Lacrosse head with differentiated ball stop

Abstract

A lacrosse stick includes an elongated handle and a head frame which adapted for mounting thereon a net and which includes first and second portions which are made from different materials. One of the materials is typically more flexible than the other. Part of the handle and head frame may be formed as a unitary structure made of the same material. In addition, the stick provides a mechanism for forming the head frame with a center of gravity at a location which facilitates the ability of a player to discern orientation of the head frame by feel.

1 . A lacrosse stick having front and back ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and comprising:
 a head frame adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a first portion formed of a first material and a second portion formed of a second material which is more flexible than the first material.   
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  wherein the second portion defines the front end of the stick. 
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  wherein the first and second portions overlap one another in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  further comprising a longitudinally elongated shaft mounted on and extending rearwardly from the head frame; wherein the shaft comprises a rear segment and a front segment; and the front segment and first portion are a unitary structure formed of the first material. 
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 4  wherein the rear segment is formed of a third material which is different than the first and second materials. 
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 5  wherein the first material is more flexible than the third material. 
     
     
         7 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  wherein the first and second portions abut one another. 
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  further comprising an overmolded connection between the first and second portions. 
     
     
         9 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  further comprising a chemically bonded connection between the first and second portions. 
     
     
         10 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  further comprising a ball stop of the head frame; and wherein the first portion comprises the ball stop. 
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 10  further comprising a longitudinally elongated shaft mounted on and extending rearwardly from the head frame; and a longitudinally elongated forward handle segment of the shaft; and wherein the first portion comprises the forward handle segment. 
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 11  further comprising front and back ends on the elongated shaft defining therebetween a first longitudinal length; and front and back ends on the forward handle segment defining therebetween a second longitudinal length which is at least ⅙ the first length. 
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  wherein the elongated shaft comprises a longitudinally elongated handle segment formed of a third material; and the first material is more flexible than the third material. 
     
     
         14 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  wherein the lacrosse stick has left and right sides defining therebetween an axial direction; and the head frame has a maximum axial width defined by the second portion. 
     
     
         15 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  wherein the second portion extends forward of the first portion. 
     
     
         16 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 1  wherein the head frame has front and back ends and comprises a ball stop adjacent the back end of the head frame, a nose element adjacent the front end of the head frame, and a pair of divergent sidewalls extending between the ball stop and nose element; and the second portion comprises the nose element. 
     
     
         17 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 16  wherein the second portion comprises respective segments of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         18 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 16  wherein the first portion comprises respective segments of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         19 . A lacrosse stick having front and back ends defining therebetween a longitudinal direction and comprising:
 a head frame adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion comprising a ball stop;   a longitudinally elongated shaft mounted on and extending rearwardly from the first portion;   wherein the shaft and first portion are a unitary structure formed of a first material and the second portion is formed of a second material which is different than the first material.   
     
     
         20 . A lacrosse stick comprising:
 a head frame adapted for mounting thereon a net and comprising a ball stop;   a longitudinally elongated shaft comprising front and rear longitudinally elongated segments; the front segment and ball stop being formed as a unitary structure; the rear segment having a longitudinal centerline and a lowermost surface defining a horizontal plane parallel to and below the centerline;   a grip section of the front segment which is adjacent the ball stop and has a bottom surface which is higher than the plane; and   a mechanism for causing the center of gravity of the head frame to lie at a distance sufficiently below the plane whereby a player is able to sense orientation of the head frame through tactile stimuli generated by the unitary structure acting through the rear segment, the mechanism comprising the bottom surface of the grip section being higher than the plane.