Lacrosse head pocket

Abstract

A lacrosse head pocket for a lacrosse head having a scoop and opposing sidewalls. The pocket includes a pocket member comprising one or more thin, flexible portions. The pocket member is connected to the scoop and at least a portion of the sidewalls.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a pocket for a lacrosse head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Lacrosse heads comprise basically two portions. An injection molded plastic head frame typically having a generally “V” shape, and netting which is strung from the bottom of the frame to comprise the pocket into which the ball is received and from which the ball is thrown. Typically, the frame defines a series of holes close to its bottom edge along its entire periphery, and a string passed through those holes is used to connect the pocket to the head frame.

[0004] The pocket can generally be divided into two sections having generally different functions. When a ball is being carried in the stick, it generally resides in what is termed herein a “ball-carrying pocket portion” that is generally closer to the ball stop or throat portion of the frame as opposed to the scoop portion of the frame. The second portion of the pocket is termed the “shooting portion” herein, and is generally the area of the stringing from which the ball is launched when it is thrown in the usual manner. Typically, when a lacrosse ball is thrown, it moves along the stringing up from the ball-carrying pocket portion towards the scoop and over the shooting portion, and is launched from the head off the scoop, or off the shooting portion stringing close to the scoop. The lower boundary of this portion from which the ball is launched is generally defined in a mesh or strung pocket by additional stringing or lacing in the lacrosse head, typically accomplished by passing shoelaces through the netting along a straight or curved line.

[0005] Since the netting is strung to the head frame manually, and since the shooting strings are added manually, there is quite of bit of manual labor involved in stringing a lacrosse head. This adds to the cost of heads, and also adds a human variability factor which results in inconsistent production from person to person, or even from day to day. In addition, the number of separate components making up a traditional pocket is in the range of 8-12, which increases the complexity and costs associated with inventory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a lacrosse head pocket that is extremely consistent from stick to stick.

[0007] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that is less expensive to create and attach to the head frame.

[0008] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that decreases production time substantially, likely by about fifty (50%) percent.

[0009] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that reduces the number of components in a pocket, in the preferred embodiment to five or less.

[0010] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that allows for different looks and color schemes.

[0011] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that is more durable and easier to use.

[0012] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that provides a consistent release of the ball without the need for any maintenance tuning.

[0013] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that provides a very smooth ball release from the head.

[0014] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that virtually eliminates the occurrence of unwanted “whip” in throwing the ball.

[0015] It is a further object of this invention to provide such a pocket that is customizable and thus can be designed to be tailored to players of all different playing styles.

[0016] This invention results from the realization that lacrosse head pockets can be made more uniform, more consistent, and less expensively by replacing all or a portion of the pocket with a molded plastic member or members that attach to the head frame.

[0017] This invention may be accomplished in a lacrosse head pocket, the lacrosse head having a scoop, opposing sidewalls and a ball stop, the pocket comprising pocket stringing defining a portion of the pocket; and a pocket member defining another portion of the pocket and comprising one or more thin flexible portions that are unitary with the pocket stringing, to create the pocket.

[0018] The lacrosse head pocket of claim may further comprise means for connecting the pocket to the interior periphery of the lacrosse head, to close the head such that the head can receive and carry a lacrosse ball. The pocket member may comprise a plastic sheet defining a number of openings through the faces to decrease wind resistance. The pocket member may have a partial outline shape that conforms generally to the inside of the scoop and the sidewalls proximate the scoop. The pocket member may span between the sidewalls, and have an outline shape between the sidewalls defining a curve such that the length of the pocket member proximate the sidewalls is greater than its length along its center.

