LACROSSE HEAD WITH FLUSH CONNECTION SYSTEM AND OFFSET

Abstract

A lacrosse stick includes a shaft and a lacrosse head. The lacrosse head includes a throat that is configured to receive the shaft. A top surface of the throat is flush with a top surface of the shaft.

Claims

1. A lacrosse stick comprising: a shaft; and a lacrosse head comprising a throat, the throat configured to receive the shaft, wherein a top surface of the throat is flush with a top surface of the shaft.

2. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the throat defines a gap.

3. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the lacrosse head further comprises a connector disposed within the throat.

4. The lacrosse stick of claim 3, wherein the shaft is disposed between the throat and the connector.

5. The lacrosse stick of claim 3, further comprising: a hole disposed in a bottom of the shaft; a hole disposed in a bottom of the throat; and a hole disposed in the connector.

6. The lacrosse stick of claim 5, wherein the hole in the shaft, the hole in the throat, and the hole in the connector are aligned, further comprising a fastener extending through the holes and securing the lacrosse head to the shaft.

7. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the lacrosse head is configured to provide a maximum allowable offset.

8. A lacrosse head comprising: a throat configured to receive a shaft of a lacrosse stick, wherein a top surface of the throat defines a gap; and a connector disposed within the throat.

9. The lacrosse head of claim 8, wherein the top surface of the throat is configured to be flush with a top surface of the shaft.

10. The lacrosse head of claim 8, wherein the connector is configured to be inserted into the shaft.

11. The lacrosse head of claim 8, wherein a bottom surface of the connector corresponds in shape to a portion of an interior of the shaft.

12. The lacrosse head of claim 8, wherein the gap is wider at a first end of the throat than at a second end of the throat.

13. The lacrosse head of claim 8, wherein the connector comprises a hole configured to receive a fastener.

14. The lacrosse head of claim 13, wherein the throat comprises a hole configured to receive a fastener, and wherein the hole in the throat is aligned with the hole in the connector.

15. A lacrosse stick comprising: a shaft; and a lacrosse head comprising a throat and a connector disposed within the throat, wherein the shaft is disposed within the throat and the connector is disposed within the shaft, wherein the lacrosse head does not extend above a top surface of the shaft.

16. The lacrosse stick of claim 15, wherein a top surface of the throat defines a gap.

17. The lacrosse stick of claim 16, wherein the shaft is visible through the gap.

18. (canceled)

19. The lacrosse stick of claim 15, wherein the connector is disposed within the throat such that a top surface of the throat can be flush with the shaft.

20. The lacrosse stick of claim 19, wherein a bottom edge of the lacrosse head is disposed at a maximum allowable offset from a central axis of the shaft.

21. The lacrosse stick of claim 16, wherein the top surface of the shaft is disposed in the gap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lacrosse stick according to some embodiments.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows a test for determining whether a lacrosse stick meets regulations.

[0012] FIG. 3 shows a side view of lacrosse sticks according to some embodiments.

[0013] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 6 shows an end view of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments.

[0016] FIG. 7 shows a side cross-section view of a lacrosse head secured to a shaft according to some embodiments.

[0017] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a lacrosse stick according to some embodiments.

[0018] FIG. 9 shows a top view of a lacrosse stick according to some embodiments.

[0019] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a throat of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments.

[0020] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a throat of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to indicate identical or functionally similar elements. References to one embodiment, an embodiment, an example embodiment, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0022] The term invention or present invention as used herein is a non-limiting term and is not intended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular invention but encompasses all possible embodiments as described in the application.

[0023] The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the present invention. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those skilled in the art, are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0024] Lacrosse sticks are used extensively during a game of lacrosse (e.g., to cradle, catch, pick up, pass, and shoot a lacrosse ball, or to hit an opponent's stick). Lacrosse sticks generally include a shaft and a head. A lacrosse head that is offset from the axis of the shaft (i.e., the bottom edge of the lacrosse head is spaced from the axis of the shaft) allows for increased speed and accuracy when shooting or passing the ball, and also allows for increased control and ball retention when cradling the ball, because it maximizes the distance the ball sits from the axis of the shaft. However, lacrosse organizations have regulations for lacrosse sticks that may limit this offset. For example, the NCAA men's lacrosse rules require lacrosse sticks to be relatively straight, which is defined as a lacrosse stick that may be laid flat on a tabletop with a substantial portion resting on the table and such that a distance from the tabletop to the bottom edge of the lacrosse head does not exceed 2.75 inches.

[0025] Other considerations have also limited this offset in previous lacrosse sticks. For example, during play, both the shaft and the head of a lacrosse stick repeatedly experience high forces, for example, from scooping a ball off the ground or being checked by an opponent's stick, which may loosen or crack the head or lead to separation of the head from the shaft. Accordingly, the connection of the head to the shaft should be secure to reduce these incidents. In light of these concerns, lacrosse sticks included connection systems with material that completely surrounded the shaft (i.e., an external stability element). Such external stability elements included material on the top surface of the shaft. Those of ordinary skill in the art would have expected a connection system without material over the top surface of the shaft to be inadequate in securing the head to the shaft and would have expected a lacrosse stick with such a connection system to frequently experience loosening, cracking, or separation of the head. Thus, previous connection systems between a lacrosse head and a shaft included material over the top of the shaft and further limited the amount of offset, which prevented players from using the maximum benefit of an offset lacrosse head that would be permitted by the regulations.

