Lacrosse head pocket and related method of manufacture

Abstract

A lacrosse head pocket includes a plug unit having first and second plugs disposed on a cross lace. The plugs are overmolded by first and/or second runners constructed from a polymeric material so that the plugs are joined with the first and/or second runners. The cross lace extends outwardly from the plug and the overmolded first and/or second runners. Some plug units can have cross laces that cross one another, while other plug units might not include cross laces that cross one another. A method is also provided including: forming a first plug on a first cross lace, placing the first plug in a mold, overmolding a first runner over at least a portion of the plug so the plug and first runner are joined, and optionally overmolding a second plug joined with the cross lace with a second runner or the same first runner.

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 first plug unit including a first plug and a second plug joined via a first cross lace extending therebetween,   a first runner and a second runner adapted to extend between a scoop and a base of a lacrosse head, the first runner and the second runner being disposed on opposite sides of a pocket longitudinal axis, the first runner including a first runner inner surface that faces toward the pocket longitudinal axis and the second runner including a second runner inner surface that faces toward the pocket longitudinal axis and the first runner inner surface;   wherein the first plug is overmolded by the first runner,   wherein the first cross lace extends outward from a first surface of the first plug, the first surface facing toward the second plug,   wherein the first cross lace extends outward from a first runner inner surface toward the second runner.   
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1  comprising:
 a second plug unit including a third plug and a fourth plug joined via a second cross lace extending therebetween, 
 wherein the second plug unit is overmolded by the second runner so that the second cross lace extends outward from the second runner inner surface toward the first runner. 
 
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second cross lace crosses the first cross lace between the first runner and a second runner.   
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first plug and second plug are constructed from a first polymeric material,   wherein the first runner is constructed from a second polymeric material that is different from the first polymeric material,   wherein the first plug includes an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is visible through an upper surface of the first runner.   
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first plug includes an upper surface a lower surface at a side surface,   wherein the side surface of the first plug is overmolded by the first runner, but at least a portion of the upper surface is not overmolded by the first runner.   
     
     
         6 . A lacrosse head pocket comprising:
 a first polymeric material encapsulating at least a portion of the first cross lace within the first polymeric material;   a first plug and a second plug distal from one another along a first cross lace, the first plug, the second plug and the first cross lace forming a first plug unit, the first plug and second plug constructed from the first polymeric material encapsulating at least a portion of the first cross lace within the first polymeric material;   a second polymeric material, encapsulating at least a portion of the first plug and at least a portion of the second plug;   a first runner and a second runner, the first plug being disposed in the first runner, the second plug being disposed in the second runner, the first runner and second runner constructed from a second polymeric material, encapsulating at least a portion of the first plug and at least a portion of the second plug,   wherein the first cross lace extends between the first runner and the second runner, thereby securing the first runner to the second runner.   
     
     
         7 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1  comprising:
 a second cross lace between a third plug and a fourth plug, each of the third plug and the fourth plug constructed from the first polymeric material, 
 the first polymeric material encapsulating at least a portion of the second cross lace, 
 the third plug, the fourth plug and the second cross lace forming a second plug unit. 
 
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 7  comprising:
 wherein the first cross lace includes a first cross lace end and a second cross lace end distal from the first cross lace end, 
 wherein the first cross lace end is disposed in the first plug disposed in the first runner, 
 wherein the second cross lace end is disposed in the second plug disposed in the second runner. 
 
     
     
         9 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first plug includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a side surface,   wherein the second polymeric material substantially engages the side surface, but does not substantially engage the upper surface.   
     
     
         10 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the upper surface of the first plug is exposed and viewable by a user in the first runner.   
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a second plug unit, a third plug unit and a fourth plug unit,   wherein at least a portion of the second plug unit, the third plug unit and the fourth plug unit are overmolded with the second polymeric material to join the second plug unit, the third plug unit and the fourth plug unit with at least one of the first runner and the second runner.   
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first plug is spaced a first distance along the first cross lace from the second plug,   wherein the second plug unit includes a second cross lace, a third plug and a fourth plug,   wherein the third plug is spaced a second distance along the second cross lace from the fourth plug,   wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.   
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 6  comprising:
 a second plug unit including a second cross lace, a third plug and a fourth plug; and 
 wherein the second cross lace crosses the first cross lace. 
 
     
     
         14 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first plug includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a side surface,   wherein the first cross lace extends outward from the side surface;   wherein the side surface is concealed with the second polymeric material; and   wherein the first cross lace extends outward from an inner surface of the first runner facing toward a longitudinal axis of the pocket.   
     
     
         15 . A lacrosse head pocket comprising:
 a first plug adjacent a first end of a first cross lace;   a polymeric material encapsulating at least a portion of the first plug;   the polymeric material forming a first runner, the first plug being disposed in the first runner;   wherein the first plug is joined with the first runner,   wherein the first cross lace extends outward from the first runner.   
     
     
         16 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the first plug includes a side surface, wherein the first cross lace extends outward from the side surface toward a pocket longitudinal axis adjacent the first runner.   
     
     
         17 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 16  comprising:
 a second plug adjacent a second end of the first cross lace, the second plug being distal from the first plug, 
 wherein the polymeric material encapsulates at least a portion of the second plug, the second plug being disposed in the first runner. 
 
     
     
         18 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 16  comprising:
 a second plug adjacent a second end of the first cross lace, the second plug being distal from the first plug, 
 wherein the polymeric material encapsulates at least a portion of the second plug, 
 wherein the second plug is disposed in a second runner, distal from the first runner. 
 
     
     
         19 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 16  comprising:
 a third plug on a second cross lace, the placing the third plug in the mold, the second cross lace being transverse to the first cross lace; 
 wherein the third plug is disposed in the first runner. 
 
     
     
         20 . The lacrosse head pocket of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the first runner includes a first thickness and a second thickness greater than the first thickness;   wherein the first plug includes a first height, the first height being greater than the first thickness; and   wherein the first plug is disposed within the first runner in a region having the second thickness.