Sports shaft with end stop

Abstract

The present invention provides a lacrosse shaft. The lacrosse shaft has an integral or interlocked end stop to inhibit stoppage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sticks and shafts having a butt end and, more particularly, a butt end terminating in an end stop.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a conventional sports stick 100 is shown, which is represented as a hockey stick, but could be, for example, a lacrosse stick as well. Conventionally, stick 100 comprises an elongated, hollow shaft 110 or handle. Shaft 110 has a playing end 112 and a butt end 114 opposite playing end 112. Playing end 112 may have a blade 116 attached, as shown for a hockey stick, a lacrosse head attached, for the lacrosse stick, or the like.

As best shown by the exploded view of FIG. 1B, attached to butt end 114 typically is a cap 118 as shown. Cap 118 is designed with a volumetric space V to frictionally engage the butt end 114 of shaft 110. Cap 118 is frequently designed with a protrusion 120. Cap 118, frictionally engaged with butt end 114, and protrusion 120 combine to inhibit a player's hand from slipping off the butt end of shaft 110.

FIG. 1C shows a plug 122 that may be used as an alternative to cap 118. Plug 122 may be inserted into a hollow space H at the end of hollow shaft 110. Plug 122 would be designed to frictionally engage shaft 110. Plug 122 has a male portion 124 and may have a protrusion 126 that expands beyond the outer walls 128 of shaft 110. Male portion 124 may be solid or hollow as a matter of design choice. Plug 122 frictionally engaged in hollow space H and protrusion 124 combine to inhibit a player's hand from slipping off the butt end of shaft 110 also. Conventional end caps or plugs have numerous shapes other than the simple design shown for convenience.

Neither cap 118 nor plug 122, however, are particularly satisfying solutions to preventing a player's hand from slipping off the butt end of shaft 110. Often cap 118 or plug 122 separates from shaft 110 because the force associated with the player's hand overcomes the frictional engagement.

Thus, it would be desirous to develop and improved butt end of a sports shaft to further inhibit a player's hand from slipping during play.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved sports shaft.

The improved shaft has a butt end with a protrusion. The protrusion is integral with or interlocking with the butt end to inhibit a player's hand from slipping. Also, because the protrusion is integral and/or interlocked with the butt end, the end stop is inhibited from detaching.

The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate various embodiments of the present invention and are a part of the specification. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples and illustrations of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrates a conventional hockey stick;

FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate sport shafts consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate other sport shafts consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 shows one possible alternative construction of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described with reference to the Figures. While the present invention is being described with particular reference to a lacrosse specific shaft, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize on reading the disclosure that the present invention would be applicable for other sport shafts where a player's hand has the potential of slipping off the butt end of a shaft. Examples of other such shafts include, but should not be limited to, hockey sticks, racketball rackets, and the like.

With reference now to FIG. 2A, a lacrosse specific sports shaft 200 consistent with the present invention is shown. Shaft 200 comprises an elongated body 202 having a head end 204 and a butt end 206. Shaft 200 could be made of carbon, graphite, carbon fibers, composites, or other moldable composites, and the like. Using these materials, butt end 206 can be molded such that butt end 206 has a protrusion 208. Alternatively, (as shown in FIG. 2B) butt end 206 can have outwardly expanding walls 210, such that butt end 206 has a flared shape 212. Outwardly expanding walls 210 can be straight as shown, curved, or beveled. Further, edges 214 may be sharp edges or corners or beveled as well.

One method of manufacturing the shaft 200 comprises use of graphite or other materials. According to this one embodiment, a graphite sheet is wrapped around an internal member such as a dowel. The number of times the graphite sheets is wrapped around the dowel determines the strength of the shaft. Therefore, stronger shafts may be wrapped multiple times. When the desired number of graphite layers has been achieved, the dowel is removed, leaving the graphite in a tubular arrangement. The tubular graphite is then inserted into a mold, where it is heated and formed into the mold shape. The mold, in this case, would have the desired shape of butt end 206 such that, when heated, the tubular graphite forms into the desired shape.

The tubular graphite in this methodology is preferably hollow, but according to some embodiments it may also be solid. The graphite is subsequently cooled, and the graphite hardens into the shaft 200.

While molding butt end 206 to a particular shape is a possible solution to the problems associated with the prior art, players may enjoy the feel of a different material of an end stop from the shaft proper. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a shaft 300 that provides an alternative solution to inhibit the end stop from disengaging from the shaft 300. FIG. 3B shows an end view of shaft 300. FIG. 3B shows shaft 300 in a generally circular shape, but shaft 300 could be any geometric shape as a matter of design and player preference.

Referring first to FIG. 3A, shaft 300 includes an elongated body 302 having a head end 304 and a butt end 306. Shaft 300 has a cross-sectional shape S defined by a sidewall 308. Cross-sectional shape S is shown as a circle for convenience, but could be numerous geometries configured for performance and player preference. Butt end 306 terminates in an inwardly extending lip 310. Lip 310 defines an opening 312. Opening 312 occupies a surface area A and, in the case of a circular shaft, a diameter d1. Lip 310 has a thickness t1 and a width w1.

FIG. 3A also shows an end stop 320. End stop 320 may be made of rubber or other composites as a matter of design choice. End stop 302 has an anchor portion 322, a stem 324, and a stopper portion 326. Anchor portion 322 generally has a shape that complements shaft 300. In the case of circular shaft 300, anchor portion 322 has a diameter d3. Stem 324 has a diameter of d2. Stopper portion 326 has a diameter d4. Diameter d3 is generally greater than diameter d2 such that anchor portion 322 has a shoulder 328 extending radially outward from stem 324. Further, diameter d3 is larger than diameter d1 so shoulder 328 abuts lip 310. Diameter d3 should be greater than d1 but no more than d1 plus 2 times w1. While diameter d3 may be oversized, in this case anchor portion 322 may buckle or cause shaft 300 to bow.

