US 2004OO18901A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2004/0018901 A1 Morrow et al. (43) Pub. Date: Jan. 29, 2004 (54) NON-SKID LACROSSE BALL Related U.S. Application Data (60) Provisional application No. 60/380,530, filed on May (76) Inventors: David Morrow, Farmington Hills, MI 14, 2002. (US); Jesse Hubbard, New York, NY (US); Andrew Maliszewski, Dearborn Publication Classification Heights, MI (US); Matthew (51) Int. Cl. ................................................. A63B 43/02 Winningham, Birmingham, MI (US) (52) U.S. Cl. ............................................ 473/596; 473/597 Correspondence Address: (57) ABSTRACT JOHN S.ARTZ A non-skid lacrosse ball for gripping a lacrosse head and a ARTZ & ARTZ, P.C. netting attached to the lacrosse head is provided. The 28333 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 250 non-skid lacrosse ball is a spherical ball having one or more SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034 (US) non-skid Surfaces formed Substantially there acroSS. In one embodiment, the non-skid Surface is a textured Surface comprised of relatively Small Surface Structures that are (21) Appl. No.: 10/437,837 integral parts of the spherical ball. Furthermore, both the non-skid Surface and the Spherical ball are comprised of an (22) Filed: May 14, 2003 elastomer material. 2. 24 3 26 ? 22 Ca Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 1 of 2 US 2004/0018901 A1 2. Patent Application Publication Jan. 29, 2004 Sheet 2 of 2 US 2004/0018901 A1 YXXX 8RSS 23 2O7 2 US 2004/OO18901 A1 Jan. 29, 2004 NON-SKID LACROSSE BALL 0010. In accordance with the above and the other advan tages of the present invention, a non-Skid lacrosse ball for TECHNICAL FIELD gripping a lacrosse head and a netting attached to the 0001. The present invention relates generally to a lacrosse head is provided. The non-skid lacrosse ball is a lacrosse ball. More particularly, the present invention relates generally spherical ball having a plurality of non-Skid struc generally to a lacrosse ball having a non-Skid Surface for tures or Surfaces formed Substantially acroSS the outer Sur improving a player's control of the lacrosse ball while in the face thereof. In one embodiment, the non-Skid structure is a head and while shooting or passing the ball. textured Surface that is an integral part of the Spherical ball. Furthermore, both the non-skid surface and the spherical BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ball are comprised of an elastomer material. 0002 Alacrosse player typically controls a lacrosse ball 0011. Other advantages of the present invention will in a pocket of a lacrosse head by utilizing the friction become apparent when Viewed in light of the detailed between the lacrosse ball and the pocket. This friction allows description of the preferred embodiment when taken in a player to move the lacrosse ball to a predetermined portion conjunction with the attached drawings and appended of the pocket. AS is known, different portions of the pocket claims. can be utilized to handle or throw the lacrosse ball in various desired ways. For example, one portion of the pocket can be BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS best Suited for power-cradling the ball. Also, other portions of the pocket can be best Suited for ripping corners or 0012 For a more complete understanding of this inven otherwise Shooting the lacrosse ball in a particular fashion. tion, reference should now be made to the embodiments In addition to these examples, it is understood that various illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings other portions of the pocket can be particularly Suited for a and described below by way of examples of the invention: variety of other handling or throwing actions. For the above 0013 FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway view of a lacrosse reasons, control of the lacrosse ball within the pocket clearly head and a non-skid lacrosse ball, illustrating movement of is desirable. the non-skid lacrosse ball in accordance with one embodi 0.003 Moreover, existing lacrosse balls are formed of a ment of the present invention; hard rubber or elastomeric material and are Smooth over 0014 FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a scoop portion of the Substantially the entire outer Surface. This Smooth Surface lacrosse head shown in FIG. 1, as taken from the perspective can cause skidding or Slipping when a lacrosse ball contacts of arrow 2; a lacrosse head Such as when the ball is being thrown or passed. This is because very little friction exists between a 0015 FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway view of the non-skid lacrosse ball and a lacrosse head or netting. This is particu lacrosse ball shown in FIG. 1, as taken within circle 3, larly true if the ball or