Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02869002 2016-04-18
HOCKEY GOALIE STICK HAVING A GRIPPING AID
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to hockey sticks and more
specifically to
goalie hockey sticks.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Throughout history, many sports have been played on an ice surface,
dating back
= as early as the Middle Ages. Modern ice hockey is considered to have
evolved from outdoor
stick-and-ball games adapted to the icy conditions of Canada in the 19th
century, and the origin
of the present National Hockey League (NHL) dates back to 1917. The NHL
expanded into the
United States in 1924, and by 1926 consisted of ten teams in Ontario, Quebec,
the Great Lakes
Region and the North Eastern United States. During the great depression, the
NHL was reduced
to six teams (now referred to as the "original six"), and by 1979, with the
folding of the World
Hockey Association (WHA), the NHL expanded to 21 teams. Today, ice hockey is
played on six
continents, is an Olympic sport, and, worldwide is the most popular game
played on ice.
[0004] Over the history of the sport, ice hockey equipment has continually
advanced.
For example, in the early days, ice hockey sticks were made from hardwoods,
such as maple and
ash. The 1940's saw the introduction of laminated sticks, with layers of wood
glued together to
create a more flexible and durable design, and in the 1960's, companies began
adding an
additional lamination of synthetic compounds (such as fiberglass) to increase
strength and
durability. In the 1980's, manufacturers began experimenting with lightweight
steel alloys, and
introduced a single piece all aluminum stick. The aluminum stick was quickly
replaced by a
stick with an aluminum shaft and a removable wooden blade, which became very
popular in the
1980's and early 1990's. In recent years, the manufacture of ice hockey sticks
has largely moved
1
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
a
Patent
to more advanced composite materials (such as fiberglass and carbon fiber),
with some
experimentation with materials such as Kevlar.
[00051 In ice hockey, the goaltender or goalie is the player who
defends against the
opposing team scoring by preventing or blocking shots of the puck by the
opposing team from
entering the net or goal. The goaltender uses a slightly modified stick as
compared with the
other players. The lower part of the shaft of the goalie stick and the blade
are wider than other
player sticks.
[0006] Fig. 1 illustrates a traditional ice hockey goalie stick 100.
The goalie stick 100
includes a shaft. 102 with a relatively narrow rectangular cross-sectional
shape that resembles the
shaft of a regular player stick. As with regular player sticks, the goaltender
will typically tape
the top of the shaft 102 of thegoalie stick 100 with grip tape, forming a
handle 108 and a knob
110. The goalie stick 100 also includes a paddle 104 that extends from the
shaft 102. As
illustrated, the paddle 104 is significantly wider than the shaft 102 (as much
as 3-5 times wider
than the shaft), and, while also generally rectangular in cross-sectional
shape, is relatively flat
with a curved face. Finally, the goalie stick 100 inclUdes a blade 106 that
extends from the
paddle 104 at a heel 112 of the goalie stick 100 to a toe 114 of the goalie
stick 100. The blade
106, which is the part of the stick that is generally placed along the ice and
typically engages the
puck, extends from the paddle 104 at an angle. The blade 106 takes on a
similar shape to the
paddle 104 (generally rectangular and flat in cross-section), but is shorter
and typically curved
with the concave surface facing the direction of play (the puck is generally
played using the
concave surface of the blade 106). Current goalie sticks are typically made
from wood
reinforced on the outside with woven fibers of glass, carbon fiber and/or
Kevlar and bound to the
surface with a resin (e.g., an epoxy resin), or similar composite materials as
used for regular
player sticks.
100071 Fig. 2A illustrates the typical body and stick positioning of a
goaltender during a
typical block or save referred to as a butterfly save. The goaltender holds
the goalie stick 200 in
the blocker hand, which is the hand on which the blocker glove 216 is worn for
deflecting pucks
shot to that side of the net. On the other hand, the goaltender wears a
catching glove 218 for
catching pucks shot to that side of the net. A right-handed goaltender will
typically wear the
blocker on (and hold the goalie stick with) the right hand and the glove on
the left, whereas a
left-handed goaltender will typically do the reverse. The stick is generally
held with the blade
2
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
206 on the ice, and the blade is typically used to block and deflect pucks
shot at the net along the
ice.
[0008] Fig. 2B illustrates the positioning of the goaltender's hand,
within the blocker
glove 216, while holding the goalie stick 200. Typically, the goaltender will
grip the goalie stick
200 at the point where the shaft 202 meets the paddle 204. The goalie stick is
generally gripped
with a number of fingers and the thumb 212 wrapped around the shaft 202.
Further, depending
on the preference of the goaltender, either the index finger or the index and
middle fingers are
held over the face of the paddle 204 for stability (shown in Fig. 2B as only
the index finger 214,
with the other three fingers 212 wrapped around the shaft 202 along with the
thumb (not
shown)). The goaltender generally maneuvers the goalie stick utilizing the
grip of the fingers
212 and thumb 214 around the shaft 204, and additional maneuverability and
control are
achieved via the one or two fingers 214 held over the face of the paddle 204
as discussed herein.
[00091 As ice hockey is played on an ice surface, aside from sports with
artificial
propulsion such as motor sports, it represents one of the fastest sports (if
not the fastest sport)
played today. For example, in the NHL, players reach skating speeds of over 20
miles per hour
(mph). Further, in the NHL, the average passing speed of the puck from player
to player is
around 30 to 60 mph. Shots on goal reach even higher speeds. When the face of
the stick blade
strikes the puck, the player rolls his wrists and shifts his weight so that
the energy stored in the
stick is released through the puck. Further, an average wrist shot can reach
speeds of 50-70 mph,
with an exceptional wrist shot reaching upwards of 80 mph. A wrist shot
represents a shot where
the arms (predominantly wrist and forearm muscles), along with the lower body
muscles, are
used to fling or propel the puck towards the net. An average slapshot, on the
other hand, can
reach speeds of 70-90 mph, with upper bounds of over 100 mph. For example,
former NHL
great Bobby Hull is credited with the hardest slapshot on record, clocked on
one occasion at a
speed of 118.3 mph. A slapshot involves a wind up raising the hockey stick to
shoulder height or
more, a fast lowering of the stick to the ice and striking of the ice (slap)
slightly behind the puck,
using momentum and weight to bend the stick (storing energy in it like a
spring), and a follow
through. The bending of the stick results in the amazing speed of a slapshot
(like a bow and
arrow), with the flex of the stick transferring its energy to the puck.
[0010] Accordingly, when the immense speed and energy of such hockey
shots strike the
goaltender's stick, the energy of the puck is transferred to the goalie stick.
Considering that the
3
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
=
Patent
typical hockey puck consists of a disk of vulcanized rubber, weighing anywhere
from 5-8 ounces
(typically 6 ounces), and travelling at speeds of upwards of over 100 mph,
that amounts to a
significant amount of energy transferred to the goalie stick, when the
goaltender makes a save
with the blade 206 of the goalie stick 200. Further, the blade of the goalie
stick acts like a lever,
so when the puck strikes the stick, the energy of the puck transfers to the
blade 206, resulting in a
twisting force on the shaft of the stick in the goaltender's hand. The
goaltender resists this
twisting force on the goalie stick using the fingers 212 and 214 and thumb
wrapped around the
shaft 202 and predominantly with the one or two fingers 214 held over the face
of the paddle
204. As would be understandable, such an immense force transferred to the
goalie stick by the
puck can require.significant hand strength, and be significantly difficult to
control via one or two
fingers over the paddle 204 of the goalie stick 200. Moreover, general
maneuverability is also
somewhat difficult considering the size and weight of the goalie stick, and
the fact that only one
or twO fingers over the paddle are used to maneuver and position the blade of
the stick in
preparation for blocking shots.
