Patent Application
20240390752
The present invention relates generally to hockey stick accessories, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a covering for the blade of a hockey stick wherein the covering of the present invention provides more control of the puck and further provides an ability to customize the appearance of the blade of the hockey stick.
Hockey is a very popular sport in North America and is played both professionally and recreationally by tens of thousands of individuals. As is known in the art, hockey employs equipment very specific to the game as the game is played on ice. One unique piece of equipment is the hockey stick. There are two primary hockey sticks that are utilized during play of a hockey game by the players. The goalie will utilize a hockey stick that is specific to that position wherein the hockey stick employed by the goalie has a larger blade and shaft integrally formed therewith at a specific angle for the position of the goalie.
All of the other player positions on a hockey team utilize the same style of hockey stick to execute play of their positions. This style of hockey stick incorporates a smaller blade having an arcuate radius to the bottom edge and a shallower angle integration to the handle extending upward therefrom. This style of hockey stick can be more easily manipulated and is utilized to execute plays such as but not limited to cross ice passing. It is common for player to apply conventional tape to the blade of the hockey stick. Tape is applied by many hockey players as the tap adds more control over the puck during maneuvers such as but not limited to passing. The surface of some conventional tapes provides an increase in the surface coefficient of friction and as such more control over the puck. One issue is that the tape must be applied from a conventional roll and as such provides a tape surface on the hockey stick blade that lacks thickness consistency. Additionally, this application inhibits an ability to customize the hockey stick blade.
Accordingly, there is a need for a hockey stick blade covering that is mateably shaped with the blade of a hockey stick configured to provide substantial coverage thereof and further provides custom apertures therein for appearance customization.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a hockey stick blade covering that is mateably shaped to a hockey stick blade wherein the present invention includes a body.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a covering configured to substantially cover the face of a hockey stick blade wherein the body of the present invention includes a first side and a second side wherein the first side has an adhesive disposed thereon.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a hockey stick blade covering that is mateably shaped to a hockey stick blade wherein the body is manufactured from a plastic film or similar material.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a covering configured to substantially cover the face of a hockey stick blade wherein one embodiment of the present invention includes at least one aperture formed therein.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hockey stick blade covering that is mateably shaped to a hockey stick blade wherein the aperture is formed in alternate locations and designs.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a covering configured to substantially cover the face of a hockey stick blade wherein the second side of the body provides an increased coefficient of friction with a hockey puck.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a hockey stick blade covering that is mateably shaped to a hockey stick blade wherein the present invention is applied to both side of the hockey stick blade.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.
A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:
Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a hockey stick blade covering 100 constructed according to the principles of the present invention.
An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention.
It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic.
Referring in particular to the Figures submitted herewith, the hockey stick blade covering 100 includes a body 10. The body 10 includes a first side 15 and a second side 20. The body 10 is formed in a shape that is configured to be mateably shaped with an exemplary hockey stick blade 99. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body 10 is formed in a shape and size that will provide substantial coverage of one side of the hockey stick blade 99. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the body 10 could be provided in a size and shape that would cover less than the complete surface of the hockey stick blade 99.
The body 10 of the present invention has an adhesive disposed on the first side 15. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the adhesive could be but not limited to a pressure sensitive adhesive. The first side 15 is placed adjacent to the hockey stick blade 99 and facilitates the securing of the hockey stick blade covering 100 to one side of the hockey stick blade 99. The second side 20 of the body 10 is plastic film and is configured to provide an increased coefficient of friction with a hockey puck in comparison to a bare hockey stick blade 99 that is manufactured from fiberglass or wood. The body 10 of the present invention includes a lower edge 6, an outer edge 7, an inside edge 8 and upper edge 9 that are operable to form the same profile shape as a conventional hockey blade 99. Disposed on the second side 20 of the body 10 is a wax coating 30. The wax coating 30 is impregnated into the second side 20 and is configured to further provide an increased coefficient of friction with a hockey puck. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the wax could be impregnated into the second side 20 of the body 10 utilizing numerous alternate suitable techniques. It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the body 10 could be provided without wax.
Referring in particular to
In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
