LACROSSE HEAD TO HANDLE ATTACHMENT

Abstract

A lacrosse head that enhances attachment and securement of the lacrosse head to a lacrosse handle can include an insert extending within a socket defined by a base of the head. The insert can include two or more expandable, resilient fingers that optionally are secured in a cantilevered manner to a bottom of the socket. The base and insert can be configured so that a fastener can be installed through at least one of the fingers to subsequently engage additional fingers, thereby moving the respective fingers radially outwardly to engage interior surfaces of the lacrosse handle and thereby secure the handle to the head.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lacrosse equipment, and more particularly to a head to handle attachment system and related method.

Most conventional lacrosse heads are manufactured so that they can be connected to a separately constructed lacrosse handle or shaft. The lacrosse heads typically include a screw hole molded into and defined by a throat of the lacrosse head. Most shafts come with one or two holes that are drilled in the end of the shaft. The shaft is sized and configured to be pushed into the throat. When the holes in the shaft and the head align, the installer can thread a screw through the holes with a tool to secure the head to the handle.

Many times installation of the screw is difficult, particularly where the screw hole in the head does not align with the screw hole in the handle, or the screw size is mismatched to the holes. In such cases, the screw does not advance well into the holes, or there is slop between the screw and the respective holes.

Depending on the skill of the installer, the resulting attachment of the head to the handle can be loose at first and can loosen further over time. This creates a poor head to handle attachment, which results in head wobble and/or instability of the head relative to the shaft. In turn, this can be a significant detriment to the use of a lacrosse stick in play.

Other times, the installation can be proper with the head to handle attachment being well executed. Over time, however, depending on the materials of the head, the vigor of play with the lacrosse stick, or other factors, the head to handle attachment can loosen. This, in turn, also results in head wobble and/or instability at the head to handle attachment. Many times, players will attempt to retighten the screw to secure the head to handle attachment. Commonly, this results in stripping the hole defined by the handle with the screw so that the handle is compromised and either has to be replaced or another hole has to be drilled into the handle at another location to attach the head to the handle. Further, a loose attachment between a head and a handle can result in noise, vibration in the handle, a cheap feel and other frustrations to the player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current embodiments provide a head to handle attachment and method that consistently provides secure attachment of a lacrosse handle to a lacrosse head, and that is substantially resistant to loosening over time due to its advanced construction.

A lacrosse head is provided including a frame having a base, a scoop and sidewalls joining the base and scoop. The base defines a socket. An insert is disposed in the socket and includes first and second fingers separated by a gap there between. When a lacrosse shaft is disposed in the socket, the first and second fingers extend into the interior of the lacrosse shaft. A fastener is included to project through the base, a lacrosse shaft sidewall, and at least one of the fingers. The fastener enlarges the gap between the first and second fingers, generally pressing the first and second fingers against the interior of the lacrosse shaft and away from one another, thereby securely fastening the head to the lacrosse shaft.

In still another embodiment, the insert is an expandable insert that is disposed within the socket. The insert extends from a bottom of the socket and is integrally formed with the base. The expandable insert optionally does or does not extend beyond an opening of the socket so that it is or is not concealed within the base from a side view of the head when the lacrosse shaft is not joined with the head.

In another embodiment, the first and second fingers are first and second vertical fingers generally disposed one above the other. The first finger defines a hole and the other finger includes an inner or interior surface. When a fastener is threaded through the hole, the threads engage the first finger. A tip of the fastener engages the inner surface of the second finger. Upon further tightening of the fastener, the threads bite into the first finger and advance and push the tip away from the first finger thereby engaging the interior surface of the second finger. Accordingly, the first and second fingers can be biased away from one another.

In still another embodiment, each of the first and second fingers include a base and a tip. The base is secured to a bottom of the socket that is further joined with the base. The tip extends longitudinally outward from the bottom and is free floating within the socket. The respective tips of the first and second fingers are free from attachment to one another and, except for their attachment at the bottom, and are free to move toward and away from one another.

In yet another embodiment, the expandable insert includes a foot. The foot can define a cavity or chamber. Material from the base can be included in, extend into and/or permeate into the cavity thereby anchoring the insert in the base at the bottom of a socket.

In still another embodiment, the insert can include first and second vertical fingers and first and second lateral fingers. The first and second vertical fingers can be separated by a vertical gap at their respective free ends or tips, while the first and second lateral fingers can be separated by a lateral gap at their respective free ends or tips. The lateral gap and vertical gap can be coextensive with one another.

In a further embodiment, the first and second lateral fingers can include first and second interior surfaces that generally face toward the gap and toward one another. These first and second interior surfaces can be disposed across from one another, across an insert longitudinal axis. When the fastener projects through the gap, the threads of the fastener and parts of the shaft can engage the first and second lateral surfaces, thereby moving the first and second lateral fingers away from one another. In so doing, the first and second lateral fingers engage the interior of the lacrosse shaft to further secure the shaft to the head.

In another embodiment the lacrosse head can include a base having an insert extending within a socket defined by the base. The insert can include two or more expandable, optionally resilient fingers. These fingers, optionally, can be secured in a cantilevered manner to a bottom of the socket. The base and insert can define respective holes. A fastener can be installed through one or more of the holes to engage at least one of the fingers, thereby moving the respective fingers outwardly from an insert longitudinal axis to engage one or more interior surfaces of the lacrosse handle. This can provide a more secure attachment of the head to the handle.