Stem 324 connects anchor portion 322 and stopper portion 326. Stem 324 has a thickness or length t2. Length t2 should be equal to or greater than t1 such that should 328 and stopper portion 326 fit snuggly around lip 310. Stem 324 has a diameter d2 that should be equal to or less than d1 such that stem 324 can fit in opening 312.

Stopper portion 326 has a diameter d4. Diameter d4 should be greater than an outer diameter d5 of butt end 306. Diameter d4 being larger than diameter d5 causes a protrusion 330 of stopper portion 326 to extend beyond shaft sidewall 308. Protrusion 330 inhibits a player's hand from slipping off of shaft 300. Further, the abutment of lip 310 and shoulder 328 inhibits end stop 320 from disengaging with shaft 300.

Optionally, and shown in phantom, shaft 300 may have an internal base 332. A volumetric space 334 is defined by base 332, sidewalls 308 and lip 310. Volumetric space would have a depth of t3 or greater, t3 being the thickness of anchor portion 322. Using base 332 would provide a chamber or clamp like mold to grip anchor portion 322 and shoulder 328.

FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional view of butt end 306 with end stop 320 inserted. In this case, optional base 332 is also shown and stopper portion 326 has flared and curved walls 336. Further, an edge 338 is beveled, although it could be provided as a sharp corner. Stopper portion 326 could have any design and shape, including the flared or conical shape associated with FIG. 2B.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative configuration for lip 310 and shoulder 328. In this case lip 310 has a first end extension 402. First end extension 402 extends from lip 310 towards shoulder 328. Shoulder 328 has a second end extension 404. Second end extension 404 extends from shoulder 328 towards lip 310. First end extension 402 comprises a first protrusion 406 and second end extension 404 comprises a second protrusion 408. Protrusions 406 and 408 form a snap lock or friction fitting between lip 310 and shoulder 328 that may facilitate the molding process. Protrusions 406 and 408 are exemplary, and other interlocking devices could be used, such as, for example, a protrusion and dimple, a lip and barb, or the like.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A lacrosse shaft having an integrated end stop, the shaft comprising:

an elongated body having sidewalls defining a shape of the shaft;

the elongated body having a head end and a butt end; and

a protrusion located on and integral to the butt end, wherein

the protrusion extending outward from the sidewalls such that the protrusion inhibits a player's hand from slipping from shaft.

2. The lacrosse shaft according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has outwardly expanding walls.

3. The lacrosse shaft according to claim 2, wherein the outwardly expanding walls are substantially straight.

4. The lacrosse shaft according to claim 2, wherein the outwardly expanding walls are substantially curved.

5. The lacrosse shaft according to claim 1, further comprising beveled edges.

6. The lacrosse shaft according to claim 2, wherein the outwardly expanding walls have a flared shape.

7. The lacrosse shaft according to claim 2, wherein the outwardly expanding walls have a conical shape.

8. A sport shaft, comprising:

an elongated body having a shaft defined by a sidewall;

the elongated body being made from a composite, moldable material

a butt end at one end of the elongated body; and

an outwardly extending protrusion integral to the butt end, wherein the outwardly extending protrusion extends beyond the sidewall and provides a barrier to inhibit a player's hand from slipping from the sport shaft.

9. The sport shaft of claim 8, wherein the shaft is designed for use in a sport selected from the group of sports consisting of lacrosse, hockey, tennis, racketball, and golf.

10. The sport shaft of claim 8, wherein the composite, moldable material is carbon fiber.

11. The sport shaft of claim 8, wherein the composite, moldable material is graphite.

12. The sport shaft of claim 8, wherein the composite, moldable material is carbon based.

13. The sport shaft of claim 8, wherein the outwardly extending protrusion comprises a disc shape.

14. The sport shaft of claim 8, wherein the outwardly extending protrusion comprises a flared shape.

15. The sport shaft of claim 8, wherein the outwardly extending protrusion has walls.

16. The sport shaft of claim 15, wherein the walls are at least one of straight or curved.

17. A lacrosse shaft, comprising:

an elongated shaft having a head end and a butt end;

the butt end having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;

a lip extending inwardly from the butt end and defining an opening, the lip having an internal surface and an external surface;

an end stop having an anchor portion, a stem, and a stopper portion, the anchor portion is connected to the stopper portion by the stem;

the stem extending through the opening defined by the lip;

the anchor having a shoulder, the should being substantially aligned with the internal surface; and

the stopper portion having a protrusion extending beyond the outer diameter of the butt end.

18. The lacrosse shaft of claim 17, wherein the protrusion comprises sidewalls extending outwardly from the elongated shaft.

19. The lacrosse shaft of claim 18, wherein the sidewalls are straight.

20. The lacrosse shaft of claim 18, wherein the sidewalls are curved.

21. The lacrosse shaft of claim 17, wherein the elongated shaft comprises at least a first material and the end stop comprises at least a second material where the first material and the second material are different.

22. The lacrosse shaft of claim 21, wherein the first material comprises graphite and the second material comprises rubber.

23. The lacrosse shaft of claim 22, wherein the rubber is vulcanized rubber.

24. The lacrosse shaft of claim 17, wherein the lip has a first end extension and the shoulder has a second end extension such that the first end extension and the second end extension engage forming a snap lock.

25. The lacrosse shaft of claim 24, wherein the first end extension terminates in a first end protrusion and the second end extension ends in a second end protrusion that overlap.