Sound altering pickleball paddle

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, devices, and systems for improved sports paddles that alter and/or reduce impact noise or the perceived level(s) thereof. Such paddles may be used for racquet sports, with the paddle including a handle and a body with a core layer, one or more inner layers and a top layer, wherein the density, compressibility/elasticity, thickness, segmentation, and/or shape of the materials used to form the various layers and/or openings/voids formed therein can be selected and designed to provide a paddle having desired playing characteristics and sound altering properties.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A pickleball paddle comprising:
 a ball striking portion defining a head;   a first surface layer on a first side of the head;   a second surface layer on a second side of the head opposite the first side;   a generally rigid core material residing between the first surface layer and the second surface layer;   a handle portion; and   a first intermediate layer positioned between the first surface layer and the generally rigid core material, the first intermediate layer including a plurality of reliefs formed in the first intermediate layer.   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate layer comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         3 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate layer comprises a flexible or semi-flexible polymer material. 
     
     
         4 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate layer comprises a generally rigid polymer material. 
     
     
         5 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein an underside portion of the first surface layer does not contact the first intermediate layer in the plurality of reliefs formed in the first intermediate layer. 
     
     
         6 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate layer thickness is at least 1 mm and the first surface layer thickness is at least 0.4 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 5 , wherein the first intermediate layer comprises a plurality of segmented, interconnected sections. 
     
     
         8 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of segmented, interconnected sections comprises a first section and a second section, the first section having a different shape than the second section. 
     
     
         9 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first intermediate layer comprises a carbon fiber composite laminate material. 
     
     
         10 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of reliefs are open. 
     
     
         11 . A pickleball paddle comprising:
 a ball striking portion defining a head;   a first surface layer on a first side of the head;   a second surface layer on a second side of the head opposite the first side;   a generally stiff core material residing between the first surface layer and the second surface layer;   a first intermediate layer positioned between the first surface layer and the generally stiff core material;   a second intermediate layer positioned between the first intermediate layer and the first surface layer;   a third intermediate layer positioned between the second intermediate layer and the first surface layer; and   a handle portion;   wherein the first intermediate layer is attached to the generally stiff core material, the second intermediate layer is attached to the first intermediate layer, and the third intermediate layer is attached to the second intermediate layer and the first surface layer.   
     
     
         12 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the first intermediate layer comprises a layer of EVA Foam. 
     
     
         13 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 12 , wherein the second intermediate layer comprises a stiff carbon fiber composite. 
     
     
         14 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the third intermediate layer comprises a layer of EVA Foam. 
     
     
         15 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 14 , wherein the first surface layer comprises a polypropylene or polycarbonate material. 
     
     
         16 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 12 , wherein the second intermediate layer includes one or more reliefs formed therein. 
     
     
         17 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the first surface layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer and the third intermediate layer are coupled together through a lamination process to create a single, integrally formed laminate composite layer or structure. 
     
     
         18 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 13 , wherein the first surface layer, the first intermediate layer, the second intermediate layer, the third intermediate layer and the generally stiff core material are coupled together through a lamination process to create a single, integrally formed laminate composite layer or structure. 
     
     
         19 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 14 , wherein a first surface portion of the first surface layer is spaced apart from a third surface portion of the third intermediate layer by the plurality of reliefs formed in the second intermediate layer. 
     
     
         20 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , further comprising a fourth intermediate layer positioned between the second surface layer and the generally stiff core material;
 a fifth intermediate layer positioned between the fourth intermediate layer and the second surface layer; and   a sixth intermediate layer positioned between the fifth intermediate layer and the second surface layer;   wherein the fourth intermediate layer is attached to the generally stiff core material, the fifth intermediate layer is attached to the fourth intermediate layer, and the sixth intermediate layer is attached to the fifth intermediate layer and the second surface layer.