In yet another embodiment, the head includes an insert disposed in a socket. The insert includes a first vertical finger, a second vertical finger, a first lateral finger and a second lateral finger, all of which extend generally parallel to the head longitudinal axis. The fingers can be separated by respective vertical and/or lateral gaps, which optionally can be co-extensive with one another. One or more of the fingers can be adapted to engage a fastener so as to enlarge a respective gap and optionally bias and/or bend at least one of the fingers away from one another. This, in turn, creates an outwardly projecting or directed force when the respective fingers engage an interior of a lacrosse shaft.

In still a further embodiment, a method is provided including: providing a lacrosse head defining a socket and having an insert disposed in the socket; positioning a lacrosse shaft in the socket, the lacrosse shaft defining an interior, the insert being disposed in the interior of the lacrosse shaft; advancing a fastener through respective holes in the base, shaft and finger as well as the gap, where the advancing causes the fastener to urge the first and second fingers to move away from one another, thereby engaging the first and second fingers against the interior of the lacrosse shaft to further secure the head to the shaft.

In even a further embodiment, the method includes attaching the shafts to the head without using a compression or friction fit, but instead expanding the fingers radially outward, away from an insert longitudinal axis, after the shaft is fully disposed over the insert.

The current embodiments provide a simple and effective construction for attaching a lacrosse head to a lacrosse handle. With the construction, the head is secured to the handle not only via a fastener, but also via mechanically operated fingers that are moved and/or expanded after the shaft is disposed within the socket. This can facilitate ease in installing the shaft within the socket, and yet securely engage a portion of the head, that is, the insert fingers, against the interior of the shaft. Accordingly, the head to handle attachment can provide a secure connection and can prevent excessive wobble between the head and handle during the life of the same.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the description of the current embodiment and the drawings.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of operation or to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention may be implemented in various other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in alternative ways not expressly disclosed herein. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. Further, enumeration may be used in the description of various embodiments. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the use of enumeration should not be construed as limiting the invention to any specific order or number of components. Nor should the use of enumeration be construed as excluding from the scope of the invention any additional steps or components that might be combined with or into the enumerated steps or components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a lacrosse stick of the current embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the base of the lacrosse head including an insert body;

FIG. 3 is a side section view of the insert body in an unexpanded mode;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the insert body in an unexpanded mode;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the insert body in the unexpanded mode;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the connection body in the unexpanded mode;

FIG. 7 is a representative side section view illustrating the insert body reconfiguring from an unexpanded mode to an expanded mode;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the expandable insert in an expanded state engaging the inner surfaces of the lacrosse handle;

FIG. 9 is a perspective end view of an expandable insert of an alternative embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is another perspective end view of the expandable insert of the alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENTS

I. Overview

A lacrosse head of a current embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-8 and generally designated 10. The lacrosse head 10 is attached to a lacrosse handle 30. The lacrosse head 10 can include a pair of opposing sidewalls 20 and a scoop 30 connecting the pair of opposing sidewalls 20. Located at the lower portion of the head, generally within a throat 11, is a base 50 which includes a ball stop portion 52 facing inwardly toward the ball receiving area 6. The sidewalls 20 can be of an open frame construction, that is, they can define at least one non-string hole that extends completely through the sidewalls, from the interior to the exterior, where the non-string hole reduces the weight of the head. Exemplary non-string holes are the frame holes 21, 22 and 23 shown in FIG. 2.

The sidewalls, base and scoop can circumferentiate or surround and form a periphery about the ball receiving area 6 of the head. This ball receiving area 6 of the head includes surfaces of the head that directly contact a lacrosse ball while the ball is being carried in, caught by or shot from the head 100. Each sidewall 30 can include an upper rail 24 and a lower rail 25 generally extending from the base to the scoop. One or more cross members 26 can be joined with the upper rail and a lower rail, generally extending from one to the other adjacent the openings 21, 22 and 23.

The lacrosse head 10 as mentioned above includes a base 50. The base 50 defines a socket 55. The socket 55 extends from a first end or bottom 51 toward a second end or outward opening 52. The second end 52 is sized and shaped to receive a first end 31 of a lacrosse shaft 30. The socket itself can include a multiple planar surfaces 53A, 53B and 53C (FIG. 4) that are joined with one another and formed integrally with the base. These planar surfaces 53A, 53B and 53C can be joined at junctions or corners that are also integrally formed in the base 50.

As shown in FIG. 2, the base 50 includes an insert body, also referred to as an insert 60, which includes at least two fingers 61-64. The fingers are expandable, optionally radially outward, from an insert longitudinal axis ILA as shown in FIG. 3 and/or shaft longitudinal axis SLA (FIG. 1) and as described in detail below. The respective fingers can be separated by vertical gap VG and/or lateral gap LG. These respective gaps can be increased in size, depending on the amount of separation and expansion of the respective fingers as described further below.

