U.S. patent application number 14/591203 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-09 for checking stick.
The applicant listed for this patent is Marty Gilman, Inc.. Invention is credited to Neil Gilman, Craig Wanner.
Application Number | 20150190697 14/591203 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53494461 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150190697 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gilman; Neil ; et
al. |
July 9, 2015 |
Checking Stick
Abstract
The disclosure provides an elongate lacrosse practice checking
stick having a central shaft with a proximal end and a distal end,
a handle, secured to the central shaft near the proximal end, and
having a length covering a portion of the central shaft, and a
safety padding, secured to the central shaft near the distal end,
and having a length extending along the central shaft from a
portion along the central shaft out towards the distal end. The
checking stick has an overall length between about 40 and 60
inches, varying for use by men or women. The safety padding is made
of a cylindrically-shaped foam covered by fabric and has a length
of approximately 24 inches and a diameter between three and six
inches.
Inventors: |
Gilman; Neil; (Gilman,
CT) ; Wanner; Craig; (Gilman, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Marty Gilman, Inc. |
Gilman |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53494461 |
Appl. No.: |
14/591203 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61924857 |
Jan 8, 2014 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
473/446 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2102/14 20151001;
A63B 2208/12 20130101; A63B 2071/0063 20130101; A63B 69/00
20130101; A63B 59/00 20130101; A63B 60/14 20151001 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/00 20060101
A63B069/00; A63B 59/00 20060101 A63B059/00 |
Claims
1. A lacrosse practice checking stick, comprising: a central shaft,
having a proximal end and a distal end; a handle, secured to the
central shaft near the proximal end, and having a length covering a
portion of the central shaft; and a safety padding, secured to the
central shaft near the distal end, and having a length extending
along the central shaft from a portion along the central shaft out
towards the distal end.
2. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the checking stick has an overall length between about 40
and 60 inches.
3. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the checking stick has an overall length of 48 inches.
4. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the safety padding is made of foam covered by fabric.
5. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 4,
wherein the safety padding comprises a cylindrical shape.
6. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 5,
wherein the safety padding has a diameter between three and six
inches.
7. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 5,
wherein the safety padding is approximately 24 inches in
length.
8. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the handle comprises a rubber gripping surface.
9. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the handle is approximately between 17 and 24 inches in
length.
10. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 9,
wherein the length of the handle is approximately half of the
overall length of the central shaft.
11. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 10,
wherein the safety padding has a length defined by the length of
the central shaft not covered by the handle.
12. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the central shaft is made of one or more of metal, plastic,
and composite material.
13. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 12,
wherein the central shaft is made of aluminum alloy.
14. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the safety padding extends to the distal end of the central
shaft.
15. A lacrosse practice checking stick as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the safety padding extends out past the distal end of the
central shaft.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 61/924,857, filed Jan. 8, 2014, the disclosure and
teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates to sports equipment used in
the sport of Lacrosse.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0003] Lacrosse is a contact team sport which utilizes a small
rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse
stick. Lacrosse can be played by both men and women and all
versions of the game require players to wear padding such as
shoulder pads, gloves, helmets, elbow pads, cup, and sometimes rib
guards. Some players wear protective face masks. The objective of
the game is for a player to score by shooting the ball into an
opponent's goal. The lacrosse stick is used to catch, carry, and
pass the ball. Other players must keep the opposing team from
scoring and attempt to gain the ball through the use of stick
checking or poke checking (a defensive technique where a player
uses his stick to stop an opposing player), body contact or
positioning.
[0004] Lacrosse can be played by a team of varying numbers, each
carrying a lacrosse stick. Most teams have at least one attack or
attack man, one defender or defenseman and at least one midfielder.
Attackers are players who are located on the offensive side of the
field and focus on scoring. Defenders are players who stay on the
defensive side of the field. Defenders focus on blocking an
opponent's shot and work in conjunction with their team goalie.
Midfielders are the players who play offense and defense and must
be able to score against a goalie and run back to the middle of the
field to play defense. There is one goalie for each team. The
goalie is located in and outside the goal. Their main purpose is to
try to stop opponents from scoring. All players, including the
goalie carry a lacrosse stick of varying measures. Typically a
lacrosse stick can measure from 40 to 52 inches long depending on
the players position.
[0005] As Lacrosse is a physical game and requires much physical
contact, the lacrosse check is an essential element of the game.
Checking is not an attempt to injure or hurt an opponent. In fact,
penalties can be called for excessively violent or overly
aggressive checking. A check is prohibited below the waste (called
"tripping"), above the shoulder (called "slashing"), or from behind
(called "body checks"). Lacrosse players must be aggressive
regardless of their position. When a lacrosse ball is loose, i.e.,
not in a players lacrosse net and instead rolling on the lacrosse
field, checking techniques comes into play as players pursue the
ball.
