Patent Publication Number: US-2005130759-A1

Title: Sports shaft with variable contour

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This applications is a continuation-in-part of related co-pending application Ser. No.10/735,596, titled “[IMPROVED] SPORT SHAFT,” filed Dec. 12, 2003. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to sticks or shafts for use in sports and sporting activities. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shaft with improved weight, feel, and grip for improved playability.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Various sports incorporate sticks or shafts players use to assist in propelling an object from one location to another. Tennis, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, racquetball, squash, etc. all incorporate some form of shaft. The shafts often include a specialized head that is either detachable or manufactured into the shaft. For example, most tennis racket shafts incorporate an integrated head that is configured to provide a bounceable surface for a tennis ball. Whereas, most lacrosse shafts incorporate a detachable head that is used to catch, throw, and cradle a lacrosse ball. The shafts must conform to certain rules and regulations particular to each activity. For example, baseball bats must conform to very strict size, weight, and composition requirements.  
      Players choose shafts they perceive will assist or increase their overall performance in playing a particular sport. Therefore, shaft manufacturers design and build shafts that conform to characteristics that players are likely to seek out. These characteristics generally include weight, feel, flex, off-set, grip, and the like. The weight of a shaft is primarily dependent on the composition of the shaft. Shafts are often composed of wood, aluminum, graphite, carbon fiber, titanium, or other metal alloys. Each of these compositions has unique weight characteristics. The feel of a shaft depends on the manufacturing of the outer surface of a shaft. If a particular shaft does not feel appropriate, players are forced to add tape or rubber to the outside of the shaft in order to create the required feel. A shaft&#39;s flex also is dependent on the overall composition and shape of the shaft. The grip of a shaft is, in part, dependent on manufacturing of the outer surface of a shaft. The grip of a shaft relates, in part, to the amount of friction between a players hand/glove and the shaft during play. The grip also relates, in part, to the available surface area to grip the shaft. In most sports, it is desirable to have a sufficient amount of friction between the shaft and the player&#39;s hand so as to maximize the control the player has over the shaft.  
      One of the main problems with conventional shafts is that they do not maximize all of the characteristics desired by players. Certain shafts may have superior flex and feel but are unnecessarily heavy; other shafts may be lightweight but have little or no flex capabilities. Still other shafts may have a satisfactory weight, but provide insufficient size for gripping the shaft. In the field of lacrosse sticks, most of the shaft manufacturers sell traditional hollow, aluminum shafts because they are relatively lightweight, easy to manufacture, and provide a minor amount of flex. These conventional aluminum shafts must be modified to provide the right feel and grip desired by most players. Players commonly tape athletic tape around, the center, the bottom, and/or the top portions of the shaft to create improved gripping surfaces.  
      Furthermore, traditional, hollow, aluminum shafts have a consistent cross-section along the length of the shaft. The consistent cross-section is due, in part, to tradition, but also due, in part, to the restrictions in manufacturing technology to make traditional, hollow, aluminum shafts. These shafts, while functional, are not designed with player positional responsibilities nor with any real consideration to the control and torque requirements associated with facing off, shooting, cradling with one hand, and retrieving balls from the ground.  
      Therefore, there is a need in the industry for an improved sports shaft that maximizes the performance characteristics of a shaft. In addition, the improved shaft should be relatively easy to manufacture such that it can be marketed at a reasonable fee to consumers.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an improved sports shaft that is configured to maximize weight, feel, grip, and the like. The improved shaft comprises a shaft having a variable contour along the length of the shaft. The variable contour provides increased surface area and/or improved gripping surfaces.  
      In one embodiment, the shaft is a lacrosse shaft. The lacrosse shaft includes an elongated body portion made of synthetic material. The elongated body having a first end and a second end. The elongated body has at least one expanded portion disposed on the elongated body portion between the first and second end.  
      The foregoing and other features, utilities, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a profile view of a prior art lacrosse shaft;  
       FIG. 2A  illustrates a profile view of a lacrosse shaft and lacrosse head in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lacrosse shaft of  FIG. 2A  along line B-B;  
       FIG. 2C  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lacrosse shaft of  FIG. 2A  along line C-C;  
       FIG. 2D  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the lacrosse shaft of  FIG. 2A  along line D-D  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a prior art octagonal lacrosse shaft; and  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative prior art octagonal lacrosse shaft including flaring rounded edges. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of particular embodiments of the present invention, and are not limiting, nor are they drawn to scale.  
