Hockey stick

Abstract

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.