Cover for the shaft of athletic equipment

Abstract

A sheath for an article of athletic equipment having a shaft, which includes a cap and a rolled sheath. The cap is mounted on the free end of the athletic equipment and the sheath is unrolled onto the shaft to the desired length or the entire length of the shaft. The cap and sheath are preferably made from injection molded rubber, neoprene of other polymers that permit production in various thickness, colors and lengths. The elasticity of the material preferably gives it memory and durability. The diameter of the sheath is preferably smaller than the diameter of the shaft of the athletic equipment so that it stretches to a tight fit. After the sheath is unrolled to the desired length, excess material may be cut off, if desired.

Claims

1. A removable cover for a lacrosse stick having a shaft with a first end having a netted head attached thereto and a second free end, opposite therefrom, comprising: a cap configured and dimensioned for mounting on the second free end of the shaft of the lacrosse stick, wherein said cap is cup-shaped and comprises a planar bottom wall with an outer peripheral edge and a generally tubular upstanding side wall having a first end and a second end, said first end of said side wall being attached to said outer peripheral edge of said bottom wall; and a flexible, resilient membrane-like tubular sheath which is configured and dimensioned to be rolled over itself to form a rolled configuration and having two opposite ends, one of which is coupled to said second end of said side wall of said cap and the other of which defines a free end, wherein said tubular sheath is dimensioned and configured so that it can be unrolled longitudinally onto and along the shaft of the lacrosse stick with said cap abutting and mounted on the second free end of the shaft of the lacrosse stick and said tubular sheath being dimensioned and configured to afford a tight friction fit over the shaft of the lacrosse stick when unrolled and which can be rolled longitudinally in the opposite direction along the shaft of the lacrosse stick towards the second free end of the lacrosse stick and said cap, to permit removal of said cover from the lacrosse stick and wherein said bottom wall and said side wall of said cap have a thickness which is greater than the thickness of said tubular sheath.

2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein: said sheath has a pebbled texture on its outer surface.

3. A cover according to claim 1, wherein: said sheath is made from a flexible elastic polymer.

4. A cover according to claim 1, wherein: said sheath is cylindrical.

5. A removable cover for athletic equipment having a shaft with a free end, comprising: a cap configured and dimensioned for mounting on the free end of the shaft of the athletic equipment, wherein said cap is cup-shaped and comprises a planar bottom wall with an outer peripheral edge and a generally tubular upstanding side wall having a first end and a second end, said first end of said side wall being attached to said outer peripheral edge of said bottom wall; and a flexible, resilient membrane-like tubular sheath which is configured and dimensioned to be rolled over itself to form a rolled configuration and having two opposite ends, one of which is coupled to said second end of said side wall of said cap and the other of which defines a free end, wherein said tubular sheath is dimensioned and configured so that it can be unrolled longitudinally onto and along the shaft of the athletic equipment with said cap abutting and mounted on the free end of the shaft of the athletic equipment and said tubular sheath being dimensioned and configured to afford a tight friction fit over the shaft of the athletic equipment when unrolled and which can be rolled longitudinally in the opposite direction along the shaft of the athletic equipment towards the free end of the athletic equipment and said cap, to permit removal of said cover from the athletic equipment and wherein said bottom wall and said side wall of said cap have a thickness which is greater than the thickness of said tubular sheath.

6. A cover for athletic equipment having a shaft according to claim 5, wherein: said sheath has a pebbled texture on its outer surface.

7. A cover for athletic equipment having a shaft according to claim 5, wherein: said sheath is made from a flexible elastic polymer.

8. A cover for athletic equipment having a shaft according to claim 5, wherein: said sheath cylindrical.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention partially unrolled;

(2) FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the open end of the sheath;

(3) FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the end cap with the octagonal end of the lacrosse stick in phantom line;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick with the first embodiment of the invention partially installed;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick with the first embodiment of the invention more fully installed;

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick with the first embodiment of the invention completely installed;

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick with a second embodiment of the invention completely installed;

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick with a third embodiment of the invention completely installed;

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick with a fourth embodiment of the invention completely installed; and

(10) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a field hockey stick with a fifth embodiment of the invention completely installed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, a cover 10 according to the present invention includes a generally cup-shaped, end cap 12 and a tubular, preferably cylindrical sheath 14 coupled to the open end of the end cap which sheath is normally in a wrapped, furled or rolled state. As shown in FIG. 4, the cap 12 is mounted on the free end or butt of a lacrosse stick 1 in a friction-fit manner and the relatively-thin, resilient, membrane-like sheath 14 is unrolled onto the shaft of stick to a desired length as shown in FIG. 5 or the entire length of the shaft as shown in FIG. 6 to thereby, in effect, provide the shaft with a resilient skin. The cap 12 and sheath 14 are preferably integrally formed in one piece and made from injection molded rubber, synthetic rubber, neoprene or other synthetic plastic polymers that permit production in various thickness, colors and lengths. The elasticity of the material preferably gives it memory and durability. The sheath 14 and cap 12 are preferably cylindrical and are dimensioned to enable a friction fit on the shaft of the lacrosse stick which, as shown in phantom view in FIG. 3, is typically octagonal. The thickness of the cap 12 may be several times thicker than the thickness of the sheath 14. The diameter of the sheath 14 is preferably smaller than the diameter of the lacrosse stick 1 so that it stretches to a tight fit. After the sheath 14 is unrolled to the desired length, excess material may be cut off, if desired.

(12) According to the presently preferred embodiment, the sheath 14 is provided with a pebbled texture 16 on its outer surface. The pebbled texture enhances grip and channels away moisture. This also enhances player performance in wet weather conditions. The material is preferably also temperature neutral so that it can enhance performance in cold weather conditions. The invention eliminates the need for tape and makes old lacrosse sticks look new again. Unlike tape, the invention does not leave behind any damaging residual adhesive. It also improves the safety of the stick as it provides a full sheath to protect the player from splintering wood shafts caused by checking during the game. The sheath can be quickly and easily removed from a lacrosse stick for use on another stick or it can be stored, e.g., in a pouch (not shown) until used again.

(13) According to alternate embodiments of the invention, the sheath is color coordinated to team colors. The sheaths may also be imprinted with, e.g., team names, slogans, inspirational sayings or advertising. For example, FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment 110 which is imprinted with the name of a school and is colored to match the school colors. FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment 210 which is colored to match a different school's colors and is imprinted with a different school's name. FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment 310 which is imprinted with advertising.

(14) Thus, as can be appreciated, various modifications may be made as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, although the end caps are typically round or cylindrical, they could be configured to have a cross-section similar to that of the shaft which predominantly is octagonal although other shapes, such as round or oval, are also sometimes used. In addition, although the sheath of the cover typically has a thickness of about 1/16 to inches, the same can be varied to suit the particular use or application and/or the official sport regulations governing such equipment. Furthermore, the cover may also possibly be modified for use in other sports for athletic equipment having a handle or shaft, such as tennis or field hockey. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as claimed.