Hockey stick

Abstract

A hockey stick with a shaft having a rectangular cross-section, in which an additional layer (or layers) of impact resistant material is added to one or more corners at one or more locations on the shaft to provide protection from damaging blows and to provide “proud” corners on the shaft to improve the handling and “feel” of the shaft for the player.

1 . A hockey stick shaft having an inner core which has four faces including a blade face, wherein the four faces define four corner lines on the edge of the four faces, the hockey stick shaft comprising: 
 a first section having a joint connected to a hockey stick blade;    a second section immediately adjacent to the first section at the opposite end of the joint;    a third section immediately adjacent to the second section; and    a fourth section immediately adjacent to the third section, wherein the fourth section is the very upper end of the shaft;    wherein the hockey stick shaft further comprises four reinforced corner pieces applied to each of the four corner lines within the first section and the second section and that form recessed areas on each of the four faces within the first section and the second section.    
     
     
         2 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 1  further comprises two reinforced corner pieces applied to two corner lines that adjacent to the blade face within the third section and that form a recessed area on the blade face within the third section.  
     
     
         3 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 2  further comprises two reinforced corner pieces applied to two of the corner lines that adjacent to the face opposite to the blade face within the fourth section and that form a recessed area on the face opposite to the blade face within the fourth section.  
     
     
         4 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 3  further comprises an outer layer around the entire shaft to hold the inner core and the corner pieces.  
     
     
         5 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 4 , wherein the outer layer is fine glass.  
     
     
         6 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core is wood.  
     
     
         7 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core is composite material.  
     
     
         8 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 7 , wherein the inner core is tubular.  
     
     
         9 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 1 , wherein each of the reinforced corner pieces is a single layer Kevlar.  
     
     
         10 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 1 , wherein each of the reinforced corner pieces are multi-layer material.  
     
     
         11 . A hockey stick shaft comprising: 
 an inner core having four faces that define four corner lines;    a plurality of reinforced corner pieces applied to the corner lines that form recessed areas on each of the four faces; and    an outer layer wraps around the entire shaft to hold the inner core and the corner pieces.    
     
     
         12 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 11 , wherein the outer layer is fine glass.  
     
     
         13 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 11 , wherein the inner core is wood.  
     
     
         14 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 11 , wherein the inner core is composite material.  
     
     
         15 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 14 , wherein the inner core is tubular.  
     
     
         16 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 11 , wherein each of the reinforced corner pieces is a single layer Kevlar.  
     
     
         17 . A hockey stick shaft of  claim 11 , wherein each of the reinforced corner pieces are multi-layers.  
     
     
         18 . A tubular composite hockey stick shaft having a generally rectangular cross-section defined by a first, second, third and fourth corners spaced apart from another and being comprised of multiple plies of fibers disposed within a hardened resin matrix including: 
 (a) a first group of plies extending around the full circumference of the shaft and    (b) a second group of plies extending only partially around the shaft;    wherein a said second group of plies forms at least in part a first corner of said rectangular shaft.    
     
     
         19 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 18 , wherein said second group of plies does not form said second, third and fourth corners.  
     
     
         20 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 18 , wherein said second group of plies does not form said second and third corners.  
     
     
         21 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 18 , wherein said second group of plies does not form said second corner.  
     
     
         22 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 19  further comprising a third group of plies spaced circumferentially apart from said second group of plies and extending only partially around the shaft.  
     
     
         23 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 22 , wherein said third group of plies forms at least in part the second corner of said rectangular shaft.  
     
     
         24 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 23 , further comprising a fourth group of plies spaced circumferentially apart from said second and third group of plies.  
     
     
         25 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 24 , wherein said fourth group of plies forms at least in part the third corner of said rectangular shaft.  
     
     
         26 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 25 , further comprising a fifth group of plies spaced circumferentially apart from said second, third and fourth group of plies.  
     
     
         27 . The tubular composite hockey stick shaft of  claim 26 , wherein said fifth group of plies forms at least in part the fourth corner of said rectangular shaft.