Abstract:
A device for use in a sport or activity includes a sporting net comprising a plurality of members, each member comprises a plurality of strands, wherein one strand of one of the members comprises a first core, and the one of the members includes an outer layer surrounding the first core. A method for making a sport equipment includes combining a first group of strands to form a first elongate member, one of the strands comprising a core, the first elongate member including an outer layer that surrounds the core, combining a second group of strands to form a second elongate member, and using the first and second elongate members to form a portion of a sporting net.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to sporting equipment, and more specifically, to nets used for sporting equipment, such as lacrosse stick heads.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     A lacrosse head generally includes a lacrosse head frame and a net connected to a perimeter of the head frame to thereby form a pocket into which the ball is received and from which the ball is thrown. Typically, the lacrosse head frame includes a series of holes along its entire periphery, and a string passing through the holes is used to connect the net to the lacrosse head frame. Sometimes, a lacrosse head further includes four or more adjustable leather thongs that extend between the scoop (top) and the base of the lacrosse head frame.  
         [0003]     Currently, nets of lacrosse heads are made from nylon laces that are either interwoven with the thongs of lacrosse heads, or are interwoven to form integral pockets, which are then secured to the lacrosse head frames. Such lacrosse nets are not water-resistant, and therefore, may retain moisture when come in contact with fluid, such as rain, or a wet ball. As a result, the lacrosse nets may become heavier, and may not provide sufficient control of a lacrosse ball. Existing lacrosse nets are also not abrasion-resistant, and can deteriorate or be easily damaged due to contact with lacrosse balls and/or impact with other objects, such as other players&#39; lacrosse sticks or the ground. The damaged net would adversely impact the performance of the lacrosse head. As such, existing lacrosse nets may need to be repaired or replaced periodically.  
         [0004]     Existing lacrosse nets made from nylon are also quite soft, and deform easily (i.e., do not have good shape-retention characteristic) during use. As a result, a player may not have good control of a lacrosse ball while running and throwing the ball. In addition, while a lacrosse net made from nylon allows a player to spin the ball as the ball is thrown from the lacrosse net, the amount of spin created on the ball is usually limited.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     In accordance with some embodiments, a device for use in a sport or activity includes a sporting net comprising a plurality of members, each member comprises a plurality of strands, wherein one strand of one of the members comprises a first core, and the one of the members includes an outer layer surrounding the first core.  
         [0006]     In accordance with other embodiments, a device for use in a sport or activity includes a lacrosse head, and a plurality of strands combined to form an elongate member, the elongate member connected to the lacrosse head, wherein one of the strands includes a core, and the elongate member includes an outer layer surrounding the core.  
         [0007]     In accordance with other embodiments, a method for making a sport equipment includes combining a first group of strands to form a first elongate member, one of the strands comprising a core, the first elongate member including an outer layer that surrounds the core, combining a second group of strands to form a second elongate member, and using the first and second elongate members to form a portion of a sporting net.  
         [0008]     Other aspects and features of the invention will be evident from reading the following description of the embodiments.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     The drawings illustrate the design and utility of embodiments, in which similar elements are referred to by common reference numerals. In order to better appreciate how advantages and objects of the embodiments are obtained, a more particular description of the embodiments will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of a lacrosse stick having a lacrosse head frame and a lacrosse net in accordance with some embodiments;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates a detailed isometric view of a portion of the net of  FIG. 1  in accordance with some embodiments;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  illustrates a portion of a member of the net of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a strand of the member of  FIG. 3  in accordance with some embodiments;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a strand of the member of  FIG. 3  in accordance with alternative embodiments;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the member of the net of  FIG. 2  in accordance with alternative embodiments;  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  illustrates a variation of the lacrosse head frame of  FIG. 1 , particularly showing the lacrosse head frame having a plurality of leather strips;  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  illustrates a variation of the lacrosse head frame of  FIG. 1 , particularly showing the lacrosse head frame having a pocket member;  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  illustrates a hockey goal frame that includes a net in accordance with other embodiments;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  illustrates a lacrosse goal frame that includes a net in accordance with other embodiments;  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  illustrates a soccer goal frame that includes a net in accordance with other embodiments;  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  illustrates a fishing equipment that includes a net in accordance with other embodiments;  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  illustrates a tennis net in accordance with other embodiments;  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  illustrates a badminton net in accordance with other embodiments;  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  illustrates a volleyball net in accordance with other embodiments; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  illustrates a basketball net in accordance with other embodiments.