US20170021244A1 - Lacrosse stick head with protected string attachment feature - Google Patents

An improved head for attachment to a lacrosse stick is provided. The head has a bar-shaped string attachment feature on a pocket-facing side of the transverse wall (or “scoop”) 212 joining the sidewalls at the distal end of head 204 to provide a protected area for the attachment of vertically-oriented strings and/or shooting strings forming the lacrosse stick pocket. The string attachment feature provides the additional advantage of negating the necessity for through-holes in scoop 212 that typically weaken what is already a vulnerable portion of head 204 due to its likelihood of receiving repeated impacts with the playing surface or other equipment during play. The improved string attachment member further advantageously provides more “give”, or flexibility, to the pocket strung thereon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

• The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 52/160,090 filed 12 May 2015.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

• 1. Field of the invention

• The present invention relates to lacrosse equipment and, more particularly, to an improved lacrosse stick head adapted for improved strength and playing characteristics.

• 2. Description of the Background

• FIG. 1

  illustrates a

  conventional lacrosse stick

  100 having a

  handle

  102 and a double-wall

  synthetic head

  104.

  Head

  104 comprises a generally V-shaped frame having a

  juncture

  106,

  sidewalls

  108 and 110, a transverse wall (or “scoop”) 112 joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite

  juncture

  106, and a

  stop member

  114 joining

  sidewalls

  108 and 110 at their ends

  nearest juncture

  106. As shown, handle 102 fits into and through

  juncture

  106, and

  abuts stop member

  114. A screw or other fastener placed through an

  opening

  107 in

  juncture

  106

  secures handle

  102 to

  head

  104.

• For traditionally-strung pockets (which have strings instead of mesh),

  thongs

  12 made of leather or synthetic material extend vertically from

  upper thong holes

  116 in

  transverse wall

  112 to lower

  thong holes

  118 in

  stop member

  114.

  Upper thong holes

  116 were typically located on tabs 117 that extend inwardly from the

  scoop

  112.

  FIG. 1

  shows four pairs (116, 118) of thong holes that can accept four thongs. To complete the pocket web, the thongs have nylon cross-strings threaded around the thongs and secured directly to string holes 120 in

  sidewalls

  108 and 110, forming any number of diamond patterns. Alternatively, the cross-stringing may be secured to a perimeter string that extends around the perimeter of the

  head

  104, and which facilitates tying of horizontal cross stringing and/or vertical thongs to

  string holes

  120, 116 along the

  sidewalls

  108, 110 and in the

  scoop

  112. Finally, one Of more throwing Of shooting strings extend transversely between the upper portions of

  sidewalls

  108 and 110, optionally attaching to

  string holes

  124. A string or thong is tied off or looped through each

  string hole

  120, 124 and

  thong hole

  116, 118, and it is at these twisted points of attachment that the strings/thongs are most prone to fraying or breaking.

• During a lacrosse game, each player uses the handle of his or her

  lacrosse stick

  100 to control the motion of the

  head

  104 in order to perform the necessary functions of game play. The player must perform maneuvers such as scooping the ball from the ground into the pocket, cradling the ball in the pocket, throwing a ball from the pocket to another player or shooting the ball towards a goal, performing a stick check wherein one player uses a part of his stick to contact the stick or body of another player, etc. Because the ball is carried in the pocket of the

  head

  104,

  head

  104 is often subject to repeated impact during the course of the game, either from the stick handler using his stick to impact other players or equipment, or from opposing players attempting to jar the ball loose from the pocket. Due to its position at the distal end of the

  stick

  100, the material that forms

  scoop

  112 usually bears the brunt of these impacts, causing the

  scoop

  112 to repeatedly bend, flex, and vibrate. Another maneuver that is fundamental to game play involves scraping the back of

  head

  104 along the ground to scoop a lacrosse ball into the pocket. While lacrosse is commonly played on a level, grass playing surface, an increasing number of lacrosse fields utilize a synthetic turf playing surface, a harder surface that makes impacts between the

  bead

  104 and the ground even more forceful and abrasive than on a natural playing surface.

