WO2020033292A1

WO2020033292A1 - Hockey stick exposed core member on back face of blade

Info

Publication number: WO2020033292A1
Application number: PCT/US2019/045070
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brian Mollner; Jonathan ERREDGE
Original assignee: True Temper Sports, Inc.
Priority date: 2018-08-06
Filing date: 2019-08-05
Publication date: 2020-02-13

Abstract

A blade for a hockey stick includes a front face, a rear face, a first end operable to be connected to a blade connecting end of a handle portion, a second end that is opposite the first end, an upper edge that extends between the first and second ends, and a lower edge that extends between the first and second ends. The blade includes: a resiliently compressible core member; and a covering member that partially encases the resiliently compressible core member and that defines an exterior surface of the blade, the covering member including an opening on the rear face of the blade that exposes the resiliently compressible core member. A portion of the resiliently compressible core member extends into the opening.

Description

HOCKEY STICK EXPOSED CORE MEMBER ON BACK FACE OF BLADE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present disclosure is a PCT International Application of United States Provisional Patent Application No. 62/714,993, filed on August 6, 2018. The entire disclosure of the application referenced above is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a hockey stick and, more particularly, relates to a hockey stick blade with a resiliently compressible core member that protruded into an opening on a back face of the hockey stick blade.

INTRODUCTION

[0003] The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

[0004] Blades of hockey sticks can be made out of a monolithic piece of material, such as wood. Hockey stick blades can also be made out of a composite material, such as high strength fibers (e.g., carbon fibers) that are embedded within a polymeric material (e.g., epoxy). In the example of composite materials, a pre-preg material is wrapped around a relatively stiff core member, and the pre-preg material is then cured (e.g., via heat) and molded to form the hockey stick blade. The pre-preg material can be wrapped such that the fibers are in a predetermined orientation such that the hockey stick blade exhibits advantageous force distribution properties, stiffness, etc. This type of hockey stick blade can be relatively low weight to such that the hockey stick can be maneuvered relatively quickly and easily.

SUMMARY

[0005] In a feature, a blade for a hockey stick is described. The blade includes a front face, a rear face, a first end operable to be connected to a blade connecting end of a handle portion, a second end that is opposite the first end, an upper edge that extends between the first and second ends, and a lower edge that extends between the first and second ends. The blade includes: a resiliency compressible core member; and a covering member that partially encases the resiliently compressible core member and that defines an exterior surface of the blade, the covering member including an opening on the rear face of the blade that exposes the resiliently compressible core member. A portion of the resiliently compressible core member extends into the opening.

[0006] In further features, the blade further includes at least one additional core member that is at least partially encased by the covering member.

[0007] In further features, the at least one additional core member includes a structural foam material.

[0008] In further features, a rib of the covering member is disposed between the at least one additional core member and the resiliently compressible core member and that extends between the front face and the rear face.

[0009] In further features, the resiliently compressible core member and the at least one additional core member at least partially overlap between the front face and the rear face.

[0010] In further features, a portion of the resiliently compressible core member is disposed closer to the front face than the at least one additional core member.

[0011] In further features, the at least one additional core member includes a foaming adhesive material.

[0012] In further features, the resiliently compressible core member is made of an elastomeric material.

[0013] In further features, the resiliently compressible core member is made of least one of polyurethane, silicone, neoprene, and rubber.

[0014] In further features, the covering member includes a plurality of woven carbon fibers.

[0015] In further features, the resiliently compressible core member includes: a planar sheet portion; and an extension portion that extends into the opening.

[0016] In further features: the extension portion includes a first end and a second end; and a first thickness of the extension portion at the first end is less than a second thickness of the extension portion at the second end. [0017] In further features: the extension portion includes a first end and a second end; and a first thickness of the extension portion at the first end is equal to a second thickness of the extension portion at the second end.

[0018] In further features, the sheet portion includes shoulders that extend outwardly past outer edges of the extension portion and that are encased within the covering member.

[0019] In further features, a length of the sheet portion is greater than or equal to 3 inches.

[0020] In further features, a height of the sheet portion is greater than or equal to 1 inch.