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     Various embodiments are described hereinafter with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of specific embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention or as a limitation on the scope of the invention. In addition, an aspect described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  illustrates a lacrosse stick  10  in accordance with some embodiments. The lacrosse stick  10  includes a head frame  12 , a shaft  14  connected to the head frame  12 , and a net  16 . The head frame  12  includes a top portion (scoop)  18 , side walls  20 ,  22 , a bottom portion (ball stop)  24 , which are integrally formed together (e.g., by a traditional molding technique). In the illustrated embodiments, the head frame  12  also includes a socket  26 , which allows the shaft  14  to be fitted therein. It should be noted that the head frame  12  should not be limited to the shape and configuration illustrated in the figure, and that the head frame  12  can have other shapes and configurations in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the head frame  12  can further include a pocket member ( FIG. 8 ) that is secured to the top portion  18  of the head frame  12 . Lacrosse heads having pocket members have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,132. Also, in other embodiments, the head frame  12  can further include one or more inserts (not shown) that are secured to the perimeter of the head frame  12 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of the net  16  of  FIG. 1  in accordance with some embodiments. The net  16  includes a plurality of elongate members  50  that are connected to each other to form the net  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of the members  50  includes a plurality of strands  52 , wherein each of the strands  52  includes a core  54  and an outer layer  58 . The core  54  is made from a plurality of filaments  56 . Alternatively, the core  54  can be made from a single filament. In the illustrated embodiments, the filament(s)  56  are made from a synthetic material, such as Nylon, a polymer, synthetic guts, polyester, aramide, polyethylene, and the like. In some embodiments, the filament(s)  56  are made from a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) (an example of a polymer), such as Vectran®, available from Celanese Acetate LLC, Charlotte, N.C. In the illustrated embodiments, the core  54  has a cross-sectional dimension that is between 0.01 inch and 0.03 inch. In other embodiments, the core  54  can have other cross-sectional dimensions (e.g., less than 0.01 inch or more than 0.03 inch).  
         [0029]     In the illustrated embodiments, the outer layer  58  is made from a polyurethane elastomer. Using such material for the outer layer  58  is advantageous in that it provides water-resistance for the strand  52  (which in turn, prevents the net  16  from stretching or shrinking), and allows the strand  52  to better resist abrasion due to normal use of the net  16 . Constructing the outer layer  58  using a polyurethane elastomer also provides more rigidity for the strand  52 , thereby allowing the net  16  formed therefrom to have a better shape-retention characteristic. The increased hardness of the net  16  also allows a player to better control a lacrosse ball while running and throwing the ball. Furthermore, the outer layer  58  provides higher frictional contact with a lacrosse ball (when compared with traditional lacrosse nets). Such feature allows the net  16  to provide more spinning power as the net  16  is used to throw a lacrosse ball. In other embodiments, the outer layer  58  can be made from other materials, such as polyester, vinyl, polyvinylidene fluoride, polypropylene, EVA, ionomer, thermoplastic urethane, polyamide, etc. It should be noted that the material(s) used to construct the outer layer  58  should not be limited to the examples mentioned previously, and that other materials may also be used to construct the outer layer  58  in other embodiments. In addition, the material(s) used to construct the outer layer  58  needs not have any or all of the advantageous/characteristics discussed previously. For example, in some embodiments, the outer layer  58  can be constructed using a material such that it provides a certain desired structural characteristic(s) (e.g., a desired stiffness, a desired strength, or a desired cross-sectional property, etc.) for the strand  52 . In such cases, the outer layer  58  may or may not provide water-resistance or abrasion-resistance for the strand  52  (depending on the material(s) used to construct the outer layer  58 ). In the illustrated embodiments, the outer layer  58  has a cross-sectional thickness that is between 0.005 inch and 0.01 inch. In other embodiments, the outer layer  58  can have other cross-sectional thicknesses (e.g., less than 0.005 inch or more than 0.01 inch).  
         [0030]     Various techniques may be used to construct the strand  52 . For example, in some embodiments, the strand  52  can be made by helically wrapping a linear member around the core  54 , wherein the linear member becomes the outer layer  58  after the wrapping process. In other embodiments, the strand  52  can be made by an extrusion process, in which a semi-liquid material of the outer layer  58  is pulled through a dye, and the core  54  is pulled through the semi-liquid material in a coaxial arrangement. Such process is similar to that used for manufacturing electrical wires. Also, in other embodiments, the strand  52  can be made by a chemical impregnation process. In further embodiments, the strand  52  can be made by coating the core  54  using a hot-melt adhesive, which will become the outer layer  58  after the adhesive solidifies. It should be noted that the strand  52  should not be limited by the type of manufacturing process described, and that any of other known manufacturing techniques may also be used to construct the strand  52 .  
