Patent Publication Number: US-6984186-B2

Title: Protective covering for a hockey stick blade

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/678,343, filed Oct. 3, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,944 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a protective cover for the blade of an ice hockey stick and particularly to a cover for protecting the blade and surfaces which come into contact with the sticky black friction tape normally applied to the blade. 
   Ice hockey sticks generally comprise a blade, a shaft extending at an angle to the length of the blade and a throat area where the shaft and blade form the angle with one another. The angle between the shaft and the blade is known as the “lie” of the stick and generally most hockey sticks, at least in recent times, have similar lies. For decades, hockey sticks have been made of wood or wood laminates. Within the past few years, however, shafts have been made from aluminum or compositions of graphite, Kevlar® and other synthetics. The end of each of these shafts is typically hollow to receive the stem of a wooden blade, either as part of the original hockey stick or as a replacement blade. The wooden blades are attached to the metal or synthetic sticks, typically by using glue, the shaft end being expanded by heat to facilitate reception of the stem within the hollow shaft end. As the shaft cools, it contracts about the stem and the glue hardens, making an extremely durable bond between the shaft and blade. Also, hockey sticks are commercially available in senior or junior sizes. The difference is that the junior size has a slightly shorter shaft length and smaller cross-section. 
   Apart from normal on-ice use of hockey sticks, they are frequently subjected to substantial use and abuse. For example, younger hockey players typically mistreat their hockey sticks by using the sticks outside of the hockey rink. Typically, the off-ice hockey stick is used to flip or drive not only hockey pucks but rocks and other similar objects, for example, in the streets, parking lots, or during games of “street” hockey. As a result, the wooden hockey blades are often chipped, splintered or frayed along their edges, which degrades their effectiveness on the ice and creates a potential source of problems off-ice, for example, hooked clothing, ripped car seats, splinters and the like. The useful life of such mistreated and abused hockey sticks is therefore considerably shortened, oftentimes resulting in the need to purchase an expensive new hockey stick or at least a replacement blade because of the damage incurred off the ice. 
   Further, most players typically cover the blades with a sticky black tar-like friction tape to afford better control of the puck while on the ice. The presence of the tar-like friction tape on the blade, however, causes a variety of problems, including black markings left on various surfaces contacted by the black tape. For example, hockey sticks are normally transported by car or van. Contact between the tape on the blades and surfaces in the cargo area or trunk of the vehicle leaves unsightly black markings. Similar markings or stains also appear on floors or walls, causing unsightly appearances, requiring removal and which removal is quite difficult. 
   One form of protection for a hockey stick currently commercially available is a hockey stick bag. The bag is elongated and shaped generally to conform to the dimensions and shape of the hockey stick. The bag completely encompasses or envelops the entire hockey stick. These bags are essentially bulky, difficult to use and difficult to close. These difficulties have led to non-use of the bags, even when available. Additionally, a number of different coverings for hockey stick blades are disclosed in the patent literature, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,377,065; 5,127,649; 4,651,990 and 5,294,113. The coverings of these patents have various drawbacks, including the degree of difficulty of application of the covering to the hockey stick, cost and other factors. Accordingly, there has developed a need for a protective cover for a hockey stick blade which serves the purposes of protecting the blade from damage while also protecting adjacent surfaces from contact with the sticky friction tape normally applied to the blade and, at the same time, is inexpensive and readily and easily manufactured. 
   BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cover for the blade of a hockey stick including an elongated sleeve for receiving the blade and an extension of the sleeve for at least partially enveloping a portion of the shank of the hockey stick adjacent the blade. The cover is preferably formed of a flexible material such as a high-abrasion and tear-resistant nylon but may be formed of other types of flexible materials and may also be formed of a semi-rigid plastic material. The sleeve of the cover fully envelops the blade and overlies the black sticky tape on the blade, thus forming a barrier preventing direct contact between the sticky black friction tape and an adjacent surface. 
   In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve has a closed end and an opposite open end, i.e., a closed toe portion and an open heel portion. The extension at the open end of the sleeve angles from the sleeve at substantially the same angle as the shank is angled relative to the hockey stick blade. The extension includes one or more fasteners, for example, hoop and loop (Velcro®) strips, such that the hockey stick blade can be inserted into the open end of the sleeve, with the fastener(s) closing about the rear edge of the extension to retain the sleeve on the stick in overlying protective relation to the blade. In a preferred form, a pull, for example, a loop of flexible material, may be provided on the toe portion of the sleeve to facilitate removal of the sleeve from the blade upon release of the fastener(s). 
