Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02634572 2008-06-10
A VENTED SHAFT FOR A LACROSSE STICK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
"I,he present invention generally relates to lacrosse sticks. The present
invention more particularly relates to the elongate sliafts that are
incorporated within
such lacrosse sticks and manually wielded by participants in the sport of
lacrosse.
13ACKOROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to convention, a lacrosse stick basically includes both an elongate
handle and a liead. 'The elongate handle, of:ten simply called the "shaft,"
has both a
designated top end and a designated bottom end. The head, in turn, is mounted
on the
designated top end of the elongate handle and includes both a closed-loop
franie and a
net suspended substantially within the confines of the frame. Together, the
closed-
loop frarne and the net fon-n an open pocket suited for receiving, holding,
and
releasing a lacrosse ball.
During play in a lacrosse game or match, a participant generally wields a
lacrosse stick- by gripping the lower portion of the elongate handle with one
or both
hands. In doing so, a participant playing in, for exarnple, an "attack" or
"attaclunan"
position is able to scoop up, catch, carry, pass, and make shots on goal with
a ball by
using the head mounted on the top end of the elongate handle. An opposing
participant playing in, for exainple, a "defense" or "defenseman" position
commonly
engages and closely guards an attackman who has the ball. In doing so, the
defenseman vigorously attempts to both intercept the ball and prevent the
attackman
froni acivancing; the ball upficld and scoring a goal. During such engagement,
sharp
direct blows and also indirect glancing blows arc frequently inflicted at
various points
along the leneths of both participants' lacrosse stick handles as the
defenseman, for
example, stick checks the attackman.
CA 02634572 2008-06-10
To better enable lacrosse players to be deft in their stick-wielding and ball-
lhandling skills, manufacturers of lacrosse sticks conventionally fabricate
the elongate
handle or shaft of each lacrosse stick from lightweight materials. To even
further
reduce the weight of lacrosse sticks, manufacturers also typically fabricate
each
lacrosse stick so that the shaft is generally trollow. In fabricating the
shafts of lacrosse
sticks in this manner, however, manufacturers niust be careful not to unduly
reduce
the overall strength and robustness of the shafts. In this way, the sticks are
not
prematurely bent or broken during lacrosse games wherein sharp direct blows
and/or
indirect glancittg blows are frequently inflicted along the lengths ol'
participants'
lacrosse sticks.
Though manufacturers to date have been somewhat successful in iniproving
the wieldability of lacrosse sticks, there is still room for improvemerit. In
particular, it
is desirable to ntake the shafts of lacrosse sticks even ligltter while still
largely
rriaintaining the overall stretagth and robustness of the sticks. At the same
time, it is
also desirable to manufacture the shafls so that their overall fortn and
surface contours
f3cilitate easy gripping and thereby minimize slippage in a player's hands.
In view of the above, there is a present need in the art for an improved
lacrosse
stick shaft that is lightweight, robust, and easy to grip.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a vented shail for a lacrosse stick. In one
embodiment, the shaft includes an elongate tube having a wall, an external
surface, an
internal surFace, and an inner hollow defined therein. The wall of the
elongate tube
has a plurality of holes defined therethrough for permitting fluid
communication
between the inner hollow and the outside of the tube.
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In addition, the present invention also provides a lacrosse stick. In one
embodiment, the lacrosse stick includes an elongate tubc, a closed-loop framc,
and a
net. The elongate tube has a wall, an external surface, an intemal surface,
and an
inner hollow defined therein. The closed-loop frame is retained on a
designatcd top
end of the elongate tube, and the net is suspended in the frame. The wall of
the
elongate tube has a plurality of holes defined therethrough for pemiitting
fluid
communication between the inner hollow and the outside of the tube.
Furthermore, it is believed that various alternative enibodiments of'the
present
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art wlien the detailed
clescription of the best niode contemplated for practicing the invention, as
set fortli
hereinbelow, is reviewed in conjunction with the appended claims and the
accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRANNTNGS
The present invention is described hereinl.)elow, by way of example, with
rcf'erence to the following drawing figures.
