Patent Publication Number: US-2015059154-A1

Title: Method of Rendering A Lacrosse Head Pocket Hydrophobic and Oleophobic

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method of rendering a lacrosse head pocket hydrophobic and oleophobic. 
     The game of lacrosse is a team sport which originated among Native Americans and may have been in existence for almost a millennium. As the game has evolved, one important aspect of its evolution involves the use of modern manufacturing techniques and development of new materials in manufacturing equipment used in playing the game of lacrosse. 
     Since its inception, one central aspect of the game of lacrosse is that players carry a lacrosse stick or crosse which includes a generally triangular head used to carry the lacrosse ball in a loose netting strung to the periphery of the head. In the early days of the game of lacrosse, the head and its associated handle were made of wood, usually hickory wood. In modern times, the head is typically made of molded plastic and the netting is typically nylon or leather strings strung together to form a pocket. Typically, four main nylon strings are employed to affix a woven mesh piece to the head, including a top string, two side walls, and a bottom string. Additionally, strings known as shooting strings are woven through diamond-shaped openings of the mesh to help fine tune the characteristics of the pocket of the netting. Beginning with the 2013 season, the NCAA enacted a rule limiting the so-called shooting strings to an area within a four inch arc drawn from the top of the plastic material of the head. 
     While the game of lacrosse is typically played on grass fields, it is more and more the case that artificial turf fields are created and used to play the game. Unlike the game of baseball, other than when lighting strikes are apparent, the game of lacrosse is played regardless of weather conditions. In fact, lacrosse games are even played during snowy conditions with referees merely clearing areas where various lines are placed on the lacrosse field such as, for example, labeling the crease and the attack zone. 
     During playing of the game of lacrosse, one important player skill consists of the ability to scoop up ground balls. Often, the team that is superior in scooping up ground balls is the team that will prevail during a lacrosse match. Of course, in scooping up ground balls, the distal end of the head of the lacrosse stick typically engages the ground surface. In inclement weather conditions, particularly on a grass field, it is typically the case that during the process of scooping up ground balls, the head also scoops up mud or other debris. Even on artificial turf fields, little black pebbles are often incorporated into the turf and those may be scooped up and adhered to the mesh netting of the lacrosse stick head as well. As a result, the surface consistency and “feel” of the lacrosse stick can become variable as a result of varying weather conditions. These variations can adversely impact the ability of a lacrosse player to skillfully scoop up the lacrosse ball, pass it around and shoot it toward the goal. As such, it would be advantageous if a lacrosse stick could be provided with a mesh netting that remains substantially consistent in its ball holding and shooting characteristics substantially regardless of weather conditions. It is with this desired outcome in mind that the present invention was developed. 
     It is known to treat the mesh netting of a lacrosse stick head with a wax or other topical treatments to render the mesh waterproof. However, such coatings are not hydrophobic. Rather, they create a barrier that materially alters the characteristics of the mesh in a way that drastically changes the “feel” of the lacrosse stick head. It is not advantageous to create a “barrier” to moisture. Rather, it would be advantageous to impart to the mesh an appropriate degree of surface tension to repel water as well as debris such as mud, dirt and other materials. 
     Applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 8,371,967 to Winningham et al. Winningham et al. disclose a lacrosse stick intended to be used in playing the women&#39;s version of the game of lacrosse and in which the mesh pocket includes a single layer runner disclosed as possibly made of a hydrophobic material. Winningham et al. fail to teach or suggest an entire mesh pocket of a lacrosse stick head exhibiting hydrophobic and oleophobic characteristics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method of rendering a lacrosse head pocket hydrophobic and oleophobic. The present invention includes the following interrelated objects, aspects and features: 
     (1) In a first aspect, the present invention is intended to be employed with a lacrosse head mesh pocket of any material typically used in making such a product. Most often, a lacrosse head pocket is made of a nylon material consisting of nylon strings woven together to create a mesh material or netting. 
     (2) In practicing the present invention, a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating of a liquid substance is applied to the mesh material or netting of a lacrosse stick head. The application is made to the netting by coating the strings either before or after they are woven into the mesh material or netting, but prior to installation on the lacrosse stick head. 
     (3) In the preferred method of the present invention, the coating is applied in a plurality of separate layers. Thus, a first layer is applied by brushing or spraying. Once the first layer has dried, a second layer is applied thereover through brushing or spraying. As an alternative, the second layer may be applied while the first layer is still “tacky” to facilitate cross-linking of the layers during curing. Another alternative is to dip the netting into a vat of the coating material, however, this technique is perhaps less advantageous because it results in too thick a coating layer being applied. If the coating layer is too thick, the playing characteristics of the mesh may be altered in disadvantageous ways. 
     (4) In the preferred method, each coating layer is applied in a wet thickness of 3.0 to 5.0 mils (0.003-0.005 inches). When the coating is dry, the result is a dry film thickness of 1.0-1.5 mils (0.001 to 0.0015 inches) for each layer. Thus, two layers of the coating have a total dry thickness of 2-3 mils (0.002-0.003 inches), 
     (5) As a result of the coating method, a surface tension is created on the surfaces of the mesh that prevents water, dirt, mud and oil from attaching to the mesh, thus preventing these materials from permeating the mesh. In practice, through use of the inventive method, when a player scoops up a ground ball and also scoops up debris, the debris immediately falls off leaving the mesh in its condition prior to the scooping action thus maintaining the expected feel for the player. Any liquid that tries to attach to the coated mesh ends up beading up and immediately falling off the mesh. 
     (6) As is known, surface tension is a contractive tendency of the surface of a liquid that allows it to resist an external force. This property is caused by cohesion of similar molecules and is responsible for certain liquid behaviors. The coating causes liquids to bead up and fall off the mesh and prevents liquids from continuously or discontinuously coating the mesh for any appreciable period of time. As a result, through use of the present invention, the pocket of the mesh does not stretch out or “bag out” from water absorption. Instead, the pocket maintains its shape and weight, thereby ensuring greater consistency in passing and shooting. 
     As such, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a method of rendering a lacrosse head pocket hydrophobic and oleophobic. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a method in which a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating is applied on the surfaces of the mesh of a lacrosse head pocket. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a coating by coating the mesh in a plurality of layers. 
     It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide such a coating in which a first coating is dried before a second coating is applied. 
     It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a coating in a second alternative method in which the second coating layer is applied over the first coating layer before the first coating layer has dried to provide cross-linking. 
     These and other objects, aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a bottom view of a lacrosse stick head with a mesh netting attached thereto. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of some of the components of the mesh netting shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-section through a typical strand of the mesh netting used to provide webbing on a lacrosse stick head. 
     
