U.S. patent application number 10/807883 was filed with the patent office on 2005-09-29 for lacrosse head having convex sidewalls.
Invention is credited to Gait, Paul.
Application Number | 20050215360 10/807883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34990754 |
Filed Date | 2005-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050215360 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gait, Paul |
September 29, 2005 |
Lacrosse head having convex sidewalls
Abstract
The present invention discloses a lacrosse head having a throat
joining a pair of side walls. The side walls are then joined to a
scoop or lip distal from the throat. The lacrosse head has inner
edges and outer edges. The throat has a socket on the outer edge
for receiving a handle and a ball stop on the inner edge for
receiving the ball. The lacrosse head has an upper or open portion
and a lower or net receiving portion. In between the upper and
lower portions, there is a middle portion. The lower portion of the
ball stop is curved toward the socket or in a manner that make the
lower portion of the ball stop larges than the upper portion of the
ball stop to better retain the ball. Further, the sidewalls are
curve so that the area or perimeter of the upper and lower portions
of the head at desired locations is larger than the middle portion.
The sidewalls are curved in a convex direction relative to the
inner edge of the lacrosse head.
Inventors: |
Gait, Paul; (Syracuse,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WADDEY & PATTERSON
414 UNION STREET, SUITE 2020
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
NASHVILLE
TN
37219
|
Family ID: |
34990754 |
Appl. No.: |
10/807883 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/513 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 59/20 20151001;
A63B 60/00 20151001; A63B 2102/14 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/513 |
International
Class: |
A63B 059/02 |
Claims
1. A lacrosse head comprising: a throat for receiving a handle; a
scoop distal from the throat; a pair of sidewalls extending from
the throat to the scoop; and a ball stop adjacent the throat, the
ball stop having an upper side and a lower side, the lower side
proximal an area for attaching a pocket, a portion of the ball stop
curving toward the throat and away from the scoop.
2. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the entire ball stop is
curved.
3. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the ball stop has a lesser
curvature approaching its connection to the sidewalls.
4. A lacrosse head comprising: a throat for receiving a handle; a
scoop distal from the throat; a pair of sidewalls extending from
the throat to the scoop; and a ball stop adjacent the throat, the
ball stop having an upper side and a lower side, the lower side
proximal an area for attaching a pocket, a portion of the ball stop
curving so as to make the area of the ball stop at the lower
portion larger than the area of the ball stop at the middle
portion.
5. The lacrosse head of claim 4 wherein the entire ball stop is
curved.
6. The lacrosse head of claim 4 wherein the ball stop has a lesser
curvature approaching its connection to the sidewalls.
7. A lacrosse head comprising: a throat for receiving a handle; a
scoop distal from the throat; a pair of sidewalls extending from
the throat to the scoop, the sidewalls having an upper portion, a
middle portion, and a lower portion, a portion of the length of the
sidewalls transitioning inwardly from the upper portion to the
middle portion and then outwardly from the middle portion to the
lower portion.
8. The lacrosse head of claim 7 wherein the entire length of the
sidewalls are curved.
9. The lacrosse head of claim 7 wherein the sidewalls having
varying curvature along their length.
10. The lacrosse head of claim 7 wherein the area at the upper
portion is larger than the area at the middle portion.
11. The lacrosse head of claim 7 wherein the area at the lower
portion is larger than the area at the middle portion.
12. The lacrosse head of claim 7 wherein the distance at one point
along the length of the sidewalls is greater at the upper portion
than at the middle portion.
13. The lacrosse head of claim 7 wherein the distance at one point
along the length of the sidewalls is greater at the lower portion
than at the middle portion.
14. The lacrosse head of claim 7 wherein the sidewalls have an
obtuse angle transitioning from the upper portion to the lower
portion.
15. A lacrosse head comprising: a throat for receiving a handle; a
scoop distal from the throat; a pair of sidewalls extending from
the throat to the scoop, a portion of the length of the sidewalls
convex inwardly.
16. The lacrosse head of claim 15 wherein the sidewalls are
curved.
17. The lacrosse head of claim 15 wherein the sidewalls having
varying curvature along their length.
18. The lacrosse head of claim 15 wherein the area at the upper
portion is larger than the area at the middle portion.
19. The lacrosse head of claim 15 wherein the area at the lower
portion is larger than the area at the middle portion.
