Abstract:
Embodiments of a stringing arrangement that renders a pocket that combines features of both traditional-style and mesh-style. These embodiments offer a hybrid design that improves the “feel” and “hold” of a ball over current mesh-style pockets with a smoother release of the ball over traditional-style pockets. In one embodiment, the combination utilizes mesh material at the top of the pocket and traditional-style stringing at the bottom of the pocket. Unlike conventional technology, however, the embodiments combine the mesh-style and the traditional-style without disrupting the transition of the ball from the pocket.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/808,999, filed on Apr. 5, 2013 and entitled “LACROSSE POCKET.” The content of this application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to lacrosse equipment and related technology, with particular discussion about a lacrosse head and pocket that integrates two types of stringing material. 
         [0003]    Players in the game of lacrosse use a stick with a shaft and an end, or head, that is configured with a pocket to catch, transport, and deliver a ball. Prior to about 1970, lacrosse sticks were hickory wooden box and field sticks. This construction typically integrates the head with the shaft. These sticks also include leather thongs and braided nylon or polyester laces that were woven onto the head to form the pocket. Over time, and in connection with the rise in popularity of the game, manufacture of lacrosse sticks migrated to molded plastic heads and metal shafts of varying alloys. For the pocket, however, these conventional sticks often incorporate the woven, traditional-style of leather thongs and nylon laces or, alternatively, a single piece of machine-woven nylon mesh. 
         [0004]    Pocket construction is of particular importance because the pocket is integral to the fundamental skills of the game. The leaders and lacing of traditional-style pockets, for example, can provide exceptional feel and hold of the ball. These features are important for players to catch and cradle the ball, as well as to retain the ball while the player dodges to evade their opponents. On the other hand, although mesh material provides much less support (than leather leaders and lacing), the mesh-style pockets often have a much smoother release. Player often migrate to mesh-style pockets to improve accuracy for throwing and shooting the ball. 
         [0005]    Stringing arrangements exist that deviate from pockets of exclusively the traditional-style and mesh-style. In some cases, the arrangement may combine mesh in between the leather thongs of the traditional-style pocket. Other pockets may combine mesh materials that have different properties (e.g., stiffness). In other examples, the arrangement incorporates peripheral components, e.g., plastic plates and/or inserts, that take the place of part of the pocket in the lacrosse head. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    This disclosure describes embodiments of a stringing arrangement that renders a pocket that combines features of both traditional-style and mesh-style pockets. These embodiments offer a hybrid design that improves the “feel” and “hold” of a ball over current mesh-style pockets with a smoother release of the ball over traditional-style pockets. In one embodiment, the combination utilizes mesh material at the top of the pocket and traditional-style stringing at the bottom of the pocket. Unlike conventional technology, however, the embodiments proposed below introduce unique features to combine these two technologies without disrupting the transition of the ball from the pocket. 
         [0007]    This disclosure describes, in one embodiment, a lacrosse head that comprises a body comprising a peripheral structure circumscribing an opening having an upper portion and a lower portion. The peripheral structure has a base, two sides extending from the base and disposed on either side of a center line of the peripheral structure, and a scoop coupled with the sides and spaced apart from the base. The lacrosse head can also comprise a stringing arrangement disposed in the opening. The stringing arrangement can comprise a mesh member that populates substantially all of the opening in the upper portion, one or more string members forming an interwoven pattern that populates substantially all of the opening in the lower portion, and an interface region in which the mesh member couples with the interwoven pattern. 
         [0008]    This disclosure also describes, in one embodiment, a lacrosse head that comprises a body with a peripheral wall circumscribing an opening having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can comprise a piece of mesh material that populates substantially all of the opening. The second portion can comprise a leader member and a string member configured in an interwoven pattern. The first portion and the second portion terminate at an interface region in which the piece of mesh material couples with the interwoven pattern. 
         [0009]    This disclosure further describes, in one embodiment, a stringing arrangement that is configured for use in a lacrosse head. The stringing arrangement comprises a piece of mesh material, a plurality of leader members, and a string member that forms an interwoven pattern that includes the plurality of leader members. The interwoven pattern can couple at a bottom part of the piece of mesh material. 
