COMPOSITE HOCKEY STICK SYSTEM

• US 20070275800A1
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• 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 7,727,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/561
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• 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 60/0081 Substantially flexible shafts; Hinged shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A handle end is adapted to be held by a player and a striking end is adapted to contact and propel an object. The stick includes a shaft coupling the handle end and the striking end. The shaft is fabricated of a relatively rigid material with limited flexibility. The shaft has a hole extending there through with a cylindrical wall defining the hole for varying the playing characteristics of the system.

Claims

1. A hockey stick comprising:

a striking end adapted to contact and propel an object;

a shaft adapted to be held by a player, wherein said shaft is coupled to said striking end and has an outer wall and a longitudinal axis, the shaft being fabricated of a relatively rigid material with limited flexibility,

wherein the shaft is formed of two hollow tubes, each made of composite material;

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

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

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

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

3. The hockey stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stick is a two piece hockey stick and wherein the striking end includes a blade formed separate from the shaft.

4. The hockey stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stick is fabricated of a composite material.

5. The hockey stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second portions are separated from one another at a plurality of axial locations so as to form multiple apertures through said shaft.

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

7. The hockey stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein the stick is configured for field hockey.

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

10. The hockey stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein said striking end lies generally in a plane, and wherein said reinforcing wall and said at least one aperture are oriented at least generally perpendicular to said plane.

11. The hockey stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein each aperture has an axis, and wherein the axes of at least two apertures are parallel to one another.

12. The hockey stick as set forth in claim 1, wherein said striking end is a blade extending at an angle relative to said shaft, and wherein said reinforcing wall and said at least one aperture are oriented at least generally perpendicular to said blade.

9. 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 shaft, having a longitudinal axis, formed of two hollow tubes;

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

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

wherein said second portions are separated from one another at least at one axial location so as to form at least one walled aperture extending through said shaft;

wherein each tube is fabricated of multiple layers of reinforcing filaments held together with a resin binder, the stick shaft having a long generally hollow rectangular configuration having a top end, a bottom end, a front face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces, wherein said at least one axial location includes a location near the bottom end; and

wherein the shaft has a recessed opening in the bottom end thereof;

a stick striking end fabricated of multiple layers of reinforcing filaments held together with a resin binder, the stick striking end having a generally thin 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 degrees measured between the side faces of the stick handle end and the upper edge and the lower edge, the near end of the shaft having a connecting bar extending outwardly therefrom with the connecting bar being adapted to coupled into the opening in the bottom end of the stick handle end; and

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