Abstract:
The present invention relates to devices for physical training purposes and specifically to training weights for use on a lacrosse head. This weight training device for lacrosse distributes weight uniformly around the entire perimeter of a lacrosse head, is easy to attach to lacrosse heads from multiple manufacturers, is unobtrusive to be used during ball handling, and is available in multiple weight models to address the needs of beginners to professionals.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/821,694, filed Aug. 7, 2006, entitled “Lacrosse Head Weight Training Device,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to devices for physical training purposes and specifically to training weights for use on a lacrosse head. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are many current styles and implementations of training weights for use to improve the strength and performance of athletes. A major drawback of many of the existing weight devices is that they rely on the use of lead, which is a hazardous substance. Lead plates or bars are used in these existing devices due to lead&#39;s ability to be hand formed and then maintain the hand formed shape. However, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued guidance to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers warning against the use of lead in consumer products. 
         [0004]    The majority of training weights are general purpose devices such as ankle weights, weight vests, wrist weights, and weight belts that attach to the athlete&#39;s body. Another general category is weighted devices that mimic the shape and size of sports equipment. Two such devices are outlined in United States Patent Applications 20040176194 (Lacrosse training device) and 20050261075 (Sports training and conditioning device). The other general category includes training weights which attach to sports equipment and are targeted at specific sports such as baseball, tennis, golf, hockey, and lacrosse. The majority of these devices are intended to be attached to the handle or shaft of the sports equipment. Examples are outlined in United States Patent Applications 20050277491 (Adjustable weight training belt for a baseball bat), 20040259666 (Weighted training tape), 20020128085 (Swing weight) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,325 (Flexible swing weight). The category of the present invention is those devices that attach to the head of the sports equipment. One such device for tennis rackets is outlined in U.S. Pat. No. 3,330,560, issued Jul. 11, 1967. 
         [0005]    Two weight training products are currently found marketed in the general merchandise catalogs for lacrosse. The first product is a weighted lacrosse handle marketed by Warrior, the Powermaster Training Handle and is not in the category of the present invention. The second product is the Warrior Weighted Stick Doughnut and is in the category of the present invention. This second product attaches at the bottom of the lacrosse head and around the top of the lacrosse handle, concentrating the entire weight locally. A disadvantage of the second product and other prior art weighted training devices is the use of fabric as the outer casing to hold the weight medium. Fabric is flexible and allows these prior art training weights to wrap around sports equipment and an athlete&#39;s body parts. However, fabric has no structural rigidity. This lack of structural rigidity allows undue relative motions of the prior art devices during use. With a fabric casing, both shifting of the weight device relative to the sports equipment and shifting of the weight medium relative to the fabric casing occur. These undesirable relative motions are exaggerated by the back and forth rotational cradling motion required in lacrosse. 
         [0006]    A basic stick handling technique that is unique to the sport of lacrosse is cradling. Cradling is essential to keep the ball secure in the lacrosse head pocket while a player is running, dodging, and being checked by other players that are attempting to force the ball to be dropped. Cradling consists of rotating the lacrosse stick back and forth about the axis of the lacrosse handle to keep the ball held in the pocket of the lacrosse head. To avoid checks by other players, the player cradling the ball will also abruptly change the position of the lacrosse stick in reference to his body. To maintain a balanced feel during these lacrosse stick handling motions, a weighted attachment must distribute its weight uniformly around the entire perimeter of the lacrosse head and not allow shifting of its self and its weight medium. 
         [0007]    The application of attaching a weighted device to the perimeter of a lacrosse head creates multiple issues that must be addressed with novel approaches. Multiple manufacturers&#39; head designs, multiple pocket styles, and multiple stringing methods combine to demand a novel solution. Therefore the device design must include features that allow the device to conform to multiple shapes and an attachment method that easily adapts to available securing points on any given combination of head, pocket, and stringing method. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention relates to devices for physical training purposes and specifically to training weights for use on a lacrosse head. This weight training device for lacrosse distributes weight uniformly around the entire perimeter of a lacrosse head, is easy to attach to lacrosse heads from multiple manufacturers, is unobtrusive to be used during ball handling, does not require the use of lead plates or bars as a weight medium, and is available in multiple weight models to address the needs of beginners to professionals. 
         [0009]    The principal object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head. 
