U.S. patent application number 10/905605 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-02 for one piece lacrosse stick.
Invention is credited to Mark X. Hayden, Chad M. Wittman.
Application Number | 20060025248 10/905605 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35733067 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060025248 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hayden; Mark X. ; et
al. |
February 2, 2006 |
ONE PIECE LACROSSE STICK
Abstract
The present invention provides a lacrosse stick comprising a
unibody head and shaft construction that increases lacrosse
throwing accuracy and power.
Inventors: |
Hayden; Mark X.; (Denver,
CO) ; Wittman; Chad M.; (Denver, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOLLAND & HART, LLP
P.O BOX 8749
DENVER
CO
80201
US
|
Family ID: |
35733067 |
Appl. No.: |
10/905605 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10710719 |
Jul 29, 2004 |
|
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10905605 |
Jan 12, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/513 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 428/1362 20150115;
A63B 59/20 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/513 |
International
Class: |
A63B 59/02 20060101
A63B059/02; A63B 65/12 20060101 A63B065/12 |
Claims
1. A method of making a unibody lacrosse stick, comprising:
providing a flexible polymeric material in a desired shape for at
least a lacrosse stick head; wrapping the flexible polymeric with a
first composite material; removing the flexible polymeric from the
wrap to leave a pre-cured lacrosse head comprising a tube of first
composite material; inserting the pre-cured lacrosse head into a
mold with a hollow, pre-cured lacrosse stick shaft of a second
composite material; and curing the pre-cured lacrosse head and
pre-cured lacrosse shaft to form a seamless, unibody lacrosse
stick.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
providing a dowel in a shaft shape; wrapping the dowel with the
second composite material; and removing the dowel to leave the
hollow, pre-cured lacrosse shaft.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first composite material and
the second composite material are the same.
4. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the first composite
material and the second composite material comprise a material
selected from the group of materials consisting of carbon fiber and
graphite.
5. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
shaping the flexible polymeric into at least a lacrosse head shape
comprising a base, divergent sidewalls extending from the base to a
lip, and the lip traversing between the divergent sidewalls remote
from the base.
6. The lacrosse stick of claim 5, wherein the step of wrapping the
flexible polymeric includes placing a bumper along the lip such
that the bumper is molded into the seamless, unibody lacrosse
stick.
7. The lacrosse stick of claim 6, wherein the bumper is selected
from a group of materials consisting o rubber, plastic, or
metal.
8. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the
flexible polymeric material in a desired shape for at least a
lacrosse stick head includes providing the flexible polymeric
material in the desired shape for at least the lacrosse stick head
and the lacrosse stick shaft.
9. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the desired shape
includes offsetting the lacrosse stick head from the lacrosse stick
shaft by providing a downward curve in the sidewall.
10. The lacrosse stick of claim 9, wherein the desired shape also
includes an upward curve in the sidewall.
11. The lacrosse stick of claim 1, wherein the desired shape
includes offsetting the lacrosse stick head from the lacrosse stick
shaft by providing a step in the sidewall.
12. The lacrosse stick of claim 11, wherein the step is abrupt.
13. The lacrosse stick of claim 11, wherein the step is at an acute
angle.
14. A unibody lacrosse stick prepared by a process comprising the
steps of: providing a flexible polymeric material in a desired
shape for at least a lacrosse stick head; wrapping the flexible
polymeric material with a first composite material, the first
composite material being carbon fiber; removing the flexible
polymeric material from the wrap to leave a pre-cured lacrosse head
comprising a tube of first composite material; inserting the
pre-cured lacrosse head into a mold with a hollow, pre-cured
lacrosse stick shaft of a second composite material; and curing the
pre-cured lacrosse head and pre-cured lacrosse shaft to form a
seamless, unibody lacrosse stick.
15. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the unibody
lacrosse stick includes a flex point on the lacrosse shaft portion
closer to a butt end of the lacrosse shaft portion than a
conventional lacrosse stick flex point.
16. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the unibody
lacrosse stick comprises a substantially rigid head portion.
17. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the unibody
lacrosse stick weighs less than 350 grams.
18. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 17, wherein the unibody
lacrosse stick weighs more than 300 grams.
19. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 18, wherein the unibody
lacrosse stick weighs about 320 grams.
20. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the unibody
lacrosse stick is stiffer than a conventional lacrosse shaft to
increase shot accuracy and power.
21. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the lacrosse
stick shaft is formed with at least one tapered section.
22. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the lacrosse
stick shaft is formed with at least one expanded section.
23. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 21, wherein the lacrosse
stick shaft is formed with at least one expanded section.
24. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, further comprising the
steps to make of: forming the flexible polymeric material into the
lacrosse stick head having a base, divergent sidewalls, and a lip;
and inserting a bumper onto the lip prior to curing the lacrosse
stick to provide a bumper on the lip of the lacrosse stick
head.
25. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 24, wherein the bumper is
formed from a material selected from the group of materials
consisting of rubber, plastic, and metal.
26. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the flexible
polymeric material is shaped to provided at least one downward
curve in the sidewalls of the lacrosse stick head.
27. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 26, wherein the flexible
polymeric material is shaped to provide at least one upward curve
in the sidewalls of the lacrosse stick head.
28. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the flexible
polymeric material is shaped to provide the lacrosse stick head
offset from the lacrosse stick shaft.
29. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 28, wherein the offset is
provided by a curve in a sidewall of the lacrosse stick head.
30. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 28, wherein the offset is
provided by a step.
31. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 30, wherein the step is
located in the lacrosse stick head.
32. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 28, wherein the step is
abrupt.
33. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 28, wherein the step is
acute.
34. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the second
composite material is carbon fiber.
35. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, further comprising the
steps to make of: providing a dowel in the shape of a lacrosse
stick shaft; wrapping the dowel with the second composite material;
removing the dowel; and matting the lacrosse stick head and the
lacrosse stick shaft.
36. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the lacrosse
stick shaft is also formed by the flexible polymeric material.
37. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 14, wherein the lacrosse
stick shaft is formed by a second flexible polymeric material.
38. A unibody lacrosse stick, comprising: a unibody lacrosse stick
made from a carbon fiber composite; the unibody lacrosse stick
comprising: a lacrosse stick shaft; and a lacrosse stick head
seamlessly connected to the lacrosse stick shaft, wherein the
unibody lacrosse stick has a flex point located on the lacrosse
stick shaft such that the lacrosse stick head remains relatively
flat during throwing a lacrosse ball to increase accuracy and
power.
39. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 38, wherein the unibody
lacrosse stick weighs less than about 350 grams.
40. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 38, wherein the lacrosse
stick head is offset from the lacrosse stick shaft.
41. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 38, wherein the lacrosse
stick head comprises a base, divergent sidewalls extending from the
base, and a lip traversing between the divergent sidewalls remote
from the base, each of the divergent sidewalls having a top edge
and a bottom edge.
42. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 41, wherein at least the
top edge has a portion that curves downward between the base and
the lip.
43. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 42, wherein at least the
top edge has a flat portion extending from a termination of the
downward curve to the lip.
44. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 42, wherein at least the
top edge has a portion that curves upward from a termination of the
downward curve to the lip.
45. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 41, further comprising a
step to offset the lacrosse stick head from the lacrosse stick
shaft.
46. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 45, wherein the step
resides in the divergent sidewalls between the base and the
lip.
47. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 46, wherein the step
resides proximate the base.
48. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 45, wherein the divergent
sidewalls are substantially straight between the step and the
lip.
49. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 45, wherein the step
resides in the lacrosse stick shaft.
50. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 45, wherein the step
resides in the base.
51. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 38, further comprising: an
integrated end stop coupled to a butt end of the unibody lacrosse
stick shaft.
52. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 38, wherein the lacrosse
stick shaft has at least one tapered portion between a butt end and
the lacrosse stick head.
53. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 38, wherein the lacrosse
stick shaft has at least one expanded portion between a butt end
and the lacrosse stick head.
54. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 53, wherein the lacrosse
stick shaft has at least one tapered portion between the butt end
and the lacrosse stick head.
55. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 38, wherein the lacrosse
stick head includes a lip and further comprising a bumper molded
into a lip of the lacrosse stick head.
56. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 55, wherein the bumper made
from a material selected from the group of materials consisting of:
a rubber, a plastic, and a metal.
