LACROSSE STICK HEAD WITH PROTECTED STRING ATTACHMENT FEATURE

An improved head for attachment to a lacrosse stick is provided. The head has a bar-shaped string attachment feature on a pocket-facing side of the transverse wall (or “scoop”) 212 joining the sidewalls at the distal end of head 204 to provide a protected area for the attachment of vertically-oriented strings and/or shooting strings forming the lacrosse stick pocket. The string attachment feature provides the additional advantage of negating the necessity for through-holes in scoop 212 that typically weaken what is already a vulnerable portion of head 204 due to its likelihood of receiving repeated impacts with the playing surface or other equipment during play. The improved string attachment member further advantageously provides more “give”, or flexibility, to the pocket strung thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to lacrosse equipment and, more particularly, to an improved lacrosse stick head adapted for improved strength and playing characteristics.

2. Description of the Background

FIG. 1illustrates a conventional lacrosse stick100having a handle102and a double-wall synthetic head104. Head104comprises a generally V-shaped frame having a juncture106, sidewalls108and110, a transverse wall (or “scoop”)112joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite juncture106, and a stop member114joining sidewalls108and110at their ends nearest juncture106. As shown, handle102fits into and through juncture106, and abuts stop member114. A screw or other fastener placed through an opening107in juncture106secures handle102to head104.

For traditionally-strung pockets (which have strings instead of mesh), thongs12made of leather or synthetic material extend vertically from upper thong holes116in transverse wall112to lower thong holes118in stop member114. Upper thong holes116were typically located on tabs117that extend inwardly from the scoop112.FIG. 1shows four pairs (116,118) of thong holes that can accept four thongs. To complete the pocket web, the thongs have nylon cross-strings threaded around the thongs and secured directly to string holes120in sidewalls108and110, forming any number of diamond patterns. Alternatively, the cross-stringing may be secured to a perimeter string that extends around the perimeter of the head104, and which facilitates tying of horizontal cross stringing and/or vertical thongs to string holes120,116along the sidewalls108,110and in the scoop112. Finally, one Of more throwing Of shooting strings extend transversely between the upper portions of sidewalls108and110, optionally attaching to string holes124. A string or thong is tied off or looped through each string hole120,124and thong hole116,118, and it is at these twisted points of attachment that the strings/thongs are most prone to fraying or breaking.

During a lacrosse game, each player uses the handle of his or her lacrosse stick100to control the motion of the head104in order to perform the necessary functions of game play. The player must perform maneuvers such as scooping the ball from the ground into the pocket, cradling the ball in the pocket, throwing a ball from the pocket to another player or shooting the ball towards a goal, performing a stick check wherein one player uses a part of his stick to contact the stick or body of another player, etc. Because the ball is carried in the pocket of the head104, head104is often subject to repeated impact during the course of the game, either from the stick handler using his stick to impact other players or equipment, or from opposing players attempting to jar the ball loose from the pocket. Due to its position at the distal end of the stick100, the material that forms scoop112usually bears the brunt of these impacts, causing the scoop112to repeatedly bend, flex, and vibrate. Another maneuver that is fundamental to game play involves scraping the back of head104along the ground to scoop a lacrosse ball into the pocket. While lacrosse is commonly played on a level, grass playing surface, an increasing number of lacrosse fields utilize a synthetic turf playing surface, a harder surface that makes impacts between the bead104and the ground even more forceful and abrasive than on a natural playing surface.

The traditional lacrosse head configuration ofFIG. 1is in no way designed to protect the pocket from wear and tear, and leaves the strings/thongs completely exposed where they loop through stung holes120,124or thong holes116,118. Moreover, because of all of the various forces acting on head104, the relatively thin strip of material making up scoop112is vulnerable to cracking, breaking and/or abrasion over time. The scoop112area is made less durable by the presence of string holes116which interrupt the molding. Even when holes116are placed on a scalloped portion of scoop112or on tabs117, the strain exerted on scoop112and the tabs117weakens them both and makes them more prone to breakage. The exposed string holes120,124and thong holes116,118and the vulnerability of strings/thongs that extend through leaves them extremely susceptible to wear and tear from the playing surface, much like the bottom surface of a snow shovel. Moreover, the discontinuous/interrupted molding of head104creates break-points prone to material failure.

