LACROSSE TRAINING APPARATUS

Abstract

An apparatus (50) for training users to manipulate a lacrosse stick (10) having a fastening arrangement (60, 70, 75) that connects a user's wrist or forearm to the lacrosse stick (10) and restricts movement of the user's wrist or forearm relative to the lacrosse stick (10).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/874,442 entitled, “Lacrosse Training Apparatus”, filed in the name of Matthew Fitzgerald, on Sep. 6, 2013, the disclosure of which is also hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to sports equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for training persons to manipulate a lacrosse stick for athletic competition purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is an axiom that all participants in competitive sports must practice their skills in order to improve their performance during the actual competitions. In many sports, a participant or player must also use and practice with specified sports equipment, such as a ball, a bat, a glove, a stick, etc. A player in the sport of lacrosse, in particular, is required to use a modified stick to catch, hold (i.e., carry or cradle) and release (i.e., throw or shoot) a lacrosse ball. As seen in FIG. 1, a typical lacrosse stick 10 comprises an elongated shaft 12 that has a straight segment 14 with its free end covered by an end cap 16, which may be detachable. The straight segment 14 serves as a handle for the player and is known as the handle, bottom, or butt-end of the lacrosse stick 10. The remainder of the shaft 12 is a second straight segment 18 that terminates into a curved or looped free end 20 that holds a flexible string or mesh pocket 22 for catching, holding/carrying, or throwing a lacrosse ball (not shown). In most lacrosse sticks 10 now manufactured, the second straight segment 18 has a free end that engages a hard structure 20 (called the “head”) that can have mesh pocket 22 installed or strung therein. Regardless, this second straight segment 18, along with the head 20, is generally referred to as the top or the head-end of the lacrosse stick 10. It is understood that the shaft 12 is, in almost all cases, a continuous element and there is no interruption between the first and second straight segments 14, 18. It is also understood that there is no clear demarcation between the two straight segments 14, 18 which are merely identified herein as separate segments for ease of description.

A lacrosse player may hold the stick 10 with one or two hands, depending on the particular circumstance during the play of the lacrosse game. When both hands are holding or gripping the stick 10, the dominant hand of the player tends to be positioned at the head-end 18 and the non-dominant hand tends to be positioned at the butt-end 14. The dominant hand represents the preference of one hand (compared to the other) to perform fine and gross motor tasks. This so-called “dominant hand on top” grip permits a player to more proficiently control the action of the head-end 18 and, more specifically, the mesh pocket 22 for catching, holding/carrying, or throwing a ball. Accordingly, a right hand dominant, i.e., right-handed, player will tend to have the right hand positioned at the head-end 18 and the left hand positioned at the butt-end 14, and a left hand dominant, i.e., left-handed, player will tend to have the left hand positioned at the head-end 18 and the right hand positioned at the butt-end 14.

Regardless of hand dominance, in the course of the play of a lacrosse game, a player invariably will be forced to switch the positions of the hands in gripping the stick 10 with both hands. This happens for several reasons, for example, when an opposing player physically pressures a player to give up a carried ball, or to move in a different direction, or to throw the carried ball in a different direction. The player may have several possible responses, such as moving his stick 10 away from the opposing player. Often, the player will switch his hand positions to maintain a controlled grip on the stick 10, and thus protect the carried ball from the opposing player or continue his intended play. For many players, the hand-switching will result in the non-dominant hand being positioned at the head-end 18 of the stick 10 with an accompanying decrease in the control of the action of the mesh pocket 22 for catching, holding/carrying, or throwing a ball. A player therefore would have a competitive advantage if lacrosse activities and stick movements can be accomplished with equal or more equal skill regardless of the positioning of the dominant hand on the stick 10. Accordingly, players customarily practice lacrosse activities and stick movements using different hand gripping positions. It would be advantageous if a player could utilize an apparatus to aid in training to manipulate a lacrosse stick with equal or more equal skill regardless of the positioning of the hands on the stick.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above problems are obviated by an embodiment of the present invention which provides an apparatus for training users to manipulate a lacrosse stick, comprising a band that is adapted to snugly fit around a user's wrist or forearm; a fastening component that is adapted to be fastened to a bottom of the lacrosse stick; and a tie that connects the band and the fastening component together so as to restrict movement of the user's respective wrist or forearm to the vicinity of the bottom of the lacrosse stick. The band may be adapted to form an opening and may comprise a deformable material that expands to permit a user's hand to pass through the opening and that, once the hand passes through the opening, contracts to snugly fit around the user's respective wrist or forearm. The band may also comprise a non-stretchable material forming an opening of a selected size that permits a user's hand of similar or smaller size to pass through the opening and the band to snugly fit around the user's respective wrist or forearm. In such case, the size of the opening may be close-fitting with the size of the user's hand such that the use of force, the folding of the hand, or the combination thereof is required for the user's hand to pass through the opening. Also, the band may be adapted to form an opening and may comprise a first section of a non-deformable material and a second section of deformable material that expands to permit a user's hand to pass through the opening and that, once the hand passes through the opening, contracts so both band sections snugly fit around the user's respective wrist or forearm.