• The traditional lacrosse head configuration of

  FIG. 1

  is in no way designed to protect the pocket from wear and tear, and leaves the strings/thongs completely exposed where they loop through stung

  holes

  120, 124 or

  thong holes

  116, 118. Moreover, because of all of the various forces acting on

  head

  104, the relatively thin strip of material making up

  scoop

  112 is vulnerable to cracking, breaking and/or abrasion over time. The

  scoop

  112 area is made less durable by the presence of

  string holes

  116 which interrupt the molding. Even when

  holes

  116 are placed on a scalloped portion of

  scoop

  112 or on tabs 117, the strain exerted on

  scoop

  112 and the tabs 117 weakens them both and makes them more prone to breakage. The exposed

  string holes

  120, 124 and thong

  holes

  116, 118 and the vulnerability of strings/thongs that extend through leaves them extremely susceptible to wear and tear from the playing surface, much like the bottom surface of a snow shovel. Moreover, the discontinuous/interrupted molding of

  head

  104 creates break-points prone to material failure.

• Of course, lacrosse equipment with a higher risk of breakage is undesirable. The risk that players will have to replace a broken head or worn out string during game play creates a need for an improved scoop design. While worn stringing usually breaks over time, the pocket tensions created from stringing are important to maintain and as stringing deteriorates, that tension can be lost and playability affected. Maintaining the desired amount of tension in a lacrosse stick pocket is essential for good ball handling and control during game play.

• What is needed is a lacrosse stick head that allows for the attachment of various stringing configurations (e.g., including a top string) to form a pocket within the head, but which beneficially protects those strings at their points-of-attachment to the scoop from wear and tear that would otherwise result from repeated contact with, and scraping along, the playing surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

• Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved lacrosse head with one or more cleat(s) located on the front side of the scoop for securement of the thongs, cross-stringing and/or perimeter stringing. The cleat(s) may be one or more inserts that are molded into the lacrosse head frame via insert molding and other known methods, or it may be part of the monolithic head frame itself and not a separate part.

• In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an improved lacrosse head which provides a protected area for the attachment of vertically-oriented strings that form the lacrosse stick pocket.

• It is yet an additional object of the present invention to eliminate through-holes in the scoop, which can adversely affect the scoop's durability.

• It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved stringing member that advantageously provides more “give”, or pocket flex, to the pocket strung thereon.

• For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, refer to the remaining specification and to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof, in which:

• FIG. 1

  illustrates a front view of a prior art lacrosse head.

• FIG. 2

  illustrates a front view of the improved lacrosse head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 3

  illustrates a front view of the improved lacrosse head according to a first embodiment of the present invention as strung to form a lacrosse pocket.

• FIG. 4

  illustrates a back view of the improved lacrosse head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 5

  illustrates a detail front perspective view of the improved scoop including an integral cleat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 6

  illustrates a detail back perspective view of the improved scoop including an integral cleat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 7

  illustrates a detail top view of the improved scoop including an integral cleat according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 8

  illustrates a detail front view of the improved scoop including an integral cleat having a top string laced thereon according to the present invention.

• FIG. 9A

  is a composite diagram (A, B) of the improved scoop including a cleat formed as an insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as isolated from the scoop alone and as inserted into the scoop.

• FIG. 9B

  is a diagram of the improved scoop including a cleat formed as an insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention, as inserted into the scoop.

• FIG. 10

  illustrates a detail front view of an alternative configuration of the cleat insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 11

  illustrates a detail front view of an alternative configuration of the cleat insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 12

  illustrates a detail front view of an alternative configuration of the cleat insert according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

• FIG. 13

  illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• FIG. 2

  depicts an embodiment of the improved

  lacrosse head

  204 with

  cleat

  300 according to the present invention.

