Lacrosse Head with Improved Features
A lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse stick includes a shaft section with an opening for coaxially accommodating the lacrosse stick therein along a longitudinal centerline, a front surface of the shaft section defining a first plane. The lacrosse head also includes two sidewalls extending divergently from the shaft section and including a throat section, curving rearwardly with respect to the shaft section, and a flare-out section flaring further outward from the throat section, with a scoop connecting the two sidewalls distally from the shaft section. A front surface of the flare-out section lies in a second plane, which is rearwardly offset from and parallel to the first plane. The shaft section includes two attachment holes oriented perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal centerline and configured for accommodating an attachment device for securing the lacrosse head onto the lacrosse stick inserted into the opening in the shaft section.
The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/443,021 filed on Jan. 6, 2017.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to sporting equipment and, more particularly, to equipment for use in playing the sport of lacrosse.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA variety of lacrosse heads are used today in the game of lacrosse. Commercial lacrosse heads are generally formed of injection molded plastics and composites, and configured to be secured onto lacrosse sticks, which are ordinarily sold separately from the lacrosse heads. Additionally, lacrosse heads usually include a series of holes for accommodating a combination of a mesh and strings for catching and throwing lacrosse balls within the lacrosse heads.
While different brands of lacrosse heads feature various configurational modifications, there is still room for improvement in achieving a lacrosse head with performance and weight characteristics while staying in compliance with standard rules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with embodiments described herein, there is provided a lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse stick, the lacrosse head including a shaft section, which in turn includes an opening for coaxially accommodating the lacrosse stick therein along a longitudinal centerline. A front surface of the shaft section defines a first plane. The lacrosse head further includes two sidewalls extending divergently from the shaft section and defining a throat section and a flare-out section. The two sidewalls curve rearwardly with respect to the shaft section in the throat section, and the two sidewalls flare further outward with respect to the longitudinal centerline in the flare-out section. The lacrosse head also includes a scoop connecting the two sidewalls distally from the shaft section. A front surface of the flare-out section substantially lies in a second plane, where the second plane is rearwardly offset from and parallel to the first plane. Additionally, the shaft section includes first and second attachment holes oriented perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal centerline. Each one of the first and second attachment holes is configured for accommodating an attachment device therein for securing the lacrosse head onto the lacrosse stick inserted into the opening in the shaft section.
In another aspect of the embodiment, the first and second attachment holes of the lacrosse head are angled with respect to each other such that a first attachment device inserted into the first attachment hole becomes oriented at an angle that is not parallel to a second attachment device inserted into the second attachment holes. For example, the first and second attachment devices may be attachment screws.
In another aspect of the embodiment, the opening in the shaft section is octagonal in shape for accommodating therein lacrosse sticks of a variety of cross-sectional shapes.
In accordance with another embodiment, a lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse stick includes a shaft section with an opening for coaxially accommodating the lacrosse stick therein along a longitudinal centerline. A front portion of the shaft section defines a first plane. The lacrosse head further includes two sidewalls extending divergently from the shaft section and defining a throat section and a flare-out section. The two sidewalls curve rearwardly with respect to the shaft section in the throat section, and flare further outward with respect to the longitudinal centerline in the flare-out section. The lacrosse head further includes a scoop connecting the two sidewalls distally from the shaft section. A front surface of the flare-out section substantially lies in a second plane, the second plane being rearwardly offset from and parallel to the first plane. The offset distance between the first and second planes may be ¼-inch or more. Further, each one of the two sidewalls includes a forward rail and a rearward rail extending from the shaft section and tapering together to into a single piece at the scoop. Each one of the forward and rearward rails has a pentagonal cross section through the flare-out section.
In another embodiment, the lacrosse head further includes at least two truss sections connecting the forward rail and rearward rail on each one of the two sidewalls. At least two truss sections are located in the throat section, and are connected to each other by a reinforcement section. The reinforcement section runs generally in parallel to the forward and rearward rails in the throat section. The embodiment may further include a third truss section connecting the forward and rearward rails on each one of the sidewalls in the flare-out section.
