Multi-panel lacrosse pocket

Abstract

A unitary pocket for a lacrosse head having two or more panels formed in lattice patterns, joined together lengthwise, and secured within the head of a lacrosse stick with little or no stringing. All panels are die-cut or laser-cut from flat sheet material with a pattern of cutouts, or alternatively molded as such to provide the lattice-patterns. In a preferred embodiment, a center panel if formed with a first lattice pattern including a plurality of longitudinal thong elements joined by a plurality of lateral cross-elements. Similarly, left and right side panels are each die or laser cut with a second lattice pattern including at least one longitudinal thong element and a plurality of lateral elements. The lateral elements of the left and right side panels are affixed on one side to the sides of the lacrosse stick head. On the other side, the lateral elements of the left and right side panels are attached to the outermost thongs of the center panel. Lateral elements of the center, left and right side panels may be joined directly to or attached by stringing, ties, or other means to the scoop and throat of the lacrosse stick head. The resulting lacrosse pocket does not require hand lacing, can be easily adjusted to a wide variety of stick head shapes, and can be economically manufactured and assembled in a minimum number of pieces and steps.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A pocket for a lacrosse stick head, the head comprising a throat, a scoop, and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending from said throat to said scoop, said pocket comprising:
 a first panel formed of a unitary piece of pliable sheet material, said first panel having a series of cutouts therein defining one or more solid first longitudinal elements and one or more solid first lateral cross-elements;   a second panel formed of a unitary piece of pliable sheet material, said second panel having a series of cutouts therein defining one or more solid second longitudinal elements and one or more solid second lateral cross-elements;   said first and second panel lateral cross elements being attached along one or more longitudinal sections positioned between said first and second panels.   
     
     
         2 . The pocket of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lateral shooting strings positioned across an entire lateral width of said first and second panels. 
     
     
         3 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second longitudinal elements each further comprise at least one opening at a distal end of said longitudinal elements proximate said throat of said lacrosse stick head, said each at least one opening being sized and located to correspond to a stringing hole on said throat. 
     
     
         4 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second longitudinal elements are each located cooperatively with at least one stringing hole on said throat of said lacrosse stick head. 
     
     
         5 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second longitudinal elements each further comprise at least one opening at a distal end of said longitudinal elements proximate said scoop of said lacrosse stick head, said each at least one opening being sized and located to correspond to a stringing hole on said scoop. 
     
     
         6 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second longitudinal elements are each located cooperatively with at least one stringing hole on said scoop of said lacrosse stick head. 
     
     
         7 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more longitudinal sections positioned between said first and second panels comprise a third panel formed of a unitary piece of pliable sheet material, said third panel having a series of cutouts therein defining one or more solid third longitudinal elements and one or more solid third lateral cross-elements. 
     
     
         8 . The pocket of  claim 7 , wherein said series of cutouts of said third panel are different said series of cutouts of said first and second panels. 
     
     
         9 . The pocket of  claim 7 , further comprising one or more lateral shooting strings positioned across an entire lateral width of said first, second and third panels. 
     
     
         10 . The pocket of  claim 7 , wherein said first, second, and third longitudinal elements each further comprise at least one opening at a distal end of said longitudinal elements proximate said throat of said lacrosse stick head, said each at least one opening being sized and located to correspond to a stringing hole on said throat. 
     
     
         11 . The pocket of  claim 7 , wherein said first, second and third longitudinal elements are each located cooperatively with at least one stringing hole on said throat of said lacrosse stick head. 
     
     
         12 . The pocket of  claim 7 , wherein said first, second and third longitudinal elements each further comprise at least one opening at a distal end of said longitudinal elements proximate said scoop of said lacrosse stick head, said each at least one opening being sized and located to correspond to a stringing hole on said scoop. 
     
     
         13 . The pocket of  claim 7 , wherein said first and second longitudinal elements are each located cooperatively with at least one stringing hole on said scoop of said lacrosse stick head. 
     
     
         14 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second panels further comprise at least one diagonal element linking at least one of said lateral elements to at least one of said longitudinal elements. 
     
     
         15 . The pocket of  claim 7 , wherein said first, second and third panels further comprise at least one diagonal element linking at least one of said lateral elements to at least one of said longitudinal elements. 
     
     
         16 . The pocket of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second longitudinal elements are between 3 mm and 10 mm wide along a lateral axis. 
     
     
         17 . The pocket of  claim 7 , wherein said first, second and third longitudinal elements are between 3 mm and 10 mm wide along a lateral axis. 
     
     
         18 . A pocket for a lacrosse stick head, comprising a plurality of lattice panels each formed from a unitary section of pliable sheet material and defined by a plurality of apertures to form a web resembling interlaced strips, each said lattice panel being attached to said lacrosse stick head and to an adjacent lattice panel such that said plurality of lattice panels collectively define a pocket for said lacrosse stick head. 
     
     
         19 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of lattice panels further comprise at least two conjoined lattice panels. 
     
     
         20 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of lattice panels further comprise three conjoined lattice panels including a central shooting panel and opposing side panels. 
     
     
         21 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of lattice panels are each cut from a polymer sheet material. 
     
     
         22 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 21 , wherein said polymer sheet material is fiber-reinforced. 
     
     
         23 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of lattice panels are each molded from a polymer material. 
     
     
         24 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 19 , wherein said at least two conjoined lattice panels comprise at least two different lattice patterns. 
     
     
         25 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 20 , wherein said central shooting panel comprises a different lattice pattern than said opposing side panels. 
     
     
         26 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 25 , wherein said central shooting panel lattice pattern comprises a plurality of longitudinal elements and a plurality of lateral elements. 
     
     
         27 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 25 , wherein said opposing side panels comprise a lattice pattern having at least one longitudinal element and a plurality of lateral elements. 
     
     
         28 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 27 , wherein said opposing side panel lateral elements are secured on one side to said lacrosse stick head and are secured on another side to said central shooting panel. 
     
     
         29 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 26 , wherein said central shooting panel lattice pattern comprises two longitudinal shooting elements secured between a throat and scoop of said lacrosse stick head. 
     
     
         30 . The pocket for a lacrosse stick head according to  claim 29 , wherein said two longitudinal shooting elements are within a range of from 3 mm to 10 mm wide.