LACROSSE TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract

A lacrosse stick having a shaft at least a portion of which is hollow and at least one weight or weight addition material disposed in the hollow portion of the shaft. A weight sized and shaped for removable insertion in a hollow shaft of a lacrosse stick. A carrier sized and shaped for removable insertion in a hollow shaft of a lacrosse stick, the carrier comprising at least one compartment operable to receive at least one weight or weight addition material.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/439,433 filed Feb. 4, 2011, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a lacrosse training device, and more particularly to a lacrosse stick including a weight.

BACKGROUND

In the sport of lacrosse each player carries a lacrosse stick (or crosse) which includes a shaft portion and a head portion including a net or mesh webbing fixed at one end of the shaft portion. A “short crosse” (or “short stick”) measures between 40 inches and 42 inches long (head and shaft together) and is typically used by attackers or midfielders. In field lacrosse, a total of four players per team may carry a “long crosse” (sometimes called “long pole”, “long stick” or “d-pole”) that may be from 52 inches to 72 inches long. The “long crosse” is typically used by defenders or midfielders. The head portion of the crosse on both long and short crosses must be 6.5 inches or larger at its widest point. The designated goalkeeper is allowed to have a stick from 40 inches to 72 inches long and the head of a goalkeeper's crosse may measure up to 12 inches wide, significantly larger than field players' heads to assist in blocking shots. The head of the stick is typically fitted to the shaft and held in place by a set screw to facilitate changing heads.

The shaft of a conventional modern lacrosse stick is typically an elongated hollow shaft made of lightweight material such as aluminum, graphite, titanium, Kevlar®, or alloys of aluminum, magnesium, scandium and zinc. Players training only with a lightweight stick quickly plateau in terms of maximum speed, strength and endurance. Presently, there is no way for players to weight-train in order to gain speed, muscle and endurance during lacrosse practice on the field utilizing the player's stick. As a result, players wishing to increase these attributes must employ supplemental exercise regimes outside normal lacrosse training. Currently, a weight device is available which can be attached to the outside of a playing stick, but this device obstructs the players' hands and the ball in play. This device makes it difficult if not impossible for a player to use it during a regular practice.

Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a lacrosse stick and/or a device which can be used with a normal lacrosse stick which enables players to train with the stick during normal practice which simultaneously develops enhanced speed, muscle and endurance using lacrosse moves and techniques during practice without the need to train outside of normal practice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a weight designed to be inserted into the hollow shaft of a conventional lacrosse stick. The subject matter also is directed to a lacrosse stick having a weight disposed inside the hollow shaft of a lacrosse stick. The weight inside the shaft eliminates obstructions that would arise from placing a weight on the outside of the stick. The stick having a weight disposed in the shaft provides a player the ability to obtain desired benefits not achievable with a conventional unweighted stick. The weight can be adjusted for players of varying skill levels, fitness levels and ages to best suit their needs.

In accordance with one aspect a weight is provided which is shaped and configured to fit in a hollow shaft of a conventional lacrosse stick. Suitable weights may be formed for example by casting the weight in a mold shaped and sized to provide a weight of a desired size, shape and mass. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, any material suitable for forming weights may be employed, such as but not limited to lead, iron, steel, metal alloys, concrete, sand filled plastic forms, and the like.

Most lacrosse sticks have a hexagonal cross-section, therefore the weight may have a hexagonal cross-section which conforms to the cross-section of the stick, to prevent the weight from twisting during use. However, one skilled in the art will recognize a weight having a different cross section may be employed.

The weight may be inserted in the shaft by removing the head or end cap of the stick, inserting the desired weight and reattaching the head or end cap to the shaft.

The weight may be fixed in the head region of the stick using various techniques. For example, the weight may include a bore for receiving the set screw used to affix the head to the shaft, thereby holding the weight in place. A separate screw or fastener device can be used to fix the weight in the head region. Alternatively, or in addition, the lower portion of the hollow shaft opposite the end to which the head is affixed may include bracing element, for example, a lightweight material such as insulation to provide a floor against which the weight will abut. Other material such as cork, Styrofoam, wood or the like may be used to prop the weight in a position near the head region.

Similarly, the weight can be fixed in other positions within the hollow shaft using the aforementioned techniques and apparatus, depending on the training goals of the player. For example, a player may wish to have the weight fixed near the end distal of the head region, or in a region between the two ends of the shaft.

In one embodiment the weight may include an extension element which permits the weight to be placed in a desired position within the shaft. The extension element may be any suitable material which is attached to or can be fixed to one or both ends of the weight.

In other embodiments the weight may be included in an elongated carrier which fits in the hollow shaft. One or more weights can be fitted in the carrier, thereby allowing the user to weight the lacrosse stick according to preference for location of the weight and poundage.

In further embodiments the weight may be included as part of the lacrosse stick end cap. The weight may be integral with the end cap or removably attachable to the end cap.