   A notch is preferably provided at the juncture of the sleeve and the extension and along the upper edge of the sleeve. The notch extends laterally from the upper edge of the sleeve and at least in part along opposite sides of the sleeve for a very limited extent. The notch accommodates the angularity between the shank and blade of the stick, thereby eliminating stresses at the juncture of the extension and sleeve. The notch also affords a ventilation port for the blade after use. It will be appreciated that the sleeves being formed of flexible material or a semi-rigid plastic material accommodate curvatures of the blades in either direction, i.e., blades curved oppositely for right or left-handed players. Also, the cover, albeit in a different size and shape, is useful with a goalie&#39;s stick, with the same advantageous benefits and results. 
   In a further preferred form of the present invention, a reinforcement may be formed along the lower edge of the sleeve to provide a degree of rigidity to the edge. Consequently, if the hockey stick with the cover overlying the blade is used off-ice or even on-ice, substantial resistance to wear and abrasion of the sleeve is afforded by the reinforcement. In a still further preferred embodiment, the cover may be formed to provide for either top or bottom entry of the blade and shank portion of the stick into the cover. For top entry, the upper edge of the sleeve, as well as the forward edge of the extension may be open. Once the blade and shank portion are inserted through the openings, fasteners such as zippers or Velcro®-type fasteners, may be closed to close the upper edge of the sleeve over the upper edge of the blade and the forward edge of the extension along the forward edge of the shank portion. For bottom entry, the margins of the cover along the lower edge of the sleeve and rearward edge of the extension may be opened and similar-type fasteners applied to secure the cover to the hockey stick once received within the cover. 
   The cover may be provided in different sizes to accommodate the standard height and length of the hockey stick blade in one size and also the enlarged height and width of the blade of a goalie stick. Additionally, the cover may be provided in increased widths to accommodate two or more blades which may be particularly useful when transporting the hockey sticks to and from games. 
   In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, there is provided an article for covering the elongated blade and a portion of the shank of a hockey stick comprising a cover including an elongated sleeve and an extension of the sleeve forming a predetermined substantially fixed angle with the sleeve prior to receiving the blade and the shank portion within the cover, the sleeve being closed at a forward end thereof, the cover forming an opening along a rear margin thereof enabling the sleeve and extension to receive the blade and the shank portion, respectively, of the hockey stick, the cover generally conforming to the shape of the blade and shank portion, the sleeve and the extension having a combined length to envelop the blade and shank portion, respectively, the extension extending at an angle to and from the sleeve corresponding generally to an angle between the blade and shank portion of the hockey stick whereby the extension extends at least in part along the shank portion of the hockey stick upon insertion of the blade into the sleeve and at least one fastener carried by the cover and cooperable therewith to at least in part close the opening to preclude removal of the blade from the sleeve after the blade has been inserted into the sleeve. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a cover for a hockey stick blade constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and illustrated with the blade and a shank portion of the hockey stick within the cover with the fasteners in an open position; 
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary top plan view of a hockey stick, blade and shank portion; 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the cover of  FIG. 1 , with the fasteners secured retaining the cover on the blade; 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views, respectively, illustrating the cover hereof and the cover with the blade and shank portion received within the cover; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the cover of  FIG. 1 and a  hockey stick blade poised for entry into the rear of the cover; 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of a cover similar to the cover of FIG.  1  and for use with a goalie&#39;s hockey stick; 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  illustrating goalie hockey stick blade and shank portion poised for entry into the rear of the cover; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a further form of cover where the extension is open along its forward edge; 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevational view of a further embodiment illustrating a reinforcement along a lower edge of the sleeve; 
       FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  illustrating a single fastener about the extension; 
       FIG. 12  is a plan view of a single piece of fabric material from which the cover of  FIG. 1  may be formed; 
       FIG. 13  is a side elevational view of a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 14  is a top plan view of a cover having an increased width for enclosing two or more hockey stick blades. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a hockey stick, generally designated  10 , having a shank portion  12  and a curved blade  14  extending at an angle relative to the shank portion  12 . In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , sticky black friction tape illustrated at  15  is typically applied to the blade. A cover, generally designated  16 , constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, overlies the taped blade  14  and a portion  17  of the shank  12  of the hockey stick  10 . The cover  16  has an opening along a rear edge thereof and includes an elongated sleeve  18  having a closed end or toe portion  20  the opposite end or heel portion  22  ( FIG. 4 ) being open and forming part of the rear opening  19  of the cover  16 . Attached to and preferably forming an integral part of the sleeve  18  at the heel or open end  22  is an extension  24 . Like sleeve  18 , extension  24  is open along its rear edge and forms a part of the rear opening  19  of the cover  16 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the elongated sleeve  18  and extension  24  are angularly related one to the other similarly as the blade  14  and shank portion  12  are angularly related to one another. 