[0019] The pocket member may have an inner surface defining a series of small projections. The lacrosse head may define one or more stringing holes, and the means for connecting the pocket to the interior periphery of the lacrosse head may comprise means for connecting the pocket member to one or more of the stringing holes. The means for connecting the pocket to one or more of the stringing holes may comprise connector members along at least a part of the periphery of the pocket member. The connector members may comprise integral tabs projecting from the periphery of the thin, flexible sheet. At least some of the tabs may define an enlarged head, and be adapted to pass through a stringing hole. The enlarged head may be tapered where it fits through the opening, and include a sharp cutback portion, to define a tooth, so that it can be pulled through the hole from the inside, but resists pulling back through the hole once inserted therethrough. The means for connecting the pocket to one or more of the stringing holes may comprise connecting stringing passing through the openings and engaging with the pocket.

[0020] The pocket member may comprise plastic overmolded on at least a portion of the pocket stringing. The overmolded portion may comprise at least some of the pocket member. The lacrosse head pocket may further comprise a ball-carrying pocket portion. The ball-carrying pocket portion may be partially unitary with the pocket member. The pocket may comprise an integral combination plastic portion defining vertical elongated portions and the pocket member. The vertical elongated portions may be received in openings in the scoop and the stop of the lacrosse head. The lacrosse head pocket may further comprise one or more structures for inhibiting the vertical elongated portions from pulling out of the openings in the scoop. The structures may comprise one or more teeth on the vertical elongated portions. The structures may comprise a locking member engaged with each vertical elongated portion outside of the ball stop.

[0021] The ball-carrying pocket portion may be integral with the pocket member. The pocket member may be integral with the lacrosse head. The ball-carrying pocket portion may be integral with the lacrosse head. For example, the ball-carrying pocket portion may be snapped to, adhered to or molded to the pocket member and the head by inserting a woven or molded mesh piece into an injection mold and molding a flexible and durable material such as TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) around the end, so as to create the pocket member, with the pieces fused together. The ball-carrying pocket portion may be integral with the lacrosse head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a lacrosse stick showing one simple embodiment of the invention;

[0024] FIG. 2A is a more detailed front elevational view of a lacrosse head with a lacrosse head pocket of this invention partially shown and shown being installed onto a head;

[0025] FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the preferred construction for connecting the pocket member to the scoop of the lacrosse head;

[0026] FIG. 3A shows the entirety of one embodiment of the partial lacrosse head pocket shown in FIG. 2;

[0027] FIG. 3B shows the lower portion of an alternative embodiment of a pocket member of the invention;

[0028] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a full lacrosse head pocket according to this invention;

[0029] FIG. 5A is a top view of another embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 5A; and

[0031] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the construction shown in FIG. 5B for locking a vertical lacing member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] The invention features a lacrosse head pocket comprising a pocket member which itself comprises one or more thin, flexible portions or members such as sheets, and means for connecting the pocket member to the scoop, and means for connecting the pocket member to the sidewalls. The inventive pocket member may comprise some or all of the pocket for the lacrosse head. Several embodiments are shown. In one embodiment, the pocket member replaces what would traditionally be considered the shooting portion of the traditional stringing (from the shooting strings up to the scoop). In another embodiment, the lacrosse head pocket member of the invention replaces the entirety of the stringing, or just the ball-carrying pocket portion. In another embodiment, the inventive pocket member also includes vertical portions that replace the thongs or “leathers” in a traditionally-strung head. The pocket member can be a separate member that is coupled to the lacrosse head frame, or can be unitary with the head frame.

[0033] Preferably, the pocket member is a molded plastic sheet which carries enlarged-head tabs, snaps or other means for connecting it to at least the scoop of the head using the stringing holes found around the entire periphery of the head frame in a typical lacrosse head. In another alternative embodiment, the inventive pocket is integrally molded with the head frame. Other means of attaching the pocket to the head frame are also contemplated.

[0034] FIG. 1 depicts lacrosse stick 10 comprising shaft 22 which fits into socket 24 of traditional molded plastic head frame 13. Head frame 12 carries pocket 15 comprising pocket member 30 and traditional stringing 32. Pocket member 30 in this embodiment comprises a thin, flexible thermoplastic sheet. The sheet would typically have openings, not shown in FIG. 1, to decrease the wind resistance and also to create a more traditional appearance.

