Abstract:
A rounded cap or knob for a lacrosse stick handle that protects the blunt end of the handle during play. The cap or knob is formed of a flexible rubber-like or rubber material that substantially conforms onto the exterior surface of a side portion of the distal end of the handle, and therefore does not easily slide during usage. The interior also contains a shoulder portion there within to correctly position the knob or cap completely around the handle. The smooth and rounded exterior shape of the knob or cap acts as a socket that allows the user to position his or her palm in a virtually limitless array of potential positions that enhance the user&#39;s ability to control the lacrosse stick during play.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a lacrosse handle and, more particularly, to a smooth and rounded cap for the handle of a lacrosse stick. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    According to current convention, a lacrosse stick typically includes both an elongated handle and a head for attachment to the handle. The elongated handle, often simply referred to as the “shaft,” has both a top end and a bottom end. The head, in turn, is mounted on the top end of the elongated handle and includes both a closed-loop frame and a net suspended substantially within the confines of the frame. Together, the closed-loop frame and the net form an open pocket suited for receiving, holding, and releasing a lacrosse ball. 
         [0003]    Lacrosse stick handles are generally hollow and have a desired cross-sectional configuration along substantially the entire length of the handle that is designed to provide an improved grip to a user&#39;s hands. The handle can thus be formed in many desired cross-sectional shapes, including octagonal, rounded or oval cross-section. 
         [0004]    The top end of the handle is inserted into and attached to the lacrosse stick head, while the bottom end includes a plastic or rubber cap coupled thereto. A typical plastic or rubber cap has a hollowed out interior that is coupled around a portion of the length of the handle at the bottom end and protects the blunt end of the stick. The outer portion of the cap is typically shaped to substantially match that of the handle and may also contain ridges or other structures that prevent the user&#39;s hand from sliding off the end of the handle during play. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Accordingly, an advantage of the present invention is to provide a knob for attachment to lower end of a lacrosse stick that provides the user with protection from the blunt end of a lacrosse handle. 
         [0006]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a knob for attachment to lower end of a lacrosse stick that aids in preventing a user&#39;s lower hand from sliding off the handle during play. 
         [0007]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a knob for attachment to lower end of a lacrosse stick that does not negatively impact a user&#39;s ability to control his lacrosse stick during play. 
         [0008]    It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a knob for attachment to lower end of a lacrosse stick that provides the user the ability to position his or her lower hand on the knob in a virtually limitless number of possible positions through a ball and socket arrangement that therefore provide the user with enhanced control of the lacrosse stick during play. 
         [0009]    In accordance with the above and other advantages, the present invention provides a rounded cap or knob for a lacrosse stick handle that protects the blunt end of the handle during play. The interior of the cap or knob is formed of a flexible rubber-like or rubber material that substantially conforms to the exterior surface of the distal end of the handle, and therefore does not easily slide during usage. The interior also contains a shoulder portion within its interior to correctly position the knob or cap completely around the handle. 
         [0010]    The exterior surface of the knob or cap is shaped and sized for accommodation completely within the palm portion of the lower hand of a user. In addition, the rounded shape of the knob or cap allows the user to position his or her palm in a virtually limitless array of potential positions that enhance the user&#39;s ability to control the lacrosse stick during play via a ball and socket arrangement. 
         [0011]    These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, when viewed in accordance with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lacrosse stick handle having a rounded end knob in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the lacrosse stick handle and rounded end knob of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the lacrosse stick handle and rounded end knob of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the rounded knob of  FIG. 2  taken along line  4 - 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    Referring now to Figures, which illustrate a lacrosse stick handle generally referred to as handle  10  incorporated into a complete lacrosse stick. The handle  10  is inserted into and attached to a throat (not shown) of a lacrosse head (not shown) at its proximal end  12  and preferably secured using a setting screw (not shown) that passes through the head and the handle to prevent disengagement. It will be understood that other securing mechanisms for coupling the head to the handle may also be utilized. It will be understood that the handle may be attached to the head in a variety of other suitable ways. It will also be understood that the handle can have a variety of lengths and configurations as desired. The distal end  14  of the handle  10  includes a smooth and rounded removable cap or knob  30  that will be described in detail below. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the proximal end  12  and a portion  16  of the handle  10  near the proximal end  12  each have an octagonal cross-section as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This octagonal cross-section creates eight edges or corners  18 , continuous along the length of handle  10  both near the proximal end  12  and along the portion  16 , which together form eight flat, longitudinal and contiguous surfaces  20 . The external corners  18  and contiguous surfaces  20  at or near the proximal end  12  provide an easy and consistent insertion and attachment point for attaching the handle  10  within the throat of the lacrosse head. These external corners  18  and contiguous surfaces  20  also prevent the lacrosse head from twisting or turning relative to the handle  12  during usage. 
