Edge guards for pickleball paddles

Abstract

The present teachings include edge guards for pickleball paddles, e.g., where such edge guards do not drastically impact the weight of a pickleball paddle. To this end, an edge guard may include piping or similar present at a junction of a face of a pickleball paddle and an edge portion thereof, but the edge guard may otherwise be minimalized or completely absent from the majority of the edge portion (and other portions) of the paddle. The present teachings may also or instead include a face attachment for pickleball paddles—e.g., a replacement playing surface—that includes an edge guard thereon, such as piping or similar. In this manner, the face attachment may have protected edges when coupled to, or isolated from, a pickleball paddle. The present teachings may also or instead include piping or the like that can be applied to a paddle to form an edge guard thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pickleball paddle, comprising:
 a handle including a top portion and a bottom portion;   a throat portion engaged with the top portion of the handle;   a first face and a second face that opposes the first face, each of the first face and the second face extending from the throat portion of the handle, and each of the first face and the second face structurally configured for striking a ball;   an edge portion disposed between the first face and the second face along an exterior of the paddle, the edge portion abutting a perimeter of each of the first face and the second face; and   an edge guard, comprising:
 first piping disposed along a first junction between the first face and the edge portion, the first piping extending continuously along the perimeter of the first face between at least a first side of the paddle adjacent to the throat portion and a second side of the paddle adjacent to the throat portion; and 
 second piping disposed along a second junction between the second face and the edge portion, the second piping extending continuously along the perimeter of the second face between at least the first side of the paddle adjacent to the throat portion and the second side of the paddle adjacent to the throat portion,
 wherein the first piping and the second piping are separated from one another by a central region of the edge portion disposed therebetween, 
 wherein the first piping and the second piping define a maximum thickness of the paddle by projecting from the first face and the second face, respectively, and 
 wherein the first piping and the second piping define a maximum width of the paddle by projecting from the edge portion. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the first face is included on a first face attachment that is coupled to the paddle, wherein the first piping is engaged with a perimeter of the first face attachment, wherein the second face is included on a second face attachment that is coupled to the paddle, and wherein the second piping is engaged with a perimeter of the second face attachment. 
     
     
         3 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment is removable from, and replaceable to, the paddle. 
     
     
         4 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment is permanently attached to the paddle. 
     
     
         5 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment includes a textured surface. 
     
     
         6 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment includes at least one of: a carbon fiber material, graphite, fiberglass, aluminum, and polypropylene. 
     
     
         7 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment is affixed to the paddle via an adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein one or more of the first face attachment and the second face attachment includes an affixing mechanism on a surface thereof, the affixing mechanism including at least one of: double-sided tape, a layer formed on an underside surface thereof, a hook and loop fastener, an epoxy, and a coating of adhesive. 
     
     
         9 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first piping and the second piping is removable and replaceable from the paddle. 
     
     
         10 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first piping and the second piping is affixed to the paddle via one or more of an adhesive and double-sided tape. 
     
     
         11 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the central region of the edge portion is made from a different material than each of the first piping and the second piping. 
     
     
         12 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the edge guard is absent from the central region of the edge portion. 
     
     
         13 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the edge guard includes material extending from and connecting the first piping and the second piping above the central region. 
     
     
         14 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first piping and the second piping includes a substantially rounded shape. 
     
     
         15 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first piping and the second piping includes at least one of: an elastomer, a plastic material, a foam material, and carbon fiber. 
     
     
         16 . An edge guard for a pickleball paddle, the edge guard comprising:
 first piping formed of a first continuous strip of material; and   second piping formed of a second continuous strip of material, each of the first piping and the second piping comprising:
 a length selected to be continuously disposed along a perimeter of a face of the pickleball paddle; 
 an upper surface having a first predetermined shape configured to extend from a junction between the face of the pickleball paddle and an edge portion of the pickleball paddle such that the upper surface defines a maximum thickness and a maximum width of the pickleball paddle when disposed thereon; and 
 a lower surface having a second predetermined shape structurally configured to engage with the edge portion of the pickleball paddle. 
   
     
     
         17 . The edge guard of  claim 16 , wherein the first predetermined shape of the upper surface includes a rounded shape. 
     
     
         18 . The edge guard of  claim 16 , wherein the second predetermined shape of the lower surface includes one or more of a notch, a cutout, a channel, a slot, and a recess. 
     
     
         19 . A face attachment for a pickleball paddle, the face attachment comprising:
 a substantially planar surface having a first side and a second side, the substantially planar surface sized and shaped to define a paddle face of the pickleball paddle, wherein at least the first side is structurally configured for striking a ball;   an edge guard engaged with a perimeter of the substantially planar surface, the edge guard including piping disposed along at least a majority of the perimeter; and   an affixing mechanism disposed on the second side of the substantially planar surface for affixing the face attachment to the pickleball paddle.   
     
     
         20 . The face attachment of  claim 19 , wherein the face attachment is structurally configured to be removable from, and replaceable to, the pickleball paddle.