Lacrosse stick head with shield to protect netting

Abstract

A lacrosse stick head includes a frame having a throat, a sidewall extending from the throat, and a lip joined to an end of the sidewall remote from the throat. Netting is attached to the frame by portions of the netting disposed through the netting support holes in the sidewall and lip. A shield is disposed on the lip and protects portions of the netting disposed through the netting support holes of the lip from abrasive wear that occurs when the lip engages a ground surface during play.

1 . A lacrosse stick head comprising: 
 a frame having a throat, a sidewall extending from the throat, and a lip joined to an end of the sidewall remote from the throat, the sidewall and lip having netting support holes;    netting attached to said frame by portions of said netting disposed through said netting support holes; and    a shield disposed on the lip that protects portions of netting disposed through said netting support holes of the lip from abrasive wear that occurs when the lip engages a ground surface.    
   
   
       2 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 1 , wherein said shield is formed from a molded, plastic material.  
   
   
       3 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 1 , wherein said shield is formed from a rigid material.  
   
   
       4 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 1 , wherein said shield includes integrally formed tabs that retain the shield on the lip.  
   
   
       5 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 4 , wherein said tabs are formed to snap fit onto the lip.  
   
   
       6 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 4 , wherein said tabs are formed on the shield in a location to minimize interfering with a trajectory of a ball thrown from the lacrosse stick head.  
   
   
       7 . A lacrosse stick head comprising: 
 a frame having a throat, sidewalls extending from the throat, and an arcuate lip joined to ends of the sidewalls remote from the throat, said lip having an upper and lower edge, each of said sidewalls and lip having netting support holes;    netting attached to said frame by portions of said netting disposed through said netting support holes and extending over the lower edge of the lip; and    a shield disposed on the lip that protects those portions of netting disposed through said netting support holes and along the lower edge of the lip from abrasive wear that occurs when the lip engages a ground surface.    
   
   
       8 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 7 , wherein said shield is formed from a molded, plastic material.  
   
   
       9 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 7 , wherein said shield is formed from a rigid material.  
   
   
       10 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 7 , wherein said shield includes integrally formed tabs that retain the shield on the lip.  
   
   
       11 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 10 , wherein said tabs are formed to snap fit onto the lip.  
   
   
       12 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 10 , wherein said tabs are formed on the shield in a location to minimize interfering with a trajectory of a ball thrown from the lacrosse stick head.  
   
   
       13 . A lacrosse stick head according to  claim 7 , wherein said arcuate lip is substantially semicircular configured.  
   
   
       14 . A shield for a lacrosse stick head comprising: 
 a rigid member configured to fit onto the lip of a lacrosse stick head and having a lower portion for protecting netting disposed through holes in the lip and an attachment means for retaining the shield onto the lip.    
   
   
       15 . A shield according to  claim 1 , wherein said attachment means comprises integrally formed tabs adapted to fit over an upper edge of the lip of the lacrosse stick head.