[0035] Pocket member 30 has a partial outline shape that conforms generally to the inside of head frame scoop 16 and the portions of sidewalls 12 and 14 proximate scoop 16. In this embodiment, pocket member 30 substantially spans the distance between sidewalls 12 and 14. Pocket member 30 has an outline shape 31 between the sidewalls that defines a curve such that the length of the pocket member 30 proximate the sidewalls is greater than its length along its center (in other words, the portion that is aligned with the axis of shaft 22 spanning from the center of curve 31 to the center of scoop 16).

[0036] FIG. 2 partially depicts pocket member 100 partially attached to, and partially in the process of being attached to, scoop 16 and sidewalls 12 and 14. In this example, the general inverted “U” or “V” shape of the outline shape of the lower edge 101 of pocket member 100, spanning between the sidewalls, mimics the path of typical shooting strings in a prior art strung lacrosse head. This lower edge shape is not a limitation of the invention, as this spanning outline could go straight across the head or down, or take other shapes to accomplish a look or function as desired. Functionally, this outline shape defines the end of a channel in netting 104 that leads generally up from the ball stop area 20 towards scoop 16. Pocket member 100 thus acts as a ball launch guide and launch ramp when the ball is thrown from the lacrosse head.

[0037] Member 100 comprises a plastic sheet made of a material and having a thickness to accomplish a desired function. The durometer of the material can be selected to accomplish a desired stiffness. The material and its thickness can be selected to contribute to the stiffness and also achieve a desired feel and durability. In one embodiment, the pocket member of this invention is made from SURLYN™ (from Dupont) or the thermoplastic elastomer PELLETHANE™ (Dow Chemical).

[0038] Pocket member 100 is connected to scoop 16, and connected in this case to the upper portion of sidewalls 12 and 14. This connection can be accomplished in any desired manner. In an embodiment described below, the pocket member is integrally molded with the lacrosse head so the connection is permanent. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, pocket member 100 carries tabs or other structures that allow it to be connected to scoop 16 and sidewalls 12 and 14 through openings such as 111 and 118 that are already in the sidewalls and scoop to accommodate the traditional stringing. In this example, pocket member 100 is connected to sidewalls 12 and 14 by members 108 that have an extending axial portion 108a and a terminal enlarged “mushroom” head 108b. Member 108 can be pulled through opening 111 from the inside by attaching string or pull member 110 to member 108 in such a manner that member 110 can be cut off or removed from member 108 when the assembly is complete. Member 110 is pulled through opening 111 from the inside, to the outside position shown in FIG. 2A, thereby forcing enlarged portion 108b through opening 111. Since member 108 is made from a flexible plastic material, when portion 108b emerges from opening 111 it unfolds to its original button-shape overlaying the intersection of opening 111 with the outer portion of sidewall 14, to inhibit member 108 from being pulled back through opening 111 from the force of game play.

[0039] FIG. 2A also discloses one of myriad possibilities of removably connecting pocket member 110 to scoop 16 (or to the sidewalls and/or ball stop, for that matter). Connector member 112 along the upper periphery of pocket member 100 is designed to pass through stringing hole 118 and close back on itself, or be attached back to pocket member 100. In this example, button 114 is designed to fit into or through opening 116 to accomplish this interconnection. Alternatives for such interconnection include insert molding for an integral, permanent connection, or include snaps, buttons, adhesives or other closures or interconnection means that either permanently or removably connect the pocket member to the head frame.