[00111 What is needed, therefore, is an improved goalie stick that can
help the grip and
control of the stick by the goaltender when maneuvering the stick and blocking
shots.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0012] The present disclosure provides for a hockey goalie stick that can
help assist the grip
and control of the stick by the goaltender when maneuvering the stick and
blocking shots. The
hockey goalie stick includes a blade; a shaft having a width and a thickness;
a paddle that
extends between the blade and the shaft, the paddle having a first major
surface and a second
major surface opposite the first major surface with a maximum thickness equal
to approximately
the thickness of the shaft, where the paddle includes a handgrip area having
shoulders in which a
width of the first major surface and the second major surface transitions to
the width of the shaft;
and a gripping aid that protrudes above the first major surface only in the
handgrip area of the
paddle.
[00131 For the various embodiments, the griping aid protrudes above a
first major surface
of the paddle to a height of at least 10 percent the maximum thickness of the
paddle. The
gripping aid is also positioned in a particular area of the paddle.
Specifically, the blade includes
a toe and a heel distal to the toe. The paddle includes a heel edge and a toe
edge between the
4
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
first major surface and the second major surface. The heel edge extends from
the heel of the
blade along a length of the paddle. The toe edge, opposite the heel edge,
extends from the blade
along the length of the paddle. A longitudinal axis of the first major surface
divides the paddle
into a first elongate half and a second elongate half. The first elongate half
extends from the
longitudinal axis to the heel edge of the paddle and the second elongate half
extends from the
longitudinal axis to the toe edge. The gripping aid protrudes above the first
elongate half of the
first major surface of the paddle. In one embodiment, the griping aid
protrudes above only the
first elongate half of the first major surface of the paddle.
[0014] In addition to protruding above the first major surface of the
paddle, the gripping
aid has an elongate body with a longitudinal axis that is approximately
pa.rallel with an edge of a
first shoulder of the handgrip area. The gripping aid has a shape selected
from a semi-ellipsoid,
a semi-cylinder, a semi-platonic solid, a semi-torus, a semi-spheroid, a semi-
sphere or a
combination thereof. In some embodiments, the gripping aid is integral with
the paddle. For
example, the gripping aid is formed of the same material as the paddle.
Alternatively, the
= gripping aid is formed of a different material as the paddle. In a
different embodiment, the
gripping aid includes a sleeve that fits over at least a portion of the
handgrip area. The sleeve
can be releasably attached to the handgrip area.
[0015] In another embodiment, the gripping aid includes a number of
mounting posts
(e.g. a first mounting post and a second mounting post). In one such
embodiment, the first
mounting post and the second mounting post extend from an exterior surface of
the gripping aid,
and where the handgrip area includes a first socket and a second socket to
receive the first
mounting post and the second mounting post of the gripping aid. The first
socket and the second
socket releasably receive the first mounting post and the second mounting post
of the gripping
aid thereby allowing the gripping aid in the handgrip area to be replaced or
for a different
gripping aid (e.g., different size and/or shape) to be positioned thereon.
[0016] The gripping aid can have a surface that conforms to the shape of
at least a
portion of an index finger. The gripping aid can be formed from a variety of
materials. For
example, the gripping aid can be formed from a polymer.
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by
way of limitation,
in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference
numerals refer to
similar elements. The illustrations may not be to scale.
[0018] Fig. 1 illustrates a traditional ice hockey goaltender stick or
goalie stick.
[0019] Fig. 2A illustrates the typical body and stick positioning of a
goaltender during a
typical block or save referred to as a butterfly save.
[0020] Fig. 2B illustrates the positioning of the goaltender's hand,
within the blocker
glove, while holding the goalie stick.
[0021] Fig. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the hockey goalie stick with a
gripping aid
according to the present disclosure.
[0022] Fig. 4 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the hockey
goalie stick
according to the present disclosure.
[0023] Fig. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the gripping aid with a sleeve
according to the
present disclosure.
[0024] Fig. 6 illustrates a hockey goalie stick having the gripping aid
with a sleeve
according to the present disclosure.
[0025] Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the hockey goalie stick with a
gripping aid
according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] In accordance with example embodiments of the present invention, an
improved
apparatus for the shaft and paddle of a goalie stick to improve the grip and
control of the stick by
the goaltender when maneuvering the stick and blocking shots, is provided.
