EDGE GUARDS FOR PICKLEBALL PADDLES

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a bypass continuation that claims priority to International Patent Application No. PCT/US25/23724 filed on Apr. 8, 2025, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 63/635,095 filed on Apr. 17, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Pat. App. No. 63/709,017 filed on Oct. 18, 2024. Each of the foregoing applications is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to edge guards for pickleball paddles, including those disposed on replacement faces for pickleball paddles, where such edge guards may not drastically impact the weight of a pickleball paddle.

BACKGROUND

Pickleball is a paddle sport that generally combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played on a court with similar dimensions to a badminton court with a net dividing opposing sides. The game is played with a perforated plastic ball and solid paddles made of, for example, wood, graphite, and/or composite materials. In general, players use their paddles to hit the ball over the net, aiming to land the ball within the boundaries of the opposing side of the court.

Many pickleball paddles include edge guards to protect the paddle, and edges thereof, from damage during play. That is, the edge guard can act as a buffer between the paddle and other surfaces/objects, preventing chips, scratches, and other forms of wear and tear that can occur when the paddle comes into contact with the ground, walls, or other objects during intense gameplay. Edge guards can help extend the lifespan of pickleball paddles by reinforcing their structural integrity, providing extra support to the edges of the paddle, and reducing the likelihood of cracks or breaks, especially during aggressive shots and/or accidental impacts. Thus, edge guards can be an essential feature of pickleball paddles. However, many existing edge guards are relatively robust, adding significant weight and/or bulk to a pickleball paddle, which is often undesirable, as many players prefer lighter-weight paddles that can be subsequently customized for balance, static weight, swing weight, and twist weight of the paddle.

There remains a need for improved edge guards for pickleball paddles, such as those that do not add significant weight to a pickleball paddle.

SUMMARY

The present teachings include edge guards for pickleball paddles, e.g., where such edge guards do not drastically impact the weight of a pickleball paddle. To this end, an edge guard may include piping or similar present at a junction of a face of a pickleball paddle and an edge portion thereof, but the edge guard may otherwise be minimalized or completely absent from the majority of the edge portion (and other portions) of the paddle. The present teachings may also or instead include a face attachment for pickleball paddles—e.g., a replacement playing surface—that includes an edge guard thereon, such as piping or similar. In this manner, the face attachment may have protected edges when coupled to, or isolated from, a pickleball paddle. The present teachings may also or instead include piping or the like that can be applied to a paddle to form an edge guard thereof.

In an example aspect, a pickleball paddle disclosed herein includes: a handle including a top portion and a bottom portion; a throat portion engaged with the top portion of the handle; a first face and a second face that opposes the first face, each of the first face and the second face extending from the throat portion of the handle, and each of the first face and the second face structurally configured for striking a ball; an edge portion disposed between the first face and the second face along an exterior of the paddle, the edge portion abutting a perimeter of each of the first face and the second face; and an edge guard. The edge guard may include: first piping disposed along a first junction between the first face and the edge portion, the first piping extending continuously along the perimeter of the first face between at least a first side of the paddle adjacent to the throat portion and a second side of the paddle adjacent to the throat portion; and second piping disposed along a second junction between the second face and the edge portion, the second piping extending continuously along the perimeter of the second face between at least the first side of the paddle adjacent to the throat portion and the second side of the paddle adjacent to the throat portion, where the first piping and the second piping are separated from one another by a central region of the edge portion disposed therebetween, where the first piping and the second piping define a maximum thickness of the paddle by projecting from the first face and the second face, respectively, and where the first piping and the second piping define a maximum width of the paddle by projecting from the edge portion.

