PICKLEBALL PADDLE STRUCTURE

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a paddle (or bat or racket) and, more particularly, to a pickleball paddle structure.

Description of the Related Art

A traditional pickleball paddle structure generally includes a honeycomb-shaped inner layer and two composite layers (made of such as carbon fiber) located on the top and bottom ends of the inner layer. In fabrication, the composite layer or material is first dipped in glue and then adhered to the inner layer. After the composite material is solidified, grinding, filling, and printing are performed on the surface of the composite material. However, the composite material needs to be left in place for a period of time after each grinding and filling. After the filling material is completely dry, the next grinding or filling of the composite material will be continued. In addition, uneven pores are formed on the surface of the composite material due to soaking in glue. As a result, through multiple procedures of grinding, cleaning and filling, a smooth surface is formed on the composite material to facilitate the printing procedure. Thus, the working process is complicated and the working time is too long.

A conventional composite panel structure was disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 10,377,093B2, and comprises a first outer layer, a second outer layer spaced from the first outer layer, and a plurality of spaced and parallel ribs extending between the first outer layer and the second outer layer. Thus, the ribs increase the rigidity of the core and transmit upward and downward vibration forces. However, the ribs are arranged longitudinally so that when the vibration forces are transmitted upward and downward, a straight force is also transmitted downward through the ribs to the handle, thereby easily hurting the player's wrist.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a pickleball paddle structure that has an enhanced strength and absorbs a vibration force.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pickleball paddle structure comprising a paddle body, multiple core blocks mounted in the paddle body, a first surface layer mounted on an upper face of the paddle body, and a second surface layer mounted on a lower face of the paddle body. The paddle body includes a head and a shaft connected and formed integrally. The head has a frame provided with a central slot. The core blocks are mounted in the central slot of the frame of the head. Each of the core blocks includes a ring body having a central hole, a core part mounted in the central hole of the ring body, and two coating layers coated on the ring body. The core part of each of the core blocks is a long strip that is wound to form a cylindrical roll. Each of the two coating layers has an area more than that of the ring body so that the two coating layers are coated on top and bottom faces of the ring body. The first surface layer is combined with the upper face of the paddle body and forms a first paddle face. The second surface layer is combined with the lower face of the paddle body and forms a second paddle face. The second surface layer is parallel with and opposite to the first surface layer. The core blocks are juxtaposed to each other and are arranged to construct a matrix which has an area matching that of the central slot of the frame. The core blocks are inserted into the central slot of the frame closely and tightly. The core part of each of the core blocks has a central axis with hard rigidity. The core part of each of the core blocks is encircled by the central hole of the ring body and absorbs a transverse vibration force. The core part of each of the core blocks is wrapped by the two coating layers and absorbs a vertical vibration force. The core blocks form an evenly distributed surface structure to reinforce a batting strength, and to provide multiple shock-absorbing effects to the paddle face. Each of the core blocks has an independent shock-absorbing function to absorb the transverse vibration force and the vertical vibration force individually so that the vibration force is absorbed by the paddle face.

According to the primary advantages of the present invention, the core blocks and the auxiliary core blocks reinforce the batting strength to increase a transmission force for batting the ball, so that the pickleball paddle structure bats the ball more quickly.

According to another advantage of the present invention, the core blocks and the auxiliary core blocks absorb the vibration force when the ball touches the paddle face, so that the vibration force will not be directly transmitted to the handle, thereby preventing the user's hand from numbing or being hurt by the vibration force, and thereby providing a comfortable sensation to the user when holding the handle.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pickleball paddle structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the pickleball paddle structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plane cross-sectional view of the pickleball paddle structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the pickleball paddle structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a core block of the pickleball paddle structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an auxiliary core block of the pickleball paddle structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional operational view of the pickleball paddle structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a locally enlarged view of the pickleball paddle structure as shown in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-6, a pickleball paddle structure 100 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a paddle body 20, multiple core blocks 30 mounted in the paddle body 20, a first surface layer 50 mounted on an upper face of the paddle body 20, and a second surface layer 60 mounted on a lower face of the paddle body 20.