The band may also comprise a deformable material and may be configured with a first free end and a second free end, each being adapted to stretch around a user's wrist or forearm and meet the other free end and to fasten, in a detachable manner, to the other free end, said band being maintained in a taut condition around the user's respective wrist or forearm upon fastening of the free ends. In such case, the free ends may comprise complementary detachable-fastening mechanisms. Also, the band may comprise a first free end of a non-deformable material and a second free end of deformable material that is adapted to stretch around a user's wrist or forearm and meet the first free end, at least one of said free ends being adapted to fasten, in a detachable manner, to the other said free end, said band being maintained in a taut condition around the user's respective wrist or forearm upon fastening of the free ends. In such case, the free ends may comprise complementary detachable-fastening mechanisms.

The fastening component and the bottom of the lacrosse stick may comprise complementary detachable-fastening mechanisms. The fastening component may also comprise a detachable end cap for the bottom of the lacrosse stick. The tie may be adapted to be fixedly attached to the band, the fastening component, or both the band and fastening component. The tie may also be integral to the band, the fastening component, or both the band and fastening component. The tie may comprise a stretchable material. The tie may be adapted to be adjustable in length by the user to accommodate the user's usage of the apparatus.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for training users to manipulate a lacrosse stick, comprising a fastening arrangement that connects a user's wrist or forearm to the lacrosse stick, said fastening arrangement adapted to restrict movement of the user's wrist or forearm relative to the lacrosse stick. The user's wrist or forearm may be anatomically proximate the user's dominant hand. The fastening arrangement may be adapted to be adjustable in length, tension, or both by the user to accommodate the user's usage of the apparatus.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a lacrosse stick apparatus, comprising a first band that is adapted to closely fit a user's wrist or forearm; a second band that is adapted to closely fit a bottom portion of a shaft of the lacrosse stick; and a joining member that links the first band and the second band, the movement of the user's respective wrist or forearm being restricted proximate the bottom portion of the shaft of the lacrosse stick.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a lacrosse stick apparatus, comprising a band that is adapted to closely fit a user's wrist or forearm; an end covering that is adapted to wrap and lock onto a bottom portion of a shaft of the lacrosse stick; and a joining member that links the band and the end covering, the movement of the user's respective wrist or forearm being restricted proximate the bottom portion of the shaft of the lacrosse stick.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of exemplary embodiments thereof, and to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a lacrosse stick;

FIG. 2a is a schematic representation of a training apparatus for a lacrosse player constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a schematic representation of a training apparatus for a lacrosse player constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the training apparatus of either FIG. 2a or FIG. 2b attached to a lacrosse player and to a lacrosse stick;

FIG. 4a is a schematic representation of a training apparatus for a lacrosse player constructed in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a schematic representation of a training apparatus for a lacrosse player constructed in accordance with a third alternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5a is a schematic representation of a training apparatus for a lacrosse player constructed in accordance with a fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5b is a schematic representation of the training apparatus of FIG. 5a attached to a lacrosse stick.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2a shows a training apparatus 50 for a lacrosse player constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 50 comprises a band or bracelet 60 that forms an opening 62 and that is adapted to snugly fit around a player's wrist or lower forearm. The bracelet 60 may be made of a stretchable or deformable material that expands to permit a player's hand to pass through the bracelet opening 62. Once the player's hand passes through the bracelet opening 62, the bracelet 60 material contracts (for example, to return to its initial shape) and the bracelet 60 then snugly fits around the player's wrist or forearm. The bracelet 60 may also be made of non-stretchable material forming a bracelet opening 62 of a selected size that permits a player's hand of similar or smaller size to pass through the opening 62 and the bracelet 60 to snugly fit around the player's wrist or forearm. The size of the bracelet opening 62 may be close-fitting with the size of the player's hand such that the use of some force, the folding of the hand, or the combination thereof is required for the player's hand to pass through the opening 62. The bracelet 60 may also have one portion made of stretchable or deformable material and another portion made of non-stretchable material so that the portion made of stretchable or deformable material expands to permit a player's hand to pass through the bracelet opening 62 and then contracts so both bracelet portions snugly fit around the player's wrist or forearm.

