U.S. patent application number 11/375733 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-11 for sports equipment handle and equipment associated therewith.
Invention is credited to Larry E. Carlson, Gary W. Filice, Dean E. Meyer.
Application Number | 20070010358 11/375733 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34313117 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070010358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Filice; Gary W. ; et
al. |
January 11, 2007 |
Sports equipment handle and equipment associated therewith
Abstract
A handle is provided for sports equipment such as a lacrosse or
hockey stick which includes cushioning and grip ribs. In one
embodiment, the shaft of the handle defines one or more regions of
reduced diameter or thickness including a plurality of elongate
longitudinal grooves extending around the periphery thereof in
circumferentially spaced-apart relationship. Interior cushioning
ribs are defined in the region of the grooves by a layer of cover
or coating material which is applied to the surface of the shaft
and fills the grooves. In another embodiment, the shaft includes
tapered regions in the shaft and the layer of cover or coating
material fills the tapered regions to define cushioning ribs.
Inventors: |
Filice; Gary W.; (Moorpark,
CA) ; Meyer; Dean E.; (Oakbrook, IL) ;
Carlson; Larry E.; (Santa Clarita, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLSON & HIERL, LTD.
20 NORTH WACKER DRIVE
36TH FLOOR
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
34313117 |
Appl. No.: |
11/375733 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10666449 |
Sep 19, 2003 |
|
|
|
11375733 |
Mar 15, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/513 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 60/08 20151001;
A63B 2102/14 20151001; A63B 2071/009 20130101; A63B 59/20
20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/513 |
International
Class: |
A63B 59/02 20060101
A63B059/02 |
Claims
1. A sports equipment handle comprising: an elongated shaft
comprised of a first material and including at least one
longitudinally extending region located between adjacent,
circumferentially adjacent exterior shaft surfaces; and a cover
comprised of a second material and that surrounds and overlies
portions of said exterior surfaces in a manner whereby said handle
has outer surface portions including said cover that are
substantially uniform and said cover includes at least one portion
of the increased thickness over said region.
2. The handle of claim 1 wherein: said shaft defines on exterior
surface portions a plurality of elongated, flattened polygonal
surfaces with said longitudinally extending region being defined
between each circumferentially adjacent pair of said polygonal
surfaces; and said cover defines a plurality of elongated
longitudinal cushioning ribs overlying each of said longitudinally
extending regions.
3. The handle of claim 2 which is associatable with a lacrosse
head.
4. A handle for sports equipment comprising in combination: (a) an
elongated, unitary, hollow shaft having generally polygonal
exterior surface portions that are individually generally flattened
and that longitudinally extend circumferentially adjacent said
exterior surface portions adjoining along relatively narrow edge
regions that extend longitudinally therebetween, said shaft being
comprised of a first material that is relatively rigid and shape
retaining, and (b) a cover adhered to and extending over said
exterior surface portions of said shaft in a manner whereby said so
covered shaft has outside surface portions that are substantially
uniform, and said cover includes longitudinally extending portions
that overlie said edge regions and that are generally radially
thickened relative to circumferentially adjacent portions of said
cover, said cover being comprised of a second material that is
resilient, cushioning, soft and seemingly relatively tacky when
contacted with another surface.
5. The handle of claim 4 wherein said shaft defines octagonal said
exterior surface portions.
6. The handle of claim 5 wherein said shaft has two diametrically
opposed and parallel exterior surface portions of substantially
equal width, and the six remaining surface portions have a total
width which is greater than the width of each of said parallel
exterior surface portions with three of said six exterior surface
portions each being on each side of said parallel exterior surface
portions.
7. The handle of claim 4 wherein each of said edge regions defines
a radially inwardly extending groove and said cover is radially
thickened over each said groove and defines a longitudinally
radially inwardly extending ridge adjacent outside surface portions
of said so covered handle.
8. The handle of claim 4 where each of said edge regions defines an
exteriorly convex curvature extending circumferentially between
circumferentially adjacent said polygonal exterior surface portions
and said cover is radially thickened over each said convex
curvature and defines a longitudinally radially inwardly extending
ridge adjacent outside surface portions of said so covered
handle.
9. The handle of claim 4 wherein at least some of said edge regions
each define a radially outwardly extending ridge and said cover is
radially thickened between circumferentially adjacent said ridges
so that said outside surface portions of the so covered handle
extend uniformly between said circumferentially adjacent said
ridges.
10. The handle of claim 9 wherein said cover is discontinuous over
portions of said ridges.
11. The handle of claim 4 in which said shaft is inwardly tapered
at each opposite end region thereof.
12. The handle of claim 11 wherein said cover is radially thickened
in each of said tapered opposite end regions.
13. The handle of claim 12 where one end region of said so covered
shaft is received in a socket cavity of a lacrosse head.
14. The handle of claim 12 wherein one end region of said so
covered shaft is received in a socket cavity of a hockey stick
head.
15. The handle of claim 12 wherein one end region of said so
covered shaft is received in a socket cavity of a tennis racket
head.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No.
10/666,449 filed Sep. 19, 2003 and published as Publication No.
US-2005-0064964-A1 on Mar. 24, 2005, which is fully incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to sports equipment handles
and, in particular, to handles with cushion and grip ribs that are
particularly useful for lacrosse and hockey sticks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Handles for sports equipment such as, for example, lacrosse
sticks and hockey sticks are preferably polygonal in
cross-sectional shape and include longitudinally extending elongate
edges or corners which define ribs on the handle and provide a
player with an improved grip. One disadvantage associated with
these handles, however, is the increased risk of bodily injury and,
particularly, the risk of lacerations which can occur when the
sticks are swung about during the normal course of play and the
edges make contact with another player. An additional disadvantage
is the risk of damage to the handles from stick to stick contact
during play.
[0004] There is a need in the field of sports equipment for an
improved handle suitable for use as a lacrosse stick or a hockey
stick to aid in overcoming such disadvantages. The improved handle
needs to incorporate an elongated, structural base of a shaft which
when viewed exteriorly is generally polygonally sided. Exterior
surface portions of the base need to be overcoated with an
adhering, resilient, soft cushioning cover. The cover should have a
variable thickness, and the variations in cover thickness should
extend generally longitudinally and preferably be related to the
exterior polygonal configuration of the base. The cover should be
adapted to cover base portions, to cushion edge portions thereof
and to improve a player's grip of the handle. So far as now known,
an improved handle with suitable such features has not previously
been developed. The present invention is believed to achieve and
satisfy the need for such an improved handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention is directed in one aspect to a sports
equipment handle suitable for use as a stick that is associated at
one end thereof with sports equipment, such as a lacrosse head.
[0006] The handle comprises an elongated shaft and a cover. The
shaft exteriorly defines a polygonal configuration, is preferably
hollow and defines a longitudinally extending, relatively narrow
edge or corner region extending along and located between each
circumferentially adjacent pair of exterior, generally and
preferably facially flattened, surface portions. The shaft is
comprised of a first material that is preferably unitary and that
is generally structurally rigid.
[0007] The cover extends over, is adhered to, and surrounds
portions of shaft exterior surface portions in a manner whereby the
outer surfaces of the handle including the cover are substantially
uniform (or smooth) and continuously extend. The cover includes at
least one portion of increased thickness (relative to other
adjacent cover portions) that extends over at least one such
longitudinally extending region of the shaft. The cover is
comprised of a second material that preferably has a unitary
composition, adheres to adjacent surface portions of the shaft, and
is cushioning, resilient, soft and somewhat tacky to the touch.
[0008] The invention is directed in another aspect to combinations
of the inventive handle structure with the head portions of sports
equipment, such as lacrosse heads, hockey stick heads, tennis
rackets, fishing nets, and the like which combinations display new,
novel and improved characteristics.
[0009] Other and further objects, aims, features, purposes,
advantages, embodiments, variations and uses will be apparent to
those skilled in the art from the present specifications taken with
the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings form part of this application, and
numerals employed therein designate like parts throughout the same.
In the drawings:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a lacrosse stick
incorporating a handle constructed in accordance with the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view of a
handle embodiment of the present invention taken along the line 2-2
in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional
view of one of the corner regions of the handle embodiment of FIG.
2;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another
embodiment of a handle of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the
line 5-5 in FIG. 4;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further
embodiment of a handle of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 7 is an enlarged, vertical cross-sectional view taken
along the line 7-7 in FIG. 6;
[0018] FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional
view of one of the corner regions of the handle embodiment of FIG.
