U.S. patent number 3,638,942 [Application Number 04/877,367] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-01 for replaceable blade and shank for hockey stick and a hockey stick made therewith.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Cooper of Canada Limited. Invention is credited to Frank W. Bassett.
United States Patent |
3,638,942 |
Bassett |
February 1, 1972 |
REPLACEABLE BLADE AND SHANK FOR HOCKEY STICK AND A HOCKEY STICK
MADE THEREWITH
Abstract
A replaceable blade and shank for a hockey stick is made of a
thermoplastic synthetic polymeric material and has a socket into
which an end of the shaft of a broken hockey stick can be inserted
after the material has been heated to render it pliable, a secure
fit between the shank and shaft resulting upon cooling of the
material to a rigid condition.
Inventors: |
Bassett; Frank W. (St.
Catharines, Ontario, CA) |
Assignee: |
Cooper of Canada Limited
(Toronto, Ontario, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
25369838 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/877,367 |
Filed: |
November 17, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/562;
273/DIG.2; 273/DIG.4; 273/DIG.1; 273/DIG.12 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
59/70 (20151001); A63B 2102/24 (20151001); Y10S
273/01 (20130101); Y10S 273/02 (20130101); Y10S
273/04 (20130101); A63B 2102/22 (20151001); Y10S
273/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
59/14 (20060101); A63B 59/00 (20060101); A63b
059/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;273/67,67A,77R,8R,80.1-80.8,167,82,DIG.2,DIG.4,DIG.5,DIG.6,DIG.7
;264/DIG.71,230,239,242 ;156/86 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
705,274 |
|
Mar 1965 |
|
CA |
|
1,078,560 |
|
Aug 1967 |
|
GB |
|
386,124 |
|
Jan 1933 |
|
GB |
|
253,977 |
|
Nov 1948 |
|
CH |
|
Other References
"Modern Plastics"; Feb. 1953; page 106.
|
Primary Examiner: Pinkham; Richard C.
Assistant Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. A replaceable blade and shank for a hockey stick; said blade and
shank being constituted by a unitary structure fabricated of a
thermoplastic synthetic polymeric material and having a blade
portion and a shank portion, said blade portion having a toe and a
heel with said shank portion extending away from said blade portion
at said heel thereof and at an obtuse angle to said blade portion;
said shank portion having an elongated socket formed therein and
open at the end of said shank portion remote from said blade
portion, said thermoplastic material having the characteristic such
that it is rendered pliable by heating, whereby said socket portion
may be heated to pliable condition and upon cooling of said
thermoplastic material returns to a rigid condition.
2. A replaceable blade and shank structure according to claim 1
wherein the cross-sectional area of the part of said shank portion
in which said socket is located is larger than the cross-sectional
area of the part of said shank portion immediately adjacent said
blade portion.
3. A replaceable blade and shank structure according to claim 2
wherein said parts of said shank portion are joined by a tapered
part of said shank portion.
4. A replaceable blade and shank structure according to claim 1
wherein said socket is rectangular in cross section throughout its
length and is defined by inner walls of said shank portion that are
substantially straight and parallel throughout their length.
5. A replaceable blade and shank structure according to claim 1
wherein said thermoplastic material is polyethylene.
6. A replaceable blade and shank structure according to claim 1,
said unitary structure including a flange of said material
extending around the open end of said socket.
7. A replaceable blade and shank structure according to claim 1
wherein said socket is defined by inner walls of said shank
portion, said inner walls having ribs thereon extending
longitudinally of said socket and engageable with said end of said
shaft.
8. A replaceable blade and shank structure according to claim 3
wherein said socket is rectangular in cross section throughout its
length and is defined by inner walls of said shank portion that are
substantially straight and parallel throughout their length, said
inner walls having ribs thereon extending longitudinally of said
socket and engageable with said end of said shaft.
9. A replaceable blade and shank structure according to claim 3
wherein said socket is rectangular in cross section throughout its
length and is defined by inner walls of said shank portion that are
substantially straight and parallel throughout their length, said
inner walls having ribs thereon extending longitudinally of said
socket and engageable with said end of said shaft, said
thermoplastic material being polyethylene.
10. In combination: a hockey stick shaft; a unitary blade and shank
member, said shank member having a socket embracing an end of said
shaft, said socket having been initially formed to a size and shape
not snugly fitting said shaft end, said socket being of a
thermoplastic material of such characteristics that it is rendered
pliable by heating and returns to rigid condition when cooled; said
socket having been heated to pliable condition and pressed onto
said shaft end to conform snugly thereto then cooled to rigid
condition whereby said socket snugly and securely embraces said
shaft end.
Description
The invention relates to replaceable blades and shanks for hockey
sticks, to hockey sticks themselves, and to methods for making the
same.
Both road hockey and ice hockey are popular sports in North
America, particularly in Canada, and elsewhere. As a consequence,
there is a substantial market for hockey sticks, and these have
been fabricated for years from wood, notwithstanding the fact that
the blades of wooden hockey sticks break quite frequently and,
particularly when used for road hockey, splinter easily, thus
becoming dangerous to handle and use. Consequently, from time to
time it is necessary for a hockey player to obtain a new hockey
stick either on account of breakage or attrition of his previous
hockey stick.
In accordance with this invention, there is provided a replaceable
blade and shank for a hockey stick that makes it unnecessary for
the player to acquire a complete new hockey stick. Indeed, only the
broken or worn blade of his previous hockey stick is discarded, the
shaft of the stick still being useful, as will become more apparent
hereinafter.
