Patent Application
20100000656
The present invention relates generally to a lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse stick, and more particularly to a lacrosse head having increased strength without substantially increasing the weight of the lacrosse head.
Lacrosse heads are used in the game of lacrosse for catching, holding and shooting a lacrosse ball. Most current lacrosse heads are manufactured using plastic injection molding processes, and are secured to a lacrosse handle. A typical lacrosse head includes a throat that is connected to a lacrosse handle, a base adjacent the throat and including a ball stop, a pair of opposing sidewalls that generally diverge from the base, and a scoop that joins the ends of the opposing sidewalls opposite the base. Lacrosse heads also typically include netting attached to the rear side of the base, the sidewalls and the scoop. This netting ordinarily is used to retain a lacrosse ball in the lacrosse head.
The sidewalls of current lacrosse heads typically have an open sidewall construction that includes many openings formed in the sidewalls. This open-frame construction decreases the amount of material used to form the sidewalls and thus the head, thereby decreasing the overall manufacturing and material costs for the head.
One proposed solution to this structural weaknesses provides stiffening ribs integrally formed in the head and extending from the socket or the base on toward the scoop. The stiffening ribs typically are located above and below the sidewall openings to provide structural support. The stiffening ribs usually are thicker than the main portion of the sidewalls to increase the structural integrity of the sidewalls. In such a construction, the lacrosse head is constructed from plastic with the stiffening ribs integrally molded as part of the head during a single molding process. Unfortunately, however, the stiffening ribs may not be sufficiently strong to prevent deformation or breakage of the lacrosse head. Such ribs also can add too much material, and thus weight, to the lacrosse head, thereby yielding an undesirably heavy lacrosse head.
A reinforced lacrosse head is provided which includes a frame having a pair of opposing open sidewalls, each having a top end and a bottom end, with one or more cross members, a scoop extending between the top ends of the sidewalls, a base extending between the bottom ends of the sidewalls, and a throat extending from the base for attachment to a lacrosse handle.
In one embodiment, at least one reinforcement member can be joined with at least one portion of the frame, for example, a reinforcement member can be included in at least one of the sidewalls, the scoop, the base and the throat.
In another embodiment, the reinforcement member can be constructed from metal, composites, plastics, or the like, and can take on a variety of geometric shapes, such as wire-like cylinders or tubes (single or bundles), flattened bars, or plates, any of which can be embedded in a plastic material that forms one or more frame elements. The reinforcement member can be located anywhere in the lacrosse head where additional strength is desired. Optionally, the reinforcement member can be embedded within the plastic of the frame element a sufficient distance from the exterior surface of the frame element to resist breakage upon impact from a lacrosse ball or stick.
In yet another embodiment, a method for making the reinforced lacrosse head is provided. In this method, a frame element, such as a sidewall, base, scoop, and/or throat and/or portions thereof, is constructed with an open region that is sized to accommodate a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member can be positioned at least partially within the open region. Another, separately formed portion of the frame element (referred to as a secondary part) can be positioned adjacent the open region, over at least a portion of the reinforcement member. The secondary part and the frame element can be joined by compressing them together, while applying high frequency oscillations or vibrations to the secondary part and/or the frame element to sonically weld them together and form a completed frame element. As a result, the reinforcement member can be at least partially embedded within the plastic material constituting the completed frame element, thereby forming a unitary reinforced lacrosse head. A similar method can be used to add multiple reinforcement members to various frame elements of the lacrosse head.
In a further embodiment, at least one of the open region and the secondary part can include an engagement surface that defines a recess or groove within which the reinforcement member can be positioned. The reinforcement member can be positioned within the recess, so that the engagement surface straddles the reinforcement member, that is, the engagement surface has first and second areas on opposite sides of the reinforcement member. The secondary part can be positioned adjacent the open region over at least a portion of the reinforcement member. The secondary part and the frame element can be joined by compressing them, while applying high frequency vertical vibrations to the secondary part and/or the frame element to sonically weld them together and form a completed frame element.
