Patent ID: 7727093
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A lacrosse stick frame element comprising: a scoop portion having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion including an upper surface and said lower portion including a lower surface; a pair of opposing sidewall portions coupled to said scoop portion, each of said pair of sidewall portions having an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion including an upper surface and said lower portion including a lower surface; a ball stop portion coupled to each of said pair of opposing sidewall portions and having an upper portion and a lower portion and a concave inner surface, said ball stop portion including a tail drop, said upper portion including an upper surface and said lower portion including a lower surface, said concave inner surface forming a curved concave surface between said opposing sidewall portions, said concave inner surface also curved outwardly toward the scoop between the ball stop lower surface and the ball stop upper surface for increased retention of a lacrosse ball in said ball stop portion; a throat region coupled to said ball stop portion and extending rearwardly away from said scoop portion, said throat region including an upper surface that is tangential to a first horizontal reference plane, said throat region including a lower surface that is tangential to a second horizontal reference plane, said first horizontal reference plane parallel to said second horizontal reference plane; a vertical reference plane extending perpendicular to said first horizontal reference plane and said second horizontal reference plane; and a net joined with the pair of opposing sidewall portions and the ball stop portion; wherein said lower surface of said lower portion of said ball stop portion corresponding to said tail drop is lowered with respect to said first horizontal reference plane and said second horizontal reference plane and wherein said tail drop is lowered with respect to said lower surface of each of said pair of sidewall portions, wherein said tail drop includes a plurality of tail drop net securing structures, wherein said pair of opposing sidewalls include a plurality of sidewall net securing structures, wherein all of the tail drop net securing structures are lower than all of the plurality of sidewall securing structures, wherein at least one of the plurality of tail drop net securing structures is recessed rearwardly with respect to the upper surface of the ball stop so that the at least one of the plurality of tail drop net securing structures is displaced rearwardly relative to the vertical surface plane while at least a portion of the upper surface is disposed in the vertical reference plane, wherein the net is joined with the plurality of tail drop net securing structures and with the plurality of sidewall net securing structures in a configuration so that a lacrosse ball disposed in the net is prevented from contacting and abrading a net portion immediately adjacent the plurality of tail drop net securing structures, and so that the lacrosse ball engages the net and at least a portion of the concave inner surface of the ball stop when the ball is located adjacent the ball stop, and wherein the plurality of tail drop net securing structures are lowered sufficiently below the plurality of sidewall net securing structures so that the net portion immediately adjacent the plurality of tail drop net securing structures is void of an abrupt curve, whereby the lacrosse ball adjacent the ball stop is further prevented from abrading the net adjacent the plurality of tail drop structures.