LACROSSE HEAD POCKET AND RELATED METHOD OF MANUFACTURE

摘要

A lacrosse head pocket and a related method of manufacture are provided to facilitate consistent, repeatable and/or custom manufacture of lacrosse equipment. The pocket can be constructed from multiple different sections joined with one another, or can be knitted, weaved or otherwise assembled on an automated assembly machine from strands, and/or can be formed as a unitary textile material having regions/sections with different physical and/or mechanical properties. The pocket can be integrally molded within portions of a lacrosse head to eliminate manually constructed connections between the pocket and lacrosse head. The lacrosse head can be integrally molded with a lacrosse handle to provide a one-piece unitary lacrosse stick. Related methods of manufacturing also are provided.

主权项

1. A method of making a lacrosse head with an integral pocket, the method comprising:
knitting with a knitting machine a lacrosse pocket including a lacrosse pocket outer perimeter having a first knit pattern, the pocket outer perimeter including a perimeter flange that is at least 2.0 mm in width, knitting on the knitting machine a lacrosse middle pocket, the lacrosse middle pocket having a predefined, three dimensional, concave shape, the middle pocket being located within the pocket outer perimeter and having a second knit pattern, the second knit pattern being different from the first knit pattern; defining in the lacrosse pocket a bullseye opening that is the largest dimension opening defined by the lacrosse pocket, the bullseye opening adapted to restrain the lacrosse ball in the lacrosse pocket; placing the perimeter flange in a lacrosse head mold cavity; introducing a molten material into the lacrosse head mold cavity, so that the molten material becomes joined with the perimeter flange; allowing the molten material to cure to form a lacrosse head having a scoop, a sidewall and a base, and removing the lacrosse head from the lacrosse head mold cavity with the lacrosse pocket projecting downward from the lacrosse head and being integrally molded therein.