Lacrosse head with stringing features in the ball stop region

Abstract

A lacrosse head includes a socket, a base region adjacent to the socket, and a pair of sidewalls extending from the base region to a scoop. A ball stop extends between the sidewalls adjacent to the base region. Eyelets or other openings through which netting may be strung to form a pocket in the lacrosse head are included in external regions of the sidewalls near the ball stop such that the netting does not interfere with a ball positioned in the ball stop. A stringing element including an opening that is substantially transverse to a longitudinal direction of the lacrosse head is included adjacent to the ball stop to allow netting to be strung in a transverse direction near the ball stop region. The stringing element optionally secures the netting outside of the ball stop region so the netting does not interfere with a ball positioned in the ball stop.

1 . A lacrosse head configured to be attached to a lacrosse stick shaft, comprising:
 a socket;   a base region adjacent to the socket;   a plurality of sidewalls extending in a substantially longitudinal direction from the base region to a distal end of the lacrosse head, with at least a portion of each of the sidewalls including an outer wall and an inner wall, with the outer wall including a plurality of openings configured to receive netting;   a ball stop extending between the inner walls adjacent to the base region; and   a stringing element adjacent to or integral with the ball stop including at least one opening configured to receive netting, with the opening in the stringing element oriented in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction and spaced apart from the ball stop to receive netting away from the ball stop.   
     
     
         2 . A lacrosse head configured to be attached to a lacrosse stick shaft, comprising:
 a socket;   a base region adjacent to the socket;   a plurality of sidewalls extending in a substantially longitudinal direction from the base region to a distal end of the lacrosse head, with the sidewalls including a plurality of openings configured to receive netting;   a ball stop extending between the sidewalls adjacent to the base region; and   a stringing element adjacent to or integral with the ball stop and configured to engage netting, with the stringing element including at least one opening oriented in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse head of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of each of the sidewalls includes an inner wall and an outer wall, and wherein the plurality of openings are included in the outer walls. 
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse head of  claim 3  wherein the portion of each of the sidewalls including an inner wall and an outer wall is located adjacent to the ball stop. 
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse head of  claim 4  wherein the portion of each of the sidewalls including an inner wall and an outer wall extends from the ball stop approximately to a longitudinal midpoint of the sidewall. 
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1  wherein the stringing element includes two spaced apart openings oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1  wherein the at least one opening in the stringing element is spaced apart from the ball stop such that netting engaging the stringing element does not interfere with the ball stop. 
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1  wherein each of the sidewalls includes an open channel in a lower region of the sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The lacrosse head of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of support ribs extending from a first wall of the channel to a second wall of the channel. 
     
     
         10 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1  further comprising a flexible cartridge secured between the ball stop and the socket. 
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse head of  claim 10  wherein the flexible cartridge is attached to the ball stop and the socket via a screw. 
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse head of  claim 11  wherein the flexible cartridge is compressible via tightening of the screw such that an angle between an upper surface of the upper rail and an upper surface of the socket is adjustable. 
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse head of  claim 12  wherein the sidewalls are deflectable inwardly near the ball stop via tightening of the screw. 
     
     
         14 . A lacrosse head configured to be attached to a lacrosse stick shaft, comprising:
 a socket;   a base region adjacent to the socket;   a plurality of sidewalls extending in a substantially longitudinal direction from the base region to a distal end of the lacrosse head, with the sidewalls each including a first portion including an outer wall and an inner wall, with the outer wall including a plurality of openings configured to receive netting; and   a ball stop extending between the sidewalls adjacent to the base region.   
     
     
         15 . The lacrosse head of  claim 14  wherein the inner wall of the first portion is devoid of openings. 
     
     
         16 . The lacrosse head of  claim 14  wherein each of the sidewalls comprises an upper rail and a lower rail extending from the base region, wherein the first portion of each of the sidewalls is located in the lower rail. 
     
     
         17 . The lacrosse head of  claim 14  wherein the first portion of each of the sidewalls extends from the ball stop approximately to a longitudinal midpoint of the sidewall. 
     
     
         18 . The lacrosse head of  claim 14  wherein the first portion of each of the sidewalls includes an open channel defined by the outer wall and the inner wall. 
     
     
         19 . The lacrosse head of  claim 18  further comprising a plurality of support ribs extending from the outer wall to the inner wall. 
     
     
         20 . The lacrosse head of  claim 14  further comprising a stringing element adjacent to or integral with the ball stop and configured to receive netting, with the stringing element including at least one opening oriented in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction.