# US 9,427,642 B2 · Lacrosse head pocket and related method of manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,427,642 B2 - Document ID: US9427642B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/881,442 - Filed: 2015-10-13 - Published: 2016-02-11 - Granted: 2016-08-30 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-07 - Assignees: Warrior Sports, Inc. - Applicants: Warrior Sports, Inc. - Inventors: David K. Morrow; Bruce Huffa; Thomas H. Burns; Richard J. Janisse; Sean J. Slater; Dale W. Kohler; Craig M. Herman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9427642B2 ## CPC - A63B 59/20: having means, e.g. pockets, netting or adhesive type surfaces, for catching or holding a ball, e.g. for lacrosse or pelota - B29C 45/14: incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles {(B29C45/1671 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/14065: {Positioning or centering articles in the mould} - B29C 45/14786: {Fibrous material or fibre containing material, e.g. fibre mats or fibre reinforced material} - B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure - B29C 70/688: {the inserts being meshes or lattices (B29C70/82, B29C70/683 take precedence)} - D03D 1/00: Woven fabrics designed to make specified articles - D03D 13/004: {with weave pattern being non-standard or providing special effects} - D03D 51/00: Driving, starting, or stopping arrangements; Automatic stop motions {(loom control associated with fabric inspection on the loom D03J1/007)} - D04B 1/22: specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration - D04B 15/78: Electrical devices - D05B 1/02: for making single-thread seams - D05B 19/12: characterised by control of operation of machine - A63B 2102/14: Lacrosse - B29C 45/0046: {Details relating to the filling pattern or flow paths or flow characteristics of moulding material in the mould cavity} - B29C 45/14221: {by tools, e.g. cutting means} - B29C 45/14262: {Clamping or tensioning means for the insert} - B29C 45/14336: {Coating a portion of the article, e.g. the edge of the article (B29C45/14573 and B29C45/14598 take precedence)} - B29C 45/1671: {with an insert} - B29C 45/76: Measuring, controlling or regulating {(measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05)} - B29C 65/18: using heated tools - B29C 66/1122: {Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence)} - B29C 66/301: {Three-dimensional joints, i.e. the joined area being substantially non-flat (B29C66/5223, B29C66/5224, B29C66/5225 take precedence)} - B29C 66/43: {Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles (B29C66/45 takes precedence)} - B29C 66/729: {Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics} - B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics} - B29C 66/81427: {comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth} - B29C 66/91421: {of the joining tools} - B29C 66/919: {characterised by specific temperature, heat or thermal flux values or ranges (specific electrical resistance values B29C66/81262)} - B29C 2045/14147: {using pins or needles penetrating through the insert} - B29C 2045/14245: {using deforming or preforming means outside the mould cavity} - B29K 2023/06: {PE, i.e. polyethylene} - B29K 2077/00: Use of {PA, i.e.} polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29K 2101/00: Use of unspecified macromolecular compounds as moulding material {(use of unspecified rubbers B29K2021/00)} - B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials - B29K 2623/0683: {UHMWPE, i.e. ultra high molecular weight polyethylene} - B29K 2677/00: Use of {PA, i.e.} polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides {or derivatives thereof,} for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts - B29K 2713/00: Use of textile products or fabrics for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts (B29K2105/06 takes precedence) - B29L 2028/00: Nets or the like - B29L 2031/52: Sports equipment {; Games; Articles for amusement}; Toys (B29L2031/54 takes precedence) - B29L 2031/5227: {Clubs} - B29L 2031/5245: {Rackets} - D10B 2403/033: Three dimensional fabric, e.g. forming or comprising cavities in or protrusions from the basic planar configuration, or deviations from the cylindrical shape as generally imposed by the fabric forming process - D10B 2507/00: Sport; Military - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - D03D: WOVEN FABRICS; METHODS OF WEAVING; LOOMS - D04B: KNITTING - D05B: SEWING (appliances for the tailoring trade A41H; sewing tables A47B29/00; sewing in bookbinding B42B2/00; sewing machines modified for knitting D04B39/08) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of making a lacrosse pocket comprising: mechanically manipulating first strands of a unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with an automated pocket assembly machine during an automated process to form a predefined, three dimensional, concave shape in the lacrosse pocket body as a result of the automated process, the lacrosse pocket body defining a bullseye opening bounded at least by a first vertical element and a second vertical element, the lacrosse pocket body including a third vertical element distal from the bullseye opening, the third vertical element being shorter in length than the first vertical element; and mechanically manipulating second strands of the unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with the automated pocket assembly machine during the automated process to form at least one of a predefined, generally flat, planar shape in the lacrosse pocket body, and a predefined, three dimensional convex shape in the lacrosse pocket body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 comprising: joining the first vertical element with the second vertical element with a first join. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 comprising: joining the first vertical element with the second vertical element with a second join distal from the first join. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 comprising forming the first and second vertical elements as tubular structures. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 comprising forming the bullseye opening to have a geometric center coincident with an apex of a middle pocket of the lacrosse pocket body. ### Claim 6 A method of making a lacrosse pocket comprising: mechanically manipulating first strands of a unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with an automated pocket assembly machine during an automated process to form a predefined, three dimensional, concave shape in the lacrosse pocket body, the lacrosse pocket body including a middle pocket and a shooting ramp, the shooting ramp extending away from the middle pocket, the shooting ramp configured to provide a pathway along which a lacrosse ball traverses to exit the lacrosse pocket body; and mechanically manipulating second strands of the unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with the automated pocket assembly machine during the automated process to form at least one of a predefined, generally flat, planar shape in the lacrosse pocket body, and a predefined, three dimensional convex shape in the lacrosse pocket body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 comprising forming the middle pocket to have a predefined depth that is equal to or less than 64.7 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 comprising forming a plurality of edges around the lacrosse pocket body, the plurality of edges formed from a first material that is less elastic than a second material from which the first vertical element is formed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the automated process is at least one of a knitting process and a weaving process performed by the automated pocket assembly machine. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the automated pocket assembly machine is at least one of a knitting machine and a weaving machine. ### Claim 11 A method of making a lacrosse pocket comprising: mechanically manipulating first strands of a unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with an automated pocket assembly machine during an automated process to form in the lacrosse pocket body: a predefined, three dimensional, concave shape configured to hold a lacrosse ball, an upper scoop edge configured to join with a scoop of a lacrosse head, and a sidewall edge configured to join with a sidewall of the lacrosse head; and mechanically manipulating second strands of the unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with the automated pocket assembly machine during the automated process to form at least one of a predefined, generally flat, planar shape in the lacrosse pocket body, and a predefined, three dimensional convex shape in the lacrosse pocket body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the automated process is at least one of a knitting process and a weaving process performed by the automated pocket assembly machine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the automated pocket assembly machine is at least one of a knitting machine and a weaving machine. ### Claim 14 A method of making a lacrosse pocket comprising: mechanically manipulating first strands of a unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with an automated pocket assembly machine during an automated process to form a predefined, three dimensional, concave shape in the lacrosse pocket body as a result of only that process; and mechanically manipulating second strands of the unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with the automated pocket assembly machine during the process to form at least one of a predefined, generally flat, planar shape in the lacrosse pocket body, and a predefined, three dimensional convex shape in the lacrosse pocket body, wherein the mechanically manipulating the first strands with the automated pocket assembly machine to form a predefined, three dimensional, concave shape in the lacrosse pocket body forms at least one of a concave shooting ramp and a concave middle pocket in the lacrosse pocket body, wherein the mechanically manipulating the second strands with the automated pocket assembly machine forms at least one of a planar shooting ramp flank and an edge of the lacrosse pocket body. ### Claim 15 A method of making a lacrosse pocket comprising: mechanically manipulating first strands of a unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with an automated pocket assembly machine during an automated process to form a predefined, three dimensional, concave shape in the lacrosse pocket body as a result of only that process; mechanically manipulating second strands of the unitary textile lacrosse pocket body with the automated pocket assembly machine during the process to form at least one of a predefined, generally flat, planar shape in the lacrosse pocket body, and a predefined, three dimensional convex shape in the lacrosse pocket body; and utilizing a weaving process to weave a plurality of distinct, additional unitary textile lacrosse pocket bodies on the automated pocket assembly machine, the plurality of additional lacrosse pocket bodies being coupled to a second lacrosse pocket body, and forming an extension of a strip of lacrosse pockets.