Abstract:
A device for shaping and forming a lacrosse head pocket may comprise a bottom surface, a plurality of side surfaces that form a top surface, and a plurality of openings. The top surface may have a curved surface. The plurality of openings may be at opposite side surfaces of the plurality of side surfaces and the plurality of openings may extend through the opposite side surfaces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a lacrosse head pocket shaper and protection device, and more specifically, relates to a device that may be placed and secured within a lacrosse head pocket in order to make and protect the shape of the lacrosse head pocket. 
     Currently, lacrosse sticks may include a pocket to catch and release lacrosse balls during a lacrosse game. The position and the shape of the pockets on lacrosse sticks may effect the release and delivery of lacrosse balls during play, where certain pocket shapes may allow more options and versatility in releasing and delivering lacrosse balls. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a way to customize the shape of pockets on lacrosse sticks as well as protecting already-shaped pockets on lacrosse sticks. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a device may comprise a bottom surface; a plurality of side surfaces that form a top surface, the top surface having a curved surface; and a plurality of openings at opposite side surfaces of the plurality of side surfaces, the plurality of openings extending through the opposite side surfaces. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method for shaping and forming a lacrosse head pocket may comprise providing a device including a bottom surface; a plurality of side surfaces that form a top surface, the top surface having a curved surface; and a plurality of openings at opposite side surfaces of the plurality of side surfaces, the plurality of openings extending through the opposite side surfaces. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a lacrosse head pocket protection device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the lacrosse head pocket protection device of  FIG. 1  in use with a lacrosse head pocket; 
         FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the lacrosse head pocket protection device of  FIG. 1  in use with the lacrosse head pocket of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the lacrosse head protection device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a section view of the lacrosse head protection device of  FIG. 1  along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of the lacrosse head protection device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
     Broadly, embodiments of the present invention generally provide a lacrosse head pocket protection device that may help form the lacrosse head pocket into a desired shape as well as help keep the shape of and prevent the deformation of a lacrosse head pocket that has already been formed into a desired shape. The lacrosse head pocket protection device may also be used to provide a framework to string lacrosse head pockets. 
     A lacrosse head pocket may comprise a mesh pocket. The lacrosse head pocket protection device may be made of a solid form having one or more openings running through the device where pins may be inserted through the mesh pocket of the lacrosse head pocket and through openings of the device in order to secure the device into the mesh pocket. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the lacrosse head pocket protection device  100  may be solid in form and may comprise a base surface  100   a  and two side surfaces  100   b . The base surface  100   a  may be of a pill shape having two arced ends  101 . Each of the side surfaces  100   b  of the device  100  may be of a shape that may include a convex arc portion  106   a  extending from the base surface  100   a  of the device  100  and a concave arc portion  106   b  that extends continuously from the convex arc portion  106   a  to the base surface  100   a . The two side surfaces  100   b  may meet to form a top surface, thereby forming the device  100  as a solid structure. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the side surfaces  100   b  of the device  100  may comprise a single continuous surface extending from the base surface  100   a  and that may be curved according to the convex arc portion  106   a  and the concave arc portion  106   b.    
     A plurality of openings  105  may run through opposite side surfaces  100   b  of the device  100 . The openings  105  may comprise one or more rows and one or more columns on the side surfaces  100   b  of the device  100  and may be disposed as an offset array of openings  105  on the side surfaces  100   b  of the device  100 . 
     In use, the lacrosse head pocket protection device  100  may be placed topside first into a lacrosse head pocket  130  so that the arc portions  106   a  and  106   b  of the device  100  faces down towards the pocket  130  when the device  100  is situated within the lacrosse head pocket  130 . One or more pins  120  may be inserted through openings  135  on the lacrosse head pocket  130  into one or more of the plurality of openings  105  on the lacrosse head pocket protection device  100  in order to secure the device  100  into the lacrosse head pocket  130 . Placement of the device  100  within the lacrosse head pocket  130 , as well as the placement of the pins  120  through the openings  135  of the lacrosse head pocket  130  and the openings  105  running through the device  100 , may depend on the shape of the lacrosse head pocket  130  one wishes to form or protect. For example, the device  100  may be secured via the pins  105  in a position within the lacrosse head pocket  130  so that the device  100  may exert a force on the lacrosse head pocket  130  that may be sufficient to help form the lacrosse head pocket  130  into a desired pocket shape. Alternatively, the device  100  may be secured via the pins  120  in a position within the lacrosse head pocket  130  so that the device  100  exerts little to no force onto the lacrosse head pocket  130 , so that the device  100  may be used to protect an already formed shape of the lacrosse head pocket  130 . 
     The pins  120  may also be attached to a cord  125  that may clamp onto the device  100 , such as by attaching the cord  125  to a slot  110  on the base surface  100   a  of the device  100 , so that the pins  120  may remain attached to the device  100  even when the pins  120  are not inserted into the openings  105  of the device  100 . 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.