sand. 
         [0002]    Sports paddles and racquets such as that used in Matkot are ubiquitous and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and designs. For example, ping pong is played with a wooden paddle that includes a rubber or tacky sheet adhered to the surface of the wooden paddle, whereas squash, tennis, and badminton racquets use a wooden, metal, or composite frame with strings across the surface to form a hitting area. There are also hybrids of these games, including beach tennis, table tennis, and so forth, each using a different type of paddle or racquet. In each of these games and activities, a specialized sports paddle is used to hit a ball of some kind to or in a designated playing area. The performance of the sports paddle is dependent upon the purpose of the game and the design of the paddle, but once a paddle is designed it is typically fixed in terms of response, performance, size, etc. There is no effective way to adjust, for example, a ping pong paddle to select a different response as might be advantageous for playing a two different opponents. Similarly, wind conditions, the skill level of the participants, and desire for greater control versus power (or vice versa) would make it advantageous for paddles such as a beach paddle ball paddle to have some adjustability over the response. In other circumstances, it may be preferably to extend the handle to accommodate different players, playing conditions, etc. The present invention is directed to this goal. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is a multipurpose sports paddle that can be used for a myriad of games and activities, and provides a new flexibility and control over the response of the paddle that is heretofore unavailable. The paddle incorporates an internal inflatable member, such as an air filled bladder, that modifies the coefficient of restitution (“COR”) of the paddle when hitting another object such as a ball. In this application, the coefficient of restitution for a one dimensional (linear) collision is defined to be the ratio of the velocity of separation (post impact velocity) to the velocity of approach (pre impact velocity). The paddle of the present invention includes a manually operated pump mechanism in the handle that forces compressed air into the inflatable bladder, which in turn changes the COR of the paddle. A valve can be released to allow air to escape the bladder to also alter the COR, and a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a visual indicator to show where the current air pressure is as compared with a maximum design pressure. By adjusting the pressure in the bladder, a player can alter the response (i.e., COR) of the sports paddle for greater elasticity in the collision with the ball/objection, increasing the flexibility and enjoyment of the sports paddle. 
         [0004]    In a preferred embodiment, the paddle of the present invention can also be shortened or extended in a quick, reliable manner by adding or removing stackable elements at the end of the handle as desired by the player. The stackable elements lengthen the handle incrementally so that the desired handle can be achieved by the player, adding to the versatility of the paddle. 
         [0005]    These and other features of the invention will best be understood in view of the descriptions below in conjunction with the associated drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an elevated, perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view along lines  4 - 4  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing inflation of the bladder; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view along lines  4 - 4  of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  showing deflation of the bladder; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is an elevated, perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  showing inflation of the bladder; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  showing deflation of the bladder; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is an elevated, perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention with an adjustable handle; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view along lines  11 - 11  showing the embodiment of  FIG. 10  with the extendable handle; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged, elevated exploded view of the end of the handle of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged, perspective view of the end of the handle; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a cross sectional view of the shortened handle of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the present invention depicting a sports paddle  10  used for various activities and games, including beach paddle ball as well as ping pong, and the like. The paddle  10  includes a handle  12  that may have a foam grip cover, a tacky cloth or tape wrap, or other friction enhancing surface to promote satisfactory gripping. The handle may preferably include an emblem, logo, or insignia  14  on the bottom to advance brand recognition. The handle  12  is connected to a support structure  16  that comprises a neck  18  and a substantially ovular frame  20 . The substantially ovular frame  20  is used to mount a molded insert  22  having first and second striking surfaces  24 . The molded insert  22  is preferably made from a resilient plastic or thermoplastic, formed to fit into the ovular frame  20 . The molded insert  22  includes a hitting zone in the center of the frame  20 , and in some applications a plurality of holes  26  arranged around the perimeter of the insert. The holes permit air to easily pass through and allow the paddle to be swung more freely and easily. Air can also pass through the neck portion  18 . The presence and number of holes  26  can vary depending upon the application and preference of the player. 