In yet a further embodiment, the optional recess within which the reinforcement member can be placed can be of a pre-selected depth. This pre-selected depth can be greater than, less than, or the same as the largest cross sectional dimension of the reinforcement member. Where it is less than or the same as the largest dimension, at least one of the frame element and the secondary part can be joined directly with the reinforcement member, optionally by plasticizing or melting the frame element and/or secondary part by sonic welding it to the reinforcement member. Where the pre-selected depth is greater than the largest dimension, the frame element and the secondary part can be sonically welded together without direct bonding of either component to the reinforcement member. Optionally, the reinforcement member can be housed within the recess, and effectively embedded in the frame, but not bonded to either the frame element or the portion. Further optionally, this configuration can enable the reinforcement member to float freely within the recess.
In another, further embodiment, the secondary part, frame element and reinforcement member can be joined in a hot plate welding process. This process can include: heating the frame element and secondary part in regions that are desired to be bound together so that those regions at least partially melt; placing the reinforcement member between the frame element and the secondary part; compressing the secondary part and frame element together with the reinforcement member at least partially therebetween; and allowing the secondary part and the frame element to cool to a welded together state, with the reinforcement member joined with at least one of those components. Optionally, the reinforcement member may also be heated before the secondary part and frame element are joined. Further optionally, at least one of the secondary part and frame element can define a recess or groove within which the reinforcing member can be positioned, similar to the sonic weld embodiments above.
A reinforced lacrosse head is provided having increased strength and resistance to deformation or breakage, yet which optionally is still substantially lightweight as compared to current lacrosse heads. Further, the present lacrosse head requires less plastic, thereby decreasing the amount of time required for cooling the plastic and consequently decreasing the overall manufacturing cycle time of the lacrosse head.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.
A current embodiment of the reinforced lacrosse head is shown in
Referring to
The sidewalls 12 can have an open-frame construction, as noted above. More particularly, each sidewall 12 can include two or more rail portions 20a, 20b with one or more cross members 22a, 22b, 22c extending between those rails, optionally connecting the rails at different locations. Further optionally, the rail portions 20a, 20b and the cross members 22a, 22b, 22c cooperatively define one or more openings that extend completely through the sidewall. As shown, openings 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are defined by the sidewall 12. This open-frame construction can substantially decrease the amount of material used to form the sidewalls 12 and thus the head, thereby decreasing the overall weight of the lacrosse head 10. Optionally, the number, size and geometric configuration of the rail portions, cross members and openings can vary as desired.
Each rail portion 20a, 20b optionally can include at least one stiffening rib 26a, 26b for strengthening the respective rail portion 20a, 20b as well as the respective sidewall. In one embodiment, each stiffening rib 26a, 26b can be a thicker integral part of its respective rail portion 20a, 20b and can extend the length of the rail portion 20a, 20b from the base 16 to the scoop 14. Moreover, each stiffening rib 26a, 26b can extend to the throat 18 to provide additional structural integrity thereto. Additionally, the stiffening ribs 26a, 26b can be located in the sidewall 12 above and below the openings 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d to provide structural support thereto. However, the stiffening ribs can be located in a variety of different locations on the lacrosse head. The term stiffening ribs can encompass areas of the sidewall that are thicker than the surrounding portions of the sidewall 12.
The reinforced lacrosse head 10 generally includes one or more reinforcement members 28 for strengthening the lacrosse head 10. As shown in
In general, the reinforcement members can be constructed in a variety of geometries, cross sections and shapes, and from a variety of materials. For example, the reinforcement members each can be in the form of a bar, a wire, a tube, or an elongated plate of any cross section or length (all of which are referred to herein as a bar). In such a construction, the bar can be of a variety of cross sections, for example, of rounded, circular, elliptical, triangular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal cross sections. The cross sections can also vary, so that the reinforcement member tapers from one end to the other constantly or in a varying manner. Optionally, where the member is a bar of a plate construction, the bar can be contoured for inclusion within a particular frame element of the lacrosse head. Further optionally, where the member is a bar construction, the bar can be contoured or bent to follow the contour or shape of the frame element in which is embedded or otherwise included. Even further optionally, as shown in
The reinforcement member can also be constructed from a solid core construction, in which the core is generally a homogeneous material throughout its cross section. Alternatively, the member can be of a cable like construction, or can have multiple bundles of individual fibers or smaller bars or wires aligned with one another side by side or placed end to end or in an overlapping configuration. The member can further be of a fabric or non-fabric construction, the latter generally including the bar construction mentioned above.