Implementations of this example aspect, or any other example aspect described in this summary section or otherwise herein, may include one or more of the following features. The first face may be included on a first face attachment that is coupled to the paddle, where the first piping is engaged with a perimeter of the first face attachment. The second face may be included on a second face attachment that is coupled to the paddle, where the second piping is engaged with a perimeter of the second face attachment. One or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment may be removable from, and replaceable to, the paddle. One or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment may be permanently attached to the paddle. One or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment may include a textured surface. One or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment may include at least one of: a carbon fiber material, graphite, fiberglass, aluminum, and polypropylene. One or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment may be affixed to the paddle via an adhesive. One or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment may include an affixing mechanism on a surface thereof. The affixing mechanism may include at least one of: double-sided tape, a layer formed on an underside surface thereof, a hook and loop fastener, an epoxy, and a coating of adhesive. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may be removable and replaceable from the paddle. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may be affixed to the paddle via one or more of an adhesive and double-sided tape. The central region of the edge portion may be made from a different material than each of the first piping and the second piping. The edge guard may be absent from the central region of the edge portion. The edge guard may include material extending from and connecting the first piping and the second piping above the central region. A majority of the central region may be uncovered by the edge guard. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include a substantially rounded shape. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include a shape having one or more corners. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include an elastomer. The elastomer may include rubber. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include a plastic material. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include a foam material. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include carbon fiber. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may be a continuous strip of material.

In an example aspect, a face attachment for a pickleball paddle disclosed herein includes: a substantially planar surface having a first side and a second side, the substantially planar surface sized and shaped to define a paddle face of a pickleball paddle, where at least the first side is structurally configured for striking a ball; an edge guard engaged with a perimeter of the substantially planar surface, the edge guard including piping disposed along at least a majority of the perimeter; and an affixing mechanism disposed on the second side of the substantially planar surface for affixing the face attachment to the pickleball paddle.

Implementations of this example aspect, or any other example aspect described in this summary section or otherwise herein, may include one or more of the following features. The face attachment may be structurally configured to be removable from, and replaceable to, the pickleball paddle. The face attachment may be structurally configured to be permanently affixed to the pickleball paddle. At least the first side of the substantially planar surface may include a textured surface. The substantially planar surface may include at least one of: a carbon fiber material, graphite, fiberglass, aluminum, and polypropylene. The affixing mechanism may include at least one of: double-sided tape, a layer formed on an underside surface thereof, a hook and loop fastener, an epoxy, and a coating of adhesive. The piping may envelope an edge of the substantially planar surface. The piping is a continuous strip of material. The piping may include an elastomer. The elastomer may include rubber. The piping may include a plastic material. The piping may include a foam material. The piping may include carbon fiber. The piping may be removable and replaceable from the substantially planar surface. The piping may include a substantially rounded shape. The piping may include a shape having one or more corners.

In an example aspect, an edge guard for a pickleball paddle disclosed herein includes first piping formed of a first continuous strip of material, and second piping formed of a second continuous strip of material, each of the first piping and the second piping including: a length selected to be continuously disposed along a perimeter of a face of a pickleball paddle; an upper surface having a first predetermined shape configured to extend from a junction between the face of the pickleball paddle and an edge portion of the pickleball paddle such that the upper surface defines a maximum thickness and a maximum width of the pickleball paddle when disposed thereon; and a lower surface having a second predetermined shape structurally configured to engage with the edge portion of the pickleball paddle.

Implementations of this example aspect, or any other example aspect described in this summary section or otherwise herein, may include one or more of the following features. The first predetermined shape of the upper surface may include a rounded shape. The first predetermined shape of the upper surface may include a shape having one or more corners. The second predetermined shape of the lower surface may include one or more of a notch, a cutout, a channel, a slot, and a recess. The edge guard may include adhesive disposed along at least a portion of the lower surface. The first continuous strip of material and the second continuous strip of material may be formed of the same material. The length may be between 60 millimeters to 90 millimeters, inclusive. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include an elastomer. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include rubber. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include a plastic material. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include a foam material. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include carbon fiber.

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods described herein will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the devices, systems, and methods described herein. In the drawings, like reference numerals generally identify corresponding elements.

FIG. 1 shows various views of a pickleball paddle, by way of example.

FIG. 2 shows a pickleball paddle with an edge guard, in accordance with a representative example.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the edge guard of FIG. 2, in accordance with a representative example.

