Lacrosse Head Netting Adjustment Mechanism

Abstract

A lacrosse head includes an open frame having a throat portion for receiving a handle, a ballstop portion, a pair of opposing sidewall portions, and a scoop. The open frame includes a plurality of net attachment structures to facilitate attachment of a netting to the head. The lacrosse head also includes an adjustment mechanism disposed therein that is in communication with at least one net attachment structure to engage one or more straps of an attached netting. The adjustment mechanism is moveable between a retracted position and a securing position to allow a player to configure the pocket to meet their playing capabilities.

1 . A lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse handle, comprising: 
 a throat portion for engaging the lacrosse handle;    a ballstop portion;    a scoop portion;    a pair of opposing sidewall portions that extend generally between said throat portion and said scoop portion;    a plurality of net securing mechanism formed in said ballstop portion, said pair of opposing sidewall portions, and said scoop portion for securing a netting;    an adjustment mechanism communicating with at least one of said plurality of net securing mechanism and being moveable between a retracted position where a portion of said attached netting can move freely with respect to said respective net securing mechanism to allow adjustment of a pocket depth and a securing position where said portion of said attached netting is engaged by said adjustment mechanism to retain said attached netting in a fixed relationship with respect to the head.    
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustment mechanism is disposed in said ballstop portion of the head.  
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of net securing mechanism consist of openings formed in the head that allow ends of string laces that form said netting to pass therethrough.  
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse head of  claim 3 , wherein said adjustment mechanism consists of a plurality of screws that are each engageable with a respective one of said plurality of openings.  
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse head of  claim 4 , wherein said ends of string laces are leather straps.  
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse head of  claim 5 , wherein said plurality of screws can be loosened away from engagement with said leather straps to allow them to be moved with respect to said plurality of openings to adjust their length and change said pocket depth; and 
 wherein said plurality of screws can be tightened into said securing position such that they engage said leather straps to retain said pocket depth in a fixed position.    
     
     
         7 . The lacrosse head of  claim 6 , wherein said plurality of screws are disposed in said ballstop portion.  
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse head of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of screws extend at an angle generally perpendicular to an inner surface of said ballstop portion.  
     
     
         9 . The lacrosse head of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a tightening tool coupled to the lacrosse head, which is intended to engage the screws to move them between said retracted position and said securing position.    
     
     
         10 . A lacrosse head for attachment to a lacrosse handle to define a handle/head axis, comprising: 
 an open frame element including a ballstop portion, a scoop portion, and a pair of opposing sidewall portions;    a throat portion extending generally rearwardly from said ballstop portion, said throat portion intended to engage the lacrosse handle;    a plurality of openings formed in said frame element to facilitate attachment of a netting to the head;    an adjustment mechanism in communication with a plurality of said plurality of openings, said adjustment mechanism being moveable between a retracted position and a net securing position;    wherein in said retracted position, a player can adjust said netting, including a depth of a pocket;    wherein in said net securing position, said adjustment mechanism extends into said plurality of openings to engage a portion of said netting that passes therethrough to retain it in a fixed position.    
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse head of  claim 10 , wherein said netting consists of traditional netting with longitudinal straps that extend between said scoop portion and said ballstop portion.  
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse head of  claim 11 , wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of screws that are moveable between said retracted position where said straps can move freely within said respective opening and said net securing position where said screws engage said straps to retain them in position.  
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse head of  claim 12 , wherein said adjustment mechanism is disposed in said ballstop portion.  
     
     
         14 . The lacrosse head of  claim 13 , wherein said adjustment mechanism consists of a screw in communication with each of said openings in said ballstop portion that is intended to receive one of said straps.  
     
     
         15 . The lacrosse head of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a tightening tool coupled to the lacrosse head, which is intended to engage the screws to move them between said retracted position and said securing position.    
     
     
         16 . A lacrosse head, comprising: 
 a throat portion for engaging a lacrosse handle;    a ballstop portion;    a scoop portion;    a pair of opposing sidewall portions that extend generally forwardly from said throat portion to said scoop portion;    a plurality of openings formed in said frame element to facilitate attachment of a netting to the head;    an adjustment mechanism in communication with a plurality of said plurality of openings, and being moveable between a retracted position and a net securing position; and    a tightening tool that is intended to engage said adjustment mechanism to effectuate movement between said retracted position and said net securing position.    
     
     
         17 . The lacrosse had of  claim 16 , wherein said netting consists of traditional netting with longitudinal straps that extend between said scoop portion and said ballstop portion.  
     
     
         18 . The lacrosse head of  claim 17 , wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a plurality of screws that are moveable between said retracted position where a player can adjust said netting including pocket depth and said net securing position wherein said adjustment mechanism engages a portion of said straps that pass through a respective one of said openings to retain it in a fixed position.  
     
     
         19 . The lacrosse head of  claim 18 , wherein said adjustment mechanism is disposed in said ballstop portion.  
     
     
         20 . The lacrosse head of  claim 16 , wherein said tightening tool is temporarily coupled to the head.  
     
     
         21 . The lacrosse head of  claim 16 , wherein said tightening tool is coupled to a recess formed in the head.