[0021] In a feature, a hockey stick includes: a handle portion with a blade connecting end; and a blade including a front face, a rear face, a first end operable to be connected to the blade connecting end of the handle portion, a second end that is opposite the first end, an upper edge that extends between the first and second ends, and a lower edge that extends between the first and second ends. The blade further includes: an elastomeric core member; at least one additional core member; and a covering member that at least partially encases the at least one additional core member and the elastomeric core member, the covering member defining an exterior surface of the blade, the covering member including an opening on the rear face of the blade that exposes a portion of the elastomeric core member along the rear face of the blade.

[0022] In further features, the elastomeric core member includes: a planar sheet portion; and an extension portion that extends into the opening.

[0023] In further features: the extension portion includes a first end and a second end; and a first thickness of the extension portion at the first end is less than a second thickness of the extension portion at the second end.

[0024] In further features, the sheet portion includes shoulders that extend outwardly past outer edges of the extension portion and that are encased within the covering member.

[0025] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a front view of a hockey stick.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example implementation of the hockey stick taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an example implementation of the hockey stick taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0030] FIGs. 4 and 5 are perspective rear views of a blade portion of the hockey stick.

[0031] FIGs. 6 and 7 are perspective views of a resiliently compressible core member of the hockey stick.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1 , a hockey stick 10 is illustrated. The hockey stick 10 includes a handle portion 12, which a player 14 holds, and a blade portion 16 (i.e. , blade), which is used for controlling a hockey puck 18 or a ball. As will be discussed below, the blade portion 16 can provide an improved feel and improved control of the hockey puck 18. The blade portion 16 also exhibits improved flexibility, thus providing flatter movement of the hockey puck 18.

[0033] The hockey stick 10 can be adapted for any position on a hockey team, including that of a goalie. In other words, the hockey stick 10 may be a goalkeeper hockey stick or a hockey stick configured to be used by other positions. While the example of an ice hockey stick will be provided, the present application is also applicable to other types of sports equipment, such as field hockey sticks, roller hockey sticks, etc.

[0034] The handle portion 12 can be elongated and longitudinally straight. In some embodiments, the handle portion 12 can include a hollow core that is embedded and wrapped within a covering (e.g., composite material with carbon fibers).

[0035] The handle portion 12 includes a blade connecting end 13. The blade portion 16 is fixed to the blade connecting end 13 of the handle portion 12. The blade portion 16 can be fixed to the blade connecting end 13 in any suitable manner. The handle portion 12 and the blade portion 16 can be manufactured separately and subsequently attached together. Alternatively, the handle portion 12 and the blade portion 16 may be manufactured together.

[0036] The construction and manufacture of the handle portion 12 and/or blade portion 16, the attachment of the blade portion 16 to the handle portion 12, and other features of the hockey stick 10 can be according to the teachings of U.S. Patent No. 6,893,596, issued May 17, 2005 to Haas et al. and/or U.S. Patent No. 7,520,829, issued April 21 , 2009 to Mollner et al., each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0037] The blade portion 16 generally includes a front face 20, which can be used for receiving and moving the hockey puck 18 (e.g., passing, shooting, etc.), and a rear face 22 (FIGS. 2 and 4), which can also be used for receiving and moving the hockey puck 18. The blade portion 16 also includes a first end 28 that is connected to the blade connecting end 13 of the handle portion 12. The blade portion 16 also includes a second end 30 that is opposite to the first end 28.

[0038] The blade portion 16 also includes an upper edge 24 and a lower edge 26 that is opposite the upper edge 24. The upper edge 24 is typically spaced away from a playing surface (e.g., ice). The lower edge 26 may contact the playing surface. The upper edge 24 is opposite the lower edge 26.

