WOMEN'S LACROSSE STICK HEAD

Abstract

A lacrosse head includes a proximal end, a distal end, two sides and a top surface and bottom surface. The top surface undulates, extending distally from a location above the axis of elongation of the handle downward to a point where it extends at or slightly below that axis of elongation, whereupon it turns upwardly again until reaching an apex at the scoop where it turns downwardly again. The bottom surface of the head extends to a lower apex from below the axis of elongation at an angle of 5° to 20° with respect to the axis of elongation. The entirety of the scoop is above the axis of elongation of the shaft. With strings or thongs attached to the head, a lacrosse ball may be retained much higher up with respect to the axis of elongation of the shaft than is the case with prior art women's lacrosse heads.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a women's lacrosse stick head. In the game of lacrosse, both women and men play on a field resembling an American football field, with goals spaced toward one another from the end lines and with a midfield area where face offs are taken. Besides these similarities, the games of men's and women's lacrosse, respectively, differ greatly from one another. The men's game is a much more physical game with players allowed to check each other including striking an opponent's stick with great force in an attempt to dislodge the ball from the stick. By contrast, in the women's game, such tactics are met with a whistle, return of the ball to the player who had it in her stick, and resumption of play with the defender being required to stay a certain distance away from the ball holder initially.

These significant differences have guided the evolution of the head of a lacrosse stick in the women's and men's games. Thus, in the men's game, it is important that the head be designed so that the pocket is relatively deeper so that a player can carry the lacrosse ball and be in a better position to retain the ball in the mesh of their stick head should the stick be struck by the stick of an opposing player. The women's rule states: “The primary intent of the field specification is to ensure that the ball may be dislodged from the crosse without excessive force.” Thus, in the women's game, the pocket of the mesh is typically shallower than that of a man's stick.

As such, in designing the head and configuring the mesh for a women's stick, it is most important to ensure that the ball can be carried as high as possible to best facilitate passing and shooting.

In the prior art, applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 7,488,266 to Tucker, Jr. et al. (the '266 patent). FIG. 2B of that patent is reproduced herein as FIG. 11. As seen, the stick in the '266 patent has a shaft 202 with a distal end angled downwardly. However, as shown by the dashed lines 226 and 230, the head, distal of the connection with the canted end of the stick cants upwardly so that the body of the head including the bottom surface just above the line 230 is generally parallel to the axis of elongation of the handle 202. Thus, a ball contained in the head of the stick of the '266 patent is carried slightly lower than the axis of elongation of the main portion of the handle 202. While carrying the ball lower than the axis of elongation of the handle has its advantages, the patent fails to address the main difference between men's and women's lacrosse, that of the greater ability of an opponent in the women's game to dislodge the ball from the stick.

Applicant has identified this issue as one in which improvements would be helpful to the women's game. It is with this thought in mind that the present invention was developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a women's lacrosse stick head. The present invention includes the following interrelated objects, aspects and features:

(1) In a first aspect, the inventive head includes a proximal end, a distal end, and two sides as well as a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface of the head is undulating in nature, extending in the proximal to distal direction from a location above the axis of elongation of the handle downward to a point where it extends at or slightly below that axis of elongation, whereupon it turns upwardly again until reaching an apex at the scoop where it turns downwardly again.

(2) The bottom wall of the head extends proximally to distally generally parallel to the rear wall. In this regard, the bottom wall starts below the axis of elongation of the handle and extends downward to become further removed from that axis of elongation. At a location the same distance distally of the throat, the bottom wall turns upwardly to a point where it becomes the scoop, whereupon it turns back downwardly.

(3) The entirety of the scoop is above the axis of elongation of the shaft.

(4) The bottom wall of the head extends from the throat along the side walls and around the scoop. A plurality of spaced holes are provided just above the bottom wall and which are employed to attach thongs or strings thereto. With the thongs or strings so attached, a lacrosse ball may better be retained within the thongs or strings but much higher up with respect to the axis of elongation of the shaft than is the case with prior art women's lacrosse heads. In this way, the player can carry a lacrosse ball in a manner best facilitating easy and efficient passing and shooting.

As such, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a women's lacrosse stick head.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a head with an undulating appearance from the side that results in a lacrosse ball being carried higher than is the case with prior art heads.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a head in which, along with other features in combination, the entirety of the scoop is above the axis of elongation of the handle or shaft.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a head in which a lacrosse ball may be carried higher than is the case with prior art heads.