7;
[0019] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the
forward portion of a handle constructed in accord with the
embodiment of FIGS. 6-8, the handle being in functional association
with the handle-receiving portion of a fragmentary but conventional
lacrosse head, the forward portions of the handle being tapered and
being broken away to illustrate constructional details;
[0020] FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the
rearward portion of the handle shown in FIG. 9, the handle being in
functional association with a conventional associatable rear end
cap, the rear end portions of the handle being tapered and being
broken away to illustrate constructional details;
[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective, partially diagrammatic view of the
handle embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 in illustrative functional
association with a lacrosse head;
[0022] FIG. 12 is a perspective, partially diagrammatic view of the
handle embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 in illustrative functional
association with a hockey stick; and
[0023] FIG. 13 is a perspective, partially diagrammatic, view of
the handle embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 in illustrative functional
association with a tennis racket, the rearward end portions of the
handle being optionally provided with a hand-graspable wrap.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] The invention disclosed herein is, of course, susceptible of
embodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and
described herein are preferred embodiments of the handle of the
present invention. It will be understood, however, that the present
disclosure is an exemplification of the principles of the invention
and does not limit the invention to the illustrated
embodiments.
[0025] It is also understood that the Figures herein do not
necessarily show details of the handle that are known to the art
and that will be recognized by those skilled in the art as such.
The detailed descriptions of such elements are not necessary to an
understanding of the invention. Accordingly, such elements are
herein represented only to the degree necessary to aid in an
understanding of the features of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 1 depicts a lacrosse stock 20 including a head 22 and
an elongated handle 24 which is constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, handle 24 includes an elongated,
generally cylindrical, polygonally-shaped shaft 26 made of any
suitable durable first material such as, for example, wood, metal
or a composite. Shaft 26 includes an exterior peripheral surface 28
and an interior surface 20 defining a hollow interior 32. In the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, shaft 26 is preferably octagonal in
exterior shape; however, if desired, the shaft 26 can be formed
with other polygonal exterior shapes.
[0028] Shaft 26 is characterized in that it includes two
diametrically opposed and parallel exterior faces or panels 34 and
36 which are of equal width and six additional exterior faces or
panels 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48 which are all of an equal width
greater than the width of each of the faces 34 and. Faces 38, 40
and 42 extend circumferentially about the exterior shaft surface 28
between faces 34 and 36 on one half of the shaft 26 while faces 44,
46 and 48 are diametrically opposed to faces 38, 40 and 42,
respectively, and extend circumferentially about the exterior shaft
surface 28 between faces 34 and 36 on the opposite half of the
shaft 26. Shaft 26 is further characterized in that the exterior
surface 28, in the regions thereof between each of the exterior
faces thereof, defines a plurality of elongated and longitudinally
extending generally arcuate and concavely shaped grooves,
depressions, dimples or recessed edges 50. Recessed edges 50 are
located in circumferentially spaced apart, parallel relationship at
intervals situated between adjacent pairs of faces 34, 36, 38, 40,
42, 44, 46 and 48 around the exterior shaft surface 28. Thus,
between each adjacent pair of the exterior flattened faces 34-48 of
shaft 26, longitudinal recessed edges 50 are defined in the
exterior shaft surface 28.
[0029] Handle 24 further includes a coat or cover 52 which
preferably is comprised of a unitary composition and which
surrounds and generally covers, overlies and adheres to exterior
surface portions 28 of the shaft 26. Preferably, portions of each
of the respective polygonal exterior faces of shaft 26 are covered
with cover 52. Cover 52 preferably comprises a soft, pliable,
resilient, deformable, impact-absorbing and, tactilely, seemingly
relatively somewhat tacky when contacted with another surface such
as the skin of a hand. The cover 52 can be comprised of a
thermoplastic material including any suitable elastomers and
rubbers such as, for example, Santoprene.TM..
[0030] Cover 52 as applied includes a plurality of generally flat
outer surface portions 53 that each overlie an individual one of
the faces 34-48 of the shaft 26. Each pair of the circumferentially
adjacent flat outer surface portions 53 extends circumferentially
or laterally to meet the other and to define a longitudinally
extending edge or corner 54. The corners 54 overlie radially the
recessed edges 50 defined in the exterior shaft surface 28.