20. The lacrosse head of claim 15 wherein the distance at one point
along the length of the sidewalls is greater at the upper portion
than at the middle portion.
21. The lacrosse head of claim 15 wherein the distance at one point
along the length of the sidewalls is greater at the lower portion
than at the middle portion.
22. A lacrosse head comprising: a throat for receiving a handle; a
scoop distal from the throat; a pair of sidewalls extending from
the throat to the scoop, the sidewalls have opposing upper portions
and opposing lower portions separated by opposing middle portion
wherein the opposing middle portions are closer together than the
opposing upper portions and the opposing lower portions at a point
on the sidewall.
23. A lacrosse head comprising: a throat for receiving a handle; a
scoop distal from the throat; a pair of sidewalls extending from
the throat to the scoop, the sidewalls have opposing upper portions
and opposing lower portions separated by opposing middle portion
wherein the opposing lower portions curve outwardly from the
opposing middle portions.
Description
[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but
otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to an implement used
for playing lacrosse and more particularly, to a lacrosse head
having convex sidewalls.
[0003] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art
that lacrosse is a fast growing sport. It will further be
appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that lacrosse
heads are essential to playing the game. A head is a basket that
attaches to the end of a handle. The lacrosse head is usually
molded from duPont Xytel brand nylon. The lacrosse head has an open
or upper side for catching and discharging the ball and a lower
side to which a net or pocket is attached for holding a ball. A
lacrosse head has a throat section having a socket for receiving a
handle and a ball stop. To the ball stop there is attached a pair
of sidewalls. The sidewalls are joined distal from the ball stop by
a lip or scoop. Traditionally the sidewalls have been substantially
vertical and flat.
[0004] In the game of lacrosse, the head is used to catch the ball,
hold the ball, and pass or shoot the ball. To this end there have
been several attempts to form the sidewalls and the ball stop area
to improve a lacrosse head's ability to perform these essential
features.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,925 discloses a shoulder portion below
the ball stop that creates an angular recess or step. This shoulder
retains the ball However, some people believe that the shoulder
holds the ball too well and illegally impedes the ball from rolling
out of the head. Further, a ball dynamically contacting the
shoulder will do so on either a flat portion or an edge. Dynamic
contact with the flat portion does not direct the ball into the net
or pocket. Dynamic contact with the edge causes the ball to act in
a less controllable and less predictable manner. Further, the
shoulder prevents the ball from rolling consistent along the
sidewall from the top to the bottom or the bottom to the top. From
the bottom to the top, the shoulder holds the ball until the head
reaches a certain angle at which point the ball cannot be
controllably rolled.
[0006] Some players desire a lacrosse head that is narrower at the
opening than at the pocket area such as lacrosse head disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,549. Other players desire a lacrosse head where
the open side of the lacrosse head is larger than the net side of
the lacrosse head such as the lacrosse head disclosed in U.S. Pat.
Nos. 6,066,056 and 6,561,932. The '932 patent also discloses a
recessed ball stop that creates an angular shoulder along the lower
side. However, this angular shoulder causes some people to believe
that the shoulder holds the ball too well and illegally impedes the
ball from rolling out of the head. Further, a ball dynamically
contacting the shoulder will do so on either a flat portion or an
edge. Dynamic contact with the flat portion does not direct the
ball into the net or pocket. Dynamic contact with the edge causes
the ball to act in a less controllable and less predictable manner.
Further, the '932 patent discloses sidewalls that are essentially
vertically-flat until they curved outwardly between the middle and
upper portion thereby creating a substantially flat section in the
middle to lower portion. When the ball dynamically contacts this
flat portion, the ball is directed toward the opposite sidewall.
Also, the '932 sidewall is not convex. Instead, the ball rolling
from the bottom of the sidewall to the top would be hung up by the
shoulder instead of the controllable roll of a more consistent wall
surface.
[0007] What is needed, then, is a lacrosse head that has a convex
sidewall that creates a large opening on top and on bottom but is
narrower in the middle so as to provide a wide catching area and
holding area but a narrowed intermediate area. This needed head
must have sidewalls that provide a consistent or gradual change in
direction without ninety degree angles that retain prevent the ball
from rolling in a controllable manner. This need head should also
have a rounded ball stop from the upper portion to the lower
portion to allow the ball to be more easily held in the pocket and
to direct a ball bouncing against the ball stop into the pocket.