         [0018]    In addition, the external corners  18  and contiguous surfaces of the portion  16  of the handle  10  are thought to provide some resistance to unwanted rotation of the handle  10  within the user&#39;s upper hand during cradling and other handling maneuvers over a handle having a round or oval cross-section along this portion  16 . As one of ordinary skill recognizes, the term “upper hand” refers to the hand that a user of the lacrosse stick places closer the proximal end of the handle  10 , while the “lower hand” refers to the hand that is placed on the lacrosse stick that is closer to the distal end  14 . As such, the “upper hand” refers to the right hand when the “lower hand” refers to the left hand, and vice versa. 
         [0019]    While an octagonal cross-section in the proximal end  12  and along the portion  16  of the handle  10  is displayed herein, the cross-sectional design of the proximal end  12  and the portion  16  is not limited to the design disclosed herein, but may be formed having a virtually limitless number of potential designs having the same or similar playability characteristics as one of ordinary skill in the art will understand. For example, the cross-section of the proximal end may be rounded, squared, or include any number of corners and contiguous surfaces that are designed to match the throat region of the lacrosse head. In addition, while the cross-section of the proximal end  12  and portion  16  is shown as substantially symmetrical, the cross-section may in fact be asymmetrical. Also, the cross-section of the proximal end  12  may be similar to or different than the cross-section of that of the portion  16  of the handle  10  or other portions of the handle. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the distal end  14  of the handle  10  and another portion  22  of the handle  10  are preferably formed with a more rounded cross-section than that of the proximal end  12  and portion  16 . The substantial roundness of the portion  22  allows the lower hand of the user to be positioned and repositioned easily anywhere on the more rounded portion  22  in a virtually limitless number of positions. By allowing the lower hand to be freely positioned and repositioned without the encumbrance of corners or flat sections that limit the potential number of hand positions, the lacrosse stick can be precisely controlled by the user during play to cradle, pass, and shoot a lacrosse ball and to use the lacrosse stick in a defensive mechanism to try to eradicate the lacrosse ball from an opponent. In addition, the substantial roundness of the distal end  14  allows the removable cap or knob  30  to be easily positioned thereon. 
         [0021]    The handle  10  may be made of any material known in the art which is suited to the rigors of the game of lacrosse, including, but not limited to thermoplastics, lightweight metals, such as titanium or aluminum, graphite-loaded materials and other fiber-reinforced materials. Similarly, the handle  10  may be made of any of the methods well known in the art, including extrusion, molding, casting and machining. The handle  10  is preferably hollow to limit its weight, with the wall width of the handle being sufficient to withstand the mechanical flexing generated by cradling, passing and shooting a lacrosse ball, by gripping the handle  10 , and by contacting the handle against other lacrosse sticks, players or the field during play. 
         [0022]    The removable smooth and rounded cap or knob  30 , in accordance with one preferred embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , is coupled over the distal end  14  of the handle  10  and softens its blunt end  32 . The knob  30  also assists a user in monitoring a good grip on the handle  10 . The knob  30  includes a closed top  34  and an open end  36  having an interior cavity  38  including a shoulder region  56 . The distal end  14  of the handle  10  is inserted within the open end  36  such that the blunt end  32  is positioned against the shoulder region  56 . The closed top  34  includes a substantially round and spherical exterior surface  40 . 
         [0023]    The circumference or outer size of the exterior surface  40  is easily accommodated within the palm of a user&#39;s hand. In addition, the absence of prominent protruding surfaces on the exterior rounded surface  40  such as edges, ridges, or the like typical of conventional caps allows a user to hold the closed top  34  of the cap  30  and still rotate the handle in an infinite number of relative positions. In essence, the smooth and rounded end knob  30  interacts with a user&#39;s hand or palm in a ball and socket kind of arrangement. This provides the user with enhanced control of the lacrosse stick regardless of the positioning of the palm over the rounded closed top  34 . 