In still another embodiment, the lacrosse head may also include a plurality of generally semicircular holes located in the scoop for accommodating strings threaded therethrough to secure a part of a mesh onto the lacrosse head. The curved section of each one of the semicircular holes is pointed toward the shaft section.
The present invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary terms “below” and “under” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. In addition, it will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “between” two layers, it can be the only layer between the two layers, or one or more intervening layers may also be present.
As described herein, “front” or “forward” side of the described lacrosse head refers generally to the face of the lacrosse head that faces a lacrosse ball when the lacrosse head is used to catch the lacrosse ball. Similarly, the “rear” or “rearward” side refers generally to the side away from the ball-catching face. In conventional uses, the mesh and string arrangements, which is used to attach the mesh to the lacrosse head, are attached to the rear side of the lacrosse head.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items, and may be abbreviated as “/”.
It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “adjacent to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected, coupled, or adjacent to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled to,” or “immediately adjacent to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Likewise, when light is received or provided “from” one element, it can be received or provided directly from that element or from an intervening element. On the other hand, when light is received or provided “directly from” one element, there are no intervening elements present.
Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to cross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. Accordingly, the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and/or the present specification and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Referring now to the figures, an embodiment of a lacrosse head of the present invention is shown in
In
Each of two sidewalls 104 includes a forward rail 120 and a rearward rail 122. Each pair of forward rail 120 and rearward rail 122 taper from shaft section 102 through flare-out section 108 such that sidewalls 104 are connected, at the end away from shaft section 102, by a scoop 110. A portion of shaft section 102 includes a ball stop 112, which is configured for stopping a lacrosse ball (not shown) within throat section 106. As will be described in more detail in reference to subsequent figures, shaft section 102 and flare-out section 108 lie on different planes that are offset from each other.
Referring now to
Continuing to refer to
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Between shaft section 102 and taper section 306, forward rail 120 and rearward rail 122 are connected by a first truss 310 near the transition from shaft section 102 to throat section 106, a second truss 312 near the transition from throat section 106 to flare-out section 108, and a third truss 314 near the transition from flare-out section 108 to taper section 306. A reinforcement 320 connects first truss 310 and second truss 312 to provide additional structural support in throat section 106 while maintaining enough flexibility in lacrosse head 100 to allow a user to manually pinch throat section 106, if so desired. In fact, first truss 310, second truss 312, third truss 314, and reinforcement 320 are configured to provide support and stiffness in specific regions of lacrosse head 100, while maintaining enough flex in lacrosse head 100 in other strategic areas, such as throat section 106. While three trusses are shown in
Still referring to
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The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. For example, a defense-specific lacrosse head may include a modified scoop design, such as that shown in
Accordingly, many different embodiments stem from the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. As such, the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
In the specification, there have been disclosed embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. Therefore, it is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications to the disclosed embodiments, as well as other embodiments, are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein.
Claims
1. A lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse stick, the lacrosse head comprising:
- a shaft section including an opening for coaxially accommodating the lacrosse stick therein along a longitudinal centerline, a front surface of the shaft section defining a first plane;
- two sidewalls extending divergently from the shaft section and defining a throat section and a flare-out section, the two sidewalls curving rearwardly with respect to the shaft section in the throat section and flaring further outward with respect to the longitudinal centerline in the flare-out section; and
- a scoop connecting the two sidewalls distally from the shaft section, wherein a front surface of the flare-out section substantially lies in a second plane, the second plane being rearwardly offset from and parallel to the first plane, and
- wherein the shaft section includes first and second attachment holes oriented perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal centerline, each one of the first and second attachment holes being configured for accommodating an attachment device therein for securing the lacrosse head onto the lacrosse stick inserted into the opening in the shaft section.
2. The lacrosse head of claim 1, wherein the first and second attachment holes are angled with respect to each other such that a first attachment device inserted into the first attachment hole becomes oriented at an angle that is not parallel to a second attachment device inserted into the second attachment hole.