head are wet. As a result, the lacrosse illustrating the non-skid lacrosse ball having a textured ball may slide acroSS the pocket to a portion of the pocket Surface; where the player did not intend to move the ball. This lack 0016 FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the textured of ball control can prevent the player from utilizing Specific Surface of the non-skid lacrosse ball shown in FIG. 3, as portions of the pocket that are best Suited for the intended taken along line 4-4, throw, cradling, or other action. Further, the tendency of a ball to skid across the Scoop of the head can cause erratic 0017 FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a non-skid Shooting or passing. lacrosse ball having a textured Surface formed thereon, in accordance with another embodiment of the present inven 0004. Therefore, a need exists for a lacrosse ball having tion; and a non-skid Surface for improving a player's control of the lacrosse ball. 0018 FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the non-skid lacrosse ball shown in FIG. 5, as taken along line 6-6. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 0005 One advantage of the present invention is to pro DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE vide a non-Skid lacrosse ball that increases friction between PREFERRED EMBODIMENT the lacrosse ball and a pocket of a lacrosse head. 0019. In the following figures, the same reference numer 0006 Another advantage of the present invention is to als are used to identify the same components in the various provide a non-skid lacrosse ball that increases a player's views. ability to control the movement of the lacrosse ball within a 0020 Referring to FIG. 1, there are shown a lacrosse pocket of a lacrosse head. Stick 10 and a non-skid lacrosse ball 12 thrown from the 0007 Still another advantage of the present invention is lacrosse Stick 10 according to one embodiment of the to provide a non-Skid lacrosse ball for improving ball present invention. The lacrosse Stick 10 includes a lacrosse retention when cradling or carrying the lacrosse ball. handle 14 and a lacrosse head 16 attached to the lacrosse handle 14. This lacrosse head 16 is preferably a one-piece 0008. Yet another advantage of the present invention is to frame element including a Socket portion 18 for attachment provide a non-Skid lacrosse ball that yields increased accu to the lacrosse handle 14, a base portion 20, which acts as a racy in throwing and shooting the lacrosse ball. ball rest, adjacent to the Socket portion 18, a pair of Sidewall 0009 Still another advantage of the present invention is portions 22 diverging from the base portion 20, and a Scoop to provide a non-skid lacrosse ball with a substantially low portion 24 connecting the top ends of the Sidewall portions coefficient of drag. 22 opposite the base portion 20. Also, a netting 26 is US 2004/OO18901 A1 Jan. 29, 2004 attached to the backside of the Scoop portion 24, the base Because the nubs 32 protrude from the ball, surrounding portion 20, and the sidewall portions 22 leaving the front valleys 34 are formed between adjacent nubs 32. The Side of the lacrosse head 16 open for receiving a lacrosse uniformity of the nubs 32 across the Surface can obviously ball. This netting 26 forms a pocket for cradling and vary. throwing the lacrosse ball 12. However, it is understood that 0024. In addition to the above embodiments, it is con a variety of other configurations of the lacrosse Stick and the templated that a variety of other constructions or applica lacrosse head may be utilized. tions can provide the non-Skid lacrosse ball 12 with a Surface 0021 Referring now to FIG. 3, one embodiment of the that can grip the netting 26 or the various portions of the non-skid lacrosse ball 12 is illustrated. AS Shown, the lacrosse head 16. lacrosse ball 12 is a generally Spherical ball with a non-skid 0025 The non-skid lacrosse ball 12 is intended to Surface 28 formed thereon. In this embodiment, the non-skid improve a player's control over the movement of the Surface 28 is a textured Surface that is integrally formed lacrosse ball 12 within the pocket. This ball control is thereon Such as during the formation of the lacrosse ball. beneficial because it increases the player's ability to retain Both the spherical ball and the textured surface are com the ball 12 within the pocket and also increases his accuracy prised of an elastomer material. However, various other in throwing or shooting the lacrosse ball 12. Moreover, the Suitable materials can be utilized as desired. This textured textured Surface provides improved aerodynamic character Surface is intended to contact and grip the netting 26, the istics by helping to improve accuracy without significantly various portions of the lacrosse head 16, or any other Surface increasing drag.