Sports shaft with end stop

Abstract

The present invention provides a lacrosse shaft. The lacrosse shaft has an integral or interlocked end stop to inhibit stoppage.

1 . A lacrosse shaft having an integrated end stop, the shaft comprising: 
 an elongated body having sidewalls defining a shape of the shaft;    the elongated body having a head end and a butt end; and    a protrusion located on and integral to the butt end, wherein    the protrusion extending outward from the sidewalls such that the protrusion inhibits a player's hand from slipping from shaft.    
   
   
       2 . The lacrosse shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion has outwardly expanding walls.  
   
   
       3 . The lacrosse shaft according to  claim 2 , wherein the outwardly expanding walls are substantially straight.  
   
   
       4 . The lacrosse shaft according to  claim 2 , wherein the outwardly expanding walls are substantially curved.  
   
   
       5 . The lacrosse shaft according to  claim 1 , further comprising beveled edges.  
   
   
       6 . The lacrosse shaft according to  claim 2 , wherein the outwardly expanding walls have a flared shape.  
   
   
       7 . The lacrosse shaft according to  claim 2 , wherein the outwardly expanding walls have a conical shape.  
   
   
       8 . A sport shaft, comprising: 
 an elongated body having a shaft defined by a sidewall;    the elongated body being made from a composite, moldable material    a butt end at one end of the elongated body; and    an outwardly extending protrusion integral to the butt end, wherein the outwardly extending protrusion extends beyond the sidewall and provides a barrier to inhibit a player's hand from slipping from the sport shaft.    
   
   
       9 . The sport shaft of  claim 8 , wherein the shaft is designed for use in a sport selected from the group of sports consisting of lacrosse, hockey, tennis, racketball, and golf.  
   
   
       10 . The sport shaft of  claim 8 , wherein the composite, moldable material is carbon fiber.  
   
   
       11 . The sport shaft of  claim 8 , wherein the composite, moldable material is graphite.  
   
   
       12 . The sport shaft of  claim 8 , wherein the composite, moldable material is carbon based.  
   
   
       13 . The sport shaft of  claim 8 , wherein the outwardly extending protrusion comprises a disc shape.  
   
   
       14 . The sport shaft of  claim 8 , wherein the outwardly extending protrusion comprises a flared shape.  
   
   
       15 . The sport shaft of  claim 8 , wherein the outwardly extending protrusion has walls.  
   
   
       16 . The sport shaft of  claim 15 , wherein the walls are at least one of straight or curved.  
   
   
       17 . A lacrosse shaft, comprising: 
 an elongated shaft having a head end and a butt end;    the butt end having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;    a lip extending inwardly from the butt end and defining an opening, the lip having an internal surface and an external surface;    an end stop having an anchor portion, a stem, and a stopper portion, the anchor portion is connected to the stopper portion by the stem;    the stem extending through the opening defined by the lip;    the anchor having a shoulder, the should being substantially aligned with the internal surface; and    the stopper portion having a protrusion extending beyond the outer diameter of the butt end.    
   
   
       18 . The lacrosse shaft of  claim 17 , wherein the protrusion comprises sidewalls extending outwardly from the elongated shaft.  
   
   
       19 . The lacrosse shaft of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewalls are straight.  
   
   
       20 . The lacrosse shaft of  claim 18 , wherein the sidewalls are curved.  
   
   
       21 . The lacrosse shaft of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated shaft comprises at least a first material and the end stop comprises at least a second material where the first material and the second material are different.  
   
   
       22 . The lacrosse shaft of  claim 21 , wherein the first material comprises graphite and the second material comprises rubber.  
   
   
       23 . The lacrosse shaft of  claim 22 , wherein the rubber is vulcanized rubber.  
   
   
       24 . The lacrosse shaft of  claim 17 , wherein the lip has a first end extension and the shoulder has a second end extension such that the first end extension and the second end extension engage forming a snap lock.  
   
   
       25 . The lacrosse shaft of  claim 24 , wherein the first end extension terminates in a first end protrusion and the second end extension ends in a second end protrusion that overlap.