         [0010]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head which provides uniform distributed weight around the entire perimeter of the lacrosse head. 
         [0011]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head with a single seamless weight compartment. 
         [0012]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head which is hand shapeable by children or adults. 
         [0013]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head which is hand shapeable by children or adults and maintains its formed shape during installation and use. 
         [0014]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head which does not require lead plates or bars as a weight medium to allow hand shaping and to maintain the formed shape during use. 
         [0015]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head which is easy to attach and remove. 
         [0016]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head with an attachment method that can be relocated by the user anywhere along the attachment&#39;s length to easily adapt to the available securing points on any given combination of head, pocket, and stringing method. 
         [0017]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head which does not move during use. 
         [0018]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head that does not allow the weight medium to shift during use. 
         [0019]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head with a design that is easy to manufacture multiple weight versions with the same dimensions. 
         [0020]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head with a design that is easy to manufacture multiple color versions with the same dimensions. 
         [0021]    A further object of this invention is to provide a training weight attachment for a lacrosse head which is unobtrusive and can be used during ball handling. 
         [0022]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention has been built and tested. Multiple progressive weight models ranging from four to twenty ounces have been developed to span the training needs from beginners to advanced players. The preferred embodiment has been shown to have the adaptability to fit most lacrosse heads on the market. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the lacrosse weight training device; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the lacrosse weight training device secured to the head of a lacrosse stick. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention of a lacrosse weight training device  100  includes a tubular outer casing  110 , two end plugs  120 , weight medium  130 , spine  140 , cord  150 , and attachment straps  170 . 
         [0026]    The weight medium  130  is comprised of small particles approximately the size and consistency of sand. The use of small particles to fill the interior volume of the outer casing  110  distributes the weight uniformly along the device  100  length. As adjacent particles of the weight medium  130  readily shift in relationship to each other, the use of small particles allows the device  100  to be easily formed by hand to the shape of any lacrosse head. The small particles may be of various density materials such as sand, aluminum blasting grit, or steel shot. Lead shot would work well, however it is not a desirable material for the weight medium  130  due to its hazardous properties. The use of particles of different density for the weight medium  130  simplifies the manufacturing and packaging of multiple weight versions of the device  100 , as the same outer casing  110  length and diameter can be used. The use of small particles instead of large discrete weights also allows the homogenous mixture of particles of different densities to refine the weight of the device  100 . During manufacture, the weight medium  130  is easily poured into the outer casing  110 . 
         [0027]    The outer casing  110  has a seamless, uniform, one piece, tubular construction. The outer casing  110  is of a flexible yet durable material. The outer casing  110  has an inner surface  111 , an outer surface  112 , an end  113 , and an opposite end  114 . The outer casing  110  encircles the weight medium  130  and constrains the weight medium  130  against shifting during use of the device  100 . The outer casing  110  must be flexible, to be easily shaped to a lacrosse head, yet rigid enough so as not to collapse on its self. The ability of the outer casing  110  to not collapse on its self allows the weight medium  130  to be easily poured into the outer casing  110  during manufacture of the device  100 , and prevents shifting of the weight medium during use. The outer casing  110  should be readily available in multiple colors to facilitate the manufacture of numerous color varieties of the device  100 . The outer casing  110  is of sufficient length to extend around the entire perimeter of a lacrosse head. In the preferred embodiment, the outer casing  110  is PVC tubing with an outer diameter that allows it to be unobtrusive on the back side of a lacrosse head and a durometer range of approximately seventy to eighty on the Shore A scale. 
         [0028]    The two ends  115  and  116  of the device  100  are fitted with plugs  120  that confine the weight medium  130  within the outer casing  110  and restrain the weight medium  130  from shifting during use. The outer diameter of the plugs  120  correspond to the inner diameter of the outer casing  110 . The plugs  120  may be fabricated from materials of various densities to refine the overall weight of the device  100 . Materials such as PVC, DELRIN, nylon, aluminum, and steel can be used for the end plugs  120 . 
         [0029]    The ends  115  and  116  of the device  100  are secured together though the outer casing  110  and the end plugs  120  with a cord  150 . In the preferred embodiment, the cord  150  is elastic cord of approximately one eighth inch in diameter with a one hundred percent stretch. 
