Concave/sided oval hockey stick shaft (a.k.a. the CSO) with natural, horizontal, elliptical/oval convex (of oval geometry) top and bottom planes, and natural, vertical, elliptical/oval concaved (of oval geometry) side walls: referencing the cross-sectional aspect of the shaft itself

Abstract

This invention embodies a newly designed cross-sectional configuration for a hockey stick shaft and only that aspect of said hockey stick shaft; That cross-sectional configuration (design) being a true, pure, and natural concave/sided oval (CSO); Notwithstanding, this true, pure, and natural concave/sided oval (CSO) cross-sectional configuration runs approximately eighty-two percent (48.5 inches+/−5%) of the overall length (58.5 inches+/−10%) of the hockey stick shaft; The bottom section of the hockey stick shaft, approximately twelve percent of the overall length (7 inches+/−7%), comprises of a hollow rectangle for the receipt of a replaceable hockey stick blade, in most cases this blade is made from wood or graphite; The transitional section is the area where the concave/sided oval (CSO) section of the hockey stick shaft transitions to the rectangular section of the hockey stick shaft. This area is approximately five percent of the overall length (3 inches +/−10%), and in no way does this invention claim or attempt to claim any of the processes used for making said hockey stick shaft, or for any exclusiveness for the various materials and/or the various methods of manufacturing said hockey stick shaft achieved through today's innovative, adaptive, and rapidly advancing manufacturing technologies.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Provisional Application No. 60/261,620 Dated Jan. 16, 2001—In review as a Non Provisional Application

[0002] Provisional Application No. 60/302,552 Dated Jul. 3, 2001—Expired

[0003] Provisional Application No. 60/302,551 Dated Jul. 3, 2001—Expired

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0004] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0005] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] 1. Field of the Invention

[0007] This invention relates to a newly designed, cross-sectional configuration for a hockey stick shaft (handle) to be used in the games of ice and/or roller hockey. This new cross-sectional configuration has natural, convex (of oval geometry) top and bottom (horizontal) planes, and natural, concave (of oval geometry) perpendicular (vertical) side walls. There are no circular (as in the concept where something is round, or considered to be round) surfaces or planes.

[0008] This new cross-sectional configured hockey stick shaft with its newly designed convex (of oval geometry) top and bottom horizontal planes, and its convex (of oval geometry) vertical sides can be manufactured from any of the materials (and with the same manufacturing processes) currently being used to make the wide variety of hockey stick shafts available today. All of the standard material types apply: wood and/or wood laminates, aluminum, fiberglass, and graphite composite; the standard graphite composite is usually a mixture of graphite, epoxy, and a fiber (glass) resin. The aluminum, fiberglass, and graphite composite shafts are most often hollow and designed to receive (accept) a disposable hockey stick blade (wood or graphite). This detachable hockey stick blade is usually removed from, and attached to the lower end of the hollow shaft using an undersized rectangular tenon (a.k.a. a rectangular tongue or tab) that fits into the base of the hollow shaft (known as the hozel {which is rectangular in-and-of-itself}). The medium that holds the removable hockey stick blade in place is an adhesive: hot glue or the like. The wood hockey stick shaft is (was) considered to be the only totally, one-piece (solid) hockey stick shaft. The wood hockey stick shaft has its blade permanently attached to the shaft (handle) itself; although, technology has developed a method where a graphite blade can be attached to the standard graphite shaft through the use of an epoxy resin (or glued with a permanent material) to the base of the shaft and referred to as a one-piece graphite shaft, but in theory it is really two pieces, not like the wooden hockey stick shaft which is in reality a one-piece hockey stick shaft.