These and other objects, aspects and features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the appended drawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a right side view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a left side view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a portion of the top view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a side perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a further left side perspective view of the present invention allowing viewing of the throat.

FIG. 6 shows a further right side perspective view of the present invention showing the opening for the handle.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view from below.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view looking rearward from the scoop.

FIG. 9 shows a right side view of the inventive head inverted and with mesh attached thereto.

FIG. 10 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing elevation of a lacrosse ball with respect to the side walls of the head.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of a prior art head corresponding to FIG. 2B in U.S. Pat. No. 7,488,266.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is first made to FIGS. 5 and 6 which show perspective views from differing perspectives of the inventive head which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The head 10 is seen to include a body with a throat 11 (best seen in FIG. 5) as well as, proximal of the throat 11, an octagonal recess 13 (FIG. 6) designed to receive a handle or stick.

With further reference to FIGS. 1-10, the body includes a left side wall 15, a right side wall 17, and a scoop 19. The wall 15 has a top surface 21 and the right side wall 17 has a top surface 23. The top surfaces 21 and 23 lie in a common arcuate plane. Similarly, the wall 15 has a bottom surface 25 and the wall 17 has a bottom surface 27 lying in a common arcuate plane with the bottom surface 25.

With further reference, in particular, to FIGS. 5 and 6, the scoop 19 has a plurality of rectangular holes 19 toward the bottom thereof and the walls 15 and 17 have a multiplicity of holes 31 near the bottom surfaces 25, 27. The holes 29 and 31 receive strings from a mesh which is attached to the head 10 as seen, for example, in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 9 the mesh is generally designated by the reference numeral 33.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dashed line 40 connotes the axis of elongation of a handle or shaft inserted within the recess 13 (FIG. 6) and designated by the reference numeral 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The handle or shaft and recess have a common axis of elongation. An important aspect of the present invention is the relationship between the shape of the side view of the inventive head 10 with respect to the axis of elongation 40 of the shaft 20.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is seen that the top surfaces 21 and 23 of the side walls 15 and 17, respectively, start above the axis 40 and from their starting points slope downwardly substantially straight until they reach a lower apex 51 (on the surface 21) and 53 (on the surface 23) just below the axis 40. From there, the surfaces 21, 23 reverse course and curve upwardly to a location well above the axis 40 where a second apex 55 (for the top surface 21) and 57 (for the top surface 23) where they merge into the scoop 19.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom surfaces 25, 27 start at their proximal ends 61, 63, respectively, below the axis 40, and at first slope downwardly substantially parallel to the top surfaces 21, 23 until they reach respective apices 65, 67 which are about below the apices 51, 53, respectively. From there, the bottom surfaces 25, 27 curve upwardly to define a “rise” with respect to the apices 65, 67, the bottom surfaces also slightly converging with the top surfaces 21, 23 until they reach second apices 69, 71, respectively, which are above the axis 40. From there, the bottom surfaces 25, 27 merge with the scoop 19 at a location above the axis 40. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the entirety of the scoop 19 is above the axis 40. The apices 51, 53 are above the apices 65, 67.

As should be understood from FIGS. 1 and 2, as well as with reference to FIG. 9, the effect of the downward slope of the surfaces 21, 23, 25 and 27 until reaching the apices 65, 67 results in that portion of the head being dramatically angled in the distal direction as compared to the axis of elongation 40 of the shaft or handle 20. This, combined with the thongs or strings 33 attached at the holes 29, 31 results in a lacrosse ball 1 (see FIG. 10) being carried by the player much higher than is the case in prior art heads designed for the women's game. As shown in FIG. 10, the upper extent of the ball is just below the axis 40 and quite elevated with respect to the side walls 15, 17 as compared to prior art heads. As explained above, the rules of the women's game facilitate opponents dislodging the ball from the head. Carrying the ball higher in the head permits the player to more easily and efficiently pass and shoot the ball.

In the preferred embodiment, the angle “X” (FIG. 1) between the central axis 40 of the shaft 20 and the surface 27 (also the surface 25) is about 15°. If desired, the angle “X” can range from 5° to 20°. A lower angle, closer to 5° is preferable for defensemen to enable carrying the ball lower in the pocket of the strings/thongs. The smaller angulation is also preferred for beginners. A higher angle closer to 20° is preferred by attackmen for greater ease in passing and shooting by skilled players.

