TWO BLADED- HOCKEY STICK

Abstract

A hockey stick is provided with two blades, each of which presents a cradling profile to the puck, for both forehand and backhand shots. In one embodiment, the two blades are joined to one another with a joining member, which in some embodiments can be a concave curved structural component providing an internal curved cavity conforming to the diameter of the puck so that a player can push the puck down the ice in a shuffleboard-like manner by cradling the puck within the cavity.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to hockey sticks, and more particularly to a hockey stick having two blades.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hockey sticks were originally made from wood and had flat blades. Eventually, the blades became curved in one direction to increase puck control and handling, either to the left or to the right depending on whether a player is a right handed shooter or a left handed shooter. Currently, with one directionally curved blade, the player must stickhandle the puck down the ice by sliding the puck back and forth to either side of the blade, as the player skates down the ice.

Subsequent developments in hockey blade design include the provision of detachable blades of different curvatures that can be selectively inserted into an aluminum shaft, and more recently one-piece composite sticks made with resin and fiberglass, graphite or carbon fiber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, a hockey stick is provided with two blades, each of which presents a cradling profile to the puck, for both forehand and backhand shots. In one embodiment, the two blades are joined to one another with a joining member, which in some embodiments can be a concave curved structural component providing an internal curved cavity conforming to the diameter of the puck so that a player can push the puck down the ice in a shuffleboard-like manner by cradling the puck within the cavity.

It can be seen that such a device can be used for player training because a player can focus more on skating skills and skating movements, while still holding the stick and cradling the puck.

In some embodiments, the two blades curve outward from the shaft of the stick and curve in diametrically opposite directions. The two blades can have the exact same curve on each of the blades or the curves can be different from one another. There can be a joining member that is placed between the two blades and fastened to each of the blades. The joining member can be concave with a center of the joining member placed, for example, 3″ from the tip of each blade (note that the diameter of a conventional hockey puck is 3″). Such a joining member can be placed at different distances from the tip of the blade so as to flex the blades when repositioned toward the shaft, and thereby force the blades further apart with respect to each other. Such as concave joining member can be rigid and fixed in dimension for a given position and connected at a fixed and defined position, or can be composed of a material that allows it to flex in a spring-like manner when a force is applied to either blade, or can be composed of two interlocking segments that telescope, one inside the other against a spring or an elastomeric filler that absorbs force and acts as a cushion. In some embodiments, the joining member can be of curved shape with v-shaped bends along the curve to create an accordion-like spring system. In some embodiments, the joining member can be convex rather than concave in orientation to the radius of the puck. In some embodiments, the ends of the joining member can slide in a track mounted to each blade so that the position from the tip of the blade to the center of the concave curve can be changed by sliding the device backward or forward in the manner of a trombone. In some embodiments, the joining member can be provided with a mechanism to lock a selected position. In some embodiments, the joining member can have a complex concave curvature where the radius of curvature on one side of the center line of the shaft is different from the radius of curvature on the other side of the center line. In some embodiments, the joining member can have a complex curvature defined by a formula that relates the curvature of the joining member to the radius of curvature of the two blades. In other embodiments, a secondary spring system can be placed towards the bottom of the shaft, before it meets or at the point where it meets the two oppositely curved blades, to provide added flex to the shaft and increase the force imparted to the puck and thereby increase its speed of travel.

The above aspects can be attained by a hockey stick, comprising a shaft, and a shooting member having a left-handed blade and a right-handed blade disposed proximal to an end of the shaft.

Other aspects can be attained by a two-bladed hockey stick comprising a shaft, a first blade at one end of the shaft, and a second blade at the one end of the shaft.

