LACROSSE POCKET INCLUDING THONGS HAVING VARIABLE THICKNESS
A lacrosse stick is disclosed that allows a player to have improved handling of the ball. The present invention discloses a lacrosse stick having a head including at least two thongs wherein the thickness dimensions of the two thongs are different. The present invention also discloses a lacrosse stick having a head including at least one thong having a variable thickness dimension.
The present invention claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application 60/892,414, entitled “Lacrosse Pocket Including Variable Width Thongs” and filed on Mar. 1, 2007.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to sports equipment and more specifically to a pocket for a lacrosse head.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAll players playing the sport of lacrosse use a lacrosse stick to interact with the ball. It is known that not all lacrosse sticks are the same, but vary to suit a player's desired performance. Each player typically has an individual preference for the particular features of his or her lacrosse stick. Some features may be more beneficial to one particular player, while another player may prefer a different set of features.
A player selects the desired features to enhance their individual playing style. The decision is not necessarily based on the position that they play. It is known that the pocket's physical features directly impact the “feel” of the stick. The “feel” of the stick relates to the interaction between the lacrosse ball and the physical features of the pocket.
Known lacrosse sticks include a head frame to which a handle and a pocket are attached. The pocket in turn is secured to the frame. Further, there are several known types of pockets. For example, there is a traditional woven pocket, a manufactured pocket and a mesh pocket. These different types of pockets also provide players with different playing characteristics.
The traditional woven pocket typically consists of a series of straps that the player assembles and attaches to the head frame by hand. There are straps that fit within the lacrosse head frame in a generally vertical fashion that are referred to as thongs and also straps that interact with or attach to the thongs and fit within the head frame in a generally horizontal fashion that are referred to as pocket cords. The portion of the thongs that have contact with the lacrosse ball can be made from a number of different materials including, but not limited to, leather or synthetic leather. The pocket cords can also be made from a number of different materials including, but not limited to, nylon cord. The manufactured pocket is sold as a preassembled pocket having similar features to a traditional woven pocket including generally vertically oriented thongs and generally horizontally oriented pocket cords positioned within the head frame. In general, the mesh pocket includes a hole pattern arranged such that there is even spacing between the mesh holes. Typical mesh pockets do not use thongs. The mesh material is woven in continuous lengths with a repeating hole pattern, typically on a Raschel knitting machine, and is cut to individual lengths.
It is known that for any specific traditional woven pocket or manufactured pocket that the thickness dimension of each thong in the pocket is the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a lacrosse head pocket that allows the player to customize the feel of the lacrosse head. The present invention allows the player a variety of pocket configurations within the lacrosse head.
In accordance with the advantages of the present invention, a lacrosse head is disclosed that includes a pocket having at least two thongs generally vertically positioned and multiple pocket cords for attachment to the at least two thongs and a plurality of pocket cords that are generally horizontally positioned with respect to the thongs. Each thong has a first attachment region at a first end and a second attachment region at a second end. A ball contacting region extends between the first attachment region and the second attachment region. One of the thongs has a first thickness dimension within the ball contacting region and the other thong has a second thickness dimension within the ball contacting region. The first thickness dimension is different from the second thickness dimension. In another embodiment of the present invention, one of the thongs may have a variable thickness dimension within the ball contacting region.
Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent when viewed in light of the detailed description of the invention and taken in conjunction with the attached drawings and claims.
The present invention discloses a lacrosse pocket having thongs with varying thicknesses. More specifically, to provide lacrosse players with a wide variety of pocket options the present invention includes a lacrosse head pocket having at least one thong with a first thickness dimension that is different from the thickness dimension of the other thongs in the pocket. The present invention also includes an embodiment wherein at least one thong has a variable thickness dimension.
The standards for allowable thong thicknesses can be different for men's lacrosse heads and women's lacrosse heads. Further, these allowable thicknesses are typically set by the particular institutions having the authority to do so for various leagues.