Figure 1 illustrates a frontal view of a lacrosse stick. In this view, the
lacrosse
stick is shown to include a vented shaft, a closed-loop frame mounted on the
top end
of the shaft, and a net suspended within the frame;
Figure 2 illustrates a frontal view of the shaft depicted in Figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates a side view of'the shaft depicted in Figure 2;
Figure 4 illustrates an offset side view of one section of the shaft depicted
in
Figure 3. In this view, niultiple holes defined through the wall of the shaft
are
highlif;hted:
Figure 5 illustrates a sectional view of one of the lioles defined through the
wall of the shaft depicted in Figure 4; and
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Figure 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the shaft depicted in Figure 3.
LIST OF PARTS AND FEATURES
To facilitate an understanding of the present invention, a list of parts and
features highlighted with nurneric designations in Figures 1 through 6 is set
forth
hereiribelow,
lacrosse stick
12 shaft (of lacrosse stick)
14 head (of lacrosse stick)
16 closed-loop frame (of head)
18 net (of head)
end cap
22 elongate tube (of sha#t)
24 wall (of tube)
26 external surface (of ttibe)
28 internal surface (of tube)
inner hollow (of tube)
32 hole(s) (in wall)
34 outside (oftubs;)
36 designated top end (of tube)
38 designated bottom end (of tube)
mounting bore (in frame)
42 mounting bore (in tubi)
44 cross section (of tube)
46 periphery (of cross section)
48 peripheral side(s) (of cross section)
peripheral edge(s) (of cross section)
52 elongate lateral surface(s) (of tube)
54 recess(es) (in external surface)
56 botto7n(s) (of recess(es))
58 periphery (of tube)
central axis (of tube)
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DETAILED nFSCRIPT'ION OF THE INVENTION
Figure I illustrates a frontal view of a lacrosse stick 10. As shown in this
view, the lacrosse stick 10 includes a shaft 12, a head 14, and a end cap or
end cap
20. The shaft 12 comprises an elongate tube 22 that has a designated top end
36 and a
designated bottom end 38. The designated top end 36 of the tube 22 is
structurally
adapted for retaining the head 14, and the designated bottoin end 38 is
structurally
adapted for ret.aining the end cap 20. It will be understood that the top and
the bottom
cnd preferably have the same configuration. 1'he head 14 itself includes both
a
closed-loop frame 16 and a net 18. 'fhe frame 16 is mounted and fastened on
the top
end 36 of the tube 22 via bores 40 and 42, which are respectively defined in
the franie
16 and the tube 22. The net 18 is suspended substantially within the confines
of the
frame 16. The end cap 20 itself is niade of a resilient material, such as
rubber or
plastic. Coinposed of such, the end cap 20 is tightly fitted over the bottom
end 38 of
the elongate tube 22 and thereby retained on the tube 22.
Figures 2 through 6 illustrate various views of the shaft 12 depicted in
Figure
l. As shown in these views, the elongate tube 22 of the shaft 12 is
substantially
hollc~Nv and open-ended and thus has a wall 24, an external surface 26, an
internal
surface 28, and an inner hollow 30 defined therein. The wall 24 of the tube 22
has a
plurality of holes 32 (i.e. vents) defined therethrough for permitting the
communication of fluid (for exainple, air, water, or moisture) between the
inner
hollow 30 and the outside 34 of the tube 22.
In the embodiinent shown in Figures 2 through 6, the elongate tube 22 has a
cross section 44 with a periphery 46 that is substantially octagonal.
