EP1079900B1

EP1079900B1 - Improved hockey stick

Info

Publication number: EP1079900B1
Application number: EP99922383A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ian Robert Malcolm Howgate
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-22
Filing date: 1999-05-21
Publication date: 2004-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-21
Also published as: GB9811039D0; EP1079900A1; AU761913B2; DE69920442D1; WO1999061115A1; AU3947899A

Description

This invention relates to an improved hockey stick and, in particular but not exclusively, to hockey sticks intended for outfield players.

A traditional form of hockey stick is made up of four portions, namely a handle, a shaft, a head and a toe. The handle typically extends for the upper three fifths or so of the stick. The shaft typically occupies the majority of the remaining lower two fifths of the stick and merges at its lower end with the head. The head typically occupies only a small proportion of the vertical dimension at the base of the stick, but the bulk of the horizontal dimension. The head terminates in a generally upwardly directed toe portion.

The allowable playing surface or "face" of the stick is the front, predominantly flat area of the stick which is presented forwardly with the toe provided on the right hand side of the stick.

In this Specification, various terms are used to describe the shape and geometry of a hockey stick. References to vertical, horizontal, rearward, forward etc. refer to the stick when viewed in the orientation of Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, that is on the back of the stick, with the axes of the handle and shaft generally vertical, with the toe pointing away from the player (i.e. forwardly). Thus a forward curve or inclination is an anticlockwise angular displacement when the stick is viewed in the orientation of Figure 1.

Playing on the open stick means playing the stick forehand in the usual attitude with the toe of the stick pointing away from the player, and the bulk of the stick on the player's right hand side; playing on the reverse stick means playing the stick backhand with the stick flipped through 180° about the axis of the handle, so that the toe is nearest the ground and the bulk of the stick lies on the player's left hand side. At present all sticks are right-handed but the invention extends to left-handed versions (i.e. substantially mirror images of left-handed sticks) and the terminology herein is to be interpreted accordingly.

A reverse stick block is when the stick is held on the reverse stick side with the free end of the toe in contact with the ground, and the shaft extending generally parallel to the ground.

State of the art Hockey stick design predominantly dictates sticks for which the axis of the handle and the shaft are one and the same and said axis is a natural tangential extension of the axis of the head.

An improvement of such sticks was achieved in British Patent Specification 2115296 where the axis of the toe region is brought around so that it is more or less parallel with the axis of the shaft.

There have however been a number of attempts to improve the functionality of hockey sticks by introducing bends or displacements in the shaft region. In all these instances the intension was to some extent to centralise the head below the axis of the shaft thereby improving the balance of the stick and ease the performance of reverse stick playing skills.

European Published Application 0165096 achieved the centralisation feature through a single gradual rearward curving deviation in the axis of the shaft region.

British Patent 2205757B achieved the centralisation feature through the imposition of a forward curve in the shaft region followed by a more substantial rearward deviation in the axis of the Shaft. At the same time this invention produced a forward protrusion or convexity which improved the collection of the ball in a near reverse blocking action. It is an inevitable consequence that such a forward protrusion would, to abide by the Federation International de Hockey (FIH) rules which limit the width of the face, produce a void area rearwardly.

Published PCT Application PCT/GB97/01212 centralises the head through a variety of method, whilst using the centralisation effect to increase the overall size of the head region, and in particular the gape between the shaft and toe sides of the head, without loosing the ability to perform a reverse block.

In both of these most latter patents there is an art required to achieve the benefits of the patent and retain a reverse blocking feature. To do so the rearward deviation which centralises the head needs be relatively close to the head itself so as to prevent the ball passing, when the stick is laid in a reverse stick blocking position, beneath the shaft and through the gap between the low lying portions of the toe and the rearward curving element. Such shortened distances between the toe and the rearward curve are evident in all the embodiments illustrated in the specifications.

State of the art stick design is dominated by the need to provide an effective Reverse Stick Blocking feature whilst minimising the imbalance produced by the toe yet providing the largest head size possible. Sticks which fail to achieve this threshold value of a reverse blocking feature are considered practically useless in game play. As such no stick is currently known to be available in the market which fails to provide this feature.

As a professional coach, I have analysed the features of existing sticks and also the dynamics of the strategy of the game itself. I have found that a player's skill and ball control can be considerably improved if the hockey stick is re-designed to provide the unusual and innovative feature of an extended elongate playing area in the region of the head and/or shaft of the stick, which extended area allows a player to slide and propel the hockey ball to impart substantial acceleration or deceleration and potential lift to the ball. This feature, with suitable training, can help generate enhanced pace, accuracy and deception in passing and drag-flicking. Something approaching this effect can be produced by expert players with certain traditional sticks, but only whilst placing the knuckles practically on the ground surface and only when exhibiting considerable skill, and it is not available in any sticks which centralise the head by means of a curve or bend in the lower shaft region.