         [0030]    Internal to the outer casing  110  and captured between the end plugs  120  is the spine  140 . The spine  140  has physical properties that allow hand forming of the device  100 , yet the spine  140  maintains the formed shape of the device  100  during use. Retaining the formed shape during use minimizes the attachment points required to secure the device to the lacrosse head and prevents undue motion during use. Also, maintaining the formed shape of a lacrosse head while the device  100  is not attached to a lacrosse head provides the user with the perception of a high quality product. Although captured inside and between the end plugs  120  to prevent puncture of the outer casing  110 , the spine  140  is allowed some limited movement within the end plugs  120  along the length of the device  100 . This limited movement along the length facilitates forming the device  100  to the perimeter of a lacrosse head. In the preferred embodiment, the spine  140  is fabricated of ten gauge solid copper wire. Although included in the preferred embodiment of the device  100 , the spine  140  is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In a lower perceived quality embodiment, the spine  140  would not be included and thus the device  100  would be less expensive to manufacture. In the “spineless” embodiment, a higher number of attachment points are likely to be required. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment of the lacrosse weight attachment device  100  is secured to the head  180  of a lacrosse stick. As shown, the device  100  encircles the entire perimeter of the lacrosse head  180  and has been custom formed by hand to the shape of the lacrosse head  180 . In particular, during installation, a child or adult can shape the weight training device  100  without the use of any tool to the perimeter shape of any manufacturer&#39;s lacrosse head  180 . After forming, the device  100  will maintain the shape of the lacrosse head  180  to facilitate the easy attachment of the device  100  to the lacrosse head  180 . To be unobtrusive during use, taking the form of the lacrosse head  180  is essential so the device  100  can be securely fastened to the head  180  yet not interfere with the pocket  190  or stringing  200 . Also, the ability of the device  100  to maintain its shape during use minimizes the attachment points  181  required to secure the device  100  to the lacrosse head  180  and prevents undue motion during use. The two attachment points  181  shown in the scoop area  183  of the lacrosse head  180  are not required in all embodiments of the device  100 . However, in an embodiment of the device  100  without the spine  140  (as depicted on  FIG. 1 ) the attachment points  181  in the scoop area  183  would likely be required to prevent undue movement of the device  100  during use. 
         [0032]    Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the device  100  is attached to the back side of a lacrosse head  180  with multiple self gripping hook and loop straps  170 . The small device profile and attachment to the back side of the lacrosse head  180  allows the use of the device  100  without interfering with normal lacrosse stick handling, catching, throwing, and shooting. The straps  170  are secured to the outer casing  110 , yet may be easily repositioned by hand anywhere along the length of the training device  100  to facilitate fastening to any manufacturer&#39;s lacrosse head  180 . The ability to reposition the straps  170  along the outer casing  110  is essential to adapt to the available securing points  181  on any given combination of lacrosse head  180 , pocket  190 , and stringing method  200 . The straps  170  are of sufficient length to wrap around the various cross sectional shapes and sizes of lacrosse heads  180 . The use of self gripping hook and loop straps  170  allow a minimum number of straps to securely fasten the device to a lacrosse head  180  during use, thus enabling quick and easy installation and removal. The width of the straps  170  is sufficient to distribute the securing force during installation so as to not locally deform the outer casing  110  at the straps  170 . In the preferred embodiment, the fastening straps  170  are one half inch wide VELCRO® ONE-WRAP® brand straps. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cord  150  forms a loop though which the handle  210  of the lacrosse stick is passed during installation. The cord  150  secures the two ends  115  and  116  of the weight device  100  to the lacrosse stick preventing undue motion during installation and use. In the preferred embodiment, the size of the loop along with the elastic nature of the cord  150  provide a custom fit to the cross section of various manufacturers&#39; lacrosse head  180  “throat” area  182  or handle  210 . It is obvious that alternate methods and materials to the preferred embodiment of the cord  150  can be used. As alternates to the use of an elastic cord of the proper loop size, a non-elastic cord could be used with a cord lock such as those commonly used on jackets to cinch the waist, or a non-elastic cord could simply be tied by the user to fit. 
         [0034]    Based on the above detailed description and figures, it can be determined that the novel design elements of the device  100  accomplish all of the stated objectives and embody a unique invention for a weight training device for use on a lacrosse head. However, the detailed descriptions and figures of the embodiments are not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is intended that the scope of the invention includes modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the invention that may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.