To expand the insert body 60, a fastener 90 is advanced through the base 50, through the wall 30L of a lacrosse shaft 30, and into a first hole 61H defined by one of the fingers, for example, the first vertical finger 61. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fastener 90 expands the insert 60 by pushing the second vertical finger 62 away from the first vertical finger 61 a preselected distance so that the first vertical gap VG1 shown in FIG. 4 increases in dimension to the second vertical gap VG2 shown in FIG. 7. Optionally, the screw also engages the lateral fingers 63 and 64 so that the first lateral gap LG1 shown in FIG. 4 increases in dimension to a second lateral gap LG2 shown in FIG. 8. Upon this expansion and increase in the dimension of the respective gaps between the respective fingers, the fingers and/or portions thereof move away from one another. As they do, they contact and engage interior surfaces of a lacrosse shaft 30 that is disposed within the socket 55 of the base 50. Upon further tightening of the fastener 90, the fingers laterally engage and present one or more predetermined forces against the respective the interior surfaces of the handle 30 immediately adjacent those fingers.

Thus, the fastener 90 herein can serve two purposes. First, it can thread through the base and the handle sidewall to secure the head to the handle with that connection. Second, it can engage, manipulate and move portions of the respective fingers of the insert away from one another, within the handle, to engage and present one or more predetermined forces against the interior surfaces of the handle 30. This firmly provides another attachment mechanism of the head to the handle. Optionally, the respective fingers 61-64 are non-compressible, that is, they do not deform inwardly and compress when the fastener is being advanced into the respective components. Instead, they expand outward, away from the insert longitudinal axis ILA and/or shaft longitudinal axis SLA upon advancement or motion of the fastener 90.

II. Construction and Components

The components of the lacrosse head 10, and in particular the head to handle attachment provided by the base 50, the insert 60 and the handle 30 will now be described in further detail. To begin, the base 50 can define a socket 55. The base 50 includes a bottom 51 which bounds the lowermost periphery of the socket 55. Opposite the bottom 51 is an opening 52 which as described above is shaped to receive a handle 30. The bottom 50 can be constructed from a material from which the remainder of the base and the sidewalls and scoop are constructed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the insert 60 can include a foot 60F. The foot 60F can define recesses 51R, and/or a cavity or chamber 51C. The material from which the bottom and/or base 50 is constructed can extend into and substantially fill the recesses 51R and/or the chamber 51C. The chamber 51C can extend laterally or outwardly away from the insert longitudinal axis ILA in the form of lateral chamber wings 51E. The material from which the bottom 51 is constructed also can extend into the lateral chamber wings, laterally outwardly away from insert longitudinal axis ILA. This, in turn, can form a button top or mushroom shaped attachment between the bottom 51 and the foot 60F of the insert 60.

With reference to FIG. 3, the foot 60F of the insert 60 optionally can include an external surface 60E. This external surface 60E can be disposed a distance D shown in FIG. 3 away from the ball stop 52, which generally forms the interior surface of the lacrosse head facing inwardly into the ball receiving area 6. In this manner, optionally no portion of the external surface 60E, nor the insert, is reflected by or projects into the interior surfaces of the lacrosse head near the ball receiving area 6. All these components can be concealed substantially within the base, while still providing adequate attachment surfaces so as to securely anchor the insert 60 and its components within the bottom 51 of the base 50 and generally within the socket 50 defined within the throat 11 of the head 20.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the insert 60 includes two or more fingers 61, 62, 63 and 64 that extend away from the foot 60F, generally toward the opening 52 of the socket 55. These fingers can be paired, so that a first finger lies across from a second finger diametrically opposed across the insert longitudinal axis ILA. These first and second fingers form a paired finger expansion set. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first 61 and second 62 vertical fingers lie across from one another, generally on opposing sides of the insert longitudinal axis ILA. Optionally, this insert longitudinal axis ILA can be coincident with the head longitudinal axis HLA and/or shaft longitudinal axis SLA as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Of course, these axes can be offset from one another depending on the application.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first and second vertical fingers 61 and 62 can be of the same cross section and length. Of course, they can be varied, depending on the particular function and expansion characteristics of those fingers. These fingers can be configured to engage respective sidewalls and in particular the interior sidewalls of a lacrosse handle when the lacrosse handle is inserted in the socket 55. Further optionally, although shown with two sets of two fingers, the insert 60 can be configured to include only one set of two fingers, one set of more than two fingers, and/or multiple sets of multiple fingers, depending on the application and the configuration of the handle which is to be engaged by the fingers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first vertical finger 61 can include a base 60B. Although not described here, the second vertical finger 62 can include similar components, structure and function as the first vertical finger 61. The base 60B can be integrally formed with and extend from the foot 60F. The base 60B can be distal from a free floating end 61E. The free end 61E can be cantilevered outward from the foot 60F extending into the space of the socket 55, unattached to any of the other free ends of the other fingers. Optionally, the free ends of all fingers are independently movable relative to one another, and all generally disconnected from one another. Each finger can include a finger longitudinal axis FLA, extending from the base toward the free end 61E. This finger longitudinal axis FLA can extend generally parallel to the insert longitudinal axis ILA, optionally when the insert is in the un-expanded mode. Due to the flexibility of the finger, however, the finger longitudinal axis FLA can be converted from a linear axis shown in FIG. 3 to a curved or slightly rounded finger longitudinal axis CFLA as shown in FIG. 7 when the insert is in an expanded mode.

