Table tennis bat blade

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a new table tennis bat blade which, in basic form, is composed of a layer of rigid, lightweight, low modulus of elasticity material positioned centrally with respect to the thickness of the blade.
A thin, intermediate constraining layer of high modulus of elasticity material is bonded to each surface of the core layer.
Additionally, the blade includes a smooth, rigid outer layer bonded to the outer surfaces of said two constraining layers.
The constraining layers may be composed of a thin sheet of material or of fibers formed into strands with the strands then woven transversely to each other to form a mat.
In a table tennis bat blade constructed according to the present invention, the central core layer of low modulus of elasticity material stabilizes the bat by absorbing vibrations imparted to the bat by the ball thereby improving the player's ability to direct his shots and impart precisely the desired amount and type of spin to the ball.
This is especially important since most widely used playing techniques involve applying a large amount of top spin to the ball.
Furthermore, applicant has found that the two constraining layers enhance the rigidity of the blade without adding significant weight.
As a result, more of the energy of the swinging bat is imparted to the ball.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a table tennis bat blade which is not only stiff, but also light in weight so that it can be quickly maneuvered by the player.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stable table tennis bat blade which is capable of absorbing the shock loads imparted on the bat by the ball.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a table tennis bat blade which is constructed of sufficient structural integrity to withstand rugged use.
One more object of the present invention is to provide a table tennis bat blade constructed from a composite of different materials to optimize the desirable characteristics of the blade