Abstract:
A shaft for sporting equipment comprises an elongate outer wall with a longitudinal bore extending between its first and second ends. An X-shaped web is disposed within the bore and extends along the entire length thereof. The web has four legs that radiate outwardly from a central core and connect to the outer wall. At least one longitudinal opening is defined in the outer wall. The outer wall and web define at least one closed cavity in the shaft. The outer wall, web and opening further define at least one open cavity in the shaft.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/038,909 filed Mar. 24, 2008; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to sports shafts. More particularly, the present invention relates to sports shafts for use when playing lacrosse. Specifically, the invention relates generally to sports shafts which are attached to a lacrosse stick head and which have a relatively constant cross-sectional configuration. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    Original lacrosse handles were constructed of wood. Those wood handles were shaped such that the lacrosse handle and the lacrosse head were a single integral wood structure. These wooden lacrosse handles suffered from a variety of disadvantages. Initially, these wooden handles were susceptible to damage from excess exposure to water such as through warping. Further, these prior wooden handles were heavy and somewhat cumbersome and also susceptible to breakage. Moreover, because the wood had to be bent to form the sidewall and scoop, a significant amount of time was involved in forming or making each of these wooden lacrosse handles, which made them relatively expensive. Because the lacrosse handle and head were a single structure, if any portion of the head or the handle broke or was damaged, the entire wooden handle and head would need to be replaced. 
         [0006]    Subsequently, plastic lacrosse heads were developed. These heads were intended to be attached to a lacrosse handle. As the lacrosse head and the lacrosse handle were separate components, they could be manufactured separately. If either the lacrosse head or the lacrosse handle became damaged or broken, each component could be replaced individually. The original handles for attachment to these plastic heads were still constructed of wood. 
         [0007]    Metal and composite lacrosse handles have since been developed to attach to these plastic heads. Metal handles tend to be less expensive and somewhat more resistant to damage. However, they can be somewhat difficult to grip and breakage or bending is still relatively common. Therefore, a need exists for a lacrosse handle that has increased durability without increasing the weight thereof. A need also exists for a lacrosse handle which provides a more positive form of tactile feedback and which allows the handle to be more aggressively gripped. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The device of the present invention is a shaft for a piece of sporting equipment such as a lacrosse stick. The shaft comprises an elongate outer wall with a longitudinal bore extending between its first and second ends. An X-shaped web is disposed within the bore and extends along the entire length thereof. The web has four legs that radiate outwardly from a central core and connect to the outer wall. At least one longitudinal opening is defined in the outer wall. The outer wall and web define at least one closed cavity in the shaft. The outer wall, web and opening further define at least one open cavity in the shaft. The opening provides a place for the athlete to position at least a portion of their hand or glove to orient the shaft for play and to aid in more aggressively gripping the shaft. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles of the invention, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the lacrosse stick of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along sectional line  3 - 3 ,  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of the handle portion of the lacrosse stick shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0014]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    In the following figures, the same reference numbers are used to identify the same components in the various views. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , lacrosse stick  1  is shown generally and provides a shaft  2  attached on one end to a head  3  and on the opposite end to an end cap  4 . Head  3  is attached to shaft  2  by any conventional means, and in the preferred embodiment a fastener  5  is provided for this purpose. The method of attachment is well-known in the art. 
         [0017]    Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 3 and 4  and in accordance with one of the primary features of the present invention, shaft  2  will be described in greater detail. Shaft  2  is an elongate member provided with an outer wall  6 . Outer wall  6  is generally octagonal in cross-sectional shape and includes an upper portion  8  and a lower portion  10 . Upper portion  8  includes a top wall  12  and a pair of upper angled sidewalls  13 . Each upper angled sidewall  13  has an attached end  14  and a free end  15 . Attached end  14  of each upper angled sidewall  13  is integrally formed with one of the edges of upper portion  8 . Additionally, upper angled sidewalls  13  extend downwardly and away from top wall  12  at a constant and similar angle. Although a number of angles are possible, in the preferred embodiment, angle A is in the range of from 100 degrees to 150 degrees and more particularly between 135 degrees and 140 degrees. Specifically, angle A in the preferred embodiment is 138 degrees. 
         [0018]    Lower portion  10  of outer wall  6  is formed by a bottom wall  16  and a pair of outwardly extending lower angled sidewalls  17 . Lower angled sidewalls  17  are formed with a free end  18  and an attached end  19 . Attached end  19  of each lower angled sidewall  17  is connected to one of the edges of bottom wall  16 . Lower angled sidewalls  17  extend outwardly and upwardly from bottom wall  16  and define an angle B. Angle B is similar to angle A. In the preferred embodiment, extends in the range of 100 degrees to 150 degrees, and more particularly, from 135 degrees to 140 degrees. Specifically, angle B, similar to angle A, is 138 degrees. 
         [0019]    Upper portion  8  and lower portion  10  of outer wall  6  are vertically aligned but spaced apart from one another by way of a web  20 . Web  20  is substantially X-shaped and includes a right upper leg  21  and a left upper leg  22 , as well as a right lower leg  23  and a left lower leg  24 . Right upper leg  21  and right lower leg  23  are divergent in nature and extend outwardly away from each other and define an included angle C. Included angle C in the range of 30 degrees to 80 degrees, and more particularly in the range of 60 degrees to 70 degrees. Specifically, the angle C is approximately 67.6 degrees. Similarly, left upper leg  22  and left lower leg  24  extend outwardly away from each other and define an included angle D. Angle D has a range of between 30 degrees and 80 degrees and more particularly in the range of 60 degrees to 70 degrees. Similar to angle C, angle D has a value more specifically of 67.6 degrees. All of legs  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  extend outwardly through included angles C and D from a core  25 . Core  25  is geometrically centered between upper portion  8  and lower portion  10  and more particularly between top wall  12  and bottom wall  16 . Legs  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  act as stiffening members that firmly support upper and lower portions  8 ,  10  of outer wall  6 . 
