Lacrosse head to handle attachment

Abstract

A lacrosse head that enhances attachment and securement of the lacrosse head to a lacrosse handle can include an insert extending within a socket defined by a base of the head. The insert can include two or more expandable, resilient fingers that optionally are secured in a cantilevered manner to a bottom of the socket. The base and insert can be configured so that a fastener can be installed through at least one of the fingers to subsequently engage additional fingers, thereby moving the respective fingers radially outwardly to engage interior surfaces of the lacrosse handle and thereby secure the handle to the head.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A lacrosse head comprising:
 a scoop;   a base distal from the scoop, the base including a bottom and defining a socket that extends from the bottom to an opening of the base at which the socket terminates;   a head longitudinal axis extending from the base toward the scoop;   a first sidewall and a second sidewall, each extending from the scoop and joined with one another distal from the scoop at the base, each first and second sidewall being of an open frame construction, each first and second sidewall including an upper rail and a lower rail,   an insert disposed in the socket between the bottom and the opening of the base, the insert including a first vertical finger and a second vertical finger that are separated by a vertical gap, the first vertical finger defining a first hole adapted to receive a fastener; and   a fastener that extends through the first hole defined by the first vertical finger, the fastener extending through the vertical gap, the fastener engaging the second vertical finger to urge the second vertical finger away from the first vertical finger.   
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1  comprising:
 an elongated lacrosse shaft including a first end and defining an interior and an exterior, the first end defining a second hole adapted to receive the fastener, the first end positioned in the socket, with the first vertical finger and the second vertical finger disposed within the interior of the shaft, 
 wherein the first vertical finger includes a primary finger part and first and second wings adjacent the primary finger part, each of the primary part, first wing and second wing engaging a different interior surface of the shaft. 
 
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse head of  claim 2  wherein the fastener is disposed through the shaft and extends generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse head of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the interior of the shaft includes a plurality of interior surfaces angled relative to one another,   wherein the first vertical finger engages a first interior surface of the shaft,   wherein the second vertical finger engages a second interior surface of the shaft, the first and second interior surfaces being disposed opposite one another across a longitudinal axis of the shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse head of  claim 4  wherein the first and second vertical fingers, are resiliently joined with the bottom so that the respective fingers are configured to bend away from the longitudinal axis of the head and toward the interior surfaces of the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1  wherein the insert includes a foot projecting from the bottom, away from the socket, the foot defining an internal chamber, the chamber substantially filled with material from which the base of the lacrosse head is constructed. 
     
     
         7 . A lacrosse head comprising:
 a scoop and a base joined with sidewalls, the base defining a socket;   a head longitudinal axis extending from the base toward the scoop;   an insert disposed in the socket, the insert including a first vertical finger, a second vertical finger, both of which extend generally parallel to the head longitudinal axis and are separated by a gap there between;   wherein at least one of the first vertical finger and second vertical finger engage a fastener so as to enlarge the gap and bias at least the first vertical finger and second vertical finger away from one another.   
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse head of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the fastener engages the second vertical finger to urge the second vertical finger away from the first vertical finger,   wherein the fastener engages a first and a second lateral finger to urge the first and second lateral fingers away from one another.   
     
     
         9 . The lacrosse head of  claim 7 , wherein the first vertical finger defines a first hole extending generally perpendicular to the head longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The lacrosse head of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first vertical finger includes a first interior surface,   wherein the second vertical finger includes a second interior surface,   wherein each of the first interior surface and the second interior surfaces are separated by the gap there between, the gap being dynamically adjustable so that a distance between the first interior surface and the second interior surface can be increased,   wherein the first vertical finger and second vertical finger bend outwardly away from the longitudinal axis as the fastener is installed.   
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse head of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the insert defines an insert longitudinal axis coincident with the head longitudinal axis,   wherein the first and second vertical fingers are attached to a bottom and configured to bend away from the insert longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse head of  claim 7 , wherein the first and second vertical fingers are configured to bend radially outward, away from an insert longitudinal axis, when the first and second fingers are engaged by the fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse head of  claim 12  wherein the first and second vertical fingers are detached and separated from one another along respective lengths of the first and second vertical fingers except for being commonly joined with a bottom. 
     
     
         14 . The lacrosse head of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the fastener includes threads and an unsharpened tip,   wherein the threads are adapted to engage and contact the first vertical finger but not the second vertical finger,   wherein the threads push the unsharpened tip into the second vertical finger so as to push the first and second vertical fingers outward, away from the insert longitudinal axis when the fastener is advanced.   
     
     
         15 . A lacrosse head comprising:
 a scoop and a base joined with sidewalls, the base defining a socket and a first hole;   an insert disposed in the socket, the insert including a first finger and a second finger separated by a gap there between, the first finger defining a second hole;   a lacrosse shaft disposed in the socket and defining an interior and a third hole, the insert disposed in the interior;   a fastener extending through the first hole, the second hole, the third hole and the gap, the fastener engaging and biasing the first and second fingers away from one another and into engagement with the interior of the lacrosse shaft so as to further secure the shaft to the base.   
     
     
         16 . The lacrosse head of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the fastener includes a shaft extending to the tip and threads disposed around the shaft,   wherein the threads engage the first hole, the second hole and the third hole,   wherein the threads engage the first finger, but not the second finger,   wherein the tip presses against the second finger, biasing the second finger away from the first finger so that the first finger and second finger engage an interior of the shaft.   
     
     
         17 . The lacrosse head of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the fastener includes a shaft extending to the tip and threads disposed around the shaft,   wherein the threads engage the first hole, the second hole and the third hole,   wherein the threads engage both the first finger and the second finger, biasing the first finger and second finger away from one another to engage the interior of the shaft.   
     
     
         18 . A method of joining a lacrosse head and a lacrosse shaft, the method comprising:
 providing a lacrosse head comprising a scoop and a base joined with sidewalls, the base defining a socket and a first hole, an insert disposed in the socket, the insert including a first finger and a second finger separated by a gap there between, the first finger defining a second hole;   positioning a lacrosse shaft in the socket, the lacrosse shaft defining an interior and a third hole, the insert being disposed in the interior;   advancing a fastener through the first hole, the second hole, the third hole and the gap, said advancing causing the fastener to urge the first and second fingers to move away from one another; and   engaging the first and second fingers against the interior of the lacrosse shaft so as to further secure the shaft to the base.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the advancing step includes pressing a tip of the fastener against the second finger while threads of the fastener engage the first finger,   wherein the fastener rotates within the gap between the first finger and the second finger during the advancing step.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  comprising biasing third and fourth fingers of the insert away from one another with threads of the fastener, while a tip of the fastener engages the second finger to bias the second finger away from the first finger.