         [0031]     Returning to  FIG. 2 , each of the members  50  of the net  16  is formed by knitting a strand  52  into a desired configuration. Alternatively, each of the members  50  can be formed by knitting or interweaving a plurality of strands  52  (e.g., two or more). Each of the members  50  has a width  62  that is larger than its thickness  64  to thereby create a flat profile. Such configuration provides more contact surface area between the net  16  and a lacrosse ball, thereby allowing the net  16  to more efficiently spin the ball as the ball is thrown from the net  16 . The members  50  are tied together (e.g. via a stitch or a strand) at junction regions  60  to thereby allow a plurality of openings  62  be formed for the net  16 . In other embodiments, instead of connecting the members  50  after they are formed, the members  50  may be formed by the strands  52  in such a manner that allows the members  50  to be “connected” as they are formed. For example, the net  16  may be formed by interweaving strands  52  to form a net pattern having openings  62 . It should be noted that the configuration of the net  16  should not be limited to that shown in the figure, and that the net  16  can have other configurations in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the knitted or woven pattern of the strands  52  can be different from that shown in  FIG. 3 . In addition, in other embodiments, instead of connecting adjacent members  50  to form the net  16 , members  50  can be crisscrossed and be connected at intersection points to form the net  16 . Further, in other embodiments, instead of the diamond shape shown in the figure, the net openings  62  can have different shapes. For examples, the net openings  62  can each have a rectangular shape, a pentagon shape, a hexagonal shape, a triangular shape, an oval shape, or a customized shape.  
         [0032]     It should be noted that the strands  52  of the net  16  should not be limited to the configuration illustrated previously, and that the strands  52  can have different configurations in other embodiments. For example, in alternative embodiments, instead of having the core  54  and the outer layer  58 , the strand  52  can further include one or more intermediate layers  80  disposed between the core  54  and the outer layer  58  ( FIG. 5 ). Any of the materials discussed with reference to the outer layer  58  may also be suitable for constructing the intermediate layer  80 . In some embodiments, the intermediate layer  80  provides the strand  52  with a certain desired structural characteristic(s) (e.g., a desired stiffness, a desired strength, or a desired cross-sectional property, etc.). In other embodiments, instead of, or in addition to, providing structural characteristic(s), the intermediate layer  80  functions to adhere the outer layer  58  to the core  54 . The intermediate layer  80  can be created by helically wrapping a linear member around the core  54 . In other embodiments, the strand  52  can be made by an extrusion process, in which a semi-liquid material of the intermediate layer  80  is pulled through a dye, and the core  54  is pulled through the semi-liquid material in a coaxial arrangement. Also, in other embodiments, the intermediate layer  80  may be disposed on the core  54  by a chemical impregnation process. In further embodiments, the intermediate layer  80  may be coated on the core  54  as a hot-melt adhesive. After the intermediate layer  80  has been disposed on the core  54 , the outer layer  58  is then disposed on the intermediate layer  80  using any of the techniques discussed previously. In other embodiments, the outer layer  58  may be formed as a tubular member. In such cases, the core  54  is disposed coaxially within the tubing of the outer layer  58 , and a fluid or semi-fluid material (e.g., an adhesive) is used to fill the spacing between the core  54  and the outer layer  58 . After the adhesive solidifies, it becomes the intermediate layer  80  of the strand  52 , and secures the outer layer  58  to the core  54 . It should be noted that the strand  52  of  FIG. 5  should not be limited by the type of manufacturing process described, and that any of other known manufacturing techniques may also be used to construct the strand  52 .  
         [0033]     In the above embodiments, the outer layers  58  of the strands  52  are disposed around the respective cores  54  of the strands  52  before the strands  52  are used to form the member  50 . Such technique is advantageous in that it provides better structural enforcement (e.g., better tensile strength) for the member  50  (as compared to coating the member  50  with the outer layer after the member  50  is formed). Also, such technique allows the member  50  to have a more even distribution of the outer layers  58 , and allows the outer layers  58  to be better secured to the cores  54  (as compared to coating the member  50  with the outer layer after the member  50  is formed). This is because coating the member  50  with an outer layer after the member  50  is formed may result in the outer layer having an uneven thickness (e.g., with some areas being significantly thicker or thinner than others). The thicker portions may affect the manner in which the member  50  flexes. Also, in some cases, the thinner portions may wear off, thereby exposing the core. Applying the outer layers  58  before the strands  52  are used to form the member  50  is also advantageous in that the strands  52  (with the outer layer  58 ) of the member  50  can move (although very slightly) relative to each other, thereby allowing the member  50  to be more flexible (as compared to coating the member  50  with the outer layer after the member  50  is formed). This in turn, allows the resulting net  16  to deform as it is used to catch a ball.  
