Paddle technology

Abstract

A pickleball paddle with novel core characteristics and/or materials, and related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.