| Field hockey stick having a top weighted head -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Field hockey stick having a top weighted headRelated Patent Categories: Games Using Tangible Projectile, Player Held And Powered, Nonmechanical Projector, Per Se, For Projecting Aerial Projectile By Striking; Part Thereof Or Accessory Therefor, Club, Having Elongated Blade (e.g., Hockey Stick, Etc.)Field hockey stick having a top weighted head description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070142134, Field hockey stick having a top weighted head. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/030,953, filed Jan. 10, 2005, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/534,968, filed Jan. 9, 2004, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to field hockey sticks, and more particularly, to a field hockey stick having a top weighted head. [0004] 2. Background of the Invention [0005] As shown in FIG. 1, a field hockey stick 100 typically has a handle 102, a throat 104, and a head 106. The handle 102 starts at a first distal end of stick 100 and extends to throat 104. The stick 100 then curves at the base of the throat 104 to form the head 106 at the second distal end of stick 100. A horizontal line (such as line 115) drawn through the point at which stick 100 begins to curve marks the end of throat 104 and the beginning of head 106. The head 106 is also considered the base of the stick 100. The head 106 includes a toe 108 and curves horizontally and upwardly to form toe 108. The front (or left hand side, as shown in FIG. 1) of the stick 100 has a flat playing surface and the back is no-flat (e.g., rounded or curved) and not playable in a game. Generally, the flat playing surface includes all of head 106 and at least a portion of throat 104. All sticks are suitable for "right handed" play. [0006] Traditionally, field hockey sticks have been constructed of relatively standard dimensions, due primarily to widely accepted rules of the game. These rules dictate aspects of the stick such as weight, length, shape, and cross section. As one example, the rules require that the playing portion of the stick have a flat face and that every cross section of the stick be able to pass through a two-inch ring. In meeting these rules, the traditional field hockey stick has typically featured a flat front face and a curved back and back head of a relatively uniform shape. [0007] The total weight of a field hockey stick as defined by widely accepted rules must not exceed 737 grams. Within these parameters, field hockey sticks, including field hockey stick heads that are curved and have rounded backs, have a traditional shape and weight disbursement. [0008] In the game of field hockey, players typically favor passes and shots that are hard and low. Indeed, the more powerful the drive, the better chance the pass or shot has of eluding defenders. This increase in power, however, also increases the chance of losing control of the ball, especially in terms of lofting the ball illegally. These passes and shots are hit from an upright standing position and the ball must travel on or near the ground in a relatively straight line. A miss-hit ball often rises up in the air above knee level, which can result in the loss of possession and can be harmful to other players. Thus, a principal object of powerful drives is to keep the ball close to the ground. The object is to hit the ball hard but minimize its loft. Shooting low and hard on goal can significantly increase the chances of scoring, either through deflected shots or from rebounds off of the goalie. Keeping the ball low helps control passes and shots, while not violating game rules against lofted balls, which result in the opposing team gaining possession of the ball. Players therefore prefer field hockey sticks that meet this need. [0009] Field hockey sticks are typically made of wood or composites. As used herein, composites refer to field hockey sticks made by bladder molding or by wrapping sheets of uncured fiber-reinforced thermosetting resin around a mandrel, which is then withdrawn to form a hollow tubular lay-up. Examples of the materials used in the resin include fiberglass, carbon, and aramid. Composite sticks have been available on the market for several years and have been approved for use in international play for over a year. [0010] It is widely believed that composite sticks generate more powerful drives than wooden sticks. With this additional power, however, comes a potential for loss of control, especially if a ball is unintentionally lofted during the drive. Minimizing this loft would therefore result in players delivering a more powerful drive without sacrificing ball control. [0011] Therefore, field hockey sticks, especially composite field hockey sticks, would benefit greatly from a feature that minimizes the loft that can occur upon contact with a ball, and the resulting loss of ball control. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0012] The present invention provides a field hockey stick having a head with a raised center of gravity that minimizes loft and imparts an improved feel when striking a ball with the stick. [0013] One embodiment of the present invention provides a field hockey stick comprising a throat and a head adjoining the throat. The head has an upper portion adjacent to the throat and a lower portion. At least the lower portion of the head defines at least one depression. [0014] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a field hockey stick comprising a handle, a throat adjacent to the handle, and a head adjacent to the throat on a side of the throat opposite to the handle, in which the throat defines at least one depression. The head, which has a first end attached to the throat and a second end opposite to the first end, has a center of gravity disposed greater than about 1.5 inches from the second end of the head. [0015] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a field hockey stick comprising a handle, a throat adjacent to the handle, and a head adjacent to the throat on a side of the throat opposite to the handle. The throat has a flat playing side and a non-flat (e.g., round or curved) non-playing side. The non-playing side of the throat defines at least one throat depression. The head has a flat playing side and a non-flat (e.g., round or curved) non-playing side. The non-playing side of the head defines at least one head depression. The at least one head depression can be disposed closer to an end of the head opposite to the throat than to the throat. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional field hockey stick. [0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary field hockey stick having depressions in its head, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a side view of the field hockey stick shown in FIG. 2. [0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary field hockey stick having a depression in its throat, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a side view of the field hockey stick shown in FIG. 4. [0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary field hockey stick having depressions in its head and a depression in its throat, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading about Field hockey stick having a top weighted head... Full patent description for Field hockey stick having a top weighted head Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Field hockey stick having a top weighted head patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Field hockey stick having a top weighted head or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Baseball pitching training device Next Patent Application: Extendable bat Industry Class: Games using tangible projectile ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Field hockey stick having a top weighted head patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.40783 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
