Lacrosse head pocket

A pocket for a lacrosse head (10) includes a netting portion (20) attached to the lacrosse head (10). The netting portion (20) has a plurality of holes (22) therein. The netting portion (20) is characterized by a middle section (28) with a plurality of center holes (32) therein intended to grip a lacrosse ball (24) and provide enhanced ball control characteristics. The netting portion (20) further includes at least one peripheral section (30) with a plurality of peripheral holes (34) therein capable of funneling the lacrosse ball (24) toward the middle section (28) and improving ball retention capabilities of the lacrosse head (10).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to lacrosse sticks, and more particularly to pockets for heads of lacrosse sticks that provide improved ball retention characteristics, as well as increased shooting and passing accuracy.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Current lacrosse sticks have heads with one of two known conventional pockets attached thereto. The first type of pocket is a traditional pocket that typically consists of four or more adjustable leather thongs that extend between the lacrosse scoop and the base of the head. Soft fabric laces, i.e. nylon laces, extend between the sidewalls and are interwoven with the thongs to form the pocket for holding the ball in the head. The laces are typically held in place by sidewall strings attached to the opposing sidewalls or are strung directly through the sidewalls themselves. The stiffness of the leather thongs provides for precise ball control in high velocity throwing and shooting.

Disadvantages of known traditional pockets include the extensive maintenance required to maintain the pocket, the damage to the pocket when the leather thongs are exposed to moisture, and poor ball control while running. Repeated use of the pocket typically stretches the leather thongs, which can change the shape of the pocket and its performance. In this respect, the user is typically required to adjust the leather thongs in order to maintain the desired shape, location, and depth of the pocket and its associated performance.

Furthermore, the leather thongs can stretch and shrink unevenly when they dry after being exposed to moisture, such as when lacrosse games are held in the rain. The resulting uneven shrinkage requires further adjustment of the thongs to maintain proper pocket depth and shape.

The second type of conventional pocket is a mesh strung pocket. The mesh pockets are typically formed of a soft fabric material and are comprised of a single unit or structure that attaches to the lacrosse head. Current mesh pockets are typically configured such that they have ten holes across, sometimes referred to as ten hole mesh. Mesh pockets are looser than traditional pockets thereby providing greater ball control while running. Another benefit of this mesh pocket is that it does not require the extensive maintenance that traditional pockets require. Also, mesh pockets are relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

However, the looser netting and the smaller holes therein produce comparably poor throwing and shooting results. In particular, the flexible pocket does not have the required stiffness for providing accurate, high velocity throwing and shooting. In addition, the holes in current mesh pockets are sized such that no portion of the ball is cupped within any one of the holes formed therein. In this regard, the ball merely rests on a top surface of the mesh pocket. This results in less friction between the ball and the pocket thereby reducing ball control, as well as accuracy when the ball is being passed or shot.

Hard synthetic structures which are integrally formed with a head are also known. These structures act as pockets and are typically formed from a plastic material and from known injection molding processes. While these hard pockets are typically integrally formed with the lacrosse head, the lacrosse heads with their associated synthetic pockets are not usable in competitive lacrosse and are typically utilized by children or with non-lacrosse balls, such as plastic balls. This is because hard plastic molded pockets do not have sufficient flexibility and therefore cannot retain a ball in the pocket. These synthetic pockets, however, require almost no maintenance and are relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a lacrosse pocket that provides accurate, high velocity throwing and shooting, affords sufficient ball control while running, requires minimal maintenance, and is also inexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a coated mesh pocket for a lacrosse head with sufficient stiffness to provide more accurate, higher velocity shooting and passing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mesh pocket for a lacrosse head that provides for increased ball retention capabilities.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pocket for a lacrosse head that requires decreased maintenance to maintain its desired shape.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pocket for a lacrosse head that decreases the amount of slippage or skidding of the lacrosse ball as it is being thrown or passed from the lacrosse pocket.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a pocket for a lacrosse head that is less expensive to manufacture and assemble than current lacrosse head pockets.

In accordance with the above and the other objects of the present invention, an improved pocket for a lacrosse head is provided. In one embodiment, the pocket includes a netting portion disposed between a pair of opposing sidewalls of the lacrosse head. The netting portion has a plurality of holes formed therein and preferably has less than nine holes disposed within a majority of horizontal rows between the pair of opposing sidewalls to provide increased ball retention characteristics, as well as increased shooting and passing accuracy.