These together with other aspects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a two-bladed hockey stick, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of left and right blade portions of the two-bladed hockey stick of FIG. 1 separated by a joining member;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the two-bladed hockey stick of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the blade portions of FIG. 2 with a joining member cradling a hockey puck;

FIG. 5 shows the blade portions of FIG. 2 without a joining member;

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C show the blade portions of FIG. 2 with example spacings between the blades by adjusting the position of the joining member, according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C shows alternative embodiments of blade portion of FIG. 2 with joining members of various sizes located in different positions in order to maintain a constant distance between the blades;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic representations of relationships between blade tip lengths, widths and angles according to alternative embodiments;

FIG. 9 shows one alternative embodiment of joining member of the blade portion;

FIG. 10 shows a second alternative embodiment of joining member of the blade portion;

FIG. 11 shows a third alternative embodiment of joining member of the blade portion; and

FIG. 12 shows a fourth alternative embodiment of joining member of the blade portion.

FIG. 13 shows the relationship between curvature of the joining member to the radius of curvature of the blades expressed by two datum lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A hockey stick typically includes a shaft that is gripped by the player and a blade that is manipulated by the player using the shaft, to stick handle and shoot the puck. The hosel is the section of the hockey stick where the blade and the shaft meet. The blade toe is the end of the blade (furthest from the shaft), which can be either rounded or square and can be either open or closed (most toes are rounded and closed). The heel of a hockey stick refers to the bottom of the stick at the back of the blade below the hosel where the blade and the shaft meet.

Blade patterns are defined by a number of different elements, such as curve type, curve depth, toe shape, face angle and lie. Blade curve types are typically defined as heel, mid-heel, mid, or toe curve. Curve depth defines the amount of curve in the blade at its deepest point. Face angles are typically described as open, slightly open, or closed, where more open blades are easier for a player to lift the puck. The blade lie refers to the angle of the blade in reference to the shaft.

FIG. 1 shows hockey stick 1, according to an embodiment, comprising a shaft 3 and a shooting member 5 that joins the shaft 3 at the hosel 7. Shooting member 5 has a left-handed blade 9A and a right-handed blade 9B, instead of a single blade as in a conventional hockey stick. In the illustrated embodiment, blades 9A and 9B curve outwardly from the shaft 3 in diametrically opposite directions. Although in other embodiments, the blades 9A and 9B can be straight rather than curved. The blades 9A and 9B can have the same blade pattern or the blade patterns for each blade 9A and 9B can be different from one another. By including both left and right-handed blades, shooting member 3 facilitates puck shooting by both right-handed and left-handed shooters.

In the illustrated embodiment the shooting member 5 also includes a joining member 11 connecting the blades 9A and 9B, although in other embodiments the joining member 11 can be omitted, as shown in FIG. 5. As discussed in greater detail below, the joining member 11 can form a rigid connection between the blades 9A and 9B, or a flexible connection. For a rigid connection, the joining member 11 can comprise a rigid concave member between the blades 9A and 9B, a convex member between the blades, a honeycomb structure between the blades or a rigid foam filed area between the blades, to name but a few variants. For a flexible connection, the joining member 11 can comprise a concave V-shaped leaf spring, an S-shaped spring element with multiple S returns, a flexible elastomeric honeycomb element, telescoping interconnecting elements between the blades 9A and 9B with a spring or fluid inside the telescoping interconnecting elements, or a sealed fluid filled element that can compress and be attached at either end to each of the blades 9A and 9B, to name but a few variants.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4, a concave joining member 11 is shown, where the center of the concave joining member 11 is 3″ from the outer toe 13A, 13B of each blade 9A. 9B (note that the diameter of a regulation hockey puck 15 is 3″ in diameter), so that a hockey puck can be cradled by the joining member 11 and blades 9A and 9B.

As shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, the concave joining member 11 can be placed at different distances from the tip of the outer toe 13A, 13B of each blade 9A. 9B so as to flex the blades and force them further apart with respect to each other.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, the concave joining member 11 can vary in size in order to maintain a constant distance between the blades 9A and 9B.

The blades 9A and 9B can be axially offset relative to each other such that one outer toe 13A, 13B extends beyond the other, as shown in FIG. 8A (with no joining member) and FIG. 8B, where the joining member 11 is positioned obliquely and has a complex concave curve where the radius of curvature on one side of a centre line between the blades is different from the radius of curvature of the other side of the centre line.