      As a matter of design choice, the outer gripable material may be located strategically where a player will grip the shaft rather than cover the entire surface. However, the gripable material is preferably located substantially or entirely along the outer surface of the shaft. In addition, the outer coating may comprise a low thermal surface thermal conductivity coefficient and create an aesthetic clean appearance in comparison to an uncoated shaft. While embodiments of the present invention are described in the context of a lacrosse stick, it will be appreciated that the teachings of the present invention are applicable to other applications as well. Also, the outwardly expanded portion is shown and generally described as being substantially centered on the shaft and substantially along a majority of the shaft length. However, the below described outwardly expanded portion or portions may be strategically placed to facilitate a player&#39;s grip instead of over the majority of the shaft length.  
      The present invention relates to an improved sports shaft configured to provide a shaft with at least a weight, feel, control, torque, and grip superior to prior shafts. The improved shaft comprises a synthetic or natural material designed to minimize weight and provide variable contours along the length of the shaft. According to one embodiment, the shaft includes a unique outwardly expanded portion or portions that dramatically improves the player&#39;s ability to grip the shaft. The expanded portion expands lengthwise and widthwise to create a wider portion useful for a more controllable and comfortable handgrip. As described below, the expanded portion may provide other advantages as well. The expanded portion may be located to accommodate a player&#39;s natural hand position or grip, whether the player is gripping the shaft with one or two hands. The outer surface of the entire shaft or a portion thereof may be coated with a gripable composition to improve the overall grip and feel, and also to provide a low thermal surface conductivity coefficient.  
      One of the improved feel characteristics is the temperature perception of the shaft when gripped. The gripable composition comprises a low thermal conductivity coefficient, which reduces a rate of heat transfer conducted to the shaft from a player&#39;s hand or to a player&#39;s hand from the shaft. Therefore, the perceived temperature of the shaft when a user grips the shaft is warmer or cooler as compared to a conventional aluminum shaft. Although the actual temperature of the improved shaft is not affected by the gripable composition, the gripable composition reduces the rate of heat conducted from the player&#39;s hand to the shaft or from the shaft to a player&#39;s hand, thus leading to a more comfortable temperature perception. According to some embodiments, the gripable composition is a rubberized paint or other elastomeric coating.  
      Reference is initially made to  FIG. 1 , which illustrates a profile view of a prior art lacrosse shaft, designated generally at  100 . The shaft  100  includes a lower grip portion  110 , an elongated body  115 , and a head receiving portion  105 . While called lower grip portion  110  for identification, it is to be understood that players frequently use one or two hands to grip shaft  100 . Placement of the hands along the shaft may be at any point along the shaft depending on the preference of the player.  
      The elongated body  115  is comprised of a metallic material including aluminum. Aluminum is traditionally used for lacrosse shafts because of its lightweight and semi-flexible properties. The grip and feel of a raw aluminum shaft is generally undesirable to most lacrosse players. Therefore, many manufacturers paint raw aluminum shafts to conceal the raw metal appearance. Unfortunately, painting does not improve the grip or feel. Accordingly, players and/or manufacturers commonly add external tape to the lower grip portion  110  of the shaft  100  in order to improve the overall grip and feel characteristics. The lower grip portion  110  is disposed near one of the ends of the elongated body  115  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The head receiving portion  105  is simply an upper section of the elongated body  115  that is commonly used to attach a detachable lacrosse head. The head receiving portion  105  may include at least one hole for head mounting purposes. The cross-sectional shape of the prior art shaft  100  is described in more detail below with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 .  
      As can be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the conventional shaft  100  has a relatively constant cross-sectional area along its length. This is due, in part, to the material used to construct conventional shafts as well as the manufacturing techniques. Frequently, players modify the outer surface of conventional shaft  100  to improve the grip characteristics of the conventional shaft  100 . In some instances, players wrap tape about portions of the shaft. When a player wraps a significant amount of tape about the shaft, it is possible to increase the surface area of the gripping surface to provide an improved grip, which allows increased control and torque in certain cases. However, using a large amount of tape to increase the gripping surface leaves much to be desired according to players.  
