Hockey stick blade having rib stiffening system

Abstract

A composite hockey stick blade having a rib stiffening system. The rib stiffening system consists of one or more internal wall structures, or ribs, located within strategic portions of the rear face of the paddle that provides localized regions of increased longitudinal stiffness located within the overall structure of the paddle. These ribs may also control the torsional rigidity of the paddle. The ribs also reduce the weight of the blade without reducing the stiffness and rigidity of the blade. The hockey stick blade may be utilized as a replacement blade for a two-piece hockey stick, or may be a portion of a one-piece hockey stick.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A composite hockey stick blade comprising:
 an inner core constructed of a first material;   an outer layer covering said inner core, said outer layer being constructed of a second material;   the hockey stick blade including:   a hosel;   a heel section coupled to said hosel;   a paddle portion coupled to said heel section and extending in a longitudinal direction, said paddle portion comprising a front face, a rear face having an external surface, a top edge, a bottom edge and a tip region; and   a stiffening system including a groove defined by said external surface of said rear face of the hockey stick blade, said groove including a visible, generally rounded bottom, and a first portion extending substantially parallel to at least one of the top edge and the bottom edge of the paddle portion, the first portion providing localized longitudinal stiffening of said paddle portion nearer to said heel section than to said tip region to minimize the longitudinal flexing of the paddle portion in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the paddle portion during compression of the paddle section when a player engages a puck with the paddle portion, whereby the groove minimizes the lag of tip region relative to the heel section as the player at least one of shoots and passes the puck.   
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 17 , wherein said paddle portion has a thickness measured between said front face and said rear face and wherein said stiffening system extends inwardly towards said front face in a direction of less than about 80% of said thickness of said paddle portion. 
   
   
       20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 20 , wherein said stiffening system includes a second groove that extends at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis defined by a length of the hockey stick blade and extends generally in a direction from said top edge towards said bottom edge. 
   
   
       22 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 17 , wherein the groove includes a second portion that extends at an angle with respect to a axis defined by the length of the hockey stick blade. 
   
   
       23 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 17 , wherein said groove includes a second portion that curves at an angle from said first portion and extends semi-vertically in a direction from a first position closer to said bottom surface to a second position closer to said top surface. 
   
   
       24 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 23 , wherein said stiffening system includes a plurality of separate grooves, wherein the distance between said grooves varies along the longitudinal length of said paddle portion. 
   
   
       25 .- 39 . (canceled) 
   
   
       40 . A hockey stick blade comprising:
 an inner core constructed of a first material;   an outer layer covering said inner core, said outer layer being constructed of a second material;   the hockey stick blade including:   a hosel;   a heel section coupled to said hosel;   a paddle portion coupled to said heel section and extending in a longitudinal direction, said paddle portion comprising a front face, in integral rear face having an external surface, a top edge, a bottom edge and a tip region; and   a stiffening system including a groove defined by said external surface of said rear face of the hockey stick blade, said groove including a visible, generally rounded bottom, and a portion extending along at least one of a curve and an angle away from the bottom edge toward the top edge as that portion extends from the heel section toward the top section so that the portion extends semi-vertically relative to the length of the paddle portion to increase the torsional rigidity of the paddle portion,   wherein twisting of the top edge of the paddle portion near the tip region relative to a remainder of the top edge in the heel region is minimized when a player engages a puck with the paddle portion,   wherein the groove minimizes puck flutter attributed to twisting of the paddle portion as a player at least one of shoots and passes the puck.