Back to results
US 6,113,508 AGranted
Adjusting stiffness and flexibility in sports equipment
AssigneeAlliance Design and Development Group, Inc.
InventorsMichael Locarno, Guy Wheeler, Robert Walsh, William C. Doble
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sports apparatus with variable directions of stiffness and flexibility, including sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity; and a stiffening rod that is elongated and has a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the stiffening rod, the stiffening rod being inserted within the cavity and stiffer in one direction than in a different direction and being more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis.
Claims35
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity;
- and
- a stiffening rod that is elongated and has a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the stiffening rod, the stiffening rod being inserted within the cavity and stiffer in one direction than in a different direction and being more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the stiffening rod being arranged to turn about the longitudinal axis through a plurality of relative positions and accommodated by the cavity in any one of the plurality of relative positions, the sports equipment being configured into any one of a hockey stick and a golf club, the hockey stick having a hollow shaft as the body and having a blade projecting from an end of the hollow shaft in a direction different from the direction that the hollow shaft extends, the golf club having a club shaft as the body and having a club head that extends from an end of the club shaft and extending in a direction different from the direction that the club shaft extends and being wider than a diameter of the club shaft.
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity;
- and
- a stiffening rod that is elongated and has a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the stiffening rod, the stiffening rod being inserted within the cavity and stiffer in one direction than in a different direction and being more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis the stiffening rod having a portion protruding out of the cavity, further comprising a cap secured to the portion of the stiffening rod protruding out of the cavity.
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity;
- a stiffening rod that is elongated and has a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the stiffening rod, the stiffening rod being inserted within the cavity and stiffer in one direction than in a different direction and being more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an indicator attached to the rod, the indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the stiffness rod within the cavity.
1 more element
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity;
- a stiffening rod that is elongated and has a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the stiffening rod, the stiffening rod being inserted within the cavity and stiffer in one direction than in a different direction and being more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least one further elongated cavity in the body and at least one further stiffening rod within the further elongated cavity, the further stiffening rod being inserted within the further elongated cavity and being stiffer in a given direction than in another direction, both the given and another directions being transverse to a direction of elongation of the further stiffening rod, an indicator attached to the body, the indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the first-mentioned stiffening rod within the first-mentioned cavity, and a further indicator attached to the body, the further indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the further stiffening rod within the further cavity.
1 more element
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity through which extends a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the cavity;
- and
- an element imparting stiffness and flexibility variations within the cavity so the sports equipment becomes more stiff in one direction than in a different direction and is more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the element being configured to turn about the longitudinal axis through a plurality of relative positions and accommodated by the cavity in any one of the plurality of relative positions, the sports equipment being configured into any one of a hockey stick and a golf club, the hockey stick having a hollow shaft as the body and having a blade projecting from an end of the hollow shaft in a direction different from the direction that the hollow shaft extends, the golf club having a club shaft as the body and having a club head that extends from an end of the club shaft and extending in a direction different from the direction that the club shaft extends and being wider than a diameter of the club shaft.
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity through which extends a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the cavity;
- an element imparting stiffness and flexibility variations within the cavity so the sports equipment becomes more stiff in one direction than in a different direction and is more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the element being a stiffening rod that is elongated and fits within the cavity;
- and
- an indicator of a degree of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the stiffening rod within the cavity, the indicator being arranged on at least one of the body and the stiffening rod.
1 more element
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity through which extends a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the cavity;
- an element imparting stiffness and flexibility variations within the cavity so the sports equipment becomes more stiff in one direction than in a different direction and is more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least one further elongated cavity in the body and at least one further element within the further elongated cavity, the further element being stiffer in a given direction than in another direction, both the given and another directions being transverse to a direction of elongation of the further element, an indicator attached to the element and a further indicator attached to the further element, the first-mentioned indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the first-mentioned element within the first-mentioned cavity, the further indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees with stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the further element within the further cavity.
1 more element
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity;
- a stiffening rod that is elongated and has a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the stiffening rod, the stiffening rod being inserted within the cavity and stiffer in one direction than in a different direction and being more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- an indicator attached to the body, the indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the stiffening rod within the cavity.