In a further embodiment, the weight need not be fixed in the shaft, but may be slidably contained in the hollow shaft. The sliding of the weight within the shaft during play creates helps train the players' muscles in ways that are different than those wherein the weight is fixed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purposes of illustration, there are forms shown in the drawings that are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 depicts a prior art lacrosse stick;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a lacrosse stick with the head removed and a weight fully removed from the shaft of the stick in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A is a front view of a lacrosse stick with the head removed and a weight inserted in the shaft of the stick in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a weight having an aperture for receiving a fastening device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A-4D are sectional views of a lacrosse stick including a weight in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4E is an exploded perspective view of a lacrosse shaft, end cap and weight in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a front view of lacrosse stick including a weight carrier operable to receive one or more weights and be inserted in a lacrosse stick shaft in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a top view of carrier in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the carrier according to FIG. 5A taken along line A-A′ in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of a lacrosse stick with a weight shown in phantom which is not fixed within the shaft in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The following is a detailed description of the subject matter provided to aid those skilled in the art in practicing the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art may make modifications and variations in the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. All publications, patent applications, patents, figures and other references mentioned herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art lacrosse stick.

With reference to FIGS. 2-2A, a lacrosse stick 2 includes a shaft 10 and head 20. Head 20 may be detached from shaft 10 to permit the insertion and removal of weight 30. Alternatively or additionally, an end cap 15 may be removably fixed to shaft 10 to permit insertion and removal of weight 30. Shaft 10 may include an aperture 11, and head may include an aperture 21, for receiving a screw or other fastening device for securing head 20 to shaft 10.

Weight 30 may be of any suitable mass and dimension that permits it to be inserted in the shaft 10 and have the head 20 be reattached. For example, the weight may be from about 0.25 to about 10 pounds or more, depending on the skill, strength, age and physical condition of the player that will use the weighted lacrosse stick 2. It will be apparent weights less than 0.25 pounds and greater than 10 pounds can be used and fall within the scope of the present subject matter. The length of the weight 30 should not exceed the length of the shaft 10 in which it is being inserted otherwise the head 20 cannot be reattached, or the end cap 15 cannot be reattached. The weight may be any length but is preferably between about 14-18 inches in length.

The weight 30 may be formed for example by casting the weight in a mold shaped and sized to provide a weight of a desired size, shape and mass. As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, any material suitable for forming weights may be employed, such as but not limited to lead, iron, steel, metal alloys, concrete, sand or cement filled plastic forms, and the like. The weight 30 may have a coating such as rubber, neoprene or the like. The weight 30 may be composed of more than one weight held in a carrier device as will be described further hereinbelow.

Most lacrosse sticks have a hexagonal cross-section, therefore the weight 30 may advantageously have a hexagonal cross-section which conforms to the cross-section of the stick, to prevent the weight 30 from rotating within the shaft 10 during use.

The shaft 10 may include means for securing the weight 30. Now referring to FIG. 3, the weight 30 may include a bore 32 for receiving a fastening means such as a screw. In one embodiment the bore 32 is positioned on the weight 30 so that a screw which is used in attaching the head 20 to the shaft 10 will engage the bore 32 and hold the weight 30 in a position near the head 20 of the stick 2. The bore 32 may be threaded to engage a screw. In another embodiment, not shown, the shaft may include an opening for receiving a pin such as but not limited to a spring-loaded pin as is known in the art, wherein the shaft opening may be aligned with the bore 32 of the weight and secured using the pin. Alternatively, the weight 30 may be equipped with a spring-loaded pin in bore 32, wherein the pin may be depressed and biased against the spring tension for insertion of the weight 30 into the shaft 10, and upon alignment with the opening in the shaft, engage the opening as the spring tension is released.

Now referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a weight 30 is shown disposed in the shaft 10 near the end for attachment of the head 20 (FIG. 4A) and in the middle of the shaft 10 (FIG. 4B), wherein a bracing element 40 is employed to hold the weight 30 in the desired position. Bracing element 40 may be insulation, plastic, paper, cardboard, cork, Styrofoam or any suitable material for preventing the weight 30 from moving when the head 20 is attached and the stick 2 is used during play.

Now referring to FIGS. 4C and 4D, weight 30 includes an extension element 34 which permits the weight to be placed in a desired position within the shaft 10. The extension element 34 may be any suitable material which can be fixed to one or both ends of the weight 30. For example the extension element 34 may be a length of wood, heavy stock cardboard or plastic affixed to an end of the weight 30. When a head 20 is placed on the shaft 10 the weight 30 is locked in position.

