PUCK CONTROL AID

GARNITURE SUR LAME DE BATON DE HOCKEY POUR AMELIORER LE CONTROLE DE LA RONDELLE

English Abstract

ABSTRACT
In the sport of hockey, stickhandling and puck control are
generally aided by the application of tape around the blade of the
stick. In this invention, an adhesive-backed article, molded from
rubber latex, is applied to both sides of the stickblade. This
article features several short, stubby prongs that perform as
sensory antennae. These rubber prongs protrude at right angles from
the surface and are arranged in a manner determined suitably bal-
anced to improve every facet of the game equally. Once applied, both
articles, forehand and backhand, are symettrical.

Claims

"The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privelege is claimed are
defined as follows:"
1. A pair of adhesive backed, molded flexible articles,
which, when applied to the face of a hockey stick-
blade, have a configuration of tiny prongs protruding
from these articles to provide a cushioning effect
to high impact collisions between a hockey stick
and hockey puck.
2. A pair of adhesive backed, molded flexible articles,
which, when applied to the face of a hockey stick-
blade, have a configuration of tiny prongs protruding
from these articles to provide resistance to the
hockey puck as it moves across the face of a hockey
stickblade.
3. A pair of adhesive backed molded flexible articles,
which, when applied to the face of a hockey stick-
blade, have a configuration of tiny prongs protruding
from these articles to provide to the player a
sensation of touch between the hockey puck and the
hockey stickblade.
4. A pair of adhesive backed molded flexible articles,
which, when applied to the face of a hockey stick-
blade, provide to the player through the stress
placed upon a configuration of tiny prongs, an extra
split-second in which to adjust and execute the
play he is under pressure to complete.

Description

1~789B3
This invention relates to t`-e acces60ries anl~or treatments
hockey players utilize to gain better puck control.
It if3 a common ~ractice to ta~e the blade of a hc)c'~ey stick in
order to facilitate control over the fractious action of the puck in
play. Other treat~ents are employed as ~:ell, such as burning and shav-
ing. These are only a partial solution to the problem. Applying tape
creates friction as the stickblade slides across the ice, causing
it to 810w. It also dulls the sense of touch the player must have
for the puck in order to control it properly. Shaving and burning
create inherent weakne,3ses in the design of the stick itself, making
it apt to break ea~ily.
This molded article enables a hockey player to obtain a reater
senf3e of touch for the puck. Each antenna, along with the nature of
the rubber itself, serves to soften the force of i~pact that occurs
when recelving ~ ~?a6s. 'T'his allows playerf3 to complete har(~f~r passes.
Antennaf are allgned in distinct relation to one another, providing
a constant grld of reference which the p'Layer ref'er6 to as he proceeds
down the ice. 'rhis makes it easier to stickhandle. Durinf; the shot,
becausf3 of the thii~nes& and texture of the article an(l ei~icif3nt
(lHsign of tne ~rltenJI~ formation, lines of r~,`erf~ (! form tracing the
path of the puc~ acros~ t~fe race o r thf- st;ick'~,"la()e. This ea~f?s the ta~k
of cf)ntrf)~ ng the ,~;iîr~t; without crec-~tirlg unflufj fr:icti()rl Ihc~, would
le3sf?rl the pOWf;~ f`f,lfJ~.~(,(J c~t tll~ of tll-- 5llf,(l:irlg rf!ol;-,r,. E~3(,~u3f
t~le botlf~ off ~ ( f~ti,~'}'. if; nOi; ai'i~ the stich sli(les a'lo~lg t;ille
~3Uff~-- f),f t;i!~, :i,C~ ."~, lf! i ;~ f~;fli~f,, ~ J~ J~ ! to
stren,~then f~ prOt,flCt l,]1f-! ,~31,:i.cl~-,1 af;r~ ~ allowin,r t~lf? pl ~ r~ to lak~J
flc~f(l~ f)l-, w,lilf-? 1-!ll~rl;J!i?~i the exl?ecte(~ 1~ r-.~ o f 1; !~ cl i 1 f;f 1 f.
F~ ~Ur`f? Ollf? i i. ',U,',tr'"~ e. .li1`t,1, i- vie~N of the article for left
forehand/rigrht bac~hand shot.
h~igure two illu3tate~ a d3irec-t Vi,f?!~ O f t'!lf-l a!'liCl' for ri~ht
forehand/left backl~t.!~` shots.
(1
q~

117~983
This article comprisea a. piece of rrloulded rubber l~l~x 1 in-
corporating a number of tiny prongs 2 1/32nd inch in (3ianeter, app-
roxiamately- 2 cm. in length. The prnngs are aligne~3 in a con~lgur~tir)n
design0d to provide m~xi~1urq assistenc to every aspect of th~ ga1n~
~passinO, shooting~ stJckliaI-.clli~g) without deterring one feature of
the skills required for the sake of another.
The use of-rubber latex 2/lOOth`s of an inch thick gives a good
surface texture when the object is to supply a tractional surface for
the puck to move over. Because of it`s relative thinness, only a neg-
ligible effect is had upon the power of any shot taken.
When the two piece~ (forehand/backhand) are applied to the hockey
stickblade, the configuration is symettrical. Because the force of
attraction between the molecules in the rubber prong are under stress,
each prong act~ as a tiny sensor when brushed again~t the edge of the
puck. As the player moves the puck from forehand to backhand, the con-
figuration acts a~ a grid of reference polnts, registering the positlon
of the puck on the stickblade~ enabling the player to move about more
freely without vi6ual contact of the puck on the stick.
Each prong 2 1~ sufficiently long enough to serve a~ a sensor,
yet still short enough to allow power to be transmitted throughout the
shot. The configuration is designed i~ such a way as to leave the
stickblade centre clear cf prongs. This 'scooping effect' i5 ~ffective
at controlling the puck throughr)ut the motion of a wrist ~;hot without
causirlg exceas ~1r~lg.
The thin covering of rubber adds greatly to the 6tick`s inherent
flexibility under the stress of a force of impact, encouraging a
player to take harder shots without fear of breaking a stick.
The backhand motion employed during shooting or p~ssing is aided
in the same motion described of the forehand.
(2)