Patent Publication Number: US-2019168082-A1

Title: Lacrosse head with flush connection system and offset

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a lacrosse head with an offset; and more specifically to a lacrosse head with a flush connection system. 
     Background 
     A lacrosse stick is a key piece of equipment for lacrosse players. Lacrosse sticks are used for offensive moves, such as cradling, catching, picking up, passing, and shooting a lacrosse ball, as well as for defensive moves, such as hitting an opponent&#39;s stick. Lacrosse sticks generally include a shaft and a head. A lacrosse head that is offset from the axis of the shaft allows for increased speed and accuracy when shooting or passing the ball, and also allows for increased control and ball retention when cradling the ball. However, lacrosse organizations have regulations for lacrosse sticks, including that the lacrosse stick be relatively straight (i.e., the lacrosse stick may be laid flat on a tabletop with a substantial portion resting on the table and a distance from the tabletop to the bottom edge of the lacrosse head not exceeding a certain distance (e.g., 2.75 inches)). This regulation indirectly limits the amount of offset permitted in a regulation lacrosse stick. Previous connection systems between a lacrosse head and a shaft further limit the amount of offset, thus preventing players from using the maximum benefit of an offset lacrosse head that would be permitted by the regulations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Lacrosse heads and lacrosse sticks are disclosed. In some embodiments, a lacrosse stick includes a shaft and a lacrosse head that includes a throat. In some embodiments, the throat receives the shaft. In some embodiments, a top surface of the throat is flush with a top surface of the shaft. 
     In some embodiments, the top surface of the throat defines a gap. In some embodiments, the lacrosse head also includes a connector disposed within the throat. In some embodiments, the shaft is disposed between the throat and the connector. In some embodiments, the lacrosse stick also includes a hole disposed in a bottom of the shaft, a hole disposed in a bottom of the throat, and a hole disposed in the connector. In some embodiments, the hole in the shaft, the hole in the throat, and the hole in the connector are aligned. In some embodiments, a fastener extends through the holes and secures the lacrosse head to the shaft. In some embodiments, the lacrosse head provides a maximum allowable offset. 
     In some embodiments, a lacrosse head includes a throat and a connector disposed within the throat. In some embodiments, the throat can receive a shaft of a lacrosse stick. In some embodiments, a top surface of the throat defines a gap. 
     In some embodiments, the top surface of the throat can be flush with a top surface of the shaft. In some embodiments, the connector can be inserted into the shaft. In some embodiments, a bottom surface of the connector corresponds in shape to a portion of an interior of the shaft. In some embodiments, the gap is wider at a first end of the throat than at a second end of the throat. In some embodiments, the connector includes a hole to receive a fastener. In some embodiments, the throat includes a hole to receive a fastener. In some embodiments, the hole in the throat is aligned with the hole in the connector. 
     In some embodiments, a lacrosse stick includes a shaft and a lacrosse head. In some embodiments, the lacrosse head includes a throat and a connector disposed within the throat. In some embodiments, the shaft is disposed within the throat and the connector is disposed within the shaft. 
     In some embodiments, a top surface of the throat defines a gap. In some embodiments, the shaft is visible through the gap. In some embodiments, the lacrosse head does not extend above a top surface of the shaft. In some embodiments, the connector is disposed within the throat such that a top surface of the throat can be flush with the shaft. In some embodiments, a bottom edge of the lacrosse head is disposed at a maximum allowable offset from a central axis of the shaft. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a lacrosse stick according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  shows a test for determining whether a lacrosse stick meets regulations. 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of lacrosse sticks according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  shows an end view of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  shows a side cross-section view of a lacrosse head secured to a shaft according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  shows a side view of a lacrosse stick according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  shows a top view of a lacrosse stick according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  shows a perspective view of a throat of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  shows a perspective view of a throat of a lacrosse head according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to indicate identical or functionally similar elements. References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
     The term “invention” or “present invention” as used herein is a non-limiting term and is not intended to refer to any single embodiment of the particular invention but encompasses all possible embodiments as described in the application. 