1 more element
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity;
- and
- a stiffening rod that is elongated and has a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the stiffening rod, the stiffening rod being inserted within the cavity and stiffer in one direction than in a different direction and being more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the stiffening rod being arranged to turn about the longitudinal axis through a plurality of relative positions and accommodated by the cavity in any one of the plurality of relative positions, the sports equipment being configured into any one of a hockey stick and a golf club, the hockey stick having a hollow shaft as the body and having a blade projecting from an end of the hollow shaft in a direction different from the direction that the hollow shaft extends, the golf club having a club shaft as the body and having a club head that extends from an end of the club shaft and extending in a direction different from the direction that the club shaft extends and being wider than a diameter of the club shaft;
- at least one further elongated cavity in the sports equipment and at least one further stiffening rod with the further elongated cavity, the further stiffening rod being inserted within the further elongated cavity and being stiffer in a given direction than in another direction, both the given and another directions being transverse to a direction of elongation of the further stiffening rod;
- and
- an indicator attached to the first-mentioned stiffening rod and a further indicator attached to the further stiffening rod, the first-mentioned indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the first-mentioned stiffening rod within the first-mentioned cavity, the further indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the further stiffening rod within the further cavity.
3 more elements
A sports apparatus with variations in stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity;
- and
- a stiffening rod that is elongated and has a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the stiffening rod, the stiffening rod being inserted within the cavity and stiffer in one direction than in a different direction and being more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the stiffening rod being arranged to turn about the longitudinal axis through a plurality of relative positions and accommodated by the cavity in any one of the plurality of relative positions, the sports equipment being configured into any one of a hockey stick and a golf club, the hockey stick having a hollow shaft as the body and having a blade projecting from an end of the hollow shaft in a direction different from the direction that the hollow shaft extends, the golf club having a club shaft as the body and having a club head that extends from an end of the club shaft and extending in a direction different from the direction that the club shaft extends and being wider than a diameter of the club shaft;
- further comprising an indicator attached to the body, the indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the first-mentioned stiffening rod within the first-mentioned cavity, and a further indicator attached to the body, the further indicator having markings arranged in a manner indicative of different degrees of stiffness or flexibility with respect to a relative orientation of the further stiffening rod within the further cavity.
1 more element
A method of varying stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- providing sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity through which extends a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the cavity;
- and
- imparting stiffness and flexibility variations by turning stiffening rod within the cavity so the sports equipment becomes more stiff in one direction than in a different direction and is more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the stiffening rod being turned about the longitudinal axis through a plurality of relative positions and accommodated by the cavity in any one of the plurality of relative positions, the sports equipment being configured into any one of a hockey stick and a golf club, the hockey stick having a hollow shaft as the body and having a blade projecting from an end of the hollow shaft in a direction different from the direction that the hollow shaft extends, the golf club having a club shaft as the body and having a club head that extends from an end of the club shaft and extending in a direction different from the direction that the club shaft extends and being wider than a diameter of the club shaft.
A method of varying stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- providing sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity through which extends a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the cavity;
- imparting stiffness and flexibility variation within the cavity by inserting into the cavity a stiffening rod that is elongated and fits within the cavity so the sports equipment becomes more stiff in one direction than in a different direction and is more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the stiffening rod being turned about the longitudinal axis through a plurality of relative positions and accommodated by the cavity in any one of the plurality of relative positions;
- and
- marking a degree of stiffness or flexibility of the stiffening rod relative to an orientation of the stiffening rod within the cavity.
1 more element
A method of varying stiffness and flexibility, comprising:
- providing sports equipment having a body with an elongated cavity through which extends a longitudinal axis in a direction of elongation of the cavity;
- imparting stiffness and flexibility variation within the cavity by inserting into the cavity a stiffening rod that is elongated and fits within the cavity so the sports equipment becomes more stiff in one direction than in a different direction and is more flexible in the different direction than in the one direction, both the one direction and the different direction being directed transverse to the longitudinal axis, the stiffening rod being turned about the longitudinal axis through a plurality of relative positions and accommodated by the cavity in any one of the plurality of relative positions;
- and
- indicating a degree of stiffness or flexibility of the stiffening rod relative to an orientation of the stiffening rod within the cavity.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.