Patent Publication Number: US-2006009318-A1

Title: Lacrosse head

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to lacrosse head and, more particularly, to a lacrosse head having an improved mechanism to attach to a lacrosse shaft allowing a player&#39;s hand to grip the shaft closer to a ball rest.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Conventional lacrosse sticks today comprise a tubular metal shaft and a molded high density composite plastic head. The tubular metal shaft and head arrangement has been in existence since at least the mid 1970&#39;s, see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,841, title L ACROSSE  S TICK HAVING  T UBULAR  M ETALLIC  H ANDLE , issued Jul. 26, 1977, incorporated herein by reference.  FIG. 1  shows a conventional lacrosse stick  100  having a conventional metal shaft  102  and a conventional head  104 . Shaft  102  further has a butt end  106  and a head end  108 . Head  104  further has a base  110 , divergent sidewalls  112 , and a lip  114 .  
      Extending from base  110  is a shaft junction projection  116  that comprises a female socket  118 . Shaft junction projection  116  is a length d 1 . Head end  108  of shaft has a corresponding head junction projection  120  that comprises a male plug  122 . Male plug  122  is shown as having a cross-section consistent with the remainder of metal shaft  102 , but some conventional shafts have a male plug  122  with a reduced cross-section. Head junction projection  120  has a length d 2 , which typically is consistent with length d 1 . Frequently, shaft  102  and head  104  are secured using a pin or screw extending through both the shaft and head and secured using another pin or nut, not specifically shown but generally known in the art.  
      While the conventional shaft/head connection works, it has several drawbacks. One major drawback is that shaft junction projection  116  is considered part of head  104  and, by rule, a player using stick  100  cannot place his/her hands on the stick in such a way that the player&#39;s hand contacts head  104 . Most players, however, prefer to have a hand placed as close to base  110  as allowable by rule. Using conventional stick designs, a player can place his hands on spot  124  that is a minimum distance d 1  from base  110 .  
      Another drawback associated with conventional head  104  is the general shape of head  104 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , conventional head  104  has divergent sidewalls  112  that are have an upper edge  202  and a lower edge  204  that curve to impart a concave shape to open side  206  of head  104 .  FIG. 2  shows male projection  122  in socket  118  and base  110  in phantom. Base  110  is sometimes referred to as a ball stop. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a conventional straight head  300  is shown. Straight head  300  may be offset by a number of known techniques. While these designs provide some perceived benefits regardless of whether the design is actually offset or not, the designs do not provide any real advantage regarding ball placement and delivery.  
      Thus, it would be desirous to develop a lacrosse head that cured these and other deficiencies of the prior art.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to an improved lacrosse head. In particular, the improved lacrosse head is designed with a male plug extending from the base. The male plug fits snuggly in a female socket at the head end of a lacrosse shaft.  
      The present invention further provides an improved lacrosse head shape. In particular, the sidewalls of the head are designed to direct a lacrosse ball residing in the net to a predetermined location.  
      The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
      The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and illustrations of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a conventional tubular lacrosse shaft and mating head;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a conventional scooped head shape;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a conventional straight head shape;  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a lacrosse shaft and head consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the shaft and head shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  shows a cross-sectional view another shaft and head consistent with the present invention; and  
       FIG. 7  shows a side elevation view of a lacrosse head consistent with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      The present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-7 . It is to be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of the presently preferred embodiments, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they drawing to scale.  
      The present invention relates to an improved lacrosse head connectable to a lacrosse shaft. The connection allows placement of a players hands close to the base of the lacrosse head. The lacrosse head also is designed to specifically guide the lacrosse ball to particular locations in the netting depending on the design of the stick. For example, a forward or shooter&#39;s head may be designed to carrier the lacrosse ball closer to the lip whereas a defender&#39;s stick may be designed to carrier the lacrosse ball closer to the ball stop.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a lacrosse stick  400  consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Lacrosse stick  400  includes a shaft  402  and a head  404 . Shaft  402  has a butt end  406  and a head end  408 . Head  404  has a base  410  (or ball stop), divergent sidewalls  412 , and a lip  414  traversing divergent sidewalls.  
      Extending from base  410  is a shaft junction projection  416  and a male plug  418  (which is best seen in  FIG. 5 ). Male plug  418  has a length d 3 . Extending from head end  408  is a head junction projection  420  forming a female socket  422  (which also is best seen in  FIG. 5 ). When connected, male plug  418  extends into female socket  422  a length d 3 . However, because the head now extends internal to the shaft (vs. external in the case of conventional junctions), the player can place his or her hands much closer to the base  410  than allowed with conventional designs. Male plug  418  may be solid as shown or partially hollowed out. It is believed male plug  418  being solid provides increased strength without compromising weight in any significant manner.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 5  specifically, an end view of shaft  402  and head  404  is provided. Shaft  402  may have a conventional octagonal shape  502 . Shape  502  may have edges E as shown or the edges may be rounded and/or beveled. Female socket  422  extends from an opening  504  (defined by the shape of shaft  402 ) into an internal space  506  defined by shaft walls  508 . Female socket  422  optionally may have a base  510 . This shape is consistent with metallic tubular shafts. This shape is a matter of design choice, but when using conventional tubular metallic shafts, the shape will be somewhat limited by technology to form the shafts. Opening  504  extends over a majority of end  500 .  
