Patent Publication Number: US-2010113191-A1

Title: Offset lacrosse head

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/110,324, filed on Oct. 31, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to lacrosse equipment, and more particularly a lightweight lacrosse stick head having increased strength and enhanced ball feel. 
     Conventional lacrosse sticks include a head joined with a handle. The head includes a frame that forms a region within which a lacrosse ball can be caught, held or shot. The head can take the form of an open frame having a base with an interior surface that defines a ballstop, a pair of sidewalls that extend from the base, and a lip that interconnects the sidewalls, remotely from the base, to form a scoop. The frame can define holes that secure a lacrosse net around the rear of the frame. A throat can project from the base of the frame for attachment to a handle, which can define a central longitudinal axis. 
     In many lacrosse heads, all or a major portion of the base or sidewalls can be curved or offset downward as these elements transition to the scoop. While this downward scooped configuration is appealing, it can in some cases present challenges with regard to maintaining the desired strength of the head in the areas of the downward transition. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a lacrosse head of lightweight design having increased strength and improved ball feel. 
     In one embodiment, the lacrosse head can include a sidewall having an upper rail including a primary rail and a secondary rail. The primary rail can extend generally linearly from a base of the head toward a scoop of the head when viewed from a side perspective. The secondary rail can separate and diverge upwardly from the primary rail at a junction near the base. In another embodiment, the secondary rail can extend in an upwardly angled manner or an upwardly curved manner away from the primary rail, toward the base. Optionally, the secondary rail can join the base distal from the junction. 
     In yet another embodiment, the lacrosse head can include a longitudinal axis extending from the base to the scoop. The primary rail can be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis from the base to the scoop. 
     In another further embodiment, the longitudinal axis can be located in a horizontal plane. The primary rail can extend from the base toward the scoop in this horizontal plane, and the scoop can contour downwardly with respect to this horizontal plane. 
     In a further embodiment, the lacrosse head can define another horizontal plane offset from and parallel to the longitudinal axis. The secondary rail can extend along this horizontal plane before transitioning downward toward the primary rail at a junction. In yet a further embodiment, the primary rail, secondary rail, and optionally the junction and the base can cooperate to define an aperture which visually emphasizes to a viewer the downward transition of the secondary rail toward the primary rail. With this construction, the viewer can readily recognize the lacrosse head as having an offset construction. 
     In another further embodiment, the secondary rail can diverge from the primary rail at an acute angle opening toward the base. The secondary rail can join the base at a distance above and separate from the primary rail to define an aperture therebetween. The aperture can be a variety of different shapes, such as a polygonal, circular, elliptical or triangular shape. 
     The present invention provides a head that is simple, lightweight and strong. With the divergent upper sidewall structure, the head is provided with an offset or scooped structure that includes an improved “double bar offset” reinforced frame, which refers to the spatially separated primary and secondary rails being located in the offset region of the head. This can add strength and rigidity to the head. In addition, this configuration visually augments the offset feature of the head, which can appeal to many lacrosse equipment consumers. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention, when view in accordance with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a current embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the lacrosse head; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the lacrosse head; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of the lacrosse head; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a first alternative embodiment of the lacrosse head; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a second embodiment of the lacrosse head; 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , a lacrosse head  10  in accordance with a current embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The head  10  can generally include a throat  34 , a base  14 , at least two sidewalls  18 , and a scoop  22 . The throat  34  as depicted in  FIG. 1  is joined to the base  14  and is adapted to connect to a lacrosse handle  31 . The throat  34  can be tubular in shape and can define a cavity to receive a lacrosse handle  31  through a socket opening  33 . The handle  31  can be secured within the throat  34 , optionally by means of a screw  35  or other suitable means. Optionally, the throat  34  can define one or more circular or elliptical apertures  37 ,  39  to reduce the weight of that component. 
     As depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , the lacrosse head  10  can include a base  14  joined with the sidewalls  18  defining a longitudinal axis  46  extending toward the scoop  22 . The base  14  can include a ballstop  16  distal from the socket opening  33 . The ballstop  16  can further include a concave interior and can be integral with the head  10 . Further, the ballstop  16  can include a first series of netting apertures or eyelets  15  for securing a net or web, as illustrated in  FIG. 6  The eyelets  15  can include a recessed or beveled interior, and can be rectangular, circular or elliptical as desired. 