[0026] The embodiments described herein provide a connection system that provides the maximum allowable offset while maintaining a secure connection between the lacrosse head and the shaft. For example, the connection system allows the top side of the head (i.e., the side facing down in FIG. 2) and the shaft to be flush with each other. Accordingly, the distance between the top surface of the shaft and the bottom edge of the head (i.e., opposite the top side (facing up in FIG. 2)) may be the maximum allowable distance of 2.75 inches, which facilitates the maximum allowable offset.

[0027] In some embodiments, a lacrosse stick 10, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1, includes a shaft 20 and a head 30. In some embodiments, shaft 20 includes a top surface 22, an interior 24, and a bottom portion 26. Shaft 20 may have a cross-section height 21 (see FIG. 3) and a length suitable for a lacrosse stick (e.g., short sticks, long sticks, or goalie sticks). In some embodiments, shaft 20 has an octagonal cross-section. Other cross-sections may also be used, such as hexagonal, teardrop, oval, etc. In some embodiments, shaft 20 is hollow.

[0028] In some embodiments, head 30 includes a scoop 32, a pair of opposing sidewalls 34, a ball stop 36, and a throat 40. Scoop 32, sidewalls 34, and ball stop 36 may have a variety of designs. In some embodiments, throat 40 is configured to receive shaft 20. In some embodiments, throat 40 includes a top surface 42. In some embodiments, top surface 42 of throat 40 is flush with top surface 22 of shaft 20. In some embodiments, top surface 22 of shaft 20 is above top surface 42 of throat 40. In some embodiments, top surface 42 defines a gap 44. In some embodiments, top surface 22 of shaft 20 fills in gap 44 of top surface 42. In some embodiments, shaft 20 is visible through gap 44.

[0029] In some embodiments, throat 40 extends from a first end 46 to a second end 48. In some embodiments, first end 46 is the farthest point from ball stop 36. In some embodiments, second end 48 is closest to ball stop 36. In some embodiments, second end 48 is adjacent to ball stop 36. In some embodiments, gap 44 extends from first end 46 to second end 48. In some embodiments, gap 44 is wider at first end 46 than at second end 48, as shown, for example, in FIG. 9. In some embodiments, top surface 22 of shaft 20 fills in gap 44 so that top surface 22 of shaft 20 is flush with top surface 42 of throat 40. In some embodiments, top surface 42 is the highest portion of head 30. In some embodiments, no portion of head 30 extends above top surface 22 of shaft 20, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8. In some embodiments, this configuration allows lacrosse stick 10 to take advantage of the maximum allowable offset.

[0030] Lacrosse organizations may have regulations for dimensions of lacrosse sticks, including a distance 12 (see FIG. 2) from a top surface of a lacrosse stick 1 to a bottom portion of a lacrosse head. For example, the maximum allowable distance 12 may be 2.75 inches. A simple test 15 may be performed to check whether lacrosse stick 1 is compliant with these regulations. As shown in FIG. 2, lacrosse stick 1 may be placed on a flat surface 16, such as a table. To determine whether the regulation is met, the distance between flat surface 16 and the bottom portion of lacrosse stick 1 can easily be determined, which is equivalent to distance 12. Thus, according to the regulation, distance 12 must be within the maximum allowable distance (e.g., 2.75 inches).

[0031] Existing lacrosse heads have a material (often emblems, badges, etc.) at the throat disposed above the top surface of the shaft. This may limit the offset (i.e., the distance between the axis of the shaft and the bottom portion of the lacrosse head) that can be achieved by the lacrosse stick because the material will be part of distance 12. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, lacrosse stick 1 and lacrosse stick 10 may have shafts with an equal cross-section height 21 (e.g., 1.07 inches), as well as an equal distance 12 (i.e., from the top surface to the bottom surface) (e.g., 2.75 inches). However, lacrosse stick 1 and lacrosse stick 10 do not have an equal offset 14 because a portion of the head of lacrosse stick 1 is above the shaft.

[0032] In contrast, in certain embodiments, in lacrosse stick 10, top surface 42 of throat 40 is the top surface of lacrosse head 30. Because top surface 42 is flush with top surface 22 of shaft 20, lacrosse stick 10 provides the maximum allowable offset 14 (i.e., maximum allowable distance 12 minus half of the cross-section height 21 of the shaft) between the axis of shaft 20 and bottom edge 35 of head 30. For example, if lacrosse stick 1 and lacrosse stick 10 are both at the maximum allowable distance 12 of 2.75 inches and have a shaft cross-section height 21 of 1.07 inches, lacrosse stick 1 may have an offset 14 of 1.95 inches whereas lacrosse stick 10 may have an offset of 2.215 inches because lacrosse stick 10 does not have any material in head 30 above top surface 22 of shaft 20. This greater offset allows for increased speed and accuracy when shooting or passing the ball.

