Lacrosse head pocket and related method of manufacture

Abstract

A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided. The pocket can include a longitudinal axis, with a first runner disposed laterally of the longitudinal axis on a first side, and a second runner disposed laterally of the longitudinal axis on an opposing second side. A strand is joined with and extends, optionally continuously, between the first and second runners. The strand is joined with a tensioning member that is selectively adjustable so as to extend and/or retract the strand, thereby altering lateral spacing between the first and second runners, and/or tightening any lacing between the runners and respective sidewalls of a lacrosse head. The tensioning member can be a reel-type tensioner, which can spool the strand on and/or off the reel. Generally, the tensioning member and strand cooperatively configure a ball receiving surface of the pocket. A related method of manufacturing the pocket also is provided.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A lacrosse head pocket comprising:
 a pocket longitudinal axis generally dividing a first pocket side and an opposing, second pocket side;   a first runner disposed laterally of the pocket longitudinal axis on the first pocket side;   a second runner disposed laterally of the pocket longitudinal axis on the second pocket side; and   a strand joined with and extending between the first and second runners;   wherein the strand is joined with a tensioning member that is selectively adjustable to at least one of extend and retract the strand, thereby altering lateral spacing between the first and second runners;   whereby the tensioning member and strand cooperatively configure a ball receiving surface of the pocket.   
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1  wherein the strand crisscrosses itself a plurality of times, generally over the pocket longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 2  wherein the tensioning member at least one of spools out and spools in the strand, to at least one of extend and retract the strand relative to the tensioning member, respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1  wherein the first runner, second runner and strand form the ball receiving surface of the pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of guide members joined with at least one of the first and second runners, each of the plurality of guide members guiding the strand. 
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 5  wherein the strand is slidably received by the plurality of guide members so that as a ball moves along the first runner and second runner, the strand slides relative to the guide members, thereby allowing the first and second runners to move laterally relative to one another as the ball moves along the first runner and second runner. 
     
     
         7 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1  comprising a pocket lateral axis that is perpendicular to the pocket longitudinal axis,
 wherein the lateral spacing is measured along the pocket lateral axis, 
 wherein selective adjustment to retract the strand pulls the first runner and the second runner toward one another along the pocket lateral axis. 
 
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1  wherein the first runner and second runner do not move longitudinally relative to the pocket longitudinal axis when the tensioning member is selectively adjusted. 
     
     
         9 . A lacrosse head pocket comprising:
 a pocket longitudinal axis;   a pocket lateral axis generally perpendicular to the pocket longitudinal axis;   a first runner disposed laterally of the pocket longitudinal axis, the first runner intersecting the pocket lateral axis;   a second runner disposed laterally of the pocket longitudinal axis, the second runner intersecting the pocket lateral axis; and   a strand extending continuously between the first and second runners;   wherein the strand is joined with a tensioning member that is selectively adjustable to move the strand and thereby modify a spatial relationship between the first and second runners along the pocket lateral axis.   
     
     
         10 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the tensioning member is in the form of a rotatable reel, wherein the strand is spooled on the reel,   wherein rotation of the rotatable reel in a first direction retracts the strand toward the rotatable reel.   
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 10  comprising lacing joined with at least one of the first and second runners,
 wherein the lacing is tightened when the strand retracts toward the rotatable reel. 
 
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the first and second runners each include a plurality of guide members through which the strand extends,   wherein the guide members are in the form of tubes.   
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 9  comprising lacing, separate and independent from the strand, the lacing extending laterally outward from the first and second runners to respective side portions of the pocket. 
     
     
         14 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 9  comprising a plurality of guide members integrally formed with the respective first and second runners, the guide members defining at least one of a recess and a hole within which the strand is slidably received. 
     
     
         15 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 9  wherein the first and second runners, and the strand, form a ball receiving surface that is configured to contact a lacrosse ball disposed in the lacrosse pocket. 
     
     
         16 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the first and second runners form a ball channel,   wherein the strand slides relative to the first and second runners so that a width between the first and second runners dynamically changes as the lacrosse ball travels along the first and second runners.   
     
     
         17 . A lacrosse head comprising:
 a throat adapted to connect to a lacrosse handle;   a base joined with the throat, the base including a ball stop;   a scoop distal from the base;   a pair of sidewalls extending from the base and joined with one another distal from the base at the scoop;   a tensioning member joined with at least one of the ball stop, the scoop and the pair of sidewalls;   a pocket joined with the ball stop, scoop and pair of sidewalls, the pocket comprising:
 a longitudinal axis extending from the ball stop toward the scoop; 
 a plurality of guide members associated with at least one of the pocket, the ball stop, the scoop and the pair of sidewalls; 
 a lacing extending to at least one of the pair of sidewalls; 
 a strand operatively joined with the tensioning member, the strand extending through the plurality of guide members; 
   wherein the tensioning member is selectively adjustable so as to at least one of extend and retract the strand, thereby carrying a profile of the pocket.   
     
     
         18 . The lacrosse head of  claim 17  comprising lacing disposed between a first runner and a first sidewall of the pair of sidewalls, wherein selective adjustment of the tensioning member at least one of tightens and loosens the lacing. 
     
     
         19 . The lacrosse head of  claim 17  wherein the tensioning member is joined with the base, and disposed generally along the longitudinal axis, wherein the strand extends forwardly away from the ball stop, toward the scoop, then extends back rearwardly toward the ball stop. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a lacrosse pocket comprising:
 providing a tensioning member including a rotatable reel;   joining a strand with the reel so that when the reel is rotated, the strand at least one of spools on or spools off the reel; and   lacing the strand into a lacrosse pocket so that the strand faces a ball receiving surface of the lacrosse pocket,   whereby adjustment of the tensioning member causes the strand to modify the configuration of the lacrosse pocket.