Patent Application
20120071280
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to lacrosse sticks. More particularly, the invention relates to a lacrosse stick which may include a head frame including two portions which are formed of different materials wherein one material is more flexible than the other. The lacrosse stick may also include a unitary structure which is formed of one of the materials and includes a portion of the head frame and a portion of the handle.
2. Background Information
In the game of lacrosse, players use sticks to receive and shoot a ball. Lacrosse sticks generally include an elongated shaft and a head portion. The player grips the shaft with one or both hands, and utilizes the head portion, which includes mesh, or a net, to receive, carry and shoot the ball during play.
With the decreasing availability of high grade ash or hickory wood, decreasing availability of the woodworking skills necessary to form and fabricate lacrosse sticks having integral one-piece wooden stick/head frame constructions and in further view of the labor intensive nature of the fabrication of such integral one-piece wooden stick/head frame constructions it has become commonplace to fabricate lacrosse sticks using a straight shaft element formed of straight grained wood or wood laminate or a tough, lightweight metallic or reinforced plastic tubular element such as in the nature of a thin gauge metallic extrusion or a fiber reinforced composite plastic material and to affix, typically with a screw, to the forward end of the shaft a separate, bilaterally symmetrical head frame composed of a one-piece tough synthetic thermoplastic material, such as a high impact strength nylon. In such versions of a lacrosse stick, the head frame comprises a rearwardly oriented socket element to receive the forward end of the shaft, a pair of laterally divergent side wall elements extending forwardly of said socket element and a transversely oriented nose element bridging the forward ends of said pair of side wall elements. The apex of the angle defined between said divergently oriented side wall members is truncated by means of a rearwardly directed arcuate wall element bridging said side wall members and defining a ball stop. The transverse nose element is, desirably, canted forwardly at an upwardly positive angle so as to define a scoop-shaped lip member which facilitates the player's ability to receive a ground-borne lacrosse ball.
One problem with such a construction is that the rearwardly oriented socket element which is also made of the same flexible material as the frame must have additional material added to increase the stiffness and strength required to hold the shaft. This added material restricts the player from having their hand as close as possible to the head frame holding the ball, thereby reducing ball control.
Another ongoing problem with such construction is the difficulty for a player to ensure that the upper open rim of the head frame is facing the incoming ball. Some thermoplastic lacrosse head frames have a stop in the side wall of the head frame. The intention is to lower the center of gravity of the lacrosse head in an attempt to enable a player to sense the orientation of the lacrosse head by feeling the difference of weight distribution when the head is correctly oriented to receive and carry the ball. The problem is that there is a very subtle difference in this weight distribution that makes it difficult for a player to sense, by weight alone, the rotational orientation of the head. It is therefore generally necessary that the player first visually observe the head and then properly adjust the stick and its head's rotational orientation on the basis of such visual observation. This need for visual observation of the stick's head preparatory to receiving the ball at least momentarily distracts the player from observing the field of play and the ball and thus reduces his or her playing efficiency. In accordance with the present invention, this problem has been successfully addressed.
The present invention provides a lacrosse stick having front and back ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and comprising: a head frame adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material which is more flexible than the first material.
The present invention also provides a lacrosse stick having front and back ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and comprising: a head frame adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a ball stop; a longitudinally elongated shaft mounted on and extending rearwardly from the first portion; wherein the shaft and first portion are a unitary structure formed of a first material and the second portion is formed of a second material which is different than the first material.
The present invention also provides a lacrosse stick comprising: a head frame adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a ball stop; a longitudinally elongated shaft comprising front and rear longitudinally elongated segments; the front segment and ball stop being formed as a unitary structure; the rear segment having a longitudinal centerline and a lowermost surface defining a horizontal plane parallel to and below the centerline; a grip section of the front segment which is adjacent the ball stop and has a bottom surface which is higher than the plane; and a mechanism for causing the center of gravity of the head frame to lie at a distance sufficiently below the plane whereby a player is able to sense orientation of the head frame through tactile stimuli generated by the unitary structure acting through the rear segment, the mechanism comprising the bottom surface of the grip section being higher than the plane.
A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.
Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
The lacrosse stick of the present invention is shown generally at 10 in
Handle 22 thus has a front end 42 and a back end 14 which define therebetween a longitudinal length L2 of the handle. Front segment 24 has a back end 44 such that front and back ends 42 and 44 define therebetween a longitudinal length L3 of the front segment. In the exemplary embodiment, length L3 is approximately one-half length L2, and is preferably at least ⅙, ⅕, ¼ or ⅓ length L2. It is contemplated that front segment 24 may be extended rearwardly such that cap 28 is connected directly to the rear end of segment 24 whereby the separate rear handle segment 26 may be eliminated. In such a case, length L3 would be nearly the same as length L2 inasmuch as cap 28 adds only a very small amount to the overall length of handle 22. However, handle 22 is most typically formed using front segment 24 and rear segment 26 in combination.
Rear handle segment 26 is a straight longitudinally elongated shaft having front and back ends 46 and 48 (
In accordance with the invention, front handle segment 24 and rear portion 36 of head frame 30 is formed as an integral one-piece member or a handle-ball stop unitary structure 56. Unitary structure 56 is thus formed entirely or primarily of the same material throughout. Structure 56 is typically formed entirely or primarily as an injection molded plastic material typically in the form of a composite material. For example, the composite material typically includes a suitable injection moldable plastic which is reinforced with fiberglass, aramid fibers, carbon, boron or ceramic materials. One suitable composite material is a fiberglass-reinforced nylon. While structure 56 is entirely or primarily formed of such a material which is uniform throughout, it may also be coated with an outer coating. Although various coatings may be used, one desirable type of coating involves the use of nano-materials or particles which are typically metal.
The material from which unitary structure 56 is formed is substantially rigid, but typically is somewhat more flexible than the material from which rear handle segment 26 is formed. The tensile modulus of elasticity of each of rear segment 26, unitary structure 56 and front portion 38 is given below, as measured in accordance with ISO 527. The material from which rear segment 26 is formed has a tensile modulus of elasticity typically in the range of about 12,000 to about 100,000 MPa (megapascals), with the analogous value for a rear segment 26 made of wood typically within the range of about 12,000 to about 16,000 MPa, for a rear segment 26 made of aluminum typically within the range of about 16,000 to about 26,000 MPa, and for a rear segment 26 made of a composite material typically within the range of about 26,000 to about 100,000 MPa and typically on the order of about 50,000 MPa. The material from which unitary structure 56 is entirely or primarily formed has a tensile modulus of elasticity typically in the range of about 15,000 or 16,000 to about 30,000 or 35,000 MPa. Front portion 38 of head frame 30 is typically formed of an injection moldable plastic material which is more flexible than either of the materials used to form segment 26 and unitary structure 56. The tensile modulus of elasticity of the material forming front portion 38 is typically in the range of about 700 or 800 to about 2100 or 2200 MPa. The material forming front portion 38 is typically a synthetic thermoplastic material such as a high impact strength nylon. The use of the unitary structure 56 thus minimizes the material needed to make the connection between the front end of the handle and the ball stop region of the head frame, thus overcoming the problem discussed in the Background section of the present application in which the added material used in prior art lacrosse sticks in this region restricts the player from positioning his or her hands as close as possible to the head frame. In addition, forming front portion 38 from a material which is more flexible than that of structure 56 still provides the flexibility, durability and high impact resistance found in the head frames of modern lacrosse sticks.
Handle 22 and unitary structure 56 are now described in greater detail. Rear segment 26 of handle 22 is a straight elongated shaft as viewed from the side (
As viewed from the side (
Due to the use of unitary structure 56, screw 76 is spaced rearwardly from back end 42 of head frame 30 by a relatively substantial distance or length L8, which more particularly is a distance from the front of screw 76 to the front of handle segment 24 or the back end 42 of ball stop 40 or rear portion 36. In standard lacrosse sticks, a fastener such as a screw is typically used to secure the front of an elongated shaft or handle to the head frame at a location which is adjacent the ball stop. In particular, such screws are typically only 1 or 2 inches rearward of the ball stop. In contrast, distance or length L8 is typically at least 6, 8, or 12 inches, and may be as much as 14, 16, 18 or 20 inches. In the exemplary embodiment, handle 22 is free of a screw or other fastener which is rearward of and within distance L8 of the front end 42 (or back end of ball stop 40) which extends outward from the outer surface of the handle or which is used to secure the head frame to the handle.