[0006] Cross checking is a legal lacrosse check technique wherein
the checker holds their stick in both hands with hands close
together, and pushes an opponent via the stick with both hands. It
is effectuated by holding the stick in both hands and pushing the
offensive player away. The key to an effective cross check is that
the lacrosse stick should be held with both hands close together.
If the hands are held shoulder width apart, like they would be when
one is performing a bench press, then that type of check is not
legal. The checking stick of the present disclosure can be used to
teach defenders to keep their hands close together and not
shoulder-width apart so as to avoid being called out for a cross
checking penalty.
[0007] The checking stick of the present disclosure can also be
used to teach offensive players to run through checks while
dodging. Dodging is where players uses various moves to bypass
opposing players in order to move toward the goal, pass or score
without the risk of injury. Players can utilize the check stick and
practice stick checking, where a player attempts to dislodge a ball
from an opponent by attacking their stick with your stick. Such
checks must not be excessively violent and the safety padding of
the check stick can enable such restraint.
[0008] Thus, there exists a need for a device, similar to a
player's lacrosse stick, which can be used to assist lacrosse
players in practicing their permitted checking techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] The disclosure provides a checking practice stick made from
an elongated shaft (such as one made from a high strength aluminum
or other suitable material) and a pad. In a preferred embodiment,
the checking practice stick can measure between about 40 and 60
inches in overall length in any desired one inch increment, such as
48 inches long, among other suitable lengths. A proximal end of the
checking stick can include a handle portion for holding the
checking stick. Preferably the handle portion has a length of about
half of the overall length of the stick (e.g., in the preferred
embodiment described above, 17-30 inches, at more preferably any
desired one-inch increment). A proximal region of the shaft, i.e.,
the handle portion, can be provided with a rubber grip. A player
can grip the stick anywhere along the handle containing the rubber
grip. The opposing end of the shaft includes safety padding having
a length extending from a portion of the central shaft out towards
the distal end of the shaft. The safety padding is preferably made
of foam, but can be made of any other material safe for using to
check into the midsection of other players. The thickness of the
foam preferably varies between 3 inches to 6 inches in diameter,
depending on whether the stick is used for men's or women's
lacrosse games. However, other thicknesses of the foam padding are
also envisioned within the scope of this disclosure. The stick is
used as a practice tool for teaching and perfecting the various
lacrosse checking techniques.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is front facing right side perspective view of an
exemplary checking practice stick in accordance with the
disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an exemplary checking
practice stick for men in accordance with the disclosure; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of an exemplary checking
practice stick for women in accordance with the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0013] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a checking stick 10
in accordance with the disclosure. The checking stick 10 as
illustrated includes a central shaft 12 with a handle 14 at a
proximal end 16 of the shaft 12 and safety padding 20 at the distal
end 18 of the central shaft 12. The safety padding 20 preferably
comprises a cylindrical shape which extends length-wise along the
central shaft 12 from a point along the center of the shaft 12
towards the distal end 18 of the shaft. In one embodiment, the
safety padding 20 extends to the distal end of the central shaft
12, while in another embodiment, the safety padding 20 extends out
past the distal end of the shaft 12.
[0014] The handle can be a rubber or other suitable covering grip
for better gripping and holding of the checking stick by a player.
The shaft 12 can be made from a variety of materials (metals,
plastics, composite materials, and the like). In a preferred
embodiment, the shaft 12 is made from an aluminum alloy (e.g.,
6061T6 alloy). In another embodiment, the handle 14 and the central
shaft 12 can both be made from plastic with a foam covering. The
central shaft 12 is preferably between 17 and 24 inches long. The
central shaft is preferably longer for use by men (seen in FIG. 2)
than for use by woman (see in FIG. 3).
[0015] No matter what material the shaft 12 and handle 14 are made
from, the safety padding 20 allows players to utilize the checking
stick 10 to throw checks without a significant risk of injuring an
opposing player. The safety padding 20 also allows players to run
through ground balls (i.e. loose balls on the lacrosse field)
without the risk of injury from checks to the hands, wrist, arms
and back. The safety padding 20 is preferably made of foam enclosed
by fabric, but can be made of any other material safe for using to
check into the midsection of other players. The thickness of the
safety padding 20 preferably varies between 3 inches to 6 inches in
diameter. Preferably, the safety padding 20 is approximately 24
inches long, and weighs approximately 4-5 pounds.
[0016] The methods and systems of the disclosed embodiments, as
described above and shown in the drawings, provide for equipment
and related techniques with superior attributes including, among
other things, improved ease of use. It will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be
made in the devices and methods of the disclosed embodiments
without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus,
it is intended that the disclosed embodiments include modifications
and variations that are within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
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