[0039] Both the upper and lower edges 24 and 26 extend between the first and second ends 28 and 30 of the blade portion 16. The upper and lower edges 24 and 26 and the front and rear faces 20 and 22 can have a curvature between the first and second ends 28 and 30 such that the front face 20 is concave while the rear face 22 is convex. Alternatively, the front and rear faces 20 and 22 and the upper and lower edges 24 and 26 may be straight.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the blade portion 16 can include first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth core members 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37 that are covered by and at least partially encased by a covering member 38. The sixth core member 37 can be resiliently compressible such that the blade portion 16 resiliently compresses. In other words, the thickness of the blade portion 16 measured between the front and rear faces 20 and 22 can vary due to this resilient compressibility. For example, the blade portion 16 can resiliently compress at the sixth core member 37 when the hockey puck 18 impacts the blade portion 16 (e.g., the player 14 receives a pass). The blade portion 16 can also flex at locations near the sixth core member 37. As such, the impact energy can be dissipated, and the hockey puck 18 can remain in contact with the blade portion 16 for a longer period, such as during passing or shooting of the hockey puck 18. Thus, the hockey stick 10 can provide a greater amount of control of the hockey puck 18 and flatter travel of the hockey puck 18 via the sixth core member 37 and the orientation of the sixth core member 37 within the blade portion 16. The hockey stick 10 may provide less control and less flat travel without the sixth core member 37 or if the sixth core member 37 is configured and/or located differently.

[0041] The covering member 38 defines almost an entire outer surface 41 of the blade portion 16. However, the covering member 38 includes an opening 55 on the rear face 22 of the blade portion 16 that partially exposes a portion of the sixth core member 37. The opening 55 can help facilitate resilient compression of the blade portion 16. Thus, the opening 55 can aid puck control in combination with the sixth core member 37.

[0042] The shape of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth core members 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 conform to the shape of the blade portion 16 of the hockey stick 10. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth core members 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 extend lengthwise between the first end 28 and the second end 30. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth core members 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 may be made of one or more different materials. For example, the first, third, and fifth core members 32, 34, and 36 may be a relatively rigid, stiff, lightweight material, such as a foaming adhesive. The second and fourth core members 33 and 35 may be a relatively rigid, stiff, lightweight material, such as a rigid foam or a structural foam. Thus, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth core members 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 can provide added strength to the blade portion 16 while decreasing the weight of the blade portion 16 or without significantly increasing the weight of the blade portion 16.

[0043] While the example of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth core members 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 is shown in FIG. 2, one, more than one, or all of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth core members 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 may be omitted. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates an example implementation of the hockey stick 10 with the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth core members 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 omitted.

[0044] FIGs. 5 and 6 include example perspective views of the sixth core member 37. The sixth core member 37 includes a planar sheet portion 51 and an extension portion 53. The extension portion 53 extends away from (e.g., orthogonally to) a plane of the sheet portion 51. A portion of the extension portion 53 extends into the opening 55 in the covering member 38 on the rear face 22. FIGs. 4 and 5 include example perspective views of the rear face 22 of the blade portion 16 illustrating the extension portion 53 within the opening 55.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the extension portion 53 can be disposed adjacent to and can extend along the rear face 22 of the hockey stick 10. The sheet portion 51 can be disposed adjacent to and can extend along the front face 20 of the hockey stick 10. A front portion 57 can be defined opposite a rear portion 59. The rear portion 59 can be disposed within the blade portion 16 facing the first end 28 of the blade portion 16. The front portion 57 can be disposed within the blade portion 16 facing the second end 30 of the blade portion 16.

[0046] In various implementations, the thickness of the sixth core member 37 can vary between the front and rear portions 57 and 59. For example, the rear portion 59 can be thicker than the front portion 57. The thickness of the sixth core member 37 (e.g., the extension portion 53 only or both the extension portion 53 and the sheet portion 51 ) can gradually decrease from the rear portion 59 to the front portion 57. In other implementations, the thickness of the sixth core member 37 can be constant or substantially constant between the front and rear portions 57 and 59. In FIG. 6, the sheet portion 51 is shown as including a constant thickness. The extension portion 53, however, decreases in thickness from the rear portion 59 to the front portion 57.

[0047] The sheet portion 51 may extend outwardly past outer ends of the extension portion 53 at the front and rear portions 57 and 59. The portions of the sheet portion 51 that extend outwardly past the outer ends of the extension portion are encased within the covering member 38 to retain the sixth core member 37 within the blade portion 16.

[0048] A length of the sheet portion 51 from the front portion 57 to the rear portion 59 may be greater than or equal to the diameter of a standard hockey puck (e.g., 3 inches, approximately 76 millimeters). A height of the sheet portion 51 may be greater than, equal to, or less than the thickness of a standard hockey puck (e.g., 1 inch, approximately 25 millimeters). A height of the extension portion 53 is less than a height of the sheet portion 51.

