Lacrosse pocket string lock

Abstract

A string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket comprising a single unitary rectangular and pre-formed with a shallow end-to-end arc as well as an optional shallow side-to-side arc. A series of thong hole pairs are formed in the string lock, and a plurality of open notches extend in a radial array from one side of the plate member, each notch creating a channel running from the side of the plate member into one of the corresponding lower thong holes. The particular dimensions and material of the string lock combine with its arched configuration and elasticity to securely lock each thong in place when threaded through a pair of upper and lower thong holes. However, each thong can be readily adjusted simply by disengaging it from the lower thong hole, removing it therefrom via the radial notch, re-tensioning, and reinserting it back into the lower thong hole via radial notch.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket having a plurality of thongs, said string lock being formed as a quadrilateral plate member having an upper plurality of thong holes and a corresponding lower plurality of thong holes, and a plurality of notches each extending from one side of said string lock into a corresponding lower thong hole, whereby each said thong can be readily adjusted within said lacrosse stick pocket by removal from its said lower thong hole through said notch, tightening or loosening in said upper thong hole, and reinsertion in said lower thong hole through said notch. 
     
     
         2 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 1 , wherein said string lock is formed of a material having a Young's modulus within a range of from 1 GPa to 15 GPa. 
     
     
         3 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 2 , wherein said string lock is formed of rubber. 
     
     
         4 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 1 , wherein said string lock is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         5 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 4 , wherein said string lock has rounded edges. 
     
     
         6 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 1 , wherein said string lock is pre-formed with a curvature to conform to a throat of a lacrosse stick head. 
     
     
         7 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 6 , wherein said curvature is within a range of 20 degrees and 40 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 7 , wherein said curvature is approximately  30  degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper plurality of thong holes and said corresponding lower plurality of thong holes both comprise four thong holes. 
     
     
         10 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper plurality of thong holes are linearly aligned and said corresponding lower plurality of thong holes are linearly aligned. 
     
     
         11 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 10 , wherein said upper plurality of thong holes and said corresponding lower plurality of thong holes are arranged in columns. 
     
     
         12 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 11 , wherein each column comprises one of said upper plurality of thong holes and one of said lower plurality of thong holes. 
     
     
         13 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 12 , wherein said one upper thong hole and said one lower thong hole are separated by an hourglass-shaped shoulder. 
     
     
         14 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said upper plurality of thong holes and corresponding lower plurality of thong holes are approximately 4 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 10 , wherein said upper plurality of thong holes and said corresponding lower plurality of thong holes are spaced-apart within a range of from 8 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 15 , wherein said upper plurality of thong holes and said corresponding lower plurality of thong holes are spaced-apart by approximately 9 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 1 , wherein said notches are wedge-shaped to facilitate a thong insertion through the notch. 
     
     
         18 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 17 , wherein said notches extend radially from said lower plurality of thong holes. 
     
     
         19 . In combination with a lacrosse stick head having a scoop, opposing sidewalls, a base defined by a plurality of holes, and a pocket assembly secured between the scoop, opposing sidewalls and base, said pocket assembly including a plurality of thongs extending through said holes in said base, a string lock for anchoring each of said plurality of thongs the string lock further comprising a unitary non-rigid plate defined by a first series of thong holes and a second series of thong holes spaced from said first series. 
     
     
         20 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 19 , wherein said string lock is formed with a plurality of notches each extending from one side of said string lock into a corresponding lower thong hole. 
     
     
         21 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 19 , wherein said string lock is formed of a material having a Young's modulus within a range of from 1 GPa to 15 GPa. 
     
     
         22 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 21 , wherein said string lock is formed of rubber. 
     
     
         23 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 19 , wherein said string lock is substantially rectangular with rounded edges. 
     
     
         24 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 19 , wherein said string lock is pre-formed with a degree curvature to conform to a throat of said lacrosse stick head. 
     
     
         25 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 19 , wherein said upper plurality of thong holes are linearly aligned and said corresponding lower plurality of thong holes are linearly aligned and arranged in columns, each column comprising one of said upper plurality of thong holes and one of said lower plurality of thong holes. 
     
     
         26 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 25 , wherein said one upper thong hole and said one lower thong hole are separated by an hourglass-shaped shoulder. 
     
     
         27 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 19 , wherein each of said upper plurality of thing holes and corresponding lower plurality of thong holes are approximately 4 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         28 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 20 , wherein said notches are wedge-shaped to facilitate a thong insertion through the notch. 
     
     
         29 . The string lock for a lacrosse stick pocket according to  claim 20 , wherein said notches extend radially from said lower plurality of thong holes. 
     
     
         30 . A lacrosse stick head, comprising:
 a scoop;   a pair of opposing sidewalls;   a pocket assembly secured between said scoop and said opposing sidewalls, said pocket assembly including a plurality of thongs;   a base defining a throat, said base having a plurality of holes for insertion of said plurality of thongs, said base further comprising an integral string lock for anchoring each of said plurality of thongs through a corresponding hole in said base, said string lock further comprising a first series of thong holes and a second series of thong holes spaced from said first series, and a plurality of notches each extending from one side of said string lock into a corresponding second series of thong holes, whereby each thong can be readily adjusted by removal from said first-series thong hole through said notch, tightening or loosening in said second-series thong hole, and reinsertion in said first-series thong hole through said notch.