The paddle body 20 includes a head 21 and a shaft 22 connected and formed integrally. The head 21 has a frame 210 provided with a central slot 211. The central slot 211 is arranged at a core position of the head 21.

The core blocks 30 are mounted in the central slot 211 of the frame 210 of the head 21 to form a first batting portion A with a solid paddle face. Each of the core blocks 30 includes a ring body (or mounting base) 31 having a central hole 311, a core part (or strip) 32 mounted in the central hole 311 of the ring body 31, and two coating (or wrapping or covering) layers 33 coated on upper and lower faces of the ring body 31. The ring body 31 is a hexagonal block pad or cushion. The core part 32 of each of the core blocks 30 is a long strip that is wound or curled to form a cylindrical roll or plug. The core part 32 is covered by the two coating layers 33. Each of the two coating layers 33 has an area more than that of the ring body 31 so that the two coating layers 33 are coated on top and bottom faces of the ring body 31 completely.

The first surface layer 50 is combined with the upper face of the paddle body 20 and forms a first paddle face 101.

The second surface layer 60 is combined with the lower face of the paddle body 20 and forms a second paddle face 102. The second surface layer 60 is parallel with and opposite to the first surface layer 50. Thus, the first surface layer 50 and the second surface layer 60 construct a paddle face of the pickleball paddle structure 100.

