Patent Publication Number: US-7585234-B2

Title: Lacrosse head having a transverse rail

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/702,684, filed Jul. 27, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to lacrosse heads. More particularly, the present invention relates to lacrosse heads having a transverse rail disposed outwardly from an upper rail and a lower rail providing, for example, a truss-like construction. 
   2. Background of the Invention 
   Since the advent of double-wall synthetic lacrosse heads, lacrosse head designers have continually pursued lighter lacrosse heads that still provide the structural rigidity and durability required for the rigors of the game. Early versions of conventional double-wall synthetic lacrosse heads featured solid wall construction, in which the sidewalls and scoop were solid except for perhaps stringing holes. Although this solid construction met structural requirements, these types of heads tended to be quite heavy and difficult to maneuver. 
   As molding techniques and materials improved, lacrosse head designs moved away from completely solid constructions in favor of open sidewall constructions. By positioning openings through the sidewalls, designers were able to reduce the overall weight of the head and improve the feel and maneuverability of the head. However, in striving to reduce weight as much as possible, some open sidewall designs suffer from unwanted flexibility and susceptibility to deformation and breaking. The unwanted flexibility hinders a player&#39;s ability to control a ball in the head and execute accurate passing and shooting. Thus, there remains a need for the lightest possible lacrosse head that still meets the structural requirements for durability and rigidity required for competitive play. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed toward a significantly lighter, more aerodynamic lacrosse head. An embodiment of the present invention provides a lacrosse head comprising a base, two sidewalls connected to the base, and a scoop connected to the two sidewalls opposite to the base, where each sidewall comprises an upper rail, a lower rail, and a transverse rail. The transverse rail is connected to and disposed outwardly from the upper rail and lower rail. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary lacrosse head in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram showing a plan view of the lacrosse head shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram showing a side view of the lacrosse head shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary goalie lacrosse head in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary lacrosse head  100  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 2 and 3  are schematic diagrams showing a plan view and a side elevation view, respectively, of the lacrosse head  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown in this embodiment, lacrosse head  100  comprises a frame having a base  102 , two sidewalls  120  and  122  connected to base  102 , and a scoop  104  connected to sidewalls  120  and  122  opposite to base  102 . Base  102  is adapted to receive a shaft (not shown). A web or pocket (not shown) can be attached to string holes  118  located in the scoop  104  and string holes  116  located in the lower rails  108  of sidewalls  120  and  122 . Together, base  102 , sidewalls  120  and  122 , and scoop  104  define the interior of lacrosse head  100 . 
   Each sidewall of sidewalls  120  and  122  comprises an upper rail  106 , a lower rail  108 , and a transverse rail  110 . Upper rail  106  and lower rail  108  are connected by one or more vertical members  112 . In the exemplary head  100  of  FIGS. 1-3 , members  112  are arranged in a generally vertical direction in between upper rail  106  and lower rail  108  with respect to the horizontal axis according to which base  102  receives a shaft. In this embodiment, members  112  form a series of rectangular openings between upper rail  106  and lower rail  108 . Alternatively, the members  112  connecting upper rail  106  and lower rail  108  can be arranged in directions other than a vertical direction to form geometric openings other than rectangular openings, such as triangular openings. 
   As shown best in  FIG. 2 , transverse rail  110  is disposed outwardly of rails  106  and  108  with respect to the interior of head  104 . Transverse rail  110  can be connected to upper rail  106  and lower rail  108  by one or more transverse truss members  114 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , upper rail  106 , lower rail  108 , and transverse rail  110  are positioned in a triangular orientation to provide a truss-like formation. In other words, a cross section of sidewall  120  or  122  taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sidewall would be roughly triangular. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , pairs of transverse truss members  114  connected along upper rail  106  converge at transverse rail  110  to form triangular openings between the transverse truss members  114 . Similarly, pairs of transverse truss members  114  connected along lower rail  108  converge at transverse rail  110  to form triangular openings. When viewed from above, as shown in  FIG. 2 , transverse truss members  114  create a series of triangular openings in sidewalls  120  and  122 . Alternatively, instead of triangular openings, transverse truss members  114  could extend from rails  106  and  108  to transverse rail  110  in other configurations, for example, creating trapezoidal, rectangular, or square openings between transverse rail  110  and rails  106  and  108 . 