Of course, lacrosse equipment with a higher risk of breakage is undesirable. The risk that players will have to replace a broken head or worn out string during game play creates a need for an improved scoop design. While worn stringing usually breaks over time, the pocket tensions created from stringing are important to maintain and as stringing deteriorates, that tension can be lost and playability affected. Maintaining the desired amount of tension in a lacrosse stick pocket is essential for good ball handling and control during game play.

What is needed is a lacrosse stick head that allows for the attachment of various stringing configurations (e.g., including a top string) to form a pocket within the head, but which beneficially protects those strings at their points-of-attachment to the scoop from wear and tear that would otherwise result from repeated contact with, and scraping along, the playing surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved lacrosse head with one or more cleat(s) located on the front side of the scoop for securement of the thongs, cross-stringing and/or perimeter stringing. The cleat(s) may be one or more inserts that are molded into the lacrosse head frame via insert molding and other known methods, or it may be part of the monolithic head frame itself and not a separate part.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved lacrosse head which provides a protected area for the attachment of vertically-oriented strings that form the lacrosse stick pocket.

It is yet an additional object of the present invention to eliminate through-holes in the scoop, which can adversely affect the scoop's durability.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved stringing member that advantageously provides more “give”, or pocket flex, to the pocket strung thereon.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, refer to the remaining specification and to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2depicts an embodiment of the improved lacrosse head204with cleat300according to the present invention. Head204is preferably a double-wall synthetic head comprising a generally V-shaped frame having a juncture206, sidewalls208and210, a transverse wall (or “scoop”)212joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite juncture206, and a stop member214joining sidewalls208and210at their ends nearest juncture206. Although not shown inFIG. 2, a lacrosse stick handle fits into and through juncture206, and abuts stop member214. A screw or other fastener placed through an opening in stop member214(not shown) secures the handle to head204. In this embodiment the cleat300comprises a raised post extending inwardly of scoop212along a majority of its length. For purposes of this disclosure “cleat” is herein defined as one or more exposed posts integrally molded or molded into the lacrosse head204for securing any of the thongs, cross-stringing and/or perimeter stringing thereto.

With reference toFIG. 3, head204may also comprise lower string holes218in stop member214and string holes220in sidewalls208and210to accept leather or synthetic strings (including optional throwing or shooting strings). Sidewalls208and210and scoop212have an inside face (FIGS. 2-3), an outside face (FIG. 4), a bottom rail edge from which the pocket is traditionally strung, and a top rail edge opposite the bottom rail edge. Similarly, stop member214has an inside face (FIGS. 2-3), a bottom edge from which the pocket is strung, and a top edge opposite the bottom edge. As in the prior art head104, the inside face of a conventional sidewall or stop member may be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front face of head204, while the top edge of a sidewalls208,210may be angled away from the pocket, such that the outer edge of the top edge is closer to the bottom rail than)s, the inner edge of the top rail.

Unlike the prior art scoop112necessarily having through-holes116therein, scoop212according to the present invention needs no through-holes for attachment of strings or otherwise. Instead, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, thongs250(seeFIG. 3) are strung between stop member214and an integral cleat300disposed on the inside face (pocket facing side) of scoop212.