         [0020]    In further accordance with the invention, each leg  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  has a free end  26  spaced from core  25 . Free ends  26  of right upper leg  21  and left upper leg  22  each connect to free ends  15  of upper angled sidewalls  13 , respectively. A small lip  28  extends vertically downwardly relative to this inner connection. Similarly free ends  26  of right lower leg  23  and left lower leg  24  extend outwardly and connect to the free end  18  of each lower angled sidewall  17 . A lip  29  extends vertically upwardly from this inner connection and toward lip  28 . Each respective pair of lips  28  and  29  defines an opening  32  thereinbetween that is a spaced distance E in size. In accordance with one of the primary features of the present invention, spaced distance E between right upper leg  21  and right lower leg  23  is equal to the spaced distance between left upper leg  22  and left lower leg  24 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, spaced distance E is between 3 mm and 9 mm in width. Openings  32  preferably extend the entire length of shaft  2 . 
         [0021]    As is evident from the above discussion and as is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , upper portion  8  of outer wall  6  and right upper leg  21  and left upper leg  22  define an upper cavity  30 . Upper cavity  30  extends from one end of the shaft  2  to the other, i.e., from the end of shaft  2  proximate end cap  4  to the end of the shaft  2  proximate head  3 . Similarly, lower portion  10  of outer wall  6  and right lower leg  23  and left lower leg  24  define a lower cavity  31 . Lower cavity  31  extends between the end of shaft  2  proximate end cap  4  and the end of shaft  2  proximate head  3 . Upper and lower cavities  30 ,  31  extend substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of shaft  2  and are similar and opposite. 
         [0022]    In accordance with a specific feature of the present invention, each cavity  30  and  31  is a closed cavity in that it provides an entire perimeter wall in cross-section. The perimeter wall for cavity  30  is defined by upper wall  12 , upper angled sidewalls  13 , right upper leg  21  and left upper leg  22 . The perimeter wall for cavity  31  is defined by lower wall  16 , lower angled sidewalls  17 , right lower leg  23  and left lower leg  24 . 
         [0023]    In accordance with another specific feature of the present invention, shaft  2  also defines two cavities  33 ,  34  that are open in cross-section. Cavities  33 ,  34  are open in that they do not provide an entire perimeter wall in cross-section. Cavity  33  is defined by right upper leg  21  and right lower leg  23 , connected at core  25  and the associated lips  28 ,  29  of upper and lower angled sidewalls  13 ,  17 . Cavity  34  is defined by left upper leg  22  and left lower leg  24 , connected at core  25  and the associated lips  28 ,  29  of upper and lower angled sidewalls  13 ,  17 . In each instance, the upper legs  21 ,  22  are disposed at an angle C relative to the lower legs  23 ,  24  and the perimeter wall of the open cavity is broken between lips  28 ,  29  by opening  32 . 
         [0024]    Shaft  2  of the present invention therefore has an X-shaped interior web  20  that supports a generally octagonal outer wall  6  comprised of upper and lower portions  8 ,  10  disposed opposite each other and separated from each other by a pair of opposed openings  32 . The upper portion  8  includes three of the angled wall members that make up the octagonal shape of the outer wall, those wall members being walls  13 ,  12 ,  13 . The lower portion  10  also includes three of the angled wall members that make up the octagonal cross-sectional shape of outer wall  6 , those wall members being walls  17 ,  16 ,  17 . The remaining two areas of the octagonal shape are formed by the opposed pairs of lips  28 ,  29  separated from each other by openings  32 . 
         [0025]    In operation, shaft  2  is secured to head  3  and end cap  4  in such a way that the openings  32  are oriented so as to fall on the sides of the shaft  2 . One of the upper and lower walls  12 ,  16  faces forwardly with the front  3   a  of head  3 , and the other of the upper and lower walls  12 ,  16  faces rearwardly with the back  3   b  of head  3 . In operation, the user can more aggressively grip the shaft  2  by allowing a portion of their hand or glove to extend through one or both of openings  32 . The lacrosse player also feels the opening  32  when they grasp shaft  2  and they can therefore more easily orient the lacrosse stick during play. Additionally, inasmuch as web  20  provides sufficient strength through the interconnection at core  25  and shaft  2 , lacrosse stick  1  is rigid and resists breakage and bending. 
         [0026]    While the shaft  2  of the present invention has been described as being useful in a lacrosse stick, it will be understood that this type of configuration would also be suited for use in other sporting equipment shafts such as hockey sticks, tennis racquets etc. 
         [0027]    It will further be understood that while the shaft has been described as having a pair of closed cavities  30 ,  31  and a pair of open cavities  33 ,  34 , the shaft may be provided with a single closed cavity and a single open cavity, where the single open cavity will form a slot that runs the length of one of the sidewalls of the shaft. It should also be understood that the shaft may include more than two closed cavities with one or more open cavities. 
         [0028]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
         [0029]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.