3. The lacrosse head of claim 2, wherein the first and second attachment devices are screws.
4. The lacrosse head of claim 1, wherein the opening in the shaft section is octagonal in shape.
5. The lacrosse head of claim 1, wherein each one of the two sidewalls comprise a forward rail and a rearward rail extending from the shaft section and tapering together into a single piece at the scoop.
6. The lacrosse head of claim 5, further comprising at least two truss sections connecting the forward rail and the rearward rail on each one of the two sidewalls.
7. The lacrosse head of claim 6,
- wherein the at least two truss sections are located in the throat section,
- wherein the at least two truss sections are further connected to each other by a reinforcement section, the reinforcement section running generally in parallel to the forward and rearward rails in the throat section, and
- wherein one of the at least two truss sections is located in the flare-out section.
8. The lacrosse head of claim 5, wherein each one of the forward and rearward rails has a pentagonal cross section through the flare-out section.
9. The lacrosse head of claim 5, wherein the rearward rail of each one of the two sidewalls includes a plurality of holes for accommodating strings threaded therethrough to secure a part of a mesh thereon, the plurality of holes being configured such that the strings are protected from direct contact with a lacrosse ball carried within the lacrosse head and the mesh.
10. The lacrosse head of claim 9, wherein each one of the plurality of holes in the rearward rail is diamond shaped.
11. The lacrosse head of claim 1, wherein the scoop tapers from the two sidewalls into a thin lip toward the longitudinal centerline, and wherein an edge of the thin lip distal from the shaft lies rearward of the second plane.
12. The lacrosse head of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of generally semicircular holes located in the scoop for accommodating strings threaded therethrough to secure a part of a mesh onto the lacrosse head, a curved section of each one of the semicircular holes being pointed toward the shaft section.
13. The lacrosse head of claim 1, wherein the first and second planes are offset by at least ¼-inch.
14. A lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse stick, the lacrosse head comprising:
- a shaft section including an opening for coaxially accommodating the lacrosse stick therein along a longitudinal centerline, a front portion of the shaft section defining a first plane;
- two sidewalls extending divergently from the shaft section and defining a throat section and a flare-out section, the two sidewalls curving rearwardly with respect to the shaft section in the throat section and flaring further outward with respect to the longitudinal centerline in the flare-out section; and
- a scoop connecting the two sidewalls distally from the shaft section,
- wherein a front surface of the flare-out section substantially lies in a second plane, the second plane being rearwardly offset from and parallel to the first plane, and
- wherein each one of the two sidewalls comprise a forward rail and a rearward rail extending from the shaft section and tapering together into a single piece at the scoop, each one of the forward and rearward rails having a pentagonal cross section through the flare-out section.
15. The lacrosse head of claim 14, further comprising at least two truss sections connecting the forward rail and the rearward rail on each one of the two sidewalls, wherein the at least two truss sections are located in the throat section, and wherein the at least two truss sections are further connected to each other by a reinforcement section, the reinforcement section running generally in parallel to the forward and rearward rails in the throat section.
16. The lacrosse head of claim 15, further comprising a third truss section connecting the forward and rearward rails on each one of the two sidewalls, wherein the third truss section is located in the flare-out section.
17. The lacrosse head of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of generally semicircular holes located in the scoop for accommodating strings threaded therethrough to secure a part of a mesh onto the lacrosse head, a curved section of each one of the semicircular holes being pointed toward the shaft section.
18. The lacrosse head of claim 14, wherein the first and second planes are offset by approximately 1-inch.
19. The lacrosse head of claim 14, further comprising first and second attachment holes in the shaft section, the first and second attachment holes being oriented perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal centerline, each one of the first and second attachment holes being configured for accommodating an attachment device therein for securing the lacrosse head onto the lacrosse stick inserted into the opening in the shaft section.
20. The lacrosse head of claim 19, wherein the first and second attachment holes are angled with respect to each other such that a first attachment device inserted into the first attachment hole becomes oriented at an angle that is not parallel to a second attachment device inserted into the second attachment hole.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 3, 2018
Publication Date: Jul 26, 2018
Applicant: Element Lacrosse (Aurora, CO)
Inventor: Mitchell Larson (Aurora, CO)
Application Number: 15/861,506