Lacrosse head ball stop pad

Abstract

Disclosed is a ball stop pad for use in a lacrosse head having improved ball retention characteristics, and which is impervious to repeated impacts and exposure to the elements, in a construction that complies with the rule-setting authorities' dimensional requirements. The ball stop pad is comprised of a fabric sleeve shaped for fitting within the ball stop region of a lacrosse stick head, and has a dry viscoelastic polymer on the interior of the sleeve that serves to absorb and dissipate the impact of a lacrosse ball as it first hits and then moves within and against the ball stop pad during play. The top surface of the ball stop pad is provided a series of tightly packed, circular, raised dimples that provide multiple points of contact with a ball as it impacts the ball stop, and thus constantly cushions the ball regardless of ball movement within the head of the lacrosse stick.

1 . A ball stop pad comprising:
 a fabric sleeve dimensioned to fit within a ball stop region of a lacrosse stick head, said fabric sleeve having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a cushioning polymer on an interior of said fabric sleeve between said top surface and said bottom surface; and   a plurality of raised, circular dimples on said top surface positioned for contacting a lacrosse ball when a lacrosse ball is positioned within a ball stop region of a lacrosse stick head, said dimples being positioned with respect to one another so that at least a portion of an outer perimeter edge of each dimple is approximately in contact with a portion of an outer perimeter edge of another dimple.   
     
     
         2 . The ball stop pad of  claim 1 , said ball stop pad having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a height dimension, wherein said length dimension is at least sixty percent larger than said width dimension, and wherein said width dimension is at least nine-hundred percent larger than said height dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The ball stop pad of  claim 2 , wherein each said dimple has a diameter of no greater than approximately 6 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The ball stop pad of  claim 2 , wherein each said dimple has a height of approximately 1 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The ball stop pad of  claim 2 , wherein said height dimension does not exceed 5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The ball stop pad of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning polymer further comprises a dry viscoelastic polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The ball stop pad of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric sleeve further comprises a stretchable polyester fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The ball stop pad of  claim 7 , further comprising an elastic urethane coating on at least one side of said fabric sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . A ball stop pad comprising:
 a fabric sleeve dimensioned to fit within a ball stop region of a lacrosse stick head, said fabric sleeve having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a cushioning polymer on an interior of said fabric sleeve between said top surface and said bottom surface; and   a plurality of raised, circular dimples on said top surface positioned for contacting a lacrosse ball when a lacrosse ball is positioned within a ball stop region of a lacrosse stick head, each of said dimples having a diameter of no greater than approximately 6 mm and being spaced such that a center of adjacent dimples are at a distance of approximately 7 mm.   
     
     
         10 . The ball stop pad of  claim 9 , wherein said dimples are positioned with respect to one another so that at least a portion of an outer perimeter edge of each dimple is approximately in contact with a portion of an outer perimeter edge of another dimple. 
     
     
         11 . The ball stop pad of  claim 9 , said ball stop pad having a length dimension, a width dimension, and a height dimension, wherein said length dimension is at least sixty percent larger than said width dimension, and wherein said width dimension is at least nine-hundred percent larger than said height dimension. 
     
     
         12 . The ball stop pad of  claim 11 , wherein each said dimple has a diameter of no greater than approximately 6 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The ball stop pad of  claim 11 , wherein each said dimple has a height of approximately 1 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The ball stop pad of  claim 11 , wherein said height dimension does not exceed 5 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The ball stop pad of  claim 9 , wherein said cushioning polymer further comprises a dry viscoelastic polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The ball stop pad of  claim 9 , wherein said fabric sleeve further comprises a stretchable polyester fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The ball stop pad of  claim 16 , further comprising an elastic urethane coating on at least one side of said fabric sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . A lacrosse stick head comprising:
 a scoop portion;   sidewalls on opposite sides of said scoop portion;   a throat portion extending between said sidewalls;   a ball stop portion at a center of said throat portion; and   a ball stop in said ball stop portion, said ball stop further comprising:
 a fabric sleeve dimensioned to fit within said ball stop portion, said fabric sleeve having a top surface and a bottom surface; 
 a cushioning polymer on an interior of said fabric sleeve between said top surface and said bottom surface; and 
 a plurality of raised, circular dimples on said top surface positioned for contacting a lacrosse ball when a lacrosse ball is positioned within said ball stop portion, said dimples being positioned with respect to one another so that at least a portion of an outer perimeter edge of each dimple is approximately in contact with a portion of an outer perimeter edge of another dimple. 
   
     
     
         19 . The lacrosse stick head of  claim 18 , said ball stop portion further comprising a cavity extending into a face of said ball stop portion, wherein said ball stop is positioned within said cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The lacrosse stick head of  claim 19 , wherein said cavity extends into said face of said ball stop portion to a depth of between 2 mm and 4 mm.