Traditional sticks with a straight shaft, including those of British Patent 2115296 have the disadvantage of only allowing the use of the existing power zone when the stick entire stick is laid more or less parallel with the ground. This results in the player's head and hands needing to be relatively close to the ground, increasing danger to the player and making the action considerably more difficult to achieve.

Sticks abiding by the teachings of European Application 0165096 have only a very short area adjacent the head, which can be laid in contact with the ground when the stick is more or less parallel to the ground. Providing a greater area in contact with the ground would require the impossible action of the free end of the handle being lowered below the ground surface. As a result the very short playing section provided is incapable of generating sufficient acceleration to produce any appreciable benefits in this action. As such sticks of this invention provide a very much shorter playing section with a worse disposition than that of traditional straight sticks.

Sticks abiding by British Patent 2205757B are disadvantaged in the use of the playing section by the fact that the void developed at the back of the shaft which counters the protrusion at the front of the shaft, creates a gap in any playing section which is available reducing its viable length to the area from the end of the rearward curve into the head. These sticks also carry the same side effect disadvantage of centralisation as the sticks of European Application 0165096. As such sticks of this invention provide a very much shorter playing section with in some embodiments has a worse disposition than that of traditional straight sticks.

Sticks of the type described in Published PCT Application PCT/GB97/01212 exhibit the same disadvantages of centralisation as other sticks which centralise the head however some embodiments described in this patent proscribe appreciable straight or near straight playing sections which do not loose the Reverse stick Blocking facility as a result of the substantial toe region provided opposite the playing section. However the need to provide a rearward curve in the shaft which is provided immediately the shaft rises above the height of the toe to sustain the reverse blocking feature limits the viable length of a playing section in sticks of this invention to a distance somewhat less than 10 cms (the maximum length of the toe as defined by the FIH rules board).
Again a length of less than 10 cm is insufficient to develop an appreciable benefit from such a playing section. As such sticks of this invention provide a shorter playing section which is equally poorly disposed as that of traditional straight sticks.
The intention of this invention is therefore to provide a stick which has an extended playing section, sufficient to produce valuable playing benefits as described below whilst allowing this extended playing section to be disposed in close proximity with the ground whilst the free end of the handle is raised from the ground, improving safety and performance.

Accordingly, this invention provides a hockey stick according to claim 1.

In one preferred embodiment, the extended playing section extends at a forwardly inclined angle with respect to the axis of the handle region.

By this arrangement, when the stick is located in an open stick playing fashion with the outer edge of the playing section extending along the ground, the handle extends at an upwardly inclined angle to the ground. In order to make effective use of the playing area, the stick does not need to be held with the extended playing section in contact with the ground along the whole of its outer edge; provided the highest point of the outer edge is no more than half a ball height (that is typically 3.5cm) off the ground, the extended playing section may still provide an effective playing area along its entire length. This therefore further increases the angle of inclination of the handle to the ground. This feature is extremely important as it means that the player can place the extended playing section on the ground or in close proximity thereto without needing to place the handle close to the ground. Thus he does not have to reach so far to get the extended playing section in contact with the ball when on the ground, or sufficiently near, which means that he can reach this position quicker. Also the fact that the knuckles are further away from the ground means they are less likely to be damaged during play. In turn this keeps the head further from the ground improving safety in many ways. Once the stick is disposed with the extended playing section in contact with the ground or with the outer edge no more than half a ball height off the ground, this gives an extended playing surface along which the ball can be accelerated or decelerated in use as required to perform a particular manoeuvre. This elongated acceleration/deceleration region is extremely useful in creating substantial power and/or lift, for example in passing, or drag flicking or other manoeuvres.

The longitudinal axis of the extended playing section is preferably offset rearwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle region; alternatively there may be no offset and the extended playing section may comprise a cranked extension of the shaft region. The term "offset rearwardly" is used to mean that the longitudinal axis of the extended playing section is disposed rearwardly of the longitudinal axis of the handle region at their merger, and that the longitudinal axes may or may not be parallel.

The stick may include one or more forward or rearward curves intermediate the extended playing section and the lower end of said handle region. In one preferred arrangement, the stick includes an upper, rearward curve and a lower compensating forward curve disposed above said extended playing section. In certain arrangements it may be beneficial to include a further forward curve above said rearward curve.