As shown inFIG. 5, the exposed portion of cleat300may have an elongate raised section running roughly parallel to the inside face of scoop212and with one or more struts301along the length thereof to support the raised portion of cleat300above scoop212. Cleat300may be one or more cylindrical rod-shaped wire-frame structures, preferably formed of semi-flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or alternatively of any suitable material including metal. Cleat(s)300have a height (as measured along the face of pocket facing side212A of scoop212) less than that of scoop212, and preferably on the order of 1/16-¼ the height of scoop212, such that scoop212extends both above and below cleat300to protect any strings250attached thereto from contact with the ground or other equipment during play. According to one embodiment as shown inFIG. 8, cleat300is preferably disposed below a lip222on the upper (pocket side) edge of the inside face212A of scoop212to provide further protection for strings250strung to cleat300. In this embodiment, lip222may be integrally formed with scoop212to provide an area of increased thickness (between inside212A and outside212B faces of scoop212) approximately in the center thereof as measured between sidewalls208,210, but may also be temporarily or permanently affixed to scoop212and serve as housing for the elongate section of cleat300, providing cleat300with greater stability and strength. Lip222may be in the form of a wedge with the thick end facing towards the interior of head204and the remainder thereof tapering towards the distal tip of head204. Also as shown inFIG. 8, lip222may increase in width towards the distal end of head204. The thickness of lip222may provide additional strength to the tip of scoop212and serve as a surface for the placement of logos or other indicia.

FIG. 8depicts cleat300disposed below lip222to provide additional protection from impact to strings250strung on cleat300. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 5, lip222may be an integral part of cleat300such that cleat300either passes through lip222, or lip222or serves as an end point for mirror images sides of cleat300on either side of lip222. in another alternative embodiment (not shown), lip222may be omitted altogether.

In a preferred embodiment, integral cleat300has four distinct struts301as points of attachment to scoop212(not including lip222). As shown inFIG. 8, cleat300is set off from the inside face212A of scoop212by a distance sufficient to allow strings250to be wrapped underneath and around cleat300for purposes of securing strings250to cleat300. Such preferred distance or gap may be between 0.1-1 cm. Accordingly, intersection points301to cleat300may be connectors descending perpendicularly from cleat300towards the inside face212A of scoop212. One skilled in the art should readily understand that instead of raising cleat300, the inside face of scoop212may be molded with one or more recesses or through-holes and the cleat(s) inset into said recesses/holes, likewise protecting the strings/thongs attached thereto. However, this scoop configuration is less durable as described above.

While the preferred embodiment herein includes four struts301for support in addition to lip222, it will be understood that two or more struts301may be used as a matter of design choice to maintain a desired spacing between adjacent strings250that are strung in between struts301. Cleat300(or series of discrete cleats) preferably extends at least one half of the length of scoop212, and more preferably approximately 75-90% of the length of scoop212. Cleat300is preferably centered along the length of scoop212to accommodate attachment of strings250for any variation of stringing design desired by the manufacturer or player.

While TPU is disclosed herein as the preferred material for cleat300, it will be understood that cleat300may be formed of any material with sufficient elasticity and strength to withstand repeated impact, abrasion and tugging as head204makes impacts with the ground and/or other pieces of equipment. In addition or as an alternative to TPU, cleat300may be made of Utechllan/Elastollan, TPU/TPR/TPE (Hytrel), Nylon (PA6 or PA12), Acetal (Delrin), or Polypropylene Silicone, or even metal (e.g., stainless) wire.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown with reference toFIGS. 9A-B. As shown therein, improvements to the durability and lifespan of a lacrosse stick head may be realized through the use of a cleat insert400in substantially the same configuration as integral cleat300. Cleat insert400is designed to be insert molded into the inside face212A of scoop212to provide an attachment point for vertically-oriented strings250and/or top string119. In a preferred embodiment, cleat insert400is designed to fit underneath an integral lip222on the inside face212A of scoop212as described above.