Alternatively, the bracelet 60 may be made of a stretchable or deformable material that is configured with two free ends 63, 64. This is shown in FIG. 2b. The length of the bracelet 60 material is adapted to wrap around a player's wrist or forearm so that one free end 63 can be stretched to meet or overlap the other free end 64 that may be held in place against a player's wrist or forearm. The two free ends 63, 64 are adapted to fasten, in a detachable manner, to one another or to another portion of the bracelet 60 material. In this way, the bracelet 60 material may be stretched and then maintained in a taut condition around the player's wrist or forearm. Again, the bracelet 60 may also have one free end made of stretchable or deformable material and the other free end made of non-stretchable material so that the free end made of stretchable or deformable material can be stretched to meet or overlap the other free end made of non-stretchable material that may be held in place against the player's arm or forearm. The bracelet 60 material may use any type of appropriate detachable-fastening mechanism, for example, complementary Velcro strips.

The apparatus 50 also comprises a patch of material 70 that is adapted to be detachably fastened to the end cap 16 of the butt-end 14 or some other portion of the butt-end 14. The patch 70 may use any type of appropriate detachable fastening mechanism. The patch 70 and the portion of the butt-end 14 to be affixed to the patch 70 (e.g., the end cap 16) may be configured with portions of a single detachable fastening mechanism, for example, complementary Velcro strips; hook and eyelet; etc. Alternatively, the patch 70 may simply be configured as a detachable end cap for a lacrosse stick 10. The detachable end cap may replace the end cap 16 of a lacrosse stick 10 or it may snugly fit or snap-fit over the end cap 16.

The apparatus 50 also comprises a cord or tie 75 having one end attached to the bracelet 60 and another end attached to the patch 70. The tie 75 may be fixedly attached to either the bracelet 60 or the patch 70, or both. The tie 75 may be attached to the bracelet 60 or the patch 70 by various means. Alternatively, the tie 75 may be made integral to either the bracelet 60 or the patch 70, or both. For most uses of the apparatus 50, the tie 75 may be a fixed length, for example, approximately six to eight inches. Regardless of length, the tie 75 may be made of a material that may be slightly stretchable or deformable in length. One example is paracord (i.e., parachute cord). Alternatively, the tie 75 may be adjustable in length to fully accommodate a player's actual usage of the apparatus 50. Also, the tie 75 may be manufactured and configured in various ways, for example, as a single strand, multiple strands, braided, sheathed, etc. Note that the tie 75 is shown in FIG. 2b as being attached to a particular end 64 of the bracelet 60 although it is understood that the tie 75 may be attached to any portion of the bracelet 60.

FIG. 3 shows the training apparatus 50 attached to a lacrosse player and to a lacrosse stick 10. In operation, the player attaches the bracelet 60 to the player's wrist or forearm anatomically proximate the player's dominant hand. The player also fastens the patch 70 to the butt-end 14 of the lacrosse stick 10. With this usage of the apparatus 50, the player's dominant hand will only be able to grip the stick 10 at the butt-end 14 of the stick 10 and, in fact, only move the dominant hand up the shaft 12 of the stick 10 by the length of the tie 75. By restricting the player's dominant hand to the butt-end 14, the player will be forced to use the non-dominant hand, which is not attached to the stick 10, to grip the head-end 18 in order to control the mesh pocket 22 and perform appropriate lacrosse activities and stick movements during game play (for example, cradling, passing, shooting, fielding groundballs, etc.). The apparatus 50 may also help prevent the player from re-positioning the hands during breaks in lacrosse activities, or during use in non-lacrosse related activities, such as watching TV, allowing the player to become further conditioned to keeping the non-dominant hand positioned at head end 18 and the dominant hand positioned at the butt-end 14. Through consistent use of the apparatus 50, the player has the opportunity to increase the proficiency of manipulating a lacrosse stick 10 using the non-dominant hand and, over time, narrow the difference between the skill of manipulating a lacrosse stick 10 using the dominant hand and the skill of manipulating a lacrosse stick 10 using the non-dominant hand.

