Abstract:
A weighted lacrosse stick training handle that can replace the handle of any conventional lacrosse stick comprising a solid core, and a neck provided with fastening means, which permit said universal weighted lacrosse training handle to fit into and removably secure to the head of said any conventional lacrosse stick. The fastening means on said neck comprise a plurality of internally threaded bores and at least one machine screw.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of Provisional Application No. 61/375,041 filed on Aug. 19, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
       [0002]    This invention relates to an apparatus and method for use primarily by parents, coaches, lacrosse players and other training personnel in connection with the improvement of the lacrosse players&#39; game. More particularly, the present invention relates to a universal weighted lacrosse training handle capable of being used with each and every commercially available lacrosse stick head for the conditioning of lacrosse players during practice and training. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal weighted lacrosse training handle capable of being used with each and every commercially available lacrosse stick head for the conditioning of lacrosse players during practice and training. 
         [0004]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a universal weighted lacrosse training handle capable of allowing: a) Offensive lacrosse players to increase the speed of their shots, improve dodging, improve changing hands and stick protection, increase the effectiveness of wall ball tenfold, and automatically vertically locate stick position while cradling; b) Defensive lacrosse players to breakdown with stick out and on the hands, simulate checks by laterally moving with stick out, simulate a defenseman&#39;s entire array of checks, increase the quickness of checks, and hold their sticks steadier and closer to their opponent; c) Goalie players to increase their hand speed, improve muscle memory, and increase over-all skill strength; and d) all lacrosse players to increase hand speed, and practice face-off drills alone. 
         [0005]    These and other objects, advantages, features, and characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, considered along with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    It is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the numerals represent identical elements and wherein: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the inventive universal weighted lacrosse training handle; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the inventive universal weighted lacrosse training handle; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the distal end of the inventive universal weighted lacrosse training handle of  FIG. 1  showing the internally threaded bores and machine screw; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a three dimensional perspective of the distal end of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a three dimensional perspective of a second embodiment of the distal end of the inventive universal weighted lacrosse training handle showing a plurality of internally threaded bores and machine screws. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the second embodiment of the distal end of the inventive universal weighted lacrosse training handle of  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     LIST OF ELEMENTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE IDENTIFYING NUMERALS 
       [0013]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 NO 
                 ELEMENT 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 universal weighted lacrosse training 
               
               
                   
                 handle 
               
               
                 20 
                 solid shaft 
               
               
                 22 
                 proximal end of solid shaft 
               
               
                 24 
                 Distal end of solid shaft 
               
               
                 30 
                 Means for attaching shaft to lacrosse stick 
               
               
                   