As shown in FIG. 7, the base 61B of finger 61 can be fixed and immovable relative to the foot 60F. The distal free end 61E of the finger 61, however, is configured to move away from the insert longitudinal axis ILA as explained in further detail below. In that regard, when the insert 60 is in an unexpanded mode, the free end 61E is disposed at a first distance D1 from the insert longitudinal axis ILA. Generally, this first distance D1 can be about half the distance formed by the vertical gap VG1. This distance D1, as explained below in relation to movement of the free end 61E can vary.

Optionally, the vertical fingers 61 and 62 can include tapered surfaces 61T and 62T. These tapered surfaces can enable the ends of the fingers to provide a smaller dimension than the remainder of the fingers extending backward toward the base. In this manner, the tapers can cooperatively act to guide an opening of a lacrosse handle over the respective vertical fingers and cleanly into the socket 55. Although shown with the tapers 61T and 62T, these elements can be deleted so that the ends 61E and 62E of the respective vertical fingers are substantially flat and untapered. Alternatively, the tapered surfaces 61T and 62T can be replaced with rounded and/or multifaceted surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical finger 61 can define the first hole 61H which is configured in size to receive the fastener 90 as further described below. This hole can be precisely aligned with a hole 50H defined by the remainder of the base 50. This hole can further include a hole axis HA. The hole axis HA can be coincident with the center of the hole 50H in the base 50. The hole axis HA can also be aligned with an interiorly facing surface 62IS of the second finger 62. This interior facing surface 62IS can be the portion of the finger against which the fastener 90 is engaged as explained in further detail below. When inserted into the socket 55, the shaft fastener hole 30H also can be aligned and coincident with this hole axis HA. In this manner, the fastener 90 can extend through the first hole 61H, the second hole 30H of the shaft, and the third hole 50H of the base when the construction is assembled and the handle is attached to the head.

As mentioned above, the insert can include lateral fingers 63 and 64 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. There, only the first lateral finger 63 is described, however, it will be appreciated that the second lateral finger 64 has similar components and functions similarly. The first lateral finger 63 is disposed a preselected distance defined by the lateral gap LG from the second lateral finger 64. The first lateral finger 63 can include a base 63B joined directly with the foot 60F of the insert. The base 63B of the lateral finger 63 can be immovable relative to that foot 60F. The foot 60F as shown in FIG. 5 can include exterior surfaces 60E. As explained above, these exterior surfaces can face toward the interior or the ball receiving area 6 of the head, but are not visible, nor do they project into that ball receiving area. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, these exterior surfaces 60E can be generally curved or rounded to mimic the contour of the ball stop 52 of the lacrosse head 20.

The first lateral finger 63 can also include lateral finger free floating end 63E. This end can be disposed a distance away from the respective base 63B of the lateral finger 63, generally along a finger longitudinal axis FLA thereof. This end also can be disposed a preselected distance D2 from the insert longitudinal axis ILA. The second lateral finger 64 can be disposed that preselected distance D2 from the insert longitudinal axis or some other distance depending on the particular application.

As mentioned above, the first lateral finger 63 and second lateral 64 are disposed directly across from one another within a plane coincident with the insert longitudinal axis ILA. In this configuration, the free ends 63E and 64E of the respective lateral fingers are disposed opposite one another across a lateral gap LG1 when the insert is in an unexpanded mode. This lateral gap LG1 can overlap and can be coextensive with at least a portion of the vertical gap VG1 mentioned above in connection with the first vertical finger 61 and second vertical finger 62. In most cases, the lateral LG1 can be of a smaller dimension than the vertical gap VG1. Optionally, the lateral gap LG1 can be optionally 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm, further optionally, 1.0 mm in thickness. Generally, the thickness is selected so that when the fastener 90 is advanced through the lateral gap LG1, the shaft and/or threads of the fastener engage the inner surfaces of the respective fingers and spread or bias those fingers outward as described in further detail below. In such a case, the lateral gap LG1 can be sized smaller than the greatest dimension of the fastener shaft and/or threads which, of course, can vary depending on the particular application. In this manner, the fastener shaft and threads can effectively project partially into the lateral gap LG, and upon further advancement of the fastener, can spread the lateral fingers 63 and 64 apart.

The lateral finger 63 can include an interior surface 63IS that faces inward, toward the insert longitudinal axis ILA as shown in FIG. 6. The second lateral finger 64 can include a corresponding internal surface 64IS that is disposed across from the internal surface 63IS, and separated from it by the gap LG1 when the insert 60 is in an unexpanded mode. The internal surfaces can be flat planar surfaces as illustrated, or they can be rounded or tapered surfaces. The internal surfaces 63IS and 64IS each can define a width W1. The lateral fingers 63 and 64 also can include outer surfaces, however, are 63OS and 64OS can be disposed radially outward from the internal surfaces 63IS and 64IS respectively. These outer surfaces can be of width W2 that is greater than the width W1 of the internal surfaces. For example, the effective width W2 of the outer surfaces 63OS and 64OS can be ¼, ½, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 times greater than the width W1. This is so that the outer surfaces 63OS and 64OS have sufficient surface area to engage the respective interior facing sidewalls of the lacrosse handle when it is attached to the head and disposed in the socket 55.