FIG. 4 shows a pickleball paddle with an edge guard, in accordance with a representative example.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of the edge guard of FIG. 4, in accordance with a representative example.

FIG. 6 shows an edge guard, in accordance with a representative example.

FIG. 7 shows a face of a pickleball paddle with an edge guard, in accordance with a representative example.

FIG. 8 shows a pickleball paddle with an edge guard, in accordance with a representative example.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of the pickleball paddle of FIG. 8, in accordance with a representative example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which preferred embodiments are shown. The foregoing may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these illustrated embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will convey the scope to those skilled in the art.

All documents mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. References to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Thus, the term “or” should generally be understood to mean “and/or” and so forth.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The words “about,” “approximately” or the like, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed as indicating a deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Similarly, words of approximation such as “about,” “approximately,” or “substantially” when used in reference to physical characteristics, should be understood to contemplate a range of deviations that would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for a corresponding use, function, purpose, or the like. Ranges of values and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of the described embodiments. Where ranges of values are provided, they are also intended to include each value within the range as if set forth individually, unless expressly stated to the contrary. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the embodiments. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms unless specifically stated to the contrary.

In general, the devices, systems, kits, and methods disclosed herein relate to edge guards for pickleball paddles. In particular, the present teachings may include a relatively selective, minimalist, and/or lightweight edge guard for pickleball paddles that can protect the edges/corners of the paddle without drastically increasing the weight and/or bulk thereof. As described herein, the edge guard may be formed on a pickleball paddle during manufacturing, and/or added to an existing paddle such as through its inclusion on a replacement face/playing surface structurally configured for attachment to a pickleball paddle.

As described herein, pickleball paddles can include an edge guard, which is a protection that surrounds edges of a paddle, or the paddle can be edgeless, lacking an edge guard. The main functionality of an edge guard may be to protect the edges of a paddle against collision and scratching, increasing the paddle's durability. However, an edge guard can add significant weight to a pickleball paddle, which in some instances is undesirable, especially if a user is looking for a lightweight paddle and/or wants to customize a paddle's balance, static weight, swing weight, twist weight, and so on. Therefore, the present teachings may include an edge guard that can provide the same or better protection as conventional edge guards, without drastically increasing the weight of a pickleball paddle upon which the edge guard is engaged.

To this end, in some aspects, an edge guard of the present teachings may have protective elements disposed on some of the more critical areas of a pickleball paddle—e.g., along a junction formed between a face and an edge portion of a paddle—while using less or no material in other, potentially less critical areas. As described herein, an edge guard according to the present teachings can surround the entire paddle or be partially disposed thereabout, and it can have a plurality of thicknesses, shapes, designs, and/or materials. And as described herein, an edge guard according to the present teachings can be found disposed on a face (e.g., playing surface) of a pickleball paddle, such as a replacement face structurally configured for coupling to a body of a pickleball paddle, during and/or post manufacturing. The plurality of thicknesses, shapes, designs, and/or materials may be achieved via a plurality of different manufacturing techniques. These include but are not limited to profile extrusion, sheet extrusion, thermoforming, twin sheet thermoforming, injection molding, and the like. Injection molding techniques can include but are not limited to super critical injection molding whereby the super critical fluid can act either as a plasticizer or a microcellular foaming agent. Injection molding techniques to achieve the plurality of geometries may also or instead include dynamic mold temperature control (variotherm molding) whereby molds may be heated in certain areas to achieve geometries. It shall be understood that rapid heating and cooling may be included within the variotherm process or similar to achieve these geometries.

It will be understood that, while this disclosure may emphasize the present teachings in the context of pickleball, the present teachings may be adapted and practiced in other sports and activities, including without limitation one or more of: tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball, table tennis (ping pong), and the like. Thus, it shall be understood that, unless expressly stated to the contrary, or otherwise clear from the context, the present teachings is intended to include comparable equipment in other sports/activities in addition to, or instead of, pickleball.

FIG. 1 shows various views of a pickleball paddle, by way of example. The paddle 100 may be an existing paddle of the prior art, which is provided for context of the present teachings. In general, the paddle 100 includes a face 102 structurally configured for striking a ball (and a similar opposing second face, hidden from view in FIG. 1), a handle 104, a throat portion 106 disposed between the face 102 and the handle 104, and an edge portion 108 that may include an edge guard 110 thereon. In general, the edge portion 108 may be disposed along an exterior of the paddle 100 between the faces 102 of the paddle 100. In this manner, the edge portion 108 may abut a perimeter of each of the faces 102 of the paddle 100. As shown in the figure, in an existing paddle, the edge guard 110 may cover all or a substantial portion of the edge portion 108 of the paddle 100.

FIG. 2 shows a pickleball paddle with an edge guard, and FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the edge guard of FIG. 2, in accordance with a representative example. As shown in the figure, the edge guard 200 may include portions structurally configured to provide protection along junctions 303 formed between a face 202 of a paddle 201 and an edge portion 208 of the paddle 201. More specifically, the edge guard 200 may include first piping 210 and second piping 212, each disposed along a junction 303 between a face 202 and the edge portion 208 of the paddle 201.

One or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may be located about a majority of a perimeter of the head of the pickleball paddle 201. For example, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may be disposed about the perimeter of the paddle 201 (e.g., substantially continuously) from a top of the handle along a first side 203 to a top of the handle along a second side 205, as shown in the figure. Also or instead, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may extend continuously along the perimeter between at least the first side 203 of the paddle 201 (e.g., adjacent to a throat portion thereof) and the second side 205 of the paddle 201 (e.g., adjacent to the throat portion). The first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may generally project from a face 202 of the paddle 201, e.g., in a direction substantially normal to the face 202 of the paddle 201. The first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may also or instead project from the edge portion 208 of the paddle 201, e.g., in a direction substantially normal to the edge portion 208 of the paddle 201.

The first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may be separated from one another by a central region 220 of the edge portion 208 disposed therebetween. The central region 220 may be made from a different material than each of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212. For example, the edge guard 200 may be completely absent from the central region 220 of the edge portion 208. In such aspects, the central region 220 may include a material used to form at least a portion of the body of the paddle 201, which may be a more rigid material than a material used to form the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 in some aspects. Alternatively, the central region 220 may include at least a portion of the edge guard 200. For example, the central region 220 may include material extending from and connecting the first piping 210 and the second piping 212. However, even when the central region 220 includes at least a portion of the edge guard 200, the central region 220 may include less bulk relative to the first piping 210 and the second piping 212. That is, the central region 220, if including at least a portion of the edge guard 200, may not project out from the edge portion 208 as much as each of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212.

As shown in the figure, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may include a substantially rounded exterior shape. Also or instead, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may include a shape having one or more corners along its exterior—e.g., one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may have a cross-sectional shape with an outer surface resembling a polygon. Other profiles may exclude piping but have thin edge walls and thin geometries. The geometry of the first piping 210 and second piping 212 can have profiles of uniform thickness of the central region 220. By way of example, the thickness of the central region 220 can be from 0.10 mm to 3.25 mm, extending from the first piping 210 across the central region 220 to the second piping 212. It shall be understood that the profile thickness of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 can be anywhere between a uniform thickness of the central region 220 to a variable thickness.

A plurality of materials (alone or in combination) may be used to form the edge guard 200 and/or portions thereof such as one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212. By way of example, the edge guard 200 (e.g., one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212) may include one or more of the following materials: an elastomer, e.g., rubber or the like; a plastic material (e.g., including but not limited to thermoset and thermoplastic materials); a foam material; a carbon fiber material or other composites; and the like. In some aspects, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may be a continuous strip of material. In this manner, the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may have a length selected to be continuously disposed along a perimeter of a face of a pickleball paddle 201. This length, for example, may be between about 60 millimeters to about 90 millimeters, inclusive of those outer ranges. Other dimensions are also or instead possible.