The frame includes a ball stop portion 28, a pair of opposing sidewalls 30, and a scoop or lip portion 32 connecting the pair of opposing sidewalls 30 opposite from the ball stop portion 28. The frame 22 has a throat portion 34 that extends rearwardly from the ball stop portion 28 for attachment to the handle 26. There are a plurality of pocket securing apertures 36 located within the scoop portion 32 of the frame 22, a plurality of pocket securing apertures 37 located within the sidewalls 30 of the frame 22, and a plurality of pocket securing apertures 38 located within the ball stop portion 28 of the frame 22.
The pocket 24 includes thongs 40, 41, 42, 43 and pocket cords 44. It is important to note that the pattern of the pocket cords 44 does not have any impact on the inventive nature of the present invention. Further, the invention is not limited to a pocket having any particular number of thongs. For discussion purposes, thong 40 is specifically referred to and described hereinafter, however, each thong 40, 41, 42, 43 has the same characteristics.
Each individual thong 40 is coupled vertically within the frame 22 between the scoop portion 32 and the ball stop portion 28. The thong 40 consists of a ball contacting region 56 located between a first end 46 and a second end 48.
The first end 46 has a first attachment region 50 that allows the thong 40 to be secured to the frame 22 at a pocket securing aperture 36 in the scoop portion 32 of the frame 22. The first attachment region 50 is generally circular-shaped having an inner aperture 52. It will be understood that the first attachment region 50 can take on a variety of different configurations.
The second end 48 has a second attachment region 54 that allows the thong 40 to be secured to the frame 22 at a pocket securing aperture 38 in the ball stop portion 28 of the frame 22. It will be understood that the second attachment region 54 can also take on a variety of different configurations.
Each individual thong is a generally long and narrow strip of material. In general, within the ball-contacting region 56 each thong has a length dimension 51, an overall width dimension 53 and an overall thickness dimension 55, as illustrated in
Referring to
The second piece of material 49 consists of a flexible, cloth-like material, such as nylon lace and includes the second attachment region 54 and a second material ball contacting portion 61. In general, the second piece of material 49 is more flexible than the first piece of material 47.
The second material ball contacting portion 61 is attached to the back of the first material ball contacting portion 60 within the ball contacting region 56. The ball contacting portion 61 of the second piece of material 49 may be sewn or glued to the ball contacting portion 60 of the first piece of material 47 and thus forms the portion of the thong 40 in the ball contacting portion 56. Referring to
The overall thickness dimension 55 for thong 40, as shown in
The variations in thicknesses for the thongs in any given lacrosse pocket could be the result of any one of the following three scenarios. In the first scenario, the thickness of the second piece of material could remain the same for all thongs in a pocket while the thickness of the first piece of material could vary from one thong to the next. In the second scenario, the thickness of the first piece of material could remain the same for all thongs in a pocket while the thickness of the second piece of material could vary from one thong to the next. In the third scenario, the thickness dimensions of the first piece of material and the second piece of material could both vary from one thong to the next within any given pocket.
In known lacrosse pockets there is one constant thickness dimension for each individual thong in the ball contacting region 56. In other words, each thong in the pocket 24 has the same constant overall thickness. Any thickness variations in the first and second attachment regions 50, 54 are not part of the present invention.
In general, a thicker thong in the ball contacting region 56 provides a more solid ramp for the ball because there is more material to support the ball. A thinner thong in the ball contacting region 56, by contrast, provides less material to support the ball and as a result the cross-lacing of the pocket cords 44 has more of an effect on the ball.
Referring to
Referring to
The lacrosse head pocket portion 1824 illustrated in
It will be understood that the thickness dimension of any given thong can vary along its length within the ball contacting region. To more clearly describe these embodiments one should note that there are further zone distinctions made within the ball contacting region 56 of the pocket. The throwing area 64 is the region of the pocket 24 that is adjacent to the scoop or lip portion 32 of the frame 22. The ball carrying area 66 is the region of the pocket 24 that is adjacent to the ball stop portion 28 of the frame 22.