Configured as
such, the cross section 44 of the tube 22 thus llas eight peripheral sides 48
and a
matching ntinaber of eight peripheral edges 50. In other possible embodiments,
however, such an elongate tube niay alternatively liave a cross section with a
periphery that is shaped as another type of polygon instead of an octagon. In
such
ot.her embodinients, the polygonal cross section may have an alternative
number of
peripheral sides and a matching number of peripheral edges with the
alternative
numbc:r being at least three. In still other possible embodiments, an elongate
tube
CA 02634572 2008-06-10
nnay alternatively have a cross section with a periphery that is circular,
oval, or
elliptical. In general, however, an elongate tube having a cross section with
a
periphery that is at least partially polygonal is somewhat preferred, for such
provides
cnultiple lateral surfaces and edges along the lengtli of the tube that
facilitatc easy
gripping and thereby minimize slippage in a player's hands.
As best shown in Figure 6, the peripheral sides 48 of the cross section 44 of
the elongate tube 22 an; somewhat concave. Configured as such, the tube's
cross
sGction 44 thereby facilitates easy gripping with a player's ftngcrs while
also
minimizing slippage in a player's hands. As also shown in Figure 6, the
peripheral
edges 50 of the tube's cross section 44 are somcwhat rounded. Configured as
such,
the tube's cross section 44 also thereby reduces the possibility of a player's
hands
becoming blistered while gripping the periphery 58 of the tube 22 during play.
In this
way, therefore, the periphery 46 of the tube's cross section 44 is generally
rendered as
being substantially curvilinear.
As further shown in Figures 2 througli 6, the wall 24 of the elongate tube 22,
in addition to having holes 32, also has a plurality of recesses 54 defined in
the
e,xternal surface 26. In general, having such holes 32 and recesses 54 defined
in the
wall 24 of the tube 22 serves to reduce the overall weight of the tubt; 22. In
addition
therctoi, such holes 32 and recesses 54 also faeilitate easy gripping of the
tube's
periphery 58 with a player's fingers. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2
through
6, the holes 32 are respectively defined through the wall 24 of the tube 22 at
the
bottoms 56 of the recesses 54. In other possible embodiments, however, the
wall of
such ari clongate tube may instead have only holes or only recesses defined
therein.
In still other possible embodiments, the wall of a tube may have both holes
and
recesses defined therein that may or may not coincide with each other in terms
of
location in the tube's wall and/or on the tube's outer periphery. In general,
holes
andlor recesses niay be selectively defined in the wall of an elongate tube
according to
desired desigTi goals andfor intended use of a given lacrosse stick.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, both the holes 32 and the recesses 54
are generally shaped and oriented so as to be elongated along the central axis
60 (i.e.
length) of the elongate tube 22. Shaped and oricntcd as such, the holes 32 and
the
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recesses 54 help niinimize the total weight of the elongate tube 22 while at
the same
time not unduly reducing the overall strength and robustness of the tube 22.
In
particular, by shaping and orienting the holes 32 and recesses 54 so that they
are
generally elongated along the tube's axis 60 instead of perpendicular thereto,
the
likelihood of the tube 22 being easily bent or broken at a point along its
axis 60 when
struck by another player's stick is thereby ininirnized. In other possible
embodiments,
however, the holes and/or recesses defined in an elongate tube may
altematively be
shaped in other forms, depending on desired design goals and/or intended use
of the
tiube. 5ucli other shapes or fomis may include, for example, circles, ovals,
ellipses,
polygons, or various combinations thereof.
