Reinforced composite game stick handle

Abstract

An improved lacrosse stick shaft for attachment to a lacrosse stick head is provided. The stick is formed from a composite base shaft body with reinforcement features embedded or adhered to the surface thereof at selected locations to improve the resistance of the shaft to impacts and breakage without adding significant weight. The reinforcement features may take the form of rings of varying heights surrounding the entire handle at various longitudinal locations. In another preferred embodiment, the reinforcement features line selected edges of the shaft in a longitudinal direction where adjacent facets forming the cross-sectional shape of the shaft meet, or form a spiral along all or part of the length of the shaft. In yet another preferred embodiment, the reinforcement features are plates adhered to vulnerable areas of the shaft. The lacrosse stick herein described is advantageously used for both men's and women's lacrosse.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A shaft for a game stick, comprising:
 a tubular body;   one or more reinforcement features on an outer surface of said tubular body on at least the upper third of said tubular body;   wherein said tubular body is formed of a composite material; and   wherein said one or more reinforcement features are formed of a material with higher impact resistance than said composite material.   
     
     
         2 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more reinforcement features extend along at least one half the tubular body. 
     
     
         3 . The shaft according to  claim 2 , wherein said one or more reinforcement features extend along at least two thirds the tubular body. 
     
     
         4 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more reinforcement features is formed of a metal or metal alloy material. 
     
     
         5 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more reinforcement features is formed of a plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more reinforcement features is a rib member formed along at least a portion of the length of said tubular body and parallel to said length. 
     
     
         7 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more reinforcement features is formed from one or more segments cut from an extruded metal handle. 
     
     
         8 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more reinforcement features is formed from a non-circumferential plate member arranged along at least a portion of the length of said tubular body along a longitudinal dimension thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A shaft for a game stick, comprising an elongate tubular body having a socket end and a butt end, and a polygonal cross-section therebetween defined by a plurality of planar sections intersecting at a plurality of joints, and at least one reinforcing rod embedded in said elongate tubular body and extending along its length. 
     
     
         10 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 9 , wherein said reinforcing rod extends along at least one third of said tubular body at the socket end. 
     
     
         11 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 9 , wherein said reinforcing rod extends along at least one third of a mid-section of said tubular body. 
     
     
         12 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of reinforcing rods embedded in said elongate tubular body and extending parallely lengthwise there along. 
     
     
         13 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing rods are each embedded along a embedded along a corresponding one of said plurality of joints. 
     
     
         14 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing rods are each embedded along a corresponding one of said plurality of planar sections. 
     
     
         15 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of joints outnumber said plurality of reinforcing rods. 
     
     
         16 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 9 , wherein said elongate tubular body comprises a first material having a known density and impact resistance, and said plurality of reinforcing rods comprise a second material having a higher density and impact resistance than said first material. 
     
     
         17 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing rods comprise metal rods. 
     
     
         18 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing rods comprise composite rods. 
     
     
         19 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 18 , wherein each of said plurality of reinforcing rods is embedded along one of said joints but is exposed to define a protective bead projecting from each said joint. 
     
     
         20 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one reinforcing rod is spiral-wrapped along the length of said tubular body. 
     
     
         21 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one reinforcing rod has a round cross-section within a range of between 0.25 mm and 3 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         22 . A shaft for a game stick, comprising an elongate tubular body having a socket end and a butt end, and at least one reinforcing plate embedded in said elongate tubular body and extending along its length. 
     
     
         23 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 22 , wherein said reinforcing plate is a ring that encircles said tubular body. 
     
     
         24 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of reinforcing rings. 
     
     
         25 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 24 , wherein said elongate tubular body comprise a first material having a known density and impact resistance, and said plurality of reinforcing rings comprise a second material having a higher density and impact resistance than said first material. 
     
     
         26 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 25 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing rings comprise metal rings. 
     
     
         27 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 26 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing rings comprise composite rings. 
     
     
         28 . A shaft for a game stick, comprising an elongate tubular body having a socket end and a butt end, and a polygonal cross-section therebetween defined by a plurality of planar sections intersecting at a plurality of joints, and at least one reinforcing plate embedded in said elongate tubular body and extending lengthwise along one of said planar sections. 
     
     
         29 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 28 , wherein said reinforcing plate extends along at least one third of said tubular body at the socket end. 
     
     
         30 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 28 , wherein said reinforcing plate extends along at least one third of a mid-section of said tubular body. 
     
     
         31 . The shaft for a game stick according to  claim 28 , further comprising a plurality of reinforcing plates embedded in said plurality of planar sections.