[0040] FIG. 2B discloses the preferred manner in which the upper portion of pocket member 100 adjacent to scoop 16 is connected to the four through holes 118 spaced along scoop 16. In traditional lacrosse lacing, vertical elongated members or “leathers” are strung through holes 118 and passed through four holes, not shown, in stop 20. The netting is then laced to these leathers. The pocket member of this embodiment of the invention takes advantage of these preexisting holes 118 in scoop 16. FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross sectional view of one of connector members 132 that mechanically couple pocket member 100 to scoop 16. Member 132 includes downwardly-projecting portion 134 that passes through opening 118 in scoop 16. Projecting tooth portion 136 accomplishes the mechanically enlarged portion that prevents member 132 and 134 from being pulled back out of opening 118 in the direction of arrow A. Sacrificial cord portion 138 is molded in member 100. The pocket member is coupled to scoop 16 by passing portion 138 down through hole 118 in the direction of arrow B and then pulling with sufficient force to pull portion 134 through hole 118 until tooth 136 is against the underside 16a of scoop 16. Portion 138 is then cut off where it meets tooth 136. Small projecting fin 142 of scoop 16 is placed proximate tooth 136 to help prevent tooth 136 from contacting the ground when the scoop contacts the ground, thus prolonging the useful life of the pocket member.

[0041] Pocket member 100 comprises only a portion of the “netting” required to close the lacrosse head so that a lacrosse ball can be caught, carried and thrown. The other part of the opening is closed by traditional mesh netting 104 (or traditional stringing) that is attached to the remainder of the sidewalls 12 and 14 and ball stop 20 in a traditional manner, not shown in this drawing. There must also be some means for connecting pocket stringing 104 to pocket member 110. In this case, such is accomplished by interweaving lace 106 through the upper portion of pocket stringing 104 and openings 102 in the lower spanning portion 101 of pocket member 100. Any other interconnection means, including the types described above, can also be used.

[0042] Traditional mesh netting 104 is connected to the remaining portion of sidewalls 12 and 14 in a traditional manner, using additional stringing that is passed through holes in the sidewalls, not shown, and along the edges of mesh netting 104 that are adjacent these portions of sidewalls 12 and 14 and scoop 20.

[0043] One manner of simplifying the final assembly of the lacrosse head made with the inventive pocket member, and also providing more uniformity in the pocket member, is to make the mesh netting portion unitary with the molded pocket portion by either over molding the plastic along the upper edge of the mesh netting, or insert molding to accomplish this result. This would embed the upper portion of the traditional mesh netting in the thermoplastic elastomer of the pocket portion, providing the desired uniformity in use and ease of final assembly.

[0044] One preferred embodiment of a complete pocket member 100 is shown in FIG. 3A. Central portion 122 (not shown in FIG. 2 for clarity purposes only) can take any desired configuration as long as it is able to catch and hold a lacrosse ball. Shown is one of innumerable possibilities of thin strips that define openings that are present to decrease wind resistance. Since member 100 is an integral plastic member, the openings through the member can be formed in the molding process, or die cut into a plastic sheet.

[0045] Pocket member 100 thus provides all of the advantages described above. These include ease of assembly and consistency in the ball launch region of the lacrosse head. The consistency is accomplished because the pocket member of this invention is made from one or more thin, flexible sheets that can be made in a uniform production process such as by injection molding or extrusion and die cutting. There is thus no dependence on a person stringing this portion of the head to accomplish the uniformity. Additionally, the functionality can be customized by choice of materials, thicknesses, construction, and features of the pocket member.

[0046] FIG. 3B details a variation to the lower edge 101a of the pocket member. In this embodiment, edge 101a is recessed or scalloped between lacing holes 102a to create openings 103. Openings 103 isolate areas 107 surrounding each hole 102a. This allows the transition area from the netting to the pocket member to flex more smoothly as the ball passes over it, which results in a smoother ball release.

