U.S. patent application number 10/735596 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-16 for sports shaft.
Invention is credited to Hayden, Mark X., Wittman, Chad M..
Application Number | 20050130773 10/735596 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34653666 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050130773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hayden, Mark X. ; et
al. |
June 16, 2005 |
Sports shaft
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved sports shaft. The
improved shaft is comprised of a synthetic material designed to
minimize weight and provide a desirable amount of flex. The shaft
may include a unique tapered grip portion that dramatically
improves the shaft's flex and feel characteristics. The tapered
grip portion is tapered lengthwise and widthwise to create a
narrower portion that accommodates a player's hand position. The
outer surface of the shaft is coated with a gripable material to
improve the overall grip and feel characteristics of the shaft. The
gripable material comprises a low coefficient of thermal surface
conductivity. In addition, the outer coating creates an
aesthetically pleasing appearance in comparison with an uncoated
aluminum shaft.
Inventors: |
Hayden, Mark X.; (Denver,
CO) ; Wittman, Chad M.; (Denver, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Brian P. Kinnear
HOLLAND & HART LLP
555 - 17th Street, Suite 3200
P.O. Box 8749
Denver
CO
80201
US
|
Family ID: |
34653666 |
Appl. No.: |
10/735596 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/513 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/06 20151001;
A63B 53/10 20130101; A63B 60/14 20151001; A63B 60/10 20151001; A63B
2209/02 20130101; A63B 49/08 20130101; A63B 60/08 20151001; A63B
60/0081 20200801; A63B 60/48 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/513 |
International
Class: |
A63B 059/02; A63B
065/12 |
Claims
1. A sports shaft comprising: an elongated body portion comprising
a synthetic semi-flexible material, the elongated body having a
first end and a second end; a tapered portion disposed on the
elongated body portion; and a gripable coating disposed on an outer
surface of the elongated body portion.
2. The sports shaft of claim 1, further including a first outwardly
tapered head receiving portion disposed on the first end.
3. The sports shaft of claim 2, further including a second
outwardly tapered head receiving portion disposed on the second
end.
4. The sports shaft of claim 1, wherein the elongated body has a
rounded non-protruding octagon cross-sectional shape.
5. The sports shaft of claim 1, wherein the synthetic semi-flexible
material includes carbon fiber.
6. The sports shaft of claim 1, wherein the synthetic semi-flexible
material includes graphite.
7. The sports shaft of claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is
tapered inwardly, such that the tapered portion has a smaller
diameter than the remainder of the elongated body.
8. The sports shaft of claim 1, wherein the tapered portion is
disposed in a position on the elongated body that is consistent
with a standard hand position of a player for the sport within
which the sports shaft is designed to be used.
9. The sports shaft of claim 1, wherein the gripable coating
includes a rubberized paint coating.
10. The sports shaft of claim 1, wherein the sports shaft conforms
to the regulations of a lacrosse stick shaft.
11. The sports shaft of claim 3, further including a lacrosse head
disposed on an end of the elongated shaft, the end selected from
the group consisting of the first end and the second end.
12. The sports shaft of claim 1, further including a detachable
head disposed on an end of the elongated body.
13. A lacrosse shaft comprising: an elongated body portion
comprising a synthetic semi-flexible material; the elongated body
portion having a first end and a second end, the first end
including a first outwardly tapered head receiving portion and the
second end including a second outwardly tapered head receiving
portion; an inwardly tapered grip portion disposed on the elongated
body portion; a gripable coating disposed on selected portions of
an outer surface of the elongated body portion, wherein the
gripable coating comprises a rubberized paint coating, wherein a
detachable head can be detachably coupled to a head receiving
portion selected from the group consisting of the first outwardly
tapered head receiving portion and the second outwardly tapered
head receiving portion.
14. The lacrosse shaft of claim 14, wherein the selected portions
of the outer surface comprise locations where a player would grip
the lacrosse shaft.
15. The lacrosse shaft of claim 14, wherein the selected portions
comprise the entire outer surface.