Likewise, the stick may advantageously include one or more forward or rearward curves in the merger region of the lower end of said extended playing section and the head region.

Preferably the longitudinal axis of the extended playing section extends at an angle of between 5° and 20° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle region, and more preferably between 7° and 12°. It will be appreciated that an increased angle of inclination between the extended playing section and the longitudinal axis of the handle region increases the effective height of the handle region off the ground when the extended playing section extends horizontally in the open stick position.

The preferred angle of inclination for any particular stick may depend partly on the length of the extended playing section. In general the shorter the extended playing section, the greater the angle may be. However it is also true that the greater the extended playing section the greater the potential power and deception derived. Hence it is clear that in designing the sticks of this invention a balance must be achieved between ease of action and power/deception. Where the length is less than 10cm the derived benefits of the playing section are not evident. A clear advantage at a comfortable angle is achieved with a length of at least 15cm, and a very good balance of effects is obtained at 20cm.

The angle of inclination could be enhanced without modifying the length of the extended playing section by increasing the rearward deviation (as herebelow defined) of the shaft just prior to the extended playing section or offsetting the head forwardly of its natural position where the crown (as herebelow defined) lies just forward of the axis of the handle. Both of these produce a greater aperture beneath the stick through which the ball can pass in a reverse stick block and both have the potential to lead to an unbalanced and ungainly dribbling action. The rearward deviation is preferably at least 0.5cm and more preferably at least 1 cm.

However it should be noted that increasing the rearward deviation does not necessarily lead to an unbalanced dribbling action. Where the deviation is small, the weight provided rearwardly of the axis of the handle counterbalances the weight provided forwardly by the toe (as herebelow defined) of the stick, and where the sizes of these two elements are chosen carefully the balance can be substantially improved and resultantly so can the dribbling action.

In earlier modified hockey sticks, there has been an attempt to centralise the crown of the stick beneath the axis of the handle to improve the dribbling action and although this feature is desirable in this invention it produces a detrimental reduction in the angle of the handle. Hence a balance must also be drawn when designing sticks of this invention between the ease of the primary ball propelling action and the balance of the dribbling action, and the ability to produce a reverse stick block action. Although a centralised head with a long parallel or forwardly inclined extended playing section is beneficial in some respects, a stick with a head in its more traditional position with the crown some 2cm to 4cm forward of the axis of the handle, with a forwardly inclined extended playing section may be more beneficial. The detrimental effect upon the dribbling action of a substantially forwardly disposed head may be enough to outweigh the benefit provided of enhanced length of the extended playing section and improved angle of inclination. Thus, particularly preferred sticks have extended playing sections of around 20cms length, inclined either parallel to the axis of the handle or at any angle above this, with good results being produced at around 5 to 12 degrees and possibly at greater angles up to 25 degrees.

Due to the counterbalancing effects of the rearward deviation which can be provided in this invention there is a clear opportunity to provide a balanced yet enlarged toe area and the toe height, that is the distance measured from the ground to the tip of the toe when the stick is placed on the ground with the handle region vertical, is preferably between 7cm and 10.25cm.

In all the various embodiments defined above, the extended playing section is preferably generally straight. In some sticks however, the extended playing section may be gently curved to provide a generally convex outer edge.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and certain embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings:-

Figures 1A and 1B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a first embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 2A and 2B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a second embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 3A and 3B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a third embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 4A and 4B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a fourth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 5A and 5B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a fifth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 6A and 6B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a sixth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 7A and 7B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a seventh embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 8A and 8B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a eighth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 9A and 9B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a ninth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 10A and 10B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a tenth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 11A and 11B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a eleventh embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 12A and 12B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a twelfth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 13A and 13B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a thirteenth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 14A and 14B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a fourteenth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention;

Figures 15A and 15B are an enlarged rear view of the head and extended playing section, and a view on the rear of the whole stick respectively of a fifteenth embodiment of hockey stick of this invention; and

Figure 16 is a view on the rear of a sixteenth embodiment of hockey stick still in accordance with this invention.

In the informal drawings accompanying this Specification various dimensions are given; these are illustrative only and are not intended to restrict the invention. Furthermore, the sticks as illustrated have been designed to comply with current understanding of the guideline of the Federation Internationale de Hockey Rules Board, but the invention is not limited to sticks in compliance with these guidelines.

Referring to the Figures, many parts are the same or similar and so are given the same reference numerals. The stick of Figures 1a and 1b will be described in detail and then the variations of the remaining sticks will be described.

