Abstract:
A hockey stick handle shaft comprising a substantially rectangular cross-sectional core member. The substantially rectangular cross-sectional core member includes first and second major surfaces, with each major surface positioned opposite one another. The core member further includes a first member adhered to the first major surface and a second member adhered to the opposite second major surface, the first and second members increasing the structural integrity of the core member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]    Applicant claims the priority date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/243,610, filed Oct. 26, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a hockey stick. In particular, the present invention relates to a handle shaft of the hockey stick.  
           [0003]    A hockey stick includes an elongated handle shaft with a blade attached thereto. The elongated handle shaft typically has a rectangular cross-section along a central longitudinal axis, with the blade attached at one end protruding substantially parallel to the wide sides of the rectangular cross-section of the elongated hockey shaft.  
           [0004]    In use, when a player strikes a puck with the blade of the hockey stick, the handle shaft undergoes a variety of different stresses. There are torsional stresses resulting from the torquing of the blade upon contacting the puck that tends to twist the handle shaft. There are also shearing stresses arising from the blade striking the ground or ice. Due to either of these forces or a combination of them both, it is typical for the shaft of the hockey stick to break sometimes prematurely.  
           [0005]    Shaft destruction is problematic in both professional and amateur sports. When a the handle shaft breaks during a game, a player is left without a means for guiding or deflecting the puck either offensively or defensively, resulting in the player becoming less effective. This hinders the ability of the whole team, allowing the opponent a better chance of scoring.  
           [0006]    Additionally, replacement of broken or damaged hockey sticks may become quite expensive. This is especially a factor in an amateur situation, where it is typical for either the player or the player&#39;s parent to purchase equipment for the player to play on a hockey team. These players need a dependable, high strength and durable hockey stick which can be used for an extended period of time.  
           [0007]    High strength durability are not the only factors to be considered, however. There are examples in the prior which teach the manufacturing of shafts from high strength metals, composite materials, all hardwood material or combinations of all three. Shafts manufactured from metals and composite materials may have high strength and durability, however, these shafts do not have the same type of “feel” of a natural wood hockey shaft.  
           [0008]    Shafts made from wood and reinforced with composite materials include the BAUER® 3050 (solid aspen wood core reinforced with fiberglass), and the KOHO® 2285 (aspen wood core reinforced with fiberglass and graphite). While these sticks are primarily made of wood, the construction of the shaft with the addition of the fiberglass and/or graphite diminishes the overall wood character of the shaft. In essence, the undesirable traits of the of the fiberglass and graphite overpower the desirable traits of the wood. What is missing is the resiliency and natural flexibility of an all-wood shaft. Therefore, what is needed is a shaft with improved strength and durability characteristics, while retaining the natural feel of a wooden shaft.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention includes a handle shaft of a hockey stick. The handle shaft includes a wooden core member having a substantially rectangular cross-section along a central longitudinal axis. The rectangular core member includes first and second major sides, and third and fourth minor sides. The first major side includes a fiber-glass veneer adhered thereon, while the second major side includes an aircraft veneer adhered thereon. The third and fourth minor sides include wooden veneer strips adhered thereon. Each veneer member improves the structural integrity of the core member. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hockey stick of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handle shaft of the hockey stick of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the handle shaft of the hockey stick of the present invention taken along line A-A. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    A hockey stick of the present invention is indicated generally at  10  in FIG. 1. The hockey stick  10  is comprised of two basic components. A blade component  12  in which to contact a puck (not shown) or similar object during play, and an elongated handle shaft component  14  for a player to maneuver the blade  12 .  
         [0014]    The handle shaft component  14  of the present invention comprises a core member  16  having a substantially rectangular cross-section along a central longitudinal axis  18 , as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Preferably, the core member  16  is manufactured from a hardwood such as Aspen, Poplar, or an equivalent thereof.  
