Padel racket

Abstract

The padel racket (100) according to the present invention comprises a striking portion (110), a handle (120), and an intermediate portion (130) joining the striking portion (110) and the handle (120). The padel racket (100) has a midplane (MP) and a longitudinal axis (A), which is aligned with the longitudinal centreline of the handle (120), and which extends through the midplane (MP). The striking portion (110) comprises a central element (111) and a frame (112), the central element (111) comprising a first ball striking surface (115) extending in a first plane (P1) and a second ball striking surface (116) extending in a second plane (P2). The frame (112) surrounds the central element (111) along the periphery of the first ball striking surface (115) and the periphery of the second ball striking surface (116). The frame comprises a plurality of ribs arranged transversally to the midplane, wherein each rib (114) is curved and extends from a first end point (150, 150′, 150″) in direct connection with or adjacent to the first plane (P1) to a second end point (151, 151′, 151″) in direct connection with or adjacent to the second plane (P2) via an intermediate point (152), the intermediate point (152) being located on a line (L) defined by the intersection of the midplane (MP) and the external surface of the frame (112) at an offset distance (d) from a centre point (CP) on the line (L), wherein the centre point (CP) is the point on the line (L) having the shortest possible distance to each of the first end point (150, 150′, 150″) and the second end point (151, 151′, 151″), respectively.

1 . A padel racket comprising a striking portion, a handle, and an intermediate portion joining the striking portion and the handle,
 the padel racket having a midplane and a longitudinal axis, which is aligned with the longitudinal centreline of the handle and which extends in the midplane,   the striking portion comprising a central element and a frame,   the central element comprising a first ball striking surface extending in a first plane and a second ball striking surface extending in a second plane,   the frame surrounding the central element along the periphery of the first ball striking surface and the periphery of the second ball striking surface, wherein the frame comprises an exterior surface and an interior surface, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of ribs arranged transversally to the midplane, wherein each rib is curved and extends from a first end point in direct connection with or adjacent to the first plane to a second end point in direct connection with or adjacent to the second plane via an intermediate point,
 characterised in that the intermediate point is located on a line defined by the intersection of the midplane and the external surface of the frame at an offset distance from a centre point on the line, wherein the centre point is the point on the line having the shortest possible distance to each of the first end point and the second end point, respectively. 
   
     
     
         2 . The padel racket according to  claim 1 , wherein each rib, when projected onto a tangent plane of its respective centre point on the exterior surface, forms a projected curve having a radius of curvature in the interval of 25 mm to 300 mm, including the interval end points and within manufacturing tolerances. 
     
     
         3 . The padel racket according to  claim 2 , wherein the projected curve has a radius of curvature in the interval of 25 mm to 100 mm, including the interval end points and within manufacturing tolerances. 
     
     
         4 . The padel racket according to  claim 2 , wherein the projected curve has a radius of curvature in the interval of 35 mm to 50 mm, including the interval end points and within manufacturing tolerances. 
     
     
         5 . The padel racket according to  claim 2 , wherein the projected curve of at least two of the plurality of ribs of the padel racket have different radius of curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The padel racket according to  claim 1 , wherein the offset distance is in the interval of 0.2 mm to 4 mm, preferably in the interval of 1 mm to 3 mm, more preferably 2.5 mm, including the end points of the intervals and within manufacturing tolerances. 
     
     
         7 . The padel racket according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the ribs extends inwardly in the radial direction of the frame, thereby forming a recess in the exterior surface of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The padel racket according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribs are arranged in a first rib-containing portion and a second rib-containing portion of the frame, wherein the first rib-containing portion is arranged on one side of the longitudinal axis and the second rib-containing portion is arranged on the opposite side of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The padel racket according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and the second rib-containing portions are symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal axis, and further symmetrically arranged in relation to the lateral axis. 
     
     
         10 . The padel racket according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame has a depth in the radial direction, and wherein each of the ribs extends the entire depth of the frame. 
     
     
         11 . The padel racket according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rib-containing portions each comprises at least 5 ribs, such as 5-15, 6-13, or 8-11 ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The padel racket according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second rib-containing portions each covers from about 6 cm to about 12 cm, such as from about 8 cm to about 10 cm, of the circumferential length of the frame. 
     
     
         13 . The padel racket according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second rib-containing portions are arranged at a proximal position of the frame, close to the proximal end of the striking portion. 
     
     
         14 . The padel racket according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second rib-containing portions are arranged at a central position of the frame, around the lateral axis. 
     
     
         15 . The padel racket according to  claim 8 , wherein the first and second rib-containing portions are arranged at a distal position of the frame, close to the distal end of the striking portion. 
     
     
         16 . The padel racket according to  claim 1 , wherein the ribs  114  are integrated with the frame  112 . 
     
     
         17 . A mould for producing a padel racket according to  claim 1 , the mould having a space for receiving a material, wherein the space is delimited by an outer edge, wherein the outer edge comprises an edge pattern in at least one portion of the outer edge, wherein the edge pattern comprises:
 a. a plurality of bulges having a radius of curvature in the interval of 25 mm to 300 mm, including the interval end points, or   b. a plurality of recesses having a radius of curvature in the interval of 25 mm to 300 mm, including the interval end points.   
     
     
         18 . The mould according to  claim 17 , wherein the edge pattern is provided in at least two portions of outer edge, said two portions being provided symmetrically in relation to a longitudinal symmetry axis of the space in the mould, and further symmetrically arranged in relation to a lateral symmetry axis of the space in the mould. 
     
     
         19 . A method for producing a padel racket according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 a. placing material for forming the frame and an interior material in a mould having a space for receiving a material, wherein the space is delimited by an outer edge, wherein the outer edge comprises an edge pattern in at least one portion of the outer edge, wherein the edge pattern comprises:
 i. a plurality of bulges having a radius of curvature in the interval of 25 mm to 300 mm, including the interval end points, or 
 ii. a plurality of recesses having a radius of curvature in the interval of 25 mm to 300 mm, including the interval end points, 
   b. moulding and hardening the material, and   c. removing the padel racket from the mould.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the material forming the frame comprises a carbon fibre material, a glass fibre material, an aluminium material, a titanium material, another suitable metal material, or a combination thereof, wherein the material is moulded and hardened under an increased temperature and/or increased pressure.