  Head

  204 is preferably a double-wall synthetic head comprising a generally V-shaped frame having a

  juncture

  206,

  sidewalls

  208 and 210, a transverse wall (or “scoop”) 212 joining the sidewalls at their ends opposite

  juncture

  206, and a

  stop member

  214 joining

  sidewalls

  208 and 210 at their ends

  nearest juncture

  206. Although not shown in

  FIG. 2

  , a lacrosse stick handle fits into and through

  juncture

  206, and

  abuts stop member

  214. A screw or other fastener placed through an opening in stop member 214 (not shown) secures the handle to head 204. In this embodiment the

  cleat

  300 comprises a raised post extending inwardly of

  scoop

  212 along a majority of its length. For purposes of this disclosure “cleat” is herein defined as one or more exposed posts integrally molded or molded into the

  lacrosse head

  204 for securing any of the thongs, cross-stringing and/or perimeter stringing thereto.

• With reference to

  FIG. 3

  ,

  head

  204 may also comprise lower string holes 218 in

  stop member

  214 and string holes 220 in

  sidewalls

  208 and 210 to accept leather or synthetic strings (including optional throwing or shooting strings).

  Sidewalls

  208 and 210 and scoop 212 have an inside face (

  FIGS. 2-3

  ), an outside face (

  FIG. 4

  ), a bottom rail edge from which the pocket is traditionally strung, and a top rail edge opposite the bottom rail edge. Similarly,

  stop member

  214 has an inside face (

  FIGS. 2-3

  ), a bottom edge from which the pocket is strung, and a top edge opposite the bottom edge. As in the

  prior art head

  104, the inside face of a conventional sidewall or stop member may be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front face of

  head

  204, while the top edge of a

  sidewalls

  208, 210 may be angled away from the pocket, such that the outer edge of the top edge is closer to the bottom rail than)s, the inner edge of the top rail.

• Unlike the

  prior art scoop

  112 necessarily having through-

  holes

  116 therein, scoop 212 according to the present invention needs no through-holes for attachment of strings or otherwise. Instead, according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, thongs 250 (see

  FIG. 3

  ) are strung between

  stop member

  214 and an

  integral cleat

  300 disposed on the inside face (pocket facing side) of

  scoop

  212.

• As shown in

  FIG. 5

  , the exposed portion of

  cleat

  300 may have an elongate raised section running roughly parallel to the inside face of

  scoop

  212 and with one or

  more struts

  301 along the length thereof to support the raised portion of

  cleat

  300 above

  scoop

  212.

  Cleat

  300 may be one or more cylindrical rod-shaped wire-frame structures, preferably formed of semi-flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or alternatively of any suitable material including metal. Cleat(s) 300 have a height (as measured along the face of

  pocket facing side

  212A of scoop 212) less than that of

  scoop

  212, and preferably on the order of 1/16-¼ the height of

  scoop

  212, such that

  scoop

  212 extends both above and below

  cleat

  300 to protect any

  strings

  250 attached thereto from contact with the ground or other equipment during play. According to one embodiment as shown in

  FIG. 8

  ,

  cleat

  300 is preferably disposed below a

  lip

  222 on the upper (pocket side) edge of the

  inside face

  212A of

  scoop

  212 to provide further protection for

  strings

  250 strung to

  cleat

  300. In this embodiment,

  lip

  222 may be integrally formed with

  scoop

  212 to provide an area of increased thickness (between inside 212A and outside 212B faces of scoop 212) approximately in the center thereof as measured between

  sidewalls

  208, 210, but may also be temporarily or permanently affixed to scoop 212 and serve as housing for the elongate section of

  cleat

  300, providing

  cleat

  300 with greater stability and strength.

  Lip

  222 may be in the form of a wedge with the thick end facing towards the interior of

  head

  204 and the remainder thereof tapering towards the distal tip of

  head

  204. Also as shown in

  FIG. 8

  ,

  lip

  222 may increase in width towards the distal end of

  head

  204. The thickness of

  lip

  222 may provide additional strength to the tip of

  scoop

  212 and serve as a surface for the placement of logos or other indicia.

• FIG. 8

  depicts

  cleat

  300 disposed below

  lip

  222 to provide additional protection from impact to

  strings

  250 strung on

  cleat

  300. Alternatively, as shown in

  FIG. 5

  ,

  lip

  222 may be an integral part of

  cleat

  300 such that

  cleat

  300 either passes through

  lip

  222, or

  lip

  222 or serves as an end point for mirror images sides of

  cleat

  300 on either side of

  lip

  222. in another alternative embodiment (not shown),

  lip

  222 may be omitted altogether.