As shown in Figures 2 through 6, the holes 32 and recesses 54 arc both
defined in the wall 24 of the elongate tube 22 so as to generally be spaced
apart in a
substantially even fashion about the peripltery 58 of the tube 22. In this
way, the
unintended creation of any inherent weak spots in the elongate tube's
structure is
largely prevented. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 though 6, the elongate
tubc
22 has a cross section 44 with a polygonal periphery 46 that includes an even
number
of peripheral sides 48. As a result, the external surface 26 of the tube 22
correspondingly includes an even nuniber of elongate lateral surfaces 52. As
best
sliown in Figures 2 through 4, the holes 32 and recesses 54 in this embodiment
are
defined in the wall 24 of the tube 22 so that the holes 32 and recesses 54 are
located
only in every other elongate lateral surface 52 of the tube 22. By locating
the holes 32
and recesses 54 in the lateral surfaces 52 of the tube 22 in this alternating
manner, the
holes 32 and recesses 54 are thereby spaced apart in a substantially even
fashion in
the tube's outer peripliery 58, with hole-riddled lateral surfaces 52
interspaced with
uniform latct=al surfaces 52. In this configuration, the structurally weaker
hole-riddled
lateral surfaces 52 are thereby strongly reinforced and structurally sustained
by the
urtiforni lateral surfaces 52. As a result, the likelihood of the tube 22
being easily bent
or broken at a point along its axis 60 when struck is thereby further
minimized. In
view ol'such, since a tube's elongate lateral surface that is particularly
situated on the
front of a lacrosse stick typically receives the most blows and "punishment"
during a
lacrosse game, it is generally preferable that such an elongate lateral
surface be
substantially unifotm (i.e., without large holes and recesses). For example,
the
lacrosse stick 10 shown in Figure 1 is purposely constructed so that the
elongate
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lateral surface 52 on the front of the stick 10 is substantially uniform in
structure and
is without large holes and recesses.
Moreover, as shown in the embodiment depicted in Figures 2 through 6, the
holes 32 and recesses 54 are delined through the wall 24 of the elongate tube
22 so as
to generally be spaced apart in a substantially even fashion along the tength
of the
tube 22. In this embodiment, no more than two of the holes 32 are defined
ttirough
the wall 24 of the elongate tube 22 at any cross section selected along the
Icngth of
the tube 22. Such a configuration is generally preferable, for it further
helps prevent
the unintended creation of any excessively weak spots in the elongate tube's
structure.
Furthermore, depending on desired design goals and performance requirenients,
it
may even be preferable in other embodinients for no more than one hole to be
defined
through an elongate tube's wall at any cross section selected along the length
of the
tube.
In the embodiment depicted in Figures 2 through 6, the elongate tube 22 is
preferably made of a lightweight material such as, for example, aluminum or an
aiuminum alloy. To fabricate the tube 22, an opcn-c.nded elongate tube with an
inner
hollow and a cross-sectional periphery that is substantially octagonal is
initially
c;reatec) from an aluminum alloy via, in large part, an extrusion process.
After
extrusion, one or more colored paints may optionally be selected and anodized
onto
the extenial surface of the tube for visual aesthetic purposes. Thereaf3er,
the tube may
be clamped and held in one or more various positions upon an immobilizing
fixture so
that hcales and recesses may then be defined into the wall of the tube with a
CNC
milling machine. Once niilling is coinpleted, various colored paints and
graphics niay
be optionally applied to the tube's external surface via one or more
conventional
processes to further enhance visual aesthetics. Once fabricated in this
manner, the
tube 22 is then ready to receive both the head 14 and the end cap 20 to
thereby
complete the lacrosse stick 10.
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Furthermore, though the elongate tube 22 in the above-described embodiment
is preferably made of lightweight aluminum or an aluminum alloy, such a tube
may
instead be fabricated from one or more other materials in alternative
enibodiments.
Sueh other tnaterials may include, for example, titanium, ma~mesiuni,
compositcs,
nano-materials or various other suitable materials. Depending on the
particular
rnaterial(s) utilized to fabricate a particular tube, various alternative
andl'or additional
manufacturing processes may be necessary. For example, in one or more of such
other processes, the holes and recesses defined in the wall of a tube niay
instead be
pre-formed via one or more molding steps.
In summary, the present invention provides an improved lacrosse stick shaft
that is lightweight, robust, and easy to grip.
While the present invention has been described in what is presently considered
to be its rnost practical and preferred embodiment or implementation, it is to
be
understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular
embodiment
disclosed hereinabove. On the contrary, the present mventton is intended to
cover
various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit
and
sl7:ope of the claims appended hereinbelow, which scope is to be accorded the
broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent
structures as
are permitted under the law.
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