KIT FOR EXTENDING THE SHAFT OF A HOCKEY STICK

Abstract

It is disclosed a kit for extending the shaft of a hockey stick comprising a fixing module, at least one extension module and an attachment module. The extension modules are adapted to nest one in the other and are adapted to nest in the top of the fixing module. The attachment module secures the extension modules one to the other and to the fixing module. A method for adjusting the length of a shaft of a hockey stick is also disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An extension kit for a non-circular shaft of a hockey stick having a hollow end and an outer surface, the extension kit comprising: an attachment module; a shaft fixing module comprising: an external surface, configured to fit inside the hollow end, an orifice, configured to mate with the attachment module, and an end portion; at least one extension module, each extension module comprising: a rectangular boss, an orifice, configured to enable the passage of the attachment module, and a top end with a rectangular groove, configured to mate with the rectangular boss of another extension module, wherein the end portion of the shaft fixing module and the rectangular boss of the at least one extension module are configured to mate with one another, wherein the attachment module is configured to pass through the at least one extension module and removably attach the at least one extension module to the shaft fixing module, and wherein the extension kit further comprises a driver connector configured to connect the shaft of the hockey stick and the shaft fixing module, adapting to different dimensions of the shaft of the hockey stick.

2. The extension kit of claim 1, wherein the orifice of the shaft fixing module is an inner threaded hole and the attachment module is an outer threaded cylinder.

3. The extension kit of claim 1, wherein the driver connector comprises an inner threaded hole being aligned with the orifice of the shaft fixing module.

4. The extension kit of claim 1, wherein the driver connector is made of a material that deforms when the driver connector is inserted into the exact size of the hockey stick, and a hot-melt glue that coats a lower section of the driver connector will retain the driver connector inside the hockey.

5. The extension kit of claim 1, wherein the end portion of the shaft fixing module further comprises a collar configured to abut an external surface of the hollow end.

6. The extension kit of claim 1, wherein the end portion of the shaft fixing module comprises a rectangular groove and the rectangular boss of the at least one extension module, the rectangular groove of the shaft fixing module and the rectangular boss of the at least one extension module being configured to mate with one another.

7. The extension kit of claim 6, wherein the rectangular boss of the at least one extension module, the rectangular groove of the at least one extension module and the rectangular boss of the at least one extension module being configured to mate with one another.

8. The extension kit of claim 1, further comprising a cap, the cap comprising: a rectangular boss configured to mate with the top end of the at least one extension module, and an orifice, configured to enable the passage of the attachment module.

9. The extension kit of claim 8, wherein the rectangular boss of the cap, and the rectangular groove of the at least one extension module being configured to mate with one another.

10. The extension kit of claim 1, wherein the attachment module has a top end, the top end of the attachment module being configured to mate with the top end of the at least one extension module.

11. The extension kit of claim 8, wherein the attachment module has a top end and the cap has a top end, the top end of the attachment module and the top end of the cap being configured to mate with one another.

12. The extension kit of claim 1, comprising at least a first and a second extension module, a distance between the rectangular boss and the top end of the first extension module being different than a distance between the rectangular boss and the top end of the second extension module.

13. An extension kit for a non-circular shaft of a hockey stick having a hollow end and an outer surface, the extension kit comprising: a fixing module comprising: a external surface configured to be inserted into the hollow end of the shaft, an inner central hole having an axis, and an end portion comprising a collar configured to abut the hollow end of the shaft and to fit with the outer surface of the shaft, the end portion further comprising a rectangular groove adapted to host a rectangular boss of an extension module; at least one extension module, each extension module comprising: a main body having a contour matching the outer surface of the shaft, the rectangular boss extending from the main body and configured to fit the rectangular groove of the fixing module and a rectangular groove of a second extension module, a rectangular groove defined within the main body and configured to fit the rectangular boss of a subsequent second extension module, and a driver connector configured to connect the shaft of the hockey stick and the shaft fixing module, adapting to different dimensions of the shaft of the hockey stick, and a central hole having an axis and going through the extension module and the driver connector, the axis of the central hole and the axis of the inner central threaded hole of the fixing module being aligned when the extension module is connected to the fixing module which is connected to the driver connector; and an attachment module configured to pass through all extension modules and to removeably secure all extension modules to the fixing modules.

14. The extension kit of claim 13, wherein the inner central hole of the fixing module is threaded and the attachment module is threaded so as to be capable of being removeably attached to the inner central threaded hole of the fixing module.

15. The extension kit of claim 13, further comprising a cap configured to fit the rectangular groove of the at least one extension module.