The free floating ends 63E and 64E of the respective lateral fingers can include respective tapers 63T and 64T. These tapers can be included so as to facilitate insertion of a handle over the insert 60, and can be similar in construction to the types of the vertical fingers described above.

Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the vertical gap VG1 is wider and/or greater than the lateral gap LG1. Further optionally, the respective interior surfaces 631S and 641S, and indeed the innermost portions 63P and 64P, of the respective fingers 63 and 64 can be disposed between the interior surfaces 611S and 621S of the respective vertical fingers 61 and 62. Further, if desired, the lateral gap LG1 can be disposed entirely within the vertical gap VG1. Of course, the configuration of the lateral and vertical fingers can be reversed, so that the interior surfaces of the vertical fingers can be disposed between the interior surfaces of the lateral fingers.

The fastener used herein can be any fastener having threads and a shaft. As shown in FIG. 2, the fastener 90 includes a head 90H from which a shaft 90S projects. The shaft includes a thread 90T helically wound around the shaft 90S. The shaft terminates at a tip or point 90P. Further optionally, the fastener is sized so that its overall diameter, including the threads, is slightly larger than the first hole 61H of the first vertical finger 61. This is so that this fastener threads tightly into and holds fast within the hole 61H. Likewise, the hole 30H in the shaft 30 can be slightly smaller than the overall diameter of the fastener, including the threads. Optionally, the tip 90P can be flat, beveled, tapered and/or pointed so that it easily fits within the small lateral gap LG1. The tip enables the threads to draw the fastener between the respective lateral fingers and expand those fingers radially outwardly away from the insert longitudinal axis ILA, optionally without the tip burrowing into or substantially entering the other fingers.

Generally, the insert 60 includes two or more fingers 61-64. These fingers are adapted to expand or move radially outward, away from the insert longitudinal axis ILA and/or shaft longitudinal axis SLA upon installation of a fastener in the insert, within the lacrosse head and/or handle. The insert itself is convertible from a static or unexpanded mode shown in FIGS. 3-6 to an expanded mode as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Generally, in the expanded mode, the fastener 90 alters the vertical gap VG1 and lateral gap LG1 between the respective vertical and lateral fingers. This, forces, urges and/or biases the cantilevered floating free ends 61E-64E of the respective fingers away from the insert longitudinal axis ILA and/or shaft longitudinal axis until the ends contact the interior surfaces of the handle. As the fastener advances, the outer and/or engagement surfaces 61S, 62S of the vertical fingers, as well as outer and/or engagement surfaces 63OS and 64OS, engage the respective interior side surfaces of the handle 30 as further explained below.

The lacrosse head and its components can be constructed from a variety of materials such as nylon, urethane, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyketone, polybutylene, terephalate, polythalamide and/or optionally any of a variety of polyamides. Other materials such as composites, metals and alloys can be used as well. The shaft itself can be constructed from metal, such as aluminum or some composite. The fastener likewise can be constructed from metal.

III. Method of Manufacture and Installation

A method of making a lacrosse head of the current embodiments will now be described in connection with FIGS. 2-6. To begin, an insert mold is provided. The insert mold has interior mold cavities that mirror the external surfaces of the insert 60 as shown in FIGS. 2-6, as well as the respective fingers 61-64 and foot 60F. In forming the insert, the foot is formed with respective recesses 51R and internal chamber 51C. The fingers themselves are formed in a cantilevered fashion extending from the foot 60F in the molding process. During the molding process, a polymeric material is injected into the mold to form all of the foregoing features. The insert and its components are allowed to cure.

Once cooled, the insert 60 is taken from the insert mold and inserted into a second head mold. The second mold includes a mold cavity having surfaces that mirror the respective surfaces of a lacrosse head. The insert itself is disposed in a portion of the second mold corresponding to a socket of the head, generally in a throat and/or base of the head. More polymeric material, optionally the same or different from the material from which the insert is constructed, is injected into the mold cavity of the second mold. The material extends into the recesses 51R and chamber 51C of the foot and insert to anchor those features, as well as the insert, to the base 50. The base 50 is further formed along with the sidewalls and scoop of the head 10. During the molding process, the insert 60 is held in a fixed configuration within the socket so as to precisely locate itself within the socket. The head material is allowed to cool. The head, with the integrally formed insert within the socket, is then removed from the second mold and prepared for further finishing and/or processing.

A method of joining a lacrosse head 10 and a lacrosse shaft 30 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3-8. As mentioned above, FIGS. 3-6 illustrate lacrosse head and the insert 60 disposed within a socket 55. Before installation of a handle, the head is configured in a generally static or unexpanded mode as shown in FIGS. 3-6. There, the respective vertical fingers and their free ends 61E and 62E are disposed unitary distances D1 from the insert longitudinal axis ILA, generally forming a vertical gap VG1 between the interior surfaces 61IS and 62IS of the respective fingers. Generally, these internal surfaces 61IS and 62IS can be substantially parallel to one another and parallel to the insert longitudinal axis ILA when the insert is in the static mode shown in FIGS. 3-4. Likewise, the first and second lateral fingers 63 and 64, and their respective internal surfaces 63IS and 64IS are each disposed a distance D2 away from the insert longitudinal axis ILA to establish the lateral gap LG1. The interior surfaces 63IS and 64IS of the respective first and second lateral fingers 63 and 64 are generally parallel with one another and parallel to the insert longitudinal axis ILS when the insert is in the static mode shown in FIGS. 3-6.