    
    
     SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a lacrosse head is generally designated by the reference numeral  10  and is seen to include a distal end  11 , side walls  13  and  15 , and mesh material or netting  20  consisting of woven strands  21  of NYLON or leather which are attached to the head  10  by virtue of strands such as the strand  23  that surrounds a portion of the head  10 . The netting  20  has other thicker strands of NYLON or leather such as those designated by the reference numerals  25 ,  27  and  29  interwoven within the netting  20  and an additional area  30  is typically configured as a deeper pocket area in order to hold a lacrosse ball (not shown) in a controlled fashion until it is desired to throw the ball in a pass or shoot the ball in a shot. 
       FIG. 2  shows component parts of the mesh webbing including the mesh  20 , a string  23  and a further string  25  with those reference numerals corresponding to the same reference numerals in  FIG. 1 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the netting  20  has a proximal end  28  that extends proximally of the proximal end  16  of the head  10 . 
     In practicing the teachings of the present invention, the netting  20  as well as the strings, for example,  23  and  25  are coating with a hydrophobic and oleophobic coating. 
     Preferably, the coating is applied using a pneumatic sprayer, a pump sprayer or a trigger sprayer. It is also possible to bind a coating by brushing the coating onto the substrate, however, spraying the coating has been found to result in a more uniform smoother surface. 
     In practicing the method, a first layer of coating of a liquid substance is sprayed on the mesh and strings so that a wet thickness of about 3.0 to 5.0 mils is created. When that layer is dry, a second coating of equal wet thickness of the liquid substance is applied. Each layer forms a dry thickness of 1.0 to 1.5 mils, or 0.001 to 0.0015 inches. 
     If desired, a heat gun or blow dryer may be employed after each layer is initially coated to enhance the speed of drying. In one alternative, the first coating is completely dried before the second coating is applied. In a second method, the second coating layer is applied while the first coating layer is still tacky. In this version, cross-linking occurs between the layers to enhance the binding of the layers together and their adherence to the mesh and strings. 
     As explained above, any coating substance that combines superhydrophobicity and superoleophobicity is suitable for employment as the coating material. One example of a liquid substance or coating material that Applicant has found to be effective in coating the webbing and strings of lacrosse stick netting or mesh material is known by the trademark ULTRA-EVER DRY®. This product is manufactured by Ultra Tech and consists of a mixture of Xylene, Naptha, Hexane, Methylethylketone, Toluene, and a proprietary polymer and a proprietary additive. The ULTRA-EVER DRY® coating is not known by Applicant to ever have previously been used in a specific environment of coating the outer surfaces of mesh and strings used to create webbing of a lacrosse stick head. Applicant has found that use of ULTRA-EVER DRY® coating effectively prevents moisture and debris from adhering to the webbing while at the same time not altering the flexibility and resiliency of the webbing. Thus, the coating does not alter the “feel” of the lacrosse stick from the perspective of its user. The webbing remains flexible and resilient and the pocket formed therein has the same consistency and configuration as before. The advantage is that under any and all weather and field conditions, the webbing retains the same characteristics as is the case under dry conditions on, for example, an artificial turf field. 
     Again, any coating that exhibits the characteristics of hydrophobicity and oleophobicity is suitable for employment in connection with the teachings of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross-section through a fiber  42  of the mesh  20  showing the woven fiber  44  and a first coating layer  46  and a second coating layer  48 . The thicknesses of the coating layers are exaggerated in  FIG. 3  so that they are viewable. In practice, the layers of coating are extremely thin, approximately 1 to 1.5 mils and, as such, are barely visible to the user. 
     As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments thereof which fulfill each and every one of the objects of the invention as set forth hereinabove, and provide a new and useful method of rendering a lacrosse head pocket hydrophobic and oleophobic, of great novelty and utility. 
     Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. 
     As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.