16. The extension kit of claim 15, wherein the cap has an outer surface configured to match the contour of the main body of the at least one extension module.

17. The extension kit of claim 15, wherein the cap has an outer surface configured to be radially further away from the axis of the central hole of the at least one extension module than the contour of the main body of the at least one extension module.

18. A method for extending a non-circular shaft of a hockey stick having a hollow end and an outer surface, the method comprising: a) securing a driver connector adapting to different dimensions of the shaft of the hockey stick to the hockey stick, the driver connector comprising an inner threaded hole; b) securing a shaft fixing module within the hollow end to the driver connector, the shaft fixing module having an inner threaded hole and an end portion; c) abutting at least one extension module comprising a rectangular boss, a rectangular groove, and an inner hole, to the end portion of the shaft fixing module, the hole of the at least one extension module being coaxial with the inner threaded hole of the shaft fixing module; d) sliding a threaded fastener through the hole of the at least one extension module; and e) using the threaded fastener to removeably secure the at least one extension module to the end portion of the shaft fixing module.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of abutting at least one extension module comprises abutting at least 2 extension modules of different sizes.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of matching an external surface of the at least one extension module to the outer surface of the hockey stick.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a hockey stick comprising an extension kit in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a front view of a kit for extending a shaft of a hockey stick in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 3 is an attachment module for mounting the kit for extending the shaft of a hockey stick in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0038] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the kit illustrated on FIG. 2.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a shaft fixing module of the kit illustrated on FIG. 2.

[0040] FIG. 6 is an assembled kit for extending the shaft of a hockey stick in accordance a second preferred embodiment.

[0041] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the kit illustrated on FIG. 6.

[0042] FIG. 8 is an assembled kit for extending the shaft of a hockey stick in accordance a third preferred embodiment.

[0043] FIG. 9 is a side view of the shaft fixing module of the kit illustrated on FIG. 8.

[0044] FIG. 10 is an exploded front view of the shaft fixing module illustrated on FIG. 9.

[0045] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the shaft fixing module illustrated on FIG. 9, comprising a reinforcing element in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0046] FIG. 12 represents a cap (12A) and different extension modules of different sizes (12B, 12C and 12D) in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0047] FIGS. 13A, 13B and 13C are 3D representative views of different extension modules of different sizes in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 13D is a 3D representative view of a cap of the kit for extending the shaft of a hockey stick in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0049] FIG. 13E is a 3D representative view of a shaft fixing module of the kit for extending the shaft of a hockey stick in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 14 is a front view or a rear view of a driver connector connecting the hockey stick and the assembled kit in accordance with a preferred embodiment.

[0051] FIG. 15 is a left view or a right view of the driver connector shown in FIG. 14.

[0052] FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the driver connector shown in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0053] A novel kit for extending a shaft of a hockey stick will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

[0054] In reference to FIG. 1, a hockey stick 100 is illustrated. The hockey stick 100 generally comprises a head 10 connected to a lower portion 32 of a shaft 30. The shaft 30 comprises a hollow tubular structure presenting a hollow end 31. As aforesaid, an adequate length for a hockey stick consists in having the end of the shaft facing around the nose of the user when the stick is vertical on the floor.

[0055] The hockey stick 100 as shown in FIG. 1 also comprises a kit 20 for extending the shaft 30 of the hockey stick 100. The kit 20 is configured to be attached to the hollow end 31 of the shaft.

[0056] FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of a kit 21 for extending the shaft of the hockey stick.

[0057] The kit 21 comprises a shaft fixing module 13 adapted to be inserted in the hollow end 31 of the shaft and a plurality of extension modules 50 configured to nest one in the other. The kit 21 may further comprise an attachment module 37 (FIG. 3) long enough to pass through all extension modules 50. The kit may also comprise a cap 39 adapted to nest in the top of the last extension module 50.

[0058] The shaft fixing module 13 comprises an external surface 15 configured to be inserted into the hollow end 31 of the shaft of the hockey stick, an orifice, in the current embodiment an inner central threaded hole 17 characterized by an axis 44, and an end portion 18 preferably comprising a collar 19. The collar 19 is configured to abut the shaft fixing module 13 on the hollow end 31 of the shaft 30 and optionally to fit with the outer surface of the shaft. The end portion 18, in the current embodiment further comprising a female section 22, is adapted to host a bottom section 27, in the current embodiment a male section, of an extension module 50.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment, each extension module 50 of the kit comprises a main body 25 having a contour matching the end portion 18, the collar 19 and the shaft 30. Each extension module may further comprise a bottom male section 27 and a top female section 29. The bottom male section 27 extends from the main body 25 and is configured to fit either to the female section 22 of the shaft fixing module or to the top female section 29 of another extension module to increase the length of the shaft of the hockey stick. The top female section 29 is defined within the main body 25 of an extension module and configured to fit either to the bottom male section 27 of a subsequent extension module or to a bottom male section 41 of the cap 39.