To install a handle 30 relative to the head, the handle 30 is placed so that its first end 31 of the handle is aligned with the socket 55. The end 31, as mentioned above, typically includes preformed hole 30H. The user then pushes the first end 31 into the opening 52 of the socket 55. Where the tapers 61T, 62T, 63T and 64T are associated with or included in the respective fingers, these tapers assist to center the lacrosse handle and the end 31 within the socket 55, giving somewhat, to flex inwardly toward the insert longitudinal axis ILA, thereby allowing the handle to be fully inserted into the socket 55. Sometimes, the handle bottoms out against the bottom 51. Ultimately, however, the objective is to have the handle fastener hole 30H align with the hole 50H defined by the base. When this is accomplished, the shaft is satisfactorily disposed in the socket 55. Next, the fastener 90 is aligned with the hole axis HA. The fastener is place through the base hole 50H until its threads engage the outer periphery of the hole 30H defined by the handle 30. At this point, the fastener is rotated so the threads bite into and advance the tip 90P further into the socket 55 and the interior 33 of the handle 30. The tip 90P then enters the hole 61H of the first vertical finger 61. Threads bite into the sidewalls of the hole 61H thereby anchoring the fastener to the first finger.

The fastener continues to be rotated and advances along the hole axis HA. The tip 90P eventually starts to pass though the lateral gap LG1 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. When the tip does so, the threads 90 T begin to engage the inner surfaces 63IS and 64IS of the lateral fingers. The fastener 90 engages the interior surface and exerts a predetermined lateral force PFL on both of the respective lateral fingers. This predetermined lateral force PFL moves the lateral fingers 63 and 64 outward in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 8. Ultimately, as the fingers 63 and 64 move laterally outward away from the insert longitudinal axis ILA, the outer surfaces 64OS and 63OS contact and engage the interior surfaces 33A and 34A of the handle. The predetermined force PFL continues to be exerted and pushes the resilient fingers 63 and 64 and in particular, their free floating ends outward against those surfaces until those surfaces are sufficiently engaged. During this movement of the free floating ends, the corresponding bases remain relatively stationary.

Optionally, the step of lateral engagement of the lateral fingers with the fastener, is performed before the second vertical finger 61 is engaged by the fastener 90. Thus, the fastener can be considered to first engage the first vertical finger, then engage the first and second lateral fingers, and then lastly, engage the second vertical finger 62 as the fastener is installed to secure the head and handle. In converting from the static mode to the expanded mode, the overall dimensions of the insert 60 adjacent the finger ends become larger and/or generally increase.

As a fastener 90 continues to advance, eventually the point or tip 90P engages the inner engagement surface 6215 of the second vertical finger. When it does this, and the fastener continues to advance, the tip exerts a predetermined vertical force PFV in a vertical direction to move the second vertical finger 62 away from the first vertical finger 61, and/or generally move those elements away from one another, at least at the respective ends. When this predetermined force PFV is exerted upon the respective vertical fingers, those fingers move outward to engage the adjacent interior surfaces 31A and 32A of the handle 30. With this engagement, the fingers transfer the predetermined vertical force PFV to the sidewalls of the handle, thereby further securing it via the expansion of the insert to the interior of the handle.

As mentioned above, the respective bases of the different fingers generally do not move as the insert 60 is modified for the static mode to the expanded mode. However, the free floating ends of the respective fingers can move a fair amount. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the interior surfaces 61IS and 62IS, particularly near the ends 61E and 62E of the respective vertical fingers move apart from one another to establish a second vertical gap VG2. This second vertical gap VG2 is approximately 5% to 50%, 10% to 25%, and further optionally, about 15% greater in height than the vertical gap VG1 when the insert is in the static mode.

When the fastener 90 engages the fingers to bias them away from one another, and particularly ends further away from one another, the respective interior surfaces also change their angle relative to the insert longitudinal axis ILA. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the interior surfaces 61IS and 62IS of the vertical fingers 61 and 62 are generally parallel to the insert longitudinal axis ILA. When comparing that to FIG. 7, however, the internal surfaces 62IS and 611S attain an angle a relative to the insert longitudinal axis. This angle can range from optionally 1° to 15°, further optionally 5° to 10°, depending on the particular application. Thus, the interior surfaces of the respective fingers can change their angle relative to the insert longitudinal axis ILA as the fastener 90 is advanced into the insert and engages their different respective fingers.

Likewise, the lateral fingers 63 and 64, can be parallel to the insert longitudinal axis ILA in a static mode shown in FIG. 6. However, when the fastener 90 engages and moves those lateral fingers outwardly, those interior surfaces 63IS and 64IS can become angled relative to one another in the expanded mode, optionally equal to the angle a noted above in connection with the vertical fingers.