     The base  14  can include one or more reinforcing members  36  disposed between a portion of the throat  34  and at least one of the ballstop  16  and the sidewall  18 . Optionally, the reinforcing member  36  can be a continuous and unitary extension of the sidewall  18 , defining an aperture bounded by a portion of the reinforcing member  36 , throat  34 , and ballstop  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , a longitudinal axis  46  can lie within a first horizontal plane  47  that bisects the upper and lower halves of the throat  34 , and subsequently a handle  31  joined with the throat  34 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the head  10  can include a pair of sidewalls  18  extending from the base  14  toward the scoop  22  to form an interior surface  20 . The sidewalls  18  can be of diverging hourglass configuration in plan view, being interiorly convex for about one-half of their lengths adjacent the scoop  22 . Alternatively, the sidewalls, and the respective rails thereof, can be substantially parallel to one another. The longitudinal axis  46  can define a vertical plane of symmetry  48  disposed between opposing lateral sidewalls  18 , wherein the opposing sidewalls  18  are mirror images of each other, as can be the laterally opposing portions of the base  14 . Alternatively, the opposing sidewalls  18  and/or base  14  can be different from one another in structure and orientation so that the head is asymmetric as desired. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the lacrosse head  10  can include a sidewall  18  having an open-frame construction. The sidewall  18  can include an upper rail  25  and a lower rail  24  separated by a distance. The upper rail  25  and lower rail  24  can define an non-string hole aperture therebetween, optionally extending from the base  14  to the scoop  22 . The sidewall  18  can further include one or more reinforcing cross members  56 . The cross member  56  can connect a portion of the upper rail  25  and a portion of the lower rail  24 . Optionally, the cross member  56  can define any number of non-string hole openings in the sidewall  18 . This open-frame construction can substantially decrease the amount of material used to form the sidewall  18  portions, thereby decreasing the overall weight of the lacrosse head  10  while retaining the desired rigidity and durability. The sidewall can also define one or more string holes or eyelets  32  disposed around a portion of the lower rail  24  or elsewhere to join a net or web to the head  10 . The string holes  32  can include a recessed or beveled interior, and can be rectangular, circular or elliptical as desired. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the upper rail  25  can include a primary rail  26  and a secondary rail  28 . The primary rail can extend from the scoop  22  to the base  14  generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  46  when viewed from a side perspective, as depicted in  FIG. 3 . The secondary rail  28  can diverge from the primary rail  26  at a junction  27 , extending in at least one of an upwardly angled manner and an upwardly curved manner away from the longitudinal axis  46  between the junction  27  and the ballstop  16 . The secondary rail  28  can join with the base  14  at a distance above and separate from the primary rail  26  so that the secondary rail  28  and the primary rail  26  define an aperture therebetween. The aperture can also be located between the junction  27  and the ballstop  16 , whereby the aperture visually accentuates the divergence of the secondary rail from the primary rail so that a view readily recognizes that the lacrosse head is of an offset construction. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the primary rail  26  can follow an inwardly concave contour near the base  14  before extending generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis  46  along a portion of its length. The primary rail  26  can transition to an inwardly convex contour and diverge from the central longitudinal axis  46  before transitioning to an inwardly concave contour proximate the scoop  22 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the primary rail  26  can be void of any substantial curves up or down from parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis  46  as the primary rail  26  extends from the base  14  or ballstop  16  toward the scoop  22 . Optionally, the primary rail  26  may extend substantially linearly from the base  14  or ballstop  16  toward the scoop  22  when viewed from a side perspective. Alternatively, the primary rail can be substantially linear from the base  14  or ballstop  16  up to the scoop  22 , at which point, the rail curves or angles downward. 
     The primary rail  26  can be a unitary extension of the ballstop  16 , and can also extend from the base  14  or ballstop  16  toward the scoop  22  within the first horizontal plane  47  defined by the longitudinal axis  46  as noted above. As the primary rail  26  extends from the base  14  or ballstop  16  toward the scoop  22 , the primary rail  26  can also be positioned at or below the longitudinal axis  46  when viewed from a side perspective. However, as desired, the primary rail  26  can vary to a position at or above the longitudinal axis  46  when viewed from a side perspective. 
     In another embodiment as shown in  FIG. 5 , the upper rail  25  can fork at a junction  27  near the base  14  into a primary rail  26  and secondary rail  28  that are separated by a first distance. The primary rail  26  can remain at or above the longitudinal axis  46  from the junction  27  to the scoop  22 . Additionally, the primary rail  26  can extend from the junction  27  to the scoop  22  generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  46  along a substantial portion of the axis  46  when viewed from a side perspective. Optionally, the primary rail  26  can be of a circular, polygonal, elliptical, rectangular, or beveled cross-section that is generally uniform or varies as it extends from the base  14  to the scoop  22 . 