The reinforcement member can be constructed from a strong lightweight metal, for example, aluminum, titanium, steel, magnesium, or alloys including any or all of the forgoing metals. Alternatively, the member can be constructed from other suitable strong lightweight materials, for example, graphite, fiberglass, composite plastics, ceramics/polymer composites, combinations of the foregoing (including the metals above), and any other suitable materials.
Although not shown, the size and thickness of the reinforcement members 28 can vary from the illustrations in
Moving to the placement of the reinforcement members, they can be of positioned within any frame element in which increased strength and/or rigidity is desired, and indeed can traverse multiple frame elements as desired, or can be isolated in selected frame elements, terminating short of other frame elements. As shown in
As also shown in
A third reinforcement member 28c can be included in the scoop 14 and can extend substantially the length of the scoop, between the respective sidewall portions 12, if desired. The third reinforcement member 28c can likewise be positioned a pre-selected distance below the upper rim or exterior of the scoop to substantially resist breakage of the upper rim and the like upon impact. Further, the reinforcement member 28c provide a generally rigid and relatively non-deformable overall construction to the scoop portion 14.
A number of additional reinforcement members 28d can be included in each side region 40 of the throat 18 between the base 16 and the rearward most portion 42 of the base. These reinforcement members 28d can provide additional strength to the throat region 18 resulting from sideways movement of a lacrosse handle (not shown) located within the throat interior 44 during use. In addition, one or more reinforcement members 28e can be included in the top portion 46 and bottom portion 48 of the throat 18 to provide additional strength there to counter forces resulting from up and down movement of the handle within the interior 44 of the throat 18. The reinforcement members 28d, 28e also can provide a general rigid and relatively non-deformable overall construction to the throat 18 and to the base 16. Optionally, the throat can include one or more reinforcement elements that extend toward the rearward most portion 42 of the base, but terminate at or near that location. In this construction, the members fail to extend into the handle, and in fact terminate proximal the handle, which can be located within the throat in most applications.
As shown in
Although not shown, it is also contemplated that a single reinforcement member 28 can be integrated in and can extend across more than one portion or frame element of the lacrosse head. For example, a bar having the general shape of the lacrosse head frame can be integrated within two or more of the scoop 14, the upper rails 20a, the lower rails 20b, the base 16 and throat 18. Optionally, the reinforcement member in a bar construction can extend continuously from one frame element to one or more other elements as desired, or the member can terminate within one frame element, stopping short of another frame element as desired. Further optionally, although not shown, the reinforcement elements 20a in the opposing sidewalls can be connected through the base 16, to form a generally U-shaped reinforcement member, and/or can be connected through the scoop, to form a different U-shaped reinforcement member or a loop shaped reinforcement structure. Corresponding secondary parts, of similar shape, can be included in the head in these embodiments if desired.
While
In addition, although not shown in the embodiment of
Returning to
More particularly, the frame element 110 and secondary part 112 can be pre-formed, for example, injection molded (2-shot, gas-assist, or otherwise), extruded or machined to their desired shapes using conventional techniques. In many applications, the frame element and secondary part may have different cross sections from one another, and from the cross section of the reinforcement element. The first portion of the frame element 110 can constitute a majority of the frame element with the exception of a specific portion of the upper rail 20a. In this construction, the frame element can define an open region 114, which generally can be a missing portion of the frame element 110. This open region 114 can include an engagement surface 120, which corresponds in size and optionally in shape to an engagement surface 118 of the secondary part 112, so that when the two are sonically welded together, minimal finishing operations can be performed to ensure that the components appear as one unitary part. The first portion 110 and the secondary part 112 can also be sized along their respective engagement surfaces 118, 120 to enable the reinforcement member 28a to be joined with or placed adjacent those surfaces. Optionally, the reinforcement member 28a can be sized or dimensioned shorter or smaller than the open region 114 and/or engagement surface 120 so that the member fits within the open region before welding.