The bottom, pocket facing side of cleat insert400is designed to be substantially identical in shape to the cylindrical rod-shaped section of integral cleat300, serving as an attachment point for strings250. Thus, cleat insert400has a bottom rail401, which may optionally be broken into two sections as shown inFIG. 9Ato provide an open space at the bottom edge of cleat insert400on top of which lip222may rest upon insertion of cleat insert400onto the inside face212A of scoop212. According to the instant embodiment, cleat insert400further comprises a top rail402sized and shaped to fit cooperatively with the inside face212A of scoop212, allowing cleat insert400to be affixed to inside face212A of scoop212by insert molding or another means known in the art. In addition, cleat insert400preferably comprises one or more (six are shown in9A-B) intersection points or connectors403securing bottom rail401to top rail403. As above for integral cleat300, intersection points403may be spaced along bottom401and top402rails a suitable distance to allow ease of attachment of one or more strings250to lower rail401and/or intersection points403according to one or more desired stringing configurations. Cleat insert400as inserted into head204is depicted inFIG. 9B. In a preferred embodiment, during the insert molding process to attach cleat insert400to scoop212, the nylon or other material forming scoop212envelopes and encapsulates top rail402of cleat insert400, forming a “spine” in the interior of scoop212and providing even more added strength to scoop212.

Additional alternative embodiment to cleat insert400are shown inFIGS. 10-12. As shown therein, the combination of top403and bottom401rails and intersection points403may be varied based on design preference and to accommodate various stringing configurations or impart additional strength to the interior surface212A of scoop212. As shown inFIG. 10, cleat insert400may comprise a single solid bottom rail401that fits underneath lip222on scoop212. As shown inFIG. 11, cleat insert400may comprise one or more middle rails404bridging the gap between adjacent intersection points403.

FIG. 13illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, cleat(s)500is formed as one or more elongate rods or strings500that may be integrally formed, molded-in, or insertable into cutouts or molded-in recesses501in scoop212. Cutouts/recesses501may be advantageously formed through a portion of the thickness of scoop212at locations along the length of scoop212designed to accept vertically-oriented strings250. The remaining, solid portions of scoop212may be fitted with a through-hole along the length of scoop212through which cleat500may be threaded, where cleat500is a single continuous member, or with attachment points (not shown) at the sidewalk of cutouts501to accept the distal ends of cleats500, where cleat500is formed of distinct segments. Cutouts501may additionally comprise slots503that open to the back of scoop212to facilitate threading strings250around cleats500.

With respect to each of the embodiments described herein, in use, a lacrosse stick pocket is formed by stringing leather or synthetic strings250from lower string holes218in stop member214up to and around cleat300/400/500, at which point they may be tied off or, as shown inFIGS. 7-8(with respect to the first embodiment of the present invention), have their ends secured through one or more stringing holes220in sidewalls208,210. Because strings250are not directly attached to, nor strung through holes in, scoop212, stringing that has conventionally passed through the scoop and been at risk, to wear and tear during play is no longer susceptible to wearing and tearing to this great of a degree. An additional benefit to this design is the absence of any through-holes directly in scoop212, resulting in a solid scoop that is able to withstand greater forces applied to it via contact with the ground and other equipment during play, lowering the instances of cracking or breaking of scoop112. Further, cleats300/400/500allows variation in stringing patterns unlike conventional, holed scoops, as the bar-like cleat section offers a variety of locations along its length where stringing can be secured.

Thus, the present invention addresses scoop stringing wear and tear in a unique manner by enabling a lacrosse head to be strung without using scoop openings, which allows a solid, and thus stronger, scoop, less prone to cracking and breakage. Moreover, a primary advantage of the present invention is that once fully strung, no portion of strings250are exposed at the distal end of head204past scoop212. This prevents undue wear and tear on strings250at their attachment points to scoop212, which previously represented a weak point of strings250due wearing and eventual breakage that is easily exacerbated by sliding or scooping of the head and strings along the ground or other playing surface, a basic fundamental of the game of lacrosse.

A secondary advantage of the cleats300/400/500according to the present invention is a degree of added “give” from the cleats300/400/500when a ball is caught and tension is created in the pocket. Such additional flexibility or “bounce” to the pocket creates a different feel in catching and throwing the ball during game play, which may be preferred by some players.