Clamshell pickleball paddle

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of a pickleball paddle comprising a first clamshell component and a second clamshell component. The first clamshell component includes a first head portion, a first rim portion surrounding the first head portion, and a first handle portion. The second clamshell component includes a second head portion, a second rim portion surrounding the second head portion, and a second handle portion. When the first rim portion is joined to the second rim portion, the first and second clamshell components together define a cavity. A core is disposed in the cavity and may be formed of a foam material.

1 . A pickleball paddle comprising:
 a first clamshell component, including:
 a first head portion, 
 a first rim portion surrounding the first head portion, 
 a first handle portion, 
   a second clamshell component, including:
 a second head portion, 
 a second rim portion surrounding the second head portion, 
 a second handle portion, 
   wherein, when the first rim portion is joined to the second rim portion, the first and second clamshell components together define a cavity; and   a core disposed in the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first rim portion comprises a first side wall, and the second rim portion comprises a second side wall. 
     
     
         3 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein the first side wall is adhered to the second side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first side wall is joined to the second side wall by a weld. 
     
     
         5 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second clamshell components comprises a metal material. 
     
     
         6 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 5 , wherein the metal material is aluminum, titanium, or an alloy of aluminum or titanium. 
     
     
         7 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second handle portions define a handle cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 7 , further comprising a handle fill disposed in the handle cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         10 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 9 , wherein the foam material comprises an expanding foam. 
     
     
         11 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , further comprising a grip coupled to and surrounding the first and second handle portions. 
     
     
         12 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , further comprising an edge guard surrounding a majority of the head and covering a seam between the first rim portion and the second rim portion.