Hockey stick with spine-reinforced paddle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11534669-B2
Application number	US-201916656869-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2019
Priority date	May 17, 2017
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A construct for a hockey stick blade and paddle structure having a spine that protrudes from a back face and provides structural rigidity, as well as recessed areas that reduce the mass of the paddle structure.

First claim

We claim:

1. A hockey stick apparatus, comprising:
a shaft, having a proximal end and a distal end;
a blade, having a first side defining a curve extending along a heel end and a toe end and a second side opposite the first side defining the curve,
a paddle extending from the blade, the blade comprising a top edge and a bottom edge, the paddle having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and a first width extending between the top edge and the bottom edge, the distal end of the paddle coupled to the heel end of the blade, and the proximal end of the paddle coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the paddle further comprising:
a front face contiguous with the first side of the blade;
a back face contiguous with the second side of the blade, the back face further comprising:

a spine extending along a portion of the back face, the spine coupled to and protruding out from the back face, the spine having a second width less than the first width, a proximal end, and a distal end;
a rib structure, coupled to the spine and the back face, and extending from the spine to the top edge or the bottom edge; and
a recessed area, the recessed area having a first thickness,

wherein a second thickness of the paddle between the front face and a back surface of the spine is greater than the first thickness.

2. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spine comprises a rectangular shaft extending along a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

3. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spine comprises a circular or semi-circular shaft extending along a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

4. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spine comprises a triangular shaft extending along a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

5. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spine comprises an I-beam shaft extending along a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

6. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spine is at least partially hollow and has a cavity extending along at least a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

7. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the recessed area extends to a portion of a back face of the blade.

8. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the top edge and bottom edge are rounded back toward the back face of the paddle.

9. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the front face of the paddle is planar.

10. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spine has a trapezoidal cross section.

11. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the spine has a rounded cross section.

12. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shaft, the paddle, and the blade are integrally molded.

13. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the spine is centrally located on the back face.

14. A hockey stick apparatus, comprising:
a shaft, having a proximal end and a distal end;
a blade having a first side defining a curve extending along a heel end and a toe end a second side opposite the first side defining the curve,
a paddle extending from the blade comprising a top edge and a bottom edge, the paddle having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and a first width extending between the top edge and the bottom edge, the distal end of the paddle coupled to the heel end of the blade, and the proximal end of the paddle coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the paddle further comprising:
a front face contiguous with the first side of the blade;
a back face contiguous with the second side of the blade, the back face further comprising:
a bifurcated spine extending along a portion of the back face, the bifurcated spine coupled to and protruding out from the back face, the bifurcated spine having a second width less than the first width, a proximal end, and a distal end; and
a central recessed area, the central recessed area having a first thickness,

wherein the bifurcated spine comprises a first spine and a second spine and wherein the centralized recess extends between the first spine and the second spine;
wherein a second thickness of the paddle between the front face and a back surface of the spine is greater than the first thickness.

15. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the bifurcated spine comprises a rectangular shaft extending along a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

16. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the bifurcated spine comprises a circular or semi-circular shaft extending along a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

17. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the bifurcated spine comprises a triangular shaft extending along a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

18. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the bifurcated spine comprises an I-beam shaft extending along a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

19. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the bifurcated spine is at least partially hollow and has a cavity extending along at least a portion of the back face parallel to a longitudinal axis of the paddle.

20. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the recessed area extends to a portion of a back face of the blade.

21. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the top edge and bottom edge are rounded back toward the back face of the paddle.

22. A hockey stick apparatus, comprising:
a shaft, having a proximal end and a distal end;
a blade, having a first side defining a curve extending along a heel end and a toe end and a second side opposite the first side defining the curve,
a paddle extending from the blade, the blade comprising a top edge and a bottom edge, the paddle having a length extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and a first width extending between the top edge and the bottom edge, the distal end of the paddle coupled to the heel end of the blade, and the proximal end of the paddle coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the paddle further comprising:
a front face contiguous with the first side of the blade;
a back face contiguous with the second side of the blade, the back face further comprising:

a spine extending along a portion of the back face, the spine coupled to and protruding out from the back face, the spine having a second width less than the first width, a proximal end, and a distal end; and
a first recessed area and a second recessed area partially defined by the spine, the first recessed area being larger than the second recessed area and the first recessed are extending into the second side of the blade;

wherein the spine provides structural rigidity to the paddle and the first recessed area and the second recessed area are configured to reduce overall mass of the paddle.

23. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a first transition region coupled to the proximal end of the spine and a second transition region coupled to the distal end of the spine.

24. The hockey stick apparatus of claim 23 wherein one of the first transition region and the second transition reg

Assignees

• Bauer Hockey Ltd
• Bauer Hockey Llc

Inventors

• Plante Dominique
• Chambert Martin

Classifications

• A63B59/70 Primary

  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 title

• A63B2102/24

  Ice hockey · CPC title

• A63B2209/00

  Characteristics of used materials · CPC title