U.S. patent application number 09/929299 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-30 for hockey stick.
This patent application is currently assigned to EASTON, JAS. D.. Invention is credited to Easton, James L., Goldsmith, Edward M..
Application Number | 20020065154 09/929299 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23903966 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020065154 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goldsmith, Edward M. ; et
al. |
May 30, 2002 |
Hockey stick
Abstract
A hockey stick comprising a blade and a shaft adapted to being
joined together. The blade portion having an upper portion and a
lower portion and a face. The upper portion being comprised of a
defined region having a reduced width dimension in a direction that
extends generally perpendicular from the face of the blade when
measured relative to regions in the upper portion of the blade that
border either side of the defined region. The defined region may
also be comprised of a reduced longitudinal bending stiffness in a
direction that extends generally perpendicular from the face of the
blade when measured relative to regions in the upper portion of the
blade that border either side of the defined region.
Inventors: |
Goldsmith, Edward M.;
(Granada Hills, CA) ; Easton, James L.; (Los
Angeles, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LYON & LYON LLP
633 WEST FIFTH STREET
SUITE 4700
LOS ANGELES
CA
90071
US
|
Assignee: |
EASTON, JAS. D.
Suite 200 7855 Haskell Avenue
|
Family ID: |
23903966 |
Appl. No.: |
09/929299 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09929299 |
Aug 14, 2001 |
|
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|
09479429 |
Jan 7, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/560 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/02 20130101;
A63B 60/06 20151001; A63B 2209/023 20130101; A63B 60/10 20151001;
A63B 59/70 20151001; A63B 2102/24 20151001; A63B 60/08 20151001;
A63B 2209/02 20130101; A63B 49/11 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/560 |
International
Class: |
A63B 059/12 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hockey stick blade comprising: a face, a lower portion, and an
upper portion having a longitudinal axis and comprising a defined
region of reduced longitudinal bending stiffness in a direction
generally perpendicular to the face of the blade when measured
relative to regions in the upper portion that border either side of
the defined region along the longitudinal axis.
2. A hockey stick comprising: a shaft and a blade adapted to being
joined to the shaft comprising a face, a lower portion, a heel and
an upper portion having a longitudinal axis generally extending
from the heel toward the shaft, the upper portion being comprised
of a defined region of reduced longitudinal bending stiffness in a
direction generally perpendicular to the face of the blade when
measured relative to regions in the upper portion of the blade that
border either side of the defined region along the longitudinal
axis.
3. A hockey stick blade comprising: a face, a lower portion, and an
upper portion having a longitudinal axis and comprising a defined
region having a reduced width dimension in a direction generally
perpendicular to the face of the blade when measured relative to
regions in the upper portion that border either side of the defined
region along the longitudinal axis.
4. A hockey stick comprising: a shaft and a blade adapted to being
joined to the shaft comprising a face, a lower portion, a heel and
an upper portion having a longitudinal axis generally extending
from the heel toward the shaft, the upper portion being comprised
of a defined region having a reduced width dimension in a direction
generally perpendicular to the face of the blade when measured
relative to regions in the upper portion of the blade that border
either side of the defined region along the longitudinal axis.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The field of the present invention relates to hockey sticks
and the blades thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Generally, hockey sticks are comprised of a blade portion
and a shaft or handle portion. Traditionally, these portions were
permanently joined to one another. In more recent times, the blade
and shaft have been constructed in a manner that facilitates the
user's replacement of the blade (i.e. the blades can be removably
detached from the shaft and another blade can be attached and the
removed blade can be attached to another shaft). The blades and
shafts have been constructed, in whole or in part, using a wide
variety of materials, including wood, aluminum, plastic and
composite materials such as carbon, graphite, aramid, polyethylene,
polyester and glass fibers.
[0003] The blade portion is typically comprised of front and back
faces, a hosel portion that extends longitudinally toward the shaft
from the heel of the blade and a lower portion that extends
generally perpendicular relative to the hosel portion away from the
heel. In conventional construction, the hosel portion of the blade
employs a continuously uniform or a continuously gradually tapering
cross-sectional geometry relative to and along its longitudinal
axis moving from the upper portion of the hosel near the shaft
toward the heel. Consequently, a uniform or gradually tapering
longitudinal bending stiffness in the hosel results.