         [0010]    This brief description of the invention is intended only to provide a brief overview of subject matter disclosed herein according to one or more illustrative embodiments, and does not serve as a guide to define or limit the scope of the invention. This brief description is provided to introduce an illustrative selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This brief description is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the invention, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    So that the manner in which the features of the invention can be understood, a detailed description of the invention may be had by reference to certain embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only certain embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the scope of the invention encompasses other equally effective embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis generally being placed upon illustrating the features of certain embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views. Thus, for further understanding of the invention, reference can be made to the following detailed description, read in connection with the drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a stringing arrangement for use on a lacrosse head; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts the stringing arrangement of  FIG. 1  with a mesh member disposed therein; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts the stringing arrangement of  FIG. 1  with a traditional member disposed therein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts the stringing arrangement of  FIG. 1  with a mesh member and a traditional member disposed therein; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts an elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a stringing arrangement that includes a transition feature that is useful to tension the mesh member; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts a detail view of the stringing arrangement of  FIG. 5  that shows one configuration for the transition feature. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    The discussion below contemplates various stringing arrangements for a lacrosse head that incorporate both mesh material found in mesh-style pockets and nylon lacing and leathers found in traditional-style pockets. This combination offers the benefits of each pocket style, namely the feel and hold of the traditional-style pocket and the smooth release commonly associated with the mesh-style pocket. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  presents a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a stringing arrangement  100  that utilizes this hybrid design. The arrangement  100  couples with a lacrosse head  102  that has a body having a peripheral wall  104  that circumscribes an opening  106  with a first region  108  (also “upper region  108 ”) and a second region  110  (also “lower region  110 ”). The peripheral wall  104  has a base  112 , a scoop  114 , and a pair of sidewalls (e.g., a first sidewall  116  and a second sidewall  118 ), one each disposed on either side of a longitudinal axis  120  that bisects the body. The stringing arrangement  100  has one or more member components (e.g., a first member  122  and a second member  124 ) that populate the regions  108 ,  110  of the opening  106 . The stringing arrangement  100  also has an interface  126  at which the members  120 ,  122  couple with one another. 
         [0020]    As noted herein, the stringing arrangement  100  combines different stringing implements together into the hybrid design to form a pocket in the lacrosse head  102 . These stringing implements may include, for example, mesh material and stringing material (also, “traditional stringing”). The hybrid design leverages favorable properties of these stringing implements to provide the pocket with characteristics that are robust. Use of the traditional stringing, for example, can improve feel and hold of the ball in the lower region  110 , where the ball is likely to reside when the end user traverses the playing field. The mesh material in the upper region  108 , on the other hand, improves release of the ball from the pocket that is favorable for passing and shooting. 
         [0021]    Configurations of the stringing arrangement  100  separates the pocket into regions having areas that are each less than the total area of the opening  106 . These configurations, for example, locate the first member  122  over a first area and the second member  124  over a second area. In one construction, the first area is less than the second area, wherein the first area can cover about 40% or less of the total area of the opening  106 . The second area may cover the remaining 60%. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates the stringing arrangement  100  in a configuration to examine details for an example of the first member  122 . As shown in this example, the first member  122  includes a mesh member  128  that can comprise a piece  130  of mesh material. The piece  130  has a plurality of apertures  132  that provide a lattice-style appearance consistent with, in one example, openings/apertures found in conventional mesh material. The piece  130  also has a top  134  and a bottom  136  that extends into the interface  126 . In one embodiment, the piece  130  of mesh material is configured to substantially cover all of the upper region  108  of the opening  106 . This configuration positions apertures  132  in proximate relation to the scoop  114  and the sides  116 ,  118  of peripheral wall  104 . In one configuration, the piece  130  of mesh material extends about three (3) inches from the scoop  114  towards the base  112 . 
