Composite sports paddle including distal frame separation and method

Abstract

A composite sports paddle with distal frame separation addresses the need to separate the performance characteristics of the front face and back face structures, even when the ball strikes only one face. It introduces a separation of the face plies to act independently and separates the distal frame while maintaining rigidity along the paddle's distal portion. By focusing on these independent structures, the overall performance of the paddle is enhanced and paddle meets the demands of today's players.

1 . A composite sports paddle, comprising:
 a handle;   a transition section; and   a composite paddle head coupled to the handle through the transition section, the composite paddle head including a distal frame with an edge, the edge of the distal frame including two sections and a gap between the two sections, creating distal frame separation, allowing the two sections to act independently while maintaining rigidity along the distal frame.   
     
     
         2 . The composite sports paddle of  claim 1 , further including an elastomeric material in the gap to absorb impact to the distal frame. 
     
     
         3 . The composite sports paddle of  claim 2 , wherein the elastomeric material extends outside of the gap. 
     
     
         4 . The composite sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric material partially covers the edge. 
     
     
         5 . The composite sports paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric material is an edge guard that covers the edge. 
     
     
         6 . The composite sports paddle of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric material of the edge guard is thinner in the gap compared to outside of the gap, creating a thin flex area in the gap that allows more flex than thicker areas of the edge guard outside of the gap. 
     
     
         7 . The composite sports paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the composite paddle head include a solid carbon-fiber ribbed core, a honeycomb core, and/or closed-cell foam core. 
     
     
         8 . A method of using the composite sports paddle of  claim 1 , comprising:
 striking a ball with the composite paddle head of the composite sports paddle in the distal frame with one of the two sections;   inhibiting vibrations in the one of the two sections created from striking the ball from passing to an other of the two sections with the gap between the two sections.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the composite sports paddle further includes an elastomeric material in the gap, and inhibiting vibrations includes absorbing vibrations in the one of the two sections created from striking the ball with the elastomeric material in the gap between the two sections.