16. A method of manufacturing a sports shaft comprising: wrapping
synthetic material around an internal member; removing the internal
member; inserting the synthetic material into a mold heating
synthetic material to conform to the synthetic material to a shape
of the mold; solidifying the synthetic material; coating the
synthetic material with a gripable material comprising a low
coefficient of thermal surface conductivity.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the coating further comprises
spraying one or more layers of rubberized paint.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the synthetic material
comprises carbon.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the mold for the sports shaft
further includes at least one outwardly flared head receiving
portion.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the mold for the sports shaft
further includes an inwardly tapered portion.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein the mold for the sports shaft
is configured to create a shaft with a rounded non-protruding
octagonal cross-sectional profile.
22. A sports shaft comprising: an elongated body comprised of a
synthetic semi-flexible material, the elongated body having a first
end and a second end; a tapered portion disposed on the elongated
body portion, the tapered portion being proximate the first end; a
gripable coating disposed on an outer surface of the elongated
body; a first head receiving portion located at the first end and a
second head receiving portion located at the second end; and a head
located at a location selected from the group consisting of the
first end and the second end, wherein the head is located at either
the first or second end.
23. A lacrosse shaft comprising: an elongated lacrosse shaft body
comprising a semi-flexible material, the elongated body having a
first end and a second end; a gripable coating disposed on at least
a portion of an outer surface of the elongated lacrosse shaft body,
wherein the gripable coating comprises a low coefficient of thermal
conductivity.
24. The shaft of claim 23, wherein the gripable coating further
comprises a rubberized paint coating.
25. The shaft of claim 23, wherein the gripable coating covers
substantially all the outer surface of the elongated lacrosse shaft
body.
26. The shaft of claim 23, wherein the elongated lacrosse shaft
body comprises a tapered portion disposed between the first and
second ends.
27. The shaft of claim 23, wherein the elongated lacrosse shaft
body comprises a polygonal shape in cross section, the polygonal
shape having non-protruding rounded corners.
28. The shaft of claim 27, wherein the polygonal shape comprises an
octagon.
29. The shaft of claim 23, wherein the elongated lacrosse shaft
body comprises a flared first head receiver portion at the first
end.
30. The shaft of claim 29, wherein the elongated lacrosse shaft
body comprises a flared second head receiver portion at the second
end.
31. A lacrosse shaft comprising: an elongated shaft comprising a
semi flexible material, the elongated shaft having a first end and
a second end; the semi flexible material including at least one of
graphite or carbon fiber; a rubberized coating disposed on at least
a portion of an outer surface of the elongated lacrosse shaft
body.
32. The shaft of claim 31, wherein the elongated shaft comprising
at least one tapered portion disposed between the first end and the
second end.
33. The shaft of claim 31, wherein the rubberized coating is
disposed along substantially the entire elongated shaft.
34. The shaft of claim 31, wherein the rubberized coating comprises
a low coefficient of thermal conductivity
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to sticks or shafts for use in
sports and sporting activities. More particularly, the present
invention relates to a shaft with improved weight, feel, flex, and
grip.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various sports incorporate sticks or shafts players use to
assist in propelling an object from one location to another.
Tennis, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, racquetball, squash, etc. all
incorporate some form of shaft. The shafts often include a
specialized head that is either detachable or manufactured into the
shaft. For example, most tennis racket shafts incorporate an
integrated head that is configured to provide a bounceable surface
for a tennis ball. Whereas, most lacrosse shafts incorporate a
detachable head that is used to catch, throw, and cradle a lacrosse
ball. The shafts must conform to certain rules and regulations
particular to each activity. For example, baseball bats must
conform to very strict size, weight, and composition
requirements.
[0003] Players choose shafts they perceive will assist or increase
their overall performance in playing a particular sport. Therefore,
shaft manufacturers design and build shafts that conform to
characteristics that players are likely to seek out. These
characteristics generally include weight, feel, flex, off-set, and
grip. The weight of a shaft is primarily dependent on the
composition of the shaft. Shafts are often composed of wood,
aluminum, graphite, carbon fiber, titanium, or other metal alloys.