Now referring to FIGS. 4E and 4F, weight 30 may be incorporated into or configured to be removably attached to an end cap 15 wherein shaft 10 is open at the end opposite the head end to accommodate insertion of a weight 30. In one embodiment a user may remove the end cap 15, insert the weight 30 into the end cap, and attach the end cap 15 to the shaft 10. In another embodiment an end cap 15 incorporating a weight is provided, which may be inserted into shaft 10. In one or more embodiments a user of a lacrosse stick 2 with an existing end cap may remove the existing end cap, insert the weighted end cap 15 for training, then remove the weighted end cap 15 and replace the existing end cap at the conclusion of training.

Now referring to FIG. 5, a carrier 50 is disclosed with compartments 52 for receiving weights 30. Carrier 50 is preferably an elongated device, preferably lightweight, having compartments 52 such as slots, recesses, bores or other forms of openings into which weights 30 can be inserted or removed. Depending on the training goals of the user, it may be desirable to include a full load of weights 30, i.e., up to the maximum capacity of the carrier 50, or to include weights only in a certain portion of the carrier 50. Once the carrier 50 is loaded as desired, the carrier 50 may be inserted in the shaft 10. The head 20 is then placed on the shaft 20 as described previously.

In another embodiment, the carrier 50 may be a hollow member comprising a single interior compartment, having at least one open end, to receive one or more weights or other weight addition material. The carrier 50 may further include a closure means such as a cap, plug or the like. The carrier 50 may be filled with weights or weight addition material such as sand, water or the like, closed with the closure device, and inserted into the shaft 10 of the lacrosse stick 2.

The carrier 50 may have an exterior profile shaped to conform to an interior of the hollow shaft to prevent movement of the carrier 50 once inserted in the shaft 10. The carrier may have an interior profile shaped to conform to an exterior of a weight 30. For example, to accommodate a weight 30 having a round exterior profile, the carrier 50 may have a round interior profile. Similarly, carrier 50 may have a hexagonal interior profile to accommodate one or more weights having a hexagonal exterior profile. It will be apparent to the skilled artisan compartments 52 may be sized and shaped to accommodate and hold weights of various shapes and sizes.

The carrier 50 may include any suitable number of compartments 52. A carrier 50 may include for example as few as one to as many as 50 or more compartments 52, depending on the desire on the training needs of a user. A greater number of compartments 52 enables smaller incremental weight addition or subtraction.

Carrier 50 may include resilient material such as plastic, rubber, silicone or the like so that weights 30 may be removably inserted in compartment(s) 52. For example, compartment 52 may include edges 53 of resilient material to facilitate insertion and removal of weight(s) 30. Now referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, carrier 50 may be a resilient material including at least one compartment 52, wherein a weight 30 may be inserted into compartment 52 past edges 53 by exerting sufficient force to expand the edges 53 of carrier 50, and once the weight is seated in compartment 52 the edges 53 revert to their original form, holding weight(s) 30 in place.

Now referring to FIG. 5A, carrier 50 may include one or more tabs 54 to retain a weight 30 in compartment 52.

Now referring to FIG. 6, in one embodiment, a lacrosse shaft 10 includes a weight 30 that is not anchored inside the shaft 10. The weight 30 may include a coating such as rubber or neoprene to reduce shock or damage to the stick 2. Bumpers may be included in the shaft 10 on opposite ends to further cushion the weight as it moves within the shaft 10. The shifting weight 30 provides an extra training element for players not available with a fixed weight.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A weight sized and shaped for removable insertion in a hollow shaft of a lacrosse stick.

2. The weight according to claim 1 comprising a bore for receiving a securing device.

3. The weight according to claim 1 comprising an extension element extending from at least one end thereof.

4. The weight according to claim 1 comprising an end cap operable to be secured to an end of the lacrosse stick.

5. A carrier sized and shaped for removable insertion in a hollow shaft of a lacrosse stick, the carrier comprising at least one compartment operable to receive at least one weight or weight addition material.

6. The carrier according to claim 5 comprising at least one compartment having edges formed of a resilient material to facilitate insertion, retention and/or removal of a weight.

7. A lacrosse stick having a shaft at least a portion of which is hollow and at least one weight or weight addition material disposed in the hollow portion of the shaft.

8. The lacrosse stick according to claim 7 comprising a means for securing the weight in a position in the hollow shaft.

9. The lacrosse stick according to claim 8 wherein the means for securing the weight comprises a set screw.

10. The lacrosse stick according to claim 8 wherein the means for securing the weight comprises a pin.

11. The lacrosse stick according to claim 8 wherein the means for securing the weight comprises a bracing element.

12. The lacrosse stick according to claim 7 further comprising a carrier sized and shaped for removable insertion in the hollow shaft of the lacrosse stick, the carrier comprising at least one compartment operable to receive the at least one weight or weight addition material.

13. The lacrosse stick according to claim 12 comprising at least one compartment having edges formed of a resilient material to facilitate insertion, retention and/or removal of a weight.

14. The lacrosse stick according to claim 7 comprising a weight slidably contained in the hollow shaft.