Paddle for pickleball

Abstract

A grip portion of a paddle for pickleball extends in an up-down direction. A head portion of the paddle is provided on an upper end side of the grip portion and forms a hitting surface for hitting a ball on each of both sides of the head portion in a thickness direction. A reinforcement portion that reinforces a connection part connecting the head portion and the grip portion is provided at the connection part. An upper end of the reinforcement portion is provided below a central position of the paddle as a whole in the up-down direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paddle for pickleball, comprising:
 a grip portion that extends in an up-down direction; and   a head portion that is provided on an upper end side of the grip portion and forms a hitting surface for hitting a ball on each of both sides of the head portion in a thickness direction, wherein   a reinforcement portion that reinforces a connection part connecting the head portion and the grip portion is provided at the connection part, and   an upper end of the reinforcement portion is provided below a central position of the paddle for pickleball as a whole in the up-down direction.   
     
     
         2 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the grip portion and the head portion are formed by a panel member having a thickness in the thickness direction, and   the reinforcement portion is provided along a forming surface of each of both sides of the panel member in the thickness direction on an outer side of each of the both sides of the panel member at the connection part.   
     
     
         3 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the reinforcement portion includes
 a central forming portion overlying a lower end of the head portion in the up-down direction, and 
 a lateral-side forming portion extending in a strip shape from each of a right side and a left side of the central forming portion. 
   
     
     
         4 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement portion includes a central forming portion overlying a lower end of the head portion in the up-down direction. 
     
     
         5 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the head portion includes a lower-side inclined edge extending upward gradually toward each of both sides of the head portion in a right-left direction from a lower end of the head portion as viewed in the thickness direction,   the reinforcement portion includes
 a central forming portion overlying the lower end of the head portion in the up-down direction, and 
 a reinforcement plate portion provided continuously on an upper side and both of a right side and a left side of the central forming portion, and 
   the reinforcement plate portion includes
 a pair of lateral sides each extending from each of a right end and a left end of the central forming portion along the lower-side inclined edge as viewed in the thickness direction, and 
 an upper side connected to an upper end of each of the lateral sides and extending in the right-left direction. 
   
     
     
         6 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 2 , wherein an arrangement region of the reinforcement portion in the head portion is formed by the panel member with a smaller thickness than a thickness of a region other than the arrangement region. 
     
     
         7 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the grip portion and the head portion are formed by a panel member having a thickness in the thickness direction, and   the reinforcement portion is provided on an outer side along an end surface of the panel member at the connection part and grasps the panel member from both sides of the panel member in the thickness direction.   
     
     
         8 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the grip portion and the head portion are formed by a panel member having a thickness in the thickness direction, and   the reinforcement portion is provided so as to fall within a thickness of the panel member at the connection part.   
     
     
         9 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the panel member includes
 a core material formed to have a smaller thickness than a thickness of the head portion, 
 a front-side forming layer laminated on a front side which is a first side of the core material in the thickness direction and having a thin plate shape, and 
 a back-side forming layer laminated on a back side which is a second side of the core material in the thickness direction and having a thin plate shape, 
   the core material includes
 a first forming portion that forms the grip portion, the connection part, and a lower region of the head portion and constitutes the reinforcement portion, and 
 a second forming portion that forms a region other than the first forming portion in the head portion, and 
   the first forming portion is made of a material having a greater Young's modulus than a Young's modulus of the second forming portion.   
     
     
         10 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the panel member includes
 a core material formed to have a smaller thickness than a thickness of the head portion, 
 a front-side forming layer laminated on a front side which is a first side of the core material in the thickness direction and having a thin plate shape, and 
 a back-side forming layer laminated on a back side which is a second side of the core material in the thickness direction and having a thin plate shape, 
   the core material includes
 a first forming portion that forms an end surface on each of a right side and a left side at least in the connection part and constitutes the reinforcement portion, and 
 a second forming portion that forms a region other than the first forming portion, and 
   the first forming portion is made of a material having a greater Young's modulus than a Young's modulus of the second forming portion.   
     
     
         11 . The paddle for pickleball according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the grip portion and the head portion are formed by a panel member having a thickness in the thickness direction, and   the reinforcement portion is provided along a forming surface of each of both sides of the panel member in the thickness direction at a position within a thickness of the panel member on each of the both sides of the panel member at the connection part.