Each of these compositions has unique weight characteristics. The
feel of a shaft depends on the manufacturing of the outer surface
of a shaft. If a particular shaft does not feel appropriate,
players are forced to add tape or rubber to the outside of the
shaft in order to create the required feel. A shaft's flex also is
dependent on the overall composition and shape of the shaft. In
certain sports, the flex of the shaft is extremely important in
creating a whipping action to propel an object at a high speed. For
example, in lacrosse, if a player wishes to throw the ball at a
high speed, the player will use the shaft and head to whip the ball
in a particular direction. The flex of the shaft can assist in
generating additional force when used in this manner. It should be
noted that a shaft should not be too flexible such that it would
flex at undesirable times or easily break. The grip of a shaft is,
in part, dependent on manufacturing of the outer surface of a
shaft. The grip of a shaft relates, in part, to the amount of
friction between a players hand/glove and the shaft during play. In
most sports, it is desirable to have a sufficient amount of
friction between the shaft and the player's hand so as to maximize
the control the player has over the shaft.
[0004] One of the main problems with conventional shafts is that
they do not maximize all of the characteristics desired by players.
Certain shafts may have superior flex and feel but are
unnecessarily heavy; other shafts may be lightweight but have
little or no flex capabilities. In the field of lacrosse sticks,
most of the shaft manufacturers sell traditional hollow, aluminum
shafts because they are relatively lightweight, easy to
manufacture, and provide a minor amount of flex. These conventional
aluminum shafts must be modified to provide the right feel and grip
desired by most players. Players commonly tape athletic tape around
the bottom and top portions of the shaft to create improved
gripping surfaces. The flex of the shaft cannot be improved with
simple modifications and therefore must be endured.
[0005] The thermal conduction characteristics of sports shafts is
also an important factor to many players. Aluminum shafts have a
relatively high thermal surface conductivity coefficient.
Therefore, heat transfer from the player's hands to the aluminum
shaft or from the aluminum shaft to the player's hands occurs at a
high rate, tending to give the shaft a cold or hot feel. However,
many players may prefer shafts that do not feel cold or hot.
[0006] Therefore, there is a need in the industry for an improved
sports shaft that maximizes the performance characteristics of a
shaft and reduces the thermal surface conductivity. In addition,
the improved shaft should be relatively easy to manufacture such
that it can be marketed at a reasonable fee to consumers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates to an improved sports shaft
that is configured to maximize weight, flex, feel, surface
conductivity, and grip. The improved shaft is comprised of a
synthetic material designed to minimize weight and provide a
desirable amount of flex. The shaft also includes a unique tapered
portion that dramatically improves the shaft's flex and feel
characteristics. The tapered portion is tapered lengthwise and
widthwise to create a narrower portion to facilitate the stick
flex. Frequently, the tapered portion is located to accommodate a
player's hand position. The outer surface of the entire shaft is
coated with a gripable composition having a lower thermal
conductivity coefficient as compared to conventional shafts in
order to improve the overall grip and feel characteristics of the
shaft. In addition, the outer coating creates an aesthetic clean
appearance in comparison to an uncoated shaft.
[0008] In one embodiment, the shaft is a lacrosse shaft. The
lacrosse shaft includes an inward tapering portion disposed in a
location consistent with where lacrosse players typically position
their hands. The lacrosse shaft is composed of a semi-flexible
synthetic material to provide the correct weight and flex. The
lacrosse shaft is coated with a gripable material of low thermal
conductivity to provide a desired feel. The lacrosse shaft includes
an outward tapering head receiving portion that allows a detachable
head to be attached to the lacrosse shaft. The detachable head can
be mounted on both ends of the lacrosse shaft making the shaft
reversible. In addition, the lacrosse shaft is coated with a
gripable material that may include rubber to provide better grip
and a warmer or cooler temperature perception depending on the
climate. The cross-section of the lacrosse shaft is a rounded
non-protruding octagon intended to maximize contact between a
player's hands/gloves and the shaft and thereby improve the
player's grip.
