Pickleball paddle

Abstract

A pickleball paddle may include a handle portion and a head portion coupled to the handle portion. The head portion may include an outer frame extending about an opening, a core within the opening, and a core flexor extending between the perforate core and the handle portion within the opening

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pickleball paddle comprising:
 a handle portion;   a head portion coupled to the handle portion, the head portion comprising:
 an outer frame extending about an opening; 
 a perforate core within the opening; and 
 a core flexor extending between the perforate core and the handle portion within the opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the core flexor completely encircles the perforate core within the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the core flexor comprises a foamed layer. 
     
     
         4 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the perforate core comprises a honeycomb core. 
     
     
         5 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 4 , wherein the foam layer completely encircles the honeycomb core within the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 5 , wherein the outer frame comprises a tube. 
     
     
         7 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 6 , wherein the tube is hollow. 
     
     
         8 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 7 , wherein the outer frame comprises a loop extending about the opening, the loop having end portions forming portions of the handle portion. 
     
     
         9 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 8  further comprising a yoke between the opening and the handle portion, wherein the foam layer extends between the yoke and the honeycomb core. 
     
     
         10 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 9 , wherein the foam layer has a width of at least 10 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 10 , wherein the pickleball paddle satisfies standards set forth in November 2023 USA Pickleball Equipment Standards Manual. 
     
     
         12 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 10 , wherein the pickleball paddle has a combined maximum length and maximum width less than or equal to 24 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a first face plate spanning the opening over a first face of the honeycomb core and over a first face of the foam layer; 
 a second face plate spanning the opening over a second face of the honeycomb core and over a second face of the foam layer, 
 wherein the first face plate and the second face plate have faces facing away from the opening, the faces having a maximum kinetic coefficient of friction less than or equal to 0.1875 when tested pursuant to protocol IAW ASTM D1894-14. 
 
     
     
         14 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the pickleball paddle has a combined maximum length and maximum width less than or equal to 24 inches. wherein the core flexor comprises a foam layer and wherein the outer frame comprises a tube forming a loop extending about the opening, the loop having end portions forming portions of the handle portion. 
     
     
         15 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 14 , wherein the perforate core comprises a honeycomb core. 
     
     
         16 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 14 , wherein the foam layer has a width of at least 10 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the outer frame comprises an outer surface and a groove extending into and along the outer surface. 
     
     
         18 . A method for forming a pickleball paddle, the method comprising:
 pneumatically pressurizing a hollow tube while within a heated mold and while shaped into a loop extending about an opening and having parallel end portions for forming a handle portion;
 providing a perforate core within the opening; 
 providing a core flexor within the opening between the perforate core and the parallel end portions. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the perforate core comprises a honeycomb core and wherein the core flexor comprises a foam layer completely encircling the honeycomb core. 
     
     
         20 . A pickleball paddle comprising:
 a handle portion; and   a head portion coupled to the handle portion, the head portion comprising:
 an outer frame extending about an opening; 
 a core within the opening; and 
 a foam layer encircling the core within the opening.