In accordance with another object of the present invention, a synthetic pocket for a lacrosse head is provided. The synthetic pocket is preferably formed from known injection molding processes and is intended to simulate the playing characteristics of a traditional netting or a mesh netting coated with a stiffening agent. The synthetic pocket also has a no-slip surface to provide friction between the synthetic pocket and a lacrosse ball. The synthetic pocket also has holes of varying sizes, i.e. the holes in the center of the pockets are larger than the holes adjacent to the frame structure.

Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in the various views.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown front and side views, respectively, of a lacrosse head10with a mesh pocket according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The lacrosse head10includes a pair of opposing sidewall portions12connected to each other at their top ends by a scoop portion14and at their bottom ends by a base portion16. These portions12,14,16generally comprise an integral frame.

Preferably, one or more sidewall strings18are laced through a series of apertures formed in each of the sidewall portions12of the lacrosse head10. The sidewall strings18are interwoven with a netting portion20so as to secure the netting portion20to the lacrosse head10. In addition, the top and bottom end portions of the netting portion20are preferably tied directly to the lacrosse head10. Alternatively, it is understood that each side of the netting portion20may be secured directly to the lacrosse head10by stringing it through the series of apertures formed in each of the portions12,14,16, which eliminates the need for sidewall strings18.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the netting portion20is constructed of a soft fabric material with a plurality of holes22therein. The netting portion20is preferably composed of a synthetic material, as is well known in the art. Examples of the synthetic material include nylon and polyester. However, it will be understood that other soft materials and various other synthetic materials can be utilized.

Furthermore, the mesh is preferably treated with a stiffening agent, i.e. polyurethane, for hardening the mesh and providing resistance to moisture absorption. By hardening the mesh, the stiffening agent prevents deformation of the pocket thereby allowing the pocket to retain a more uniform shape. The type of stiffening agent and the degree of stiffness will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art as sufficient to allow a pocket to be formed and retained in the netting. In this regard, a well formed pocket treated with the stiffening agent may consistently provide for a desired performance without the need for maintaining the mesh. Furthermore, the increased hardness of the mesh allows for quick release, as well as accurate throwing and shooting with significant speed, i.e. whip.

The stiffening agent water-proofs the mesh so as to prevent the mesh from stretching or shrinking. The stiffening agent thus preserves the shape of the pocket and its associated performance. Also, the resistance to moisture absorption prevents damage to the material composing the netting portion20. Consequently, the stiffening agent increases the life of the netting portion20and causes it to provide performance similar to that of traditional stringing without the expense associated with traditional pockets.

The netting portion20preferably has less than nine holes22disposed within a majority of the horizontal rows extending between the sidewall portions12. In the preferred embodiment, the netting portion20includes three to six diamond-shaped holes22, which are disposed within a majority of the horizontal rows. More preferably, the netting portion20includes five diamond shaped holes22disposed within a majority of the horizontal rows. However, more or less horizontal rows may embody this feature.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, as shown inFIG. 4, the netting portion20is integrally formed with the lacrosse head10thereby dispensing with the need for the sidewall string18. In particular, the netting portion20and the lacrosse head10are portions of a single injection molded item. Accordingly, the netting portion20is composed of the same material, i.e. plastic, as the lacrosse head10. As used in this embodiment, the phrase “netting portion” refers to a plastic netting intended to simulate conventional mesh. As a result, the netting portion20is sufficiently rigid so as to keep a consistent pocket shape and to reduce maintenance thereof. Furthermore, the stiffness of the netting portion20also allows for precise throwing and shooting. The plastic is preferably configured such that it has the flexibility or same characteristics as a traditional pocket. In other words, the netting portion20is significantly less flexible than the frame.

As shown inFIG. 5, instead of the netting portion20being integrally formed with the head10, the plastic netting portion20can be formed separately in larger sheets of netting and then secured to the head10in a separate step after the head10has been formed. For example, the netting portion20can be cut from the sheet of plastic netting, such as through conventional die cutting processes, and then attached to the frame of the lacrosse head10, such as by a string19interwoven between the netting portion20and the stringing apertures in each portion12,14,16of the lacrosse head. Also, the netting portion20can be further secured to the lacrosse head10by tying the top end and the bottom end of the netting portion20to the scoop portion14and the base portion16, respectively. Alternatively, the netting portion20can be passed through each of the apertures formed in the head10and then tied off or otherwise secured. Of course, other suitable methods may be employed to secure the netting portion20to the lacrosse head10.

While the netting portion20is preferably formed from a polymer material, it will be understood that the netting portion20can be formed from any other synthetic material. The netting portion20need only be constructed of a material having properties sufficient to fairly replicate traditional stringing with thongs or mesh netting with a stiffening coating applied thereto. It will be understood that the shooting strings23can also be molded into the netting. This can be done such that the shooting strings23are an integral part of the netting or a separate component that is attached in a subsequent step.