As shown in
The first portion 110 and the secondary part 112 can be formed from similar or identical materials such as nylon, plastic, and/or other polymers. Optionally, the first portion and secondary part can be constructed from the same material. The composition of the first portion 110 and the secondary part 112, however, can vary to provide different performance characteristics in terms of stiffness and durability, provided that the materials are compatible and can be welded together using the sonic welding or similar joining technique. By way of example, the secondary part 112 can be formed of a more flexible, tougher nylon material than the first portion 110. Optionally, the secondary part 112 can be formed of an elastomeric material (non-nylon) that is compatible with and capable of being sonic welded to the first portion 110. Further optionally, the secondary part itself can be constructed from a more rigid, less flexible, and/or harder or stiff polymer, while the first portion of the frame element can be constructed from a different material that is less rigid, more flexible, and/or softer or less stiff than the secondary part. In such an embodiment, the reinforcement element can be completely absent, with the more rigid secondary part acting as the reinforcement element. Examples of possible materials in this embodiment include a first polymer, such a polyphthalamide plastic material, like FE8200, commercially available from DuPont of Wilmington, Del., used to construct the secondary part, and a second polymer, such as a super tough nylon, like ST801, also commercially available from DuPont, used to construct the frame element. Other material variations can be implemented as desired.
Pre-forming the first portion 110 and second portion 112 and subsequently joining their respective engagement surfaces 118 and 120 by sonic welding can be beneficial over prior conventional methods. In such methods, a titanium wire reinforcement member is placed within a mold, and plastic is injection molded around the wire in the mold so that the entire frame element is formed around the wire in a single stage forming process. In these prior conventional methods, where a titanium wire is molded in a top rim of a sidewall but not the bottom rim, when the frame element cools, the top rim including the titanium wire is prevented from shrinking because the plastic is molded directly to the wire, and thereby restricted from contracting upon cooling. The bottom rim of the sidewall without the titanium wire, however, usually contracts upon cooling and therefore shrinks. Accordingly, the sidewall bows or bends toward the bottom rim of the sidewall, which usually brings the head dimensions out of specification. With the sonic welding method disclosed herein, the parts of a frame element are optionally preformed, and do not undergo the amount of global heating and shrinking as the conventional methods above. Moreover, because the sonic welding provides localized heating of the materials that are joined at the engagement surfaces, less of the frame element and head heats and subsequently cools. Accordingly, most of the issues presented with the uneven shrinkage due to cooling of conventional reinforced heads and methods are eliminated or minimized.
Referring to
The reinforcement member 228 can be positioned within the recesses, so that the engagement surfaces straddle the reinforcement member 228, that is, the engagement surfaces can include first 213 and second 215 areas on opposite sides of the reinforcement member (
Optionally, the recesses 219 and 220 of this embodiment and the recesses of any other embodiments herein can be of a pre-selected depth, alone or in combination. This pre-selected depth can be greater than, less than, or the same as the largest cross sectional dimension of the reinforcement member 228. For example, as shown in
As shown in
This configuration can fixedly restrain the reinforcement member in the recess, yet enable the reinforcement member to float or move freely within the recess, for example by rotation, or by moving toward and away from the respective secondary part and/or frame element within the gap, while still providing strength and rigidity to the head in the frame element. Further optionally, the reinforcement member can be bonded or joined directly to only one of the secondary part and the frame element, or to either or both in certain areas along the member, to provide localized joining with specific flexing and/or rigidity characteristics.
