Multi-piece shaft for a lacrosse stick

Abstract

A multi-piece shaft for a lacrosse stick includes a first section connected to a second section at a joint. The joint may be located at various shaft regions to provide a desired kick point within the shaft. In one embodiment, an outer surface of the first shaft section is separated from an inner surface of the second shaft section via an elastomeric isolator. The elastomeric isolator may be an adhesive material that bonds or secures the outer surface of the first shaft section to the inner surface of the second shaft section. Two or more of these joints optionally may be included in the lacrosse shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lacrosse-stick shaft, comprising:
 a first shaft section having a radially outer surface;   a second shaft section having a radially inner surface, the second shaft section positioned over and attached to the first shaft section; and   an isolator separating the radially outer surface of the first shaft section from the radially inner surface of the second shaft section.   
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 1  wherein the isolator comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 2  wherein the radially outer surface of the first shaft section is bonded to the radially inner surface of the second shaft section via the elastomeric isolator. 
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 1  wherein the first shaft section includes a first edge facing a first longitudinal direction, and the second shaft includes a second edge facing a second longitudinal direction that is opposite to the first longitudinal direction, wherein the isolator is positioned between first edge and the second edge. 
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 1  further comprising a locking element positioned between the first and second shaft sections to inhibit relative longitudinal movement between them. 
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 1  further comprising a circumferential band positioned over the attachment location of the first and second shaft sections, the band having a radially outer surface that is flush with radially outer surfaces of neighboring regions of the first and second shaft sections. 
     
     
         7 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 1  wherein the first shaft section includes a first tapered region and the second shaft section includes a corresponding second tapered region, wherein the isolator is positioned between the first and second tapered regions. 
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second shaft sections comprises a composite material, and the other of the first and second shaft sections comprises a metal material. 
     
     
         9 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 1  further comprising a metal collar positioned substantially at an end of one of the first and second shaft sections, the collar configured for attachment to a lacrosse head. 
     
     
         10 . A lacrosse-stick shaft, comprising:
 a first shaft section extending from a first end to a second end;   a second shaft section extending from a third end to a fourth end; and   a bridge member connecting the second end of the first shaft section to the third end of the second shaft section.   
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 10  wherein the first and second shaft sections have equal radially outer diameters, and wherein the bridge member is positioned within the first and second shaft sections. 
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 10  wherein the first and second shaft sections have equal radially outer diameters, and wherein the bridge member is positioned externally to the first and second shaft sections. 
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 10  further comprising an elastomeric isolator bonding the first shaft section to the bridge member, and bonding the second shaft section to the bridge member. 
     
     
         14 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 13  wherein the elastomeric isolator is further positioned between the second end of the first shaft section and the third end of the second shaft section. 
     
     
         15 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 10  further comprising a first locking element positioned between the first shaft section and the bridge member, and a second locking element positioned between the second shaft section and the bridge member, to inhibit relative longitudinal movement between the first and second shaft sections. 
     
     
         16 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 10  wherein the second end of the first shaft section is spaced longitudinally from the third end of the second shaft section, the lacrosse-stick shaft further comprising a circumferential band positioned in the space between the second and third ends and having a radially outer diameter equal to the radially outer diameters of neighboring regions of the first and second shaft sections. 
     
     
         17 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 10  wherein one of the first and second shaft sections comprises a composite material, and the other of the first and second shaft sections comprises a metal material. 
     
     
         18 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 10  wherein the second shaft section comprises a composite material, the lacrosse-stick shaft further comprising a metal collar positioned substantially at the fourth end of the second shaft section, the collar configured for attachment to a lacrosse head. 
     
     
         19 . The lacrosse-stick shaft of  claim 10  wherein the first shaft section tapers radially inwardly at its second end, and the second shaft section tapers radially inwardly at its third end, with the second and third ends attached to each other to form a substantially V-shaped joint. 
     
     
         20 . A lacrosse-stick shaft, comprising:
 a first shaft section comprising a composite material;   a second shaft section comprising a metal material; and   an elastomeric isolator connecting the first shaft section to the second shaft section.   
     
     
         21 . A lacrosse stick, comprising:
 a shaft comprising a composite material, the shaft having a first end and a second end; and   a metal collar positioned substantially at one of the first and second ends of the shaft, the collar configured for attachment to a lacrosse head.