The inventive head may be made of several alternative materials including wood, molded plastic, lightweight metal such as titanium or aluminum or materials that are fiber reinforced, such as disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______.

As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of a preferred embodiment thereof which fulfills each and every one of the objects of the invention as set forth hereinabove, and provides a new useful women's lacrosse stick head of great novelty and utility.

Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations in the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof.

As such, it is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lacrosse stick head, comprising:

a) a body having a throat, side walls proximally connected to said throat and a scoop connected to distal ends of said side walls;

b) said side walls having top surfaces and bottom surfaces;

c) a handle connected to said body proximal of said throat, said handle having an axis of elongation and a bottom surface;

d) said bottom surfaces of said side walls angling downward making an angle of 5° to 20° with respect to said axis of elongation, said bottom surfaces of said side walls extending distally from said throat from a location (1) below said axis of elongation and (2) above a distal projection of said bottom surface of said handle to a lower apex, whereupon said bottom surfaces angle upward distally until they cross said axis of elongation and meet said scoop.

2. The lacrosse stick head of claim 1, wherein said top surfaces angle downward distally from said throat from a further location above said axis of elongation to a lower apex above said lower apex of said bottom surfaces of said side walls, whereupon said top surfaces angle upward distally until they meet said scoop.

3. The lacrosse stick head of claim 2, wherein said lower apex of said top surfaces is below said axis of elongation.

4. The lacrosse stick head of claim 1, wherein said head has a recess proximal of said throat which receives said handle, said recess having an axis of elongation in common with said axis of elongation of said handle.

5. The lacrosse stick head of claim 1, wherein a series of holes are formed in said side walls just above said bottom surfaces of said side walls for attachment of a mesh including a pocket.

6. The lacrosse stick head of claim 2, wherein a series of holes are formed in said side walls just above said bottom surfaces of said side walls for attachment of a mesh including a pocket.

7. The lacrosse stick head of claim 6, wherein said pocket is located at said apices.

8. The lacrosse stick head of claim 2, wherein said scoop angles downward from above said axis of elongation toward said axis of elongation.

9. The lacrosse stick head of claim 8, wherein said scoop is entirely above said axis of elongation.

10. The lacrosse stick head of claim 6, wherein said scoop has a plurality of holes adjacent a lower edge thereof for attachment of said mesh.

11. The lacrosse stick head of claim 7, wherein said pocket has a depth such that a lacrosse ball retained in said pocket has an upper extent just below said axis of elongation.

12. The lacrosse stick head of claim 1, wherein said angle is 15°.

13. The lacrosse stick head of claim 1, wherein said angle is 5°.

14. A lacrosse stick head, comprising:

a) a body having a throat, side walls proximally connected to said throat and a scoop connected to distal ends of said side walls;

b) said side walls having top surfaces and bottom surfaces;

c) a recess proximal of said throat and sized to receive an elongated handle, said recess and handle having a common axis of elongation and said handle having a bottom surface;

d) said bottom surfaces of said side walls angling downward distally from said throat from a location (1) below said axis of elongation and (2) above a distal projection of said bottom surface of said handle to a lower apex, whereupon said bottom surfaces of said side walls angle upward distally until they cross said axis of elongation and meet said scoop; and

e) said top surfaces angling downward distally from said throat from a further location above said axis of elongation to a lower apex above said lower apex of said bottom surfaces of said side walls, whereupon said top surfaces angling upward distally until they meet said scoop.

15. The lacrosse stick head of claim 14, wherein said lower apex of said top surfaces is below said axis of elongation.

16. The lacrosse stick head of claim 14, wherein a series of holes are formed in said side walls just above said bottom surfaces of said side walls for attachment of a mesh including a pocket.

17. The lacrosse stick head of claim 14, wherein said pocket is located at said apices.

18. The lacrosse stick head of claim 14, wherein said scoop angles downward from above said axis of elongation toward said axis of elongation.

19. The lacrosse stick head of claim 18, wherein said scoop is entirely above said axis of elongation.

20. The lacrosse stick head of claim 16, wherein said scoop has a plurality of holes adjacent a lower edge thereof for attachment of said mesh.