   An aspect of the present invention relates to the relative positioning of rails  106 ,  108 , and  110  with respect to their location around head  100 . For example, as shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , transverse rail  110  is positioned more outwardly of rails  106  and  108  in areas of the sidewalls  120  and  122  proximate to the base  102  than in areas more toward the scoop  104 . Indeed, toward the scoop  104  of head  100 , rails  106 ,  108 , and  110  converge and transition into the solid scoop  104 . In contrast, toward the base  102  of head  100 , rails  106 ,  108 , and  110  do not converge and instead independently connect to the base  102 . Of course, as one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, configurations other than the particular embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3  are possible, such as converging rails  106 ,  108 , and  110  at base  102  or keeping transverse rail  110  disposed outwardly of rails  106  and  108  throughout the sidewalls and the scoop. 
   Instead of the transverse rail comprising one rail member as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention provides a transverse rail that includes two or more transverse rail members. For example, two transverse rail members could be provided to create a square, rectangular, or trapezoidal beam construction, as viewed in a cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sidewall. In this case, transverse truss members could connect the upper rail to the upper transverse rail member and the lower rail to the lower transverse rail member, and additional vertical members could connect the upper transverse rail member to the lower transverse rail member. 
   As another example, the transverse rail could include three transverse rail members to create a pentagonal beam construction, as viewed in a cross section taken perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sidewall. In this case, transverse truss members could connect the upper rail to the uppermost transverse rail member and the lower rail to the lowermost transverse rail member, and additional members could connect the uppermost transverse rail member to the outermost transverse rail member, and the outermost transverse rail member to the lowermost transverse rail member. 
     FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary goalie lacrosse head  400  in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown, head  400  comprises a frame having a base  410 , two sidewalls  420  and  422  connected to base  410 , and a scoop  416  joining the sidewalls  420  and  422  opposite base  410 . Base  410  is adapted to receive a lacrosse shaft  412 . A web or pocket (not shown) can be attached to string holes  414  defined in head  400 . Together, base  410 , sidewalls  420  and  422 , and scoop  416  define the interior of lacrosse head  400 . 
   Sidewalls  420  and  422  and scoop  416  comprise an upper rail  402 , a lower rail  404 , and a transverse rail  406 . Transverse rail  406  is disposed outwardly of upper rail  402  and lower rail  404 , with respect to a plane defined between upper rail  402  and lower rail  404 . Such a plane would correspond to the surface of sidewalls  420  or  422  or scoop  416  that generally faces the interior of head  400 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , transverse rail  406  is disposed more outwardly with respect to the plane along the sidewalls than the transverse rail  406  is with respect to the plane along the scoop. 
   Upper rail  402  and lower rail  404  can be connected by one or more members  418 . 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , along a substantial portion of sidewalls  420  and  422 , members  418  are arranged in generally a vertical direction in between upper rail  402  and lower rail  404  with respect to the horizontal axis according to which base  410  receives shaft  412 . Along scoop  416 , members  418  are arranged so that they incline outward from the interior of head  400 . In this embodiment, members  418  form rectangular openings along sidewalls  420  and  422  and scoop  416 . Alternatively, members  418  can be arranged to form geometric openings other than rectangular openings, such as triangular openings. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , transverse rail  406  is disposed outwardly of rails  402  and  404  with respect to the plane defined between rails  402  and  404 . Transverse rail  406  can be connected to upper rail  402  and lower rail  404  by one or more transverse members  408 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , upper rail  402 , lower rail  404 , and transverse rail  406  are positioned in a triangular orientation to provide a truss-like formation. In other words, a cross section of sidewalls  420  or  422  or scoop  416  taken perpendicular to its longitudinal axis would be roughly triangular. 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , pairs of transverse members  408  connected along the upper rail  402  converge at transverse rail  406  to form triangular openings between the transverse members  408 . Similarly, pairs of transverse members  408  connected along lower rail  404  converge at transverse rail  406  to form triangular openings. When viewed from above, the plurality of transverse members  408  creates a series of triangular openings in the sidewalls  420  and  422  and scoop  416 . Alternatively, instead of triangular openings, transverse members  408  could extend from rails  402  and  404  to transverse rail  406  in other configurations, for example, creating trapezoidal, rectangular, or square openings between transverse rail  406  and rails  402  and  404 . 