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, each extension module comprises a central orifice or hole 35 going through the module and characterized by a longitudinal axis 43. Each axis 43 of each central hole 35 is adapted to be aligned with the longitudinal axis 44 of the inner central threaded hole 17 of the shaft fixing module when the extension module 50 nest in the top of the shaft fixing module 13.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, all the axis 43 of all the central holes 35 of all the extension modules 50 are adapted to be aligned when the extension modules 50 nest one in the other.

[0062] The extension modules 50 preferably have different length as shown in FIG. 4, 7 or 12, allowing precisely adjusting the length of the extension kit in function of the person.

[0063] In reference to FIG. 3, the attachment module 37 may be long enough to pass through all extension modules 50 and to be attached to the inner central threaded hole 17 of the shaft fixing module 13 to firmly link the extension module(s) to the shaft fixing module 13 to form an extended shaft of a hockey stick.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment, the kit 20 may have a cap 39 to cover the last extension module and nest in the top of the attachment mean 37.

[0065] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate other embodiments of a kit 20 for extending the shaft of a hockey stick. The bottom male section 27 of the extension module 50, the female section 22 of the shaft fixing module 13 and the top female section 29 of the extension module 50 may have a square or rectangular shape to firmly clamp the extension modules one to the other. Such a shape allows easily maintaining the extension modules in place before receiving the attachment module 37.

[0066] Now referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, where another embodiment of a shaft fixing module is shown, the shaft fixing module 13A comprises a blind hole 17A adapted to receive a fastener 2, such as, but not limited to a nut, preferably made of a metallic material or any material resisting to wear. The insertion of the fastener 2 inside the shaft fixing module 13A also aims to provide better mechanical properties for the shaft fixing module once assembled to the extension modules.

[0067] In another preferred embodiment, the shaft fixing module 13A may comprise a hole presenting at least two different inner diameters adapted to receive the fastener 2. The shaft fixing module may enlarge or extend transversally once the attachment mean is inserted in the shaft fixing module.

[0068] In another embodiment, the extension modules may compress or extend transversally to nest one in the other or to nest in the shaft fixing module.

[0069] It is to be understood that other shape for the bottom male section 27 and top female section 29 of the extension module 50, the female section 22 of the shaft fixing module 13 may be adapted once it allows the extension modules to correctly nest one in the other, to correctly nest in the shaft fixing module and to correctly receive the cap 39. Similarly to the extension module 50 having a main body 25 with a contour matching the end portion 18, the collar 19 and the shaft 30, cap 39, when attached to such extension module 50, may have an external surface adapted to match the contour of such main body 25 (and therefore matching the outer surface of the shaft 30 of the hockey stick 100). Alternatively, cap 39 may have an external surface, when attached to extension module 50, radially further away from axis 35 than the contour of main body 25 of extension module 50; this may be accomplished by having a female bottom section 41 of cap 39 being large enough to be placed around the contour of main body 25 (it is understood by someone skilled in the art that other types of caps 39, adapted to form a knob at an extremity of the hockey stick 100, are possible pursuant to the invention). Such a cap is advantageous as many users of hockey sticks have a need for knobs at the extremity of their hockey sticks (and often end up using hockey tape to accomplish this).

[0070] Any shape of holes may be adapted for both the extension modules and the shaft fixing module once all the axis of all the central holes of all the extension modules are adapted to be aligned when the extension modules nest one in the other and once each axis of each central hole is adapted to be aligned with the axis of the inner central threaded hole of the shaft fixing module when the extension module nest in the top of the shaft fixing module.

