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 comprising:
a continuous layer comprising a first material comprising a high density composite foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP) having a density of about 3.5 to 20 pounds per cubic feet, wherein the core has a total weight between 2 and 4 ounces, and
one or more regions embedded within the continuous layer that are lacking the first material and are at least partially filled with a filling comprising a second material.
2 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the high density composite foam further comprises at least one of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), nanocarbon containing polymer composite foam (NCP), or microcellular polypropylene (MPP).
3 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the high density composite foam further 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.
4 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the second material is air.
5 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein one or more regions comprises a plurality of regions.
6 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the second material is a high density composite foam having a different density than the high density composite foam of the first material.
7 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more regions spans an entire depth of the core.
8 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more regions spans a partial depth of the core.
9 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein a subset of the one or more regions is oriented on a perimeter of the paddle.
10 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein a subset of the one or more regions is oriented in a grid on a face of the paddle.
11 . The paddle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a carbon fiber face adhesively attached to the core;
a grip; and/or
a perimeter wrap.
12 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the paddle has a weight of between about 5-10 ounces.
13 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more regions form one or more geometric shapes.
14 . The paddle of claim 13 , wherein the geometric shape comprises at least one of a circle, a square, an oval, a trapezoid, a triangle, or any combinations thereof.
15 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the paddle comprises a deflection less than 5 thousandths of an inch at a test weight of 3 kg.
16 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the paddle comprises a deflection less than 10 thousandths of an inch at a test weight of 5 kg.
17 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the one or more regions comprise at least one opening at a face of the core.
18 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a head region and a handle region, and the continuous layer spans the head region and the handle region.
19 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises the high density composite foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP) having a density of about 5 to 20 pounds per cubic feet.
20 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises the high density composite foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP) having a density of about 6 to 20 pounds per cubic feet.
21 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a high density composite foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP) having a density of about 0.5 to 5 pounds per cubic feet.
22 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a high density composite foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP) having a density of about 0.5 to 3.5 pounds per cubic feet.
23 . The paddle of claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises a high density composite foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP) having a density of about 1 to 6 pounds per cubic feet.
24 . A core for a pickleball paddle comprising:
a sheet of a first material, the sheet comprising at least one high-density composite foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP) having a density of about 3.5 to 20 pounds per cubic feet, wherein the core has a total weight between 2 and 4 ounces; and
one or more regions embedded within the sheet that are lacking the first material and are at least partially filled with a filing comprising a second material.
25 . The core of claim 24 , wherein the core is in a pickleball paddle.
26 . The core of claim 24 , wherein the one or more regions form one or more geometric shapes.
27 . The core of claim 26 , wherein the geometric shape comprises at least one of a circle, a square, an oval, a trapezoid, a triangle, or any combinations thereof.
28 . The core of claim 24 , wherein the second material is air.
29 . The core of claim 24 , wherein the second material comprises a second high-density composite foam having a different density than the at least one high-density composite foam of the first material.
30 . The core of claim 24 , wherein the at least one high-density composite foam further comprises at least one of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), nanocarbon containing polymer composite foam (NCP), microcellular polypropylene (MPP), 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.
31 . The core of claim 24 , wherein each of the one or more regions spans an entire depth of the core.
32 . The core of claim 24 , wherein each of the one or more regions spans a partial depth of the core.
33 . The core of claim 24 , wherein the core has a total weight of between 2 and 4 ounces.
34 . The core of claim 24 , wherein the one or more regions comprise at least one opening at a face of the core and the core comprises a head region and a handle region.
35 . A paddle comprising:
a core having a head region and a handle region, the core comprising:
a continuous layer comprised of a first material comprising a high density composite foam comprising expanded polypropylene (EPP) with a density of about 3.5 to 20 pounds per cubic foot and a total weight between 2 and 4 ounces, and
one or more regions embedded within the continuous layer that are lacking the first material and are at least partially filled with a filling comprising a second material, wherein the one or more regions comprise at least one opening at a face of the core.