• In a preferred embodiment,

  integral cleat

  300 has four

  distinct struts

  301 as points of attachment to scoop 212 (not including lip 222). As shown in

  FIG. 8

  ,

  cleat

  300 is set off from the

  inside face

  212A of

  scoop

  212 by a distance sufficient to allow

  strings

  250 to be wrapped underneath and around

  cleat

  300 for purposes of securing

  strings

  250 to

  cleat

  300. Such preferred distance or gap may be between 0.1-1 cm. Accordingly, intersection points 301 to

  cleat

  300 may be connectors descending perpendicularly from

  cleat

  300 towards the

  inside face

  212A of

  scoop

  212. One skilled in the art should readily understand that instead of raising

  cleat

  300, the inside face of

  scoop

  212 may be molded with one or more recesses or through-holes and the cleat(s) inset into said recesses/holes, likewise protecting the strings/thongs attached thereto. However, this scoop configuration is less durable as described above.

• While the preferred embodiment herein includes four

  struts

  301 for support in addition to

  lip

  222, it will be understood that two or

  more struts

  301 may be used as a matter of design choice to maintain a desired spacing between

  adjacent strings

  250 that are strung in between

  struts

  301. Cleat 300 (or series of discrete cleats) preferably extends at least one half of the length of

  scoop

  212, and more preferably approximately 75-90% of the length of

  scoop

  212.

  Cleat

  300 is preferably centered along the length of

  scoop

  212 to accommodate attachment of

  strings

  250 for any variation of stringing design desired by the manufacturer or player.

• While TPU is disclosed herein as the preferred material for

  cleat

  300, it will be understood that

  cleat

  300 may be formed of any material with sufficient elasticity and strength to withstand repeated impact, abrasion and tugging as

  head

  204 makes impacts with the ground and/or other pieces of equipment. In addition or as an alternative to TPU,

  cleat

  300 may be made of Utechllan/Elastollan, TPU/TPR/TPE (Hytrel), Nylon (PA6 or PA12), Acetal (Delrin), or Polypropylene Silicone, or even metal (e.g., stainless) wire.

• An alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown with reference to

  FIGS. 9A-B

  . As shown therein, improvements to the durability and lifespan of a lacrosse stick head may be realized through the use of a

  cleat insert

  400 in substantially the same configuration as

  integral cleat

  300.

  Cleat insert

  400 is designed to be insert molded into the

  inside face

  212A of

  scoop

  212 to provide an attachment point for vertically-oriented

  strings

  250 and/or

  top string

  119. In a preferred embodiment,

  cleat insert

  400 is designed to fit underneath an

  integral lip

  222 on the

  inside face

  212A of

  scoop

  212 as described above.

• The bottom, pocket facing side of

  cleat insert

  400 is designed to be substantially identical in shape to the cylindrical rod-shaped section of

  integral cleat

  300, serving as an attachment point for

  strings

  250. Thus,

  cleat insert

  400 has a

  bottom rail

  401, which may optionally be broken into two sections as shown in

  FIG. 9A

  to provide an open space at the bottom edge of

  cleat insert

  400 on top of which

  lip

  222 may rest upon insertion of

  cleat insert

  400 onto the

  inside face

  212A of

  scoop

  212. According to the instant embodiment,

  cleat insert

  400 further comprises a

  top rail

  402 sized and shaped to fit cooperatively with the

  inside face

  212A of

  scoop

  212, allowing

  cleat insert

  400 to be affixed to

  inside face

  212A of

  scoop

  212 by insert molding or another means known in the art. In addition,

  cleat insert

  400 preferably comprises one or more (six are shown in 9A-B) intersection points or

  connectors

  403 securing

  bottom rail

  401 to

  top rail

  403. As above for

  integral cleat

  300, intersection points 403 may be spaced along

  bottom

  401 and top 402 rails a suitable distance to allow ease of attachment of one or

  more strings

  250 to

  lower rail

  401 and/or intersection points 403 according to one or more desired stringing configurations.

