WO1997003730A1 - Crosse de hockey sur glace et de ruelle - Google Patents

Crosse de hockey sur glace et de ruelle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997003730A1
WO1997003730A1 PCT/US1996/011588 US9611588W WO9703730A1 WO 1997003730 A1 WO1997003730 A1 WO 1997003730A1 US 9611588 W US9611588 W US 9611588W WO 9703730 A1 WO9703730 A1 WO 9703730A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wear resistant
blade
hockey stick
playing edge
resistant members
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/011588
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Rodney Scott Ruoff
Original Assignee
Rsr Enterprises, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/561,912 external-priority patent/US5685792A/en
Application filed by Rsr Enterprises, Inc. filed Critical Rsr Enterprises, Inc.
Publication of WO1997003730A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997003730A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B59/00—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00
    • A63B59/70—Bats, rackets, or the like, not covered by groups A63B49/00 - A63B57/00 with bent or angled lower parts for hitting a ball on the ground, on an ice-covered surface, or in the air, e.g. for hockey or hurling
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
    • A63B53/04—Heads
    • A63B53/0433—Heads with special sole configurations
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
    • A63B60/52—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with slits
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
    • A63B2102/24—Ice hockey
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B2209/00—Characteristics of used materials
    • A63B2209/02—Characteristics of used materials with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to hockey sticks, and in particular to a hockey stick with an improved blade for playing street or roller hockey on a paved surface.
  • Street hockey is played on a paved surface, such as asphalt or concrete. Such a surface is cheaper and more accessible than playing ice hockey in an ice rink. Street hockey is typically played with a hockey stick and either a ball or a plastic puck similar in appearance to an ice hockey puck. Roller hockey is the same as street hockey, but the players wear roller skates or in-line skates.
  • the blade portion of hockey sticks is typically made from wood or from composite materials such as plastic or wood laminated with fiberglass mesh and epoxy. Paved surfaces such as asphalt and concrete are rough and abrasive. Playing hockey on such a surface tends to wear down the stick blade very quickly. When a hockey player handles, passes and shoots the ball or puck, the blade of the hockey stick rubs on the paved surface, which abrades the stick blade. Also, hockey players often push or drag the stick against the playing surface during hockey Play, further abrading the stick blade. As a stick blade wears down, it becomes less effective for handling, passing and shooting the puck or ball.
  • the plastic blade is attached to a long handle portion, typically made of wood.
  • a plastic blade travels over a paved surface without the splintering problems associated with wooden blades when played on a paved surface.
  • Plastic hockey stick blades however, abrade very quickly on a paved surface. In fact, with continual use, such a blade could wear to the point of being unusable (about one inch of wear) in a matter of weeks.
  • a number of specially designed stick blades have been used to reduce the friction between the blade and the playing surface, as well as to reduce the amount of wear on the blade due to abrasion with the playing surface.
  • These designs typically have limited results, and detract from the performance of the stick.
  • plastic edges can be strapped onto a wooden blade, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,113.
  • the plastic edges tend to alter the stick blade weight, shooting surface geometry, and weight distribution, which intolerably changes the performance of the hockey stick.
  • this design fails to reduce the wear on the plastic edge, resulting in the need to routinely replace the plastic edges.
  • the ball bearings allegedly rotate when in contact with the playing surface to reduce friction between the stick blade and the playing surface.
  • such ball bearings are prone to deformation or debris interference that may prohibit free rotation of the bearings during use.
  • such a design is undesirable because the protruding ball bearings may cause injury or damage to other players and/or the playing surface.
  • such a design alters the playing performance of the stick by changing the weight distribution of the stick, and by preventing the stick's bottom edge from contacting the playing surface.
  • even wooden blades played on a relatively smooth ice surface suffer intolerable wear on their bottom edges.
  • There is a need for a street or ice hockey stick that prevents excessive abrasive wear of the stick blade from the playing surface without detrimentally affecting the hockey stick's performance or cost to manufacture.
  • the present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing a hockey stick blade that exhibits enhanced wear resistance characteristics during use, while simultaneously preserving the performance of the hockey stick.
  • the wear-resistant blade of the present invention drastically reduces the wear of the hockey stick blade for play on a variety of rough surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, as well as smoother surfaces such as ice.
  • the blade of the present invention does not detrimentally alter the play performance of the stick.
  • the invention maintains the stick's geometry, weight, weight distribution, and blade smoothness.
  • the blade of the present invention is inexpensive and easy to incorporate into mass production of hockey sticks.
  • the stick blade of the present invention includes a blade portion having a bottom edge.
  • the blade portion is made of a material having desired playing characteristics on the intended playing surface.
  • a plurality of rods are formed or inserted into the blade and extend to the bottom edge thereof.
  • the rods are formed of a material having higher wear resistance than the material used to make the blade portion.
  • Fig. la is a side view of the blade portion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. lb is a bottom view of the blade portion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2a is a side view of the blade portion of an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2b is a bottom view of the blade portion of the alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3a is a side view of the blade portion of a second alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 3b is a bottom view of the blade portion of the second alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4a is a side view of the blade portion of a third alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4b is a bottom view of the blade portion of the third alternate embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 a-c are side views of a rod illustrating different shapes thereof.
  • the present invention is a street hockey stick that reduces abrasive wear on the bottom edge of the stick blade without adversely affecting the playing performance of the stick.
  • the present invention is inexpensive to produce, and existing blades can easily be modified to incorporate the invention to provide improved wear resistance characteristics.
  • the street hockey stick of the preferred embodiment is illustrated in Figs, la and lb.
  • the hockey stick 2 has a stick blade 4 that is integrally formed or otherwise attached to the handle portion 6 of hockey stick 2.
