IE20190030A1 - An ash hurley - Google Patents

Abstract

The bás (30) of an ash hurley has a pair of beech dowels (31, 32) located within a pair of orifices (33, 34), respectively, which pair of orifices (33, 34) is located in the toe (35) of the bás (30). The pair of orifices (33, 34) has been drilled out of the bás (30) and the pair of dowels 31, 32, within the pair of orifices (33, 34), respectively is located in the area of the bás (30) where a metal band would otherwise be placed therearound. Thus, the pair of dowels (31, 32) intersects the wood grain of the bas (30) at right angles thereto and strengthens this area of the bás (30), helping to keep the wood grain together.

Description

This invention relates to a hurley and, in particular, to an ash . hurley.

By a hurley in this context is meant a wooden stick used in the Irish sports of hurling and camogie. Hurling has been played in Ireland for over three millennia and is currently the second most played sport in Ireland. Hurling is a team game and the hurley is used to strike a leather ball known as a sliotar.

Traditional hurleys are made from ash wood, with the wood having been sourced from the base of a tree near the root. The best ash trees for this purpose are grown on flat, fertile soil and are methodically pruned over time. The hurley is shaped from one piece of ash wood with a handle at one end, a middle section and a flattened, curved bas at the other end, which provides a striking surface. The wood grain in the handle and middle sections should be straight with the wood grain curving around in the bas, to give a sweet spot on the striking surface.

Because of the nature of the wooden material, traditional hurleys are susceptible to breakage, either from hitting another hurley, an opponent or the ground. Hurleys commonly break at the middle section, near to the bas.

However, the wood grain in the bas can start to separate, due to the repeated striking of the ball. To counteract this tendency a band on metal can be attached around the end of the bas to resist the separation of the wood grain. This metal band can inflict an injury to an opponent, who is struck by the hurley and for this reason bands on hurleys are not permitted in the female game of camogie and they must be taped over.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of ash hurleys as hereinbefore described.

Thus, the invention provides an ash hurley shaped from one piece of ash wood, the hurley comprising a middle section, with a handle at one end thereof and a flattened, curved bas at the other end thereof, an orifice extending internally of the bés with the longitudinal direction of the orifice being generally at right angles to the wood grain in the bés, and a wooden dowel located within the orifice and held therein by adhesive.

An advantage of the ash hurley in accordance with the invention is that the wooden dowel acts to bind the wood of the bés together, across the wood grain thereof. Thus, the likelihood of the bas splitting along the wood grain. is reduced.

A further advantage of the ash hurley in accordance with the invention is that a lower quality ash can be used as the bas is strengthened by the wooden dowel.

Preferably, the orifice extends fiom one edge of the bas referred to as the toe towards an opposing edge of the bas referred to as the heel, internally of the bas from the toe and towards the heel, with the length of the orifice being between 60-80% of the width of the bas at that point.

An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the length of the orifice is sufficient to impart the strengthening effect of the dowel.

In one embodiment in accordance with the invention, a pair of orifices is located within the bits in the area where a metal band would otherwise be placed therearound, and with a dowel being located within each orifice.

An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the positioning of the metal band on the bas of a traditional hudey has been optimised by trial and error over a long period of time. Thus, positioning the pair of orifices in this area, in turn, optimises the strengthening effect of the dowels.

Preferably, the wood in the wooden dowel is selected from ash, bamboo, beech, or oak.

An advantage of this aspect of the invention is that the four wood types are resistant to the effects of increased humidity in the atmosphere.

Further, preferably, the wood grain of the dowel is aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof.

It is important that the chosen dowel has its wood grain aligned with the longitudinal axis of the dowel as it provides added strength.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a method of strengthening or repairing an ash hurley is provided comprising the steps drilling an orifice internally of the bas of the hurley with the longitudinal direction of the orifice being generally at right angles to the wood grain in the bas; continuing to drill the orifice until the length of the orifice is between 60-80% of the Width of the bas at that point; inserting a wooden dowel into the orifice; and fixing the wooden dowel within the orifice with adhesive.

