Formable sports implement

• US 6,062,996 A
• Filed: 03/19/1997
• Issued: 05/16/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exel Oyj
• Original Assignee: Fiberspar, Inc.
• Inventors: Nolet, Stephen C., Grey, Nicholas, Quigley, Peter A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Application Number:
  US08/820,764
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 473/563, 473/FOR 189, 473/562, 473/561, 473/560
• US Class Current: 473/563
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/24 Ice hockey
• 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

Abstract

A formable sports implement, of a fiber and resin composite construction and typically for attachment to a shaft, is capable of being formed to a selected shape using a low cost and simple procedure. Typically, the implement is preheated to a relatively low temperature, formed using low pressure, and allowed to cool. Upon cooling, the formable implement retains its shape, is capable of withstanding the forces of normal sports play, and retains advantages of composite construction.

Claims

1. In a sports implement for attachment to a shaft, said implement being elongated along a first axis and having an attachment for assembly with the shaft, the improvement comprising

a blade structure having a center plane extending along said first axis and of formable material including a polymer resin and fibers, said blade structure including a core element and a multilayer element extending along said first axis, said multilayer element including at least a portion of said fibers and said resin,

said core element including an elongated insert and a peripheral frame member located in said center plane of said blade structure,

said peripheral frame member defining an elongated opening in said center plane and said elongated insert being receivably seated within said elongated opening, and

said blade structure being substantially non-deformable at a first temperature, said first temperature depending upon a characteristic of said polymer resin, and being formable at a second temperature greater than the first temperature and less than 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. In a sports implement according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein said first temperature is normal ambient temperature.

3. In a sports implement according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein said first temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. In a sports implement according to claim 1 the further improvement wherein said polymer resin is a thermoset resin.

5. In a sports implement according to claim 1 the further improvement wherein said polymer resin is a thermoplastic resin.

6. In a sports implement according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein said characteristic of said polymer resin is a glass transition temperature below 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. In a sports implement according to 6, the further improvement wherein said polymer resin includes an elastomeric compound for lowering the glass transition temperature of said polymer resin.

8. In a sports implement according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein said multilayer element comprises first and second fibrous sheet elements contiguous respectively with first and second opposed faces of said core element, said first and second fibrous sheet elements including first and second sets of fibers impregnated with resin, respectively.

9. In a sports implement according to claim 8, the further improvement wherein said first and second sets of fibers are symmetrically oriented with respect to a mid-plane of said core element located parallel to said faces of said core element.

10. In a sports implement according to claim 8, the further improvement wherein said first and second sets of fibers are asymmetrically oriented with respect to a mid-plane of said core element located parallel to said faces of said core element.

11. In a sports implement according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein said frame is positioned between a first and a second fibrous sheet element of said multilayer element.

12. In a sports implement according to claim 11, the further improvement wherein said insert is selected from the group of materials consisting of thermoplastic, fiber reinforced thermoplastic, thermoset plastic, fiber reinforced thermoset plastic, wood, plywood, and polymer resin foam.

13. In a sports implement according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein said fibers of said multilayer element are oriented at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees relative to said first axis.

14. In a sports implement according to claim 1, the further improvement wherein a major portion of said fibers of said multilayer element are oriented at an angle offset from said first axis by at least ten degrees.

15. In a sports implement according to claim 1, the further improvement comprising a plurality of holes extending within said multilayer element and filled with polymer resin.

16. In a sports implement according to claim 15 the further improvement wherein said polymer resin in said hole includes reinforcing fibers.

17. A hockey stick comprising

a shaft, and

a blade structure having a center plane mounted to said shaft and elongated along a first axis, said blade structure having first and second opposed surfaces extending along said first axis and of formable material including a polymer resin and fibers, said blade structure including a multilayer element extending along said first axis, said multilayer element including at least a portion of said resin and first and second fibrous sheet elements disposed longitudinally with said opposed surfaces,

said core element including an elongated insert and a peripheral frame member located in said center plane of said blade structure,

said peripheral frame member defining an elongated opening in said center plane and said elongated insert being receivably seated within said elongated opening, and

said blade structure being substantially non-deformable at a first normally ambient temperature and being formable at a second temperature greater than the first temperature and less than 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

18. A hockey stick according to claim 17, further comprising a hosel adapted for integrally mounting said shaft to said blade structure.

19. In a sports implement for attachment to a shaft, said implement being elongated along a first axis and having an attachment for assembly with the shaft, the improvement comprising

a blade structure having a center plane extending along said first axis and of formable material including a polymer resin and fibers, said blade structure including a core element and a multilayer element extending along said first axis said multilayer element including at least a portion of said fibers and said resin,

said core element including an elongated insert and a peripheral frame member located in said center plane of said blade structure,

said peripheral frame member defining an elongated opening in said center plane and said elongated insert being receivably seated within said elongated opening, and

said formable material being substantially non-deformable at a first temperature, said first temperature depending upon a characteristic of said polymer resin, and being formable at a second temperature greater than the first temperature.

20. In a sports implement according to claim 19, the further improvement wherein said first temperature is normal ambient temperature.

21. In a sports implement according to claim 19, the further improvement wherein said first temperature is 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

22. In a sports implement according to claim 19 the further improvement wherein said polymer resin is a thermoset resin.

23. In a sports implement according to claim 19 the further improvement wherein said polymer resin is a thermoplastic resin.

24. In a sports implement according to claim 19, the further improvement wherein said characteristic of said polymer resin is a glass transition temperature below 212 degrees Fahrenheit.

25. In a sports implement according to claim 24, the further improvement wherein said polymer resin includes an elastomeric compound for lowering the glass transition temperature of said polymer resin.

26. In a sports implement according to claim 25, the further improvement wherein said multilayer element comprises first and second fibrous sheet elements contiguous respectively with first and second opposed faces of said core element, said first and second fibrous sheet elements including first and second sets of fibers impregnated with resin, respectively.

27. In a sports implement according to claim 26, the further improvement wherein said first and second sets of fibers are symmetrically oriented with respect to a mid-plane of said core element located parallel to said faces of said core element.

28. In a sports implement according to claim 26, the further improvement wherein said first and second sets of fibers are asymmetrically oriented with respect to a mid-plane of said core element located parallel to said faces of said core element.

29. In a sports implement according to claim 19, the further improvement wherein said frame is positioned between a first and a second fibrous sheet element of said multilayer element.

30. In a sports implement according to claim 29, the further improvement wherein said insert is selected from the group of materials consisting of thermoplastic, fiber reinforced thermoplastic, thermoset plastic, fiber reinforced thermoset plastic, wood, plywood, and polymer resin foam.

31. In a sports implement according to claim 19, the further improvement wherein said fibers of said multilayer element are oriented at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees relative to said first axis.

32. In a sports implement according to claim 19, the further improvement wherein a major portion of said fibers of said multilayer element are oriented at an angle offset from said first axis by at least ten degrees.

33. In a sports implement according to claim 19, the further improvement comprising a plurality of holes extending within said multilayer element and filled with polymer resin.

34. In a sports implement according to claim 33, the further improvement wherein said polymer resin in said hole includes reinforcing fibers.

35. In a sports implement according to claim 19, the further improvement wherein the second temperature lies within a range between the first temperature and 250 degrees Fahrenheit.