Lacrosse stick

Abstract

A lacrosse stick having a shaft with an octagonal cross-sectional profile. Two of the shaft's side walls disposed opposite to each other are of a wider width than the remaining six side walls. The six narrower side walls are all flat. The two wider side walls are configured to aid the player in gripping the shaft and to provide the head feel to the player. The wider side walls may be provided with at least a pair of ribs of the same width that are separated by a groove. This embodiment aids the player in gripping the shaft and gives the player a one hundred and eighty degree head feel. The wider side walls may, alternatively, be concave with the degree of concavity differing from one edge of the side wall to the other. This concavity aids the player in gripping the shaft while the change in the degree of concavity gives the player a three hundred and sixty degree head feel. In a further embodiment, the wider side walls may flare outwardly away from each other and be connected to the adjacent side wall at the most tapered edge by a ridged region. This configuration again aids the player in gripping the shaft and provides the player with a three hundred and sixty degree head feel.

1 . A lacrosse stick comprising:
 a head having a net and being adapted to receive and retain a ball therein;   a shaft extending outwardly away from the head; said shaft comprising an elongated tubular member having a length and a longitudinal axis; and wherein said tubular member comprises:
 eight side walls configured to form a substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape; wherein two of the side walls disposed opposite to each other are of a wider width than the remaining six side walls; and the six narrower side walls are flat; and wherein each of the two wider side walls includes: 
 a first rib, 
 a second rib and 
 a first groove interposed between the first and second ribs; wherein the first and second ribs and the first groove extend substantially along the length of the shaft and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; and wherein the first rib is substantially identical in width to the second rib. 
   
   
   
       2 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a second groove and a third groove formed in each of the two wider side walls; and wherein said first rib is interposed between the first groove and the second groove; and the second rib is interposed between the first groove and the third groove. 
   
   
       3 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the first, second and third grooves are all of substantially the same width. 
   
   
       4 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the side walls further include:
 a first lip and   a second lip,   
     wherein the second groove is interposed between the first lip and the first rib; and the third groove is interposed between the second rib and the second lip. 
   
   
       5 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the first lip is disposed at the junction of one of the narrower side walls with one of the wider side walls; and the second lip is disposed at the junction of another of the narrower side walls with the one of the wider side walls. 
   
   
       6 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the first and second ribs are both of substantially the same first width and the first, second and third grooves are all of substantially the same second width. 
   
   
       7 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the first and second widths are equal. 
   
   
       8 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 1 ; further comprising a third rib and a second groove formed in each of the two wider side walls; wherein said third rib extends along the length of the shaft and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; and said second groove is interposed between the third rib and one of the first and second ribs; and wherein the third rib is substantially of the same width as each of the first and second ribs. 
   
   
       9 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the first, second and third ribs are all of substantially the same first width; and the first and second grooves are both of substantially the same second width. 
   
   
       10 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second widths are substantially identical. 
   
   
       11 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 8 , wherein each of the wider side walls further includes a first shoulder disposed between the first rib and an adjacent narrower side wall; and a second shoulder disposed between the third rib and an adjacent side wall. 
   
   
       12 . A lacrosse stick comprising:
 a head adapted to receive and retain a ball therein;   a shaft extending outwardly from the head; said shaft comprising an elongated tubular member having a length and a longitudinal axis; and wherein said tubular member comprises:
 eight side walls that are configured to form a substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape; wherein two of the side walls disposed opposite to each other are of a wider width than the remaining six side walls; and wherein the six side walls are flat; and wherein each of the two wider side walls includes: 
 a first region having a first radius of curvature; 
 a second region having a second radius of curvature, said second radius of curvature being greater than the first radius of curvature; and wherein the first regions of each of the two wider side walls are disposed directly opposite each other; whereby the difference between the first and second radii of curvature is adapted to give the shaft a reference point to provide a lacrosse player a three hundred and sixty degree head feel. 
   
   
   
       13 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the first region of each of the two wider side walls joins one of the narrower side walls at a first junction; and the second region of each of the two wider side walls joins another of the narrower side walls at a second junction; and the shaft has a first width between an outer surface of the shaft at the two first junctions and a second width between an outer surface of the shaft at the two second junctions; and the first and second widths are substantially identical. 
   
   
       14 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the first junction comprises a first bump and the second junction comprises a second bump. 
   
   
       15 . A lacrosse stick comprising:
 a head adapted to receive and retain a ball therein;   a shaft extending outwardly away from the head; said shaft comprising an elongated tubular member having a length and a longitudinal axis; and wherein said tubular member comprises:
 eight side walls that are configured to form a substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape; wherein two of the side walls disposed opposite to each other are of a wider width than the remaining six side walls; and wherein each of the wider side walls has a first edge where it joins one of the narrower side walls; and a second edge where it joins a second one of the narrower side walls; said first and second edges being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shaft; and wherein the shaft further includes: 
   a single bump formed along the first edge of each of the wider side walls.   
   
   
       16 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 15 , wherein each of the wider side walls tapers from the second side edge thereof to the single bump. 
   
   
       17 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the shaft has a first width measured between an outer surface of the bumps on the opposed wider side walls; and the shaft has a second width measured between the second side edges of the wider side walls; and the first and second widths are substantially identical. 
   
   
       18 . A lacrosse stick comprising:
 a head adapted to receive and retain a ball therein;   a shaft extending outwardly from the head; said shaft comprising an elongated tubular member having a length and a longitudinal axis; and wherein said tubular member comprises:
 eight side walls that are configured to form a substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape; wherein two of the side walls disposed opposite to each other are of a wider width than the remaining six side walls; wherein the six side walls are flat; and wherein each of the two wider side walls joins one of the narrower side walls at a first junction and joins another of the narrower side walls at a second junction; and wherein the two wider side walls flare outwardly away from each other between the first and second junctions. 
   
   
   
       19 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 18 , wherein each of the wider side walls is substantially planar. 
   
   
       20 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the first junctions comprise an outwardly extending ridge, and said ridges and outwardly flaring wider side walls are adapted to provide the shaft with a reference point that gives a lacrosse player a three hundred and sixty degree head feel. 
   
   
       21 . The lacrosse stick as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the shaft has a first width between the two first junctions and a second width between the two second junctions; and the first and second widths are substantially identical.