Sensing presence or absence of a projectile on sports equipment

Abstract

A sports training aid is configured to help improve a player's skills in the game of lacrosse. The sports training aid can embody a lacrosse stick with a head and shaft. In one implementation, the lacrosse stick includes one or more sensors that change state. A controller couples with the sensors to administer one or more training modes. Each training mode can cause the controller to associate the change in state of the sensors in response to movement of the head.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head for a lacrosse stick, comprising:
 a molded plastic frame with a central opening; and   a device disposed on the molded plastic frame, the device comprising members adapted to transmit and receive a light beam across the central opening.   
     
     
         2 . The head of  claim 1 , wherein the members are found on opposite sides of the central opening. 
     
     
         3 . The head of  claim 1 , wherein the members are found proximate a bottom of the molded frame. 
     
     
         4 . The head of  claim 1 , wherein the members are found in a location on the molded frame to identify presence or absence of a ball in the central opening. 
     
     
         5 . The head of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 webbing disposed on a back of the molded frame, leaving a front of the molded frame open to allow a ball to interact with the light beam.   
     
     
         6 . A head for a lacrosse stick, comprising:
 a molded frame with a top, a bottom, and a pair of sidewalls that collectively bound a central opening; and   a sensing device with a pair of members disposed on the pair of sidewalls, on opposite sides of the central opening, and in opposition to one another.   
     
     
         7 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of members form a beam break sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the members form an optical sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the members communicate with one another using a light beam. 
     
     
         10 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the members include a light beam generator. 
     
     
         11 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the members include a light beam detector. 
     
     
         12 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of sidewalls define edges of the central opening that arc convexly toward one another in a lateral direction on the molded frame. 
     
     
         13 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of sidewalls define edges of the central opening that arc both concavely away from one another and convexly toward one another in a lateral direction on the molded frame. 
     
     
         14 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of sidewalls define edges of the central opening that, proximate the top, arc convexly toward one another in a lateral direction on the molded frame. 
     
     
         15 . The head of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of sidewalls define edges of the central opening that arc convexly toward one another in a lateral direction on the molded frame to form a pocket area. 
     
     
         16 . A head for a lacrosse stick, comprising:
 a unitary, molded frame with a top, a bottom, and a pair of sidewalls that collectively bound a central opening;   a light emitter disposed on one of the pair of sidewalls; and   a light detector disposed in opposition to the light emitter on one of the pair of sidewalls.   
     
     
         17 . The head of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of sidewall have a shape that causes the central opening to narrow convexly in at least one portion that is longitudinally set off from the top and the bottom of the unitary, molded frame. 
     
     
         18 . The head of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of sidewalls have a shape that causes the central opening to widen concavely and narrow convexly between the top and the bottom of the unitary, molded frame. 
     
     
         19 . The head of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of sidewalls have a shape that causes the central opening to widen concavely proximate the top and narrow convexly proximate the bottom of the unitary, molded frame. 
     
     
         20 . The head of  claim 16 , wherein top and bottom have an arcuate shape.