Lacrosse head with ascending scoop

Abstract

Embodiments provide a lacrosse head having a juncture configured to receive a handle, with a majority length of the handle defining a horizontal centerline, a stop member adjacent to the juncture, a first and second sidewall each extending from the stop member in a forward direction, and a transverse wall connecting the first and second sidewall opposite to the stop member and defining a terminal contact point at which a ball traveling in a forward direction generally along a bisecting line of the head may last contact and release from the head during a throwing motion. When viewed from a side view, a lower sidewall rail of the first sidewall may descend to a lowest point that is at least 1.75 inches below the horizontal centerline, and the terminal contact point may be at least 2.25 inches higher than the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lacrosse head comprising:
 a juncture configured to receive a handle, a majority length of the handle defining a horizontal centerline;   a stop member adjacent to the juncture;   a first sidewall extending from the stop member in a forward direction;   a second sidewall extending from the stop member in the forward direction; and   a transverse wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite to the stop member,   wherein when viewed from a front view, the lacrosse head defines a bisecting line,   wherein the transverse wall defines a terminal contact point at which a ball traveling in a forward direction generally along the bisecting line is able to last contact and release from the lacrosse head during a throwing motion,   wherein the first sidewall has an upper sidewall rail and a lower sidewall rail,   wherein when viewed from a side view:
 the lower sidewall rail descends to a lowest point that is at least 1.75 inches below the horizontal centerline, and 
 the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at least 2.25 inches higher in a vertical direction than the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is disposed approximately on the bisecting line. 
     
     
         3 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal contact point of the transverse wall comprises two points opposite each other across the bisecting line and equidistant from the bisecting line. 
     
     
         4 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at least 5 mm higher in a vertical direction than the horizontal centerline. 
     
     
         5 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein a line extending between the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail and the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at an angle with respect to the horizontal centerline, and
 wherein the angle is within a range of about 18 degrees to about 30 degrees.   
     
     
         6 . The lacrosse head of  claim 5 , wherein the angle is within a range of about 20 degrees to about 25 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The lacrosse head of  claim 6 , wherein the angle is about 21 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The lacrosse head of  claim 5 , wherein the terminal contact point is disposed at a distance of about 4 inches to about 7 inches in a horizontal direction from the lowest point. 
     
     
         9 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein a transition region between the transverse wall and the upper sidewall rail of the first sidewall defines a highest point of the lacrosse head above the terminal contact point of the transverse wall, disposed horizontally between the lowest point and the terminal contact point. 
     
     
         10 . The lacrosse head of  claim 9 , wherein a line extending between the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail and the highest point is at an angle with respect to the horizontal centerline, and
 wherein the angle is within a range of about 25 degrees to about 30 degrees.   
     
     
         11 . The lacrosse head of  claim 10 , wherein the highest point is about 2.39 inches higher in a vertical direction than the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail. 
     
     
         12 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein the upper sidewall rail descends to a lowest point at or below the horizontal centerline. 
     
     
         13 . The lacrosse head of  claim 12 , wherein the lowest point of the upper sidewall rail is disposed approximately vertically above the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail. 
     
     
         14 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail is approximately 1.9 inches below the horizontal centerline. 
     
     
         15 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein the lowest point is disposed within a region approximately ⅓ approximately ⅔ a distance from an inside face of the stop member to a distal end of the transverse wall. 
     
     
         16 . The lacrosse head of  claim 15 , wherein the lowest point is disposed at approximately ⅖ the distance from the inside face of the stop member to the distal end of the transverse wall. 
     
     
         17 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein the lacrosse head defines a distance of at least 10 inches from an inside face of the stop member to a distal end of the transverse wall. 
     
     
         18 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle attached to the juncture. 
     
     
         19 . The lacrosse head of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal contact point comprises a highest point and/or forwardmost point of the transverse wall. 
     
     
         20 . A lacrosse stick comprising:
 a handle, a majority length of the handle defining a horizontal centerline; and   a head including
 a juncture adjoining the handle; 
 a stop member adjoining the juncture; 
 a first sidewall extending from the stop member in a forward direction; 
 a second sidewall extending from the stop member in the forward direction; 
 a transverse wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite to the stop member, 
 wherein when viewed from a front view, the head defines a bisecting line, 
 wherein the transverse wall defines a terminal contact point at which a ball traveling in a forward direction generally along the bisecting line is able to last contact and release from the head during a throwing motion, 
 wherein the first sidewall has an upper sidewall rail and a lower sidewall rail, 
 wherein when viewed from a side view:
 the lower sidewall rail descends to a lowest point that is at least 1.75 inches below the horizontal centerline, and 
 the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at least 2.25 inches higher in a vertical direction than the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail. 
 
   
     
     
         21 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 20 , wherein a full length of the handle is straight. 
     
     
         22 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 20 , wherein an end portion of the handle is bent at an angle 1-10 degrees from the horizontal centerline of the majority length of the handle, and
 wherein the end portion of the handle adjoins the juncture of the head.   
     
     
         23 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 20 , wherein the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at least 5 mm higher in a vertical direction than the horizontal centerline. 
     
     
         24 . The lacrosse stick of  claim 20 , wherein a line extending between the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail and the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at an angle with respect to the horizontal centerline, and
 wherein the angle is within a range of about 18 degrees to about 30 degrees.   
     
     
         25 . A lacrosse head comprising:
 a juncture configured to receive a handle, a majority length of the handle defining a horizontal centerline;   a stop member adjoining the juncture;   a first sidewall extending from the stop member in a forward direction;   a second sidewall extending from the stop member in the forward direction; and   a transverse wall connecting the first sidewall and the second sidewall opposite to the stop member,   wherein when viewed from a front view, the lacrosse head defines a bisecting line,   wherein the transverse wall defines a terminal contact point at which a ball traveling in a forward direction generally along the bisecting line is able to last contact and release from the lacrosse head during a throwing motion,   wherein the first sidewall has an upper sidewall rail and a lower sidewall rail,   wherein the lacrosse head defines a distance of at least 10 inches from an inside face of the stop member to a distal end of the transverse wall, and   wherein when viewed from a side view:
 the lower sidewall rail descends to a lowest point that is at least 1.75 inches below the horizontal centerline, 
 a line extending between the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail and the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at an angle with respect to the horizontal centerline, and 
 wherein the angle is within a range of about 18 degrees to about 30 degrees. 
   
     
     
         26 . The lacrosse head of  claim 25 , wherein the angle is within a range of about 20 degrees to about 25 degrees. 
     
     
         27 . The lacrosse head of  claim 26 , wherein the angle is about 21 degrees. 
     
     
         28 . The lacrosse head of  claim 25 , wherein the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at least 2.25 inches higher in a vertical direction than the lowest point of the lower sidewall rail. 
     
     
         29 . The lacrosse head of  claim 25 , wherein the terminal contact point of the transverse wall is at least 5 mm higher in a vertical direction than the horizontal centerline.