Abstract:
A hockey stick training device to be attached to the shaft of a hockey stick includes a shield and a connector. The shield blocks a player&#39;s view of most of the blade of the hockey stick when the player carries the hockey stick forcing the player to rely on feel to handle and/or shoot rather than by sight.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to training devices and in particular to a hockey stick training device. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many sports such as ice hockey, ball hockey and field hockey, a player is required to control a puck, ball or the like with the blade of a stick. During game play or practice, it is desired that players keep their heads up and control the puck, ball or the like with the stick by feel rather than sight primarily for two reasons. One reason is that many of these sports are contact sports. If a player plays with their head up, the likelihood of an injury resulting from an unforeseen collision is substantially reduced. Also, by keeping their head up, a player is better able to see a developing play allowing the puck, ball or the like to be passed or shot to the most appropriate player or location. 
     Unfortunately, at many levels, players are not taught to play with their heads up even though a player who learns to do so will play at a higher level and will reduce the chance of injury. To deal with the above-identified problem and to instil in a player&#39;s mind that their head should be kept up during game play or practice, hockey training tools have been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,466 to Kaiser discloses a hockey helmet attachment to obstruct the downward vision of a hockey helmet wearer. The attachment is in the form of a flat arcuate member formed of flexible opaque material. The arcuate member is attached to the helmet so that it extends forwardly of the helmet in a generally horizontal plane and below the eye opening of the helmet. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,753 to Scarry discloses a hockey stick training device to be attached to the shaft of the hockey stick intermediate the handle and the blade to obscure the blade from vision. The hockey stick training device includes a planar rectangular, opaque member to obscure the entire hockey stick blade from vision. A connector to secure the hockey stick training device to the shaft extends upwardly from the rectangular member and is integrally formed therewith. 
     Although the Scarry patent discloses a hockey stick training device to be attached to the shaft of a hockey stick to teach a player to play hockey with their head up, problems exist. In particular, the configuration and dimensions of the planar rectangular member adversely affect the weight and balance of the hockey stick to which the hockey stick training device is attached. Also, the connector used to attach the hockey stick training device to the hockey stick shaft has been found to be unsatisfactory resulting in movement of the hockey stick training device along the hockey stick shaft during use. Accordingly, an improved hockey stick training device is desired. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel hockey stick training device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hockey stick training device to be attached to the shaft of a hockey stick adjacent the blade thereof comprising: 
     a connector to attach releasably said training device to said shaft; 
     a shield extending from said connector to block a player&#39;s view of a portion of said blade; and 
     a spacer to space said shield above said blade. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the connector and the shield are integrally formed. The connector depends from the shield and includes a lower edge to bear against a portion of the hockey stick and inhibit downward movement of the hockey stick training device along the shaft when the hockey stick device is subjected to centrifugal forces during use thereby to space the shield above the blade and constitute the spacer. The connector and the shield form an acute angle such that in use, the shield angles towards the blade and forms an angle with the horizontal in the range of from about 20 to 30 degrees. 
     Preferably, the connector includes a connecting flange defining a tube to surround and accommodate a portion of the shaft. A passage is provided in a wall of the connecting flange through which the shaft can pass. It is preferred that the passage widens at its ends. The connecting flange acts as a handle for grasping when the hockey stick training device is being placed on the shaft and removed from the shaft. The connecting flange includes spaced grooves on its sidewalls to provide corrugated surfaces that facilitate gripping. A strap of hook and loop fabric is threaded through a loop on the connector and is windable around the connecting flange and over itself to engage the hook and loop fabric. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hockey stick training device to be attached to the shaft of a hockey stick adjacent the blade thereof comprising: 
     a connector to attach releasably said hockey stick training device to said shaft; and 
     a shield extending from said connector over said blade to block a player&#39;s view of a portion of said blade, said shield being shaped and dimensioned to obscure at least the heel to about the midpoint of said blade while exposing the tip thereof. 
     According to still yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a hockey stick training device to be attached to the shaft of a hockey stick adjacent the blade thereof comprising: 
     a connector to attach releasably said hockey stick training device to said shaft; and 
     a shield extending from said connector over said blade to block a player&#39;s view of a portion of said blade, said connector depending from one end of said shield and being integrally formed therewith, said connector including a connecting flange defining a tube to surround and accommodate a portion of said shaft, a wall of said connecting flange having a passage therein, said passage widening at its ends to facilitate opening of said passage as said shaft passes therethrough. 
