Angled Field Hockey Stick Toe

Abstract

A field hockey stick is disclosed that allows a player to have improved handling of the ball. The field hockey stick of the present invention includes at least a portion of a ball-contacting surface that is positioned on an angle relative to the front surface of the shaft.

1 . A field hockey stick comprising:
 a shaft having a first end, a second end, a front surface extending between said first end and said second end, and a back surface extending between said first end and said second end opposed from said front surface, wherein at least a portion of said front surface of said shaft is planar, and wherein at least a portion of said rear surface has a rounded, non-planar shape;   a handle section located near said second end of said shaft;   a toe section located near said first end of said shaft, said toe section being non-apertured and void of any through holes, the toe section having a ball-contacting surface adjacent to said shaft front surface and a rounded, non-planar back surface; and   wherein at least a portion of said ball-contacting surface is positioned at a forward angle alpha (α) relative to said shaft front surface near said first end.   
   
   
       2 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1  further comprising a first planar section defined by said front surface of said shaft near said toe and a second planar section defined by a portion of said ball-contacting surface, wherein said angle alpha is defined by the intersection between said first planar section and said second planar section. 
   
   
       3 . The field hockey stick of  claim 2  wherein said ball-contacting surface includes a length, a tip section distal from said shaft and a heel section adjacent said shaft, and distal from said tip section by said length and wherein said tip section extends farther forward than said heel section relative to said first planar portion. 
   
   
       4 . The field hockey stick of  claim 3  wherein angle alpha is between about five degrees (5°) and about twenty degrees (20°). 
   
   
       5 . The field hockey stick of  claim 3  wherein said toe section is a full angle wedge, wherein said ball-contacting surface is generally planar from said heel section to said tip section, such that all of said ball-contacting surface forms said second planar section, which lies in a plane that is different from said first planar section. 
   
   
       6 . The field hockey stick of  claim 5  wherein said ball-contacting surface and said rear surface of said toe define a toe width extending therebetween, wherein said toe width in said heel section is less than said toe width in said tip section. 
   
   
       7 . The field hockey stick of  claim 3  wherein said toe section is a half angle wedge, such that said ball-contacting surface includes a first planar portion in said heel section and a second planar portion in said tip section, said second planar portion being disposed at an angle relative to said first planar portion, wherein said second planar portion defines said second planar section. 
   
   
       8 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1  wherein said ball-contacting surface and said rear surface of said toe define a toe width extending therebetween, wherein said toe width in said heel region is less than said toe width in said tip region. 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . The field hockey stick of  claim 7  wherein said angle between said first planar portion and said second planar portion is angle beta (β). 
   
   
       11 . The field hockey stick of  claim 10  wherein angle beta is between about 160 degrees and about 175 degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The field hockey stick of  claim 4  wherein said ball-contacting surface includes a concave surface. 
   
   
       13 . The field hockey stick of  claim 12  wherein said second planar section is defined by the plane that intersects the heel section of the ball-contacting surface and the tip section of the ball-contacting surface. 
   
   
       14 . The field hockey stick of  claim 3  wherein said toe section is a twisted toe, wherein said ball-contacting surface and said rear surface of said toe define a toe width extending therebetween, said toe width at said tip section being at least one of the same dimension and smaller in dimension than said toe width at said heel section, wherein said rear surface of said toe extends at an angle from said first planar section. 
   
   
       15 . The field hockey stick of  claim 14  wherein said ball-contacting surface is planar and defines said second planar section. 
   
   
       16 . A field hockey stick comprising:
 a shaft having a first end and a second end distal for said first end, said shaft including a front surface and a rear surface that extend between said first end and said second end, wherein at least a portion of said rear surface has a rounded, non-planar shape;   a non-apertured toe section void of any through holes located near said first end of said shaft;   a generally planar ball-contacting surface located on said toe section defined between a heel section and a tip section;   a rounded, non-planar back surface located on said toe section opposite said ball-contacting surface;   a first planar section defined along said front surface of said shaft near said first distal end said first planar section lying in a first plane;   a second planar section defined by a said ball-contacting surface,   wherein said second planar section lies in a second plane, said second plane being different from said first plane; and   wherein the second planar portion extends from said heel section to said toe section;   wherein said second planar section intersects said first planar section at said heel section,   wherein said ball-contacting surface angles outwardly as said ball-contacting surface extends toward said tip section, so that said ball-contacting surface in said tip section is positioned forward of said ball-contacting surface in said heel section, wherein said second planar section enables a user to rotate the field hockey stick less in controlling a field hockey ball, providing enhanced control over the field hockey ball as the user at least one of dribbles, passes and shoots the ball.   
   
   
       17 . The field hockey stick of  claim 16  wherein said second planar section is positioned at an angle alpha (α) relative to said first planar section and the range of angle alpha (α) is between about five degrees (5°) and about twenty degrees (20°). 
   
   
       18 - 26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . The field hockey stick of  claim 1  wherein said ball-contacting surface and said rear surface define a width therebetween, wherein said ball-contacting surface includes a heel adjacent the shaft and a tip distal from said shaft, wherein said width varies between said tip and said heel, wherein said ball-contacting surface is generally concave. 
   
   
       28 . The field hockey stick of  claim 16  wherein said heel section of said ball-contacting surface is flush with said front surface of said shaft. 
   
   
       29 . The field hockey stick of  claim 16  wherein said ball-contacting surface and said back surface define a width therebetween, said width varying from said heel section to said tip section. 
   
   
       30 . The field hockey stick of  claim 16  wherein said ball-contacting surface is a substantially single plane that angles outwardly continuously as the ball-contacting surface extends from said heel section to said tip section.