[0004] The longitudinal bending stiffness of a member or a section
of a member is the stiffness along a given longitudinal axis of the
member relative to a defined direction. For example as illustrated
in FIG. 9A, a member having a rectangular cross-sectional area has
a longitudinal axis defined as Z', a width defined as X, a height
defined as Y and a length defined as L, where the width X is
greater than the height Y. As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the
longitudinal bending stiffness of the member illustrated in FIG. 9A
in the direction X' (which as illustrated is perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis) may be measured by applying a force F to the
member in the direction of X' (i.e. normal to the Z'-Y' plane) and
measuring the bending of the member in that direction at a defined
position. Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 9C, the
longitudinal bending stiffness in the Y' direction is measured by
applying a force F to the member in the Y' direction (i.e. normal
to the Z'-X' plane) and measuring the bending of the member in that
direction at a defined position of the member.
[0005] The longitudinal bending stiffness in the X' and Y'
directions may or may not be the same at a given section or region
since the bending stiffness relates to the member's construction
which is a function of the member's design, dimensions, geometry,
and the properties of the materials employed. Thus, the
longitudinal bending stiffness of a given member at a given
position may vary depending on the direction in which the
longitudinal bending stiffness is measured, and the stiffness at
different positions may vary depending on the construction of the
member at that position. As illustrated in FIGS. 9B and 9C the
bending stiffness in the X' direction is greater than the bending
stiffness in the Y' direction for the given force F (i.e. the
member bends less in the X' direction than in the Y' direction of a
given section when the same force F is applied). The assumption
upon which the diagrams in FIGS. 9B and 9C are based is that all
other relevant construction factors effecting the bending stiffness
in the X' and Y' directions are equal except for the width X being
greater than the height Y. Accordingly, a greater longitudinal
bending stiffness should result in the X' direction. It should be
recognized, however, that the construction of the member can be
modified in other respects so as to create a greater relative
bending stiffness in the Y' direction despite the width X being
greater than the height Y.
[0006] The "feel" of a hockey stick is a result of a myriad of
factors including the type of materials employed in construction,
the structure of the components, the dimensions of the components,
the rigidity or bending stiffness of the shaft and blade, the
weight and balance of the shaft and blade, the rigidity and
strength of the joint(s) connecting the shaft to the blade, the
curvature of the blade, etc. Experienced players and the public are
often inclined to use hockey sticks that have a "feel" that is
comfortable yet provides the desired performance. Moreover, the
subjective nature inherent in this decision often results in one
hockey player preferring a certain "feel" of a particular hockey
stick while another hockey player preferring the "feel" of another
hockey stick.
[0007] In order to modify the "feel" and/or performance of the
hockey stick, the hosel portion of the blade can be uniquely
modified in geometry and/or bending stiffness as described in more
detail below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to hockey sticks. A preferred
embodiment relates to hockey stick blades comprising a face, an
upper portion, and a lower portion. The upper portion having a
longitudinal axis and being comprised of a defined region of
reduced longitudinal bending stiffness in a direction that
generally extends away from the face of the blade when measured
relative to regions in the upper portion of the blade that border
either side of the defined region along the longitudinal axis.
[0009] Another preferred embodiment relates to hockey sticks
comprising a blade and a shaft. The blade is comprised of a face,
an upper portion, a heel, and a lower portion. The upper portion
having a longitudinal axis generally extending from the heel toward
the shaft. The upper portion being comprised of a defined region of
reduced longitudinal bending stiffness in a direction that
generally extends away from the face of the blade when measured
relative to regions in the upper portion of the blade that border
either side of the defined region along the longitudinal axis. The
blade and shaft are adapted to being joined to one another.
[0010] Another preferred embodiment relates to hockey stick blades
comprising a face, an upper portion, and a lower portion. The upper
portion having a longitudinal axis and being comprised of a defined
region having a reduced width dimension in a direction that
generally extends away from the face of the blade when measured
relative to regions in the upper portion of the blade that border
either side of the defined region along the longitudinal axis.