[0009] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0010] This invention, referred to as a concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft, relates to a totally new and improved concept in the cross-sectional design, shape, and configuration of said hockey stick shaft. In the past, and to the present (2002), all hockey stick shafts (of either solid or hollow construction) are manufactured in a similar yet standard rectangular configuration; however, there are mild variances. This rectangular configuration (up until now) has been the standard shape preferred by the majority of hockey players (both ice and roller) because of an orientation awareness regarding the placement of the blade when stick handling, passing and/or shooting a puck. These original (old) designs of rectangularity have various radiuses placed at the intersecting planes (also known as the corners, or the perpendicular right angles) where the vertical and the horizontal planes meet. These rectangular configurations are manufactured with a variety of radiuses placed at (and only at) the right angles of the perpendicular planes on the hockey stick shaft. Although, there have been a few oddly shaped hockey stick shafts similar to that of circles, semi-circles, triangles, and octagons (such as the lacrosse stick). Furthermore, there have been shafts that have semi or fully rounded tops and bottoms (this top and bottom reference refers to the short, horizontal parallel planes that run the length of the shaft), and shafts with slight concave indentations that run along the vertical, parallel sides. These odd shapes are rare, and none have ever added to the proficiency of the hockey player as the specific and/or individual manufacturer(s) intended.

[0011] To date, there has never been a hockey stick shaft manufactured or designed (either partially or fully) in the total geometric cross-sectional configuration concept of a concave/sided oval (CSO). This concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft is intended to, and will advance the level of the player's game in every aspect of shooting, passing, and stick handling through the use of its natural and ergonomically concave/sided oval (CSO) grip.

[0012] Since its beginning, the players of the game of ice hockey have always used hockey sticks made from wood. These wooden sticks consisted to two sections formed as one piece: the shaft (handle) and the blade. In recent years; however, advances in technology have yielded a new generation of hockey sticks. The one-piece wooden type still exists, but in many cases, they have been strengthened and reinforced using fiberglass laminates. More recently, hockey sticks have evolved into a two-piece mechanism. The shaft (handle) being of a rectangular hollow design can be manufactured from a variety of materials; e.g., plastic, aluminum, fiberglass, and a mixture of space age materials (graphite, epoxy resin, and a fiberglass material and/or resin) with the general term called a composite or graphite hockey stick shaft. The blade (up until now) has always maintained its wooden configuration. This wood blade configuration is made with an undersized rectangular tenon (at a point on the blade where the shaft was originally attached) so that it fits into the hollow, rectangular end (hozel or bottom) of the hockey stick shaft.

[0013] Today, there are a variety of hockey stick blades being manufactured out of the same space age materials referred to as composite or a graphite blade. This material is of a similar type material as the shaft itself (a graphite, epoxy resin, and a fiberglass material and/or resin).

[0014] Because of the hockey player's individual preferences, factors such as weight, strength, flexibility, and durability have always been a major consideration in the manufacturing process and design of hockey stick shafts. In addition, with recent advances in the science of composite material fabrication, the technological breakthroughs used in the various manufacturing processes have proven extremely beneficial: specifically in the weight, strength, durability, and flexibility arenas. From an engineering perspective, the concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft has equivalent mechanical properties determined to be identical to the traditional rectangular hockey stick shaft. The CSO's structural section modulus was kept essentially identical to that of the rectangular shaft, allowing the CSO to have the same stiffness as a beam and torsional member has in the rectangular shaft.

[0015] The stress levels of the materials and the strength margins of the CSO were also kept similar to that of the rectangular shape. Strength and modulus equations were taken from the mechanical engineering handbooks. Additionally, even with all these advances in alternative materials for hockey stick shafts, the wooden hockey stick shaft is still extremely popular in many areas. One key area is the price. Wood hockey sticks are far less expensive to manufacture in comparison to the space age materials used in the composite shafts.

