Paddle having a recessed hitting surface for paddle and ball-based sports

Abstract

A paddle for use in a paddle and ball-based sport such as pickleball comprises a handle, a blade and a throat connecting the handle to the blade. The blade has a hitting surface which is continuous, devoid of apertures or indentations. The blade is thinner in its center than on its periphery, and may be completely concave or have a flat inner region surrounded by a concave periphery. The throat may comprise an aperture through the thickness of the paddle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paddle for use in a paddle and ball-based sport, the paddle extending along a length, a width and a thickness, the paddle comprising:
 a handle;   a blade with a continuous hitting surface, the blade having a center and a periphery, the blade being thinner in the center than on the periphery; and   a throat connecting the handle to the blade.   
     
     
         2 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the throat comprises an aperture extending through the thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting surface is concave. 
     
     
         4 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting surface comprises a central portion and a peripheral portion, the central portion being substantially flat and the peripheral being substantially concave. 
     
     
         5 . The paddle of  claim 1  wherein the central portion extend substantially 90 mm (3.5 in) widthwise and at least 135 mm (5.3 in) lengthwise. 
     
     
         6 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises two identical hitting surfaces, each one of the two identical hitting surfaces being located on an opposite side of the blade. 
     
     
         7 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the blade comprises an outer layer, the outer layer having the hitting surface, the outer layer having a thickness ranging from 0.25 mm to 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The paddle of  claim 7 , wherein the outer layer has a thickness ranging from 0.25 mm to 1.0 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting surface is smooth. 
     
     
         10 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the hitting surface is rigid and non-compressible. 
     
     
         11 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle has a first combined dimension corresponding to a sum of the length and of the width of the paddle, the first combined dimension being at most 24 inches (60.96 cm), and the length of the paddle being at most 17 inches (43.19 cm). 
     
     
         12 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle has a second combined dimension corresponding to a sum of a blade length and a throat length, the second combined dimension being at least twice as long as a handle length. 
     
     
         13 . The paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle is a pickleball paddle. 
     
     
         14 . A paddle for use in a paddle and ball-based sport, the paddle extending along a length, a width and a thickness, the paddle comprising:
 a handle;   a blade with a continuous hitting surface, the blade having a center and a periphery, the blade being thinner in the center than on the periphery; and   a throat connecting the handle to the blade, the throat comprising an aperture extending through the thickness.   
     
     
         15 . The paddle of  claim 14 , wherein the hitting surface is concave. 
     
     
         16 . The paddle of  claim 14 , wherein the hitting surface comprises a central portion and a peripheral portion, the central portion being substantially flat and the peripheral being substantially concave, the central portion extending up to the aperture. 
     
     
         17 . The paddle of  claim 16 , wherein the central portion has a thickness that gradually decreases towards the aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The paddle of  claim 14 , wherein the blade comprises two identical hitting surfaces, each one of the two identical hitting surfaces being located on an opposite side of the blade. 
     
     
         19 . The paddle of  claim 14 , wherein the blade further comprises an embedded core. 
     
     
         20 . The paddle of  claim 14  wherein the central portion extend substantially 90 mm (3.5 in) widthwise and at least 135 mm (5.3 in) lengthwise.