Lacrosse stick head

• US 20020173388A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Warrior Sports Incorporated (Warrior Lacrosse Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Warrior Lacrosse Incorporated
• Inventors: Morrow, David, Hubbard, Jesse
• Granted Patent: US 6,561,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/513
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/14 Lacrosse
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/025 Means on frames for clamping string ends
• 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 59/30 forming hand-held throwing or catching aids for use with rings, discs, wheels or cylindrical throwing-bodies, or for use with balls having a central bore

Abstract

A lacrosse head for use with a lacrosse handle includes a frame element including an arcuate wall, a scoop opposing the arcuate wall, and a pair of opposing sidewalls. The sidewalls generally extend between the arcuate wall and the scoop. The frame element has a socket extending rearwardly therefrom for receipt of a handle therein. The lacrosse head has a plurality of net attachment means formed therein for attachment of lacrosse net thereto. The lacrosse head has a pocket area defined by a lower portion of the arcuate wall, the scoop, and a lower portion of each of the pair of opposing sidewalls. The lacrosse head also has a catching area defined by an upper portion of the arcuate wall, the scoop, and an upper portion of each of the pair of opposing sidewalls. The catching area of the head is larger than the pocket area.

Claims

1. A lacrosse head comprising:

a base;

a scoop;

a throat area extending rearwardly from said base for accommodating a lacrosse handle therein; and

a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending between said scoop and said base defining a ball receiving area, wherein said sidewalls are progressively outwardly inclined from said base towards said scoop.

2. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein said sidewalls are uniformly progressively outwardly inclined.

3. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein each of said sidewalls has an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion defining a ball receiving area and said lower portion including string retaining means and defining a ball possession area.

4. The lacrosse head of claim 3 wherein said ball receiving area is progressively larger with respect to said ball retaining area from said base towards said scoop.

5. The lacrosse head of claim 3 wherein the head includes a forward section and a rear section and wherein said ball possession area comprises a substantially uniform width throughout said rear section and said ball receiving area comprises a progressively increasing width from said base towards said scoop.

6. The lacrosse head of claim 3 wherein said string retaining means are located in a recessed channel formed in said lower portion.

7. A lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse handle, comprising:

an open frame having a rearward arcuate wall, a pair of sidewalls that extend generally forwardly from said rearward arcuate wall; and

a scoop that connects said pair of sidewalls opposite said rearward arcuate wall;

a throat projecting rearwardly from said open frame and having a socket for receipt of the lacrosse handle therein;

a plurality of net attachment structures associated with said open frame allowing a net to be secured to said open frame;

each of said pair of sidewalls having a lower rim and an upper rim, and wherein at least one location along said open frame a first distance defined by the distance between said upper rims of said sidewalls is greater than a second distance defined by the distance between said lower rims of said sidewalls.

8. The lacrosse head of claim 7, wherein each of said pair of sidewalls has an inner surface and an outer surface and at least a portion of said lower rim of each of said sidewalls is recessed outwardly with respect to said inner surface of said sidewalls.

9. The lacrosse head of claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of attachment structures is formed adjacent said recessed lower rim.

10. The lacrosse head of claim 7, wherein said first distance is greater than said second distance along the entire length of each of said pair of sidewalls.

11. The lacrosse head of claim 10, wherein said first distance progressively increases from said rearward arcuate wall to said scoop.

12. The lacrosse head of claim 7, wherein each of said sidewalls has a bend formed therein, wherein said first distance becomes significantly greater than said second distance.

13. The lacrosse head of claim 7, wherein sidewalls define a rear portion and a forward portion and wherein said lower rims of said sidewalls are generally parallel to one another in said rear portion.

14. The lacrosse head of claim 10, wherein each of said sidewalls has an inner surface that is generally convex in shape from said lower rim to said upper rim.

15. The lacrosse head of claim 10, wherein each of said sidewalls has an inner surface that is generally inclined from said lower rim to said upper rim.

16. The lacrosse head of claim 10, further comprising:

a stiffening rib formed on an inner surface of each of said pair of sidewalls.

17. The lacrosse head of claim 7, further comprising:

a finger notch formed in an underside of said throat for accommodating a user'"'"'s finger.

19. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein said lower portion of at least one sidewall has a recessed portion formed therein to assist in retaining a lacrosse ball in said pocket area.

20. The lacrosse head of claim 19, wherein said recessed portion has a plurality of net attachment means formed therein.

21. The lacrosse head of claim 20, wherein said recessed portion has a stepped back configuration.

22. The lacrosse head of claim 20, wherein said recessed portion is configured as an inclined surface.

23. The lacrosse head of claim 20, wherein said recessed portion has a curved configuration.

24. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein said sidewalls each have an upper rim that is lowered with respect to a plane defined by an upper surface of said socket.

25. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein said sidewalls each have an upper rim and a lower rim and wherein the distance between said upper rims is greater than the distance between said lower rims from said arcuate wall to said scoop.

26. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein said sidewalls are progressively outwardly inclined from said arcuate wall to said scoop.

27. The lacrosse head of claim 25, wherein said distance between said upper rims progressively increases with respect to said distance between said lower rims from said arcuate wall to said scoop.

28. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein said pocket area has a rear section and a forward section.

29. The lacrosse head of claim 28, wherein said rear section of said pocket area comprises a substantially uniform width between a lower rim of each of said sidewalls.