      Male plug  418  may have a shape generally consistent with female socket  422 . In this case, male plug  418  would have a conventional octagonal shape  512 . Male plug  418  is generally sized to snuggly fit in opening  504 . Male plug  418  may have a protrusion  514  extending about plug  418  to increase the frictional engagement. Protrusion  514  may be molded as part of plug  418  or a washer, rubberized component, flare, lip or the like to increase the frictional engagement between shaft  402  and head  404 .  
      Alternatively to a conventional metal shaft, shaft  402  may be made of composite material, such as, a molded carbon fiber. For more information regarding alternative shaft material, refer to co-pending patent application serial number  10 / 735 , 596 , titled SPORTS SHAFT, filed December  12 ,  2003 , incorporated herein by reference. Using carbon fiber or other high density composites, it is possible to mold provide shaft  402  with a female socket  422  having an opening  602  and extending into an internal space  604  defined by shaft walls  606  and filler  608 . Filler  608  may be any metal, plastic, or composite material, but it is believed a carbon fiber or graphite filler would work well and be reasonably cost effective. Socket  422  optionally has a base. Opening  602  extends over a smaller portion of end  600 . It is believed this will reduce stress at the edges  610  of shaft  402 . Male plug  418  would have a similar shape  612  to snuggly fit in opening  602 . To further increase the strength of female socket  422 , shaft walls  606  may be lined with a strengthening material  620 , such as, for example, stainless steel, titanium, or the like.  
      Shape  612  could be used with a conventional metallic shaft with an insert  614  shaped to occupy the additional volume associated with opening  504 . Insert  614  could be a number of materials including metals, alloys, plastics, and other composites, but it is believed graphite, carbon fiber, or the like work well as an insert. Further, the sidewalls and plug may have bores  616  and  618  (respectively) that a securing member  622  may be inserted to removably engage the head and shaft as is conventional in the art. Securing member  618  may be screw, pin, bolt, or the like. Finally, plug  418  may be lined with a strengthening material  620  similar to the socket. As described above, the shapes of insert  614  and male plug  418  are largely a matter of design choice.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 7 , an elevation view of a lacrosse head  700  is shown. Lacrosse head  700  includes base  410 , divergent sidewalls  412 , and lip  414  as well as male plug  418 . As shown, sidewalls  412  have an upper edge  702  and a lower edge  704 . Upper edge  704  defines an open side  706  of head  700  capable of receiving a lacrosse ball. Lower edge  704  typically has a number of holes  708  on which a lacrosse net (not specifically shown) can be attached in a conventional manner. Head  700  has a top half  710  towards lip  414  and a bottom half  712  towards base  410  or the ball stop.  
      As can been seen from the figures, Upper edge  702  can be divided into two or more upper regions  716 ,  718 , and  720  with one or more transition edges  722 . Bottom edge  704  can similarly be divided into two or more bottom regions  724  and  726  with a transition edge  728 . Locating regions and transitions allows head  700  to naturally cause the lacrosse ball to reside in particular locations in the net. For example, as shown, region  716  resides in a first plane A, region  718  in a second plane B, and regions  720  in a third plane C. Transition edges  722 , which are shown at approximately a 45 degree angle between the planes, connect the regions. Transition edges  722  could be anywhere from a zero degree to a 90 degree angle. The angle could be greater than 90 (and up to, for example, 180 degrees) to provide a sharper edge if desired. However, it is believed angles greater than about  110  would be difficult to manufacture. Furthermore, while shown as at the same angle, transition edges  722  could be at one or more angles as a matter of design choice.  
      Similarly, bottom region  724  resides in a fourth plane D and bottom  726  resides in a fifth plane E. Transition edge  728  connecting bottom region  724  and  726  can be at any angle. Transition edge  728  is shown at a 45 degree angle.  
      The placement of the regions such that plane A is above plane B is above plane C and plane D being above plane E tends to cause the head  700  to force the lacrosse ball to the top half  710  of head  700 . Reversing the orientation would tend to cause the lacrosse ball to reside in base  410 . More particularly, plane A is below plane B is below plane C and plane D is below plane E. If it is desired to carry the lacrosse ball about the transition between top half  710  and bottom half  712 , plane A is above plane B is below plane C and plane D and E would be in substantially the same plane. If there were three bottom regions, plane D is above plane E is below plane F, for example. As one of ordinary skill in the art would now recognize on reading the disclosure, many different arrangements of regions could be used to cause head  700  to carry the lacrosse ball in a desired location. Further, regions and transition edges could be replaced by one or more curved edges to provide the same effect.  
      As shown, male plug  418  has a top surface  730  defining a surface plane S.  FIG. 7  shows upper regions  716 ,  718 , and  720  residing in planes A, B, and C above plane S. One of skill in the art would recognize on reading the disclosure, however, that planes A, B, and C could be above, below, or in plane with plane S as a matter of design choice.  
      While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment or embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.