Numerous embodiments of joining member 11 are possible, such as the rigid joining member 11 of FIGS. 1-8, where the joining member is connected to the blades 9A and 9B at a fixed and defined position. In another embodiment, joining member 11 can be non-rigid and flexible in order to flex in a spring-like manner when force is applied to either blade 9A, 9B, as shown in FIG. 9. A 10. A secondary spring system 11A can placed towards the bottom of the shaft 3, proximate or at the point where it meets the two oppositely curved blades 9A, 9B to provide added flex to the shaft and increase the force imparted to the puck and thereby increase its speed of travel. Such a secondary spring system 11A can, for example, be fabricated from stiff rubber. In a further embodiment, joining member 11 can comprise two interlocking segments 11B, 11C that telescope, one inside the other against an internal spring (not shown) or elastomeric filler that absorbs force and acts as a cushion, as shown in FIG. 10. In an additional embodiment, joining member 11 can comprise two segments that flex around a hinge 12 in the manner of an accordion, as shown in FIG. 11. A shown in FIG. 12, the joining member 11 can be convex rather than concave in shape. In other embodiments (not shown), the ends of the joining member 11 can slide in a track that is mounted to each blade 9A, 9B so that the position from the toe of the blade to the centre of the concave curve can be changed by sliding the device 11 backward or forward, and fixed in position by a locking mechanism.

The relationship between curvature of the joining member 11 to the radius of curvature of the blades 9A and 9B, can be expressed by two datum lines shown in FIG. 13, as follows: a datum line A through the centre of the shaft and a datum line B at the end of the toe of the blade, where datum line A and datum line B are perpendicular to each other and create an XY plane for the blades. Any blade profile can be defined as a series of section point dimensions from datum line A. The loft of the blade can be defined as a series of points from a datum Z perpendicular to the XY plane formed by datum line A and datum line B. A plurality of blade configurations is possible by moving each of the blades 9A and 9B with respect to the two datum planes and to each other. One of the blades 9A or 9B can be the shooting blade and the other the backhand blade. The other of the blades 9A or 9B can be positioned closer to datum A and further away from datum B to create an optimum configuration for each player.

It is contemplated that blade profiles can be changed slightly during the course of a game as a strategy to keep the goalie guessing about the type of shot will result from the blade profile.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification and, thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A hockey stick, comprising: a shaft; anda shooting member having a left-handed blade and a right-handed blade disposed proximal to an end of the shaft.

2. The hockey stick of claim 1, further comprising a joining member disposed between and connecting the left-handed blade and the right-handed blade.

3. The hockey stick of claim 1, further comprising a joining member proximal a toe of the left-handed blade and a toe of the right-handed blade and connecting the left-handed blade to the right handed blade.

4. The hockey stick of claim 1, wherein the joining member is compressible.

5. The hockey stick of claim 4, wherein the joining member includes a spring.

6. The hockey stick of claim 5, wherein the joining member is connectable to the left-handed blade and right-handed blade at various positions.

7. The hockey stick of claim 5, wherein the joining member is slidingly connected to the left-handed blade and right-handed blade at various positions.

8. The hockey stick of claim 2, wherein the joining member is concave.

9. The hockey stick of claim 1, further including a secondary spring system disposed towards one end of the shaft to provide additional flex to the shaft.

10. A two-bladed hockey stick comprising: a shaft;a first blade at one end of the shaft; anda second blade at the one end of the shaft.

11. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 10, further comprising a joining member connecting the first blade to the second blade.

12. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 11, wherein the joining member is disposed between the first blade and the second blade.

13. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 12, wherein the first blade is a left-handed blade and the second blade is a right-handed blade.

14. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 11, wherein the joining member is compressible.

15. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 11, wherein the joining member includes a spring.

16. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 11, wherein the joining member is connectable to the first blade and second blade at various positions.

17. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 11, wherein the joining member is slidingly connected to the first blade and second blade at various positions.

18. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 11, wherein the joining member is concave.

19. The two-bladed hockey stick of claim 11, further including a secondary spring system disposed towards the one end of the shaft to provide additional flex to the shaft.