         [0023]    Examples of the stringing arrangement  100  can also include one or more additional stringing implements that are interwoven through the apertures  132 . These stringing elements can secure the piece  130  to the scoop  114  and sidewalls  116 ,  118  of the lacrosse head  102 . In other configurations, the stringing implements can traverse across the opening  106 . These transverse implements (also “shooting strings”) are useful to promote accurate and repeatable release of ball from the pocket, e.g., for passing and shooting. Notably, the lattice-style structure of the mesh material arranges the apertures  132  to provide uniform structure that supports and positions the shooting strings in the opening  106 . This structure provides reliable and consistent placement of the shooting strings that is of particular advantage in light of contemporary rule changes that limit the number and restrict the arrangement of the shooting strings in the pocket. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the bottom  136  of the piece  130  can extend into the interface  126 . This configuration locates apertures  132  in position to couple with the second stringing member  124  ( FIG. 1 ). The connection between the members  122 ,  124  may take advantage of the stringing implements that make up the second stringing member  124  ( FIG. 1 ). These stringing implements may weave into the piece  130  of mesh material, thereby securing the mesh material in position to form the pocket of the lacrosse head. In other implementations, the stringing arrangement may include a peripheral implement, e.g., a separate string, that secures the first member  122  to the second member  124 . This separate string may weave into and/or traverse across the opening  106  to couple the first member  122  with the second member  124 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates the stringing arrangement  100  in a configuration that focuses on an example of the second member  124 . Here, the second member  124  includes a traditional member  138  that can comprise one or more leader members (e.g., a first leader member  140 , a second leader member  142 , a third leader member  144 , and a fourth leader member  146 ) and one or more string members (e.g., a first string member  148 ). The leader members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146  can have a leader body  150  with a first end  152  and second end  154  that couple with, respectively, the base  112  and scoop  114  of the head  102 . This disclosure does contemplate other designs, however, in which the leader body  150  does not extend from the base  112  to the scoop  114 . For example, the second end  154  may reside proximate the interface  126 , which permits the leader member to secure to the piece  130  of mesh material (for example, directly and/or via a separate stringing implement contemplated herein). In one configuration, the traditional member  138  assumes an interwoven pattern in which the first string member  148  is woven about the leader members  140 ,  142 ,  144 ,  146 . This interwoven pattern can cover substantially all of the lower region  110  of opening  106 . In one example, the interwoven pattern may couple with the peripheral wall  104 , either directly or by coupling with a sidewall string that is disposed in openings in the peripheral wall  104 . 
         [0026]    As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the stringing arrangement  100  can integrate the mesh member  128  and the traditional member  138  to form a pocket on the lacrosse head  102 . The pocket includes a transition  156  that defines the areas of the first member  122  and the second member  124  that couple with one another. The transition  156  may include one or more areas that are disposed transversely across the opening  106 . The transition  156  can incorporate all or part of the interface  126  where the mesh member  128  and the traditional member  138  couple together. 
         [0027]    The embodiments here leverage construction of the stringing arrangement  100  to minimize interference as the ball moves across the transition  156 , e.g., from the lower region  110  to the upper region  108 . The construction may, for example, result in tension on the piece  130  of mesh material in a direction  158  that is directed generally toward the base  112 . This tension may arise from the traditional member  138 . For example, in one construction, the string members from the traditional member  138  are woven into the apertures  132  at the bottom  136  of the mesh member  128  in a manner that applies a force onto the mesh member  128 . This force can maintain tension on the mesh member  128 , drawing the mesh member  128  generally downwardly toward the base  112  to minimize any interference that might otherwise prevail because of the combination of two different styles of stringing materials. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 5 and 6  depict an exemplary embodiment of a stringing arrangement  200  to further elaborate on the integration of the mesh member and the traditional member.  FIG. 5  provides an elevation view of the lacrosse head  202 . The stringing arrangement  200  includes one or more shooting strings  260  and a transition feature  262  at and/or proximate the interface  226 . Broadly, the transition feature  262  is useful to apply and/or maintain tension on the mesh member  228 , as contemplated herein. Examples of the transition feature  260  can incorporate part of the traditional member  238  and/or, in certain configurations, may comprise a separate component that attaches and/or secures and/or couples with the overall pocket design. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  offers a detail view of the interface  226  to show one particular configuration for the transition feature  260 . This view displays the mesh material as hatched and the traditional member as shaded for clarity. In this example, the first string member  248  forms the transition feature  260  in the form of a cross pattern  264  that weaves into one or more of the apertures  232  of the piece  230  of mesh material. The cross pattern  264  in its present form is disposed proximate the longitudinal axis  220 ; however, this disclosure contemplates other configurations for the cross pattern  264  that may repeat across the opening in the transition region  226  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0030]    In view of the foregoing, the embodiments proposed herein combine the mesh-style pocket and the traditional style pocket into a hybrid pocket design. Examples of this pocket can come pre-installed on the lacrosse head as part of, for example, stock or custom stringing services. In other implementations, the parts for the stringing arrangement may be packaged as a kit (also “kit of parts”) in which the parts (e.g., the piece of mesh material, the stringing members, the leathers, etc.) are combined in varying levels of integration. For example, the kit may be configured with the mesh member and the traditional member in pre-strung form, requiring only that the end user secure the peripheral edges of the peripheral wall of the lacrosse head. This configuration may integrate certain fastening elements (e.g., hook-and-loop fastener, clips, buttons, snaps, etc.) on one or more parts of the stringing arrangement (e.g., the leader members). These fastening elements can allow for releasable engagement of the pre-strung form to the lacrosse head. 
         [0031]    As used herein, an element or function recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or functions, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” of the claimed invention should not be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. 
         [0032]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.