Ergonomic knob insert for hollow stick

Abstract

Described is a knob for application to the gripping end of a hollow stick. The knob comprises a rounded, oblique, cylindrical support structure, transitional shaft and tang aligned on a common longitudinal central axis. The support structure comprises a greater diameter rounded, cantle-like support and gripping structures.

1 . A knob adapted for insertion into a hollow end of a sports implement having a shaft including a central longitudinal axis, a head at one end of the shaft, a gripping end at an opposing end of the shaft, and an outer surface, the knob comprising:
 a central longitudinal axis, a tang and a tang end for insertion into the hollow end of the sports implement;   a grip having a neck region, a flange region, and a grip end and a step between the tang and the grip adapted for abutting an end surface of the hollow end of the sports implement when the tang is inserted therein, the step comprising a flat planar surface adjoining a surface defined by the tang, the neck region positioned immediately adjacent to the step and having an outer gripping surface defining a gripping surface dimension at the location adjacent to the step, the neck region having a length extending from the step to the dorsal cantle region and the ventral cantle region,   the flange region including a dorsal cantle region and a ventral cantle region, the dorsal and ventral cantle regions extending an entire distance between the neck region and the grip end and on opposing sides of an imaginary coronal plane and bisected by an imaginary sagittal plane that is orthogonal to the imaginary coronal plane, the dorsal and ventral cantle regions each providing a curved support surface having a constant radius of curvature in the sagittal plane,   the grip end including a planar bottom surface distal to the tang,   wherein the outer gripping surface of the neck region is equidistant from the central longitudinal axis along its entire length, the gripping surface dimension of the neck being equal to a dimension of the outer surface of the sports implement where the sports implement abuts the knob.   
     
     
         2 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein a ratio of the radius of curvature of the ventral cantle region to the radius of curvature of the dorsal cantle region is (i) at least 2:1, respectively; or (ii) at least 3:1, respectively; or (iii) at least 5.1, respectively. 
     
     
         3 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein a ratio of the radius of curvature of the ventral cantle region to the radius of curvature of the dorsal cantle region is (i) less than 20:1; or (ii) less than 15:1; or (iii) less than 10:1. 
     
     
         4 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein the imaginary sagittal plane bisects each of the dorsal and the ventral cantle regions into symmetrical halves, respectively and the imaginary coronal plane intersects with the imaginary sagittal plane at the central longitudinal axis in a center of the planar bottom surface. 
     
     
         5 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein the ventral cantle region smoothly transitions about the central longitudinal axis to the dorsal cantle region. 
     
     
         6 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein the neck has a circumference and the grip end has a circumference that (i) is at least 110% of the circumference of the neck; or (ii) at least 150% of the circumference of the neck; or (iii) at least 200% of the circumference of the neck; or (iv) at least 300% of the circumference of the neck. 
     
     
         7 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein the tang has a length measured along the central longitudinal axis of 2 inches to 3 inches, and wherein the tang has an end that is beveled at an angle of 30° to 60° from the longitudinal sides of the tang and toward the longitudinal central axis to allow for easier initial guided insertion of the tang into the hollow end of the implement. 
     
     
         8 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein (i) the grip has a length, as measured along the central longitudinal axis, that is 40% to 60% of the length of the knob and the tang has a complementary length, as measured along the central longitudinal axis that is 60% to 40% of the length of the knob. 
     
     
         9 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein (i) the neck has a length measured along the central longitudinal axis between 0.5 to 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The knob of any of  claim 1  wherein (i) the knob comprises a ceramic, metal, polymer, composite, wood or a composite or laminate thereof; or (ii) the knob comprises a ceramic, metal, polymer, composite, or a composite or laminate thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A combination of a hockey stick and a knob, the knob corresponding to the knob of  claim 1  and being inserted into a hollow end of the hockey stick wherein the ventral cantle region of knob is on the same side of the hockey stick as a blade of the hockey stick. 
     
     
         12 . The knob of  claim 1  wherein the knob is securely affixed to the sports implement, by welding, screws, nails, staples, glue, adhesive, heat-activated glue, or epoxy. 
     
     
         13 . A knob adapted for insertion into a hollow end of a sports implement having a shaft including a central longitudinal axis, a gripping end, and an outer surface, the knob comprising:
 a tang and a tang end for insertion into the hollow end of the sports implement,   a grip comprising a neck region, a flange region, a grip end, and a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough, the neck region having an outer gripping surface and the grip end having a planar bottom surface distal to the tang,   a step between the tang and the grip adapted for abutting an end surface of the hollow end of the sports implement when the tang is inserted therein, the step comprising a flat planar surface adjoining a surface defined by the tang and being positioned immediately adjacent to the neck region and having a second thickness equal to the first thickness of the sports implement,   the flange region comprising a dorsal cantle region and a ventral cantle region, the dorsal and ventral cantle regions extending an entire distance between the neck region and the grip end and on opposing sides of an imaginary coronal plane and bisected by an imaginary sagittal plane orthogonal to the imaginary coronal plane, the dorsal and ventral cantle regions each providing a curved support surface, wherein the dorsal cantle region and ventral cantle region are asymmetric relative to each other about the coronal plane and the sagittal plane bisects each of the ventral and the dorsal cantle regions into symmetrical halves, respectively,   the neck region having a length extending from the step to the dorsal cantle region and the ventral cantle region, the outer surface of the neck region being equidistant from the central longitudinal axis along the entire length thereof.