[0009] The embodiments described above may also be combined in
order to create an anchor that is even less likely to suffer from a
lateral rotational force during a procedure. The foregoing and
other features, utilities, and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following detailed description of the invention
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of
the present invention and are a part of the specification. The
illustrated embodiments are merely examples of the present
invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a profile view of a prior art lacrosse
shaft;
[0012] FIG. 2A illustrates a profile view of a lacrosse shaft and
lacrosse head in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2B illustrates a profile view of a women's lacrosse
shaft in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2C illustrates a profile view of a straight lacrosse
shaft in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a prior art
octagonal lacrosse shaft;
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternative
prior art octagonal lacrosse shaft including flaring rounded edges;
and
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a lacrosse
shaft in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe
embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood that the
drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of
particular embodiments of the present invention, and are not
limiting, nor are they drawn to scale.
[0019] As a matter of design choice, the outer gripable material
may be located strategically where a player will grip the shaft
rather than cover the entire surface. However, the gripable
material is preferably located substantially or entirely along the
outer surface of the shaft. In addition, the outer coating may
comprise a low thermal surface thermal conductivity coefficient and
create an aesthetic clean appearance in comparison to an uncoated
shaft. While embodiments of the present invention are described in
the context of a lacrosse stick, it will be appreciated that the
teachings of the present invention are applicable to other
applications as well.
[0020] The present invention relates to an improved sports shaft
configured to provide a shaft with weight, flex, feel, and grip
superior to prior shafts. The improved shaft comprises a synthetic
or natural material designed to minimize weight and provide a
desirable amount of flex. According to one embodiment, the shaft
also includes a unique tapered portion that dramatically improves
the shaft's flex and feel characteristics. The tapered portion is
tapered lengthwise and widthwise to create a narrower portion
useful for a more comfortable hand grip, and may provide other
advantages as well. Frequently, the tapered portion is located to
accommodate a player's natural hand position or grip. The outer
surface of the entire shaft or a portion thereof may be coated with
a gripable composition to improve the overall grip and feel, and
also to provide a low thermal surface conductivity coefficient.
[0021] One of the improved feel characteristics is the temperature
perception of the shaft when gripped. The gripable composition
comprises a low thermal conductivity coefficient, which reduces a
rate of heat transfer conducted to the shaft from a player's hand
or to a player's hand from the shaft. Therefore, the perceived
temperature of the shaft when a user grips the shaft is warmer or
cooler as compared to a conventional aluminum shaft. Although the
actual temperature of the improved shaft is not affected by the
gripable composition, the gripable composition reduces the rate of
heat conducted from the player's hand to the shaft or from the
shaft to a player's hand, thus leading to a more comfortable
temperature perception. According to some embodiments, the gripable
composition is a rubberized paint or other elastomeric coating.
[0022] As used throughout the specification, including the claims,
the term "low" as a modifier for a thermal surface conductivity
coefficient, means less than about 0.047 cal/sec*cm*.degree. C. The
term "high" as a modifier for a thermal surface conductivity
coefficient, means about 0.5 cal/sec*cm*.degree. C. The words
"including" and "having," as used in the specification, including
the claims, have the same meaning as the word "comprising."
[0023] Reference is initially made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a
profile view of a prior art lacrosse shaft, designated generally at
100. The shaft 100 includes a lower grip portion 110, an elongated
body 115, and a head receiving portion 105. The elongated body 115
is comprised of a metallic material including aluminum. Aluminum is
traditionally used for lacrosse shafts because of its lightweight
and semi-flexible properties. The grip and feel of a raw aluminum
shaft is generally undesirable to most lacrosse players. Therefore,
many manufacturers paint raw aluminum shafts to conceal the raw
metal appearance. Unfortunately, painting does not improve the grip
or feel. Accordingly, players and/or manufacturers commonly add
external tape to the lower grip portion 110 of the shaft 100 in
order to improve the overall grip and feel characteristics. The
lower grip portion 110 is disposed near one of the ends of the
elongated body 115 as illustrated in FIG. 1. The head receiving
portion 105 is simply an upper section of the elongated body 115
that is commonly used to attach a detachable lacrosse head. The
head receiving portion 105 may include at least one hole for head
mounting purposes. The cross-sectional shape of the prior art shaft
100 is described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0024] Reference is next made to FIG. 2A, which illustrates a
lacrosse shaft in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. The lacrosse shaft is designated generally at 200. The
lacrosse shaft 200 includes an inwardly tapered portion 210, and
elongated body 215, and first and second head receiving portions
205, 230. While the tapered portion 210 is shown nearest the second
head receiving portion 230, it is possible to provide the tapered
portion 210 nearest the opposing first head receiving portion 205.