     The present invention provides advantages in that the configuration and dimensions of the hockey stick training device are selected to inhibit the weight and balance of the hockey stick from being adversely affected when the hockey stick training device is attached to the shaft of the hockey stick. The configuration and dimensions of the hockey stick training device are also selected to obscure at least the heel to the midpoint of the hockey stick blade while keeping the tip of the hockey stick blade visible to the player holding the hockey stick. By keeping the tip of the hockey stick blade visible, a player is better able to set up to receive a puck while ensuring the puck is obscured by the hockey stick training device when the player handles or shoots the puck. 
     In addition, the present invention provides advantages in that the hockey stick training device can be easily attached to and removed from the hockey stick shaft. When the hockey stick training device is attached to the hockey stick shaft, it is held securely in place inhibiting the hockey stick training device from moving along the hockey stick shaft during use. Furthermore, the provision of the spacer allows the hockey stick training device to be positioned at basically the same position on virtually all hockey sticks thereby providing consistency during use. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hockey stick training device in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the hockey stick training device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the hockey stick training device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hockey stick training device of FIG. 1 taken along line A—A; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the hockey stick training device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the hockey stick training device of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the hockey stick training device of FIG. 1 attached to a hockey stick; and 
     FIGS.  8   a  and  8   b  are side elevational views showing the hockey stick training device of FIG. 1 being attached to a hockey stick. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 to  7 , a hockey stick training device in accordance with the present invention is shown and is generally indicated to by reference numeral  10 . The hockey stick training device  10  is designed to be attached to the shaft S of a hockey stick H adjacent the hockey stick blade B (see FIG.  7 ). The hockey stick training  10  device is designed to obscure from vision, most of the hockey stick blade to force a player holding the hockey stick H to handle and shoot a puck by feel rather than by sight. In this manner, the hockey stick training device  10  teaches a player to handle and shoot a puck while keeping their head up during game play. Specifics of the hockey stick training device  10  will now be described. 
     The hockey stick training device  10  is preferably formed of flexible, opaque plastic material and includes a shield  12  to overlie a hockey stick blade and obscure most of the hockey stick blade from vision. A connector  14  depends from one end of the shield  12  to allow the hockey stick training device to be attached to the shaft of the hockey stick. The shield  12  and the connector  14  form an acute angle such that when the hockey stick training device  10  is properly positioned on the shaft of a hockey stick, the shield forms an angle θ with the horizontal in the range of from about 20 to 30 degrees. 
     As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to  4  and  6 , the shield  12  is generally delta-shaped in top plan defining a pair of wings  12   a . The shield  12  includes a top member  16  and a peripheral skirt  18  depending from the top member  16 . The corners of the shield  12  are rounded and the peripheral edges of the top member  16  and skirt  18  are bevelled so that no sharp edges are exposed. The shield  12  is dimensioned and shaped to conceal the portion of the hockey stick blade most often used to carry or shoot a puck (i.e. the portion of the blade extending from the heel of the hockey stick to midway along the length of the blade) while keeping the tip of the hockey stick blade visible. Specifically, the wings  12   a  are offset from the midpoint of the shield  12  so that the shield is wider near the heel of the hockey stick. The wings  12   a  also curve downwardly toward to hockey stick blade. The lengthwise dimension of the shield  12  in the present embodiment is selected so that approximately one (1) inch of the hockey stick blade remains visible to a player holding the hockey stick. 
     The connector  14 , best shown in FIGS. 1 to  3  and  5 , includes a connecting flange  20  integrally formed with the shield  12  and defining a rectangular tube  22  to accommodate the shaft of the hockey stick. The connecting flange  20  functions as a holder as will be described and has spaced grooves  20   a  formed in its sidewalls to provide corrugated surfaces that facilitate grasping. A passage  24  is formed in the rear wall  26  of the connecting flange  20  and extends along its length to provide an opening in the tube  22 . Opposite ends of the passage  24  are V-shaped defining widened end portions. A strap holder  30  is integrally formed on one of the connecting flange sidewalls. The strap holder  30  is generally U-shaped to define a gap  32  between its bight and the connecting flange sidewall. A strap  40  formed of hook and loop type fabric and having a buckle  42  at one end (see FIG.  8   b ) passes through the gap  32  and can be wrapped around the connecting flange  20  and over the strap holder  30 . The connecting flange  20  has a lengthwise dimension equal to about 5 inches. This length has been found to be sufficient to space properly the shield  12  above the hockey stick blade as well as to accommodate the strap holder  30  and the strap  40  while keeping the amount of material required to form the hockey stick training device  10  within an acceptable range. As will be appreciated, extra material increases manufacturing costs as well as increases the weight of the hockey stick training device  10  which may adversely affect the balance of the hockey stick during use. 