     The following examples are illustrative, but not limiting, of the present invention. Other suitable modifications and adaptations of the variety of conditions and parameters normally encountered in the field, and which would be apparent to those skilled in the art, are within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     Lacrosse sticks are used extensively during a game of lacrosse (e.g., to cradle, catch, pick up, pass, and shoot a lacrosse ball, or to hit an opponent&#39;s stick). Lacrosse sticks generally include a shaft and a head. A lacrosse head that is offset from the axis of the shaft (i.e., the bottom edge of the lacrosse head is spaced from the axis of the shaft) allows for increased speed and accuracy when shooting or passing the ball, and also allows for increased control and ball retention when cradling the ball, because it maximizes the distance the ball sits from the axis of the shaft. However, lacrosse organizations have regulations for lacrosse sticks that may limit this offset. For example, the NCAA men&#39;s lacrosse rules require lacrosse sticks to be relatively straight, which is defined as a lacrosse stick that may be laid flat on a tabletop with a substantial portion resting on the table and such that a distance from the tabletop to the bottom edge of the lacrosse head does not exceed 2.75 inches. 
     Other considerations have also limited this offset in previous lacrosse sticks. For example, during play, both the shaft and the head of a lacrosse stick repeatedly experience high forces, for example, from scooping a ball off the ground or being checked by an opponent&#39;s stick, which may loosen or crack the head or lead to separation of the head from the shaft. Accordingly, the connection of the head to the shaft should be secure to reduce these incidents. In light of these concerns, lacrosse sticks included connection systems with material that completely surrounded the shaft (i.e., an external stability element). Such external stability elements included material on the top surface of the shaft. Those of ordinary skill in the art would have expected a connection system without material over the top surface of the shaft to be inadequate in securing the head to the shaft and would have expected a lacrosse stick with such a connection system to frequently experience loosening, cracking, or separation of the head. Thus, previous connection systems between a lacrosse head and a shaft included material over the top of the shaft and further limited the amount of offset, which prevented players from using the maximum benefit of an offset lacrosse head that would be permitted by the regulations. 
     The embodiments described herein provide a connection system that provides the maximum allowable offset while maintaining a secure connection between the lacrosse head and the shaft. For example, the connection system allows the top side of the head (i.e., the side facing down in  FIG. 2 ) and the shaft to be flush with each other. Accordingly, the distance between the top surface of the shaft and the bottom edge of the head (i.e., opposite the top side (facing up in  FIG. 2 )) may be the maximum allowable distance of 2.75 inches, which facilitates the maximum allowable offset. 
     In some embodiments, a lacrosse stick  10 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 1 , includes a shaft  20  and a head  30 . In some embodiments, shaft  20  includes a top surface  22 , an interior  24 , and a bottom portion  26 . Shaft  20  may have a cross-section height  21  (see  FIG. 3 ) and a length suitable for a lacrosse stick (e.g., short sticks, long sticks, or goalie sticks). In some embodiments, shaft  20  has an octagonal cross-section. Other cross-sections may also be used, such as hexagonal, teardrop, oval, etc. In some embodiments, shaft  20  is hollow. 
     In some embodiments, head  30  includes a scoop  32 , a pair of opposing sidewalls  34 , a ball stop  36 , and a throat  40 . Scoop  32 , sidewalls  34 , and ball stop  36  may have a variety of designs. In some embodiments, throat  40  is configured to receive shaft  20 . In some embodiments, throat  40  includes a top surface  42 . In some embodiments, top surface  42  of throat  40  is flush with top surface  22  of shaft  20 . In some embodiments, top surface  22  of shaft  20  is above top surface  42  of throat  40 . In some embodiments, top surface  42  defines a gap  44 . In some embodiments, top surface  22  of shaft  20  fills in gap  44  of top surface  42 . In some embodiments, shaft  20  is visible through gap  44 . 
