Abstract: Embodiments provide a lacrosse stick having a continuous juncture-handle portion and a flexible head portion molded to the juncture-handle portion, and a method for making the lacrosse stick. The juncture-handle portion may include first and second fork members extending from a throat member in a forward direction, a handle portion extending from the throat member in a rearward direction, and a first tab reinforcing member extending from the handle portion, through the throat member, and to the first fork member, and defining a first tab protruding beyond a distal forward end of the first fork member. The throat member, first and second fork members, and handle portion may be integrally formed of a first composite layup material, with the first tab reinforcing member formed of a stiffer second composite layup material. The head portion may include a first sidewall portion molded over the first tab reinforcing member.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a protective sports glove having a novel combination of liner sections, breathable mesh sections, stretch joints, and shock absorbing cushions to provide maximum protection to the user's fingers, hands, wrists, and lower forearms while maintaining as much flexibility within the glove and tactile feel on both palmar and dorsal sides of the glove as possible. A novel 2-panel palmar section construction eliminates the presence of seams, stitching or excess material in a critical area on the palmar side of a wearer's hand to further improve tactile feel and grip.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a lacrosse head having a pocket stringing system that includes attachment members that allow for rapid, direct attachment of a pocket to the head. A lacrosse head may include cleats protruding from the sidewalls at a rearward portion of the pocket area nearest the juncture, sidewall hooks protruding from the sidewalls at a forward portion of the pocket area forward of the rearward portion, and scoop hooks protruding in the forward direction from the front face of the scoop. Each cleat may have a rearwardly-projecting arm and a forwardly-projecting arm. Each sidewall hook may have a rearwardly-projecting arm. A first scoop hook may tension a pocket toward a first sidewall hook on a first sidewall, and a second scoop hook may tension the pocket toward a second sidewall hook on a second sidewall, so as to form a ball channel in the pocket.

Abstract: A lacrosse head configured to form a pocket channel, the lacrosse head having a stop member, first and second sidewalls extending from the stop member in a forward direction, and a scoop connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite to the stop member, with the scoop having a forward edge and a rearward edge, with the rearward edge of the scoop defining generally an arc shape except for a recessed portion disposed at a longitudinal centerline of the lacrosse head, and with the scoop defining at least one stringing hole disposed forward of the recessed portion. Alternatively, a lacrosse head may have a scoop that defines a plurality of lateral stringing holes disposed generally along an arc, and that defines a forwardly offset stringing hole disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the lacrosse head and forward of the arc.

Abstract: A protective sports guard can include a lower component that includes a hard shell outer layer attached atop a flexible padding layer; an upper component that includes a hard shell outer layer attached atop a flexible padding layer; a central component attached to and straddling the lower component and the upper component and that includes a hard shell outer layer; and an elongate strap. The elongate strap can be fixedly attached at one end to the flexible padding layer of the lower component, releasably and variably attached at another end to itself, and configured to wrap around the lower component in excess of one full revolution and to envelop and compress a human body part for a compression fit.

Abstract: A protective shin guard includes a floating knee section hingedly attached to a shin section, both sections being formed of one or more hard shell panels. The floating knee section is attached to the shin section by a main padding layer, and a liner is attached beneath the main padding layer. The liner includes an integral cut-resistant calf-sleeve attached along its bottom edge and extending downward. The cut-resistant calf-sleeve is an elastic tubular sleeve formed of a weave of elastic/cut-resistant fibers, e.g., Kevlar® and Spandex. The cut-resistant calf-sleeve is long enough to surround both the calf and the ankle. The cut-resistant calf-sleeve also provides a lower attachment feature that combines with an upper 360+ degree attachment strap to provide a better fit that will not shift or come loose during play.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a lacrosse head with a pinched ball containment area. The head includes a juncture, a stop member adjoining the juncture, first and second sidewalls extending from the stop member in a forward direction, and a transverse wall connecting the first and second sidewalls opposite to the stop member. The adjoining transverse wall and first sidewall may form a first shoulder portion and the adjoining transverse wall and second sidewall may form a second shoulder portion, with the first and second shoulder portions defining an inside widest point perpendicularly across the bisecting line. Within a certain distance from the widest point in a rearward direction, the first sidewall and the second sidewall define a ball containment width that places the frame of the lacrosse head closer to a ball than an opposing lacrosse head during a draw.

Abstract: A lacrosse head having a front scoop geometry optimized to promote smooth ground ball play such as scooping of a ball by ground contact. The lacrosse head has a distal scoop with a mid-section cross-section shaped like a chef's-knife with a foremost point, a rear edge (lower edge of tang), a rearmost corner point (tower distal end of tang), a low continuous curve point (where heel joins choil), and rear-innermost point (choil), with a continuous perimeter bounding all of said points, the perimeter bounding said rear edge, lowest continuous curve point, and rear-innermost point defining a cavity extending toward said foremost point.

Abstract: A lacrosse head configured to form a pocket channel, the lacrosse head having a stop member, first and second sidewalls extending from the stop member in a forward direction, and a scoop connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite to the stop member, with the scoop having a forward edge and a rearward edge, with the rearward edge of the scoop defining generally an arc shape except for a recessed portion disposed at a longitudinal centerline of the lacrosse head, and with the scoop defining at least one stringing hole disposed forward of the recessed portion. Alternatively, a lacrosse head may have a scoop that defines a plurality of lateral stringing holes disposed generally along an arc, and that defines a forwardly offset stringing hole disposed along a longitudinal centerline of the lacrosse head and forward of the arc.

Abstract: A thermoformable non-woven material that meets at least one of the UL94 V-0 (2013) flammability standard and the ASTM E84-14 (2014) flammability standard. The material may include charring fiber having a denier per fiber at least about 3 and binding fiber having a denier per fiber between about 1 and about 8. The weight ratio of charring fiber to binding fiber may be between about 2:1 and about 4:1, and the denier per fiber of the charring fiber may be at least about twice the denier per fiber of the binding fiber.

Abstract: A protective shin guard includes a floating knee section attached to a shin section, both sections being formed of a hard outer shell overlying a non-rigid inner padding layer. The hard outer shell of the shin section is defined by a unique pattern of flexible hinges. An alternate embodiment that uses pliable transition inserts is also described. In addition, the shin guard is attached to the leg by a novel strap system including two elastic calf straps and one greater-than 360 degree behind-the-knee compression strap that combine to provide maximum protection to the user's shin and knee while maintaining flexibility.