Enhanced Pickleball Paddle Edge Guards

Abstract

A pickleball paddle, comprising a handle, a striking blade, and an edge guard along the perimeter of the striking blade, is provided. The edge guard comprises a front edge configured to partially extend over a front of the striking blade, a back edge configured to partially extend over a back of the striking blade, and a body connecting the front edge and the back edge and comprising at least one of a structural support component extending in a direction of the striking blade or an exterior protection component extending in a direction opposite to the direction of the striking blade.

1 . A pickleball paddle, comprising:
 a handle;   a striking blade; and   an edge guard along the perimeter of the striking blade, wherein the edge guard comprises:
 a front edge configured to partially extend over a front of the striking blade; 
 a back edge configured to partially extend over a back of the striking blade; and 
 a body connecting the front edge and the back edge and comprising at least one of a structural support component extending in a direction of the striking blade or an exterior protection component extending in a direction opposite to the direction of the striking blade. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises the structural support component, wherein the structural support component extends further than the front edge and/or the back edge in the direction of the striking blade. 
     
     
         3 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 2 , wherein the structural support component comprises a plurality of extensions in the direction of the striking blade, wherein each of the extensions extends further than the front edge and/or the back edge in the direction of the striking blade. 
     
     
         4 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises the exterior protection component, wherein the exterior protection component extends out from the body in a direction away from the striking blade. 
     
     
         5 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 4 , wherein the exterior protection component comprises a plurality of extensions in the direction away from the striking blade. 
     
     
         6 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises the structural support component and the exterior protection component. 
     
     
         7 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 6 , wherein the structural support component extends further than the front edge and/or back edge in the direction of the striking blade, and wherein the exterior protection component extends out from the body in a direction away from the striking surface. 
     
     
         8 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 7 , wherein the structural component comprises a plurality of extensions in the direction of the striking blade, and wherein the exterior protection component comprises a plurality of extensions in the direction away from the striking blade. 
     
     
         9 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the extensions is in a same lateral position on the body as one of the extensions in the direction of the striking blade. 
     
     
         10 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the extensions in the direction away from the striking blade is located in between two of the extensions in the direction of the striking blade along the body. 
     
     
         11 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural support component and the external protection component are made of a same material as the body, the front edge and the back edge. 
     
     
         12 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior protection component comprises a soft extension component, wherein a material of the soft extension component is softer than a material of the body. 
     
     
         13 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior protection component extends over entire length of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior extension component comprises at least one material painted or coated over the body, wherein the body is made of a second material different from the at least one material. 
     
     
         15 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least one material painted or coated over the body has a thickness of less than 1 milli-meter. 
     
     
         16 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of spaced-apart extensions are differently shaped. 
     
     
         17 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior extension component extends partially over part of the length of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The pickleball paddle according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural support component is shaped to firmly fit a recess structure on the perimeter of the striking blade. 
     
     
         19 . An edge guard for a pickleball paddle, the edge guard comprising:
 a front edge configured to partially extend over a front of a striking blade of the pickleball paddle;   a back edge configured to partially extend over a back of the striking blade;   a body connecting the front edge and the back edge; and   a soft extension component connecting to the body and extending in a direction opposite to the direction of the striking blade, wherein a material of the soft extension component is softer than a material of the body.   
     
     
         20 . An edge guard for a pickleball paddle, the edge guard comprising:
 a front edge configured to partially extend over a front of a striking blade of the pickleball paddle;   a back edge configured to partially extend over a back of the striking blade; and   a body connecting the front edge and the back edge and comprising at least one of a structural support component extending in a direction of the striking blade or an exterior protection component extending in a direction opposite to the direction of the striking blade.