Lacrosse head

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved lacrosse shaft head connection. In particular, the present invention provides a lacrosse head with a male plug to fit in a female socket of a lacrosse shaft. Further, the lacrosse head of the present invention may be strategically designed with sidewall placements to guide a lacrosse ball to a desired location.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to lacrosse head and, more particularly, to a lacrosse head having an improved mechanism to attach to a lacrosse shaft allowing a player's hand to grip the shaft closer to a ball rest.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional lacrosse sticks today comprise a tubular metal shaft and a molded high density composite plastic head. The tubular metal shaft and head arrangement has been in existence since at least the mid 1970's, see for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,841, title LACROSSE STICK HAVING TUBULAR METALLIC HANDLE, issued Jul. 26, 1977, incorporated herein by reference. FIG. 1 shows a conventional lacrosse stick 100 having a conventional metal shaft 102 and a conventional head 104. Shaft 102 further has a butt end 106 and a head end 108. Head 104 further has a base 110, divergent sidewalls 112, and a lip 114.

[0003] Extending from base 110 is a shaft junction projection 116 that comprises a female socket 118. Shaft junction projection 116 is a length d1. Head end 108 of shaft has a corresponding head junction projection 120 that comprises a male plug 122. Male plug 122 is shown as having a cross-section consistent with the remainder of metal shaft 102, but some conventional shafts have a male plug 122 with a reduced cross-section. Head junction projection 120 has a length d2, which typically is consistent with length d1. Frequently, shaft 102 and head 104 are secured using a pin or screw extending through both the shaft and head and secured using another pin or nut, not specifically shown but generally known in the art.

[0004] While the conventional shaft/head connection works, it has several drawbacks. One major drawback is that shaft junction projection 116 is considered part of head 104 and, by rule, a player using stick 100 cannot place his/her hands on the stick in such a way that the player's hand contacts head 104. Most players, however, prefer to have a hand placed as close to base 110 as allowable by rule. Using conventional stick designs, a player can place his hands on spot 124 that is a minimum distance d1 from base 110.

[0005] Another drawback associated with conventional head 104 is the general shape of head 104. As shown in FIG. 2, conventional head 104 has divergent sidewalls 112 that are have an upper edge 202 and a lower edge 204 that curve to impart a concave shape to open side 206 of head 104. FIG. 2 shows male projection 122 in socket 118 and base 110 in phantom. Base 110 is sometimes referred to as a ball stop. As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional straight head 300 is shown. Straight head 300 may be offset by a number of known techniques. While these designs provide some perceived benefits regardless of whether the design is actually offset or not, the designs do not provide any real advantage regarding ball placement and delivery.

[0006] Thus, it would be desirous to develop a lacrosse head that cured these and other deficiencies of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to an improved lacrosse head. In particular, the improved lacrosse head is designed with a male plug extending from the base. The male plug fits snuggly in a female socket at the head end of a lacrosse shaft.

[0008] The present invention further provides an improved lacrosse head shape. In particular, the sidewalls of the head are designed to direct a lacrosse ball residing in the net to a predetermined location.

[0009] The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0010] The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and illustrations of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional tubular lacrosse shaft and mating head;

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional scooped head shape;

[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a conventional straight head shape;

[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a lacrosse shaft and head consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the shaft and head shown in FIG. 4;

[0016] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view another shaft and head consistent with the present invention; and

[0017] FIG. 7 shows a side elevation view of a lacrosse head consistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] The present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-7. It is to be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of the presently preferred embodiments, and are not limiting of the present invention, nor are they drawing to scale.

[0019] The present invention relates to an improved lacrosse head connectable to a lacrosse shaft. The connection allows placement of a players hands close to the base of the lacrosse head. The lacrosse head also is designed to specifically guide the lacrosse ball to particular locations in the netting depending on the design of the stick. For example, a forward or shooter's head may be designed to carrier the lacrosse ball closer to the lip whereas a defender's stick may be designed to carrier the lacrosse ball closer to the ball stop.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 4, a lacrosse stick 400 consistent with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Lacrosse stick 400 includes a shaft 402 and a head 404. Shaft 402 has a butt end 406 and a head end 408. Head 404 has a base 410 (or ball stop), divergent sidewalls 412, and a lip 414 traversing divergent sidewalls.

