Hockey stick apparatus for stick handling training and locking mechanism for same

Abstract

According to one aspect, a hockey stick for training a person in stick handling, including an elongate upper stick portion configured to be gripped by a control hand of the person, an elongate lower stick portion rigidly coupled to the upper stick portion and configured to rotate therewith, and an elongate middle stick portion positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion and configured to be gripped by a directional hand of the person. The middle stick portion is rotatably coupled to the elongate coupling member so that rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion and the blade member to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion gripped by the directional hand. The hockey stick may include at least one locking mechanism coupled to the middle stick portion and at least one of the upper and lower stick portions. Each locking mechanism is movable between an unlocked position wherein the middle stick portion is rotatable relative to the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion, and a locked position wherein the upper stick portion, the lower stick portion and the middle stick portion are secured together so that rotation of the middle stick portion with respect to the upper and lower stick portions is inhibited.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A hockey stick for training a person in stick handling, comprising:
 a. an elongate upper stick portion configured to be gripped by a control hand of the person;   b. an elongate lower stick portion rigidly coupled to the upper stick portion and configured to rotate therewith;   c. an elongate middle stick portion positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion and configured to be gripped by a directional hand of the person, the middle stick portion being rotatably coupled to the upper stick portion and lower stick portion; and   d. at least one locking mechanism coupled to the middle stick portion and at least one of the upper and lower stick portions, each locking mechanism movable between:
 i. an unlocked position wherein the middle stick portion is rotatable relative to the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion; and 
 ii. a locked position wherein the upper stick portion, the lower stick portion and the middle stick portion are secured together so that rotation of the middle stick portion with respect to the upper and lower stick portions is inhibited. 
   
     
     
         22 . The hockey stick of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one locking mechanism comprises:
 a. a first body portion coupled to one end of the middle stick portion; and   b. a second body portion coupled to one of the upper stick portion and lower stick portion and positioned adjacent the first body portion;   c. one of the first and second body portions having at least one locking member therein, each locking member configured to be extended and retracted, and the other of the first and second body portions having at least one bore therein, the at least one bore configured to receive the at least one locking member when in the extended position so as to secure the first and second body portions together and inhibit rotation of the middle stick portion.   
     
     
         23 . The hockey stick of  claim 22  wherein the at least one locking member and at least one bore are offset from the rotational axis of the middle stick portion. 
     
     
         24 . The hockey stick of  claim 22 , wherein the first body portion comprises the at least one locking member and the second body portion comprises the at least one bore. 
     
     
         25 . The hockey stick of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one actuator coupled to the at least one locking member, each actuator configured for moving the at least one locking member between the extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The hockey stick of  claim 21 , wherein the upper stick portion, lower stick portion and middle stick portion have matching outer stick profiles, and the locking mechanism is configured so that the outer stick profiles align when the locking mechanism in the locked position. 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A hockey stick for training a person in stick handling, comprising:
 an elongate upper stick portion configured to be gripped by a control hand of the person;   an elongate lower stick portion having a blade member extending outwardly therefrom;   an elongate coupling member for rigidly coupling the upper stick portion to the lower stick portion;   an elongate middle stick portion positioned between and collinear with the upper stick portion and the lower stick portion and configured to be gripped by a directional hand of the person, the middle stick portion having a bore for receiving the elongate coupling member therein so that rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion and the blade member to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion gripped by the directional hand;   a first coupler at a first end of the elongate coupling member adapted to rigidly couple the elongate coupling member to the upper stick portion; and   a second coupler at a second end of the elongate coupling member adapted to rigidly couple the elongate coupling member to the lower stick portion   
     
     
         35 . The hockey stick of  claim 34 , wherein the first coupler includes an upper insert adapted to be received in an upper hollow portion of the upper stick portion. 
     
     
         36 . The hockey stick of  claim 34 , wherein the second coupler includes a lower insert adapted to be received in a lower hollow portion of the lower stick portion. 
     
     
         37 . The hockey stick of  claim 34 , wherein the first coupler includes a hollow portion adapted to receive another stick portion therein. 
     
     
         38 . The hockey stick of  claim 34 , wherein the second coupler includes a hollow portion adapted to receive another stick portion therein. 
     
     
         39 . The hockey stick of  claim 34 , wherein the first and second couplers include at least one hollow portion provided on at least one of the stick portions, each hollow portion adapted to securely receive at least one other portion of another stick portion therein. 
     
     
         40 . The hockey stick of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one hollow portion includes an upper hollow portion in the upper stick portion, the upper hollow portion adapted to receive an upper insert of the middle stick portion. 
     
     
         41 . The hockey stick of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one hollow portion includes a lower hollow portion in the lower stick portion, the lower hollow portion adapted to receive a lower insert of the middle stick portion. 
     
     
         42 . A rotational assembly for use with a hockey stick having a lower stick portion with a blade member extending outwardly therefrom, the rotational assembly comprising:
 an elongate coupling member;   a middle stick portion having a bore sized and shaped to receive the elongate coupling member therein;   a first coupler at a first end of the elongate coupling member; and   a second coupler at a second end of the elongate coupling member, the second coupler adapted to be coupled to the lower stick portion;   the first and second couplers and elongate coupling member adapted to rotatably couple the lower stick portion to the middle stick portion so that rotation of the first coupler causes the lower stick portion to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion when the middle stick portion is gripped by a directional hand.   
     
     
         43 . The rotational assembly of  claim 42  wherein the first coupler is adapted to be coupled to an upper stick portion of the hockey stick so that rotation of the upper stick portion causes the lower stick portion to rotate without rotating the middle stick portion when the middle stick portion is gripped by the directional hand. 
     
     
         44 . The rotational assembly of  claim 42  wherein the first coupler includes an upper stick portion of the hockey stick. 
     
     
         45 . The rotational assembly of  claim 42  wherein the first coupler includes an upper insert adapted to be received in an upper hollow portion of an upper stick portion. 
     
     
         46 . The rotational assembly of  claim 42  wherein the second coupler includes a lower insert adapted to be received in a lower hollow portion of the lower stick portion. 
     
     
         47 . The rotational assembly of  claims 42 , wherein the first and second couplers include at least one hollow portion, each hollow portion adapted to securely receive at least one other portion of another stick portion therein.