This needed lacrosse head should also be larger at the upper or
open portion than at the middle portion to better catch the ball.
This needed lacrosse head should also be larger at the lower or net
portion than at the middle portion to better retain the ball. This
needed lacrosse head should have rounded or convex sidewalls that
allow dynamic contact with the ball to be more controlled and
predictable. This need lacrosse head should minimize flat portions
and acute angular portions to direct the ball in the desired
direction in a controllable and predictable manner. This lacrosse
head is presently lacking in the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention discloses a lacrosse head having a
throat joining a pair of side walls. The side walls are then joined
to a scoop or lip distal from the throat. The lacrosse head has
inner edges and outer edges. The throat has a socket on the outer
edge for receiving a handle and a ball stop on the inner edge for
receiving the ball. The lacrosse head has an upper or open portion
and a lower or net receiving portion. In between the upper and
lower portions, there is a middle portion. The lower portion of the
ball stop is curved toward the socket or in a manner that make the
lower portion of the ball stop larges than the upper portion of the
ball stop to better retain the ball. Further, the sidewalls are
convex so that the area or perimeter of the upper and lower
portions of the head at desired locations is larger than the middle
portion. The sidewalls have a consistent or gradual change in
surface relative to the inner edge of the lacrosse head to allow
the ball rolling from top to bottom to do so in a controlled
manner.
[0009] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to
provide a lacrosse head having a curved ball stop to better retain
the ball.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide convex
sidewalls that are large on the open side to catch the ball.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a head
that having a smaller area in the middle when viewed from the side
to better retain the ball.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a head
having in which the lower portion of the sidewalls create an area
larger than the middle portion to better retain the ball by
creating a profile that causes the ball to be directed toward the
pocket if the ball dynamically contacts the sidewall below the
middle portion.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
lacrosse head in having convex sidewalls and/or ball stop so that
dynamic contact with the ball causes the ball to act in a more
controlled and predictable manner.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to minimize the
sharp angles and flat portions of the sidewalls to better control
the ball.
[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide
sidewalls that change in a gradual or consistent manner free of
acute angles that allows a ball rolling from top to bottom or
bottom to top along the sidewalls to be better controlled and
predictable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a side view the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cutaway view showing the preferred embodiment of
the convex sidewall shape of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a cutaway view showing another preferred
embodiment of the convex sidewall shape of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 there is shown generally at 10,
the preferred embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present
invention. Lacrosse head 10 has throat 12 joined to a pair of side
walls 14. Scoop 16 is joined to side walls 14 distal from throat
12. Throat 12 consists of socket 22 for receiving a handle 100 and
ball stop 24. Lacrosse head 10 is provided with inner edge 18 and
outer edge 20. Lacrosse head 10 has upper or open portion 26 and
lower or net receiving portion 28. Between upper portion 26 and
lower portion 28 is middle portion 30. In a first preferred
embodiment, ball stop 24 is curved at least at lower portion 28 in
a direction generally toward socket 22 or in a manner that the
perimeter of ball stop 24 is larger at lower portion 28 than middle
portion 30 and/or upper portion 26. In this manner, the curvature
of ball stop 24 will hold ball 102 better than if a traditional
ball stop was used. However, the curvature will not unnaturally and
illegally impede the ball as would occur in the lacrosse head
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,568,925. Further, the curvature of
ball stop 24 in this embodiment allows the ball to bounce off the
rounded ball stop 24 in a much more controlled and predictable
manner that with the shoulder of the '925 patent. Although in the
preferred embodiment ball stop is curved in lower portion 28,
multiple obtuse angles can be used to create the gradual
transition. Additionally, as the ball 102 travels from the lower
portion 28 to the upper portion 26 through the middle portion 30,
there is no acute angle to impede the movement of the ball 102.