[0021] Extending from base 410 is a shaft junction projection 416 and a male plug 418 (which is best seen in FIG. 5). Male plug 418 has a length d3. Extending from head end 408 is a head junction projection 420 forming a female socket 422 (which also is best seen in FIG. 5). When connected, male plug 418 extends into female socket 422 a length d3. However, because the head now extends internal to the shaft (vs. external in the case of conventional junctions), the player can place his or her hands much closer to the base 410 than allowed with conventional designs. Male plug 418 may be solid as shown or partially hollowed out. It is believed male plug 418 being solid provides increased strength without compromising weight in any significant manner.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 5 specifically, an end view of shaft 402 and head 404 is provided. Shaft 402 may have a conventional octagonal shape 502. Shape 502 may have edges E as shown or the edges may be rounded and/or beveled. Female socket 422 extends from an opening 504 (defined by the shape of shaft 402) into an internal space 506 defined by shaft walls 508. Female socket 422 optionally may have a base 510. This shape is consistent with metallic tubular shafts. This shape is a matter of design choice, but when using conventional tubular metallic shafts, the shape will be somewhat limited by technology to form the shafts. Opening 504 extends over a majority of end 500.

[0023] Male plug 418 may have a shape generally consistent with female socket 422. In this case, male plug 418 would have a conventional octagonal shape 512. Male plug 418 is generally sized to snuggly fit in opening 504. Male plug 418 may have a protrusion 514 extending about plug 418 to increase the frictional engagement. Protrusion 514 may be molded as part of plug 418 or a washer, rubberized component, flare, lip or the like to increase the frictional engagement between shaft 402 and head 404.

[0024] Alternatively to a conventional metal shaft, shaft 402 may be made of composite material, such as, a molded carbon fiber. For more information regarding alternative shaft material, refer to co-pending patent application serial number 10/735,596, titled SPORTS SHAFT, filed December 12, 2003, incorporated herein by reference. Using carbon fiber or other high density composites, it is possible to mold provide shaft 402 with a female socket 422 having an opening 602 and extending into an internal space 604 defined by shaft walls 606 and filler 608. Filler 608 may be any metal, plastic, or composite material, but it is believed a carbon fiber or graphite filler would work well and be reasonably cost effective. Socket 422 optionally has a base. Opening 602 extends over a smaller portion of end 600. It is believed this will reduce stress at the edges 610 of shaft 402. Male plug 418 would have a similar shape 612 to snuggly fit in opening 602. To further increase the strength of female socket 422, shaft walls 606 may be lined with a strengthening material 620, such as, for example, stainless steel, titanium, or the like.

[0025] Shape 612 could be used with a conventional metallic shaft with an insert 614 shaped to occupy the additional volume associated with opening 504. Insert 614 could be a number of materials including metals, alloys, plastics, and other composites, but it is believed graphite, carbon fiber, or the like work well as an insert. Further, the sidewalls and plug may have bores 616 and 618 (respectively) that a securing member 622 may be inserted to removably engage the head and shaft as is conventional in the art. Securing member 618 may be screw, pin, bolt, or the like. Finally, plug 418 may be lined with a strengthening material 620 similar to the socket. As described above, the shapes of insert 614 and male plug 418 are largely a matter of design choice.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 7, an elevation view of a lacrosse head 700 is shown. Lacrosse head 700 includes base 410, divergent sidewalls 412, and lip 414 as well as male plug 418. As shown, sidewalls 412 have an upper edge 702 and a lower edge 704. Upper edge 704 defines an open side 706 of head 700 capable of receiving a lacrosse ball. Lower edge 704 typically has a number of holes 708 on which a lacrosse net (not specifically shown) can be attached in a conventional manner. Head 700 has a top half 710 towards lip 414 and a bottom half 712 towards base 410 or the ball stop.

[0027] As can been seen from the figures, Upper edge 702 can be divided into two or more upper regions 716, 718, and 720 with one or more transition edges 722. Bottom edge 704 can similarly be divided into two or more bottom regions 724 and 726 with a transition edge 728. Locating regions and transitions allows head 700 to naturally cause the lacrosse ball to reside in particular locations in the net. For example, as shown, region 716 resides in a first plane A, region 718 in a second plane B, and regions 720 in a third plane C. Transition edges 722, which are shown at approximately a 45 degree angle between the planes, connect the regions. Transition edges 722 could be anywhere from a zero degree to a 90 degree angle. The angle could be greater than 90 (and up to, for example, 180 degrees) to provide a sharper edge if desired. However, it is believed angles greater than about 110 would be difficult to manufacture. Furthermore, while shown as at the same angle, transition edges 722 could be at one or more angles as a matter of design choice.