In practice, the core blocks 30 are juxtaposed to each other and are arranged to construct a matrix which has an area matching that of the central slot 211 of the frame 210. Thus, the core blocks 30 are inserted into the central slot 211 of the frame 210 closely and tightly. The first surface layer 50 is coated with epoxy resin and is hot pressed and solidified to form the first paddle face 101 having a solid structure. The second surface layer 60 is coated with epoxy resin and is hot pressed and solidified to form the second paddle face 102 having a solid structure. The core part 32 of each of the core blocks 30 has a central axis with determined hard rigidity (or stiffness). The core part 32 of each of the core blocks 30 is encircled by the central hole 311 of the ring body 31 and absorbs a transverse vibration force. The core part 32 of each of the core blocks 30 is wrapped by the two coating layers 33 and absorbs a vertical (or upward and downward) vibration force to form an internal vibration absorption. Thus, the core blocks 30 form an evenly distributed surface (or plane) structure to increase a batting area, to reinforce a core rigidity and a batting strength of the paddle face, and to provide multiple shock-absorbing effects to the paddle face. In addition, each of the core blocks 30 has an independent shock-absorbing function to absorb the transverse vibration force and the vertical vibration force individually so that the vibration force is absorbed by the paddle face.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the paddle body 20 and the ring body 31 of each of the core blocks 30 are made of soft material of a PU foam.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the core part 32 of each of the core blocks 30 is made of a strip of PU foam having a surface wrapped with a carbon fiber cloth strip and is wound or curled to form the cylindrical roll or plug.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the two coating layers 33 of each of the core blocks 30, the first surface layer 50, and the second surface layer 60 are made of carbon fiber cloth.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frame 210 of the paddle body 20 has a periphery provided with multiple through holes 212 spaced from each other. Preferably, the frame 210 of the paddle body 20 is made of soft material of a PU foam.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pickleball paddle structure 100 further comprises multiple auxiliary core blocks 40 mounted in the through holes 212 of the frame 210 respectively to form a second batting portion B.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 includes a core part (or strip) 41 inserted into one of the through holes 212 of the frame 210, and two coating (or wrapping or covering) layers 42 coated on upper and lower faces of the core part 41. The core part 41 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 is a long strip that is wound or curled to form a cylindrical roll or plug. The core part 41 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 is made of a strip of PU foam having a surface wrapped with a carbon fiber cloth strip. Thus, the core part 41 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 has a rigid hard force, so that the core part 41 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 is encircled by one of the through holes 212 of the frame 210, to absorb a transverse vibration force. Each of the two coating layers 42 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 is made of carbon fiber cloth. The two coating layers 42 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 are fitted into one of the through holes 212 of the frame 210, so that the two coating layers 42 and the core part 41 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 absorb a vertical (or upward and downward) vibration force. Thus, each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 has a rigid (or stiff) hard force and provides an auxiliary shock-absorbing function to absorb the transverse vibration force and the vertical vibration force individually. In addition, the auxiliary core blocks 40 are used to absorb the vibration force of the periphery of the frame 210.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shaft 22 is integrally formed with an endpiece (or butt), and a PU leather (or grip or strap) is wound around the shaft 22 and the endpiece, to form a handle (or grip) C. A binding jacket (or sleeve) 70 is mounted on a connection of the head 21 and the shaft 22. The binding jacket 70 is an elastic strap to prevent the PU leather from being detached from the shaft 22. The endpiece of the shaft 22 is provided with an insertion recess, and a circular cover plate (or cap) 80 is mounted on the insertion recess of the shaft 22 to form a decorative bottom of the handle C. The cover plate 80 is made of carbon fiber. Thus, the head 21 and the shaft 22 are formed integrally, to reinforce the whole strength of the paddle face, thereby preventing the handle C from being loosened or detached from the head 21 during a long-term utilization, and thereby preventing the user's hand from being hurt due to loosening of the handle C.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first surface layer 50 is made of carbon fiber cloth that is coated with epoxy resin and is hot pressed and solidified to form the first paddle face 101 having a hard structure, and the second surface layer 60 is made of carbon fiber cloth that is coated with epoxy resin and is hot pressed and solidified to form the second paddle face 102 having a hard structure.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the first surface layer 50 and the second surface layer 60 is coated with various figures and patterns.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 with reference to FIGS. 1-6, the handle C is held by the user's hand to bat the ball by the first paddle face 101 or the second paddle face 102. At this time, the core blocks 30 are mounted in the central slot 211 of the frame 210 of the head 21 to form the first batting portion A with a solid paddle face. In such a manner, the core part 32 of each of the core blocks 30 is fitted into the central hole 311 of the ring body 31 tightly and closely and served as a central axis with a rigid hard force. The core part 32 of each of the core blocks 30 is encircled by the central hole 311 of the ring body 31 and absorbs the transverse vibration force from the ring body 31. The core part 32 of each of the core blocks 30 is wrapped by the two coating layers 33 and absorbs the vertical (or upward and downward) vibration force from the two coating layers 33. Thus, the core blocks 30 form an evenly distributed surface (or plane) structure to increase a batting area, to reinforce a core rigidity and a hitting strength of the paddle face, and to provide multiple shock-absorbing effects to the paddle face. In addition, each of the core blocks 30 has an independent shock-absorbing function to absorb the transverse vibration force and the vertical vibration force individually so that the vibration force is absorbed by the paddle face. Further, the auxiliary core blocks 40 are mounted in the through holes 212 of the frame 210 respectively to form the second batting portion B. In such a manner, the core part 41 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 is encircled by one of the through holes 212 of the frame 210, to absorb the transverse vibration force from the through holes 212 of the frame 210. The two coating layers 42 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 are fitted into one of the through holes 212 of the frame 210, so that the two coating layers 42 and the core part 41 of each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 absorb the vertical (or upward and downward) vibration force. Thus, each of the auxiliary core blocks 40 provides an auxiliary shock-absorbing function to absorb the transverse vibration force and the vertical vibration force individually.

Accordingly, the core blocks 30 and the auxiliary core blocks 40 reinforce the batting strength to increase a transmission force for batting the ball, so that the pickleball paddle structure 100 bats the ball more quickly. In addition, the core blocks 30 and the auxiliary core blocks 40 absorb the vibration force when the ball touches the paddle face, so that the vibration force will not be directly transmitted or conducted to the handle C, thereby preventing the user's hand (wrist or elbow) from numbing or being hurt by the vibration force, and thereby providing a comfortable sensation to the user when holding the handle C.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the invention.