Further, the advancement of the fastener into the insert and its respective engagement with the fingers can cause the respective gaps between the respective finger ends to increase in dimension, converting the insert from a static mode to an expanded mode. The expansion of the lateral and vertical gaps can be sequential, with the lateral gap being increased in dimension before the fastener engages the second vertical finger 62, to increase the vertical gap. In some cases, however, the first vertical finger 31 can be dragged or pulled toward the interior surface 31A of the handle, providing a force of engagement of that finger against the interior surface 31A of the handle. After the handle is attached with the current embodiments of a lacrosse head, the completed lacrosse stick is ready for play.

A first alternative embodiment of the head 110 including an insert 160 is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. This head and associated insert is similar in structure, function and operation to the embodiments described above with several exceptions. For example, the insert 160 can be disposed in the socket 155 of the head 110 and generally joined with the head in a manner similar to the embodiment described above. The insert 160 also can include first and second fingers 161 and 162. These fingers can be vertical fingers that are separated by a first vertical gap VG3, which changes upon installation of a fastener, to a second vertical gap VG4, similar to that of the embodiment above. The vertical fingers can be resilient fingers such as those described in the embodiments above and can move relative to the insert longitudinal axis ILA as described above as well, generally conforming to certain finger longitudinal axes FLA as described above.

The insert 160 can operate so that when respective first and second fasteners 190A and 190B are threaded through the first finger 161,and engage with their tips 190T the interior surfaces 162IS of the second resilient finger 162, the respective first 161 and second 162 fingers move away from one another in directions J, which thus causes the exterior surfaces 166A, 166B, 166C of the first finger 161, as well as exterior surfaces 167A, 167B and 167C to contact and/or engage the interior surfaces of the handle 130, thereby promoting enhanced securement of the head via the insert 162 that handle 130.

The first resilient finger 161 can include a primary finger part 161P that extends generally vertically upward. This vertical finger part 161P can transition to the exterior surface 166A. It also can include at least a portion of the interior surface 161IS of the first resilient finger 161. Optionally, first and second wings 161W can be joined with the primary finger part 161P. These wings can be integrally formed with the primary finger part 161P. These wings can include exterior surfaces 166B and 166C, and can extend downward toward and form a portion of the interior surface 161IS of the finger 161.

Optionally, the primary vertical finger part 161P can define one or more fastener holes 161H1 and 161H2. These fastener holes can align with respective shaft holes 130H1 and 130H2, as well as corresponding holes in the head. All of the respective holes can receive the respective fasteners 190A and 190B. In this embodiment, the fasteners can be outfitted with tips 190T, which can be rounded, flat, beveled, or generally un-pointed so that when the fastener tip engages the interior surface 162IS, that tip does not burrow, dig or thread substantially into that surface 162IS, as that might cause the threads of the fastener to pull the fingers together, closing the gap VG2 and reducing the hold of the insert on the shaft.

With this construction, the insert 160 is supported within a socket 155 of the lacrosse head 110. When the handle shaft 130 is installed, the insert fits within the internal bore of the shaft 130, snugly and relatively tightly. The screws 190A and 190B can be installed in a manner described in the embodiments above, with the respective resilient fingers bending and moving relative to the insert longitudinal axis ILA and/or the finger longitudinal axis FLA as described in the embodiments above. This construction provides a strong, yet simple attachment of the head to the handle, without complicating the structure of either.

Directional terms, such as “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “inwardly,” “outer” and “outwardly,” are used to assist in describing the invention based on the orientation of the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The use of directional terms should not be interpreted to limit the invention to any specific orientations.

The above description is that of current embodiments of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. For example, and without limitation, any individual element(s) of the described invention may be replaced by alternative elements that provide substantially similar functionality or otherwise provide adequate operation. This includes, for example, presently known alternative elements, such as those that might be currently known to one skilled in the art, and alternative elements that may be developed in the future, such as those that one skilled in the art might, upon development, recognize as an alternative. Further, the disclosed embodiments include a plurality of features that are described in concert and that might cooperatively provide a collection of benefits. The present invention is not limited to only those embodiments that include all of these features or that provide all of the stated benefits, except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth in the issued claims. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular. Any reference to claim elements as “at least one of X, Y and Z” is meant to include any one of X, Y or Z individually, and any combination of X, Y and Z, for example, X, Y, Z; X, Y; X, Z ; and Y, Z.

Claims

1. A lacrosse head comprising:

a scoop;

a base distal from the scoop, the base including a bottom and defining a socket that extends from the bottom to an opening of the base at which the socket terminates;

a head longitudinal axis extending from the base toward the scoop;

a first sidewall and a second sidewall, each extending from the scoop and joined with one another distal from the scoop at the base, each first and second sidewall being of an open frame construction, each first and second sidewall including an upper rail and a lower rail,

an insert disposed in the socket between the bottom and the opening of the base, the insert including a first vertical finger and a second vertical finger that are separated by a vertical gap, the first vertical finger defining a first hole adapted to receive a fastener; and

a fastener that extends through the first hole defined by the first vertical finger, the fastener extending through the vertical gap, the fastener engaging the second vertical finger to urge the second vertical finger away from the first vertical finger.

2. The lacrosse head of claim 1 comprising:

an elongated lacrosse shaft including a first end and defining an interior and an exterior, the first end defining a second hole adapted to receive the fastener, the first end positioned in the socket, with the first vertical finger and the second vertical finger disposed within the interior of the shaft,

wherein the first vertical finger includes a primary finger part and first and second wings adjacent the primary finger part, each of the primary part, first wing and second wing engaging a different interior surface of the shaft.