[0011] In yet another preferred embodiment relates to hockey sticks
comprising a blade and a shaft. The blade is comprised of a face,
an upper portion, a heel, and a lower portion. The upper portion
having a longitudinal axis generally extending from the heel toward
the shaft. The upper portion being comprised of a defined region
having a reduced width dimension in a direction that generally
extends away from the face of the blade when measured relative to
regions in the upper portion of the blade that border either side
of the defined region along the longitudinal axis. The blade and
shaft are adapted to being joined to one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain various principles of the invention.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hockey stick in
accordance with a preferred embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a right side view of the hockey stick blade in
accordance with the embodiment set forth in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a top view of the hockey stick blade in accordance
with the embodiment set forth in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the hockey stick blade in
accordance with the embodiment set forth in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the hockey stick blade in
accordance with the embodiment set forth in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a front view of the hockey stick blade in
accordance with the embodiment set forth in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a detailed rear view of the focused flex region of
the hockey stick blade in accordance with the embodiment set forth
in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 8A is a detailed diagram illustrating a cross-sectional
view of the hockey stick blade in accordance with the embodiment
set forth in FIG. 1 taken along line A-A of FIG. 7.
[0021] FIG. 8B is a detailed diagram illustrating a cross-sectional
view of the hockey stick blade in accordance with the embodiment
set forth in FIG. 1 taken along line B-B of FIG. 7.
[0022] FIG. 8C is a detailed diagram illustrating a cross-sectional
view of the hockey stick blade in accordance with the embodiment
set forth in FIG. 1 taken along line C-C of FIG. 7.
[0023] FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating a member having a
longitudinal axis and comprising a rectangular cross-sectional area
having width X, height Y and length L.
[0024] FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating the member of FIG. 9A with
a force applied to the member in the X' direction.
[0025] FIG. 9C is a diagram illustrating the member of FIG. 9A with
a force applied to the member in the Y' direction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Reference will now be made to the construction and
operations of preferred embodiments of the present invention,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The
following descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the present
invention are only exemplary of the invention. The present
invention is not limited to these embodiments, but may be realized
by other embodiments.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a hockey stick 10 in
accordance with a preferred embodiment as disclosed herein. FIGS.
2-7 are diagrams illustrating from different perspectives and views
the blade portion of the hockey stick illustrated in FIG. 1. As
shown in FIGS. 1-7, a hockey stick 10 is comprised of a handle or
shaft 20 and a blade 30. The shaft 20 is preferably comprised of a
hollow tubular member having a top section 50, a middle section 60
and a bottom section 70. The cross-sectional area of the shaft 20
is generally rectangular throughout the longitudinal length of the
shaft 20 and generally employs two sets of opposed walls 21, 22, 23
and 24. The blade 30 is comprised of a heel 80, an upper portion
90, a lower portion 100 and front and back faces 120 and 140
respectively. The heel 80 is generally defined as the angular
junction between the lower portion 100 and upper portion 90. The
upper portion 90 in the preferred embodiment is comprised of two
sets of opposed walls 31, 32, 33, and 34 and a mating section 95.
The mating section 95 in a preferred embodiment is comprised of a
rectangular cross section (also having two sets of opposed walls
31a, 32a, 33a, and 34a) that is adapted to mate with the bottom
section 70 of the shaft 20 in a four-plane lap joint along the
inside of walls 21, 22, 23, and 24. The outside diameter of the
rectangular cross-sectional area of the mating section 95 is
preferably dimensioned to make a sliding fit inside the hollow
center of the bottom section 70 of the shaft 20. Preferably, the
blade 30 and shaft 20 are bonded together at the four-plane lap
joint using an adhesive capable of removably cementing the blades
to shafts. Such adhesives are commonly known and employed in the
industry and include Z-Waxx.TM. and hot melt glues. Other mating
configurations and methods known in the art may be used as well
with the present invention. Alternatively, the blade 30 and shaft
20 may be permanently mounted to one another using construction and
assembly structures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill
in the art.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the hockey stick 10 has a
longitudinally extending axis 40 that extends from the top section
50 of the shaft 20 through the bottom section 70 of the shaft 20
and through the upper portion 90 of the blade 30 generally toward
the heel 80. The upper member 90 further comprises a focused flex
region 110, which is preferably comprised of a region of reduced
longitudinal bending stiffness in a defined region of the upper
portion 90 of the blade 30. The stick has a reduction in
longitudinal bending stiffness--or a focused flex region 110--that
gives it a higher flexibility about the axis line 200. The present
invention is not directed to providing increased flexibility about
the axis line 130, but rather in the direction of axis line 130.
Put another way, stick of the present invention has a reduction in
longitudinal bending stiffness--or a focused flex region 110--that
modifies the ability of the stick to flex in the general direction
that extends away from the face 120 of the blade 30 (i.e in a
direction generally normal to the plane defined by longitudinal
axis 40 and transverse axis 200). The reduction of the bending
stiffness is measured relative to the sections of the upper portion
90 of the blade 30 that immediately border either side of the
focused flex region 110 moving along the longitudinal axis 40--that
is, the sections above and below the focused flex region 110.
Hence, the section of the upper portion 90 located above the
focused flex region 110 as well as the section of the upper portion
90 of the blade 30 located below the focused flex region 110 have a
longitudinal bending stiffness measured in a direction of axis line
130 that is greater than that in the focused flex region 110.
[0029] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3-7, the reduced bending
stiffness in the focused flex region 110 may be achieved by
modifying the geometry of the upper portion 90 of the blade 30. As
shown in a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the
widths of the two opposed walls 31 and 32 of the upper portion 90
are reduced generally in the direction of the axis line 130 so as
to create a tapered, or hourglass, shape when viewed from a rear
perspective as in FIG. 7. The reduction in the bending stiffness in
the focused flex region 110 may be controlled using other
construction techniques or modifications, in addition to or in
combination with modifications to the geometry of the upper portion
90. For example, internal or external structural configurations on
the upper portion 90 may be employed to achieve the relative
reduction in the bending stiffness in the focused flex region 110.
In addition, the materials employed to construct the upper portion
90 in the focused flex region 110 may be varied either in quality
(i.e. longitudinal bending stiffness properties) or quantity so as
to result in a reduction of bending stiffness without necessarily
changing the general structure, outer dimensions, or geometry of
the upper portion 90 in the focused flex region 110.
[0030] One advantage, however, that is associated with changing the
outward geometry of the upper member 90 in the focused flex region
110 is that the focused flex region 110 would be more readily
detectable to the consumer and therefore may be advantageous from a
marketing perspective. In this regard, a modification in the outer
dimensions or geometry of the upper portion 90 without change to
the bending stiffness is also contemplated by the present
invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that while the
focused flex region 110 is depicted in FIGS. 1-7 as being
positioned below the rectangular cross sectional area of the mating
section 95 it is contemplated that it may be placed within the this
area as well.
[0031] One advantage offered by the present invention is that it
allows the stick designer to create a specific point, or area,
where the stick will flex the most. This focused flex region 110
can be used to create a stick with a lower flex point than other
sticks known in the art. This can be used to create a stick with
different feel and an increased ability to generate lift on the
puck--that is, to shoot the puck into the air.
[0032] The blade 30 may be constructed of a variety of materials
including wood, plastic, and composite materials such as
fiberglass, carbon fiber, Kevlar.TM., graphite fiber, foam and
other materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art. As
illustrated in FIGS. 8A-8C, when the blade 30 is formed of
composite materials, the blade 30 may be manufactured by using a
plurality of inner core pieces 160 composed preferably of
compressed foam, such as polyurethane, however, other materials may
also be employed such as wood, other foams and fiberglass. The
inner core pieces 160 generally are dimensioned generally to have
the external shape of the blade 30 when aligned with one another so
as to be capable of fitting in a desired mold. Each inner core
piece 160 is individually inserted into a first sleeve 170
preferably composed of a woven synthetic reinforcement material
such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar.TM. or graphite fiber
materials. The inner core pieces 160, having been individually
inserted into the woven fiber sleeves 170, are preferably also
together enclosed into an additional woven fiber sleeve 180
preferably constructed of the same material as the first sleeve
170. An additional layer of woven fiber reinforcement material 190
may also be layered between the two sets of sleeves on the top
section of the blade 30 to form part of walls 31 and 31a of the
upper portion 90 and the top edge 150 of the blade 30. The section
may be sized to form a portion of the front 120 and rear faces 140
of the blade 30. The blade assembly is then inserted into a mold
having the desired shape of the blade 30. A suitable matrix
material or resin is then injected into mold to impregnate the
woven fiber materials 170, 180, 190 and the blade 30 is cured. In
the illustrated preferred embodiment, the molding process together
with the dimensions of the inner core pieces 160 define the unique
shape of the focused flex region 110 on the upper portion 90 of the
blade 30.
[0033] While there has been illustrated and described what are
presently considered to be preferred embodiments and features of
the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in
the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and
equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof, without
departing from the scope of the invention.
[0034] In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a
particular element, feature or implementation to the teachings of
the present invention without departing from the central scope of
the invention. Therefore, it is intended that this invention not be
limited to the particular embodiments disclosed herein, but that
the invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of
the appended claims.
* * * * *