[0016] Through examination of the following patents, it is clearly shown that although there are a large number of shapes, and just as many methods for manufacturing these shapes, there are no referenced patents that represent, or even replicate anything similar or close to the configuration of the newly designed concave/sided oval (CSO) shape. 1 6,241,633 June 2001 Conroy 6,224,505 May 2001 Burger 6,117,029 September 2001 Kunisaki, et al. 6,033,328 March 2000 Bellefluer, et al. 5,586,696 February 1999 Calapp, et al. 5,636,836 June 1997 Carroll, et al. 5,577,725 November 1996 Pagatto, et al. 5,419,553 May 1995 Rodgers 5,333,857 August 1994 Lallemand 5,306,003 April 1994 Pagatto 5,303,916 April 1994 Rodgers 4,968,032 November 1990 Redekop 4,361,325 November 1982 Jansen

[0017] Even though the word oval is mentioned in two separate patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,117,029 and 6,241,633), these references are mentioned in a condescending manner, and it is clearly visible that no research was or has been done, and the mere mentioning of the word oval is/was strictly of a speculative nature. If research had been conducted, the patent holder(s) would have known of the oval's impact and usefulness (in any configuration) to the hockey player and his or her game.

[0018] Furthermore, every current and technical method used in manufacturing the various shapes indicated in the referenced patents may be used in manufacturing the concave/sided oval (CSO).

[0019] There are three different dimensional concave/sided ovals (CSO): The Senior, the Mid-Range, and the Junior. All three follow the same dimensional integrity. The shaft (handle) portion of the Goalie hockey stick will follow the exact dimensional characteristics and parameters under which the full-length hockey stick shaft dimensions apply.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present invention relates to a newly designed hockey stick shaft, comprising a cross-sectional configuration of a concave/sided oval (CSO). Due to the laws of physics governing the specific physical characteristics of ovals {a.k.a. conic sections} and rectangles, the new concept of the concave/sided oval (CSO) configuration make it better and more practical than any of its rectangular, triangular, or oddly shaped predecessors.

[0021] The following are but a few areas in which the concave/sided oval (CSO) configuration is more desirable and functional for use during and for the games of ice and/or roller hockey; greater resistance to fractures, stress, and breakage; greater torsional, flexural, and strength characteristics (axial and/or longitudinal); reduced weight along with the concave/sided oval's (CSO) natural and ergonomic grip. This ergonomical grip creates additional performance characteristics that assist the user's abilities in such a superior manner, that it places the concave/sided oval (CSO) far ahead of all its predecessors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a full length, angled, shaded, third-dimensional view of the concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a full length, angled view of the concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft in a lined (isometric wire) configuration with sectional length measurements: the concave/sided oval (CSO) shaft (handle), the concave/sided oval (CSO) to rectangle transition, and the rectangle (hozel) end.

[0024] FIG. 3 is an elevated end view of the concave/sided oval (CSO) portion of the (hollow) hockey stick shaft (showing the wall thickness) as viewed along the lines 1-1 of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 is an elevated end view of the rectangular (hozel) portion of the (hollow) hockey stick shaft (showing wall thickness) as viewed along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a full angled view of the transitional section (concave/sided oval (CSO) taper to the rectangular taper) in a shaded, 3-Dimensional form as viewed along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a full angled view of the transitional section (concave/sided oval (CSO) taper to the rectangular taper) in a lined (isometric wire) form as viewed along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a full angled view of the transitional section (concave/sided oval (CSO) taper to the rectangular) in a solid form as viewed along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 8 is an inside dimensional end view of a hollow concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft with all of the various (inside) dimensions for the three concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shafts (Junior, Mid-Range, & Senior).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] The concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft FIG. 1 and 2 is depicted as a hollow shaft with a specific inside dimensional cross-sectional configuration FIG. 8, and a specific dimensional wall thickness, FIGS. 6 & 7. Said hollow hockey stick shaft comprises of three elements (sections); The first being the concave/sided oval (CSO) section (the actual handle) FIGS. 1 and 2, # 1; The second being the transitional section FIGS. 1 and 2, # 3 and FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 respectively; and the third being the rectangular section (a.k.a. the hozel) FIGS. 1 and 2, # 2.

