Composite hockey stick handle with resilient shroud

Abstract

A hand-held implement grip and protectant, preferably for a hockey stick, is described. The invention mainly consists of a blade attached to a composite shaft integrally enshrouded with a rubber sheath. A method of forming the same is also provided as laying up a number of sheets of composite material, wrapping those sheets about a mandril, enshrouding the layup with a rubber sheath, vulcanizing the combination, removing the mandril, and inserting a blade therein.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A hockey stick, comprising, in combination: 
 a shaft;    a blade attached to said shaft;    said shaft formed from a composite layup including a hollow core; and    a sheath formed from resilient material ensconcing said shaft.    
     
     
         2 . The hockey stick of    claim 1    wherein said composite layup is comprised of a plurality of graphite sheets.  
     
     
         3 . The hockey stick of    claim 2    wherein said graphite sheets are impregnated with resin, and affixed to each other by said resin.  
     
     
         4 . The hockey stick of    claim 3    wherein said resilient material runs the length of said shaft.  
     
     
         5 . The hockey stick of    claim 4    wherein said resilient material is rubber.  
     
     
         6 . The hockey stick of    claim 5    wherein said layup further comprises a urethane sheet.  
     
     
         7 . The hockey stick of    claim 6    wherein said urethane sheet defines an innermost layer of said shaft.  
     
     
         8 . The hockey stick of    claim 7    wherein said blade includes a hosel coupled into said shaft hollow core, said urethane layer overlying said hosel.  
     
     
         9 . The hockey stick of    claim 8    wherein said urethane sheet has a lesser length than said graphite sheets.  
     
     
         10 . A method for forming a hockey stick, the steps including: 
 laying up a composite material;    forming said layup of composite material about a mandril defining a layup wrapped mandril;    ensconcing a resilient sheath over said layup wrapped mandril;    vulcanizing said sheath and layup wrapped mandril combination;    removing the mandril; and    inserting a hockey blade hosel in a central core of said layup formed by removal of the mandril.    
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 10    wherein said ensconcing includes opening the sheath and inserting said layup wrapped mandril.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11    wherein said opening is effected by applying a vacuum on an outside surface of said sheets.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12    further including placing the vacuum on a tube after deploying the sheath in the tube and fixing sheath end at the tube termini.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 13    wherein said composite material includes a plurality of uncured resin-impregnated sheets.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14    wherein said vulcanizing includes heating at 150° F. to 350° F. for 30 minutes to 2 hours.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 13    wherein said composite material is comprised of a thermoplastic.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16    wherein said vulcanizing step includes heating at 350° F. to 550° F. for 30 seconds to 10 minutes.  
     
     
         18 . A hockey stick, comprising, in combination: 
 a shaft; and    a blade attached to said shaft;    said shaft formed by laying up a plurality of uncured resin-impregnated sheets of composite material, forming said plurality of sheets about a mandril, defining a layup wrapped mandril, ensconcing a resilient sheath over said layup wrapped mandril, vulcanizing said sheath and layup wrapped mandril combination, and removing the mandril.    
     
     
         19 . The hockey stick of    claim 18    wherein said blade is attached to said hockey stick by inserting a hockey blade hosel in a central core of said layup formed by removal of the mandril.  
     
     
         20 . The hockey stick of    claim 19    wherein said ensconcing includes opening said sheath and inserting said layup wrapped mandril.  
     
     
         21 . The hockey stick of    claim 20    wherein said opening is effected by applying a vacuum on an outside surface of said sheets.  
     
     
         22 . The hockey stick of    claim 21    further including placing said vacuum on a tube after deploying said sheath in said tube and fixing sheath ends at the tube termini.  
     
     
         23 . A shaft for a hockey stick, comprising, in combination: 
 a composite layup including a hollow core; and    a sheath formed from resilient material ensconcing said shaft.    
     
     
         24 . The shaft of    claim 23    wherein said resilient sheath runs the length of the shaft.  
     
     
         25 . The shaft of    claim 24    wherein said resilient sheath is rubber.  
     
     
         26 . The shaft of    claim 25    wherein said composite layup is comprised of a plurality of graphite sheets.  
     
     
         27 . The shaft of    claim 26    wherein said graphite sheets are impregnated with resin and affixed to each other by said resin.  
     
     
         28 . The shaft of    claim 27    wherein said layup further comprises a urethane sheet.  
     
     
         29 . The shaft of    claim 28    wherein said urethane sheet defines an innermost layer of the shaft.  
     
     
         30 . The shaft of    claim 25    wherein said composite layup is comprised of thermoplastic materials.  
     
     
         31 . The shaft of    claim 30    wherein said layup further comprises a urethane sheet.  
     
     
         32 . The shaft of    claim 31    wherein said urethane sheet defines an innermost layer of the shaft.  
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for wrapping a layer about a mandril, comprising, in combination: 
 a belt having a first surface to support the layer;    said first surface including tension means to constrain the mandril within a bight portion of said belt;    means to release the mandril upon relaxing said tensioning means;    whereby the layer, when placed on said first surface, and when said tensioning means is enabled, wraps on the mandril,    further comprising a frame wherein said belt is rotatably coupled to said frame,    a lever pivotally coupled to said frame and said tensioning means for enabling and disabling said tensioning means, and    a guide arm pivotally coupled to said frame and movably coupled to said lever to further facilitate constraint of said mandril.    
     
     
         34 . The layer wrapping apparatus of    claim 33    wherein said belt is a closed loop belt.  
     
     
         35 . The layer wrapping apparatus of    claim 34    further comprising a motor means drivably coupled to said belt.  
     
     
         36 . The layer wrapping apparatus of    claim 35    further comprising rotating means rotatably coupled to said belt for rotating said belt.  
     
     
         37 . The layer wrapping apparatus of    claim 36    further comprising a hooked stop coupled to one end of said guide arm, the same end facilitating the constraint.  
     
     
         38 . The layer wrapping apparatus of    claim 37    wherein said rotating means are driving rollers.  
     
     
         39 . An apparatus for making tubular articles from pliable sheets, comprising, in combination: 
 a frame;    a lever pivotally coupled to said frame;    a guide arm having a hooked stop at one end, said guide arm pivotally coupled to said frame and movably coupled to said lever;    a closed loop wrapping belt supported on said frame by tension and driving rollers for conveying said pliable sheets, said wrapping belt guided by said hooked stop;    a bight portion of said wrapping belt to form a working gap behind said hooked stop;    an elongated mandril seated in said gap;    means to drive said wrapping belt;    means to tension said wrapping belt to rotate said mandril, said means coupled to said lever.