57. The unibody lacrosse stick of claim 38, further comprising a
rubberize coating covering the lacrosse stick head and the lacrosse
stick shaft.
Description
DESCRIPTION
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/710,719, titled the same, filed Jul.
29, 2004, incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to lacrosse sticks and, more
particularly, to a lacrosse stick comprising a single, molded,
unibody shaft and head.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] Another major drawback includes the fatigue the multiple
components experience because they are separate and joined. In
particular, head junction projection 120 typically has a bore (not
specifically shown) that aligns with a similar bore in shaft
junction projection 116. A bolt, screw and nut, pin, or the like
typically traverses both shaft junction projection 116 and head
junction projection 120 to secure head 104 to shaft 102. The
projections 116 and 120, as well as the bolt and bore, typically
experience fatigue during play. Lacrosse sticks and heads
frequently have decreased performance because of the fatigued
connection. Sometimes the equipment needs to be replaced.
[0009] Thus, it would be desirous to develop a lacrosse head that
cured these and other deficiencies of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention relates to an improved lacrosse stick.
In particular, the improved lacrosse stick comprising a unibody
construction where the head and shaft are molded into a solitary
unit.
[0011] 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
[0012] 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.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional tubular lacrosse shaft and
mating head;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top elevation view of a lacrosse stick
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a lacrosse stick
constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a lacrosse head having
steps; and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrative of making a lacrosse
stick in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 shows another lacrosse stick constructed in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7; shows a comparison of various points between a
conventional lacrosse stick and a lacrosse stick constructed in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 8. shows a representation of the flexible polymeric
material described in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The present invention will now be described with reference
to FIGS. 2 to 8. 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.
[0022] The present invention relates to an improved lacrosse stick
comprising a lacrosse head and a lacrosse shaft connected such that
the lacrosse head and lacrosse shaft are a unibody member without a
discernable connection, such as, a socket and plug connection. One
possible type of unibody member is a lacrosse stick comprising a
head and shaft molded as a single unit from a composite material,
which will be further explained below. Constructing the lacrosse
stick as a unitary member will remove many of the fatigue issues
associated with prior art connections using head and shaft
projections. Further, constructing the lacrosse stick as a unitary
or unibody member provided increased rigidity to the stick that
increases throwing power and accuracy by moving the point at which
the stick flexes during use lower on the shaft.
[0023] Referring now to FIG. 2, a lacrosse stick 200 consistent
with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Lacrosse
stick 200 includes a shaft 202 and a head 204. Shaft 202 has a butt
end 206. Head 204 has a base 208 (or ball stop), divergent
sidewalls 210, and a lip 212 traversing divergent sidewalls.
Divergent sidewalls 210 have a top edge 210t and a bottom edge
210b. Transition portion 214 is a seamless transition section.
While transition portion 214 is shown having a particular shape,
the shape is largely a matter of design choice. Lacrosse stick 200
may be coated with a uniform rubberized coating 200C as disclosed
in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/735,596, titled
SPORT SHAFT, filed Dec. 12, 2003, incorporated herein by reference.
Coating 200C provides asetetic quality of uniformness, but also may
provide a temperature regulation quality to increase the comfort of
handling the lacrosse stick 200.
[0024] As can be appreciated, transition portion 214 is shown to
distinguish from the socket an plug construction of the prior art.
Further, head 204 and shaft 202 may be constructed of different
materials. When constructed of different materials, transition
portion 214 provides a transition between shaft material A and head
material B. Notice, transition portion 214 could be different
materials C, a combination of the same materials A and B, a
combination of materials A, B, and C, or the like. However, once
cured, the transition from shaft 202 to head 204 through transition
portion 214 will be seamless.
[0025] Butt end 206 comprises an end stop 216. End stop 216 could
be integrated into shaft 206 using a unibody constructions similar
to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/876,945, titled
"SHAFT WITH END STOP, filed Jun. 25, 2004, and incorporated herein
by reference as if set out in full. Moreover, shaft body 218 could
have one or more tapered section 220 or enlarged section 222
similar to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/735,596,
and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/887,175, titled
SPORT SHAFT WITH VARIABLE CONTOUR, filed Jul. 7, 2004, and
incorporated herein by reference as if set out in full.