     A pair of spaced triangular ribs  44  is provided on the undersurface of the shield  12  to enhance the structural rigidity of the shield  12 . The ribs  44  extend from the connecting flange  20  and terminate intermediate the shield length. 
     Turning now to FIGS.  8   a  and  8   b , the manner in which the hockey stick training device  10  is attached to the shaft of a hockey stick will now be described. To attach the hockey stick training device to the shaft of the hockey stick, the hockey stick H is held upside-down by the player. The hockey stick training device  10  is then grasped by the connecting flange  20 , which acts as a holder, so that the hockey stick training device is also upside-down with the shield  12  bearing against the player&#39;s arm. The V-shaped end of the passage  24  nearest the shield  12  is then placed over the hockey stick blade B generally at the point where the hockey stick blade curves to join the shaft S. With the hockey stick training device  10  being pushed towards the hockey stick blade, the hockey stick training device is slid along the hockey stick blade towards the shaft S. By sliding the hockey stick training device around the curved portion of the hockey stick blade, the passage  24  opens up to accommodate the wider shaft. When the shaft is surrounded by the connecting flange  20  with the lower edge of the connecting flange at the point where the shaft curves toward the blade, the free end of the strap  40  is threaded through the buckle  42 . The strap  40  is then pulled back and wound around the connecting flange  20  and the strap holder  30  before being secured to itself. The hockey stick training device  10  is then ready for use. If the connecting flange  20  is loose, tape can be wrapped around the hockey stick shaft about 4 inches above the blade to provide a secure fit between the connecting flange and hockey stick shaft. 
     With the hockey stick training device  10  secured to the hockey stick, a player can learn to control the puck by feel and therefore, learn to play with their head up. Since the tip of the hockey stick blade remains visible, the player is better able to set up to receive a puck even though the puck will be obscured once carried using the hockey stick. Contact between the lower edge of the connecting flange  20  and the curved portion of the shaft inhibits further downward movement of the hockey stick training device  10  when the hockey stick training device is subjected to centrifugal forces during use. Thus, the connecting flange  20  acts as a spacer to position properly the shield  12  above the hockey stick blade. As a result, the hockey stick training device  10  is basically positioned at the same place relative to the hockey stick blade regardless of the hockey stick type thereby ensuring consistency during use. 
     To remove the hockey stick training device, the strap  40  is unattached from itself and is unwound from the connecting flange  20 . The free end of the strap  40  is then removed from the buckle  42 . After the strap  40  has been freed, the hockey stick training device  10  is removed from the hockey stick by reversing the process used to attach the hockey stick training device to the hockey stick described above. Thus, the connecting flange  20  is grasped with the hockey stick upside-down and the hockey stick training device  10  is slid down the shaft along the curved portion towards the blade while pulling the hockey stick training device away from the hockey stick. The V-shaped end of the passage  24  furthest from the shield  12  opens allowing the hockey stick to pass through the passage removing it from the connecting flange  20 . As will be appreciated, during placing and removing of the hockey stick training device  10  on and from the hockey stick, the widened V-shaped end portions of the passage  24  facilitate opening of the passage as the hockey stick shaft passes through the passage during installation and removal. This of course makes it easier to place the hockey stick training device  10  on the hockey stick shaft and subsequently remove the hockey stick training device from the hockey stick shaft. 
     As will be appreciated, the hockey stick training device  10  can be easily attached to and removed from a hockey stick allowing players of virtually all ages to use the hockey stick training device. Its design does not adversely affect the weight and balance of the hockey stick to which the hockey stick training device is attached and is sufficiently strong to withstand forces applied to it during use. Also, because the connecting flange  20  spaces the shield  12  above the hockey stick blade at a desired height, the desired portion of the hockey stick blade is obscured from the player&#39;s vision generally regardless of the type of hockey stick to which the hockey stick training device is attached. 
     It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.