Preferably, the orifice is drilled from the toe towards the heel of the hurley.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a pair of orifices is drilled within the bas in the area where a metal band would otherwise be is placed therearound, and with a dowel being located within each orifice.

Preferably, the wood in the wooden dowel is selected from ash, ' bamboo, beech, or oak.

The invention will be further illustrated by the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a view from above of a typical prior art ash hurley; Fig. 2 is a view from above and to one side of the of the ash hurley of Fig.1, having a metal band attached to the bats; Fig. 3 is a view of the bits of an ash hurley in accordance with the invention; Fig. 4 is a view from above the toe of the ash hurley of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line V-V of Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated generally at 10, a prior art ash hurley having a handle 11 at one end 12 thereof, a middle section 13, and a curved bas 14 at the other end 15 thereof.

One edge 16 of the bas 14 is referred to as the heel and the opposing edge 17 of the bits 14 is referred to as the toe.

The wood grain along the middle section 13 is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hurley 10, and the wood grain 19 in the bés 14 follows the curve of the toe 17.

Referring to Fig. 2, the hurley 10 is illustrated with a metal band attached to the bars 14. The metal band 20 passes around end 15 of the bas 14 between the toe 17 and the heel 16.

Referring to F i g. 3, there is illustrated generally at 30 the bas of an ash hurley in accordance with the invention. A pair of beech dowels 31, is located within a pair of orifices 33, 34, respectively, which orifices 33, 34 are located in the toe 35 of the bés 30. The remainder of the hurley is similar in design to the hurley 10 of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 4, the bas 30 is illustrated from above the toe 35.

The pair of beech dowels 31, 32 is located in the pair of orifices 33, 34, respectively.

Referring to ‘Fig. 5, the bés 30 is illustrated in cross—section. The pair of orifices 33, 34 has been drilled out of the has 30 and the pair of dowels 31, 32 is located within the pair of orifices 33, 34 in the area of the has 30 where a metal band would be placed therearound (see Fig. 2).

Thus, the pair of dowels 31, 32 intersects the wood grain of the bés 30 at right angles and strengthens this area of the bés 30, helping to keep the wood grain together.

Claims (10)

Claims: -

1. An ash hurley shaped from one piece of ash wood, the hurley comprising a middle section, with a handle at one end thereof and a flattened, curved bas at the other end thereof, an orifice extending internally of the bas with the longitudinal direction of the orifice being generally at right angles to the wood grain in the bas, and a wooden dowel located within the orifice and held therein by adhesive.

2. An ash hurley according to Claim 1, wherein the orifice extends from one edge of the bés referred to as the toe towards an opposing edge of the bés referred to as the heel, internally of the bas from the toe and towards the heel, withnthe length of the orifice being between 60-80% of the width of the bés at that point.

3. An ash hurley according to Claim 1 or_ 2, wherein a pair of orifices is located within the bas in the area where a metal band would otherwise be placed therearound, and with a dowel being located within each orifice.

4. An ash hurley according to any preceding claim, wherein the wood in the wooden dowel is selected fiom ash, bamboo, beech, or oak.

5. ' 5. An ash hurley according to any preceding claim, wherein the wood grain of the dowel is aligned with the longitudinal axis thereof. 10 I5 20

6. A method of strengthening or repairing an ash hurley, the method comprising the steps of: drilling an orifice internally of the bés of the hurley with the longitudinal direction of the orifice being generally at right angles to the wood grain in the bas; continuing to drill the orifice until the length of the orifice is between 60-80% of the width of the bars at that point; inserting a wooden dowel into the orifice; and fixing the Wooden dowel within the orifice with adhesive.

7. A method according to Claim 6, wherein the orifice is drilled from the toe towards the heel of the hurley.

8. A method according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein a pair of orifices is drilled within the bas in the area where a metal band would otherwise be placed therearound, and with a dowel being located within each orifice.

9. A method according to anyone of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the wood in the wooden dowel is selected from ash, bamboo, beech, or oak.

10. An ash hurley according to Claim 1, shaped from a piece of ash wood, substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in