[0026] As shown in the FIGS., and described in the above
incorporated co-pending applications, the head 204 and shaft 202
can be offset. The offset can be accomplished by an offset
established in the shaft 202, such as, for example, at transition
portion 214, or in the head 204. Moreover, the head may have a
generally concave shape as shown to give the head a scoop contour.
Finally, the shaft 202 can be curved along its length or along
portions thereof instead of the traditional straight shaft
designs.
[0027] One method of manufacturing the shaft 200 comprises use of
graphite or other materials. According to this one embodiment, a
graphite sheet is wrapped around an internal member such as a
dowel. In this case, the member would have the designed with a
shape similar to the shaft and head unibody construction described
above. 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, which in this case is a unibody lacrosse stick.
[0028] Similar composite sticks are shown and described in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/441,400, titled ONE-PIECE SHAFT
CONSTRUCTION AND A METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION USING BLADDER MOLDING,
filed May 20, 2003, by Blotteaux, and incorporated herein by
reference described conventional carbon molding techniques. Unlike
the present invention, however, Blotteaux relates mostly to
straight devices or devices with simple curved shapes. Further,
Blotteaux discloses a means for fusing two separate parts together
to form a seamed stick unlike the seamless stick described above.
In particular, Blotteaux partially wraps and partially forms two
parts, mates the partially formed pre-wrapped parts, and finishes
the process. However, Blotteaux and other conventional methods of
making composite sticks are unsatisfactory for Lacrosse sticks. In
particular, Blotteaux (and other conventional methods) relate
specifically to hockey sticks and golf clubs. Both hockey sticks
and golf clubs are formed using relatively simple non-complex
shapes.
[0029] Lacrosse sticks comprise, however, a relatively simple
non-complex shaft combined with a complex head shape. In
particular, the head comprises base 208 (or ball stop), divergent
sidewalls 210, and lip 212 traversing divergent sidewalls.
Sidewalls 210 frequently are curved, see FIG. 3, or contain one or
more steps 402, see FIG. 4. Step 402 is shown as an abrupt, acute
angle step, but step 402 could be more gradual, more like an
incline than a step, or more abrupt making an angle 404 up to and
even exceeding 90 degrees, i.e., step 402 could be slightly
undercut as desired. Moreover, step 402 could be located in shaft
202 instead of head 204. Unlike, for example, hockey sticks and
golf clubs, using conventional dowels or mandrels (see mandrel 50
of Blotteaux) does not work satisfactorily for lacrosse heads
because the dowel is relatively rigid and does not allow easy
removal prior to curing or otherwise fixing the shape of the
shape.
[0030] Thus, it is necessary to use a deformable or flexible
polymeric material, see for example, FIG. 8 showing flexible
polymeric material 802 and 804 formed into a lacrosse stick head
shape, instead of conventional dowels for at least the head portion
of the shaft, although flexible polymeric material could be used
for the entire dowel including the head and shaft pre-curing
formation. Moreover, flexible polymeric material 802 and 804 are
shown as a single piece, they could each be made of two or more
parts. Using flexible/deformable material allows the dowel to be
removed prior to formation. Referring now to FIG. 5, a flowchart
500 illustrative of using flexible polymeric material to make one
piece lacrosse sticks. Flowchart 500 is described using the
flexible polymeric material for the head and a conventional dowel
for the remainder of the stick as that is the more complex process,
both one of skill in the art would understand the conventional
dowel could be replaced by a flexible polymeric dowel. By flexible,
it should be understood that the flexible polymeric dowel has
sufficient rigidity to form a shape and be wrapped with the
composite material, but retain sufficient flexibility that the
flexible polymeric can be pulled, pushed, or otherwise drawn out of
and removed from the wrap prior to the curing or fixation
process.
[0031] Referring specifically to FIG. 5, comprises providing a
flexible polymeric material shaped into a desired shape for a
lacrosse stick head, step 502. The lacrosse stick head is wrapped
with, for example, graphite sheets, a predetermined number of
times, step 504. A dowel is provided, step 506. The dowel is
wrapped with, for example, graphite sheets, a predetermined number
of times, step 508. Steps 502/504 and 506/508 can be performed in
multiple orders, which is largely a matter of design choice.
