HOCKEY STICK
A composite hockey stick having a tubular hollow shaft and a blade is disclosed. The shaft includes a region of focused weight in the form of an overlay coating that is applied on top if the internal surfaces of the cured shaft using a coating plug. The blade includes a focused weight region that is inserted into a cavity within the cured composite blade. Methods and suitable materials for constructions of the various components of the blade and shaft are also disclosed.
1 . A composite, focus-weighted hockey stick blade, comprising:
a shaft-engaging region, a heel, a mid-section, and a toe;
a cavity in the composite blade including a passage through an outer surface of the shaft-engaging region; and
a component of higher density than surrounding blade regions positioned in the cavity.
2 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 wherein the component of higher density comprises a plurality of metal balls housed in a sock.
3 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 further comprising an elastomeric material in the cavity encapsulating the component of higher density.
4 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 further comprising a plug positioned against a first end of the component of higher density.
5 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 wherein the component of higher density is positioned in a portion of the cavity in the heel.
6 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 wherein the component of higher density is positioned in a portion of the cavity extending from the shaft-engaging region to the heel.
7 . The hockey stick blade of claim 6 wherein the component of higher density extends in a first substantially horizontal direction and in a second direction at an angle to the first substantially horizontal direction.
8 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 wherein the component of higher density is positioned in at least one of the mid-section and the toe.
9 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 further comprising an additional component having a higher density than, and positioned in the cavity vertically below, the component of higher density than surrounding blade regions.
10 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 wherein a plurality of components of higher density than surrounding blade regions are located in the cavity at multiple lengthwise positions of the blade.
11 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 wherein the shaft-engaging region includes a connection member configured to engage a hockey stick shaft, and wherein the passage extends through an outer surface of the connection member.
12 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 wherein the connection member is configured to be received within a tubular hockey stick shaft.
13 . A focus-weighted hockey stick blade, comprising:
a shaft-engaging region, a heel, a mid-section, and a toe;
a cavity in the blade; and
a weight-focusing component, having a higher density than surrounding blade regions, occupying a portion of the cavity extending from the shaft-engaging region to the heel.
14 . The hockey stick blade of claim 13 wherein the cavity extends from the shaft-engaging region to, or adjacent to, the toe.
15 . The hockey stick blade of claim 13 wherein the surrounding blade regions comprise at least one composite material.
16 . The hockey stick blade of claim 13 wherein the shaft-engaging region includes a connection member configured to engage a hockey stick shaft, and wherein a passage extends through an outer surface of the connection member into the cavity.
17 . The hockey stick blade of claim 13 further comprising an elastomeric material in the cavity encapsulating the weight-focusing component.
18 . The hockey stick blade of claim 1 wherein the weight-focusing component comprises a plurality of metal balls housed in a sock.
19 . A focus-weighted hockey stick blade, comprising:
a shaft-engaging region, a heel, a mid-section, and a toe;
a cavity in at least the heel of the blade; and
a plurality of metal balls housed in a sock occupying at least a portion of the cavity.
20 . The hockey stick blade of claim 19 further comprising a passage extending through an outer surface of the shaft-engaging region into the cavity.