[0049] The extension portion 53 may have a rectangular prism shape with rounded corners, an oval prism shape, or another suitable shape. The sixth core member 37 may be located between the first and second ends 28 and 30 with a (lengthwise) center of the sixth core member 37 being located lengthwise between the first and second ends 28 and 30 where hockey pucks typically contact the blade portion 16. For example, center of the sixth core member 37 may be located at a middle between the first and second ends 28 and 30. Alternatively, the center of the sixth core member 37 may be located more toward the first end 28 than the second end 30. The center of the sixth core member 37 may alternatively be located more toward the second end 30 than the first end 28.

[0050] In various implementations, such as shown in FIGs. 2, 5, and 6, the extension portion 53 may include shoulder members 61 and rear face 63. The shoulder members 61 extend outwardly from outer edges of the rear face 63. The rear face 63 may extend through the opening 55 and be flush with the outer surface 41 of the covering member 38 and the rear face 22 of the blade portion 16. The covering member 38, however, may cover the shoulder members 61. The covering member 38 covering the shoulder members 61 may allow for the rear face 63 to more completely fill the opening 55 in the covering member 38 and maintain the sixth core member 37 in place within the blade portion 16.

[0051] The sixth core member 37 can be made out of a resiliently compressible material. For instance, the sixth core member 37 can be made from polyurethane, silicone, neoprene, rubber, or another elastomeric material. In some embodiments, the sixth core member 37 can have a hardness between 70 on the Shore A scale and a 50 on the Shore D scale. In some embodiments, the sixth core member 37 can have a hardness of 90 on the Shore A scale.

[0052] The covering member 38 can be made out of a lightweight, high-strength composite material. For example, the covering member 38 can include a plurality of carbon fibers that are woven and embedded within an epoxy or other matrix material. During manufacture of the hockey stick 10, pre-preg material can be wrapped around and laid over the core members 32, 34, 36 and then cured to form the covering member 38. Flowever, the covering member 38 could be made out of another material or formed in another fashion.

[0053] As shown, the covering member 38 can also be wrapped so as to extend over and define the entire front face 20 of the blade portion 16, the entire upper edge 24, the lower edge 26, the entire rear face 22, and the entire second end 30. The covering member 38 can also connect to the handle portion 12 at the first end 28 of the blade portion 16. Furthermore, the covering member 38 covers only a portion of the rear face 22 of the blade portion 16 such that the opening 55 is defined along the rear face 22. The opening 55 can have any suitable length, width, or other dimension. In the embodiments illustrated, the opening 55 is included only along the rear face 22. For instance, the opening 55 can extend along substantially the entire rear face 63. Stated differently, the opening 55 exposes substantially an entirety of the rear face 63 along the rear face 22 of the blade portion 16. As shown, the rear face 63 is substantially flush with the surrounding portions of the outer surface 41 of the covering member 38.

[0054] The covering member 38 can extend between two or more components of the blade portion 16. For example, ribs of the covering member 38 can be disposed between the second core member 33 and the third core member 34, between the third core member 34 and the sixth core member 37, between the sixth core member 37 and the fourth core member 35, between the fourth core member 35 and the fifth core member 36, and/or between the sixth core member 37 and the fifth core member 36. The ribs of the covering member 38 can increase stiffness and strength of the blade portion 16 (e.g., under shear loading). The ribs can be made of the same material as the other portions of the covering member 38 and can be integrally connected to the covering member 38.

[0055] It will be appreciated that the covering member 38 can extend over any portion of the core members. Also, in some embodiments, the opening 55 is not included and the rear face 22 is entirely covered by the covering member 38. Furthermore, the opening 55 can be arranged in another suitable location (e.g., along the front face 20). Moreover, the covering member 38 can be wrapped such that the high strength (e.g., carbon) fibers are disposed in any suitable orientation for increasing the strength of the hockey stick 10.

