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US-20260124511-A1 - PADDLE APPARATUS

US20260124511A1US 20260124511 A1US20260124511 A1US 20260124511A1US-20260124511-A1

Abstract

A paddle apparatus is provided herein comprising a first paddle face, a second paddle face, and a core positioned between the first paddle face and the second paddle face. Each of the first paddle face and the second paddle face may be substantially flat and one or more discontinuities may be defined in the core.

Inventors

  • Curtis Matthew Cruz

Assignees

  • Alliat, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251101

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A paddle apparatus, comprising: a first paddle face and a second paddle face, each of the first paddle face and the second paddle face being substantially flat; and a core positioned between the first paddle face and the second paddle face; wherein one or more discontinuities are defined in the core.
  2. 2 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: each of the one or more discontinuities include a material removing cut defined in the core.
  3. 3 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the core is divided into two or more sections, each of the two or more sections being separated by the one or more discontinuities.
  4. 4 . The paddle apparatus of claim 3 , wherein: the two or more sections of the core include a first section comprising a first material and a second section comprising a second material, the first material and second material being different.
  5. 5 . The paddle apparatus of claim 4 , wherein: a stiffness of the first material is different from a stiffness of the second material.
  6. 6 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the one or more discontinuities are in the shape of a circle.
  7. 7 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the one or more discontinuities include two or more linear lines that are substantially parallel to one another.
  8. 8 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the one or more discontinuities are H-shaped.
  9. 9 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the one or more discontinuities are U-shaped.
  10. 10 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the core includes a pair of contact surfaces and a thickness defined between the pair of contact surfaces; and the one or more discontinuities are defined such that the one or more discontinuities extend through the thickness of the core from a first contact surface of the pair of contact surfaces to a second contact surface of the pair of contact surfaces.
  11. 11 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the core includes a pair of contact surfaces and a thickness defined between the pair of contact surfaces; and the one or more discontinuities are defined such that the one or more discontinuities extend through the thickness of the core parallel to the pair of contact surfaces.
  12. 12 . The paddle apparatus of claim 11 , wherein: the one or more discontinuities extend throughout the entirety of the thickness of the core parallel to the pair of contact surfaces.
  13. 13 . The paddle apparatus of claim 11 , wherein: the one or more discontinuities extend through less than the entirety of the thickness of the core parallel to the pair of contact surfaces.
  14. 14 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a deflection material positioned between the first paddle face and the core, and between the second paddle face and the core.
  15. 15 . The paddle apparatus of claim 14 , wherein: a stiffness of the deflection material is less than a stiffness of the core.
  16. 16 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: one or more weighted portions positioned between the first paddle face and the second paddle face.
  17. 17 . The paddle apparatus of claim 14 , wherein: a first weighted portion of the one or more weighted portions is positioned between the first paddle face and the core, and a second weighted portion of the one or more weighted portions is positioned between the second paddle face and the core.
  18. 18 . The paddle apparatus of claim 14 , wherein: the core includes a honeycomb structure and the one or more weighted portions are disposed within apertures of the honeycomb structure of the core.
  19. 19 . The paddle apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the core includes a honeycomb structure having a plurality of apertures defined therein.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application claims priority to, and benefit from, a U.S. provisional patent application filed on Nov. 1, 2024, identified as U.S. Appl. No. 63/714,999, and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to paddle apparatus, and in particular, a pickleball paddle to be used in connection with the sport of pickleball and that otherwise is suitable for use in sanctioned and unsanctioned events. BACKGROUND Originating in 1965, the sport of pickleball is a hybrid among tennis, table tennis, and badminton. According to an article published by Forbes, titled “What is Pickleball?” and authored by Kimberly Dawn Neumann (available at https://www.forbes.com/health/body/what-is-pickleball/), the sport (or game) of pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and beyond. According to sources cited in the article, the sport of pickleball has experienced nearly a forty percent (40%) growth rate in the U.S. over the past two years, leading to widespread adoption of the game. But, as the sport of pickleball has become a fixture in the sporting industry, so too has it incurred criticism, particularly as with respect to the pickleball paddle used in gameplay. Pickleball is played on a court that is 20 feet (6.10 meters) wide by 44 feet (13.41 meters) long. A net is affixed to the court, positioned perpendicular to a length of the court, for the purpose of dividing each competing player (or set of competing players). The equipment for pickleball is minimal: a pickleball paddle for each player and a pickleball ball. Unlike rackets in the games of tennis and badminton, a paddle is not stringed or wired—rather, it is merely flat. In addition to the paddle, the game of pickleball features a pickleball ball. The pickleball ball is similar to plastic baseballs, commonly referred to as whiffle balls. Whiffle balls are often comprised of plastic (or another elastomeric material) and are perforated with any number of holes. In the years since the inception of pickleball, unique pickleball rules have been implemented, and standards have been adopted, for pickleball ball and paddle construction. Per the current national governing body of pickleball, USA Pickleball (formerly known as the USA Pickleball Association), equipment standards have been established, such that gameplay does not change significantly, unfairly, or prejudicially as a result of variance in the manufacture of pickleball balls and paddles. USA Pickleball prescribes specific structural limitations and specifications for the pickleball paddle. Each of these rules, identified under Section 2.E of USA Pickleball's Equipment Standards Manual (version 2.0 (November 2023)), are provided as follows. Material. The paddle must be made of any material deemed safe and not prohibited by these rules. The paddle shall be made of rigid, non-compressible material meeting the criteria located on the USA Pickleball website. Surface Roughness. The paddle's hitting surface shall not contain holes, indentations, rough texturing, or any objects or features that allow a player to impart excessive spin on the ball. Paddle roughness and friction characteristics are determined in two ways: (1) using a Starrett SR160 or SR300 Surface Roughness Tester (or equivalent). The allowable limits for roughness shall be an average of no greater than 30 micrometers (μm) on the Rz readings (average maximum height, peak to valley) and an average of no greater than 40 micrometers on the Rt readings (maximum height, peak to valley), with all readings to be taken in six different directions; and (2) a coefficient of friction test based on protocol (IAW) ASTM D1894-14 is used to measure the general friction characteristics regardless of surface finishing process or technology; a paddle will pass this test with a maximum kinetic coefficient of friction value of ≤0.1875. Reflection. The paddle's hitting surface shall not be adversely reflective, such that it has the potential to negatively affect the vision of opposing player(s). Paddles shall not have any Measurement exceeding 80 GU. Measurement is to be taken at the universal measurement angle of 60 degrees with ETB-0833 Self-Calibration 20° 60° 85° Surface Gloss meter Tester 0-200 GU or equivalent. Size. The combined length and width, including any edge guard and butt cap, shall not exceed 24 inches (60.96 cm). The paddle length cannot exceed 17 inches (43.18 cm). There is no restriction on paddle thickness. Weight. There is no restriction on paddle weight. Alterations. Alter