Lacrosse head

Abstract

An improved head for a lacrosse stick having ridges extending along the exterior surface of the lip and depressions extending inwardly from the interior surface of the lip adapted to protect the lacings from abrasive contact with the ground and the ball. The ridges flank each aperture on the lip through which the lacings are thread. The depressions abut each aperture on the lip and are recessed from the apertures to the backlip portion. Ball retaining ridges extend along the interior surface of the sidewalls and serve to direct and retain the ball within the ball pocket.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a head for a lacrosse stick having apparatus along the lip to protect the web laces from premature wearing and a ball retention apparatus along the sidewalls to help keep the ball in the pocket during play.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Current lacrosse heads typically include an open frame with a base having a concave interior surface, a pair of sidewalls that diverge from the base, and a lip that interconnects the sidewalls remotely to the base. Openings or other means are formed through the frame for securing a lacrosse net around the back side of the frame, leaving the opposing front side for receiving lacrosse balls.[0003]A frequent problem which occurs with lacrosse heads is the wearing of the laces. During play, the lip portion of the head comes in contact with the ground when scooping up the ball from the ground, causing the laces to wear out. U.S. Pat. No. 4,358,117, issued Nov. 9, 1982, to Deutsch, describes a lacrosse head which ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides an improved lacrosse head that protects the lacings from wear and keeps the ball in the pocket during play. It also helps direct the ball towards the ball pocket and keeps it there during play. The head has increased rigidity and requires less material to provide better ball retention capabilities. The lip of the head has ridges and depressions to protect the lacings from abrasive contact with the ground and ball. The sidewalls have ball retaining ridges to direct and retain the ball within the pocket. Overall, the improved lacrosse head provides better protection, retention, and performance for the player."

Problems solved by technology

A frequent problem which occurs with lacrosse heads is the wearing of the laces.

During play, the lip portion of the head comes in contact with the ground when scooping up the ball from the ground, causing the laces to wear out.

The lace holes disclosed in Deutsch are circular, which can cause difficulty in stinging flat rectangular laces or produces a too loosely strung web.

Additionally, Deutsch does not address the problem of lace wear resulting from contact of the inner surface of the lip with the lacrosse ball.

Plastic frames can cause a loss of rigidity when it comes to ball retention.

Although these ribs are said to facilitate easier retention of a ball in the netting, projection of the ribs normal to the interior of the head does little to control the bounce of the ball into the pocket because of the very slight overlap of the ribs with respect to the pocket.

Additionally, since Brine III's ribs are continuous and extend along virtually the entire length of the sidewall, these lacrosse heads require extra material for the ribs, adding to the weight and cost of the lacrosse head.

It is thus a problem to design a ball retention apparatus that is both light weight and cost effective and that does not compromise ball retention.

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