Patent Application
20090239689
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to sports shafts. More particularly, the present invention relates to sports shafts for use when playing lacrosse. Specifically, the invention relates generally to sports shafts which are attached to a lacrosse stick head and which have a relatively constant cross-sectional configuration.
2. Background Information
Original lacrosse handles were constructed of wood. Those wood handles were shaped such that the lacrosse handle and the lacrosse head were a single integral wood structure. These wooden lacrosse handles suffered from a variety of disadvantages. Initially, these wooden handles were susceptible to damage from excess exposure to water such as through warping. Further, these prior wooden handles were heavy and somewhat cumbersome and also susceptible to breakage. Moreover, because the wood had to be bent to form the sidewall and scoop, a significant amount of time was involved in forming or making each of these wooden lacrosse handles, which made them relatively expensive. Because the lacrosse handle and head were a single structure, if any portion of the head or the handle broke or was damaged, the entire wooden handle and head would need to be replaced.
Subsequently, plastic lacrosse heads were developed. These heads were intended to be attached to a lacrosse handle. As the lacrosse head and the lacrosse handle were separate components, they could be manufactured separately. If either the lacrosse head or the lacrosse handle became damaged or broken, each component could be replaced individually. The original handles for attachment to these plastic heads were still constructed of wood.
Metal and composite lacrosse handles have since been developed to attach to these plastic heads. Metal handles tend to be less expensive and somewhat more resistant to damage. However, they can be somewhat difficult to grip and breakage or bending is still relatively common. Therefore, a need exists for a lacrosse handle that has increased durability without increasing the weight thereof. A need also exists for a lacrosse handle which provides a more positive form of tactile feedback and which allows the handle to be more aggressively gripped.
The device of the present invention is a shaft for a piece of sporting equipment such as a lacrosse stick. The shaft comprises an elongate outer wall with a longitudinal bore extending between its first and second ends. An X-shaped web is disposed within the bore and extends along the entire length thereof. The web has four legs that radiate outwardly from a central core and connect to the outer wall. At least one longitudinal opening is defined in the outer wall. The outer wall and web define at least one closed cavity in the shaft. The outer wall, web and opening further define at least one open cavity in the shaft. The opening provides a place for the athlete to position at least a portion of their hand or glove to orient the shaft for play and to aid in more aggressively gripping the shaft.
The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles of the invention, 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.
In the following figures, the same reference numbers are used to identify the same components in the various views.
Referring to
Referring more particularly to
Lower portion 10 of outer wall 6 is formed by a bottom wall 16 and a pair of outwardly extending lower angled sidewalls 17. Lower angled sidewalls 17 are formed with a free end 18 and an attached end 19. Attached end 19 of each lower angled sidewall 17 is connected to one of the edges of bottom wall 16. Lower angled sidewalls 17 extend outwardly and upwardly from bottom wall 16 and define an angle B. Angle B is similar to angle A. In the preferred embodiment, extends in the range of 100 degrees to 150 degrees, and more particularly, from 135 degrees to 140 degrees. Specifically, angle B, similar to angle A, is 138 degrees.
Upper portion 8 and lower portion 10 of outer wall 6 are vertically aligned but spaced apart from one another by way of a web 20. Web 20 is substantially X-shaped and includes a right upper leg 21 and a left upper leg 22, as well as a right lower leg 23 and a left lower leg 24. Right upper leg 21 and right lower leg 23 are divergent in nature and extend outwardly away from each other and define an included angle C. Included angle C in the range of 30 degrees to 80 degrees, and more particularly in the range of 60 degrees to 70 degrees. Specifically, the angle C is approximately 67.6 degrees. Similarly, left upper leg 22 and left lower leg 24 extend outwardly away from each other and define an included angle D. Angle D has a range of between 30 degrees and 80 degrees and more particularly in the range of 60 degrees to 70 degrees. Similar to angle C, angle D has a value more specifically of 67.6 degrees. All of legs 21, 22, 23 and 24 extend outwardly through included angles C and D from a core 25. Core 25 is geometrically centered between upper portion 8 and lower portion 10 and more particularly between top wall 12 and bottom wall 16. Legs 21, 22, 23 and 24 act as stiffening members that firmly support upper and lower portions 8, 10 of outer wall 6.