3. The lacrosse head of claim 2 wherein the fastener is disposed through the shaft and extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

4. The lacrosse head of claim 2,

wherein the interior of the shaft includes a plurality of interior surfaces angled relative to one another,

wherein the first vertical finger engages a first interior surface of the shaft,

wherein the second vertical finger engages a second interior surface of the shaft, the first and second interior surfaces being disposed opposite one another across a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

5. The lacrosse head of claim 4 wherein the first and second vertical fingers, are resiliently joined with the bottom so that the respective fingers are configured to bend away from the longitudinal axis of the head and toward the interior surfaces of the shaft.

6. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the insert includes a foot projecting from the bottom, away from the socket, the foot defining an internal chamber, the chamber substantially filled with material from which the base of the lacrosse head is constructed.

7. A lacrosse head comprising:

a scoop and a base joined with sidewalls, the base defining a socket;

a head longitudinal axis extending from the base toward the scoop;

an insert disposed in the socket, the insert including a first vertical finger, a second vertical finger, both of which extend generally parallel to the head longitudinal axis and are separated by a gap there between;

wherein at least one of the first vertical finger and second vertical finger engage a fastener so as to enlarge the gap and bias at least the first vertical finger and second vertical finger away from one another.

8. The lacrosse head of claim 7,

wherein the fastener engages the second vertical finger to urge the second vertical finger away from the first vertical finger,

wherein the fastener engages a first and a second lateral finger to urge the first and second lateral fingers away from one another.

9. The lacrosse head of claim 7, wherein the first vertical finger defines a first hole extending generally perpendicular to the head longitudinal axis.

10. The lacrosse head of claim 8,

wherein the first vertical finger includes a first interior surface,

wherein the second vertical finger includes a second interior surface,

wherein each of the first interior surface and the second interior surfaces are separated by the gap there between, the gap being dynamically adjustable so that a distance between the first interior surface and the second interior surface can be increased,

wherein the first vertical finger and second vertical finger bend outwardly away from the longitudinal axis as the fastener is installed.

11. The lacrosse head of claim 10,

wherein the insert defines an insert longitudinal axis coincident with the head longitudinal axis,

wherein the first and second vertical fingers are attached to a bottom and configured to bend away from the insert longitudinal axis.

12. The lacrosse head of claim 7, wherein the first and second vertical fingers are configured to bend radially outward, away from an insert longitudinal axis, when the first and second fingers are engaged by the fastener.

13. The lacrosse head of claim 12 wherein the first and second vertical fingers are detached and separated from one another along respective lengths of the first and second vertical fingers except for being commonly joined with a bottom.

14. The lacrosse head of claim 7,

wherein the fastener includes threads and an unsharpened tip,

wherein the threads are adapted to engage and contact the first vertical finger but not the second vertical finger,

wherein the threads push the unsharpened tip into the second vertical finger so as to push the first and second vertical fingers outward, away from the insert longitudinal axis when the fastener is advanced.

15. A lacrosse head comprising:

a scoop and a base joined with sidewalls, the base defining a socket and a first hole;

an insert disposed in the socket, the insert including a first finger and a second finger separated by a gap there between, the first finger defining a second hole;

a lacrosse shaft disposed in the socket and defining an interior and a third hole, the insert disposed in the interior;

a fastener extending through the first hole, the second hole, the third hole and the gap, the fastener engaging and biasing the first and second fingers away from one another and into engagement with the interior of the lacrosse shaft so as to further secure the shaft to the base.

16. The lacrosse head of claim 15,

wherein the fastener includes a shaft extending to the tip and threads disposed around the shaft,

wherein the threads engage the first hole, the second hole and the third hole,

wherein the threads engage the first finger, but not the second finger,

wherein the tip presses against the second finger, biasing the second finger away from the first finger so that the first finger and second finger engage an interior of the shaft.

17. The lacrosse head of claim 15,

wherein the fastener includes a shaft extending to the tip and threads disposed around the shaft,

wherein the threads engage the first hole, the second hole and the third hole,

wherein the threads engage both the first finger and the second finger, biasing the first finger and second finger away from one another to engage the interior of the shaft.

18. A method of joining a lacrosse head and a lacrosse shaft, the method comprising:

providing a lacrosse head comprising a scoop and a base joined with sidewalls, the base defining a socket and a first hole, an insert disposed in the socket, the insert including a first finger and a second finger separated by a gap there between, the first finger defining a second hole;

positioning a lacrosse shaft in the socket, the lacrosse shaft defining an interior and a third hole, the insert being disposed in the interior;

advancing a fastener through the first hole, the second hole, the third hole and the gap, said advancing causing the fastener to urge the first and second fingers to move away from one another; and

engaging the first and second fingers against the interior of the lacrosse shaft so as to further secure the shaft to the base.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the advancing step includes pressing a tip of the fastener against the second finger while threads of the fastener engage the first finger,

wherein the fastener rotates within the gap between the first finger and the second finger during the advancing step.

20. The method of claim 18 comprising biasing third and fourth fingers of the insert away from one another with threads of the fastener, while a tip of the fastener engages the second finger to bias the second finger away from the first finger.