Turning now toFIG. 3, the preferred embodiment requires that the holes22are sized sufficiently large to allow the netting portion20to cup portions26of a lacrosse ball24within the holes22. This is true for both the netting portion20formed of synthetic material as well as the netting portion20formed of a plastic material. This type of engagement between the lacrosse ball24and the netting portion20provides substantial friction between the lacrosse ball24and the netting portion20. Consequently, the user has improved grip on the ball24for greater control while handling the ball during play, as well as during throwing and shooting. In an alternative embodiment, the plastic lacing may have a scuffed surface to provide better ball retention. More preferably, the plastic lacing preferably has a no-slip or no-skid surface that is intended to contact the surface of the ball to impart friction thereto. The no-slip surface can be formed across the entire lacing, substantially all of the lacing, a majority of the lacing, or just a part of the pocket of the lacing. The plastic netting alternatively may be formed of a no-slip or no-skid material. The shooting strings23preferably have a no-slip surface applied thereto.

In an alternative embodiment, the netting portion20may have three or less holes22in a horizontal row. By decreasing the number of holes22in a horizontal row, the size of each hole22will typically increase. The larger size of holes22may result in the tendency of the ball24to rock from one hole22to another hole22in the pocket. Such an engagement between the ball24and the netting portion20can decrease smoothness in handling and overall ball control.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the netting portion20may have seven to nine holes22disposed within a horizontal row. The increase in the number of holes22in a horizontal row will typically decrease the size of the holes22. As a result, smaller portions26of the ball24are cupped within the holes22thereby decreasing the amount of friction between the netting portion20and the ball24. The reduction in friction may decrease accuracy in throwing and shooting the ball24.

Referring now toFIG. 6, there is shown a netting portion20having variable sized holes according to yet another alternative preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the netting portion20is a single integral piece, which is preferably formed of a plastic material, and is attached to the lacrosse head10via a string19interwoven between the netting portion20and apertures formed within the lacrosse head10. The netting portion20may obviously be attached to the head10by a variety of other suitable methods. This netting portion20includes a middle section28and one or more peripheral or side sections30situated between the middle section28and the lacrosse head10.

The holes in the middle section28and the peripheral sections30are sized for improving ball control characteristics of the netting portion20while maintaining a desirable level of ball retention.

In particular, the middle section28of the netting portion20includes a plurality of center holes32intended to provide substantial grip on the lacrosse ball24thereby improving ball control. As best shown inFIG. 7, the center holes32are sized sufficiently large for cupping a portion26of the lacrosse ball24. In this regard, there is substantial friction between the ball24and the netting portion20thereby enhancing control in throwing and shooting.

In addition, the peripheral sections30preferably comprise relatively loose and flexible netting material with a plurality of peripheral holes34therein that are sized for funneling the ball24toward the middle section28to help in retaining the ball24within the lacrosse head10. Each peripheral hole34is sized smaller than the center holes32in the middle section28such that the ball24cannot be cupped in the peripheral holes32. As a result, the ball24merely rests on a top surface of the peripheral sections30causing the ball to freely roll across those sections30toward the larger holes32in the middle section28. Moreover, the flexibility of the peripheral sections30enhances ball retention by cushioning movement of the ball24as the lacrosse head10is suddenly moved. This cushioning effect prevents the ball from rolling or bouncing out off the netting portion20and out of the lacrosse head10. This is particularly beneficial when the user is running or cradling the lacrosse ball24.

The netting portion20may be comprised of an integral plastic injection molded piece or various other suitable structures as desired. This netting portion20can be formed from known injection molding processes. However, it can be formed from other suitable forming processes.

In an alternative embodiment, the netting portion20may include two or more separate sections connected to each other. For example, the middle section28and each peripheral section30may be separate pieces of netting attached together to form the netting portion20. By way of another example, the netting portion20can be formed from a nylon material to form a netting of variable sized holes. The netting portion20can be formed by cutting a middle section28having larger holes and then the securing portions, which have smaller holes to either side thereof.

As shown inFIG. 8, the netting portion20may have a no-slip surface36for providing grip between the lacrosse ball24and the netting portion20. The no-slip structures can include a textured surface, such as shown inFIG. 8. Suitable textures may include semi-hemispherical protrusions38, a hatched surface, or a variety of other surfaces as desired. Alternatively, the netting portion20can be formed of a no-slip material.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only in terms of the appended claims.