[0031] Although the cover 52 may be either a pre-formed, pre-molded
member or an overlay applied directly to the outer surface 28 of
the shaft 26 using any one of several known processes including
casting, interference fitting, spraying, injection molding,
rotational molding, insert molding or over molding, with a bonding
agent as may be necessary to achieve an adherence between adjacent
respective surface portions of the cover 52 and the shaft 26, one
presently preferred embodiment of the present invention encompasses
the use of a Sticktrusion.TM. process in which the material
comprising the cover 52 is co-extruded onto the exterior shaft
surface 28. The process initially entails connecting together
axially a plurality of the shafts 26 along the proximal to distal
respective ends thereof with plugs to create an extended and
continuous length of shaft material. Thereafter, a feeder pushes
the shafts through a stationary heater station which activates the
surface energy of each of the shafts. The shafts, oriented
radially, are then passed or fed directly to and through the
interior of a stationary crosshead extrusion die corresponding in
shape to the polygonal (preferably octogonal) shape of the cover 52
and including circumferentially positioned ports adapted to deposit
thin layers of the material comprising the cover 52 directly onto
the faces of the exterior shaft surface and into the recesses 50
defined in the exterior shaft surface 28. The shafts are then
passed through the interior of a stationary cooling station where
the material comprising the cover 52 is cured and bonded to the
exterior shaft surfaces 28. The shafts are then separated about the
plugs thereof.
[0032] In accordance with the invention, the presence of the
longitudinal recessed edges 50 in the exterior shaft surface 28
defines longitudinal strips in the region of the recessed edges 50
wherein the thickness of the material comprising the cover 52 is
greater than the thickness of the cover material overlying the flat
outer surface of each of the exterior polygonal faces thereof. As a
result, in the embodiment wherein the cover 52 comprises a layer of
material which is applied to the shaft using the Sticktrusion.TM.
process, the recessed edges 50 in combination with the material
comprising the cover 52 together define a plurality of elongated,
longitudinally interiorly extending and protruding cushioning ribs
56 which fill and overlie the recessed edges 50 defined in the
exterior shaft surface 28 while advantageously preserving the
preferably cross-sectionally uniform outer polygonal (preferably
octagonal) geometry of the cover 52 and thus the handle 24.
[0033] In the embodiment where the cover 52 is a separate,
pre-formed and pre-molded member, the cover 52 defines a plurality
of elongated longitudinally extending ribs 56 protruding unitarily
outwardly from the interior surface 55 of cover 52 in and under the
region of the corners 54. In this embodiment, cover 52 is applied,
as by a shrink-wrap or like process, to the shaft 26 and positioned
thereon in a relationship wherein the ribs 56 thereon overlie and
fill the recessed edges 50.
[0034] By reason of the soft, pliable, deformable and
impact-absorbing properties of the material comprising the cover
52, the interior ribs 56 define elongate longitudinal edges on the
handle 24 which provide an increased tack and grip friction between
the handle and a player's hands while also simultaneously providing
cushioned corner or edge regions 54 which reduce the risk of bodily
and facial injury and damage to sticks which is normally associated
with the use and swinging of lacrosse and hockey sticks during the
normal course of play. The present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2
and 3 wherein the cover 52 incorporates interior rather than
exterior ribs, thus provides an attractive and suitable
advantageous alternative to handles believed to be currently
available where longitudinal ribs protrude outwardly from the
exterior surface of the cover and adversely affect the outer
uniform polygonal and facially flat geometry of the handle.
[0035] Another embodiment of the inventive handle structure is
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Here the shaft 726 incorporates a plurality
of circumferentially adjacent, longitudinally extending panels.
Circumferentially between six panels, raised ribs 756, 758, 762 and
764 are defined so that together each panel in combination defines
a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart, broadened,
longitudinally elongated recesses or depressions in the peripheral
exterior shaft surface 728 that are located between these raised
ribs.
[0036] A cover generally designated by 754 comprises a plurality of
elongated longitudinal strips of material 796 which are positioned,
applied and secured by adhesive or the like into the recesses
defined by and existing between each of the respective ribs except
for diametrically opposed panels 760 and 766 which each extend at
the radially elevated level of their edge-defining ribs. As such,
the cover 754 does not extend over the panels 760 and 766 so over
these panels provides no cushioning and friction characteristics
while concurrently maintaining the uniform outer polygonal geometry
of the handle 724.
[0037] Alternatively, if desired, it is understood that the cover
754 may comprise a single layer of material applied to and
extending generally over all the exterior portions 728 of the shaft
726 by utilizing any one of the several known above indicated
methods and processes for securing a second material to the surface
of a first material including, for example, the Sticktrusion.TM.
method described earlier with respect to the handle 24 or any one
of other suitable or applicable processes.