      Reference is next made to  FIG. 2A , which illustrates a lacrosse shaft in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The lacrosse shaft is designated generally at  200 . The lacrosse shaft  200  includes at least one outwardly expanding portion  210  (which is shown exaggerated in the FIG. for ease of reference), an elongated body  215 , and first and second head receiving portions  205 ,  230 . While the expanding portion  210  is shown substantially centered between head receiving portions  205  and  230 , it is possible to provide the expanding portion  210  nearer the first head receiving portion  205  or the second head receiving portion  230 . Moreover, although only one expanded portion  210  that extends over substantially the entire length of elongated body  215 , multiple expanding portions  210  are possible located are multiple locations along elongated body  215  is possible. Generally, location and number of expanding portions  210  will be a function of the shaft design, player preference, and the like. Providing both head receiving portions  205  and  230  makes the stick reversible as each is receptive of a lacrosse head. Being reversible is more important if shaft  200  is designed with multiple or non-centered expanding portions  210 . Moreover, shaft  200  may be designed with a tapered portion  210   t . Tapered portion  210   t  would provide increased flex for shaft  200 . For more information regarding tapered portion  210   t,  refer to co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/735,596, titled “[IMPROVED] SPORT SHAFT,” incorporated herein by reference.  
      The expanded portion  210  expands outwardly from the remainder of the elongated body, meaning that the expanded portion  210  has a larger diameter or cross-sectional surface area than the remainder of the shaft  200 . On either side of the expanded portion  210 , the elongated body expands outwardly or increases in width to the width of the expanded portion  210 . The outwardly expanding tapered portion  210  is preferably, but not necessarily, consistent on all of the outer sides of the lacrosse shaft  200  in order to create a uniformly thicker section. The expanded portion  210  may improve the grip and feel of the shaft by providing a contoured location for a user&#39;s hand(s). The combination of a semi-flexible synthetic composition, the inward tapered portion  210   t,  and expanded portion  210  provides an improved grip on a shaft that can assist in allowing a player with whipping the shaft. Players often whip lacrosse shafts in order to throw the ball at a high speed.  
      The elongated body  215  comprises a semi-flexible, preferably synthetic material including but not limited to: carbon fiber, graphite, plastic, composites, etc. According to the embodiment shown, the entire elongated body  215  is coated with one or more types of gripable material  217 . To further improve feel of shaft  200 , the gripable material  217  should have a low coefficient of thermal surface conductivity in the areas of the shaft most likely to contact the player&#39;s hands, such as, expanded portion  210 . The gripable material may include, but is not limited to: rubber, leather, vinyl, cloth, and elastomeric paints and coatings. Providing the gripable material  217  with a low coefficient of thermal surface conductivity causes the shaft  200  to feel warmer or cooler in a player&#39;s hand than conventional shafts.  
      While the gripable material coating  217  is shown covering all or substantially all of the elongated body  215  as shown, according to other embodiments the gripable material coating  217  covers only selected sections of the elongated body  215 . For example, the gripable material may cover only portions of the elongated body  215  that tend to be gripped by players. The application of the gripable material coating  217  may be performed during or after the lacrosse shaft  200  forming process. The gripable material coating  217  dramatically improves the grip and feel of the entire shaft.  
      Lacrosse players occasionally grip the shaft at different locations in order to, for example, cradle the ball in tight situations, shooting, face offs, or the like. In some instances, the player may even want to completely spin or twirl the shaft to assist in, for example, retrieving a ball from the ground. Because of the various functions a single player may need to perform in one game, shaft  200  is better designed with strategically placed outwardly expanded portions  210  and conventional shaped portions, such as the remainder of the elongated body  215 . In embodiments such as the one shown in  FIG. 2A  with the gripable coating substantially covering the entire elongated body  215 , the feel of the entire lacrosse shaft  200  is significantly more attractive to a player than the feel of the conventional shaft described with reference to  FIG. 1 . However, devoid portions  217   d  of the shaft may be devoid of a gripable coating to facilitate spinning the shaft.  
