Hockey stick with improved blade construction

Abstract

An improved hockey stick blade is provided. The hockey stick blade generally includes a forward face defining a substantially zero degree face angle and a lower terminating edge that increases friction and allows a player to generate more bending in the shaft during shooting and passing motions. The lower terminating edge extends along substantially the entire length of the hockey stick blade, and is defined by an angle when viewed in cross-section. The forward face includes an upper terminating edge in vertical alignment with the lower terminating edge, such that the forward face is generally parallel to the playing surface. The upper terminating edge also extends along substantially the entire length of the hockey stick blade, and is also defined by an angle when viewed in cross-section.

1 . A hockey stick blade comprising:
 a forward face extending along a longitudinal length of the hockey stick blade and including a lower terminating edge; and   a rearward face opposite the forward face, the rearward face including a lower rounded portion that intersects the forward face at lower terminating edge;   wherein the lower terminating edge delimits at least the lowermost extent of the forward face from the rearward face, and   wherein the forward face is longitudinally concave and the rearward face is longitudinally convex.   
     
     
         2 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 1  wherein the lower terminating edge is the lowermost portion of the hockey stick blade and is shaped to abut a playing surface. 
     
     
         3 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 1  wherein the rearward face includes a planar intermediate portion that is angled relative to the forward face. 
     
     
         4 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 1  wherein the forward face includes an upper terminating edge in vertical alignment with the lower terminating edge. 
     
     
         5 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 4  wherein the upper terminating edge delimits the uppermost extent of the forward face from the rearward face. 
     
     
         6 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 4  wherein the upper terminating edge and the lower terminating edge extend along substantially the entire length of the blade. 
     
     
         7 . The hockey stick blade of  claim 4  wherein the height of the blade is defined between the upper terminating edge and the lower terminating edge. 
     
     
         8 . A hockey stick comprising:
 a shaft defining a central shaft axis; and   a blade coupled to the shaft and including a longitudinally concave forward face opposite a longitudinally convex rearward face,   wherein the forward face includes an upper terminating blade edge in vertical alignment with a lower terminating blade edge, such that the forward face defines a vertical face angle parallel to a vertical component of the central shaft axis,   wherein the rearward face includes a rounded lower portion, a rounded upper portion and an intermediate portion therebetween, the intermediate portion being angled relative to the vertical face angle such that the blade defines a cross-sectional width that is greater nearer to the lower rounded portion than the upper rounded portion.   
     
     
         9 . The hockey stick of  claim 8  wherein the lower terminating edge is the lowermost portion of hockey stick and is shaped to abut a playing surface. 
     
     
         10 . The hockey stick of  claim 8  wherein the upper terminating edge and the lower terminating edge extend along substantially the entire length of the blade. 
     
     
         11 . The hockey stick of  claim 8  wherein the height of the blade is defined between the upper terminating edge and the lower terminating edge. 
     
     
         12 . The hockey stick of  claim 8  wherein the rounded lower portion intersects the lower terminating edge at an acute angle. 
     
     
         13 . The hockey stick of  claim 8  wherein the rounded upper portion intersects the upper terminating edge at an acute angle. 
     
     
         14 . The hockey stick of  claim 8  wherein the forward face defines the vertical face angle approximately midway between a blade heel portion and a blade toe portion. 
     
     
         15 . The hockey stick of  claim 8  wherein the intermediate portion of the rearward face is substantially planar in the vertical direction of the blade. 
     
     
         16 . The hockey stick of  claim 8  wherein the rounded upper portion and the rounded lower portion extend along substantially the entire length of the blade. 
     
     
         17 . A hockey stick comprising:
 an elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end; and   a blade joined to the lower end of the elongated shaft, the blade defining a lengthwise direction and including a forward face opposite a rearward face,   wherein the forward face is convex in the lengthwise direction and the rearward face is convex in the lengthwise direction,   wherein the forward face includes an upper terminating blade edge in vertical alignment with a lower terminating blade edge, such that the forward face defines a vertical face angle, and   wherein the rearward face includes a rounded lower portion, a rounded upper portion and an intermediate portion therebetween, the intermediate portion being angled relative to the vertical face angle in the vertical direction of the blade.   
     
     
         18 . The hockey stick of  claim 17  wherein the lower terminating edge is the lowermost portion of the hockey stick and is shaped to abut a playing surface. 
     
     
         19 . The hockey stick of  claim 17  wherein the rounded lower portion intersects the lower terminating edge at an acute angle. 
     
     
         20 . The hockey stick of  claim 17  wherein the rounded upper portion intersects the upper terminating edge at an acute angle.