                 head 
               
               
                 32 
                 Internally threaded bores 
               
               
                 34 
                 Machine screw 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0014]    Referring more specifically to  FIG. 1 , it generally depicts the universal weighted lacrosse training handle in accordance with the present invention at  10 . 
         [0015]    It comprises a shaft  20  and means for fastening the said shaft  30  to any commercially available lacrosse stick head. The shaft is similar in appearance to a standard lacrosse handle, except that it is end to end solid, and weighted enough to give lacrosse players a workout which builds their strength in a manner that no weight room could ever do so. As a result their shot speed increases, the checks they throw are quicker, effortless and from a closer range, and the reflexes of a goalie become quicker than ever before. 
         [0016]    The solid shaft  20  can be formed as one unitary solid piece either by milling or by extrusion, using a mold. Alternatively, the solid shaft  20  can be formed in a two step process by first extruding a hollow tube, and thereafter fixedly inserting and permanently adhering a core or rod within the hollow tube. In one embodiment the extruded hollow tube is aluminum while the core or rod inserted and adhered within the hollow tube to form the solid shaft is steel. The weight of the solid shaft  20  made in this two step process can be varied greatly by simply varying the thicknesses of both the hollow tube and the steel core inserted into and permanently adhered within it. 
         [0017]    Like all of the other commonly available, hollow, lacrosse stick handles, the solid weighted shaft  20  can be square, round or octagonal shaped. In the preferred embodiment it is octagonal shaped. 
         [0018]    The solid weighted shaft  20  comprises a proximal end  22 , which is used for pivotal support of the solid shaft  20  of the inventive universal weighted lacrosse training handle  10  within the hands of a lacrosse player, and a distal end  24 , which is used for insertion of the solid shaft  20  within the neck of a lacrosse stick head. 
         [0019]    The distal end  24  comprises at least three internally threaded bores  32  and at least one a machine screw  34 . The dimensions and location of each of the threaded bores  32  on the distal end  24  are critical to the ability of the weighted lacrosse training handle of the present invention, to be used with each and every commercially available lacrosse head. They are such that when the distal end  24  is inserted into the neck of any commercially available lacrosse stick head, the hole on the neck of said lacrosse stick head, through which a screw can be inserted to secure the head to the hollow lacrosse stick handle, becomes concentrically aligned with at least one of the internally threaded bores  32  on the distal end  24 . Such alignment in turn, permits the insertion, turning and tightening of the machine screw  34  through both the hole on the neck of the lacrosse stick head and its corresponding concentrically aligned threaded bore  32  to secure the lacrosse stick head on the distal end  24  of the solid shaft  20 . 
         [0020]    In one embodiment the distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of one of the internally threaded bores  32  from the edge of the distal end is 0.312 inches; the distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of another of the internally threaded bores  32  from the edge of the distal end is 0.812 inches; and the distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of the third of the internally threaded bores  32  from the edge of the distal end is 1.250 inches. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the distal end  24  comprises a plurality of internally threaded bores  32  and at least one a machine screw  34 . The dimensions and location of each of the threaded bores  32  on the distal end  24  are critical to the ability of the weighted lacrosse training handle of the present invention, to be used with each and every commercially available lacrosse head. They are such that when the distal end  24  is inserted into the neck of any commercially available lacrosse stick head, the hole on the neck of said lacrosse stick head, through which a screw can be inserted to secure the head to the hollow lacrosse stick handle, becomes concentrically aligned with at least one of the internally threaded bores  32  on the distal end  24 . Such alignment in turn, permits the insertion, turning and tightening of the machine screw  34  through both the hole on the neck of the lacrosse stick head and its corresponding concentrically aligned threaded bore  32  on the weighted lacrosse training handle of the present invention, to secure the lacrosse stick head on the distal end  24  of the solid shaft  20 . 
         [0022]    In yet another embodiment, as seen on  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the distal end  24  comprises at least six internally threaded bores  32 , two located collinearly on one side and four located collinearly on the opposite side of the distal end  24  of the shaft  20 ; and at least one a machine screw  34 . The distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of one of the four internally threaded collinearly located bores  32  from the edge of the distal end is 0.312 inches; the distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of the second of the internally threaded collinearly located bores  32  from the edge of the distal end is 0.562 inches; the distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of the third of the internally threaded collinearly located bores  32  from the edge of the distal end is 0.812 inches; and the distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of the fourth of the internally threaded bores  32  from the edge of the distal end is 1.250 inches. 
         [0023]    Similarly, the distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of one of the two internally threaded collinearly located bores  32  from the edge of the distal end, at the opposite side of the shaft  20  is 0.437 inches; and the distance of the central point formed by at least two perpendicular diameters of the second of the two internally threaded collinearly located bores  32  from the edge of the distal end, on the opposite side of the shaft  20  is 0.625 inches 
         [0024]    The universal weighted lacrosse training handle  10  can be made in any number of weights. In the preferred embodiments, it is made in three different weight ranges and in three position related lengths for male lacrosse players and in two weight ranges and one position related length for female lacrosse players. More specifically, as an attack/midfielder universal weighted training handle for men it will have a length of 30 inches and a weight of 2.2 pounds, 4.0 pounds or 4.7 pounds. As a defensive universal weighted training handle for men it will have a length of 60 inches and a weight of 4.4 pounds, 7.8 pounds, or 12.4 pounds. As a goalie universal weighted training handle for men it will have a length of 40 inches and a weight of 2.8, 4.6 or 8.0 pounds. Finally, as a universal weighted lacrosse training handle for all women&#39;s positions it will have a length of 30 inches and a weight of 2.0 or 4.0 pounds. 
         [0025]    The process of using the universal weighted lacrosse training handle during a practice and training session, comprises the following steps of the lacrosse players&#39; replacement of the regular hollow handle of their lacrosse stick with the universal weighted lacrosse training handle: a) removing the screw holding the head of their lacrosse stick to the hollow handle of their lacrosse stick; b) carefully withdrawing the hollow handle from the neck of the head of their lacrosse stick; c) carefully inserting the universal weighted lacrosse training handle of the present invention as deep into the neck of the head of their lacrosse stick as possible and until such time as at least one of the internally threaded bores on the universal weighted lacrosse training handle is concentrically aligned with the hole on the neck of the head of their lacrosse stick; and d) securing the head of their lacrosse stick onto the universal weighted lacrosse training handle with at least one machine screw by inserting it into the concentrically aligned holes of both the universal training handle and the head of their lacrosse stick and turning it until tight and secure. 
         [0026]    There is no question that the inventive universal weighted lacrosse training handle in accordance with the present invention as described herein above, accomplishes all of its objectives and achieves the goal of providing lacrosse players with a better practice and training tool which allows: a) Offensive lacrosse players to increase the speed of their shots, improve dodging, improve changing hands and stick protection, increase the effectiveness of wall ball tenfold, and automatically vertically locate stick position while cradling; b) Defensive lacrosse players to breakdown with stick out and on the hands, simulate checks by laterally moving with stick out, simulate a defenseman&#39;s entire array of checks, increase the quickness of checks, and hold their sticks steadier and closer to their opponent; c) Goalie players to increase their hand speed, improve muscle memory, and increase over-all skill strength; and d) all lacrosse players to increase hand speed, and practice face-off drills alone. 
         [0027]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, they are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention. Since certain changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a literal sense. Practitioners of the art will realize that the sequence of steps and the embodiments depicted in the figures can be altered without departing from the scope of the present invention and that the illustrations contained herein are singular examples of a multitude of possible depictions of the present invention.