Adjustable weighted field hockey stick

• US 20100087281A1
• Filed: 09/21/2009
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wm. T. Burnett Ip, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wm. T. Burnett Ip, LLC
• Inventors: Kotula, Joanna
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/519
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• 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 60/24 Weighted handles

Abstract

A weighting system for a sports stick, particularly a field hockey stick, comprising a surface, recess, channel, hole or plurality of pockets formed along the length of the sports stick, and one or more weights moveably or selectively attachable along the surface and/or within the channel/pockets to allow a player to freely adjust the weight and balance point of the stick by slideably moving to or selectively adding or eliminating weight and points along the stick. A variety of embodiments are herein described, all providing an adjustable field hockey stick that allows players to adapt to play on different surfaces or in different conditions.

Claims

1. A weighting system for a sports stick having a head and a substantially linear handle, said head and handle characterized by a front surface and a back surface, said weighting system comprising:

at least one recess formed along the length of said sports stick; and

at least one weight assembly movably affixed within each of said at least one recesses to allow a player to freely adjust the weight and balance point of the stick to preference.

2. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recess is formed in said back surface of said stick so as not to interfere with ball striking during play.

3. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recess comprises a plurality of recesses distributed from said handle to and throughout said stick.

4. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 1 wherein said sports stick is a field hockey stick.

5. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 1 wherein said sports stick is an ice hockey stick.

6. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 1 wherein said sports stick is a roller hockey stick.

7. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recess comprises a channel defined by a bottom, a maximum width, and a top forming a slit extending lengthwise along said sports stick, said maximum width being greater than a width of said slit, said at least one weight assembly being slideably captured in said channel.

8. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 7 wherein said channel extends to and through said head.

9. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 7 wherein said channel is provided in said handle and a second recess is provided in said head.

10. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 1 wherein said at least one weight assembly is fixed in position until depressed into said at least one recess to allow a player to freely move and adjust the weight and balance point of the stick to preference.

11. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 7 wherein said weight assembly further comprises

a body in said channel,

a weight portion contained within said body,

at least one high friction surface on said body selectively engaging said top surface of said channel to prevent said weight assembly from sliding in said channel,

at least one resilient projection on said body slideably engaging said bottom surface of said channel to advance said at least one high friction surface against said top surface,

a dorsal member extending from said body through said slit whereby external force applied to said dorsal member deforms said resilient projections to disengage said at least one high friction surface from said top surface to permit sliding of said weight assembly in said channel, said at least one resilient projection returning to its original form to reengage said at least one high friction surface with said top surface on removal of said external force.

12. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 11 wherein said at least one resilient projection comprises a plurality of ribs that deform by elastic bending under application of said external force.

13. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 11 wherein said at least one resilient projection comprises a plurality of protrusions that compress elastically under application of said external force.

14. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 7 wherein said weight assembly is further comprised of

a weight portion in said channel,

a resilient member extending from said weight portion through said slit, and

a grip affixed to said resilient member, said grip further comprising at least one high friction surface drawn against an external surface of said sports stick by force of said resilient member to prevent said weight portion from sliding in said channel, said at least one high friction surface being disengaged from said external surface of said sports stick by application of external force to strain said resilient member thereby permitting said weight assembly to slide, said at least one high friction surfaces reengaging said external surface by force of said resilient member on removal of said external force.

15. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 7 wherein said external surface of said sports stick is said back surface.

16. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 1 wherein said at least one recess comprises at least one pocket.

17. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 16 wherein said at least one pocket comprises a channel, and said weight assembly further comprises a resilient tray for insertion into said channel, and a plurality of weights selectively affixed to said resilient tray.

18. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 17 wherein said resilient tray is retained in said channel by friction.

19. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 17 wherein said resilient tray is retained in said channel by a tongue-and-groove fit.

20. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 17 wherein said resilient tray is retained in said channel by an annular rib.

21. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 17 wherein said resilient tray is retained in said channel by engagement of a loop formed at each end of said resilient tray and posts cooperatively positioned in said channel.

22. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 17 wherein said resilient tray is further comprised of a plurality of receptacles for receiving said selected plurality of weights.

23. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 22 wherein said resilient tray is further comprised of a plurality of external apertures into said receptacles for observing which of said receptacles have weights selectively affixed therein.

24. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 16 further comprising

at least one weight for selective insertion into each of said pocket(s), and

a resilient plug cooperatively formed for insertion into each of said pocket(s), said resilient plugs retaining said at least one weight in said pockets.

25. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 24 wherein the shape of said at least one weight selected from the group consisting of disc, washer and cylinder.

26. The weighting system for a sports stick according to claim 16 wherein said pockets are comprised of

a channel in said handle, and

a curvilinear pocket in said head, and

wherein said at least one weight assembly is comprised of

a first resilient tray for insertion into said channel, said tray having a plurality of receptacles for receiving a plurality of weights selectively affixed therein to alter the weight and balance of said handle, and

a second resilient tray for insertion into said curvilinear pocket, said second resilient tray having a second plurality of receptacles for receiving a plurality of weights selectively affixed therein to alter the weight and balance of said head.

27. A weighting system for a sports stick, comprising:

at least one recess formed along the length of said sports stick; and

at least one weight each affixed at any one of a plurality of defined positions within said recess to allow a player to freely position the weighting and balance point of the stick to preference.

28. A weighting system for a sports stick, comprising:

at least one weight moveably affixed to a surface of said stick to allow a player to freely position the weighting and balance point of the stick to preference.

29. The weighting system for a sports stick of claim 28, wherein said at least one weight is a concave form encircling said stick and slideable there along.

30. The weighting system for a sports stick of claim 28, wherein said weight further comprises a spring clip for selectively engaging a surface of said stick to secure said weight at one or more positions along a length of said stick.

31. The weighting system for a sports stick of claim 30, wherein said surface of said stick is further comprised of a slot along said length for engaging said spring clip.

32. The weighting system for a sports stick of claim 28, wherein said weight further comprises a cam lock for selectively engaging a surface of said stick to secure said weight at one or more positions along a length of said stick.

33. The weighting system for a sports stick of claim 28, wherein said weight further comprises a set screw for selectively engaging a surface of said stick to secure said weight at one or more positions along a length of said stick.