         [0021]    On the handle  12  positioned above the grip  28  is a bellows  30  or pump device, and a sight glass  32  or optical gauge. The bellows  30  may be a flexible dome-shaped structure that can be manually depressed by the player. The bellows  30  once depressed and released, returns to its original shape so that it can be pumped repeatedly. The sight glass  32  can include an indicator that shows a relative internal gas pressure in a compartment below the gauge, where the gas pressure is increased by repeated depressions of the bellows  30 . The player can observe the increase in pressure by using the sight glass  32 , and compare the internal gas pressure to a maximum recommended design pressure on the gauge. The internal gas pressure can also be indicated in other ways, including a dial, LED, diaphragm, pressure sensor, or similar devices. 
         [0022]    The internal compartment  40  is connected to a bladder  42  by a flexible tubing  44  that passes through the neck portion  18  of the paddle  10 . The tubing  44  may be protected by a column  46  of a more rigid material to prevent damage or disconnection of the tubing  44 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the compartment  40  is in fluid communication with the bladder  42  via the flexible tubing  44 . The bellows  30  is depressed by a finger  48 , which is preferably connected to the compartment with a one-way valve (not shown) to add air pressure to the compartment  40 . With each depression of the bellows  30  by the finger  48 , the air pressure increases as reflected in the sight glass  32  or other pressure indicator. The increased air pressure in the compartment  40  also increases the air pressure in the connected bladder  42  as indicated by arrows  50 , increasing the firmness of the bladder within the insert  22 . As the pressure in the bladder  42  increases, the stiffness of the hitting surfaces increases, thereby increasing the COR of the paddle  10 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the air pressure can also be reduced in the bladder  42  via valve  54 . When the valve  54  is opened, the air in the compartment  40  escapes through the valve, and in turn reduces the air pressure in the connected bladder  42  as indicated by arrows  52 . By selectively activating the valve  54  and the bellows  30 , the player can adjust the stiffness of the striking surfaces  24  of the paddle  10  by controlling the air pressure in the adjacent bladder  42 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 6-9  illustrate an alternative embodiment  100  of the paddle of the present invention. In the alternate embodiment, the support structure  116  includes a frame  118  that extends substantially but not completely around the hitting area. The bladder  142  is connected to the handle  12  in a similar manner as in the previous embodiment, but the support structure  116  further includes a plurality of radially extending members  160  that connect the frame  118  to a ring or U-shaped beam  162  that encloses the bladder  42 . The radial members  160  can also terminate at a peripheral rim  164 , and the beam  162 , radial members  160 , and peripheral rims  164  can be molded as a single piece support unit ( FIG. 7 ). The radial members  160  in combination with the rims  164  and beam  162  add rigidity to the paddle, although the thickness and material selected can alter the weight and flexure characteristics of the paddle  100  as well. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 10-14  illustrate a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the handle  12  is made up of a base  200  and a plurality of stackable elements that can be combined at the end of the base  200  to increase the length of the handle  12 . The stackable elements are relatively thin concentric blocks  202  that cooperate to extend the length of the handle  12 . A threaded fastener  204  is placed in an end cap  206  that engages the distal block to collapse the configuration and create a sturdy, rigid extension. The fastener  204  can thread into the base  200 , which can accommodate the fastener  204  regardless of how many blocks  202  (e.g., 0-4) are present. A washer  208  can be used between the fastener  204  and the end cap  206  or recessed into the end cap. The blocks  202  can be of different densities or weights to create a different feel to the paddle depending upon the player and the use. Thus, the blocks  202  can be cork, wood, aluminum, plastic, rubber, or any suitable material that is both durable and can be readily shaped to form a handle segment.  FIG. 11  shows the handle  12  in the fully extended, maximum length configuration while  FIG. 14  shows the handle in the shortened configuration. Removing the fastener  204  and then the blocks  202  and then replacing the fastener allows the switch back and forth between the two arrangements, while intermediate lengths can also be formed. Note that a protective covering (not shown) can be placed over the handle  12  to cover the blocks  202  and provide a more smooth, tacky feel to the handle  12 . 
         [0026]    The paddle of the present invention is adaptable to many different sports and activities, and has the advantage of being light weight, easily constructed, modular, and versatile. While various embodiments have been described and depicted, the invention is not limited to those depictions and descriptions. One of ordinary skill in the art would readily recognized certain modifications and substitutions to the foregoing described embodiments, and the invention is intended to include all such modifications and substitutions. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is properly governed by the appended claims, given their ordinary and customary meanings, read in context of the descriptions and figures herein.