  Cleat insert

  400 as inserted into

  head

  204 is depicted in

  FIG. 9B

  . In a preferred embodiment, during the insert molding process to attach

  cleat insert

  400 to scoop 212, the nylon or other

  material forming scoop

  212 envelopes and encapsulates

  top rail

  402 of

  cleat insert

  400, forming a “spine” in the interior of

  scoop

  212 and providing even more added strength to scoop 212.

• Additional alternative embodiment to cleat insert 400 are shown in

  FIGS. 10-12

  . As shown therein, the combination of top 403 and bottom 401 rails and intersection points 403 may be varied based on design preference and to accommodate various stringing configurations or impart additional strength to the

  interior surface

  212A of

  scoop

  212. As shown in

  FIG. 10

  ,

  cleat insert

  400 may comprise a single

  solid bottom rail

  401 that fits underneath

  lip

  222 on

  scoop

  212. As shown in

  FIG. 11

  ,

  cleat insert

  400 may comprise one or more

  middle rails

  404 bridging the gap between adjacent intersection points 403.

• FIG. 13

  illustrates yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, cleat(s) 500 is formed as one or more elongate rods or

  strings

  500 that may be integrally formed, molded-in, or insertable into cutouts or molded-in

  recesses

  501 in

  scoop

  212. Cutouts/recesses 501 may be advantageously formed through a portion of the thickness of

  scoop

  212 at locations along the length of

  scoop

  212 designed to accept vertically-oriented

  strings

  250. The remaining, solid portions of

  scoop

  212 may be fitted with a through-hole along the length of

  scoop

  212 through which cleat 500 may be threaded, where

  cleat

  500 is a single continuous member, or with attachment points (not shown) at the sidewalk of

  cutouts

  501 to accept the distal ends of

  cleats

  500, where

  cleat

  500 is formed of distinct segments.

  Cutouts

  501 may additionally comprise

  slots

  503 that open to the back of

  scoop

  212 to facilitate threading

  strings

  250 around

  cleats

  500.

• With respect to each of the embodiments described herein, in use, a lacrosse stick pocket is formed by stringing leather or

  synthetic strings

  250 from lower string holes 218 in

  stop member

  214 up to and around

  cleat

  300/400/500, at which point they may be tied off or, as shown in

  FIGS. 7-8

  (with respect to the first embodiment of the present invention), have their ends secured through one or more stringing holes 220 in

  sidewalls

  208, 210. Because

  strings

  250 are not directly attached to, nor strung through holes in,

  scoop

  212, stringing that has conventionally passed through the scoop and been at risk, to wear and tear during play is no longer susceptible to wearing and tearing to this great of a degree. An additional benefit to this design is the absence of any through-holes directly in

  scoop

  212, resulting in a solid scoop that is able to withstand greater forces applied to it via contact with the ground and other equipment during play, lowering the instances of cracking or breaking of

  scoop

  112. Further,

  cleats

  300/400/500 allows variation in stringing patterns unlike conventional, holed scoops, as the bar-like cleat section offers a variety of locations along its length where stringing can be secured.

• Thus, the present invention addresses scoop stringing wear and tear in a unique manner by enabling a lacrosse head to be strung without using scoop openings, which allows a solid, and thus stronger, scoop, less prone to cracking and breakage. Moreover, a primary advantage of the present invention is that once fully strung, no portion of

  strings

  250 are exposed at the distal end of

  head

  204

  past scoop

  212. This prevents undue wear and tear on

  strings

  250 at their attachment points to scoop 212, which previously represented a weak point of

  strings

  250 due wearing and eventual breakage that is easily exacerbated by sliding or scooping of the head and strings along the ground or other playing surface, a basic fundamental of the game of lacrosse.

• A secondary advantage of the

  cleats

  300/400/500 according to the present invention is a degree of added “give” from the

  cleats

  300/400/500 when a ball is caught and tension is created in the pocket. Such additional flexibility or “bounce” to the pocket creates a different feel in catching and throwing the ball during game play, which may be preferred by some players.

• Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiments and certain modifications of the concept underlying the present invention, various other embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.