30. The lacrosse head of claim 18, wherein said socket has a finger notch formed on an underside thereof.

31. The lacrosse head of claim 18, further comprising:

a stiffening ridge formed on an inner surface of each sidewall.

18. A lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse handle, comprising:

a frame element having an arcuate wall, a scoop opposing said arcuate wall, and a pair of sidewalls that generally extend between said arcuate wall and said scoop;

a socket extending rearwardly from said frame element for receipt of a handle therein to define a head/handle axis;

a pocket area defined by a lower portion of said arcuate wall and a lower portion of each of said pair of opposing sidewalls; and

a catching area defined by an upper portion of said arcuate wall, and an upper portion of each of said pair of opposing sidewalls;

whereby said catching area is larger than said pocket area to increase the ball retention characteristics of the head without decreasing the ability to catch the ball.

32. A lacrosse stick head for attachment to a lacrosse stick, comprising:

a frame element defining an open area for receiving a lacrosse ball including;

a rear arcuate wall;

a scoop located opposite said rear arcuate wall; and

a pair of opposing sidewalls extending from said rear arcuate wall to said scoop, at least one sidewall of said pair of opposing sidewalls having an inner surface with an upper section and a lower section, said pair of sidewalls being divisable into a rear portion and a forward portion;

wherein said lower sections of said sidewalls in said rear section are disposed further inwardly than said upper sections.

33. The lacrosse stick head of claim 32 wherein said pair of opposing sidewalls sway from said rear arcuate wall to said scoop.

34. The lacrosse stick head of claim 32 wherein said pair of opposing sidewalls are progressively outwardly inclined from said rear arcuate wall to said scoop.

35. The lacrosse stick head of claim 32 wherein said pair of opposing sidewalls are leaning outwardly from said lower section to said upper section.

36. The lacrosse stick head of claim 32 wherein lower section includes an integrally formed recessed channel.

37. The lacrosse stick head of claim 36 wherein said integrally formed recessed channel has an attachment mechanism for attaching a netting to the frame element formed therein.

38. The lacrosse stick head of claim 32 wherein at least a portion of said lower section gradually arches more forward than said upper section.

39. The lacrosse stick head of claim 32 wherein at least a portion of said lower section gradually arches more inward than said upper section.

40. The lacrosse stick of claim 36, wherein said recessed channel is stepped back from said inner surfaces of said sidewalls.

41. The lacrosse stick head of claim 32 wherein said rear section comprises an open area between said opposing sidewalls having a width, said width starting at said rear arcuate wall and closely resembling the width of a lacrosse ball, said width increasing in size at a distance from said rear arcuate wall which is significantly greater than the width of a lacrosse ball.

42. The lacrosse stick head of claim 41 wherein said width between said upper portion of said sidewalls progressively increases from said base to said scoop.

43. The lacrosse head of claim 32, further comprising:

a stiffening ridge formed on said inner surface of each of said pair of opposing sidewalls.

44. The lacrosse head of claim 43, wherein said stiffening ridge is formed in said lower section.

46. The lacrosse stick head of claim 45 wherein said compound inner surface comprises:

said pair of opposing sidewalls swaying from said rear arcuate wall to said scoop;

said upper section and said lower section bowing outwardly and forwardly; and

said pair of opposing sidewalls narrowing from said scoop to said rear arcuate wall.

47. The lacrosse stick head of claim 45 wherein said compound inner surface forms a gradual inward guide for a lacrosse ball, said gradual inward guide guides said lacrosse ball into a pocket located forward of said rear arcuate wall.

48. The lacrosse stick head of claim 45, wherein said lower section has a recessed portion.

49. The lacrosse stick head of claim 48, wherein said recessed portion is configured in the form of a step.

50. The lacrosse stick head of claim 48, wherein said recessed channel has a plurality of net attachment structures disposed therein.

51. The lacrosse stick head of claim 45, wherein said pair of opposing sidewalls have a rear portion and a forward portion.

52. The lacrosse stock head of claim 51, wherein said sidewalls each have an upper rim and a lower rim, and wherein said lower rims of said sidewalls are generally parallel to one another in said rear section.

53. The lacrosse stick head of claim 51, wherein said upper rims are disposed further outwardly then said lower rims.

54. The lacrosse stick head of claim 53, wherein a distance between said upper rims progressively increases from said rear arcuate wall to said scoop.

45. The lacrosse stick head for attachment to a lacrosse stick, comprising:

a frame element defining an open area for receiving a lacrosse ball including;

a rear arcuate wall;

a scoop located opposite said rear arcuate wall; and

a pair of opposing sidewalls extending from said rear arcuate wall to said scoop, at least one sidewall of said pair of sidewalls having a body with a compound inner surface having an upper section and a lower section; and

wherein at least a portion of said lower section is arching more inward than an inner side of said upper section.

55. The lacrosse head comprising:

a base;

a scoop;

a throat area extending rearwardly from said base for accommodating a lacrosse handle therein.

a pair of spaced apart sidewalls extending between said scoop and said base defining a ball receiving area, at least one of said pair of sidewalls having a recessed channel formed in a lower portion thereof to assist in retaining a lacrosse ball therein.

56. The lacrosse head of claim 55, wherein said sidewalls are progressively outwardly inclined from said base towards said scoop.