   The cover is preferably formed of a high-strength, abrasion and tear-resistant material such as nylon. It will be appreciated, however, that other types of fabric materials may be used, such as a canvas. Also, the cover may be formed of a semi-rigid plastic material. Also as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a pull  26 , for example, a loop of fabric material sewn or otherwise secured, such as by heat sealing, to the external surface at the closed or toe end portion  20  of the sleeve  18  is provided to facilitate removal of the cover from the hockey stick blade, as noted below. 
   To accommodate the angle between the shank portion  17  and the blade  14 , afford ventilation of the blade after use, and to avoid stress at the angle, a notch  28  is formed between the upper edge of the sleeve  18  adjacent its rear end and the forward edge of the extension  24 . The curved surface  30  between the blade and shank portion may vary from stick to stick and the notch therefore accommodates this variance. The notch, located at the angle between the blade and shank portion of the stick, extends at least in part along opposite sides of the sleeve and the extension and spaces the rear sleeve end from the forward margin of the extension. 
   As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the rear margins of the extension  24  have cooperating fastening elements such that the extension  24  can be closed by the fasteners about the rear edge of the shank portion of the stick when received within the cover. To accomplish this, one or more fasteners includes, for example, a strap  32  extending from one side of extension  24  and having one of hooks and loops  34  ( FIG. 1 ) along its undersurface for cooperation with a patch  35  having another of the hooks or loops  36  secured to another side of the extension  24 . The hooks and loops comprise Velcro®-type fasteners. Other types of fasteners may be used such as zippers, buckles, snaps or the like. By closing the one or more straps  32  and engaging the hooks and loops, the rear edge of the shank portion of the stick is engaged by the fastener, retaining the cover on the hockey stick.  FIG. 11  illustrates a variant of the cover  16  of  FIG. 1  wherein only a single fastener  32  is employed to secure the cover  16  to the blade  14 .  FIG. 1 , of course, illustrates two such fasteners. Preferably, the fastener is tightened about the shank portion  17  such that the notch forming portion adjacent extension  24  contacts the arcuate surface of the hockey stick between the blade  14  and shank portion  17 . That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the margin of the notch  28  adjacent the extension engages the arcuate surface of the stick while the portion of the notch at the rear edge of sleeve  18  is spaced from the stick and at an elevation higher than the portion of the extension engaging the arcuate stick surface. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 12 , it will be appreciated that the cover  16  can be formed of a unitary one-piece fabric material  40 . The material  40  may be folded along a midline defining the lower edge of the sleeve and seamed along the opposite and forward margins to form the upper edge and toe portion, respectively, of the sleeve. A seam  42  is illustrated in  FIG. 3  along the upper edge of the sleeve. Additionally, the margins of the material  40  are also seamed to one another along the forward edge of the extension, the seam  44  therefor being illustrated in FIG.  3 . The seams  42  and  44  are preferably formed by a sewing operation but, depending upon the type of material, other types of seams, e.g., heat-sealed seams should plastic materials be used, may be used. As a further alternative, the cover may be formed of two discrete pieces, e.g., divided along the mid-line of the material illustrated in  FIG. 12 , one forming essentially the mirror image of the other, with the exception of the fastener  32 . The two pieces are secured to one another, e.g., by stitching along upper and lower edges and the toe portion of the sleeve. 
