Hockey Stick with Variable Geometry Shaft and Paddle

Abstract

Aspects of this disclosure relate to improved ergonomic hockey sticks and hockey goalie sticks having shafts and paddles with variable geometric shapes and facets for enhanced gripping ability, and methods for the production thereof.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hockey stick comprising:
 a blade;   a paddle; and   a shaft comprising a gripping structure positioned on a front face of the paddle and extending from the shaft into the paddle, wherein the gripping structure and the shaft form a pentagonal cross-section.   
     
     
         2 . The hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping structure extends longitudinally from a midpoint of the shaft towards a top of the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the blade is curved. 
     
     
         4 . The hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the paddle is positioned between the shaft and the blade. 
     
     
         5 . The hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the gripping structure is positioned on the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The hockey stick of  claim 1 , further comprising a second gripping structure. 
     
     
         7 . The hockey stick of  claim 6 , wherein the second gripping structure is a finger or thumb support. 
     
     
         8 . The hockey stick of  claim 6 , wherein the second gripping structure is generally wavy-shaped, j-shaped, or s-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the blade, the shaft, and the gripping structure are integrally formed. 
     
     
         10 . The hockey stick of  claim 1 , wherein the gripping structure is attached to the shaft and paddle with an adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . A method of fabricating a hockey stick comprising:
 forming a shaft;   forming a curved blade;   forming a paddle; and   forming a gripping structure,
 wherein the paddle is positioned between the shaft and the blade, 
 wherein the gripping structure is positioned on the shaft and the paddle, 
 wherein the gripping structure extends from the shaft into the paddle, 
 wherein the gripping structure and the shaft form a five-sided polygonal cross-section, and 
 wherein an apex of the five-sided polygonal cross-section is positioned on a same side as a concave side of the curved blade. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the blade comprises a foam core. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gripping structure comprises a foam core. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gripping structure comprises a composite. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gripping structure is overmolded. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gripping structure is secured to the shaft or paddle by adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the formed blade, shaft, paddle, and gripping structure are overmolded. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the blade, the shaft, the paddle, and the gripping structure are formed together in a first mold. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gripping structure is formed by layering one or more layers of fiber tape. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 forming a hockey stick, wherein the hockey stick further comprises:
 a shaft; 
 a curved blade; 
 a paddle including a front face and a rear face; and 
 a gripping structure,
 wherein the paddle is positioned between the shaft and the blade, 
 wherein the gripping structure is positioned on the shaft and on the front face of the paddle, 
 wherein the gripping structure and the shaft form a five-sided polygonal cross-section, and 
 wherein an apex of the five-sided polygonal cross-section is positioned on a same side as a concave side of the curved blade.