   An aspect of the present invention relates to the relative positioning of rails  402 ,  404 , and  406  with respect to their location around head  400 . For example, as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , transverse rail  406  is positioned more outwardly of the plane defined between rails  402  and  404  in areas of the sidewalls  420  and  422  than in areas of the scoop  416 . Of course, as one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, configurations other than the particular embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4  are possible. 
   In addition, as with the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , instead of the single transverse rail  406  shown in  FIG. 4 , an alternative embodiment of the present invention provides two or more transverse rails. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, a lacrosse head frame has a base, a scoop, and sidewalls that extend from the base to the scoop, the sidewalls having an upper rail, a lower rail (perhaps, with string holes), and a transverse rail between the upper and lower rails and disposed outwardly from the upper and lower rails substantially along the length of the frame to form a hollow space within the sidewalls. The transverse rail and the upper and lower rails are connected by a plurality of transverse members. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, a lacrosse head frame has a base, a scoop, and sidewalls that extend from the base to the scoop, the sidewalls having a multi-sided skeletal construction, one or more sections of the inner side of a multi-sided sidewall having an area approximately equal to the sum of the areas of the corresponding portion of each of the remaining outer sides of the multi-sided sidewall. 
   According to another embodiment of the present invention, a lacrosse head frame has a base, a scoop, and sidewalls that extend from the base to the scoop, the sidewalls having an upper rail and a lower rail, each no greater than ⅜″ in height, and a transverse rail between the upper and lower rails and disposed outwardly from the upper and lower rails substantially along the length of the frame to form a hollow space within the sidewalls. The transverse rail and the upper and lower rails are connected by a plurality of transverse members. 
   According to an embodiment of the present invention, string holes are formed in one or more of the upper rail, lower rail, and transverse rail, which can provide options for stringing a pocket to the head. As another embodiment, instead of or in addition to string holes formed in the head, a lacing string is laced through the rails and transverse truss members and a pocket is attached to the lacing string. 
   Examples of suitable materials for a lacrosse head according to the present invention include nylon, composite materials, elastomers, metal, urethane, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyketone, polybutylene terephalate, acetals (e.g., Delrin™ by DuPont), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), acrylic, acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile (ASA), alcryn (partially crosslinked halogenated polyolefin alloy), styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-butylene styrene, thermoplastic olefinic (TPO), thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPDM), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). 
   The truss-like construction of a lacrosse head according to an embodiment of the present invention operates in a manner similar to bridges having truss formations. Alone, the upper rails and lower rails would be subject to tension, shear, and bending forces during play, making them susceptible to bending. However, adding the transverse rail and connecting transverse members of the present invention provides additional strength and allows the upper and lower rails and their interconnecting members to be thinner and therefore lighter. With the plurality of transverse members in compression and the beams in tension, the truss-like formation provides stiffness both in frontward-to-backward directions and side-to-side directions, thereby preventing bending during play. In addition, unlike conventional heads, the present invention provides similar load bearing strength performance in these two directions. The thinner members and larger openings also improve the aerodynamics of the head. 
   Overall, the present invention provides a significantly lighter, more aerodynamic lacrosse head that, due to the transverse rail and truss-like construction, retains the requisite strength of a conventional head in the vertical direction (and therefore does not flex too much so as to make a pass or shot difficult to control), and is even stronger than conventional heads in the horizontal direction, i.e., side-to-side (due principally to the transverse rail). The lightness and aerodynamics makes for a more maneuverable head that can be whipped at higher speed, thereby increasing shooting and passing speed. In meeting the need for a lighter lacrosse head that also can withstand the rigors of the game (such as checking, scooping, poke checking, and accurate shooting), the lacrosse head construction of the present invention provides significant benefits in weight reduction and strength retention. 
   The foregoing disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims, and by their equivalents.