Hockey stick having a single, hollow primary tube

• US 20070275799A1
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2006
• 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, Pinaffo, Mauro, Gazzara, Roberto, Pozzobon, Michele
• Granted Patent: US 7,727,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/560
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• 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 59/70 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 60/006 Surfaces specially adapted for reducing air resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/0081 Substantially flexible shafts; Hinged shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/06 containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2023/22 Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/5227 Clubs

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 a single, hollow tube of composite material, wherein tubular “ports” extend through the hollow tube. The ends of the ports are bonded to the walls of the hollow tube. The ports 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 a hollow handle tube having at least one pair of aligned holes extending through opposite wall portions of said tube;

wherein a hollow port extends through each pair of holes, said port comprising opposite ends and a peripheral wall; and

wherein said opposite ends are bonded to said handle tube.

2. The sports stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle tube and each port are made of composite material.

3. The sports stick as set forth in claim 2, wherein the stick is a hockey stick.

4. The sports stick as set forth in claim 2, wherein the stick is a one piece hockey stick.

5. The sports stick as set forth in claim 2, wherein the stick is a two piece hockey stick and wherein the striking end includes a blade separable from the shaft.

6. The sports stick as set forth in claim 2, wherein said handle tube includes a plurality of pairs of aligned holes and a corresponding number of ports.

7. The sports stick as set forth in claim 2, wherein said handle has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said at least one port is at least generally oval in shape, to form a pair of arches, with the long dimension of the oval axially oriented.

8. The sports stick as set forth in claim 6, wherein said handle has a longitudinal axis, and wherein said ports are at least generally oval in shape, to form a pair of arches, with the long dimension of the oval axially oriented.

14. The sports stick set forth in claim 1, wherein the ports are made of metal.

15. The sports stick set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle tube is made of metal and the port is made of a composite material.

16. The sports stick set forth in claim 1, wherein the handle tube is made of a composite material and the port is made of metal.

17. The sports stick set forth in claim 1, wherein said stick is a field hockey stick.

18. The sports stick set forth in claim 1, wherein said stick is a lacrosse stick.

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

a stick handle fabricated of a handle tube of multiple plies of carbon filaments held together with an epoxy binder, the filaments of each ply 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 rear face, and a pair side faces;

at least one pair of aligned holes extending through the front and rear faces; and

a hollow port extending through each said pair, wherein said port has a peripheral wall and opposite ends, and wherein said opposite ends are bonded to said handle tube.

10. The hockey stick as recited in claim 9, wherein said handle includes a plurality of pairs of aligned holes extending through the front and rear faces and a corresponding number of ports.

11. A method of forming a sport stick having a handle and a striking end, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a hollow prepreg tube of uncured composite material;

(b) forming at least one pair of aligned holes through opposed walls of said tube;

(c) inserting a pair of inflatable bladders, each having opposite ends, through said prepreg tube, wherein said bladders are side-by-side and wherein the opposite ends of said bladders extend out of said prepreg tube;

(d) inserting a hollow tubular plug through each pair of aligned holes, wherein each said plug includes opposite ends and extends between said bladders;

(e) placing said prepreg tube into a closed mold having the shape of at least said handle; and

(f) heating said mold, while inflating said bladders, so that said prepreg tube assumes the shape of the mold and cures, and such that the opposite ends of said plug bond to said prepreg tube during molding.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one plug is uncured composite material, comprising further the step, prior to step (f), of inserting a mold pin through each said plug, so that each said plug assumes the shape of said pin during molding and curing.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said aligned holes are formed by separating fibers in said prepreg material.