      One method of manufacturing the shaft  200  comprises use of graphite or other materials. According to one embodiment, a graphite sheet is wrapped around an internal member such as a dowel. The number of times the graphite sheets is wrapped around the dowel determines the strength of the shaft. Therefore, stronger shafts may be wrapped multiple times. When the desired number of graphite layers has been achieved, the dowel is removed, leaving the graphite in a tubular arrangement. The tubular graphite is then inserted into a mold, where it is heated and formed into the mold shape. The tubular graphite is thus preferably hollow, but according to some embodiments it may also be solid. The graphite is subsequently cooled, and the graphite hardens into the shaft  200 . As mentioned above, the graphite shaft may have the gripping layer  217  applied, for example the rubber, leather, vinyl, cloth, rubberized paints, or other materials mentioned above that comprise a low thermal surface conductivity coefficient.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 2B  to  2 D, cross-sectional areas of shaft  200  are shown at various locations around the shaft. Referring first to  FIG. 2B , a cross-section  200   b  of the first head receiving portion  205  is shown. Cross-section  200 b has a surface area A. Cross-section  200   b  is shown as elliptical having a major diameter  240  and a minor diameter  245 . Cross-section  200   b  could be more circular, however, if desired such that major diameter  240  and minor diameter  245  were substantially equal. The cross-section  200   b  has a general octagonal shape but has non-protruding rounded edges  250  connecting a series of substantially flat surfaces  255 . It is desirable to include multiple flat surfaces on a shaft to provide increased grip characteristics. However, it is not desirable to include numerous sharp edges or protruding edges that prevent contact with the surfaces. Therefore, the cross-section of the lacrosse shaft in accordance with the present invention is superior to the conventional designs. The shaft  200  shown is hollow, although according to some embodiments the shaft  200  may also be solid.  
      Reference is now made to  FIG. 2C  showing a cross-sectional area  200   c  of expanded portion  210 . Cross-section  200   c  is shown as having the same general shape as cross-sectional area  200   b,  but the shape could change as a matter of design. Cross-section  200   c  has a surface area B. Surface area B is greater than surface area A. Cross-sectional area  200   c  has a major axis  260  (greater than major axis  240 ) and a minor axis  265  (greater than minor axis  245 ). While having major axis  260  and minor axis  265  greater than corresponding major axis  240  and minor axis  245 , it is not necessary. Increasing the major and minor axis by the same proportion, however, provides symmetry for shaft  200 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2D , a cross-sectional area  200   d  across second head receiving portion  230  is shown. Cross-section  200   d  is shown as having the same general shape as cross-sectional area  200 b, but the shape could change as a matter of design. Cross-section  200   d  has a surface area C. Surface area C is less than surface area B. It is envisioned surface area A and surface area C would be substantially equal or equal, but surface area C could be greater or less than surface area A as a matter of design choice. Cross-sectional area  200   d  has a major axis  270  (less than major axis  260 ) and a minor axis  275  (less than minor axis  265 ). Again, it is envisioned that major axis  270  and minor axis  275  would be substantially equal or equal to major axis  240  and minor axis  245 , but not necessary. Decreasing the major and minor axis by the same proportion, however, provides symmetry for shaft  200 .  
      While not specifically shown, if shaft  200  has more than one expanded portion, the additional expanded portions could have cross-sectional areas larger or smaller as a matter of design choice. Also, the cross-sectional areas across various sections of shaft  200  do not need to be consistent.  
      Reference is next made to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , which illustrate cross-sectional views of two different conventional lacrosse shafts.  FIG. 3  illustrates a standard octagonal shape with pointed edges and  FIG. 4  illustrates an octagonal shape with flaring rounded edges. Both of the cross-sections are hollow, meaning they only contain material at the outer edges of the shaft. The shafts  300  and  400  are hollow in order to minimize weight and manufacturing costs. One of the problems with these designs, however, is that they do not maximize contact between a player&#39;s hand/glove and the shaft. Pointed edges or flaring rounded edges push a player&#39;s hands or gloves away from the shaft, thereby reducing the grip. In conventional shafts, these deficient cross-sectional shapes are extended the length of the shaft.  
      While this invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. For example, the teachings of one embodiment may be combined with the teachings of another and remain consistent with the scope and spirit of this invention. The invention, as defined by the claims, is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit of the invention.