Hockey stick system having a multiple tube structure

• US 20070270253A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PrIncorporatede Sports Incorporated (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Prince Sports Incorporated (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Pezzato, Mauro, Davis, Stephen J., Pinaffo, Mauro, Gazzara, Roberto, Pozzobon, Michele
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,713 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/513
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/34 Polo
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/11 with inflatable tubes, e.g. inflatable during fabrication
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/20 having means, e.g. pockets, netting or adhesive type surfaces, for catching or holding a ball, e.g. for lacrosse or pelota
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/60 of mallet type, e.g. for croquet or polo
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 59/70 with bent or angled lower parts for hitting a ball on the ground, on an ice-covered surface, or in the air, e.g. for hockey or hurling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

A handle is adapted to be held by a player and a striking end is adapted to contact and propel an object A structure for a hockey stick is described by using multiple composite tubes bonded to one another, wherein apertures, or “ports,” are molded between the tubes to improve the stiffness, strength, aerodynamics and comfort of the hockey stick.

Claims

1. A sport stick comprising:

a handle adapted to be held by a player and a striking end adapted to contact and propel an object;

the stick being fabricated of a relatively rigid material with limited flexibility;

wherein the handle is formed of at least two hollow tubes, said tubes formed of composite material;

wherein said handle has a longitudinal axis;

wherein first portions of said tubes form an outer wall of said handle and define a handle interior;

wherein second portions of said tubes extend across the interior of said handle and are bonded to one another along much of the length of said handle, thereby to form an internal reinforcing wall; and

wherein said second portions are separated from one another at least one axial location so as to form at least one aperture for varying the playing characteristics of the system.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stick is a hockey stick.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stick is a one piece hockey stick.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stick is a two piece hockey stick and wherein the striking end includes a blade separable from the shaft.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stick is fabricated of a composite material.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stick is fabricated of metal.

7. The stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the aperture includes a plurality of apertures with a plurality of interior walls, one wall for each aperture, the walls being parallel with respect to each other.

8. The stick as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stick is configured for ice hockey.

9. The stick as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stick is configured for roller hockey.

13. The stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stick is a field hockey stick.

14. The stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stick is a lacrosse stick.

15. The stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stick is a polo mallet stick.

16. A stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the striking end comprises a hockey blade, and wherein said internal reinforcing wall is oriented generally perpendicular to said blade so as to provide reinforcement to the handle when the blade propels an object.

17. A stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle comprises more than two tubes.

18. A stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handle comprises four tubes forming two interior reinforcing walls which are at least generally perpendicular to one another.

10. A composite hockey stick system for producing geometric shapes and improving the flexibility and strength and other playing characteristics of the system comprising, in combination:

a stick handle fabricated of multiple layers of carbon filaments held together with an epoxy binder, the filaments of each layer being parallel to one another, the stick handle having a long generally hollow rectangular configuration having a top end, a bottom end, a front face, a bottom face, and a pair side faces, the stick handle having a central wall running axially and generally parallel with the side faces forming two adjacent tubes with hollow interiors along the extent of the stick handle;

a stick striking end fabricated of multiple layers of aligned carbon filaments held together with an epoxy binder, the stick striking end having a generally thin rectangular configuration with a first face, a second face, an upper edge, a lower edge, a near end, and a far end with the near end having a bend at an angle between 45 degrees and 80 degree and being preferably 65 degrees measured between the side faces of the stick handle end and the upper edge and the lower edge,

wherein the near end of the stick handle end has one of a fitting extending outwardly therefrom and an opening, and the bottom end of the handle has the other of said fitting and said opening, said fitting being adapted to couple into the opening;

an adhesive coupling the stick handle with the stick striking end between the connecting bar and the opening in the stick handle end; and

at least one aperture being formed in the stick handle and extending between the front face and the bottom face, each aperture including an interior wall defining an associated hole, the apertures and interior walls being aligned linearly along a central vertical axis of the stick tip end and being adjacent to bottom end, the apertures separating the adjacent portions of the tubes of the stick handle end allowing for increased surface area.

11. A hockey shaft with at least two tubes with a variable cross section.

12. A hockey stick with at least two tubes with a variable cross section.