HOCKEY STICK APPARATUS FOR STICK HANDLING TRAINING AND METHODS OF STICK HANDLING TRAINING

• US 20100125010A1
• Filed: 11/18/2008
• Published: 05/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2152318 Ontario, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 2152318 Ontario, Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Jean-Maurice
• Granted Patent: US 7,857,717 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/446
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• 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 60/06 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 60/14 Coverings specially adapted for handles, e.g. sleeves or ribbons
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/16 Caps; Ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/20 with two handgrips
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/28 with adjustable length
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/32 with means for changing the angular position of the handle about its longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0024 for hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0026 for ice-hockey

Abstract

A hockey stick for training a person in stick handling, having elongate upper stick portion, an elongate lower stick portion, an elongate coupling member, and an elongate middle stick portion. The elongate upper stick portion is configured to be gripped by a control hand of the person. The elongate lower stick portion has a blade member extending outwardly therefrom. The elongate coupling member rigidly couples the upper stick portion to the lower stick portion. The elongate middle stick portion is positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion and is configured to be gripped by a directional hand of the person. The middle stick portion is rotatably coupled to the elongate coupling member so that rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion and the blade member to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion gripped by the directional hand.

Claims

1. A hockey stick for training a person in stick handling, comprising:

a. an elongate upper stick portion configured to be gripped by a control hand of the person;

b. an elongate lower stick portion having a blade member extending outwardly therefrom;

c. an elongate coupling member rigidly coupling the upper stick portion to the lower stick portion; and

d. an elongate middle stick portion positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion and configured to be gripped by a directional hand of the person, the middle stick portion being rotatably coupled to the elongate coupling member so that rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion and the blade member to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion gripped by the directional hand.

2. The hockey stick of claim 1, wherein the upper stick portion and the middle stick portion are sized and shaped such that the control hand and the directional hand may be spaced apart by an operational distance during use.

3. The hockey stick of claim 2, wherein the operational distance is greater than about 6 inches.

4. The hockey stick of claim 1, wherein the upper stick portion and the middle stick portion each have generally matching rectangular outer stick profiles.

5. The hockey stick of claim 1, wherein the middle stick portion comprises at least one coupling guide sized and shaped to rotatably engage the coupling member therein.

6. The hockey stick of claim 1, wherein:

a. the upper stick portion has an upper insert therein configured to securely engage a first end of the coupling member; and

b. the lower stick portion has a lower insert therein configured to securely engage a second end of the coupling member so as to rigidly couple the upper stick portion to the lower stick portion.

7. The hockey stick of claim 6, wherein:

a. the lower insert has a first friction-reduced bushing portion protruding outwardly from the lower stick portion; and

b. the first coupling guide has a second friction-reduced bushing portion protruding outwardly from the lower end of the middle stick portion;

c. wherein the first and second bushing portions are configured to slidably engage with each other to facilitate rotation of the lower stick portion with respect to the middle stick portion.

8. The hockey stick of claim 6, wherein:

a. the upper insert has a third friction-reduced bushing portion protruding outwardly from the upper stick portion; and

b. the second coupling guide has a fourth friction-reduced bushing portion protruding outwardly from the upper end of the middle stick portion;

c. wherein the third and fourth bushing portions are configured to slidably engage with each other to facilitate rotation of the upper stick portion with respect to the middle stick portion.

9. The hockey stick of claim 6, wherein the lower insert is permanently secured to the lower stick portion and the upper insert is permanently affixed to the upper stick portion.

10. The hockey stick of claim 6, wherein the lower insert is removably secured to the lower stick portion and the upper insert is removably secured to the upper stick portion.

11. The hockey stick of claim 6, wherein the upper insert is integral with the upper stick portion, and the lower insert is integral with the lower stick portion.

12. The hockey stick of claim 11, wherein the middle stick portion further comprises at least one coupling guide integral therewith, the at least one coupling guide being sized and shaped to rotatably engage the coupling member therein.

13. The hockey stick of claim 1, wherein the upper stick portion has an upper gripping portion configured to receive the control hand, and the middle stick portion has a middle gripping portion configured to receive the directional hand, the upper and middle gripping portions sized and shaped such that the control hand and the directional hand may be spaced apart by an operational distance during use.

14. The hockey stick of claim 1, wherein the coupling member is a rod member having at least one portion with a cylindrical outer profile

15. The hockey stick of claim 1, wherein the middle stick portion is at least 12 inches long, and the upper stick portion is at least 4 inches long.

16. A hockey stick for training a person in stick handling, comprising:

a. an elongate upper stick portion configured to be gripped by a control hand of the person;

b. an elongate lower stick portion rigidly coupled to the upper stick portion, the lower stick portion having a blade member extending outwardly therefrom; and

c. an elongate middle stick portion positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion and configured to be gripped by a directional hand of the person, the middle stick portion being rotatably coupled to the upper stick portion and lower stick portion so that rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion and the blade member to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion gripped by the directional hand.

17. The hockey stick of claim 16, further comprising an elongate coupling member for rigidly coupling the upper stick portion to the lower stick portion, the middle stick portion having a bore therein for receiving the coupling member.

18. The hockey stick of claim 16, wherein the upper stick portion has an upper length and the middle stick portion has a middle length, the upper length and middle length selected such that the control hand and the directional hand may be spaced apart by an operational distance during use.

19. A rotational assembly for use with a hockey stick, comprising:

a. a lower insert sized and shaped to be received in a first hollow portion of a lower stick portion of the hockey stick;

b. an upper insert sized and shaped to be received in a second hollow portion of an upper stick portion of the hockey stick;

c. an elongate coupling member rigidly coupled to the lower insert and the upper insert; and

d. an elongate middle stick portion rotatably coupled to the coupling member so that, when the upper insert is received in the upper stick portion and the lower insert is received in the lower stick portion, rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion.

20. A method of stick handling training, comprising:

a. providing a hockey stick having an elongate upper stick portion, an elongate lower stick portion rigidly coupled to the upper stick portion and having a blade member extending outwardly therefrom, and an elongate middle stick portion positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion, the middle stick portion being rotatably coupled to the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion;

b. gripping the upper stick portion using a control hand;

c. gripping the middle stick portion using a directional hand;

d. rotating the upper stick portion in a first direction using the control hand, causing the lower stick portion and the blade member to rotate in the same first direction; and

e. inhibiting the middle stick portion from rotating using the directional hand.