The hockey sticks illustrated comprise a handle 10, a shaft 12, and extended playing section 14 (also referred to as a power zone), a head 16 and a toe 18. The region 20 of the head 16 which contacts the ground when the stick is held with the handle 10 vertical is called the crown. In Figure 1, the extended playing section 14 is offset rearwardly such that the rearward deviation 13 of the outer edge from the line of the shaft is 2cm, the maximum allowed under current practice. This deviation is referred to herein as "the rearward deviation". Likewise the width of the extended playing section 14 is the currently allowed maximum of 5cm. The toe 18 is of average height, 7cm.

Three ground lines are marked in Figures 1 to 15, namely a reverse stick ground line 22 which is the ground line when the stick is placed in the reverse block position; a playing section ground line 24 which is the ground line when the stick is in the open stick position with the extended playing section flat or as nearly as possible to the ground (the lower playing position); and a raised section ground line 26, which is the ground line when the stick is pivoted about the head away from the playing section ground line 24 until the highest part of the extended playing section is spaced by half the height of a ball 28 off the ground (the raised playing position). This is generally the furthest that the stick can be raised whilst still providing the full length of the extended playing section 14.

In use, when the stick is played open stick with the head on the ground, the extended playing section 14 provides an elongated playing section or power zone along which a ball may be accelerated or decelerated in either direction between the head end and the shaft end of the extended playing section. The full elongate extent of this section is available as soon as the stick is placed in the raised playing position although many players may prefer to drop the stick to the lower playing position in which, in Figure 1 at least, the outer edge of the stick is laid flat along the ground. In Figure 1, when the stick is in the lower playing position, the handle is upwardly inclined at about 7°. This means that the player's hands are well clear of the ground when the stick is in this position.

In Figures 2a and 2b, the arrangement of the handle and shaft is generally similar to Figure 1, but the toe height is much less.

In Figures 3a and 3b the extended playing section is generally similar although there is a slight forward curve at the lower end of the shaft before the extended playing section begins. The toe height is intermediate that of Figures 1 and 2 and the head is less tightly curved.

Referring to Figures 4a and 4b, here the toe height is increased to provide a hooked head.

Referring to Figures 5a and 5b, in this arrangement the head is generally V-shaped.

Referring to Figures 6a and 6b, in this arrangement the head is provided with a recessed portion for encircling a hockey ball and providing a catching, cradling, or cupping effect similar to that described in my earlier International Patent Application No. PCT/GB97/01212.

In Figures 7a and 7b, there is shown an arrangement in which the axial length of the extended playing section is shorter than that of Figure 1, and the angle of inclination of the elongate axis of the extended playing section relative to that of the handle is increased to about 11°. The toe height and tightness of the curve of the head is similar to that of Figure 1.

The stick of Figures 8a and 8b is similar to that of Figures 7 except that the length of the extended playing section is shorter still with a commensurate increase in the angle of inclination of the handle.

Figures 9a and 9b show a stick similar to that of Figures 4a and 4b although the angle of inclination of the extended playing section is increased with the result that the crown is positioned well forward of the longitudinal axis of the handle.

Figures 10a and 10b show a stick similar to that of Figure 1 except that the extended playing section is gently curved to provide a rolling curve.

Figures 11a and 11b show an arrangement in which there is no offset between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the longitudinal axis of the playing section. Thus the stick is similar to that of Figure 1 except without the rearward offset, making the crown substantially forwardly offset.

Figures 12a and 12b show an arrangement similar to Figure 1 with an offset between the axis of the extended playing section and the handle but in which these axis are parallel.

Figures 13a and 13b show an arrangement similar to Figure 1 at the lower end of the stick but with a serpentine curved region extending forwardly before extending rearwardly as previously.

Figures 14a and 14b show an arrangement in which the shaft incorporates a rearwardly projecting serpentine curve before merging with the extended playing section.

Figures 15a and 15b show an arrangement in which the shaft incorporates a forward curve followed by a rearward curve before merging with the extended playing section 14.

Figure 16 shows an arrangement in which the lower end of the extended playing section 14 terminates with a rearward curve which blends into an enlarged playing head 16 of the type described in my Published PCT Application No. PCT/GB97/01212.

The embodiments of Figures 1 to 12 and 14 to 16 each comprise an arrangement in which the longitudinal axis of the extended playing section 14 is offset rearwardly to that of the remainder of the handle 10 and the shaft 12.

As will be clear from the above embodiments, various modifications to the stick may be incorporated without departing from the invention.

The sticks as described above provide a number of benefits:-

1. Improved dribbling action - produced through the provision of a rearward curve in the shaft which centralises the head beneath the shaft, and provides weight to the rear of the shaft counterbalancing the forward extending toe region.