A replaceable blade and shank embodying this invention is made of a
thermoplastic synthetic polymeric material which can be rendered
pliable by heating so that it can be readily secured to the shaft
without adhesive or fastening devices. By proper choice of the
material, it is possible to obtain a blade that resists chipping
and splintering to a much greater extent that a wooden blade and is
considerably more impact resistant and hence less susceptible to
breakage than a wooden blade.
This invention will become more apparent from the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the appended
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a replaceable blade and shank
according to this invention;
FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 2--thereof;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the replaceable blade and shank shown in
FIG. 1 also showing a hockey stick secured to the shank;
FIG. 4 and 5 are sections taken along lines 4--4 and 5--5 in FIG.
3; and
FIG. 6 is a top elevation of the shank portion of the blade an
shank shown in FIG. 1.
As shown in the drawings, a unitary structure 10 is provided
consisting of a shank portion 11 and blade portion 12.
Blade portion 12 is conventional in design and has a toe 13 and a
heel 14. Blade 12 has two flat sides 15 and 16 extending between an
upper edge 17 and a lower edge 18. Flat sides 15 and 16 may incline
towards each other in a direction away from bottom edge 18 and
towards top edge 17 as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5. Illustratively
bottom edge 18 may be 5/16 inch wide at the position denoted by
line 5--5 in FIG. 3, while top edge 17 may be 3/16 inch wide at the
same point. Because sides 15 and 16 may taper outwardly from toe 13
to heel 14, as is evident from a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5,
bottom edge 18 may be 1/2 inch wide at position 4--4 in FIG. 3,
while top edge 17 may be 3/8 inch wide at this position. The front
edge 19 of blade 12 is inclined rearwardly at an angle of
80.degree. to bottom edge 18. It will be appreciated, however, that
the design of blade portion 12 may vary widely and is not a
critical feature.
Shank portion 11 extends away from blade 12 at heel 14 thereof at
an obtuse angle to the blade. Thus, the angle between the
longitudinal axis of shank portion 11 and bottom edge 18 may be
225.degree., but this is illustrative only and not a critical
feature of a replaceable blade and shank embodying my
invention.
Shank portion 11 consists of three parts, a part 20 that is
immediately adjacent blade 12, a part 21 that is remote from blade
12 and a part 22 that is between parts 20 and 21. As is best shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2, of these three parts, part 20 is smallest in
cross-sectional area, part 21 is largest, and part 22 tapers
between parts 20 and 21.
Located in part 21 of shank portion 11 is an elongated socket 23.
Socket 23 is open at the end 24 thereof remote from blade 12 and is
rectangular in cross section throughout its length, being defined
by inner walls 26, 26a, 27 and 27a of shank portion 11 that are
substantially straight and parallel throughout their length. At the
bottom of the socket and located in tapered part 22 is a recess 27
that is of a size sufficient to make the weight of the blade and
shank of this invention closely approximate the weight of the
corresponding portions of a conventional wooden hockey stick. In
order to facilitate insertion of the handle of a hockey stick into
socket 23 and retention of the handle in the socket, ribs 28
projecting from surfaces 26 and 26a and extending longitudinally of
socket 23 may be provided.
For strengthening purposes, a flange 29 extending around open end
24 of socket 23 may be provided, and exterior ribs 30 also may be
provided on part 21 of shank portion 11.
Strictly by way of example, socket 23 may be 1 1/16.times.
3/4.times.4 inches, the walls defining the socket being 5/32 inch
thick.
A replaceable blade and shank embodying this invention can be
molded readily as a unitary structure and must be fabricated of a
thermoplastic synthetic polymeric material. It is important for the
material to be thermoplastic because of the manner in which a blade
and shank embodying this invention is united to the shaft of a
broken hockey stick, as will become more apparent hereinafter.
However, the choice of a suitable material must also take into
consideration its resistance to impact and abrasion. Obviously a
material should not be chosen that will wear away quickly when
rubbed against the asphalt surface of a road, nor should the
material be one which will shatter easily under conditions normally
encountered in a road hockey game, for example. Cost of the
material is another factor of course. A particularly suitable
material has been found to be linear polyethylene, preferably of
relatively low molecular weight. Polystyrene and polypropylene also
might be employed but may be found to be less durable from the
point of view of their ability to resist shattering. Other
materials that might be employed but which are relatively expensive
are a polycarbonate, a butyrate and nylon, and hence these
materials are not recommended.
In order to repair a hockey stick whose blade has cracked, worn
away or broken off its shaft, the end of the shaft should be cut
off square and a line marked thereon 4 inches from the cut off end.
This 4-inch length then should be reduced in area using suitable
woodworking equipment to 3/4.times. 1 inch at the top and
5/8.times. 1 inch at the bottom, i.e., the squared off end. Part 21
of shank portion 11 then should be heated to render the same
pliable. This may be done by rotating part 21 over a stove element
at low temperature for a minute or so. The tapered end of handle 31
(FIG. 3) then should be inserted into socket 23 by hand, the
tapered end of the handle being inserted to the full depth of the
socket. If considerable difficulty is experienced in forcing the
tapered end of the handle into the socket, the handle should be
removed and further tapered. Part 21 of shank portion 11 then
should be permitted to cool. As cooling takes place, part 21 of
shank portion 11 will set rigid and grip tightly onto the tapered
end of handle 31 resulting in a tight friction fit between shank
portion 11 and handle 31. No adhesive or fastening device is
required.
If desired, blade 12 may be shaped for left- or right- hand
shooting and may be curved. This is achieved by rotating the blade
for a short time over a stove element until it becomes pliable.
Blade 12 then may be bent in the desired shape and dipped in cold
water to set the material in the desired shape.
* * * * *