In further accordance with the invention, each leg 21, 22, 23 and 24 has a free end 26 spaced from core 25. Free ends 26 of right upper leg 21 and left upper leg 22 each connect to free ends 15 of upper angled sidewalls 13, respectively. A small lip 28 extends vertically downwardly relative to this inner connection. Similarly free ends 26 of right lower leg 23 and left lower leg 24 extend outwardly and connect to the free end 18 of each lower angled sidewall 17. A lip 29 extends vertically upwardly from this inner connection and toward lip 28. Each respective pair of lips 28 and 29 defines an opening 32 thereinbetween that is a spaced distance E in size. In accordance with one of the primary features of the present invention, spaced distance E between right upper leg 21 and right lower leg 23 is equal to the spaced distance between left upper leg 22 and left lower leg 24. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, spaced distance E is between 3 mm and 9 mm in width. Openings 32 preferably extend the entire length of shaft 2.
As is evident from the above discussion and as is illustrated in
In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, each cavity 30 and 31 is a closed cavity in that it provides an entire perimeter wall in cross-section. The perimeter wall for cavity 30 is defined by upper wall 12, upper angled sidewalls 13, right upper leg 21 and left upper leg 22. The perimeter wall for cavity 31 is defined by lower wall 16, lower angled sidewalls 17, right lower leg 23 and left lower leg 24.
In accordance with another specific feature of the present invention, shaft 2 also defines two cavities 33, 34 that are open in cross-section. Cavities 33, 34 are open in that they do not provide an entire perimeter wall in cross-section. Cavity 33 is defined by right upper leg 21 and right lower leg 23, connected at core 25 and the associated lips 28, 29 of upper and lower angled sidewalls 13, 17. Cavity 34 is defined by left upper leg 22 and left lower leg 24, connected at core 25 and the associated lips 28, 29 of upper and lower angled sidewalls 13, 17. In each instance, the upper legs 21, 22 are disposed at an angle C relative to the lower legs 23, 24 and the perimeter wall of the open cavity is broken between lips 28, 29 by opening 32.
Shaft 2 of the present invention therefore has an X-shaped interior web 20 that supports a generally octagonal outer wall 6 comprised of upper and lower portions 8, 10 disposed opposite each other and separated from each other by a pair of opposed openings 32. The upper portion 8 includes three of the angled wall members that make up the octagonal shape of the outer wall, those wall members being walls 13, 12, 13. The lower portion 10 also includes three of the angled wall members that make up the octagonal cross-sectional shape of outer wall 6, those wall members being walls 17, 16, 17. The remaining two areas of the octagonal shape are formed by the opposed pairs of lips 28, 29 separated from each other by openings 32.
In operation, shaft 2 is secured to head 3 and end cap 4 in such a way that the openings 32 are oriented so as to fall on the sides of the shaft 2. One of the upper and lower walls 12, 16 faces forwardly with the front 3a of head 3, and the other of the upper and lower walls 12, 16 faces rearwardly with the back 3b of head 3. In operation, the user can more aggressively grip the shaft 2 by allowing a portion of their hand or glove to extend through one or both of openings 32. The lacrosse player also feels the opening 32 when they grasp shaft 2 and they can therefore more easily orient the lacrosse stick during play. Additionally, inasmuch as web 20 provides sufficient strength through the interconnection at core 25 and shaft 2, lacrosse stick 1 is rigid and resists breakage and bending.
While the shaft 2 of the present invention has been described as being useful in a lacrosse stick, it will be understood that this type of configuration would also be suited for use in other sporting equipment shafts such as hockey sticks, tennis racquets etc.
It will further be understood that while the shaft has been described as having a pair of closed cavities 30, 31 and a pair of open cavities 33, 34, the shaft may be provided with a single closed cavity and a single open cavity, where the single open cavity will form a slot that runs the length of one of the sidewalls of the shaft. It should also be understood that the shaft may include more than two closed cavities with one or more open cavities.
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.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/038,909 filed Mar. 24, 2008; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61038909 | Mar 2008 | US |
