Lacrosse head and method of forming same

A plastic lacrosse head comprising:

• an open frame having an upper portion generally defining a ball receiving portion and a lower portion generally defining a ball retention portion, said ball receiving portion being the area of the head where a lacrosse ball enters and exits the head and said ball retention portion being the area of the head where a netting is attached, said open frame including;
• a pair of opposing sidewall portions each having a top end and a bottom end;
• a ballstop portion extending generally between said bottom ends of said pair of opposing sidewall portions;
• and
• a scoop portion extending generally between said top ends of said pair of opposing sidewall portions;
• a plurality of net securing mechanisms formed in said open frame adjacent said lower portion for receiving said netting in fixed relation with said open frame;
• a plurality of elongated generally hollow cavities formed within a substantially solid interior of the plastic material forming the lacrosse head for decreasing the weight thereof without significantly impacting the strength or playability of the head.

A lacrosse head comprising:

• a one-piece substantially solid plastic frame element, including a ballstop portion, a scoop portion located opposite to said ballstop portion, a throat portion extending rearwardly from said ballstop portion and intended to receive a lacrosse handle, and a pair of opposing sidewall portions extending between said ballstop portion and said scoop portion;
• and
• said plastic frame element having an upper portion generally defining a ball receiving portion and a lower portion generally defining a ball retention portion, said ball receiving portion being the area of the head where a lacrosse ball enters and exits the head and said ball retention portion being the area of the head where a netting is attached;
• a plurality of net securing mechanisms formed in said plastic frame element for attachment of said netting thereto to facilitate catching and throwing a lacrosse ball;
• a plurality of generally hollow cavities formed within said one-piece substantially solid frame element at generally predetermined locations, said plurality of cavities each having a generally predetermined size and shape;
• whereby the lacrosse head has decreased weight without significantly impacting strength and playability of the head.

A lacrosse head comprising:

• a one-piece substantially solid plastic frame element, including a ballstop portion, a scoop portion located opposite to said ballstop portion, a throat portion extending rearwardly from said ballstop portion and intended to receive a lacrosse handle, and a pair of opposing sidewall portions extending generally between said ballstop portion and said scoop portion;
• an attachment section coupled to said frame element for attaching a netting for receiving a lacrosse ball;
• said plastic frame element having an upper portion generally defining a ball receiving portion and a lower portion generally defining a ball retention portion, said ball receiving portion being the area of the head where a lacrosse ball enters and exits the head and said ball retention portion being the area of the head where said netting is attached;
• and
• a plurality of generally hollow cavities formed within said one-piece substantially solid frame element at generally predetermined locations within each of said scoop portion and said pair of sidewalls, said plurality of cavities each having a generally predetermined size and shape, such that a first shape of one of said plurality of cavities within said scoop portion differs from a second shape of another one of said plurality of cavities within at least one of said pair of sidewalls;
• whereby the lacrosse head contains less material without substantially affecting strength and playability issues.

A lacrosse head comprising:

• a non-tubular frame element including a ballstop portion, a scoop portion located opposite to said ballstop portion, a throat portion extending rearwardly from said ballstop portion and intended to receive a lacrosse stick, and a pair of opposing sidewall portions extending generally between said ballstop portion and said scoop portion;
• said frame element having an upper portion generally defining a ball receiving portion and a lower portion generally defining a ball retention portion, said ball receiving portion being the area of the head where a lacrosse ball enters and exits the head and said ball retention portion being the area of the head where a netting is attached;
• and
• a plurality of net securing structures formed adjacent said ball retention portion to allow said netting to be attached to the head;
• wherein at least one of said pair of sidewall portions, said ballstop portion, or said scoop portion defines at least one substantially sized cavity integrally formed within a generally solid frame element thereof whereby said at least one cavity is substantially hollow for reducing the weight of the lacrosse head, whereby outer surfaces of the lacrosse head are forced against a mold during manufacture such that said at least one cavity is invisible from an exterior of the head.