[0031] The concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft is further illustrated (in one fashion or another) in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 as indicated in the following descriptions. FIG. 1 is a shaded, three-dimensional image of the full concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft (all three sections exhibited). FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1 except that FIG. 2 is a lined diagram drawing. FIG. 3 is an end view of a hollow, concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft along line 1-1, and this is the main section (the longest portion) of the hockey stick shaft. This is the section called the handle of the hockey stick shaft as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 # 1. The actual wall thickness of the hollow hockey stick shaft (all three sections) is 0.095″+/−0.025″ (ninety-five thousandths of an inch, plus or minus twenty-five thousandths of an inch). FIG. 4 is an end view of a hollow, rectangular hockey stick shaft along line 2-2, and it is the second longest portion of the hockey stick shaft. This section is called the hozel as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 # 2, and the same wall thickness applies. FIG. 5 is a shaded angular view of the transitional section (the third, shortest, and last portion) of the hockey stick shaft shown along line 3-3. This is where the actual concave/sided oval (CSO) transitions from a concave/sided oval (CSO) taper to a rectangular taper. FIG. 6 is the same as FIG. 5 except that FIG. 6 is a lined diagram drawing so that the actual transition is visible. FIG. 7 is a similar sectional view of the transition except that FIG. 7 is viewed in a solid form showing the physical transition as it is seen on the exterior of the concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shaft. FIG. 8 is an inside dimensional grid drawing calling out the actual inside dimensions of the three (Senior, Mid-Range, & Junior) concave/sided oval (CSO) sections of the concave/sided oval (CSO) hockey stick shafts. The actual wall thickness (0.095″+/−0.025″ on an inch) of these hollow hockey stick shafts can be seen depicted in FIGS. 3 # 4, and FIG. 4 # 5.

Claims

1. An elongated linear shaft or handle (to be used in the games of ice and/or roller hockey) that is of a concave/sided oval (CSO) cross-sectional configuration: said shaft or handle is approximately fifty-eight and one-half inches (58.5″+0.0″/−4.0″) in length.

2. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 1, where-said concave/sided oval (CSO) cross-sectional configuration is defined by a continuous series of mathematical, dimensional points.

3. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 1, where within said shaft exists an upper section which is of a concave/sided oval (CSO) cross-sectional configuration approximately forty-eight and one-half inches (48.5″+0.0″/−2.5″) in length and is considered to be the upper or handle area on said shaft.

4. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 1, where within said shaft exists a transitional section of three inches in length where said concave/sided oval transitions from a concave/sided oval to an actual rectangle. Said transition is approximately seven inches (7″) from the bottom end of the shaft.

5. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 1, where within said shaft or handle exists a lower section which is of a rectangular cross-sectional configuration approximately seven inches (7″) in length and is considered to be the bottom, blade, or lower area (end) on said shaft.

6. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 1, where said shaft or handle can be manufactured from a combination of epoxy resin, fiberglass, and graphite: commonly referred to as a graphite shaft.

7. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 1 & 6, where said shaft or handle manufactured would be hollow throughout the entire length of the handle or shaft with opposite ends open.

8. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 7, where said shaft or handle being hollow throughout its entire length is designed to receive a rectangular tongued (tenon of tab), replaceable hockey stick blade at one end (the lower rectangular end), and a replaceable plug or cap at the other end (the upper concave/sided oval end).

9. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 7, where said shaft or handle being hollow throughout has a uniform wall thickness, approximately thirty-five thousandths (0.035″) of an inch, plus or minus five thousandths (+/−0.005″) on an inch.

10. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, where said shaft or handle can be manufactured from aluminum.

11. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 10, where said shaft or handle being hollow throughout has a uniform wall thickness, approximately sixty thousandths (0.060) of an inch, plus or minus ten thousandths (+/−0.010) on an inch.

12. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 where said shaft or handle can be manufactured from wood or wood by-products such as wood laminates.

13. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 12, where said shaft or handle manufactured would be solid throughout the entire length of the handle or shaft and has a permanently attached blade at one end (lower).

14. An elongated linear shaft or handle as defined in claim 6, 10, and 12, where said shaft or handle can be manufactured from any of the manufacturing process available today.