In still another embodiment, the thickness dimension along any one individual thong varies within the ball contacting region. There is a transition in the overall thickness of the individual thong from the ball contacting region near the first attachment region to the ball contacting region near the second attachment region. The transition could be gradual or abrupt. An individual thong may have a larger overall thickness dimension in the throwing area and a smaller overall thickness dimension in the ball carrying area. Alternatively, an individual thong may have a smaller overall thickness dimension in the throwing area and a larger overall thickness dimension in the ball carrying area. There could be just one thong in the pocket having a variable thickness dimension with all of the other thongs having a constant width, as illustrated in
Alternatively, all of the thongs in the pocket could have a variable overall thickness dimension. If all of the thongs have a variable overall thickness dimension they could all be aligned, as illustrated in
It should be understood that the thickness dimensions may differ for each thong in a multiple variable width thong pocket. For example, the first overall thickness dimension for one thong and the first overall thickness dimension for another thong in the pocket may be the same or they may differ.
While the invention has been described in connection with one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific mechanics and techniques which have been described are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, numerous modifications may be made to the methods and apparatus described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A lacrosse head pocket comprising:
- at least two thongs generally vertically positioned, wherein each thong has a first attachment region at a first end, a second attachment region at a second end, and a ball contacting region that extends between said first attachment region and said second attachment region;
- multiple pocket cords for attachment to said at least two thongs and generally horizontally positioned with respect to said thongs; and
- wherein a first thong of said at least two thongs has a first thickness dimension within said ball contacting region and a second thong of said at least two thongs has a second thickness dimension within said ball contacting region, wherein said first thickness dimension is different from said second thickness dimension.
2. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1 wherein there are three thongs, a first thong, a second thong, and a third thong.
3. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 2 wherein said first thong has said first thickness dimension and said second thong and said third thong each has said second thickness dimension and said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
4. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 2 wherein said first thong has said first thickness dimension and said second thong and said third thong each has said second thickness dimension, said first thickness is less than said second thickness dimension.
5. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 2 wherein said first thong has a first thickness dimension, said second thong has a second thickness dimension, and said third thong has a third thickness dimension wherein said first thickness dimension, said second thickness dimension and said third thickness dimension are all different from each other.
6. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1 wherein there are four thongs, a first outer thong, a second outer thong, a first inner thong and a second inner thong.
7. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 6 wherein said first outer thong and said second outer thong each has a first thickness dimension and said first inner thong and said second inner thong each has a second thickness dimension.
8. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 7 wherein said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
9. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 7 wherein said first thickness dimension is less than said second thickness dimension.
10. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 6 said first outer thong and said first inner thong each has a first thickness dimension and said second outer thong and said second inner thong each has a second thickness dimension.
11. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 10 wherein said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
12. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 1 wherein there are five (5) thongs, a center thong, a first intermediate thong, a second intermediate thong, a first outer thong, and a second outer thong.
13. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 12 wherein said center thong has a first thickness dimension and said first intermediate thong, said second intermediate thong, said first outer thong and said second outer thong each has a second thickness dimension.
14. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 13 wherein said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
15. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 13 wherein said first thickness dimension is less than said second thickness dimension.
16. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 12 wherein said center thong, said first intermediate thong and said second intermediate thong each has a first thickness dimension, and said first outer thong and said second outer thong each has a second thickness dimension.
17. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 16 wherein said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
18. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 16 wherein said first thickness dimension is less than said second thickness dimension.
19. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 12 wherein said center thong, said first outer thong and said second outer thong each has a first thickness dimension, and said first intermediate thong and said second intermediate thong each has a second thickness dimension, wherein said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
20. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 19 wherein said center thong, said first outer thong and said second outer thong each has a first thickness dimension, and said first intermediate thong and said second intermediate thong each has a second thickness dimension, wherein said first thickness dimension is less than said second thickness dimension.
21. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 12 wherein said center thong has a first thickness dimension, said first intermediate thong and said second intermediate thong each has a second thickness dimension, and said first outer thong and said second outer thong each has a third thickness dimension, wherein said first thickness dimension, said second thickness dimension and said third thickness dimension are all different from each other.
22. A lacrosse head pocket comprising:
- at least two thongs generally vertically positioned, wherein each thong has a first attachment region at a first end, a second attachment region at a second end, and a ball contacting region that extends between said first attachment region and said second attachment region;
- multiple pocket cords for attachment to said at least two thongs and generally horizontally positioned with respect to said thongs; and
- wherein at least one thong of said at least two thongs has a variable thickness dimension within said ball contacting region.
23. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 22 wherein said ball contacting region for each thong includes a throwing area adjacent to said first attachment region and a ball carrying area adjacent to said second attachment region.
24. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 23 wherein a first thong of said at least two thongs has a first thickness dimension in said throwing area and a second thickness dimension in said ball carrying area, and a second thong of said at least two thongs has a constant thickness dimension within said ball contacting region.
25. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 24 wherein said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
26. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 24 wherein said first thickness dimension is less than said second thickness dimension.
27. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 23 wherein a first thong of said at least two thongs has a first thickness dimension in said throwing area and a second thickness dimension in said ball carrying area and a second thong of said at least two thongs has a first thickness dimension in said throwing area and a second thickness dimension in said ball carrying area.
28. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 27 wherein said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
29. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 27 wherein said first thickness dimension is less than said second thickness dimension.
30. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 23 wherein a first thong of said at least two thongs has a first thickness dimension in said throwing area and a second thickness dimension in said ball carrying area, and a second thong of said at least two thongs has a second thickness dimension in said throwing area and a first thickness dimension in said ball carrying area.
31. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 30 wherein said first thickness dimension is greater than said second thickness dimension.
32. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 23 wherein a first thong of said at least two thongs has a variable thickness dimension within said throwing area and a variable thickness dimension within said ball carrying area.
33. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 32 wherein said first thong has a first thickness dimension and a second thickness dimension within said throwing area and a first thickness dimension and a second thickness dimension within said ball carrying area.
34. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 33 wherein said first thickness dimension in said throwing area is greater than said second thickness dimension in said throwing area, said second thickness dimension in said throwing area is less than said first thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area, and said first thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area is greater than said second thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area.
35. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 33 wherein said first thickness dimension in said throwing area is less than said second thickness dimension in said throwing area, said second thickness dimension in said throwing area is greater than said first thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area, and said first thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area is less than said second thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area.
36. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 34 including a second thong having a first thickness dimension and a second thickness dimension within said throwing area, and a first thickness dimension and a second thickness dimension within said ball-carrying area.
37. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 36 wherein said second thong first thickness dimension in said throwing area is greater than said second thong second thickness dimension in said throwing area, said second thong second thickness dimension in said throwing area is less than said second thong first thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area, and said second thong first thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area is greater than said second thong second thickness dimension in said ball-carrying area.
38. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 22 wherein said first thong has a first thickness dimension in said throwing area and a second thickness dimension in said ball carrying area, and said second thong has a first thickness dimension and a second thickness dimension in said throwing area and a third thickness dimension and a fourth thickness dimension in said ball carrying area.
39. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 33 wherein there are four thongs and each of said four thongs has said first thickness dimension and said second thickness dimension within said throwing area and said first thickness dimension and said second thickness dimension within said ball-carrying area.
40. The lacrosse head pocket of claim 22 wherein there is a first thong having a first thickness dimension and a second thickness dimension, a second thong having a third thickness dimension and a fourth thickness dimension and a third thong having a fifth thickness dimension and a sixth thickness dimension.
41. A lacrosse stick comprising:
- a head frame;
- a handle attached to said frame;
- a lacrosse head pocket attached to said head frame, said lacrosse head pocket including: at least two thongs generally vertically positioned within and attached to said head frame, wherein each thong has a first attachment region at a first end, a second attachment region at a second end, and a ball contacting region extending between said first attachment region and said second attachment region; multiple pocket cords attached to said at least two thongs and generally horizontally positioned within and attached to said head frame; wherein a first thong of said at least two thongs has a first thickness dimension within said ball contacting region and a second thong of said at least two thongs has a second thickness dimension within said ball contacting region and said first thickness dimension is different from said second thickness dimension.
42. The lacrosse stick of claim 41, wherein said first thong of said at least two thongs also has a second thickness dimension within said ball contacting region and said second thong of said at least two thongs also includes a first thickness dimension within said ball contacting region.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 29, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2008
Inventors: KYLE LAMSON (CHELMSFORD, MA), SUZANNE ONTSO (BOYLSTON, MA), ALEXANDER REYNOLDS (WAYLAND, MA)
Application Number: 12/039,978
International Classification: A63B 59/02 (20060101);