In another usage of the apparatus 50, the player attaches the bracelet 60 to the player's wrist or forearm anatomically proximate the player's non-dominant hand and fastens the patch 70 to the butt-end 14 of the lacrosse stick 10. With this usage, the player's non-dominant hand will only be able to grip the stick 10 at the butt-end 14 and only move the non-dominant hand up the shaft 12 by the length of the tie 75. By restricting the player's non-dominant hand to the butt-end 14, the player will be forced to use the dominant hand, which is not attached to the stick 10, to grip the head-end 18 in order to control the mesh pocket 22 and perform appropriate lacrosse activities and stick movements during game play (for example, cradling, passing, shooting, fielding groundballs, etc.). This provides the player the opportunity, through consistent use of the apparatus 50, to increase the proficiency of manipulating a lacrosse stick 10 using the dominant hand. There are many reasons this may be needed. For example this may assist a player who needs to generally improve his stick movements. This may also assist a player who is rehabilitating an injured dominant hand. This may also assist a player who needs to overcome certain habits in positioning of the hands or in gripping a lacrosse stick 10. Additionally, the apparatus 50 can be used to help younger or less experienced players learn to keep two hands on the lacrosse stick 10, which is the preferred way to hold a lacrosse stick 10, especially when the player is just beginning to learn the game of lacrosse. When a player's non-dominant hand is attached to the butt-end 14, he/she will be more inclined to also keep the dominant hand at the head end 18, so as to achieve optimum control, when performing lacrosse activities such as scooping ground balls, cradling/carrying the ball, catching and throwing the ball, and playing defense, rather than just using the non-dominant hand to control the lacrosse stick 10.

Other modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. The various components of the apparatus 50 may be conventional and known components. They may be configured and interconnected in various ways as necessary or as desired. For example, as noted above, the bracelet 60, the patch 70, and the tie 75 may be made as a single, unitary device. Also, as noted above, the components 60, 70, 75 may be adjusted in length, tension, or both by the user to accommodate the user's usage of the apparatus 50.

Further, the apparatus 50 may use other components in combination with or in place of the components described. For example, as an alternative to the patch 70, the apparatus 50 may comprise a second band 80 that is similar to the band or bracelet 60. This is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The second band 80 forms an opening 82 and is adapted to snugly fit around the butt-end 14 of a stick 10. The second band 80 may be made of a stretchable or deformable material that expands to permit the end cap 16 to pass through the second band opening 82. Once the end cap 16 passes through the second band opening 82, the second band 80 material contracts (for example, to return to its initial shape) and the second band 80 then snugly fits around the butt-end 14. The second band 80 may also be made of non-stretchable material, or have one portion made of stretchable or deformable material and another portion made of non-stretchable material, that permits the butt-end 14, in like fashion as described above with the band 60, to pass through the second band opening 82 so as to snugly fit the second band 80 around the butt-end 14.

The second band 80 may also be made of a stretchable or deformable material that is configured with two free ends 83, 84. The length of the second band 80 material is adapted to wrap around a butt-end 14 so that one free end 83 can be stretched to meet or overlap the other free end 84 which may be held in place against the butt-end 14. The two free ends 83, 84 are adapted to be detachably fastened to one another or to another portion of the second band 80 material. In this way, the second band 80 material may be stretched and then maintained in a taut condition around the butt-end 14. Again, the second band 80 may also have one free end made of stretchable or deformable material and the other free end made of non-stretchable material so that the free end made of stretchable or deformable material can be stretched to meet or overlap the other free end made of non-stretchable material that may be held in place against the player's arm or forearm. The second band 80 material may use any type of appropriate detachable-fastening mechanism, for example, complementary Velcro strips.

In another alternative to the patch 70, as noted above, the apparatus 50 may comprise an end cap or end covering 90. An embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. The end covering 90 may be a flexible container that has one end 90a that opens into an interior space that is formed by a closed end 90b and a side wall 90c. The open end 90a is adapted to receive the end cap 16 and butt-end 14 for insertion into the interior space and the covering 90 is adapted to envelop the end cap 16 and butt-end 14. The closed end 90b is connected to the bracelet 60 via the tie 75. The closed end 90b may be attached to the tie 75 by various means. Alternatively, as noted above, the tie 75 may be made integral to the closed end 90b. Note that the figures show the closed end 90b is attached to the tie 75 at or near the center of the closed end 90b although the two elements 90b, 75 may be connected to one another differently. The end covering 90 may be made of a flexible material and may be slightly stretchable or deformable. One example is textile that may be woven or otherwise manufactured. The end covering 90 may be configured to receive the end cap 16 and butt-end 14 in a close-fit manner and, in such case, the end covering 90 may be made with a material that deforms to accommodate the size and shape of an inserted end cap 16 and butt-end 14 of a stick 10.