  • the stick blade 4 has a plastic core, preferably made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) , which extends to the bottom edge 8 of the stick blade 4.
  • a plurality of cylindrical recesses 10 are formed in spaced relationship along the bottom edge 8 of stick blade 4.
  • a plurality of rods 12 are formed or inserted into recesses 10.
  • Rods 12 are formed of a material that has higher wear resistant characteristics than the plastic used to form the stick blade 4.
  • the bottom of the blade 4 should contain materials which are more wear- resistant than the most abrasive component of the playing surface.
  • the most abrasive playing surface for street hockey is an asphalt surface.
  • a typical asphalt surface is a mixture of 5% asphalt and 95% aggregate. Aggregate supplies the compressive strength and abrasion resistance and the asphalt binder holds the composite together. Therefore, abrasion of stick blades is due to wear against the aggregate component of the asphalt surface.
  • the aggregate component of asphalt surfaces varies . In the San Francisco Bay Area, for example, asphalt typically has an aggregate comprised of limestone, granite, or basalt.
  • the rods 12 of the preferred embodiment are made of transformation toughened zirconia ceramic (TTZ) , which is more wear resistant and harder than most aggregate materials used to make asphalt. TTZ is also less brittle, and therefore tougher and more wear resistant than other ceramics, which makes TTZ an ideal material for rods 12.
  • the toughening is a consequence of the presence of a metastable phase, which is present in the finished product ceramic due to a quenching process. Crack propagation is inhibited because the propagating crack creates a local stress, and the TTZ relieves this stress by undergoing a localized phase transformation, which dissipates the crack.
  • TTZ ceramic is the preferred material for rods 12
  • other materials that are more wear resistant than typical aggregates used in asphalt are also ideal to form rods 12, including hardened steel, silicon carbide, boron carbide, cubic boron nitride, silicon nitride, diamond, various zirconates, tungsten carbide, and some other ceramics and traditional metal carbides.
  • Increased wear resistance of any blade 4 will be evidenced with rods 12 made of any material that is more wear resistant than the material used to form the bottom blade edge 8.
  • each cylindrical recesses 10 are formed in the bottom edge 8. These recesses 10 have a diameter of about 0.123 inches and a depth of about 0.25 inches.
  • Rods 12 are mounted into the recesses 10.
  • Rods 12 are made of TTZ ceramic, and are about 0.125 inches in diameter and 0.25 inches in length. The existence of four ceramic rods 12 in the blade 4 has been found to adequately reduce abrasion of the stick blade 4, without adversely affecting the feel and performance of the hockey stick 2. Tests have shown that an ABS plastic block having TTZ ceramic rods exhibits less than 6% of the wear measured from an ABS plastic block with no ceramic rods.
  • securing rods 12 in recesses 10 can include forming male and female snap features into the rods and holes, insert molding (i.e. for injection molded plastic blades) of rods 12 into the blade 4 during manufacture, altering the rod's shape (such as an L shape or having tapered or ridged sides, as shown in Figs. 5 a-c) , and using adhesives (such as cyanoacrylates) .
  • the playing performance of the hockey stick 2 is a critical aspect of the present invention, and is not adversely affected by the incorporation of rods 12 into the blade's bottom edge 8.
  • Rods 12 do not alter the basic geometry of the blade 4. There are no obstacles added to the surface of the blade 4 upon which the puck impacts. Further, the weight distribution change due to the introduction of rods 12 is minimal. Rods 12 are relatively small, and the TTZ material has a similar density to the ABS plastic used in many blades. The total change in stick weight after introduction of rods 12 is much less than 1%. Additionally, the geometric distribution of rods 12 is such that they are centered along the stick blade bottom 8, resulting in no overall weight shift in the blade 4. Finally, during normal use, rods 12 project only slightly out of the bottom edge 8.
  • the rods 12 can vary in size and/or have differing wear resistance characteristics from one another on a single stick. Different players tend to wear certain portions of the stick edge 8 more than other portions. Therefore, larger or more wear resistant rods 12 can be inserted or formed in those portions of the blade edge 8 that exhibit more wear during use.
  • the rods 12 of the present invention can also be inserted into the more traditional wooden-bladed hockey sticks that are typically used in ice hockey. Even the relatively smooth ice hockey surface can cause excessive wear on a wooden stick blade edge 8. Therefore, rods 12 that are more wear resistant than the wooden blade 4 inserted into the blade edge 8 result in decreased wear of the wooden stick's bottom edge. Further, rods 12 inserted into the wooden blade 4 also prevent wear and splintering of the wooden blade 4 during play on a playing surface that is more abrasive than ice, such as a paved playing surface.
  • a strip of plastic 16 can be attached to the bottom edge 8 of a composite or wooden stick blade 4.
  • the plastic strip 16 has recesses 10 and rods 12 on its bottom edge 18.
  • the plastic strip allows the player to enjoy all the advantages of a composite or wooden blade 4, such as stiffness, spring constant, and overall "feel" of sticks having a wooden or composite blade. Such a blade will not exhibit the splintering or wear associated with such blade construction.
  • the strip of plastic 16, preferably ABS plastic can be attached by adhering the strip to the blade, by laminating the strip to the blade, by embedding the strip into the blade, or even by extending rods 12 through the plastic strip and into the blade portion 4 itself.
  • Figs. 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b Second and third alternate embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in Figs. 3a, 3b, 4a, and 4b.
  • One or more elongated wear resistant members 20 are formed or inserted parallel to and abutting the blade edge 8.
  • the wear resistant members 20 can be of any material that is more wear resistant than the material used to form the blade edge 8. If a single member 20 is used, the size of the exposed surface of member 20 can vary over the length of edge 8 to provide increased wear protection for predetermined portions of edge 8.
  • one or more members 20 can have increased wear resistance (either through added size or differing composition) to provide added wear protection for those portions of the blade edge 8 that exhibit the most wear during use. These embodiments are ideal for those applications where a larger exposure of the wear resistant member material is desired along blade edge 8.
  • the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated herein.
  • the number, composition, dimension and location of rods 12 or members 20 can vary depending on the abrasion resistance needs of the player.
  • the shape of the rods 12 or members 20 can vary from the cylindrical or strip shape shown in the above embodiments.
  • the blade need not be made of wood or ABS plastic, but could be made of other materials such as other plastics or fiberglass or composites laminated together.
  • the blade of the present invention can be used on other playing surfaces than ice or paved surfaces.
  • the rod 12 need not be formed or inserted into blade 4 at substantially right angles to the blade edge 8, as shown in the first two embodiments.