Referring to
The reinforcement member 328 can be positioned within the recess, so that at least the engagement surface 320 straddles the reinforcement member 328, that is, the engagement surface can include first 313 and second 315 areas on opposite sides of the reinforcement member 328, where those areas are adapted to engage at least the engagement surface 318 or of the secondary part and to be sonically welded thereto. Specifically, the secondary part 312 and the frame element portion 310 can be joined by compressing them together between the anvil 470 and sonotrode 472, while applying high frequency vertical vibrations 479 to the secondary part and the frame element to sonically weld them together and form a completed frame element as shown in
Referring to
In a sixth embodiment, a frame element and secondary part can be hot plate welded to include a reinforcement member and thereby form a reinforced lacrosse head. The frame element and secondary part can be constructed to include any of the components or elements as mentioned in the above embodiments, and the reinforcement member can be of any of the constructions mentioned above as well. The primary difference between the aforementioned embodiments and this embodiment is the process for joining the parts, which in this embodiment, uses a hot plate welding process. Like the sonic welding process above, this process generally uses secondary parts and frame elements that are pre-formed. Thus, the issues presented above concerning uneven shrinkage due to cooling of conventional reinforced heads and methods are eliminated or minimized.
With reference to
The hot plate welding process can include several steps. In step 680, a hot plate welding apparatus including opposing fixtures 650 and 660 are provided. The frame element 610 is positioned in the first fixture 660 and the secondary part 610 is placed in the second fixture 650. A heating platen 664 is also provided. The heating platen 664 can include melt stops 667, while the fixtures 650 and 660 can include weld stops 668. Generally, as shown, at step 680, the secondary part 612 and frame element 610 are held and aligned by the opposing fixtures 650 and 660.
In step 682, the heating platen 664 is inserted between the fixtures 660 and 650, with its components generally aligned with the regions of the frame element 610 and secondary part 612 desired to be heated and melted together. In step 683, the fixture 650 and 660 are brought together so that the platen 664 engages the appropriate surfaces of the secondary part 612 and the frame element 610, thereby at least partially melting the regions and areas that it contacts. In step 684, the platen 664 is removed from between the fixtures 650 and 660. In step 685, the reinforcing member 628 is introduced between the secondary part 612 and the frame element 610. If any optional recesses are included in either of these components, as described in the multiple sonic welding embodiments above, the reinforcing member 628 can be positioned in those recesses. Optionally, the reinforcing member 628 can also be heated so that it further melts into at least one of the secondary part and the frame element 610.
Returning to step 686, the fixture part 650 and 660 are joined together, optionally compressed together, so that areas fuse together as the material of the secondary part 612 and frame element 610 cools. In this process, the reinforcing member 628 becomes at least partially embedded in at least one of the secondary part and the frame element. In step 682, the fixture is opened to expose the lacrosse head, including the frame element and secondary part joined together with the reinforcing member 628 included therein. After this step, the head can be removed from the fixture for various finishing operations as desired.
The above descriptions are those of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any references to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/097,688, filed Sep. 17, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/832,743 filed on Aug. 2, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/437,842 filed on May 14, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,634), which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/380,547 filed on May 14, 2002, the disclosures of which are all incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/753,959 filed on May 25, 2007, which is (a) a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/437,842 filed on May 14, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,634), which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/380,547 filed on May 14, 2002; and (b) a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/437,542 filed on May 14, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,226,374), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/418,922 filed on Oct. 15, 2002, the disclosures of which are all incorporated by reference. This application is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/832,753 filed on Aug. 2, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/437,842 filed on May 14, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,634), which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/380,547 filed on May 14, 2002, the disclosures of which are all incorporated by reference herein. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/832,760 filed on Aug. 2, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/437,842 filed on May 14, 2003 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,634), which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. filed on May 14, 2002, the disclosures of which are all incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61097688 | Sep 2008 | US | |
| 60380547 | May 2002 | US | |
| 60380547 | May 2002 | US | |
| 60418992 | Oct 2002 | US | |
| 60380547 | May 2002 | US | |
| 60380547 | May 2002 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10437842 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 11832743 | US | |
| Parent | 10437842 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 11832753 | US | |
| Parent | 10437842 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 11832760 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11832743 | Aug 2007 | US |
| Child | 12558084 | US | |
| Parent | 11753959 | May 2007 | US |
| Child | 10437842 | US | |
| Parent | 10437842 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 11753959 | US | |
| Parent | 10437542 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 11753959 | US | |
| Parent | 11832753 | Aug 2007 | US |
| Child | 10437542 | US | |
| Parent | 11832760 | Aug 2007 | US |
| Child | 10437842 | US |