Further, providing both head receiving portions 205 and 230 makes
the stick reversible as each is receptive of a lacrosse head.
According to FIG. 2A, a lacrosse head is attached to the first head
receiving portion.
[0025] The tapered portion 210 is tapered inward from the remainder
of the elongated body, meaning that the tapered portion 210 has a
smaller diameter than the remainder of the shaft 200. On either
side of the tapered portion 210, the elongated body tapers inward
or narrows down to the width of the tapered portion 210. The inward
tapering of the tapered portion 210 is preferably consistent on all
of the outer sides of the lacrosse shaft 200 in order to create a
uniformly narrower section. The inward taper may improve the grip
and feel of the shaft by providing a contoured location for a
user's hand(s). In addition, the combination of the semi-flexible
synthetic composition and the inward taper can assist in allowing a
player with whipping the shaft. Players often whip lacrosse shafts
in order to throw the ball at a high speed. The whip or flex is
facilitated more or less depending on whether the detachable head
is attached to first receiver portion 205 or second receiver
portion 230.
[0026] The elongated body 215 comprises a semi-flexible, preferably
synthetic material including but not limited to: carbon fiber,
graphite, plastic, composites, etc. According to the embodiment
shown, the entire elongated body 215 is coated with a gripable
material 217 having a low coefficient of thermal surface
conductivity. The gripable material may include, but is not limited
to: rubber, leather, vinyl, cloth, and elastomeric paints and
coatings. Providing the gripable material 217 with a low
coefficient of thermal surface conductivity causes the shaft 200 to
feel warmer or cooler in a player's hand than conventional shafts.
For example, if the gripable material is an elastomeric coating as
shown, the coefficient of thermal surface conductivity is
approximately 0.00045 cal/sec*cm*.degree. C. On the other hand,
conventional aluminum lacrosse shafts have a thermal surface
conductivity coefficient of approximately 0.5 cal/sec*cm*.degree.
C.
[0027] Therefore, if a user's hand is warmer than the shaft, heat
will transfer from a user's hand to a conventional aluminum
lacrosse shaft more than 1000 times faster than it will from the
user's hand holding a shaft comprising an elastomeric coating. The
result is a much warmer feel to the shaft 200 of the present
invention. Similarly, if the shaft is warmer than a users hand, the
use of the gripable material 217 reduces the heat transfer from the
shaft 200 to the user's hand, giving the shaft 200 a cooler feel
than conventional aluminum shafts. And while the gripable material
is preferably elastomeric, any gripable material with a low
coefficient of thermal surface conductivity (i.e. equal to or less
than about 0.047 cal/sec*cm*.degree. C., the coefficient for
titanium) may be used.
[0028] While the gripable material coating 217 is shown covering
all or substantially all of the elongated body 215 as shown,
according to other embodiments the gripable material coating 217
covers only selected sections of the elongated body 215. For
example, the gripable material may cover only portions of the
elongated body 215 that tend to be gripped by players. The
application of the gripable material coating 217 may be performed
during or after the lacrosse shaft 200 forming process. The
gripable material coating 217 dramatically improves the grip and
feel of the entire shaft.
[0029] Lacrosse players occasionally grip the shaft at different
locations in order to, for example, cradle the ball in tight
situations or shoot. In embodiments such as the one shown in FIG.
2A with the gripable coating substantially covering the entire
elongated body 215, the feel of the entire lacrosse shaft 200 is
significantly more attractive to a player than the feel of the
conventional shaft described with reference to FIG. 1. The
combination of the semi-flexible material and the gripable material
coating 217 creates a unique feel that is immediately noticeable
upon use. Embodiments of the lacrosse shaft 200 may also include a
graphic 222 on one or each of a first and second side 220, 225.