     In some embodiments, throat  40  extends from a first end  46  to a second end  48 . In some embodiments, first end  46  is the farthest point from ball stop  36 . In some embodiments, second end  48  is closest to ball stop  36 . In some embodiments, second end  48  is adjacent to ball stop  36 . In some embodiments, gap  44  extends from first end  46  to second end  48 . In some embodiments, gap  44  is wider at first end  46  than at second end  48 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 9 . In some embodiments, top surface  22  of shaft  20  fills in gap  44  so that top surface  22  of shaft  20  is flush with top surface  42  of throat  40 . In some embodiments, top surface  42  is the highest portion of head  30 . In some embodiments, no portion of head  30  extends above top surface  22  of shaft  20 , as shown, for example, in  FIG. 8 . In some embodiments, this configuration allows lacrosse stick  10  to take advantage of the maximum allowable offset. 
     Lacrosse organizations may have regulations for dimensions of lacrosse sticks, including a distance  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) from a top surface of a lacrosse stick  1  to a bottom portion of a lacrosse head. For example, the maximum allowable distance  12  may be 2.75 inches. A simple test  15  may be performed to check whether lacrosse stick  1  is compliant with these regulations. As shown in  FIG. 2 , lacrosse stick  1  may be placed on a flat surface  16 , such as a table. To determine whether the regulation is met, the distance between flat surface  16  and the bottom portion of lacrosse stick  1  can easily be determined, which is equivalent to distance  12 . Thus, according to the regulation, distance  12  must be within the maximum allowable distance (e.g., 2.75 inches). 
     Existing lacrosse heads have a material (often emblems, badges, etc.) at the throat disposed above the top surface of the shaft. This may limit the offset (i.e., the distance between the axis of the shaft and the bottom portion of the lacrosse head) that can be achieved by the lacrosse stick because the material will be part of distance  12 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , lacrosse stick  1  and lacrosse stick  10  may have shafts with an equal cross-section height  21  (e.g., 1.07 inches), as well as an equal distance  12  (i.e., from the top surface to the bottom surface) (e.g., 2.75 inches). However, lacrosse stick  1  and lacrosse stick  10  do not have an equal offset  14  because a portion of the head of lacrosse stick  1  is above the shaft. 
     In contrast, in certain embodiments, in lacrosse stick  10 , top surface  42  of throat  40  is the top surface of lacrosse head  30 . Because top surface  42  is flush with top surface  22  of shaft  20 , lacrosse stick  10  provides the maximum allowable offset  14  (i.e., maximum allowable distance  12  minus half of the cross-section height  21  of the shaft) between the axis of shaft  20  and bottom edge  35  of head  30 . For example, if lacrosse stick  1  and lacrosse stick  10  are both at the maximum allowable distance  12  of 2.75 inches and have a shaft cross-section height  21  of 1.07 inches, lacrosse stick  1  may have an offset  14  of 1.95 inches whereas lacrosse stick  10  may have an offset of 2.215 inches because lacrosse stick  10  does not have any material in head  30  above top surface  22  of shaft  20 . This greater offset allows for increased speed and accuracy when shooting or passing the ball. 
     In some embodiments, as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 4-6 , lacrosse head  30  includes a connector  50 . In some embodiments, connector  50  is disposed within throat  40 . In some embodiments, throat  40  is configured to receive shaft  20  and connector  50  is configured to be inserted into interior  24  of shaft  20 . In some embodiments, shaft  20  is disposed between throat  40  and connector  50 . 
     In some embodiments, connector  50  comprises a prong or projection that extends from second end  48  within throat  40 . For example, connector  50  may be a cantilevered projection that is supported at second end  48  of throat  40  and is unsupported at an opposite end of connector  50 . In some embodiments, connector  50  extends beyond first end  46  of throat  40 . In some embodiments, connector  50  extends to first end  46  of throat  40 . In some embodiments, connector  50  does not extend as far as throat  40  (i.e., connector  50  may have a length that is less than the distance between first end  46  and second end  48 ). 
     In some embodiments, connector  50  is monolithic with throat  40 . In some embodiments, connector  50  is monolithic with head  30 . Thus, head  30  (including throat  40 ) and connector  50  may be a unitary component. In some embodiments, connector  50  is rigid. In some embodiments, connector  50  is co-molded with throat  40  and/or head  30 . In some embodiments, connector  50  is integrally molded with throat  40  and/or head  30 . Thus, in some embodiments, the connection system is integrated into throat  40  of head  30 . In some embodiments, connector  50  is not a fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.). In some embodiments, connector  50  is sufficient to withstand forces experienced during competitive lacrosse to securely hold head  30  on shaft  20 . 
     In some embodiments, throat  40  has an interior shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of shaft  20  (e.g., octagonal) (see  FIG. 6 ). In some embodiments, a portion of connector  50  corresponds to a shape of interior  24 . In some embodiments, the bottom surface  56  of connector  50  corresponds to a shape of interior  24 . In some embodiments, the bottom surface  56  of connector  50  forms three or more sides of an octagonal shape. Accordingly, when shaft  20  and head  30  are attached, connector  50  is disposed within shaft  20  and shaft  20  is disposed within throat  40 . 
     In some embodiments, the top of connector  50  is flat. In some embodiments, connector  50  has a width that is the same as the width of interior  24  of shaft  20 . In some embodiments, connector  50  has a width that is at least 90% of the width of interior  24  of shaft  20 . 
     In some embodiments, connectors may have a different shape than connector  50  shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . For example, in some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a lacrosse head  130  includes a throat  140  with a connector  150 . Throat  140  may have a top surface  142  that defines a gap  144 . Throat  140  may be configured to receive shaft  20  such that top surface  142  is flush with top surface  22  of shaft  20  and shaft  20  fills gap  144 . Connector  150  may be configured to be inserted into shaft  20 . The bottom of connector  150  may correspond to a shape of interior  24 . The top of connector  150  may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the bottom of connector  150 , in contrast to the top of connector  50 , which is flat. 
     As another example, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a lacrosse head  230  includes a throat  240  with a connector  250 . Throat  240  may have a top surface  242  that defines a gap (not shown). Throat  240  may be configured to receive shaft  20  such that top surface  242  is flush with top surface  22  of shaft  20  and shaft  20  fills the gap. Connector  240  may be configured to be inserted into shaft  20 . The bottom of connector  250  may correspond to a shape of interior  24 . Connector  250  may be T-shaped. In some embodiments, the top of connector  250  may extend to the top of interior  24  of shaft  20 . Other variations of connectors may also be used. 
     In some embodiments, connector  50  comprises a hole  55  configured to receive a fastener (e.g., screw, bolt, etc.), such as a screw  60  (see  FIG. 7 ). In some embodiments, connector  50  comprises more than one hole  55  (e.g., two holes  55 ). In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 5 , throat  40  comprises a hole  45  configured to receive a fastener (e.g., screw  60 ). In some embodiments, throat  40  comprises more than one hole  45  (e.g., two holes  45 ). In some embodiments, hole  45  is disposed in a bottom portion of throat  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , shaft  20  may also comprise a hole  25  configured to receive a fastener (e.g., screw  60 ). In some embodiments, shaft  20  comprises more than one hole  25  (e.g., two holes  25 ). In some embodiments, hole  25  is disposed in bottom portion  26  of shaft  20 . In some embodiments, holes  45 , holes  25 , and holes  55  are aligned with each other. In some embodiments, one or more screws  60  are inserted through holes  45 , holes  25 , and holes  55  to secure head  30  to shaft  20 . In some embodiments, holes  45 , holes  25 , and holes  55  have the same diameter d. In some embodiments, diameter d of holes  45 , holes  25 , and holes  55  is less than the width D of the threads of screws  60 . When screws  60  twist into head  30 , the material of throat  40  and connector  50  (e.g., plastic) deforms around the thread to create a secure fit. 
     Various embodiments described herein provide a connection system that facilitates a maximum allowable offset in a lacrosse stick, which may result in increased speed and accuracy, for example, when shooting a ball. At the same time, strength and rigidity of the lacrosse stick is maintained. Further variations of the embodiments described above may also be provided. 
     The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance. 
     The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.