[0071] Now referring to FIGS. 14-16, in another embodiment, the extension kit 21 further comprises a driver connector 60 configured to connect the shaft 30 of the hockey stick 100 and the shaft fixing module 13, adapting to different dimensions of the shaft 30 of the hockey stick 100. The driver connector 60 generally comprises an upper section 61 configured to host and connect the shafting fixing module 13, and a lower section 62 adapted to be inserted in the hollow end of the shaft. On the surface of the lower section 62, there are a plurality of fins 63 that serve to improve the fit of the shaft fixing module 13 to the different hockey stick sizes encountered on the market. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIGS. 14-16, on the front and rear surfaces of the lower section 62, there are four fins 63 respectively and on the left and right surfaces of the lower section, there are two fins respectively. The fins 63 are generally made of any kind of material known to the people skilled in the art, the material that deforms or partly disintegrates when the driver connector 60 is inserted into the exact size of the hockey stick. The hot-melt glue that coats the lower section 62 will retain the driver connector 60 inside the hockey stick 100 as the previous embodiments. Now referring to FIG. 16, the driver connector 60 comprises a central inner threaded orifice or hole 64 going through the driver connector 60, being aligned with the longitudinal axis 44 of the shaft fixing module. The two parts of the driver connector 60, an upper section 61, a lower section 62, comprise the central hollow space adapting to receive the insertion of the shafting fixing module 13. Generally, the length of the driver connector 60 is much longer than that of the shafting fixing module 13, which enables the shafting fixing module 13 fixing to the driver connector 60.

[0072] It is also disclosed a method for extending the shaft of a hockey stick. Firstly, the method comprises securing a driver connector 60 adapting to different dimensions of the shaft 30 of the hockey stick to the hockey stick 100. The driver connector 60 comprises an inner threaded hole 64 being aligned with the orifice of the shaft fixing module 44. The driver connector 60 is made of a material that deforms or partly disintegrates when the driver connector is inserted into the exact size of the hockey stick 100. The hot-melt glue that coats the lower section 62 will retain the driver connector 60 inside the hockey stick 100 as for the previous embodiments.

[0073] The method further comprises inserting the external surface 15 or 15A into the hollow end 31 of the shaft of the hockey stick. The external surface can be glued inside the shaft of the hockey stick.

[0074] The method further comprises inserting the bottom male section 27 of a first extension module 50 into a female portion located on the top of the shaft fixing module 13 or 13A in a way that the axis of the extension module 50 is aligned with the axis of the shaft fixing module 13 or 13A.

[0075] Furthermore, the method comprises inserting the fastener mean 37 through the extension module 50 and to be attached to an inner central threaded hole 17 of the shaft fixing module 13 or 13A to firmly link the extension module(s) to the shaft fixing module 13 or 13A to form an extended shaft of the hockey stick.

[0076] In another embodiment, the method may further comprise inserting the bottom male section 27 of a second extension module 50 into the female portion of the first extension module 50 in a way that the extension modules nest one in the other.

[0077] Finally, the method comprises inserting a cap 39 to cover the last extension module 50 and nest in the top of the attachment mean 37.

[0078] Advantageously, the kit disclosed herein offers a faster, easier and less expensive system and method for adapting hockey stick's length than the ones currently existing.

[0079] Besides, the kit provides more flexibility to get an optimal and suitable length for a user since it comes with different modules having different lengths.

[0080] The kit further provides an easy and secure mounting to the shaft of a hockey stick thanks to the clipping modules. With such a system, the user does not have to prevent the sudden detachment of the system due an undesirable inter-rotation between the modules.

[0081] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

[0082] For example, whereas in a previously described embodiment the external surface 15 of the shaft fixing module 13 slideably fits and is glued inside the hollow end 31 of the shaft 30 of the hockey stick 100, it is possible to have a shaft fixing module 13 with an external surface being pressure-fitted inside to the inner surface of the hollow end 31 of the hockey stick 100 such that glue is not necessary; any other combination where the external surface of the shaft fixing module 13 is securely connected (for the purpose of preventing the extension kit from detaching itself from the hockey stick 100 during use) to the inner surface of the hollow end 13 of the hockey stick 100 is possible pursuant to the invention. In a further example, whereas in a previously described embodiment the end portion 18 of shaft fixing module 13 comprises a female section 22 adapted to host a male bottom section 27 of an extension module 50, it is possible pursuant to the invention for end portion 18 to comprise a male section adapted to host a female section of an extension module 50; any other combination, where the end portion 18 of shaft fixing module 13 and bottom section 27 of extension module 50 are configured to mate with one another, is possible pursuant to the invention.

[0083] Similarly, whereas in a previously described embodiment the top female section 29 of an extension module 50 is adapted to host a male bottom section 27 of an extension module 50 (and to also host a male bottom section 41 of a cap 39), it is possible pursuant to the invention to have a top male section of an extension module 50 adapted to host a female bottom section of an extension module 50 (and to also host a female bottom section 41 of a cap 39); any other combination, where the top section 29 of extension module 50 and the bottom section 27 of extension module 50 (and the bottom section 41 of a cap 39) are configured to mate with one another, is possible pursuant to the invention.