[0038] Another embodiment of a handle structure of the invention is
shown illustratively in FIGS. 6-8. This embodiment can be
considered similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Similar
components are similarly identified by similar numerals except that
prime designations are added to the numerals for distinction. A
principal difference between this embodiment and that of FIGS. 2
and 3 lies in the circumstance that in place of the recessed edges
50 in the shaft 26, here, in shaft 26' the adjacent exterior faces
of respective pairs of panels 34', 36', 38', 40', 42', 44', 46' and
48', are unitarily joined by uniform arcuate edge curvatures 51' of
short circumferential extent. In the present embodiment, the cover
52' is placed over the curvatures 51' and the indicated associated
panels. The cover 51' is compositionally similar to that of cover
52 and is, similarly to cover 52, uniformly extended over the
panels 34', 36', 38', 40', 42', 44', 46' and 48', the cover 52' is
flattened over each panel, and longitudinally elongated edge
portions between each of the adjacent portions of the cover 52'
above each panel are extended circumferentially to meet and to
define the edge or corners 54'. Although the depth of cover 52'
over each curvature 51' is preferably shallower than the depth of
cover 52 over the recessed edges 50, it is found that useful and
sufficient cushioning, and other desirable features, are achieved
by the cover 52' in this embodiment.
[0039] If desired, the handle 24 or another embodiment of the
invention can be provided with tapered regions at each of its
respective opposite end portions, such as illustrated in FIGS. 9
and 10 for the embodiment of FIGS. 6-8. Thus, the handle 24' is
illustratively provided with opposed tapered frustroconically
shaped end portions 58 and 60 each having a diameter designated
D.sub.1 which is less than the diameter D.sub.2 of the remaining,
non-tapered center portion of the shaft 36. Proximal end portion 58
is tapered inwards proceeding forward and adapted to be fitted into
the socket end of the head 22 wherein end portion 58 tapers
inwardly and forward, preferably corresponding, into the socket end
of the head 22. Distal end portion 60 tapers inwardly and
rearwardly in the direction of the distal end of the shaft 26 and
portion 60 is covered by a plug or cap 62 or the like.
[0040] The cover 52 surrounds the shaft 26 and may be applied
thereto using the Sticktrusion.TM. process described earlier or any
one of the other several methods known in the art and described
earlier herein for applying and securing a second layer of material
to a first layer of material.
[0041] Thus, and as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the handle 24
defines opposed end regions 64 and 66 in the area of the respective
tapered shaft portions 58 and 60 wherein, in view of the manner in
which the cover 52 is applied by the Sticktrusion.TM. process, the
material comprising the cover 52 has a radial thickness, designated
T.sub.1, which is greater than the radial thickness, designated
T.sub.2, of the cover material overlying the non-tapered regions of
the shaft 26 while still preserving the uniform and substantially
constant outer diameter, designated D.sub.2, in FIGS. 9 and 10, and
polygonal geometry of the handle 24 with the cover 52 thereon.
[0042] Moreover, and in those situations where the respective
tapered end portions 58 and 60 are created by stretching of the
material comprising the shaft 26, the respective tapered end
portions 58 and 60 additionally define regions of the shaft 26
where the material comprising the shaft 26 has a thickness,
designated T.sub.3, which is less than the thickness, designated
T.sub.4, of the shaft material in the non-tapered regions of the
shaft 26.
[0043] In accordance with the present invention, the respective
tapered and thinned shaft end portions 58 and 60 create a handle
for a lacrosse stick or the like with an improved "whip" or flexing
curve in the region of the respective tapered portions for improved
shot speed while still preserving the requisite outer polygonal,
non-tapered shape and diameter D.sub.1, of the exterior of the
handle surface. In addition to providing improved "whip"
characteristics, the respective tapered end portions 58 and 60
create regions on the handle 24 with increased or improved cushion
and friction characteristics by virtue of an increased cover
thickness in the region of the respective tapered end portions 58
and 60.
[0044] Although not shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, it is understood that
the invention is not restricted to the incorporation of tapered end
portions but includes any handle configuration or embodiment
utilizing the present invention that incorporates a restriction.
The shaft 26, for example, can be recessed at any point along the
length thereof so as to create a region or regions of reduced
diameter or thickness. It is also understood that the material
comprising the cover 52 can be tinted in the regions thereof
overlying and surrounding the respective tapered end portions 58
and 60 thus allowing a player to visually discern and identify the
handle regions with improved cushion, friction and/or whip
characteristics.
[0045] It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed
description of the invention and the illustrative associated
Figures, examples and embodiments that numerous variations and
modifications may be effected without departing from the true
spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of this
invention.
* * * * *