[0028] Similarly, bottom region 724 resides in a fourth plane D and bottom 726 resides in a fifth plane E. Transition edge 728 connecting bottom region 724 and 726 can be at any angle. Transition edge 728 is shown at a 45 degree angle.

[0029] The placement of the regions such that plane A is above plane B is above plane C and plane D being above plane E tends to cause the head 700 to force the lacrosse ball to the top half 710 of head 700. Reversing the orientation would tend to cause the lacrosse ball to reside in base 410. More particularly, plane A is below plane B is below plane C and plane D is below plane E. If it is desired to carry the lacrosse ball about the transition between top half 710 and bottom half 712, plane A is above plane B is below plane C and plane D and E would be in substantially the same plane. If there were three bottom regions, plane D is above plane E is below plane F, for example. As one of ordinary skill in the art would now recognize on reading the disclosure, many different arrangements of regions could be used to cause head 700 to carry the lacrosse ball in a desired location. Further, regions and transition edges could be replaced by one or more curved edges to provide the same effect.

[0030] As shown, male plug 418 has a top surface 730 defining a surface plane S. FIG. 7 shows upper regions 716, 718, and 720 residing in planes A, B, and C above plane S. One of skill in the art would recognize on reading the disclosure, however, that planes A, B, and C could be above, below, or in plane with plane S as a matter of design choice.

[0031] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment or embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A lacrosse stick, comprising: a shaft; a head; the shaft comprising a head end and a butt end; the head end comprising a head junction projection; the head junction projection comprising a female socket; the head comprising a base, divergent sidewalls extending in a first direction away from the base, and a lip; the base comprising a shaft junction projection extending from the base in a second direction opposite the first direction; and the shaft junction projection comprising a male plug, wherein the head is removably coupled to the shaft by inserting the male plug in the female socket.

2. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the female socket comprises a shape defined by sidewalls of the shaft.

3. The lacrosse stick of claim 2, wherein the female socket further comprises an open end and a volume defined by the sidewalls of the shaft.

4. The lacrosse stick of claim 2, wherein the male plug has a shaped designed to frictionally engage the female socket.

5. The lacrosse stick of claim 4, wherein the male plug comprises a protrusion.

6. The lacrosse stick of claim 5, wherein the protrusion comprises at least one of a washer, a rubberized coating, a flared end, and a lip.

7. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises carbon fiber material.

8. The lacrosse stick of claim 7, wherein the female socket is lined with a strengthening material.

9. The lacrosse stick of claim 8, wherein the strengthening material is a metal.

10. The lacrosse stick of claim 8, wherein the strengthening material is stainless steel.

11. The lacrosse stick of claim 8, wherein the strengthening material is titanium.

12. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the shaft comprises metal formed into a tubular shape.

13. The lacrosse stick of claim 12, wherein the metal comprises aluminum.

14. The lacrosse stick of claim 12, further comprising: a filler, wherein the female socket has a shape defined by the shaft; and the male plug and filler are designed to frictionally engage the female socket such that the head is removably connectable to the shaft.

15. The lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the filler comprises carbon fiber material.

16. The lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the filler comprises graphite material.

17. The lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the filler is a composite material.

18. A lacrosse head connectable to a lacrosse shaft, the head comprising: a ball stop; at least two sidewalls, each sidewall have a base end connected to opposite sides of the ball stop and a lip end, the sidewalls extending from the base end to the lip end in a divergent manner; a lip, the lip connecting opposite sidewall lip ends; at least one shaft junction projection extending from the ball stop in a direction opposite the base; and the at least one shaft junction projection comprising a substantially solid male plug, wherein the male plug is insertable into a socket associated with a lacrosse shaft such that the head and the shaft form a lacrosse stick.

19. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein the male plug is completely solid.

20. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein the lacrosse head comprises molded carbon fiber material.

21. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein the male plug is designed with a shape to snuggly fit in the socket.

22. The lacrosse head of claim 18, further comprising: a filler, wherein the filler and male plug are shaped to snuggly fit in the socket.

23. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein the male plug comprises a bore that aligns with a bore in the socket.

24. The lacrosse head of claim 23, further comprising a securing member insertable through the bores.

25. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein the male plug comprises a protrusion.

26. The lacrosse head of claim 25, wherein the protrusion is a lip.

27. The lacrosse head of claim 25, wherein the protrusion is a flare.

28. The lacrosse head of claim 25, wherein the protrusion is a rubberized coating.

29. The lacrosse head of claim 25, wherein the protrusion is a washer.

30. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein the male plug is lined with a strengthening material.