[0030] Reference is next made to FIG. 2B, which illustrates a
lacrosse shaft in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention. According to FIG. 2B, the elongated body 215 is thinned
down to women's size, and the first and second head receiving
portions 205, 230 are flared or reverse tapered as shown. The
flared first and second head receiver portions 205, 230 are
configured to allow a detachable lacrosse head of standard size to
be mounted on the shaft 200 without any additional attachments.
Conventional women's lacrosse shafts do not flare out at the first
head receiving portion, and thus require the use of an additional
mount to attach a standard lacrosse head to a smaller shaft. A
detachable head (not shown) can be mounted and fastened to the
narrower main portion of the elongated body 215 such that the
detachable head cannot be removed from the shaft 200 without
loosening a fastener. The fastening can be completed with a
circular clamp, one or more screws, a string, or other fasteners.
As shown in FIGS. 2A-2B, holes 235 (shown in phantom) extend
through the shaft 200 to secure the detachable head to the shaft
200 at either the first or second head receiver portions 205,
230.
[0031] Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the shaft 200 of FIG.
2B includes the inwardly tapered portion 210 disposed near one of
the ends of the elongated body 215 in a location that is most
commonly used by lacrosse players to grip the shaft 200. However,
the inwardly tapered portion 210 may also be located centrally
between the ends according to some embodiments.
[0032] While FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate the elongated body 215 with the
inwardly tapered portion 210, some embodiments of the shaft 200 do
not include the tapered portion 210. For example, as shown in FIG.
2C, the shaft may have a substantially constant diameter. Further,
depending on the shaft size, one or both of the first and second
head receiving portions 205, 230 may or may not be flared.
According to the embodiment shown, the first and second head
receiving portions 205, 230 are not flared.
[0033] One method of manufacturing the shafts 200 illustrated in
FIGS. 2A-2C comprises utilization of graphite or other materials.
According to one embodiment, a graphite sheet is wrapped around an
internal member such as a dowel. The number of times the graphite
sheets is wrapped around the dowel determines the strength of the
shaft. Therefore, stronger shafts may be wrapped multiple times.
When the desired number of graphite layers has been achieved, the
dowel is removed, leaving the graphite in a tubular arrangement.
The tubular graphite is then inserted into a mold, where it is
heated and formed into the mold shape. The tubular graphite is thus
preferably hollow, but according to some embodiments it may also be
solid. The graphite is subsequently cooled, and the graphite
hardens into the shaft 200. As mentioned above, the graphite shaft
may have the gripping layer 217 applied, for example the rubber,
leather, vinyl, cloth, rubberized paints, or other materials
mentioned above that comprise a low thermal surface conductivity
coefficient.
[0034] Reference is next made to FIGS. 3 and 4, which illustrate
cross-sectional views of two different conventional lacrosse
shafts. FIG. 3 illustrates a standard octagonal shape with pointed
edges and FIG. 4 illustrates an octagonal shape with flaring
rounded edges. Both of the cross-sections are hollow, meaning they
only contain material at the outer edges of the shaft. The shafts
300 and 400 are hollow in order to minimize weight and
manufacturing costs. One of the problems with these designs,
however, is that they do not maximize contact between a player's
hand/glove and the shaft. Pointed edges or flaring rounded edges
push a player's hands or gloves away from the shaft, thereby
reducing the grip.
[0035] Reference is next made to FIG. 5, which illustrates a
cross-sectional view of a shaft in accordance with some embodiments
of the present invention. The shaft 500 has a general octagonal
shape but has non-protruding rounded edges. It is desirable to
include multiple flat surfaces on a shaft to provide increased grip
characteristics. However, it is not desirable to include numerous
sharp edges or protruding edges that prevent contact with the
surfaces. Therefore, the cross-section of the lacrosse shaft in
accordance with the present invention is superior to the
conventional designs. The shaft 500 shown, is hollow, although
according to some embodiments the shaft 500 may also be solid.
[0036] While this invention has been described with reference to
certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by
those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without
departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. For example,
the teachings of one embodiment may be combined with the teachings
of another and remain consistent with the scope and spirit of this
invention. The invention, as defined by the claims, is intended to
cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not
depart from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *