Games using tangible projectile – Player held and powered – nonmechanical projector – per se,... – Club
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-23
2001-03-27
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Player held and powered, nonmechanical projector, per se,...
Club
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206793
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to hand-held implements, especially sports equipment, such as hockey sticks. More specifically, the instant invention is directed to a hockey stick handle formed from composite material having an integrally formed outer elastomeric shroud to protect the composite material and improve gripping ability.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The necessity for adequately gripping hand-held implements has been a long-known and recurring problem. A variety of grips have been explored, but problems still persist. Although it is known to include a rubberized grip about the handle of an implement, certain drawbacks still exist.
One problem encountered with prior art gripping means (such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,050,289 and 5,005,254) is the slippage of the grip vis-à-vis a handle. Whether a grip is glued to a handle or friction-fitted, such rubberized grips have a tendency to dislodge from a shaft. Furthermore, the longer the shaft, and the longer the grip vis-à-vis the shaft, the greater the likelihood of the grip rolling up on itself or slipping. Many attempts have been made to correct this problem, but to no avail. Ultimately, the hand-held implement is either replaced, or the grip is replaced, wasting much time and material.
Another problem involves the now frequent use of hockey stick shafts formed from composite material. “Space-age” materials, such as Kevlar®, boron and graphite, while extremely strong in compression, tension and flexing, have been found to be susceptible to fracture when sharply impacted, such as by a hockey puck or another hockey stick.
It is desirable therefore to provide a hand-held implement with a resilient grip capable of extending a greater distance along the hockey stick shaft, and providing a grip that endures greater impacts and pressures without fracture or slippage.
One particular application where a shock damping is desirable along an entire shaft and where a grip is required to adhere strongly is that of a hockey stick. Currently, hockey stick grips tend to be just near the top of a shaft and are of a short length. If extended further down the shaft, or preferably all the way down the shaft, the grip tends to slip, roll or bunch in the prior art. To overcome these problems would be a great benefit to the sport and overall safety.
The following prior art reflects the state of the art of which applicant is aware and is included herewith to discharge applicant's acknowledged duty to disclose relevant prior art. It is stipulated, however, that none of these references teach singly nor render obvious when considered in any conceivable combination the nexus of the instant invention as disclosed in greater detail hereinafter and as particularly claimed.
INVENTOR
ISSUE DATE
PATENT NO.
2,201,706
Sukohl
05-21-1940
2,649,133
Just
08-18-1953
2,674,557
Boggs
04-06-1954
2,964,065
Haroldson, et al.
12-13-1960
3,020,192
Stephens, et al.
02-06-1962
3,125,478
Pratt
03-17-1964
3,606,326
Sparks
09-20-1971
4,016,640
Briggs
04-12-1977
4,080,879
Hoden, et al.
03-28-1978
4,134,198
Briggs
01-16-1979
4,273,601
Weingart
06-16-1981
4,579,617
Oberg, et al.
04-01-1986
4,923,541
Burger
05-08-1990
5,005,254
Uffindell
04-09-1991
5,024,712
Lecourt, et al.
06-18-1991
5,050,289
Uffindell
09-24-1991
5,373,616
Biersdorf, et al.
12-20-1994
5,458,330
Baum
10-17-1995
5,655,981
Reed
08-12-1997
The prior art listed above, but not specifically discussed, teach gripping devices and further catalog the prior art of which the applicant is aware. These references diverge even more starkly from the references specifically distinguished above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed toward addressing the problems of providing an anti-fracture gripping means to an elongate member, such as a hockey stick shaft, wherein that gripping means will protect the underlying composite and still will be substantially free from unwanted vibration, slipping, bunching, or rolling up on itself vis-à-vis the shaft. To overcome these problems, this invention provides a means for integrally forming a grip to a shaft. This integral formation is accomplished, essentially, by forming the grip and shaft composite as an integrated unit and ultimately heating the shaft and grip combination at a desired temperature to integrate both the shaft and grip into one.
The most common shaft types (wood, metal, plastic) will not optimally accept heating to combine with a grip. This invention provides, in particular, for resin pre-impregnated into fiber, such as graphite impregnated with epoxy, to be heated and cured together with the grip and the invention also alternatively provides for a similar integration with thermoplastic.
By first wrapping epoxy-impregnated uncured graphite about a heat conductive mandril to form a shaft, a heat susceptible medium is provided. By next placing the mandril and shaft combination into a vacuum tube lined with the grip on the tube interior by evacuating the tube to conform the grip to the tube, the graphite shaft receives the grip by releasing the vacuum and next providing some pressure on the now grip-lined shaft. Thereafter, by heating the shaft and rubber sheath combination at an appropriate temperature for an appropriate amount of time, the integration of the shaft and sheath is accomplished by vulcanization. All then that remains is the removal of the mandril from the core of the shaft to provide an elongate hollow shaft integrated with a grip. With this grip provided over the entire shaft or substantially all of the shaft, it is also far less susceptible to damage versus the prior art.
In particular, in a hockey stick, the hockey stick handle is also to be provided with a rubberized cuff at one end to receive a blade thereafter in a hollow of the shaft. Prior to this invention, such a shaft/grip combination was not provided in the hockey sports industry.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The overall object of the present invention is to provide a handle and grip means which are integrally formed for a long-handled or shafted device, particularly a hockey stick.
It is a specific object of the present invention to provide a grip means on an elongate shaft that is not susceptible to slipping and delamination vis-à-vis the shaft.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a grip means on an elongate shaft that is not susceptible to rolling or bunching on the elongate shaft.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an elongate shaft, such as a graphite impregnated epoxy-type shaft cooked and cured with a rubber sheath for gripping about the entirety of the shaft to protect the graphite.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing an elongated shaft having a grip means provided about its entirety and integrated therewith to cushion sharp blows to the shaft.
Viewed from a first vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hockey stick, comprising, in combination, a shaft, a blade attached to the shaft, the shaft formed from a composite layup including a hollow core, and a sheath formed from resilient material ensconcing the shaft.
Viewed from a second vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for forming a hockey stick, the steps including, laying up a composite material, forming the layup of composite material about a mandril defining a layup wrapped mandril, ensconcing a resilient sheath over the layup wrapped mandril, vulcanizing the sheath and layup wrapped mandril combination, removing the mandril, and inserting a hockey blade hosel in a central core of the layup formed by removal of the mandril.
Viewed from a third vantage point, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hockey stick, comprising, in combination, a shaft, and a blade attached to the shaft, the shaft formed by laying up a plurality of uncured resin-impregnated sheets of composite material, forming the plurality of sheets about a mandril, defining a layup wrapped mandril, ensconcing a resilient sheath over the layup wrapped mandril, vulcanizing the sh
Graham Mark S.
Hillerich & Bradsby Co.
Kreten Bernhard
LandOfFree
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