31. The lacrosse head of claim 30, wherein the strengthening material is a metal.

32. The lacrosse head of claim 30, wherein the strengthening material is carbon fiber.

33. The lacrosse head of claim 30, wherein the strengthening material is titanium.

34. A lacrosse head, comprising: a base; a pair of divergent sidewalls, each of the divergent sidewalls having a base end and a lip end, the base end being coupled to the base; a lip, the lip coupled each of the lip ends; each of the divergent sidewalls having an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper edge defining an opening for receiving a lacrosse ball and the lower edge having a plurality of holes for attaching a net; the upper edge having at least first region residing in a first plane, a second region residing in a second plane, and a transition edge coupling the first region to the second region; and the first region and the second region being aligned to facilitate moving the lacrosse ball to move from the first region towards the second region such that the lacrosse ball will be carried in a predetermined position within the net.

35. The lacrosse head of claim 34, wherein the first plane is above the second plane.

36. The lacrosse head of claim 34, wherein the first plane is below the second plane.

37. The lacrosse head of claim 34, further comprising at least a third region residing in a third plane.

38. The lacrosse head of claim 37, wherein the third plane is below the first plane and the second plane.

39. The lacrosse head of claim 34, wherein the lower edge further comprises at least a first lower region residing in a third plane, a second lower region residing in a fourth plane, and a lower transition edge connecting the first lower region to the second lower region.

40. The lacrosse head of claim 39, wherein the upper edge and lower edge are facilitate carrying the lacrosse ball towards the lip instead of towards the base.

41. The lacrosse head of claim 34 further comprising: a male plug extending from the base in a direction opposite the pair of divergent sidewalls; the male plug having a top surface defining a third plane; and at least one of the first plane and the second plane being above the third plane.

42. The lacrosse head of claim 41, wherein the first plane and the second plane are both above the third plane.

43. The lacrosse head of claim 34 further comprising: a male plug extending from the base in a direction opposite the pair of divergent sidewalls; the male plug having a top surface defining a third plane; and at least one of the first plane and the second plane being below the third plane.

44. The lacrosse head of claim 42, wherein both the first plane and the second plane are below the third plane.

45. The lacrosse head of claim 39, wherein the transition edge and the lower transition edge are substantially aligned.

46. A lacrosse head, comprising: a base; the base having a shaft side and a ball rest side; a pair of sidewalls coupled to the ball rest side of the base and extending from the base; a lip connecting the pair of sidewalls at an end opposite the base; a male plug coupled to the shaft side of the base and extending from the base in a direction opposite the pair of sidewalls; each of the pair of sidewalls comprising: an upper edge defining an opening for receiving a lacrosse ball; a lower edge having a plurality of holes for attaching a net; the upper edge having a plurality of upper regions connected by upper transition edges; the lower edge having a plurality of lower regions connected lower transition edges; the upper regions and lower regions are arranged to encourage the lacrosse ball to move towards a predetermined location in the net.

47. The lacrosse head of claim 46 wherein the plurality of upper regions comprises at least three regions.

48. The lacrosse head of claim 46 wherein the upper transition edge intersects the upper regions at least one angle.

49. The lacrosse head of claim 48 wherein the at least one angle is between 0 degrees and 180 degrees.

50. The lacrosse head of claim 48 wherein the at least one angle is between about 30 and about 60 degrees.

51. The lacrosse head of claim 48 wherein the at least one angle is about 90 degrees.

52. The lacrosse head of claim 48 wherein the at least one angle is about 80 to 110 degrees.

53. The lacrosse head of claim 46 wherein the male plug has a top surface and at least one of the upper regions resides above the top surface.

54. The lacrosse head of claim 46 wherein the male plug has a protrusion to facilitate a frictional engagement with a lacrosse shaft.

55. The lacrosse head of claim 46 wherein the upper regions and the lower regions comprise at least one substantially straight portion.

56. The lacrosse head of claim 46 wherein the upper regions and the lower regions comprise at least one substantially curved portion.

57. The lacrosse head of claim 46 wherein the lower transition edge intersects the lower regions at least one angle, the at least one angle being between greater than or equal to 0 degrees and less than or equal to 180 degrees.

58. A lacrosse head, comprising: a base; a pair of divergent sidewalls connected to the base; and a lip connecting the pair of divergent sidewalls at an end opposite the base; the pair of divergent sidewalls having means for directing a lacrosse ball towards a predetermined location.

59. The lacrosse head of claim 58 wherein the means for directing comprises a plurality of upper edges and a plurality of lower edges on the pair of sidewalls being arranged to direct movement of the lacrosse ball.