In certain implementations, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 is removable and replaceable with respect to the paddle 201 (e.g., removable in a non-destructive manner permitting replacement on the paddle in a configuration substantially the same as the configuration prior to removal). By way of example, such as that shown in FIG. 7 and described below, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may be engaged with a replacement face for the paddle 201. Also or instead, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may be applied directly onto the paddle 201 without replacing a face 202 thereof. In some aspects, one or more of the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 is affixed to the paddle 201 via an adhesive or similar. Other attachment means are also or instead possible including one or more of the following: a glue, a tape, a paste, a hook and loop fastener, an epoxy, a coating of adhesive, a non-woven adhesive sheet, and the like.

The edge guard 200 may have portions that define a maximum thickness and/or a maximum width of the paddle 201. For example, in some aspects, the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may define a maximum thickness of the paddle 201 by projecting from the first face and the second face, respectively. Also or instead, the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 may define a maximum width of the paddle 201 (a dimension measured between the first side 203 to the second side 205) by projecting from the edge portion 208.

In some implementations, and as shown in FIGS. 2-3 for example, the central region 220 may be substantially uncovered by the edge guard 200. Stated otherwise, a majority of the central region 220 may be uncovered by the edge guard 200. This may be the case even when the edge guard 200 includes material extending from and connecting the first piping 210 and the second piping 212 above the central region 220.

FIG. 4 shows a pickleball paddle with an edge guard, and FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of the edge guard of FIG. 4, in accordance with a representative example. The paddle 401 and/or the edge guard 400 may be the same or similar to others as described herein, and therefore may include any one or more features of other paddles and edge guards described herein.

FIG. 6 shows an edge guard, in accordance with a representative example. Specifically, this figure shows piping 610 that can be applied to a pickleball paddle and/or a portion thereof (such as a replacement face for a pickleball paddle) to form at least a portion of an edge guard according to the present teachings. The piping 610 may be the same or similar to any as described herein, and may thus include any of the features and attributes described herein for piping and similar. As shown in this figure, the piping 610 may be continuously formed. Alternatively, the piping 610 may contain separate sections.

In some aspects, the piping 610 may include different characteristics over the length of the piping 610. For example, and as shown in the figure, the piping 610 may include one or more sections having different cross-sections throughout a length thereof. That is, the piping 610 may be thicker in certain regions relative to other regions of the piping 610. By way of example, the piping 610 may include one or more reinforcement zones 614, which can be strategically placed along portions of the piping 610 to provide extra protection by including different features in these zones. As previously mentioned, such a reinforcement zone 614 may be thicker than other regions of the piping 610. Also or instead, a reinforcement zone 614 may include a different material (or more material) than other regions of the piping 610, or may otherwise have different material properties. For example, one or more of the reinforcement zones 614 may have a different weight, elasticity, or the like from other regions of the piping 610. Also or instead, a reinforcement zone 614 may include a different shape (e.g., cross-sectional shape of the piping 610) than other regions of the piping 610. A reinforcement zone 614 may be located in areas where additional protection may be desired, such as along corners of the perimeter of a pickleball paddle.

The piping 610 may be structurally configured for application onto a pickleball paddle and/or a face thereof (e.g., a removable and replaceable face attachment). By way of example, the piping 610 may be included in a kit or the like, potentially with other, different piping and/or edge guards, for application onto a pickleball paddle and/or a face thereof, e.g., where the kit also includes one or more face attachments. As such, it will be understood that the piping 610 may include one or more of an adhesive, double-sided tape, an epoxy, a hook and loop fastener, or similar along one or more engagement surfaces thereof configured for attachment to a pickleball paddle and/or a face thereof.

The piping 610 may form at least a portion of an edge guard for a pickleball paddle as described herein. That is, the piping 610 may represent first piping formed of a first continuous strip of material, where the edge guard further includes complimentary second piping formed of a second continuous strip of material. Each of the first piping and the second piping may include a length selected to be continuously disposed along a perimeter of a face of a pickleball paddle; an upper surface having a first predetermined shape configured to extend from a junction between the face of the pickleball paddle and an edge portion of the pickleball paddle such that the upper surface defines a maximum thickness and a maximum width of the pickleball paddle when disposed thereon; and a lower surface having a second predetermined shape 616 structurally configured to engage with the edge portion of the pickleball paddle. The first predetermined shape of the upper surface may include a rounded shape and/or a shape having one or more corners. The second predetermined shape 616 of the lower surface may include one or more of a notch, a cutout, a channel, a slot, and a recess. The second predetermined shape 616 may be shaped substantially complementary to, or otherwise shaped to closely receive, the edge portion of the pickleball paddle. One or more of the first piping and the second piping may include at least one of: an elastomer, a rubber, a plastic material, a foam material, a carbon fiber, a composite material, and the like.

FIG. 7 shows a face of a pickleball paddle with an edge guard, in accordance with a representative example. Specifically, this figure shows a face attachment 700 including a surface structurally configured to be a paddle face 702, and an edge guard 710 engaged therewith. And FIGS. 8 and 9 show a pickleball paddle 800 with face attachments 700 coupled thereto, in accordance with representative embodiments. Thus, the present teachings may include a face attachment 700 that, when coupled to a paddle 800, provides at least a portion of the edge guard 710 for that paddle 800. For example, two face attachments 700 may be coupled to a paddle 800, where they collectively provide at least a portion of the edge guard 710 for that paddle 800—e.g., they may provide the entirety of the edge guard 710 for the paddle 800 upon which they are coupled. One or more face attachments 700 may be part of a kit or the like, e.g., a kit for customizing a pickleball paddle or similar.

The paddle face 702 of the face attachment 700 may be structurally configured to be the outermost surface of the face portion of the paddle 800. That is, in some aspects, the paddle face 702 of the face attachment 700 includes a surface specifically tailored for contacting a pickleball ball during play. In this manner, the paddle face 702 may define a substantially planar surface having a first side and a second side, where the substantially planar surface is thus sized and shaped to define the paddle face 702 of a pickleball paddle, and where at least the first side is structurally configured for striking a ball. The paddle face 702—e.g., at least a first side thereof—may also or instead include a textured surface or the like, which may be structurally configured for creating a desired spin on a ball when certain contact is made. The textured surface may be any as known in the art of pickleball and the like. The second side of the paddle face 702 may include an affixing mechanism 730 for coupling the face attachment 700 to a pickleball paddle, where the affixing mechanism 730 may be any as described herein—e.g., at least one of double-sided tape, a layer formed on an underside surface thereof (e.g., an adhesive layer), a hook and loop fastener, other mechanical coupling members, an epoxy, a coating of adhesive, or similar.

Also or instead, the paddle face 702 of the face attachment 700 may be structurally configured for receiving another component thereon, such as another surface that will form the outermost surface of the face portion of the paddle 800.

The paddle face 702 of the face attachment 700 may be made from a material commonly found on the contact surfaces of pickleball paddles and the like. For example, the paddle face 702 may include a carbon fiber material or the like. Also or instead, the paddle face 702 may include one or more of the following: graphite, fiberglass, aluminum or other metals, polypropylene or other polymers, and the like.

An advantage of the face attachment 700 may include providing protection for the paddle face 702 and/or a user, when engaged or disengaged with a paddle 800. For example, edges of a replacement face for pickleball paddles may be relatively sharp and/or rough, particularly when using certain materials such as carbon fiber. To this end, the edge guard 710 may serve to protect a user from injury that can be caused by such edges, e.g., by covering all or a substantial portion of the edges of the replacement face. As a further advantage, less finishing may be needed in creating the paddle face 702 when the edges are covered by the edge guard 710, thereby reducing time and/or costs in manufacturing.

The edge guard 710 may be the same or similar to others as described herein, and may thus include any of the features of other edge guards (or components thereof) as described herein. By way of example, the edge guard 710 may include piping or the like that envelopes at least some of the edges of the face attachment 700, e.g., in a substantially continuous manner.