[0047] Another embodiment of the invention is shown partially in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 depicts pocket 40 that comprises a replacement for the entirety of the stringing in a traditional lacrosse head. In other words, pocket 40 entirely closes the open area of a lacrosse head. Pocket 40 thus has an outline shape that generally conforms to the inner perimeter of a lacrosse head that it is to be used on. Pocket 40 can be produced separately and coupled to a lacrosse head, or integrally molded in the lacrosse head forming process itself. Pocket 40 also illustrates other aspects of the invention. Pocket member 42 is separated by boundary 63 from ball-carrying pocket portion 44 that comprises intersecting integral plastic strips 58 and 60. Pocket member 42 defines ball launch guide area 50 defined by perimeter raised lines 51 and 52. This helps to channel the ball properly from the center of the head when it is thrown so that the throw is more accurate and whip and other throwing problems are reduced or eliminated. It should be understood that there is no requirement that area 50 be so defined in the pocket member, but such is possible since these designs can be accomplished by creating the appropriate molding tool. Openings 53 decrease wind resistance. Molded protrusions 50 create tactile feedback to the player as the ball rolls over them.

[0048] Pocket 40 thus defines both pocket member 42 (which defines the shooting portion) and ball-carrying pocket portion 44. Both pocket member 42 and pocket portion 44 are connected to the lacrosse head frame in any of the manners described above (e.g. with connecting tabs and/or stringing). Pocket portion 44 is connected to the lower portions of the sidewalls and to ball stop 20.

[0049] In another embodiment, the pocket member comprises the preferred TPE plastic material over molded on at least a portion of the pocket stringing. This can be traditional stringing, but is preferably traditional mesh netting. In this case, the traditional stringing or mesh netting would close the entire lacrosse head, as in the prior art. However, some or all of the stringing or netting would be over molded with a desired plastic and at a desired thickness to accomplish the results of this invention. For example, pocket member 30, FIG. 1, could comprise over molded plastic rather than a separate plastic portion that is attached to netting 32, either by stringing or insert molding as described above. This over molding technique would allow tailoring of the functionality of the traditional stringing or netting, as desired. For example, the area from which the ball is thrown can be made stiffer than the rest of the netting by over molding an appropriate plastic on it.

[0050] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The inventive lacrosse head pocket in this embodiment comprises molded portion 200 to which is strung traditional stringing 208. In this embodiment, portion 200 includes pocket member 202 that is similar to or identical to the pocket members described in the previous embodiments, and vertical members 204 that are coupled to scoop 16 and ball stop 20 to mimic or replace the leathers in traditional stringing. The result is that the leathers are uniform from one head to another, and have the uniform response of plastic, as opposed to the variability associated with the use of leather. Key among the attributes of plastic as opposed to leather is the fact that the plastic will not stretch out over time to any appreciable extent. In contrast, the leather vertical stringing members of traditional stringing stretch tremendously over time, wear, and also soak up water and change their properties when wet. All of these cause changes to the pocket, requiring constant care by the player using the head to maintain an essentially constant pocket, or the player may simply live with the changes in the pocket caused by the changes to the leathers.

[0051] In this embodiment, plastic replacement “leathers” 204 have none of these problems, and are also unitary with pocket member 200 to provide a very uniform head.

[0052] Member 200 is connected to lacrosse head as follows. The upper ends of vertical members 204 are connected to the scoop in the same manner as described above. The portions of pocket member 202 that are adjacent sidewalls 12 and 14 are preferably strung to the sidewall holes using molded openings 216. The portion of members 204 that pass through ball stop 20 can be tied off in a traditional manner. Alternatively, in order to maintain a very consistent pocket, the invention can include a locking member engaged with each member 204 outside of the lacrosse head, and preferably adjacent to the outer portion of the ball stop 20 where members 204 emerge therefrom. This can be accomplished in any desired manner which would be apparent to those skilled in the art. One preferred manner is simply by having locking members 212 that fit over portions 204, or through which portions 204 are threaded. Portion 204 can be molded with a series of small teeth that allow the portion to be pulled through locking member 212 on installation, but inhibit the member from being pulled back through portion 212, similar to the manner in which straps are adjustably but firmly held in buckles in items such as swim goggles and swim fins, for example. Alternatively, if member 212 is held tightly on member 204, such as by using a clamp with projections which tightly grip member 204, member 212 will prevent member 204 from being pulled back through a hole simply because it acts to substantially enlarge member 204. In any case, the use of these locking members allows the user of the lacrosse head to establish a desired length of vertical member 204 between scoop 16 and ball stop 20, that will be essentially maintained for the entire useful life of the pocket. This is especially important in women's lacrosse due to the restrictions on the depth of the pocket, and the desire to have the pocket to be of virtually exactly the maximum depth allowed by the NCAA Lacrosse Rules.