[0056] Accordingly, the blade portion 16 of the hockey stick 10 can be resiliently compressible. This can allow the hockey stick 10 to better absorb energy (e.g., from impact of the hockey puck 18), and the hockey puck 18 is less likely to inadvertently bounce away from the hockey stick 10. Thus, the player can better control the hockey puck 18. Moreover, the blade portion 16 can resiliently compress, flex, and releasably return to its neutral position, and this energy can be transferred to the hockey puck 18 for added velocity and flatter movement during shooting and passing. Moreover, even though the first core member 32 might be made from an elastomer, the weight of the blade portion 16 can remain relatively low, for example, to remain near a typical location of contact between the blade portion 16 and the hockey puck 18.

[0057] Additionally, in some embodiments, the compressibility of the sixth core member 37 can be varied among different hockey sticks. As such, the hockey stick 10 can be customized for different players and positions.

[0058] The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.

[0059] Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including“connected,”“engaged,”“coupled,”“adjacent,”“next to,”“on top of,” “above,”“below,” and“disposed.” Unless explicitly described as being“direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship can be a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, but can also be an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean“at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A blade for a hockey stick, the blade including a front face, a rear face, a first end operable to be connected to a blade connecting end of a handle portion, a second end that is opposite the first end, an upper edge that extends between the first and second ends, and a lower edge that extends between the first and second ends, the blade comprising:

a resiliently compressible core member; and

a covering member that partially encases the resiliently compressible core member and that defines an exterior surface of the blade, the covering member including an opening on the rear face of the blade that exposes the resiliently compressible core member,

wherein a portion of the resiliently compressible core member extends into the opening.

2. The blade of claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional core member that is at least partially encased by the covering member.

3. The blade of claim 2, wherein the at least one additional core member includes a structural foam material.

4. The blade of claim 2, further comprising a rib of the covering member that is disposed between the at least one additional core member and the resiliently compressible core member and that extends between the front face and the rear face.

5. The blade of claim 2, wherein the resiliently compressible core member and the at least one additional core member at least partially overlap between the front face and the rear face.

6. The blade of claim 5, wherein a portion of the resiliently compressible core member is disposed closer to the front face than the at least one additional core member.

7. The blade of claim 2, wherein the at least one additional core member includes a foaming adhesive material.

8. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the resiliently compressible core member is made of an elastomeric material.

9. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the resiliently compressible core member is made of least one of polyurethane, silicone, neoprene, and rubber.

10. The blade of claim 1 , wherein the covering member includes a plurality of woven carbon fibers.

11. The blade of claim 1 wherein the resiliently compressible core member includes: a planar sheet portion; and

an extension portion that extends into the opening.

12. The blade of claim 11 wherein:

the extension portion includes a first end and a second end; and

a first thickness of the extension portion at the first end is less than a second thickness of the extension portion at the second end.

13. The blade of claim 11 wherein:

the extension portion includes a first end and a second end; and

a first thickness of the extension portion at the first end is equal to a second thickness of the extension portion at the second end.

14. The blade of claim 11 wherein the sheet portion includes shoulders that extend outwardly past outer edges of the extension portion and that are encased within the covering member.

15. The blade of claim 11 wherein a length of the sheet portion is greater than or equal to 3 inches.

16. The blade of claim 11 wherein a height of the sheet portion is greater than or equal to 1 inch.

17. A hockey stick comprising:

a handle portion with a blade connecting end; and

a blade including a front face, a rear face, a first end operable to be connected to the blade connecting end of the handle portion, a second end that is opposite the first end, an upper edge that extends between the first and second ends, and a lower edge that extends between the first and second ends, the blade further including:

an elastomeric core member;

at least one additional core member; and

a covering member that at least partially encases the at least one additional core member and the elastomeric core member, the covering member defining an exterior surface of the blade, the covering member including an opening on the rear face of the blade that exposes a portion of the elastomeric core member along the rear face of the blade.

18. The hockey stick of claim 17 wherein the elastomeric core member includes: a planar sheet portion; and

an extension portion that extends into the opening.

19. The hockey stick of claim 18 wherein:

the extension portion includes a first end and a second end; and

20. The hockey stick of claim 18 wherein the sheet portion includes shoulders that extend outwardly past outer edges of the extension portion and that are encased within the covering member.