     Returning to the current embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , the secondary rail  28  can extend between a portion of the base  14  or ballstop  16  and a portion of the primary rail  26 . The secondary rail may optionally be a unitary extension of a forward or upper portion of the base  14 , gradually curving downward toward the junction  27 . Optionally, the lacrosse head  10  can include a second horizontal plane  50  offset from and parallel to the longitudinal axis  46 , wherein the secondary rail  28  extends along a portion of its length within the second horizontal plane  50  before transitioning downward toward the junction  27 . The second horizontal plane  50  can be offset from and positioned above the first horizontal plane  47  by a pre-selected distance. The secondary rail  28  can transition downwardly in a curvilinear and/or linear manner toward the junction  27  to form an offset angle a with reference to the primary rail  26 . The angle a can vary as the application requires, but generally, the secondary rail  28  can gradually curve or angle at an acute angle a between the primary rail and secondary rail. In the area of the sidewalls  18  where the primary and secondary rails  26 ,  28  diverge, those rails can define an aperture therebetween. 
     The secondary rail  28  can join, fork from, diverge or branch from the primary sidewall  26  at the junction  27  in or near the ballstop  18 . Optionally, the junction  27  can be located between the base  14  and the scoop  22  at a portion of the primary rail  26  extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis  46  in plan view, or elsewhere in the head as desired. Additionally, each secondary rail  28  can be of a circular, polygonal, elliptical, rectangular, or beveled cross-section that is generally uniform or varies as it extends from the base  14  or ballstop  16  to the junction  27 . 
     The lacrosse head  10  can further define a curvilinear or polygonal aperture bounded by the primary rail  26 , secondary rail  28 , junction  27  and base  14  or ballstop  16 . Beginning with the end defined by the junction  27  of the primary and secondary rails  26 ,  28 , the aperture can extend generally toward the base  14  and can terminate in a polygonal edge with beveled interior corners. As shown in the current embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the head  10  can define a rounded aperture, for example an elliptical aperture bounded by the primary rail  26  and secondary rail  28 . In this embodiment, the cross-section of the primary and secondary upper sidewall rails  26 ,  28  can vary along their length to promote the elliptical aperture when viewed from the side or base of the head  10 . Of course, the aperture formed between the primary rail  26  and secondary rail  28  can be of a variety of geometric shapes. As depicted in the alternative embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a generally triangular aperture can be bounded by the primary rail  26 , secondary rail  28  and the base  14  and/or ballstop  16 . If desired, other geometries for the aperture may be selected as desired. For example, referring to another alternative embodiment of  FIG. 6 , a polygonal aperture can be bounded by the secondary rail  28  and the primary rail  26 . The other structures and components of these alternative embodiments in  FIGS. 5 and 6  can be virtually identical to those of the current embodiment. 
     Returning to the current embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 , the sidewalls  18  are joined by a scoop  22  at the ends thereof remote from the base  14 . The scoop  22  can further join the upper rail  25  and lower rail  24  at a portion of the sidewall  18  distal from the base  14 . The scoop  22  can also define a front lip outside surface  38 , back lip outside surface  40 , and an inside lip surface  44 . The scoop  22  can include a third series of netting apertures or eyelets  30 , optionally disposed between the back lip outside surface  40  and inside lip surface  44  for securing a net or web thereto, as depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 5 . The eyelets  30  can include a recessed or beveled interior, and can be rectangular, circular or elliptical as desired. The back lip outside surface  40  can be disposed at an angle  42  to the front lip outside surface  38  to minimize abrasion to the netting caused by contact between the scoop  22  and the ground during play, such as the lacrosse head disclosed in U.S. Reissued Patent RE38,216 to Morrow which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the scoop  22  can contour downwardly with reference to first horizontal plane  47  defined by the centerline axis  46  as the scoop  22  extends from the sidewall  18  to a portion of the scoop  22  furthest from the ballstop  16 . The scoop  22 , together with the sidewalls  18  and base  14  or ballstop  16 , can form a unitary head  10  with a smooth and continuous pocket facing interior. A netting or web can be secured to the head  10  through the first series of netting apertures or eyelets  15  disposed in a portion of the ballstop  16 , a second series of netting apertures or eyelets  32  disposed in the sidewalls  18 , and a third series of netting apertures or eyelets  30  disposed in the scoop  22 . 
     The lacrosse head  10  can be of an open frame, monolithic construction and formed from one or more of a variety of compounds such as nylon, urethane, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyketone or polybutylene terephalate. The desired lacrosse head  10  can be formed by first selecting its shape and configuration. After the shape and configuration is selected, a mold having a mold cavity can be formed in the shape of the head  10  to be formed. 
     As noted above, lacrosse handles of conventional construction typically have all or a major portion of a head disposed below the central longitudinal axis, often in plane with the leading portion of the base. The current embodiment as depicted in  FIGS. 1-6 , however, includes a secondary rail  28  offset from the longitudinal axis  46  when viewed from a side perspective, and structurally supporting the primary rail  26  which extends linearly from the base  14  to the scoop  22  when viewed from a side perspective. This improved offset design can provide a lacrosse stick head having increased strength, improved ball feel, and enhanced shooting capabilities—as well as an appearance that draws attention to the offset head configuration. 
     The above description is that of the current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference to elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.