[0033] In some embodiments, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 4-6, lacrosse head 30 includes a connector 50. In some embodiments, connector 50 is disposed within throat 40. In some embodiments, throat 40 is configured to receive shaft 20 and connector 50 is configured to be inserted into interior 24 of shaft 20. In some embodiments, shaft 20 is disposed between throat 40 and connector 50.

[0034] In some embodiments, connector 50 comprises a prong or projection that extends from second end 48 within throat 40. For example, connector 50 may be a cantilevered projection that is supported at second end 48 of throat 40 and is unsupported at an opposite end of connector 50. In some embodiments, connector 50 extends beyond first end 46 of throat 40. In some embodiments, connector 50 extends to first end 46 of throat 40. In some embodiments, connector 50 does not extend as far as throat 40 (i.e., connector 50 may have a length that is less than the distance between first end 46 and second end 48).

[0035] In some embodiments, connector 50 is monolithic with throat 40. In some embodiments, connector 50 is monolithic with head 30. Thus, head 30 (including throat 40) and connector 50 may be a unitary component. In some embodiments, connector 50 is rigid. In some embodiments, connector 50 is co-molded with throat 40 and/or head 30. In some embodiments, connector 50 is integrally molded with throat 40 and/or head 30. Thus, in some embodiments, the connection system is integrated into throat 40 of head 30. In some embodiments, connector 50 is not a fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.). In some embodiments, connector 50 is sufficient to withstand forces experienced during competitive lacrosse to securely hold head 30 on shaft 20.

[0036] In some embodiments, throat 40 has an interior shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of shaft 20 (e.g., octagonal) (see FIG. 6). In some embodiments, a portion of connector 50 corresponds to a shape of interior 24. In some embodiments, the bottom surface 56 of connector 50 corresponds to a shape of interior 24. In some embodiments, the bottom surface 56 of connector 50 forms three or more sides of an octagonal shape. Accordingly, when shaft 20 and head 30 are attached, connector 50 is disposed within shaft 20 and shaft 20 is disposed within throat 40.

[0037] In some embodiments, the top of connector 50 is flat. In some embodiments, connector 50 has a width that is the same as the width of interior 24 of shaft 20. In some embodiments, connector 50 has a width that is at least 90% of the width of interior 24 of shaft 20.

[0038] In some embodiments, connectors may have a different shape than connector 50 shown in FIGS. 4-6. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 10, a lacrosse head 130 includes a throat 140 with a connector 150. Throat 140 may have a top surface 142 that defines a gap 144. Throat 140 may be configured to receive shaft 20 such that top surface 142 is flush with top surface 22 of shaft 20 and shaft 20 fills gap 144. Connector 150 may be configured to be inserted into shaft 20. The bottom of connector 150 may correspond to a shape of interior 24. The top of connector 150 may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the bottom of connector 150, in contrast to the top of connector 50, which is flat.

[0039] As another example, as shown in FIG. 11, a lacrosse head 230 includes a throat 240 with a connector 250. Throat 240 may have a top surface 242 that defines a gap (not shown). Throat 240 may be configured to receive shaft 20 such that top surface 242 is flush with top surface 22 of shaft 20 and shaft 20 fills the gap. Connector 240 may be configured to be inserted into shaft 20. The bottom of connector 250 may correspond to a shape of interior 24. Connector 250 may be T-shaped. In some embodiments, the top of connector 250 may extend to the top of interior 24 of shaft 20. Other variations of connectors may also be used.

[0040] In some embodiments, connector 50 comprises a hole 55 configured to receive a fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.), such as a screw 60 (see FIG. 7). In some embodiments, connector 50 comprises more than one hole 55 (e.g., two holes 55). In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, throat 40 comprises a hole 45 configured to receive a fastener (e.g., screw 60). In some embodiments, throat 40 comprises more than one hole 45 (e.g., two holes 45). In some embodiments, hole 45 is disposed in a bottom portion of throat 40.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 7, shaft 20 may also comprise a hole 25 configured to receive a fastener (e.g., screw 60). In some embodiments, shaft 20 comprises more than one hole 25 (e.g., two holes 25). In some embodiments, hole 25 is disposed in bottom portion 26 of shaft 20. In some embodiments, holes 45, holes 25, and holes 55 are aligned with each other. In some embodiments, one or more screws 60 are inserted through holes 45, holes 25, and holes 55 to secure head 30 to shaft 20. In some embodiments, holes 45, holes 25, and holes 55 have the same diameter d. In some embodiments, diameter d of holes 45, holes 25, and holes 55 is less than the width D of the threads of screws 60. When screws 60 twist into head 30, the material of throat 40 and connector 50 (e.g., plastic) deforms around the thread to create a secure fit.

[0042] Various embodiments described herein provide a connection system that facilitates a maximum allowable offset in a lacrosse stick, which may result in increased speed and accuracy, for example, when shooting a ball. At the same time, strength and rigidity of the lacrosse stick is maintained. Further variations of the embodiments described above may also be provided.

[0043] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.

[0044] The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.