Lacrosse head pocket and related method of manufacture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10093049-B2
Application number	US-201514873436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 17, 2012
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided. The pocket can be a molded pocket including individual molded strings, combined strings, shooting strings and support rails extending around a perimeter of the pocket. Certain pocket elements can include transition parts to smoothly transition components having different cross sections. The pocket can include a pre-formed ball channel and hole units having broadsides for connection to a head or other component. The pocket can be attached to a pocket frame, and optionally constructed from a mesh or other synthetic material that is tensioned with the pocket frame. A mold and related molding method are also provided.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A lacrosse head comprising:
a base including a ball stop;
a scoop distal from the base;
a pair of sidewalls extending from the base and joined with one another distal from the base at the scoop; and
a molded pocket joined with at least one of the ball stop, scoop and pair of sidewalls, the molded pocket constructed from a network of molded strings wherein a first molded string in the network of molded strings, comprises:
a first part of the molded string having a first total cross section area;
a second part of the molded string having a third total cross section area that is less than the first total cross section area; and
a transition part of the molded string extending between, connecting and monolithically formed with the first part and the second part of the first molded string, the transition part having a tapering second total cross section area that decreases in cross section area from the first part toward the second part of the first molded string along a transition length extending between the first part and the second part of the first molded string, the transition part of the first molded string forming a non-abrupt transition between the first part of the first molded string having the first total cross section area and the second part of the first molded string having the third total cross section area, so that the lacrosse ball in the molded pocket can roll relative to the first molded string,

wherein the molded pocket includes a second molded string that is integral with the first molded string,
wherein the transition part is distal from the second molded string.

2. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the transition part is a frustoconical shape.

3. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the transition part second total cross section area is polygonal.

4. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the transition part second total cross section area is elliptical.

5. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the transition part second total cross section area is rounded.

6. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the transition part is void of any abrupt bumps and steps between the first part and second part.

7. The lacrosse head of claim 4 wherein the molded pocket is void of any strings, laces or cross pieces embedded therein.

8. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the first total cross section area is at least 10% greater in area than the third total cross section area.

9. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the transition length is about 1 mm to about 25 mm.

10. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the transition part includes a second total cross section area of a first shape that is different from a second shape of at least one of the first total cross section area and the second total cross section area.

11. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the transition part includes a second total cross section area of a first shape that is the same as a second shape of at least one of the first total cross section area and the second total cross section area.

12. The lacrosse head of claim 1 wherein the molded pocket is removably joined with the ball stop, the pair of sidewalls and the scoop, whereby the molded pocket can be easily replaced with a different molded pocket.

13. A lacrosse head comprising:
a base including a ball stop;
a scoop distal from the base;
a pair of sidewalls extending from the base and joined with one another distal from the base at the scoop;
a longitudinal axis extending from the ball stop toward the scoop;
a molded pocket joined with the ball stop, scoop and pair of sidewalls, the molded pocket constructed from a network of molded strings integrally and monolithically joined with one another to form a single piece unit, a first molded string in the network of molded strings, comprising:
a first part of the first molded string having a first total cross section area,
a second part of the first molded string having a third total cross section area that is less than the first total cross section area, and
a transition part of the first molded string extending between, connecting and monolithically formed with the first part and the second part, the transition part having a tapering second total cross section area that decreases in cross section area from the first part toward the second part of the first molded string along a transition length extending between the first part and the second part of the first molded string,
wherein the first part transitions to the transition part at a first angle,
wherein the second part transitions to the transition part at a second angle,
wherein the first angle is measured relative to a first outer surface of the first part and a second outer surface of the transition part,
wherein the second angle is measured relative to a second outer surface of the transition part and a third outer surface of the second part,
wherein the first, second and third outer surfaces lie within a bisecting plane that bisects the respective first part, second part and transition part,
wherein the pocket includes a second molded string,
wherein the first molded string and second molded string converge with one another at a junction to form a combined molded string,
wherein the transition part is distal from the combined molded string.

14. The lacrosse head of claim 13 wherein the first angle and the second angle are each less than 45 degrees.

15. The lacrosse head of claim 14 wherein the first angle and the second angle are each less than 25 degrees.

16. A lacrosse head comprising:
a lacrosse head frame;
a pocket joined with the lacrosse head frame, the pocket constructed from a network of molded strings including a first molded string comprising:
a first part of the first molded string having a first total cross section area;
a second part of the first molded string having a third total cross section area that is less than the first total cross section area; and
a transition part of the first molded string extending between, connecting and monolithically formed with the first part and the second part of the first molded string, the transition part having a tapering second total cross section area that decreases in cross section area from the first part toward the second part of the first molded string along a transition length extending between the first part and the second part of the first molded string,
wherein the pocket includes a molded perimeter part that is joined with the first molded string, the first molded string terminating at the molded perimeter part, the molded perimeter part configured to be joined to a lacrosse head constructed from a different material from the molded pocket,
wherein the transition part is distal from the molded perimeter part.

17. The lacrosse head of claim 16 ,
wherein the first molded string includes a first total cross section area that is rounded,
wherein the third total cross section area is rounded,
wherein a lacrosse ball in the molded pocket can roll relative to the first molded string.

18. The lacrosse head of claim 16 ,
wherein the tapering second total cross section area is maintained when the molded pocket is not under tension due to a lacrosse ball.

19. The lacrosse head of claim 1 ,
wherein the tapering second total cross section area is maintained when the molded pocket is not under tension due to a lacrosse ball.

Assignees

• Warrior Sports Inc

Inventors

• Burns Thomas H
• Janisse Richard J
• Slater Sean J
• Kohler Dale W
• Herman Craig M

Classifications

• B29C45/2681

  with rotatable mould parts · CPC title

• B29L2031/52

  Sports equipment {; Games; Articles for amusement}; Toys (B29L2031/54 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C37/02

  Deburring or deflashing {(thermal deburring in general B23D79/005)} · CPC title

• B29C45/14467

  Joining articles or parts of a single article (B29C45/14377, B29C45/14385, B29C45/14581, B29C45/14614 and B29C45/006 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C45/14631

  Coating reinforcements (fibre reinforcements B29C45/0005) · CPC title