         [0015]    Referring to FIG. 3, the substantially rectangular core member  16  includes four sides  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  with two major surfaces  20 ,  22  and two minor surfaces  24 ,  26 . The two major surfaces  20 ,  22  are defined by the parallel opposing sides of the rectangular core member having the greater width dimensions and run the entire length of the core member  16 . The two minor surfaces  24 ,  26  are defined by the parallel opposing sides of the core member having smaller width dimensions and also run the entire length of the core member  16 . It should be noted, however, that it is within the scope of this invention to have a square core member  16 . In the alternative embodiment including a square core member  16 , the first major surface is defined as the lead side of the core member  16  which faces a puck during play as will be discussed further, while the second major surface  22  directly opposes the first major surface  20 .  
         [0016]    Attached to the first major surface  20  of the elongated core member  16  is a first veneer member  28 . Preferably, the first veneer member  28  is constructed of a  2  carbon fiber-glass material, however any material with similar characteristics is within the scope of this invention. Attached to the opposing second major surface  22  is a second veneer member  30 . Preferably, the second veneer member is constructed of a 10-ply aircraft veneer member. Those skilled in the art of hockey stick manufacture will appreciate that aircraft veneer may be constructed from a variety of hardwoods. The selected aircraft veneer of the present invention is preferably constructed from white birch wood. Both the first fiber-glass veneer member  28  and the second aircraft veneer member  30  are preferably attached to the core member  16  by way of adhesion such as a suitable adhesive. However, other means of attachment would be within the scope of this invention.  
         [0017]    As mentioned, the first major surface  20  of the hockey shaft is defined as the surface of the core member  16  which is situated to face the direction in which to strike the hockey puck with the blade  12  of the hockey stick  10 . This lead side position is therefore relative to whether the stick is a right-handed stick or a left-handed stick. In each case, the blade  12  is attached to the shaft  14  such that the blade  12  protrudes away from the shaft  14 , the face  36  of the blade  12  facing the same direction as the first major surface  20  of the core member  16 , as illustrated in FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    When striking a puck with increased force, the core member  16  is subjected to a variety of shear, compressive, and tensile stresses. The contact between the blade  12  and either the puck or the ice tends to bend or deform the shape of the handle shaft  14  from an original position. Being that the first major surface  20  faces the direction of the puck, the bending of the shaft  14  places a tensile stress on the first veneer member  28 . At the same time, the opposing second veneer member  30  is placed under a compressive stress. The elastic and durable qualities of the fiber-glass veneer  28  attached to the lead surface  20  of the core member  16  allow the shaft  14  of the hockey stick  10  to bend within tolerable standards without destruction of the core member  16 . The same elastic and durable qualities of fiberglass veneer  28  tend to bring the shaft  14  of the hockey stick  10  back to the original position faster than if both veneers  28 ,  30  were constructed of aircraft veneer.  
         [0019]    Attached to the third minor surface  24  of the core member  16  is a third veneer member  32 . Additionally, attached to the opposing fourth minor surface  26  of the core member  16  is a fourth veneer member  34 . Both the third and fourth veneer members,  32  and  34  respectively, are preferably constructed of birch wood, and more particularly yellow birch wood. However, any material having equivalent properties of birch wood would be within the scope of this invention. The third and fourth veneer members  32  and  34  aid in supporting the structural integrity of the core member  16  from torsional strain. With the blade  12  of the hockey stick  10  protruding away from the shaft  14 , a torquing force results whenever the blade  12  contacts the puck, ice, or any other object. The torquing force tends to twist the core member  16 , and if the force is great enough, destruction of the core member  16  results. With the addition of the third and fourth veneer members  32  and  34 , the amount of twisting upon the core member  16  is reduced, thus strengthening the core member  16 .  
         [0020]    In the preferred embodiment, the average weight of the hockey stick  10  is approximately 610 grams, the width of the stick  10  being approximately 0.790 inches (the width of the core member  16  in addition to the first and second veneer members  28  and  30  respectively), the height of the stick  10  being approximately 1.165 inches (the height of the core member  16  in addition to the third and fourth veneer members  32  and  34  respectively). The first veneer member has an approximate thickness of at least 0.0420 inches. The second veneer member has an approximate thickness of 0.2145 inches. The third and fourth veneer members  32  and  34  have an approximate thickness of about 0.0620 inches. The hockey stick  10  has a hockey length of approximately 57.5 inches, a shaved handle length of approximately 6 inches, and a taper length of approximately 11.5 inches.  
         [0021]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.