[0029] Referring again to FIGS. 1-3 there is shown generally at 10,
the preferred embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present
invention. Lacrosse head 10 has throat 12 joined to a pair of side
walls 14. Scoop 16 is joined to side walls 14 distal from throat
12. Throat 12 consists of socket 22 for receiving a handle 100 and
ball stop 24. Lacrosse head 10 is provided with inner edge 18 and
outer edge 20. Lacrosse head 10 has upper or open portion 26 and
lower or net receiving portion 28. Between upper portion 26 and
lower portion 28 is middle portion 30. In a first preferred
embodiment, at least a portion of sidewalls 14 are curved
convexedly or hyperbolically toward the center of the head from
upper portion 26 inwardly until middle portion 30 is reached and
the outwardly along lower portion 28 or in a manner that the
perimeter of upper portion 26 and lower portion 28 than middle
portion 30. In this manner, the curvature of sidewalls 14 will hold
ball 102 better than if a traditional sidewall is used. However,
the curvature will not unnaturally and illegally impede the ball.
Further, the curvature of sidewalls 14 in this embodiment allows
the ball to bounce off the rounded sidewalls 14 in a much more
controlled and predictable manner that with the recessed shoulder
of the '932 patent. Although in the preferred embodiment sidewalls
14 are is curved, multiple obtuse angles can be used to create the
gradual transition.
[0030] As a result of the orientation of the sidewalls 14 shown in
FIGS. 1-3, the area or perimeter of the lacrosse head 10 at the
upper portion 26 is larger than at the middle portion 30. Likewise,
the area or perimeter of the lacrosse head 10 at the lower portion
28 is larger than at the middle portion 30. Stated another way, the
distance between the sidewalls 14 where the sidewalls are curved
between the upper portion 26 and the lower portion 28 is greater
than at the middle portion 30. Further, the curvature provides no
angled portions creating an unpredictable bounce.
[0031] In the preferred embodiment, the sidewalls are curved along
the entire length of sidewalls 14. However, the curvature may be
placed along any portion of sidewalls 14 and even ball stop 24.
Further, in the preferred embodiment, the lacrosse head is
narrowest closer to the middle. However, the narrowest point can be
above or below the exact middle. Preferably, the radius of the
sidewall is constant from top to bottom. However, the radius of
curvature can vary from top to bottom. Further, the radius of
curvature can vary between ball stop 24 and scoop 16.
[0032] In the preferred embodiment, the radius of curvature is 1.25
inches where the sidewall is two inches. However, an inconsistent
curvature may be used. Further, the degree of curvature may vary
along the length of sidewalls 14. Where the sidewall is shorter,
the radius of curvature is also smaller.
[0033] Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown generally at 10
another embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the area of smallest perimeter is closer to the
upper portion 26 than lower portion 28.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown generally at 10
another embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the area of smallest perimeter is created by an
obtuse angle placed in the middle portion between the upper portion
26 than lower portion 28. Although not curved, the sidewall of FIG.
5 allows the ball to roll in a controlled manner from the lower
portion 28 to the upper portion 26.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown generally at 10
another embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the area of smallest perimeter is in middle
portion 30 closer to the lower portion 28 than to upper portion
26.
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 7 there is shown generally at 10
another embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the area of smallest perimeter created by an
obtuse angle in middle portion 30 closer to the upper portion 26
than lower portion 28.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown generally at 10
another embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the area of smallest perimeter created by an
obtuse angle in middle portion 30 closer to the lower portion 28
than the upper portion 26.
[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, there is shown generally at
10, other embodiments of the present invention showing a lacrosse
head in which the holding area of the head 10 is larger than the
catching area by providing non-linear sidewalls. This orientation
can also be used in place of the curvature of the ball stop shown
in FIG. 1. In FIG. 9, the sidewall 14 travels away from inner edge
18 from upper or open portion 26 through middle portion 30 to a
much wider lower or net portion 28 in a gradual manner. In FIG. 10,
the sidewall 14 travels away from inner edge 18 from upper or open
portion 26 through an obtuse angle in middle portion 30 to a much
wider lower or net portion 28.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 11 there is shown generally at 10
another embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the area of smallest perimeter created by
obtuse angles in the upper portion 26, in the middle portion 30,
and in the lower portion 28.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 12 there is shown generally at 10
another embodiment of the lacrosse head of the present invention.
In this embodiment, the area of smallest perimeter created by
obtuse angles in the upper portion 26, in the middle portion 30
(closer to the upper portion 26), and in the lower portion 28.
[0041] Thus, although there have been described particular
embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Lacrosse
Head Having Convex Sidewalls, it is not intended that such
references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this
invention except as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *