Sports paddle

Abstract

An apparatus and a method are provided for a sports paddle for pickleball, tennis, smashball, ping pong, or racquetball. The sports paddle comprises a planar portion defining opposing flat surfaces for striking a ball and a handle portion for grasping in a hand. A skin layer encloses the planar portion and the handle portion. Rounded edges are disposed around the planar portion and the handle portion. The planar portion may comprise a core material surrounded by a rigid portion. The rigid portion may comprise 20-24 lb. foam while the core material is a honeycomb structured material. A synthetic or polymeric grip is wrapped around the handle portion to provide stability and firmness for a player. A binding secures the grip to a neck of the planar portion. An end cap placed at an end of the handle provides support and protection of the paddle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sports paddle, comprising:
 a planar portion defining opposing flat surfaces for striking a ball;   a core material having rounded edges;   a handle portion for grasping in a hand; and   a skin layer surrounding at least a majority of the planar portion.   
     
     
         2 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the core material comprises an open-cell-structure. 
     
     
         3 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the core material comprises a closed-cell-structured foam. 
     
     
         4 . The sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the foam comprises any one or more of polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, polyethylene or polystyrene foams, balsa wood, syntactic foams, honeycombs, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the core material comprises an open-cell or closed-cell metal foam. 
     
     
         6 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the core material comprises a polypropylene honeycomb core that is wrapped in multiple layers of pre-preg carbon fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The sports paddle of  claim 6 , wherein the carbon fiber is adhered to the honeycomb core and baked under compression to form a boned surface of the planar portion. 
     
     
         8 . The sports paddle of  claim 7 , wherein the core material comprises between 20-lb. and 24-lb. foam. 
     
     
         9 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the planar portion includes a rigid portion surrounding the core material. 
     
     
         10 . The sports paddle of  claim 9 , wherein the rigid portion comprises between 20- and 24-lb. foam while the core material comprises a honeycomb structured material. 
     
     
         11 . The sports paddle of  claim 9 , wherein one or more weights are incorporated into the core material. 
     
     
         12 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the polypropylene honeycomb core is dipped into a bath of a liquid material that remains flexible in a dried state. 
     
     
         13 . The sports paddle of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid material comprise any one or more of rubber, Urethanes, exotic materials such as liquid diamond dust, liquid carbon fiber, liquid Kevlar, liquid gold dust, liquid ruby dust, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The sports paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid material is selected so as to affect material properties of the paddle, such as any one or more of weight, construction strength, bounce, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The sports paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the liquid material is selected to seal off chamber walls comprising the polypropylene honeycomb core so as to prevent small pieces from later coming loose causing rattles. 
     
     
         16 . The sports paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the polypropylene honeycomb core comprising dried liquid material is wrapped in multiple layers of pre-preg carbon fiber. 
     
     
         17 . The sports paddle of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon fiber is adhered to the honeycomb core and baked under compression to form a boned surface of the planar portion. 
     
     
         18 . The sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the skin layer comprises different materials applied to the opposing flat surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The sports paddle of  claim 18 , wherein the skin layer includes film portions that provide desired performance properties. 
     
     
         20 . The sports paddle of  claim 18 , wherein the skin layer includes adhesive stickers comprising carbon fiber sheets that provide affect traction.