Thus, in an aspect, a face attachment 700 for a pickleball paddle may include: a substantially planar surface having a first side and a second side, the substantially planar surface sized and shaped to define a paddle face 702 of a pickleball paddle, where at least the first side is structurally configured for striking a ball; an edge guard 710 engaged with a perimeter of the substantially planar surface, the edge guard 710 including piping disposed along at least a majority of the perimeter; and an affixing mechanism 730 disposed on the second side of the substantially planar surface for affixing the face attachment 700 to the pickleball paddle.

Some of the advantages of the face attachment 700 will now be described. For example, existing problems with the surface replacement of pickleball paddles may include overweighting a paddle, and/or being unsafe for users as previously described (e.g., where sharp edges of a replacement surface, on or off the paddle, can cause injury). The example face attachment 700 of the present teachings may include a relatively light edge guard 710 thereby reducing the weight of a paddle 800 to which it is coupled when compared to traditional paddles with more robust edge guards. And, as described above, the example face attachment 700 of the present teachings may protect the edges of the paddle 800 to which it is coupled, and the edge guard 710 may protect the edges of the paddle face 702 (when both on and off of the paddle 800) from being damaged and/or from damaging a user or another surface.

The face attachment 700 may include an affixing mechanism 730 on a surface thereof—e.g., a bottom surface sized and shaped to engage with a pickleball paddle 800. For example, the affixing mechanism 730 may be placed in discreet areas on a side of the face attachment 700 and/or on the paddle 800 itself. In some aspects, the affixing mechanism 730 is a layer formed on an underside of the paddle face 702, e.g., the whole underside or a portion thereof. In certain aspects, the affixing mechanism 730 includes a double-sided tape or the like, e.g., formed as a layer beneath the paddle face 702. The affixing mechanism 730 may also or instead include one or more of the following: a glue, a tape, a paste, a hook and loop fastener, an epoxy, a coating of adhesive, and the like. In general, the affixing mechanism 730 may couple the face attachment 700 to a surface of a paddle 800 by forming a bond between surfaces, e.g., through chemical reactions, surface interactions, and/or mechanical interlocking. The coupling of the face attachment 700 to a surface of a paddle 800 may be temporary or permanent (e.g., the face attachment may or may not be configured for subsequent removal from the surface of the paddle and/or replacement thereon). Regardless, the coupling should be able to withstand forces seen during typical play of pickleball such that the face attachment 700 does not disengage—partially or wholly—with a surface of a paddle 800 during play.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” “include,” “including,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including, but not limited to.” Additionally, the words “herein,” “hereunder,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application.

It will be appreciated that the devices, systems, and methods described above are set forth by way of example and not of limitation. For example, regarding the methods provided above, absent an explicit indication to the contrary, the disclosed steps may be modified, supplemented, omitted, and/or re-ordered without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Numerous variations, additions, omissions, and other modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. In addition, the order or presentation of method steps in the description and drawings above is not intended to require this order of performing the recited steps unless a particular order is expressly required or otherwise clear from the context.

The method steps of the implementations described herein are intended to include any suitable method of causing such method steps to be performed, consistent with the patentability of the following claims, unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from the context. So, for example performing the step of X includes any suitable method for causing another party such as a remote user, a remote processing resource (e.g., a server or cloud computer) or a machine to perform the step of X. Similarly, performing steps X, Y, and Z may include any method of directing or controlling any combination of such other individuals or resources to perform steps X, Y, and Z to obtain the benefit of such steps. Thus, method steps of the implementations described herein are intended to include any suitable method of causing one or more other parties or entities to perform the steps, consistent with the patentability of the following claims, unless a different meaning is expressly provided or otherwise clear from the context. Such parties or entities need not be under the direction or control of any other party or entity, and need not be located within a particular jurisdiction.

While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure and are intended to form a part of the invention as defined by the following claims, which are to be interpreted in the broadest sense allowable by law.