PADDLE TECHNOLOGY
A pickleball paddle with novel core characteristics and/or materials, and related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are provided.
1 . A paddle comprising a core, wherein the core comprises expanded polypropylene (EPP).
2 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the EPP has a density of about 0.5 to about 3.5 pounds per cubic foot.
3 . The paddle of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the EPP has a density of about 3.5 to about 20 pounds per cubic foot.
4 . The paddle of any of claims 1-3 , wherein the core comprises EPP having at least two different densities.
5 . The paddle of any of claims 1-4 , wherein the core comprises a skeleton that comprises EPP at a density of between 3.5 to about 20 pounds per cubic foot.
6 . The paddle of any of claims 1-5 , wherein the core comprises a skeleton and a lower density EPP from about 0.5 to about 3.5 pounds per cubic foot.
7 . The paddle of claim 6 , wherein the lower density EPP fills in one or more spaces around or between the skeleton.
8 . The paddle of claim 7 , wherein the lower density EPP fills in the non-skeletal spaces in the core.
9 . The paddle of any of claims 1-8 , wherein the core comprises EPP in a density of between about 5 to about 20 pounds per cubic foot.
10 . The paddle of any of claims 1-9 , wherein the core has a total weight of between 2 and 4 ounces.
11 . The paddle of any of claims 1-10 , further comprising a carbon fiber face, a grip, and/or a perimeter wrap.
12 . The paddle of any of claims 1-11 , wherein the finished paddle has a weight of between about 5-10 ounces.
13 . The paddle of any of claims 1-12 , wherein the core comprises a skeleton that comprises a honeycomb structure.
14 . The paddle of claim 13 , wherein the honeycomb structure comprises honeycombs with a diameter of greater than 10 mm.
15 . The paddle of claim 13 , wherein the honeycomb structure comprises honeycombs with a diameter of 15-30 mm.
16 . The paddle of any of claims 1-12 , wherein the core comprises a skeleton and non-skeletal regions, and the skeleton provides vertical support between the faces of the paddle.
17 . The paddle of claim 16 , wherein the skeleton comprises a non-uniform shape.
18 . The paddle of claim 17 , wherein the skeleton located in greater amount closer to the perimeter of the core.
19 . A core comprising: at least one high-density composite foam.
20 . The core of claim 19 , wherein the core is formed in a pickleball paddle.
21 . A paddle comprising a core, wherein the core comprises at least one high-density composite foam.
22 . The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the at least one high-density composite foam comprises at least one of: expanded polypropylene (EPP), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), nanocarbon containing polymer composite foam (NCP), or microcellular polypropylene (MPP).
23 . The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the at least one high-density foam comprises at least one of an elastomer, a polystyrene, a polyethylene, a polypropylene, a polyamide, a polyurethane, an ethylvinyl-acetate, a polyethylene oxide, a polyacrylate, a cellulose, an ethylene vinyl alcohol, a polybutylene, a polycaprolactone, a polycarbonate, a polyketone, polyester, a polylactic acid, a polyvinyl chloride, a polyphenylene, and copolymers thereof.
24 . The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the at least one high-density composite foam has a density of about 0.5 to about 3.5 pounds per cubic foot.
25 . The paddle of any of claims 21-23 , wherein the at least one high-density composite foam has a density of about 3.5 to about 20 pounds per cubic foot.
26 . The paddle of any of claims 21-23 , wherein the at least one high-density composite foam comprises a first high-density composite foam and a second high-density composite foam having at least two different densities.
27 . The paddle of any of claims 21-26 , wherein the core comprises a skeleton that comprises the at least one high-density composite foam at a density of between 3.5 to about 20 pounds per cubic foot.
28 . The paddle of any of claims 21-25 , wherein the core comprises a skeleton that comprises the at least one high-density composite foam having a density from about 0.5 to about 3.5 pounds per cubic foot.
29 . The paddle of any of claims 21-28 , wherein the core further comprises a skeleton and one or more non-skeletal regions, and the skeleton is configured to provide vertical support between faces of the paddle.
30 . The paddle of claim 29 , wherein the high-density composite foam having a density from about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds per cubic foot fills in one or more spaces around or between the skeleton.
31 . The paddle of claim 29 , wherein the wherein the high-density composite foam having a density from about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds per cubic foot fills in the non-skeletal spaces in the core.
32 . The paddle of claim 29 , wherein the core comprises one or more gaps filled with air.
33 . The paddle of any of claims 21-32 , wherein the core comprises EPP in a density of between about 5 to about 20 pounds per cubic foot.
34 . The paddle of any of claims 21-33 , wherein the core has a total weight of between 2 and 4 ounces.
35 . The paddle of any of claims 21-34 , further comprising at least one of: a carbon fiber face, a grip, or a perimeter wrap.
36 . The paddle of any of claims 21-35 , wherein the paddle has a weight of between about 5-10 ounces.
37 . The paddle of any of claims 21-36 , wherein the core comprises a skeleton that comprises one or more geometric shapes.
38 . The paddle of claim 37 , wherein the geometric shape comprises at least one of a honeycomb unit, a circle, a square, an oval, a trapezoid, a triangle, or any combinations thereof.
39 . The paddle of claim 37 , wherein the geometric shape comprises a honeycomb structure.
40 . The paddle of claim 37 , wherein the geometric shape comprises interlocked shapes, wherein the shapes comprise at least one of a honeycomb unit, a circle, a square, an oval, a trapezoid, a triangle, or any combination thereof.
41 . The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the core comprises a skeleton spanning the perimeter of the paddle and between about 20 to 75% of the surface area of the paddle.
42 . The paddle of claim 29 , wherein the skeleton comprises a non-uniform shape.
43 . The paddle of claim 29 , wherein the skeleton is located in greater amount closer to the perimeter of the core.
44 . The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the paddle comprises a deflection less than 5 thousandths of an inch at a test weight of 3 kg.
45 . The paddle of claim 21 , wherein the paddle comprises a deflection less than 10 thousandths of an inch at a test weight of 5 kg.
46 . A method of making and/or manufacturing a pickleball paddle, as claimed, shown and/or described herein.
47 . A method of playing pickleball, comprising using a paddle as claimed or described herein.