[0053] Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and not others, this is for convenience only as some feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention.

[0054] Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

Claims

1. A lacrosse head pocket, the lacrosse head having a scoop, opposing sidewalls and a ball stop, the pocket comprising: pocket stringing defining a portion of the pocket; and a pocket member defining another portion of the pocket and comprising one or more thin flexible portions that are unitary with the pocket stringing, to create the pocket.

2. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, further comprising means for connecting the pocket to the interior periphery of the lacrosse head, to close the head such that the head can receive and carry a lacrosse ball.

3. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, wherein the pocket member comprises a plastic sheet defining a number of openings through the faces to decrease wind resistance.

4. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, wherein the pocket member has a partial outline shape that conforms generally to the inside of the scoop and the sidewalls proximate the scoop.

5. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 4, wherein the pocket member spans between the sidewalls, and has an outline shape between the sidewalls defining a curve such that the length of the pocket member proximate the sidewalls is greater than its length along its center.

6. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, wherein the pocket member has an inner surface defining a series of small projections.

7. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 2, wherein the lacrosse head defines one or more stringing holes, and wherein the means for connecting the pocket to the interior periphery of the lacrosse head comprises means for connecting the pocket member to one or more of the stringing holes.

8. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 7, wherein the means for connecting the pocket to one or more of the stringing holes comprises connector members along at least a part of the periphery of the pocket member.

9. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 8, wherein the connector members comprise integral tabs projecting from the periphery of the thin, flexible sheet.

10. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 9, wherein at least some of the tabs define an enlarged head, and are adapted to pass through a stringing hole.

11. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 10, wherein the enlarged head is tapered where it fits through the opening, and includes a sharp cutback portion, to define a tooth, so that it can be pulled through the hole from the inside, but resists pulling back through the hole once inserted there through.

12. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 7, wherein the means for connecting the pocket to one or more of the stringing holes comprises connecting stringing passing through the openings and engaging with the pocket.

13. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, wherein the pocket member comprises plastic overmolded on at least a portion of the pocket stringing.

14. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 13, wherein the overmolded portion comprises at least some of the pocket member.

15. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1 further comprising a ball-carrying pocket portion.

16. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 16, wherein the ball-carrying pocket portion is partially unitary with the pocket member.

17. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 16, wherein the pocket comprises an integral combination plastic portion defining vertical elongated portions and the pocket member.

18. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 17, wherein the vertical elongated portions are received in openings in the scoop and the stop of the lacrosse head.

19. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 18 further comprising one or more structures for inhibiting the vertical elongated portions from pulling out of the openings in the scoop.

20. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 19, wherein the structures comprise one or more teeth on the vertical elongated portions.

21. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 19, wherein the structures comprise a locking member engaged with each vertical elongated portion outside of the ball stop.

22. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, wherein the ball-carrying pocket portion is integral with the pocket member.

23. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, wherein the pocket member is integral with the lacrosse head.

24. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, wherein the ball-carrying pocket portion is integral with the lacrosse head.

25. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1, wherein the pocket member has a lower edge that is adjacent to the pocket stringing, and defines a series of holes along the lower edge for connecting the pocket member to the pocket stringing with connecting lacing.

26. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 25, wherein the lower edge is scalloped to create openings between adjacent holes, for improving the flexing of the pocket member lower edge.