         [0024]    As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rounded closed top  34  of the cap  30  may include one or more visible features  42  stamped onto, embossed within or raised outward from the rounded exterior surface  40 . These features  42  may include source identifiers or other distinguishing such as logos, numbers, shapes, designs, or other contrasting features that are visible to a user or other players if uncovered from the user&#39;s lower hand. 
         [0025]    As best shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the open end  36  includes a wall  50  extending towards the closed end that has an inner surface  52  and an outer surface  53 . The inner surface  52  is preferably shaped to substantially conform to the shape of the side portion  54  of the distal end  14  of the handle  10  to which it is applied. Thus, if the side portion  54  is rounded, the smooth inner surface  52  is preferably smooth and rounded or otherwise shaped to substantially conform to the side portion  54  when coupled thereto. Alternatively, if the side portion  54  has a particular outer shape, for example having an octagonal shape as in most conventional lacrosse handles, the inner surface  52  is preferably shaped to substantially match the outer shape of the side portion  54  at the distal end  14  or to substantially conform to the side portion  54  when coupled thereto. The inner surface  52  terminates at the perpendicular surface  60  of the shoulder portion  56 . The shoulder portion  56  also includes a second surface  62  that runs perpendicular to the perpendicular surface  60  and transitions into the closed top interior surface  64 , which is the inner portion of the closed top  34 . The inner surface  52 , the perpendicular surface  60 , the inner surface  62  and the closed top interior surface  64  together define the inner cavity  38 . 
         [0026]    The shoulder portion  56  is preferably integrally formed with the open end  36  and the rounded closed top  34 , but may alternatively be inserted within the interior of the open end  36  in a post manufacturing step prior to the lacrosse handle  10  being inserted and still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0027]    The smooth interior surface  64  defines the inner portion of a wall portion  66  of the closed top  34  and is preferably shaped to substantially match the corresponding shape of the exterior surface  40  of the closed top  34 . Thus, the interior surface can be formed of a variety of different shapes in order to match the exterior shape of the handle. Alternatively, instead of fitting over the exterior surface of the handle  10 , the rounded cap  30  can be configured to be inserted into the handle  10  and still protect the blunt end. A small packaging hole  70  may also be introduced through the wall portion  66 . The packaging hole  70  provides a means by which the knob  10  can be coupled to a post portion of a conventional shaft hanger (not shown). The shaft hanger, as one of ordinary skill in the retail world recognizes, allows an item such as the knob  30 , or the knob  30  attached to a handle  10 , or to a knob attached to a complete lacrosse stick, to be hung on a hook or otherwise displayed in a retail setting. 
         [0028]    The outer surface  53  is preferably formed having a similar overall shape to that of the inner surface  52 , where the inner surface  52  is rounded and spherical. However, wherein the inner surface  52  is shaped to match the shape of side portion  54  of the lacrosse handle  10 , the outer surface  53  does not have the same overall shape as the inner surface  52 . Similar to the visible features  42 , the outer surface  53  may include one or more visible features (not shown) stamped onto, embossed within or raised outward from the outer surface  53  and still fall within the spirit of the present invention. These features are formed wherein they do not affect the durability or performance of the rounded cap  30 . 
         [0029]    The rounded cap  30  is preferably formed from a flexible and durable material such as a durable rubber or rubber-like material wherein the thickness of the wall  50  is thin enough such that it easily conforms to the side portion  54  of the distal end  14  of the handle yet thick enough to prevent tearing or breaking as the cap  30  is inserted over the side portion  54 . In addition, the thickness of the wall  50  and the wall portion  66  should be sufficiently thick so as to prevent tearing or undue wear during use. The thickness, as one of ordinary skill recognizes, varies depending upon the material used. Non-limiting examples of rubber or rubber-like materials that may be used to form the cap  30  and or the shoulder region  56  include thermoplastic elastomers (“TPE”), thermoplastic rubbers (“TPR”) and thermoplastic urethanes (“TPU”). 
         [0030]    The process for forming the rounded cap  30  is similar to processes for forming many small rubber objects and can includes such processes as injection molding, pour molding, or any other forming technique well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0031]    Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth herein.