2. Improved reverse stick skills - through the availability to provide an enlarged toe which is not too cumbersome in the dribbling action because it is balanced by the enlarged power zone. Thus the stick can hit, push, flick and control the ball better on the reverse side.

3. Improved and safer open stick ball collection - the extended playing section can be used at greater reach and from a more comfortable and upright position to collect the ball on the ground with the shaft more or less laid along the ground. This same strong barrier can be provided in the process of a tackle and may provide greater power, strength, mobility and safety than the traditional sticks. This facility has much to offer goalkeepers who often have to play the ball whilst outstretched on the ground and wearing large protective gloves which commonly force the right hand and the stick some crucial three or more inches off the ground. Hence the described sticks can be used to counter this problem.

4. Improved power and deception when pushing the ball in a more manoeuvrable, upright and safer position; or the ability to push the ball with the stick held almost flat to the ground, where the ball starts contact some fifteen centimetres up the stick from the crown and is slung down the shaft, has been possible with straight traditional sticks, but only for the most courageous and skilled players. The existing sticks place the player's head close to the ground and put considerable strain on the back whilst often scraping the knuckles on the floor drawing blood. The sticks described above allow this action to be performed with the knuckles some one to two feet off the ground, making it safer, easier, more comfortable and mobile to perform.

5. Improved drag flicking - this art is commonly used at penalty corners and involves the ball being driven down the stick from the crown whilst the stick is near to flat on the ground and then flung back down the shaft which is inclined slightly backwards as the player lurches forward and upwards to propel the ball into the air at pace. By allowing the player to lay the shaft flat along the ground with the knuckles a foot or so off the ground the action is made considerably more comfortable, safe and easier to perform.

6. Guiding collection for ball catching - in configurations of this stick where a substantial gape is provided between the limbs of the head and hence ball catching of one type or other is available, the power zone provides a guide down which the ball can be driven to ease and guide collection of the ball into the gape.

Claims

A hockey stick comprising an elongate handle region (10), an elongate shaft region (12) which merges at its lower end with an extended playing section (14), which merges at its lower end with a head region (16), wherein said extended playing section (14) is angled to or offset from the axis of the handle region (10), characterised in that

(i) when the stick is held in open stick position, in a generally vertical plane, with the rearmost edge region of the stick in contact with the ground and a longitudinal axis of the extended playing section (14) disposed generally parallel to the ground, the free end of the handle region (10) is spaced off the ground by at least 2cm, and

(ii) said extended playing section (14) has a straight or gently curved outer edge and has an axial length of at least 15cm measured between the last forward curve of the shaft region (12) and the head region (16).
A hockey stick according to Claim 1, wherein the axis of the extended playing section (14) extends at a forwardly inclined angle relative to the axis of the handle region (10).
A hockey stick according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the extended playing section (14) has an axial length of approximately 20cm.
A hockey stick according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the longitudinal axis of the extended playing section (14) is offset rearwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle region (10).
A hockey stick according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the extended playing section (14) comprises a cranked extension of the shaft region (12).
A hockey stick according to any of the preceding Claims, which further includes one or more forward or rearward curves intermediate the lower end of said handle region (10) and the extended playing section (14).
A hockey stick according to Claim 6, which includes an upper, rearward curve and a lower compensating forward curve disposed above said extended playing section.
A hockey stick according to Claim 7, which further includes a further forward curve above said rearward curve.
A hockey stick according to any of the preceding Claims, which includes one or more forward or rearward curves in the merger region of the lower end of said extended playing section (14) and the head region (16).
A hockey stick according to Claim 9, which includes a rearward compensating curve between the lower end of the extended playing section (14) and the head region (16).
A hockey stick according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the longitudinal axis of the extended playing section (14) extends at an angle of between 5° and 20° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle region (10).
A hockey stick according to, any of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the longitudinal axis of the extended playing section (14) extends at an angle of between 7° and 12° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handle region (10).
A hockey stick according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rearward deviation (as herein defined) of the shaft region (12) adjacent the upper end of the extended playing section (14) is at least 0.5cm.
A hockey stick according to Claim 13, wherein the rearward deviation is at least 1cm.
A hockey stick according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein the weight provided rearwardly of the axis of the handle (10) substantially counterbalances the weight provided forwardly by the toe (as herein defined).
A hockey stick according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the extended playing section (14) is generally straight.
A hockey stick according to any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the extended playing section (14) is curved to provide a generally convex outer edge.
A hockey stick according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said extended playing section (14) and said head region (16) are configured such that the outer edge of the extended playing section may be laid generally flat along the ground.