Games using tangible projectile – Player held and powered – nonmechanical projector – per se,... – Club
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-08-14
Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)
Games using tangible projectile
Player held and powered, nonmechanical projector, per se,...
Club
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273835
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention is directed to a new and useful detachable protective device for hockey sticks.
There have been numerous attempts to add reinforcement to the blade of a hockey stick. For ii example, tape applied to the hockey stick has been widely used to lengthen the life of a hockey stick. Plastic sleeves taped to the hockey stick have also been used. Additionally, there have been previous attempts to reinforce the stick itself by means of permanent attachments to the blade including a textile tubing slipped over the blade after which a resinous coat is applied over the tubing incorporating it permanently to the blade. Further attempts at reinforcement include using glass fiber material impregnated with a resin plastic applied to the blade and becoming a permanent part of the blade.
A problem with using tape to reinforce the blade portion of a hockey stick has been that tape is time consuming and difficult to apply. Also, tape has little aesthetic value and tape allows water to wick or be absorbed into the hockey stick causing damage to the stick reducing the usability of the stick. The plastic, fiberglass, and textile products are costly, difficult to apply to the hockey blade, “deaden” the puck requiring more force to catapult the puck along, and lessen the control over the puck.
While these prior devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as described herein.
SUMMARY
The present invention is directed to a hockey stick blade sleeve that satisfies these needs to provide an economical, aesthetic hockey stick protector that increases the wear protection along the bottom of the hockey stick blade, improves the puck handling, decreases friction between the blade and the ice and is easy to position on the blade. A hockey stick blade sleeve having features of the present invention comprises a fiber weave elastomeric sleeve for use as a protective cover on a blade end of a hockey stick, the sleeve having a proximal surface and a distal surface continuously interconnected to form a tube. The sleeve further has a first end and a second end whereby the sleeve may be manually positioned onto a hockey stick. The sleeve is made of fiber weave material encapsulated in rubber having a durometer strength within a range of 30 and 100 durometers. The fiber weave material is constructed into a tube, open at each end, and bonded through a molding process, such as compression molding or injection molding, to an elastomer coating layer. The rubber encapsulated fiber weave sleeve has formed in the outer surface thereof topographical features that add to its performance. The elastomer coating layer provides a smooth interface between the blade and the ice that has far less friction than conventional hockey tape. The topographical features of the elastomer coating also provides for improved contact between the puck and the blade of the hockey stick. The elastomer coating, in combination with the fiber material, serves as a constrictor directing forces inwardly toward the hockey stick blade and act in place of a bonding agent with the blade. The mechanical force replaces the need for adhesive or heat-shrink bonding necessary in other art. The fabric material provides a one-way stretch arranged such that the material stretches across the diameter of the hockey stick blade providing stabilization in a longitudinal direction of the sleeve across the length of the hockey stick blade thus preventing the sleeve from shifting while in its position of use on the hockey stick blade.
The elastomer coated fiber weave sleeve with at least a one-way stretch enables the user to apply the sleeve to the hockey stick blade without the assistance of any tools. The sleeve stretches over the blade diameter for installation and then the elastomeric forces inherent in the materials snaps back and holds the sleeve in position on the hockey stick blade. The elastomer coated fiber weave sleeve enables the user to apply the sleeve to the hockey stick blade and later remove it and re-apply it to another stick without any reduction in performance. The materials used enable the sleeve to by far outlive a hockey stick taping and, because the sleeve doesn't disintegrate like tape, no debris is dropped on the ice.
The topograpical features provide means for directing away melted ice thus providing a dry surface for interaction of a conventional puck and a sleeve-covered hockey stick. A series of horizontal grooves formed on the proximal and distal surfaces provides the means for directing away melted ice are the grooves for receiving and directing away melted ice.
A series of nubs are formed in the sleeve between at least some of the horizontal grooves, the nubs provide means for temporarily adhering the sleeve surface to an edge surface of a hockey puck, the cross-hatched perimeter edge of a conventional hockey puck providing attachment surfaces for the nubs, increasing friction between the puck and the sleeve-covered hockey stick for increasing control of the puck.
A series of vertical ribs, formed along the length of said sleeve, are provided to receive a cross-hatched edge portion of a hockey puck therebetween, such that a three-pointed point of attachment is formed between the puck and the sleeve-covered hockey stick, for resisting sliding of the puck against the sleeve, for increasing control of handling and shooting of the puck. These vertical ribs prevent the puck from slipping across the blade. Instead, they cradle the puck, allowing the puck to roll across the blade for better control.
Another sleeve embodiment has increased amounts of elastomeric materials at the top portion and bottom portion thereof to provide increased strength and resistance to wearing from contact of the sleeve covered hockey stick and the ice. The elastomeric coated fiber weave sleeve can be constructed of materials in a combination of different values of hardness to allow selected hardened regions to extend wear and soft regions for improved puck control.
Advantages over conventional tape include being stronger than tape and easier to apply than tape. No tools are needed for installation. The elastomeric coated fiber weave sleeve is easy to install. Because the internal wall is fabric, there is less friction than if the internal wall were made of rubber. The elastomeric coated fiber weave sleeve protects the hockey stick blade from wear better than conventional tape. The elastomeric coated fiber weave sleeve performs better in stick handling, shooting, passing and pass receiving. Because it is a thin sleeve, the sleeve presents lower profile on the stick. And further, because it is a thin sleeve, with a lower durometer value, it provides a softer sleeve which improves puck handling. This reduction of materials also reduces the cost of manufacture. The elastomeric layer bonded to the fabric layer is much more resistant to cuts than conventional materials. And the elastomeric coated fiber weave sleeve is re-usable. The sleeve provides an economic, aesthetic, re-usable protective cover for a hockey stick blade and may be used for either a right-handed or left-handed hockey stick.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2912245 (1959-11-01), Gardner et al.
patent: 3353826 (1967-11-01), Traverse
patent: 4148482 (1979-04-01), Harwell, Jr. et al.
patent: 5558326 (1996-09-01), Adamson et al.
patent: 5836841 (1998-11-01), Fell
patent: 53-38430 (1978-08-01), None
Battis Steven M.
Scofield Randy D.
Graham Mark S.
Schafer Janet Peyton
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