Back section 62 has a substantially straight and horizontal bottom surface 77 extending forward from rear end 44; rear tapered section 64 has a tapered bottom surface 78 which tapers upwardly and forward from the front of bottom surface 77; narrow grip section 66 has a substantially horizontal and generally straight bottom surface 80 which extends substantially horizontally forward from the front of tapered bottom surface 78; and front tapered section 68 has a tapered bottom surface 82 which tapers downwardly and forward from the front of bottom surface 80 to an abrupt halt at back end 42 of rear portion 36, which is typically generally perpendicular to centerline CL. Tapered bottom surface 78 provides gentle angled transitions respectively with the front of bottom surface 77 and the back of bottom surface 80, while tapered surface 82 similarly provides a gentle angled transition from the front of bottom surface 80. These gentle transitions allow the player using stick 10 to easily slide his or her hand longitudinally along any portion of front segment 24 without catching on a sharply protruding component. Although a player may position his or her hand along any portion of the handle, the stick is often held with one hand grasping or gripping rear segment 26 adjacent back end 14 and the other hand grasping or gripping grip section 66 or portions of front segment 24 adjacent section 66. Top surface 70 of front segment 24 is substantially parallel to centerline CL and spaced there above, whereas tapered surface 78 angles upwardly and forward relative to an below centerline CL, and tapered surface 82 angles downwardly and forward relative to and below centerline CL. Bottom surface 80 and top surface 70 define therebetween a vertical distance or height H1 which is the vertically narrowest portion of front segment 24 and of handle 22. Height H1 is substantially less than the vertical distance or height of rear segment 26 defined between top and bottom surfaces 27 and 29, and also substantially less than the vertical distance or height of back section 62 defined between top and bottom surfaces 70 and 77. Height H1 is typically no more than, and may be less than, ¾ said vertical height of rear segment 26. Height H1 is typically no more than, and usually less than, ¾ said vertical height of back section 62 and may be no more than, or less than ½ the vertical height of back section 62.
Bottom surface 80 is substantially parallel to centerline CL and is preferably at the same height or above centerline CL although it may, for example, be below and closely adjacent centerline CL. Bottom surface 80 is higher than bottom surfaces 29, 77, 78 and 82. As shown in
Head frame 20 is now described in greater detail with primary reference to
Front portion 38 includes left and right side wall segments 86A and 86B which are secured respectively to left and right segments 60A and 60B of rear portion 36 in order to form left and right side walls of head frame 20. Front portion 38 further includes a lip or nose element 88 which is axially elongated, connected to the front ends of the left and right side walls of the frame head and extend therebetween so as to traverse centerline CL as viewed from above. Whereas the inner surfaces of ball stop 40 and the side walls tend to be generally vertical, the inner or upper surface of nose element 88 is typically canted forward and upwardly in order to assist the player in scooping the lacrosse ball off of the ground. Multiple net receiving or net mounting holes 90 are formed through nose element 88 as well as through the ball stop and side walls of frame head 20 for mounting thereon net 32, which typically includes several cords or straps which extend through some or all of said holes. Frame 20 has leftmost and rightmost points 92 and 94 defining therebetween a maximum axial width W1 of the frame head. Leftmost point 92 is adjacent the connection between the left end of nose element 88 and the front of the left side wall 60A, 86A whereas the rightmost point 94 is adjacent the right end of nose element 88 and its connection with the front of the right side wall 60B, 86B.
As shown in
With reference to
When rear and front portions 36 and 38 are joined to one another to form connections 96, each post 122 is received within the corresponding one of holes 134, each finger 114 is received in corresponding notch 132, each finger 126 is received in a corresponding notch 120, each rearward facing terminal end 84 abuts a corresponding forward facing surface 116, each forward facing terminal end 58 abuts a corresponding rearward facing surface 128, and laterally facing surfaces 118 and 130 abut one another. In the exemplary embodiment in which one of portions 36 and 38 is overmolded onto the other, each of the surfaces of rear portion 36 which engages surfaces of front portion 38 also form a chemical bond with one another, thus providing a chemically bonded connection. As previously noted, while the overmolded connections are highly desirable, the connections between the front and rear portions 36 and 38 may be formed in other ways, as with fasteners such as rivets which pass through fingers 114 and 126 or similar structures which overlap one another. Thus, post 122 also represents such fasteners as rivets which may be received in holes analogous to holes 134.
As shown in
In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.
Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.