Further, if a single dowel of flexible polymeric material is
provided for both the head and shaft, steps 506/508 are collapsed
into steps 502/504. Also, the dowel of steps 506 /508 could be a
conventional dowel or a separate flexible polymeric material dowel
as desired. When the desired number of graphite layers has been
achieved, the flexible polymeric and dowel are removed, step 510,
leaving the graphite in a tubular arrangement. The head portion and
shaft portion are mated, step 512, and inserted into a mold, step
514, where it is heated and formed into the mold shape, which in
this case is a unibody lacrosse stick, step 516. Steps 512, 514,
and 516 are conventional and will not be further explained herein.
As can be appreciated, one flexible polymeric could be used for
both the shaft and head.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 6, another unibody lacrosse stick 600
is shown. Unibody lacrosse stick 600 is constructed using the
flexible polymeric to allow at least the lacrosse head to be
preformed prior to insertion into the mold. It has been found that
other materials can be added to portions of the mold, such as, for
example rubber bumper 602 in lip 604 of stick 600. This is
allowable because the flexible polymeric can be shaped and wrapped
in such a way that the rubber bumper 602 can be secured prior to
insertion in the mold. Once finished, the rubber bumper 602 is a
seamless part of stick 600, similar to the end stop identified
above. Rubber additions can be made in numerous locations about the
stick, but it has been found bumper 602 on lip 604 is particularly
advantageous for unibody lacrosse stick 600. In particular, unibody
lacrosse stick 600 has a head portion 606 that is more rigid than
conventional heads, as identified in the prior art typically formed
using injection molding techniques. Because it is stiffer, quite
unexpectedly, the head portion 606 is able to drive through surface
irregularities to assist in fielding a ground ball, for example.
However, because head portion 606 is more rigid, it also does not
flex with surface irregularities, causing nicks and other damage to
lip 604. Rubber bumper 602 protects lip 604 from the nicks and
other damage powering through surface irregularities or less rigid
lacrosse stick heads cause. In addition or in the alternative, head
portion 606 may have plastics, such as, for example, plastic edges
608 in sidewalls 610 of head portion 606. Plastics, similar to
rubber, may be included in other portions of unibody lacrosse stick
600. Finally, metals could be molded into unibody lacrosse stick
600 as well. For example, the shaft portion 612 of unibody lacrosse
stick 600 may have a metal section 614.
[0033] Quite unexpected prior to the development of the unibody
lacrosse stick of the present invention, the unibody lacrosse stick
provides significant and unexpected benefits over conventional
lacrosse sticks. Referring first to FIG. 7, a unibody lacrosse
stick 700 consistent with the present invention is shown next to a
conventional lacrosse stick 702. Unibody lacrosse stick 700 has a
flex point A located on the shaft (point A is shown as a reference
in FIG. 7 and is not shown to scale). Conventional lacrosse stick
702 has a flex point B, which is typically in the head portion
(about the base in most cases) of the conventional lacrosse stick
702 because the injection molded plastic is the weaker point. Flex
point A is below or lower than flex point B. Below or lower means
flex point A is closer to butt end 706. Moving the flex point A
lower than flex point B greatly, and unexpectedly, increases the
accuracy and power of stick 700. This was unexpected because until
the stick 700 was developed, it was unknown that the flex point on
conventional stick 702 was significantly too high. It has been
found that having flex point A about 1 to 2 feet below where flex
point B is on conventional sticks works well, but the best results
seem to occur when flex point A is about 1.5 feet below where flex
point B is on conventional sticks. In addition to stick 700 have a
better location of the flex point A, unlike convention stick 702,
which typically has an injection molded head, stick 700 reduces the
flex of the head portion 704. This also increases accuracy and
power.
[0034] Another advantage of stick 700 is that it is significantly
lighter than conventional sticks, but also stronger. One prototype
of stick 700 weights between about 300 to 350 grams and
specifically about 320 grams whereas conventional sticks of
comparable length and thickness weight about 360 to 380 grams.
Moreover, the reduced head weight causes the stick to have
significantly greater balance than conventional sticks, with the
balance point C of stick 700 being below balance point D of stick
702. Balance point C and flex point A could be designed to coincide
as a matter of design choice.
[0035] 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.
* * * * *