Hockey Stick Extension Device

Abstract

A hockey stick extension device features a mounting component configured for installation on a shaft of a hockey stick at a handle-end thereof, and a slider component telescopically mated with the mounting component for sliding axial movement therealong between a retracted position minimizing a combined axial length of the mounting component and the slider component, and an extended position maximizing the combined axial length of the mounting component and the slider component. With the mounting component installed at the handle-end of the shaft of the hockey stick, sliding movement of the slider component from the retracted position to the extended position increases an overall effective shaft length of the hockey stick.

1 . A hockey stick extension device comprising:
 a mounting component configured for installation on a shaft of a hockey stick at a handle-end thereof; and   a slider component telescopically mated with the mounting component for sliding axial movement therealong between a retracted position minimizing a combined axial length of the mounting component and the slider component, and an extended position maximizing said combined axial length of the mounting component and the slider component;   whereby with the mounting component installed at the handle-end of the shaft of the hockey stick, sliding movement of the slider component from the retracted position to the extended position increases an overall effective shaft length of the hockey stick.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said mounting component comprises a stem sized and shaped for insertion into a hollow interior of said shaft of the hockey stick. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said plug further comprises a head disposed atop said stem, said head residing inside the slider component and being greater in size than an opening at a bottom end of said slider component to prevent separation of the slider component from said mounting component. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the slider component is biased into either said extended position or said retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the slider component is self locking in the other of either said extended position or said retracted position. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the slider component is biased into the extended position. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the slider component is biased into the extended position, and is self locking in the retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the slider component is biased into the extended position by a compression spring acting between the mounting component and the slider component. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein said compression spring acts against said slider component at a capped upper end thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the capped upper end of the slider component comprises an internal boss depending downwardly therefrom, and an upper end of the compression spring is received around said internal boss. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the mounting component comprises a hollow cavity opening thereinto from an upper end thereof, and an upright boss that is disposed within said hollow cavity and receives a bottom end of the compression spring. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a quick-release locking mechanism configured to lock the slider component relative to the mounting component in at least one of the extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock the slider component in the retracted position. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock the slider component in only the retracted position. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the locking mechanism is configured to automatically engage in a locked state. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the locking mechanism comprises a depressible locking element on a first one of either the mounting component or the slider component, and a cooperating lock opening in a second one of either the mounting component or the slider component, the depressible locking element being biased into a locking position that engages into said cooperating lock opening when aligned therewith. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the depressible locking element is disposed on the mounting component, and the cooperating lock opening is disposed on the slider component. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the depressible locking element resides adjacent an upper end of the mounting component that resides outside the shaft of the hockey stick when installed thereon. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the cooperating lock opening resides adjacent an upper end of the slider component to receive the depressible locking element when the slider component is fully retracted. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the depressible locking element comprises a resiliently flexible lock tab. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1  in combination with said hockey stick, wherein the mounting component is installed at the handle end of the shaft of said hockey stick. 
     
     
         22 . An extendable/collapsible hockey stick comprising:
 a shaft having a blade end and an opposing handle end;   a slider component supported on said shaft adjacent the handle end thereof in a slidable manner movable axially along said shaft between a retracted position of minimal axial protrusion from said handle end of the shaft, and an extended position of greater axial protrusion from said handle end of the shaft to increase an overall effective shaft length of the hockey stick;   wherein the extendable/collapsible hockey stick is further characterized by at least one of the following features:   (a) the slider component is biased into either said extended position or said retracted position; and/or   (b) the slider component is telescopically supported on said shaft in externally fitted relation over the handle end thereof; and/or   (c) the slider component is self-locking in at least one of the retracted and extended positions through cooperation of a depressible locking element carried on the shaft and a cooperating lock opening in the slider, the depressible locking element being biased into a locking position that engages into said cooperating lock opening when aligned therewith.