The end covering 90 also comprises a detachable-fastening mechanism 92, 94, for example, a single Velcro strip with complementary ends, complementary Velcro strips, buckle and strap, pair of laces, etc., formed on or attached to the exterior of the side wall 90c proximate the open end 90a. The mechanism 92, 94 may be fashioned on the side wall 90c in a variety of ways depending upon the specific mechanism, for example, sewn, bonded, glued, laced, etc. The mechanism 92, 94 is adapted to permit the open end 90a, and a portion of the side wall 90c, to be pulled in opposing directions, stretched and/or gathered, and securely held (in a taut and/or gathered condition) so as to wrap and lock the open end 90a around an inserted end cap 16 and butt-end 14.

As shown in FIG. 5b, the covering 90 is configured to locate the mechanism 92, 94 on the side wall 90c so as to wrap the open end 90a particularly around the shaft of the butt-end 14, avoiding wrapping around the end cap 16. The mechanism 92, 94, however, may be located so as to wrap around both the end cap 16 and butt-end 14. The shown arrangement is particularly useful though in assisting to secure the open end 90a around the shaft of the butt-end 14. By interposing the raised edge of the end cap 16 between the wrapped open end 90a and the closed end 90b, the open end 90a will not only be wrapped onto the shaft but also will be caught by the raised edge, preventing or hindering the open end 90a from moving down the shaft and off the stick 10 as a player's motions of the arm or wrist attached to the bracelet 60 pulls on the closed end 90b. Further, by having the tie 75 attached to the closed end 90b rather than another part of the end covering 90 (and, further, at or near the center of the closed end 90b), any pulling motion has lesser effect in moving the open end 90a down the shaft and off the stick 10.

Claims

1. An apparatus for training users to manipulate a lacrosse stick, comprising:

a. a band that is adapted to snugly fit around a user's wrist or forearm;

b. a fastening component that is adapted to be fastened to a bottom of the lacrosse stick; and

c. a tie that connects the band and the fastening component together so as to restrict movement of the user's respective wrist or forearm to the vicinity of the bottom of the lacrosse stick.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the band is adapted to form an opening and comprises a deformable material that expands to permit a user's hand to pass through the opening and that, once the hand passes through the opening, contracts to snugly fit around the user's respective wrist or forearm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the band comprises a non-stretchable material forming an opening of a selected size that permits a user's hand of similar or smaller size to pass through the opening and the band to snugly fit around the user's respective wrist or forearm.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the size of the opening is close-fitting with the size of the user's hand such that the use of force, the folding of the hand, or the combination thereof is required for the user's hand to pass through the opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the band is adapted to form an opening and comprises a first section of a non-deformable material and a second section of deformable material that expands to permit a user's hand to pass through the opening and that, once the hand passes through the opening, contracts so both band sections snugly fit around the user's respective wrist or forearm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the band comprises a deformable material and is configured with a first free end and a second free end, each being adapted to stretch around a user's wrist or forearm and meet the other free end and to fasten, in a detachable manner, to the other free end, said band being maintained in a taut condition around the user's respective wrist or forearm upon fastening of the free ends.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the free ends comprise complementary detachable-fastening mechanisms.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the band comprises a first free end of a non-deformable material and a second free end of deformable material that is adapted to stretch around a user's wrist or forearm and meet the first free end, at least one of said free ends being adapted to fasten, in a detachable manner, to the other said free end, said band being maintained in a taut condition around the user's respective wrist or forearm upon fastening of the free ends.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the free ends comprise complementary detachable-fastening mechanisms.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastening component and the bottom of the lacrosse stick comprise complementary detachable-fastening mechanisms.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fastening component comprises a detachable end cap for the bottom of the lacrosse stick.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tie is adapted to be fixedly attached to the band, the fastening component, or both the band and fastening component.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tie is integral to the band, the fastening component, or both the band and fastening component.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tie comprises a stretchable material.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tie is adapted to be adjustable in length by the user to accommodate the user's usage of the apparatus.

16. An apparatus for training users to manipulate a lacrosse stick, comprising a fastening arrangement that connects a user's wrist or forearm to the lacrosse stick, said fastening arrangement adapted to restrict movement of the user's wrist or forearm relative to the lacrosse stick.

17. The apparatus of the claim 16, wherein the user's wrist or forearm is anatomically proximate the user's dominant hand.

18. The apparatus of the claim 16, wherein the fastening arrangement is adapted to be adjustable in length, tension, or both by the user to accommodate the user's usage of the apparatus.

19. A lacrosse stick apparatus, comprising:

a. a band that is adapted to closely fit a user's wrist or forearm;

b. an end covering that is adapted to wrap and lock onto a bottom portion of a shaft of the lacrosse stick; and

c. a joining member that links the band and the end covering, the movement of the user's respective wrist or forearm being restricted proximate the bottom portion of the shaft of the lacrosse stick.