   To apply the cover to the hockey stick and with the fastener(s) open, the rear end of the cover is open to receive the blade  14  as illustrated in FIG.  6 . The blade  14  may then be inserted into and through the open end of the cover, with the tip of the blade engaging the interior of the closed toe portion  20  of the cover and the sides of the extension overlying the sides of the shank portion  17 . With the blade inserted to its maximum extent, the one or more fasteners may be extended from one side of the extension to the opposite side about the rear edge of the shank portion  17  and secured. It will be appreciated that in this configuration, the tape  21  on the blade portion is fully enveloped by the sleeve  18 . Additionally, the cover cannot be removed from the hockey stick absent release of the fasteners. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , wherein like reference numerals are applied to like parts as in the prior embodiment followed by the suffix “a,” there is illustrated a goalie stick having a blade  50  and an enlarged shank portion  52 . The sleeve  18   a  and extension  24   a  are formed similarly as in the prior embodiment. However, the extension  24   a  is extended and, of course, enlarged to accommodate the enlarged shank portion  52  of the goalie stick. A further reduced portion of the extension  24   a  is illustrated at  56 . Both the extension and reduced portion  56 , as well as the sleeve  18   a , are open along the rear edges thereof, similarly as sleeve  18  and extension  24 , such that the goalie stick can be inserted into the cover from the rear of the sleeve. The extension also carries one or more fasteners  32   a  which may be similar to those previously described. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the goalie stick  10   a  is inserted through the rear open edges of the extension  24   a  and sleeve  18   a  until the forward end of the blade and forward edge of the shank portion  52  abut the toe portion  20   a  and forward edge of the extension, respectively. The strap or straps are then fastened, retaining the cover  16   a  on the goalie stick. 
   Referring now to the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , wherein like reference numerals are applied to like parts as in prior embodiments followed by the suffix “b,” the cover  16   b  is similar to the cover  16  of  FIG. 1 , except that the extension  24   b  is open along its forward edge. One or more fasteners  32   b , for example, of the Velcro® type, extend from one margin of the extension to overlie the forward edge of the shank portion  17   b . The fastener(s) is secured to the opposite margin. In this form, the blade may be inserted into the sleeve  18   b  with the shank portion  17   b  being inserted through the opposing forward margins of the extension  24   b . Once inserted, the fasteners  32  are applied, retaining the cover  16   b  on the hockey stick. 
   Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 10 , wherein like reference numerals apply to like parts as in prior embodiments followed by the suffix “c,” the cover  16   c  includes a reinforcement  60  along its lower edge. The reinforcement  60  is preferably formed of a semi-rigid material, such as rubber. The reinforcement  60  may, however, be formed of different high-abrasion and tear-resistant materials such as plastic or a heavy-duty fabric overlay. It will be appreciated that the reinforcement  60  reduces the wear and tear on the cover per se should an individual use the stick with the cover attached. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 13 , wherein like reference numerals are applied to like parts as in prior embodiments followed by the suffix “d,” the cover  16   d  is formed to provide for top entry of the blade  14   d  and shank portion  17   d  into the cover. To accomplish this, the upper edge  70  of the sleeve  18   d , as well as the forward edge  72  of the extension  24   d  are open. Fasteners, such as zippers  74  and  76  are provided to releasably close these edges, as desired. It will be appreciated that the notch  28   d  may be omitted in this form of the invention and a single opening be provided along the upper edge of both the sleeve  18   d  and extension  24   d . In that form, a single fastener, such as a zipper, may extend the full length of the upper edge of the cover. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 14 , wherein like reference numerals are applied to like parts as in prior embodiments, followed by the suffix “e,” the cover  16   e  may be formed in accordance with any one of the prior embodiments and have increased width to accommodate the blades of two or more hockey sticks in a single cover. The cover  16   e  has an opening along a rear edge thereof as in prior embodiments, one of hooks and loops  34   e  closing the opening being partially shown. In this form, additional material is provided for the cover  16   e  to increase its width and thereby accommodate the blades  14   e  of a pair of hockey sticks  10   e  disposed within cover  16   e  in side-by-side relation to one another. The notch  28   e  is, of course, laterally enlarged to accommodate the angle between the blade and shank of each of the hockey sticks when received within the cover  16   e.    
   It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the cover is readily and easily applied to the hockey stick and in a manner such that the elongated sleeve of the cover completely overlies, envelops and encompasses the blade(s) of the hockey stick(s). Consequently, a barrier of cover material is provided between the tape on the blade(s) and any surface in which the blade(s) might contact, thereby eliminating scuffing or black marks on any adjacent surfaces contacted by the tape. Additionally, the notch accommodates variously shaped arcuate surfaces between the blades and shank portions of the various sticks, affords ventilation of the blade(s) after use and avoids stresses on the cover which might otherwise tear the cover. Also, the cover is formed of a relatively inexpensive, yet sturdy fabric or semi-rigid plastic. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.