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention concerne une crosse (2) de hockey sur glace, de ruelle ou à roulettes, laquelle possède une lame (4) permettant de prévenir une trop grande usure. Cette crosse comprend plusieurs tiges ou éléments (12) qui sont insérés dans le bord inférieur (8) de la lame (4) de la crosse. Ces tiges ou éléments (12) sont fait d'un matériau possédant des caractéristiques de résistance à l'usure supérieures à celles du matériau utilisé pour fabriquer le bord inférieur (8) de la lame (4).
PCT/US1996/011588 1995-07-14 1996-07-11 Crosse de hockey sur glace et de ruelle WO1997003730A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US114395P 1995-07-14 1995-07-14
US60/001,143 1995-07-14
US08/561,912 US5685792A (en) 1995-11-22 1995-11-22 Street and ice hockey stick
US08/561,912 1995-11-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997003730A1 true WO1997003730A1 (fr) 1997-02-06

Family

ID=26668625

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1996/011588 WO1997003730A1 (fr) 1995-07-14 1996-07-11 Crosse de hockey sur glace et de ruelle

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2226670A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997003730A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999017846A1 (fr) * 1997-10-03 1999-04-15 Guy Tremblay Lame de baton de hockey resistante a l'usure et son procede de fabrication
US7862456B2 (en) 2003-05-15 2011-01-04 Easton Sports, Inc. Hockey stick
US7914403B2 (en) 2008-08-06 2011-03-29 Easton Sports, Inc. Hockey stick
US7963868B2 (en) 2000-09-15 2011-06-21 Easton Sports, Inc. Hockey stick

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3529825A (en) * 1967-05-22 1970-09-22 Thomas Paul White Sr Hockey stick road adapter
US4111419A (en) * 1976-07-26 1978-09-05 Pellegrino Peter P Practice hockey puck
US5275410A (en) * 1992-09-22 1994-01-04 Bellehumeur Alex R Puck for use on a non-ice surface
US5366219A (en) * 1993-12-06 1994-11-22 Loraney Sports, Inc. Hockey puck

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3529825A (en) * 1967-05-22 1970-09-22 Thomas Paul White Sr Hockey stick road adapter
US4111419A (en) * 1976-07-26 1978-09-05 Pellegrino Peter P Practice hockey puck
US5275410A (en) * 1992-09-22 1994-01-04 Bellehumeur Alex R Puck for use on a non-ice surface
US5366219A (en) * 1993-12-06 1994-11-22 Loraney Sports, Inc. Hockey puck

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999017846A1 (fr) * 1997-10-03 1999-04-15 Guy Tremblay Lame de baton de hockey resistante a l'usure et son procede de fabrication
US7963868B2 (en) 2000-09-15 2011-06-21 Easton Sports, Inc. Hockey stick
US7862456B2 (en) 2003-05-15 2011-01-04 Easton Sports, Inc. Hockey stick
US7914403B2 (en) 2008-08-06 2011-03-29 Easton Sports, Inc. Hockey stick

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2226670A1 (fr) 1997-02-06

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