         [0034]     It should be noted that the net  16  needs not have any of all of the advantageous described previously, and that in alternative embodiments, instead of applying the outer layers  58  before the member  50  is formed, the strands  52  without the outer layers  58  can be used to form the member  50 , and the member  50  is then coated with an outer layer.  FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the member  50  of the net  16  in accordance with other embodiments. As shown in the figure, the member  50  is formed by first interweaving the strands  52  (which include the cores  54 , but do not include the outer layer  58 ), and then disposing the outer layer  58  around the interwoven strands  52 . In such cases, instead of having a plurality of outer layers  58  surrounding respective cores  54 , a single outer layer  58  surrounds the cores  54  of the strands  52 .  
         [0035]     In some embodiments, the entire net  16  is constructed as a single unit, and is then attached to the lacrosse head frame  12 . In other embodiments, the net  16  is formed from a plurality of net portions, which are constructed separately. The net portions are then connected together to form the net  16 . For examples, the net portions may be connected together using an adhesive, or by tying some of the strands  52  of one net portion to the strands  52  of another net portion. After the net  16  has been constructed, the net  16  can be secured to the lacrosse head frame  12  via a string  64  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In other embodiments, connectors such as snaps, buttons, clips, or other connection devices known in the art of lacrosse head construction, may be used to secure the net  16  to the lacrosse head frame  12 . In further embodiments, the net  16  can be secured directly to the head frame  12  (e.g., by tying the members  50 , or at least some of the strands  52  of the members  50 , directly to the head frame  12 ).  
         [0036]     In other embodiments, the lacrosse head frame  12  further includes a plurality (e.g., four) of leather thongs  100  that are connected between the top portion  18  and the bottom portion  24  of the lacrosse head frame  12  ( FIG. 7 ). In such cases, portions (e.g., some of the members  50 , or some of the strands  52 ) of the net  16  can interweave with the leather strips  100 .  
         [0037]     In other embodiments, the lacrosse head frame  12  can further include a pocket member  110  that is secured to the top portion  18  of the lacrosse head frame  12  ( FIG. 8 ). The pocket member  110  has a partial outline shape that conforms to the inside of head frame scoop  18  and the portions of the sidewalls  20  and  22  proximate the scoop  18 . The pocket member  110  may be permanently or removably secured to the lacrosse head frame  12 . In such cases, the net  16  is sized to span between the pocket member  110  and the base portion  24  of the lacrosse head frame  12 . In the illustrated embodiments, the pocket member  110  includes a plurality of holes  112  for allowing the net  16  to be connected to the pocket member  110 . For example, portion(s) of the net  16  may be tied directly to the holes  112 . Alternatively, portion(s) of the net  16  may be secured to the holes  112  indirectly using a string/lace or connector(s).  
         [0038]     Although the embodiments of the net  16  have been described with reference to a lacrosse head, the scope of the invention should not be so limited. In other embodiments, any of the embodiments of the nets  16  described herein can be sized and shaped accordingly for use with other sporting equipment, such as a hockey goal frame  200  ( FIG. 9 ), a lacrosse goal frame  202  ( FIG. 10 ), a soccer goal frame  204  ( FIG. 11 ), a frame  206  of a fishing net frame ( FIG. 12 ), a basketball hoop ( FIG. 16 ), or any of other frames used in sports. Also, in other embodiments, any of the embodiments of the nets  16  described herein can be used to form a tennis net  208  ( FIG. 13 ), a badminton net  210  ( FIG. 14 ), a volleyball net  212  ( FIG. 15 ), a basketball net  214  ( FIG. 16 ), or any of other sporting nets not described herein. As used herein, the term “sporting net” refers to a net that is used, or appropriate for use, in a sport. For example, the net  16  can be combined with another net  16  to form the sporting net, or alternatively, be constructed as an integral piece to form the sporting net. As such, the net  16  may have different sizes, shapes, and configurations in different embodiments, depending on the particular application.  
         [0039]     Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that the present inventions are not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.