Heating a sports device

Abstract

A sports device configured to generate thermal energy to warm surfaces. In one implementation, the sports device embodies a lacrosse stick with a shaft and head. The shaft includes a thermal core with a phase change material that can retain and dissipate heat over an extended period of time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handle, comprising:
 an elongate shaft with a bore extending therethrough, the bore having a center axis and an inner surface;   a heat source located in the bore so that heat emanates from the center axis towards the inner surface; and   phase change material disposed inside of the bore in space between the heat source and the inner surface.   
     
     
         2 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 fins disposed in the bore and that extend perpendicular to the center axis.   
     
     
         3 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 fins disposed in the bore and that populate the bore axially along the center axis.   
     
     
         4 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 fins disposed in the bore and that contact the phase change material.   
     
     
         5 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 fins disposed in the bore and that contact both the heat source and the phase change material.   
     
     
         6 . The handle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 fins disposed in the bore and that contact the shaft.   
     
     
         7 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material fills space between the heat source and the inner surface of the bore. 
     
     
         8 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material resides in between fins that are radially-adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         9 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material surrounds the heat source. 
     
     
         10 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the heat sources comprises a resistive heater that extends along at least part of the center axis of the bore. 
     
     
         11 . Sports equipment, comprising:
 a heated handle with a location that increases and decreases in temperature, the heated handle comprising:
 a hollow tube; 
 a heat source in the hollow tube; and 
 phase change material disposed at the location in space between the heat source and the hollow tube. 
   
     
     
         12 . Sports equipment of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an end effector disposed on one end of the heated handle.   
     
     
         13 . Sports equipment of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a cap on one end of the heated handle, the cap having a receptacle to that couples electricity to the heat source.   
     
     
         14 . Sports equipment of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 compartments in the hollow tube that hold the phase change material.   
     
     
         15 . Sports equipment of  claim 11 , wherein the heat source comprises a resistive heater arranged in the hollow tube to generate heat that emanates from a center axis of the hollow tube towards the hollow tube. 
     
     
         16 . Sports equipment of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 fins disposed in space between the heat source and the hollow tube, the fins in thermal contact with the phase change material.   
     
     
         17 . A system to heat a handle, comprising:
 an elongate, hollow shaft; and   a thermal core removable from the elongate, hollow shaft, the thermal core comprising a cylinder enclosing a volume, a heat source centrally-located in the cylinder to generate heat that emanates outwardly into the volume, and a phase change material filling the volume and interposed between the heat source and the cylinder.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a cap that fits onto an end of the elongate, hollow shaft, the cap comprising a receptacle that couples electricity to the heat source.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an end effector attachable to an end of the elongate, hollow shaft.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the thermal core affixes at a handhold location on the elongate, hollow shaft.