Heated lacrosse stick shaft
An apparatus and method of providing heat to hand-holding locations on a lacrosse stick shaft including a heating emitting element and a user-operable control. The apparatus and method may include one or more resistive heating elements connectable to a power source such as a battery. Charging of the power source may be by plug in charging, kinetic energy charging, contact charging, inductive charging, or by replacement of a battery. The apparatus and method may be configured for mounting within the stick shaft, for being mounted in an end piece at the butt end of the shaft, or being positioned on the outside of the shaft as a sleeve or wrap. The apparatus and method may include a chemical heating apparatus or phase change heating apparatus positioned within or on the stick shaft. The user control may be mounted in or on the end piece at the butt end of the shaft. An indicator may provide information to a user regarding status states of the operation of the lacrosse stick shaft heating or recharging.
1. A heating apparatus for use with a lacrosse stick having a shaft, a butt end of the shaft, and a plurality of hand-holding locations on the shaft, comprising:
a plurality of heating elements for mounting in the shaft of the lacrosse stick, each of said plurality of heating elements is associated to each of said plurality of hand-holding locations, wherein the plurality of heating elements are operable to emit heat at the respective plurality of hand-holding locations and the plurality of hand-holding locations are spaced apart along the lacrosse stick shaft;
a power source connected to supply electrical power to the heating element, wherein the power source is rechargeable and further comprising:
a charging terminal electrically coupled to the power source configured to receive a power input operable for recharging the power source of the lacrosse stick while not in use;
a user-operable control, wherein the user-operable control is coupled to the power source, and selectively regulates the heat released from the heating elements.
2. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating elements include a resistive heating element.
3. The heating apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the resistive heating elements are selected from a group including a resistive heating pad, wiring arranged proximate to the internal perimeter of the shaft, and coiled wiring.
4. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user-operable control is configured to be mounted on the shaft.
5. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user-operable control is configured to be mounted on an end cap at the butt end of the shaft.
6. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator connected to the power source and configured to indicate a status state to a user.
7. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user-operable control has a plurality of user-selectable settings.
8. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is configured to heat the plurality of hand-holding locations to a temperature of between 55° F. to 130° F.
9. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating apparatus is attached within the shaft.
10. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the heating apparatus is modular and insertable into the shaft.
11. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power source recharges using a method selected from a group including a charging cable, inductive charging, kinetic charging, and contact charging.
12. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power source is configured to recharge from an external power source.
13. The heating apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the charging terminal is configured to charge a power source within the lacrosse stick while holding the lacrosse stick in a substantially vertical position.
14. A heating apparatus for use with an athletic device having a shaft and at least two hand-holding locations on the shaft, comprising:
a plurality of heating elements, wherein each of said plurality of heating elements is associated with and configured for operation to warm at least two hand-holding locations spaced apart along the shaft;
an electrical power supply connected to the heating element to supply electrical power to the heating element, wherein the electrical power supply is rechargeable and further comprises:
a charging terminal configured to receive a power input for recharging the electrical power supply of the athletic device while not in use;
a user-operable control connected to the heating element and the electrical power supply and being operable by a user to selectively regulate heat released from the heating element.
15. A heating apparatus for use with an athletic device having a shaft and at least two hand-holding locations associated with portions of the shaft, comprising:
a plurality of heating elements configured to emit heat at at least two hand-holding locations, wherein the at least two hand-holding locations are separated by a portion of the athletic device shaft not associated with a heating element;
a rechargeable power source connected to supply electrical power to the heating element;
a charging terminal configured to receive a power input configured to recharge the rechargeable power source; and
a user-operable control, wherein the user-operable control is coupled to the power source, and selectively regulates the heat released from the heating element.
16. The heating apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the heating element is a heated wrap tape having internal wiring to generate heat by resistive heating.
17. The heating apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the heating element is at least one heating pad configured to deliver heat to the at least two-hand-holding locations of the shaft.
18. A heating apparatus for use with a lacrosse stick having a shaft and at least two hand-holding locations spaced apart along the shaft, comprising:
a plurality of warming packets for mounting in the shaft of the lacrosse stick at the at least two hand-holding locations, the plurality of warming packets being configured to emit heat so as to warm the at least two hand-holding locations;
a controller configured to selectively activate warming in at least one of the plurality of warming packets; and
a user-operable control, wherein the user-operable control is coupled to the controller, to selectively activate warming in the at least one warming packet.
19. The heating apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the method of warming by the warming packet is selected from a group including exothermic oxidation and phase change.