Specifically, the
present disclosure provides for a gripping aid that protrudes above a first
major surface in the
handgrip area of the paddle of a hockey goalie stick. The gripping aid helps
to support the
pointer finger and assist in gripping and controlling the hockey goalie stick.
[0027] In the following detailed description of the present disclosure,
reference is made
to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by
way of
illustration how various embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced. These
embodiments
are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the
art to practice the
6
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
embodiments of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other
embodiments may be
utilized and that process or mechanical changes may be made without departing
from the scope
of the present disclosure.
[00281 Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown one embodiment of the
hockey goalie
stick 300 according to the present disclosure. The hockey goalie stick 300
includes a blade 306,
a shaft 302 having a width 303 and a thickness 350, a paddle 304 that extends
between the blade
306 and the shaft 302. The paddle 304 has a first major surface 305 and a
second major surface
307 opposite the first major surface 305. The paddle 304 has a thickness 352
between the first
major surface 305 and the second major surface 307, with a maximum thickness
354 of
approximately the thickness 350 of the shaft 302. The paddle 304 also includes
a handgrip area
309 (shown with shading) having shoulders 356 in which a width 311 of the
first major Surface
305 and the second major surface 307 transitions to the width 303 of the shaft
302. Fig. .3 also
shows a gripping aid 315 that protrudes above the first major stirface 305
only in the handgrip
area 309 of the paddle 304.
[00291 As illustrated, the blade 306 of the hockey goalie stick 300 also
includes a toe 314
and a heel 312 distal to the toe 314. The paddle 304 includes a heel edge 313
and a toe edge 317
between the first major surface 305 and the second major surface 307. The heel
edge 313
extends from the heel 312 of the blade 306 along a length 319 of the paddle
304. The toe edge
317, opposite the heel edge 313, extends from the blade 306 along the length
319 of the paddle
304. A longitudinal axis 321 of the first major surface 305 divides the paddle
304 into a first
elongate half 322 and a second elongate half 323. The first elongate half 322
extends from the
longitudinal axis 321 to the heel edge 313 of the paddle 304 and the second
elongate half 323
extends from the longitudinal axis 321 to the toe edge 317. The gripping aid
315 protrudes
above the first elongate half 322 of the first major surface 305 in the hand
grip area 309 of the
paddle 304. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the gripping aid 315 protrudes above
only the first elongate
half 322 of the first major surface 305 of the paddle 304. As will be more
fully discussed herein,
the griping aid 315 protrudes above the first major surface 305 of the paddle
304 to a height of at
least 10 percent the maximum thickness 354 of the paddle 304.
[0030] The handgrip area 309 can be defined by the width 311 of the
paddle 304 and a
length of about 3 inches from where the paddle 304 meets the shaft 302 along
the longitudinal
axis 321 of the first major surface 305 of the paddle 304. As illustrated, the
handgrip area 309
7
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
includes a first shoulder 324 on the first elongate half 322, where the first
shoulder 324 has an
edge 325 along which the width 311 of the first major surface 305 transitions
to the width 303 of
the shaft 302. The edge 325 can be straight or can be an arc, among other
shapes. In the
embodiment of Figure 3, the gripping aid 315 has an elongate body 326 with a
longitudinal axis
328 that is approximately parallel with the edge 325 of the first shoulder
324, however, other
orientations may be utilized in other embodiments.
[0031] The gripping aid 315 can have a shape selected from a semi-
ellipsoid, a semi-
cylinder, a semi-platonic solid, a semi-torus, a semi-spheroid, a semi-sphere
or a combination
thereof. The gripping aid 315 can have a surface that conforms to the shape of
at least a portion
of an index finger. =
[0032] The gripping aid 315 can be integral with the paddle 304. For
example, the
material used to form. the gripping aid 315, to be discussed More fully
herein, can be joined to or
formed with the paddle 304 either in its final shape or can be in a shape from
which the shape of
the gripping aid 315 is formed. For example, in forming the goalie hockey
stick 300 using a
composite material, as discussed herein, the shape of the= gripping aid 315 is
formed during the
lay-up process. For example, during the lay-up process the composite material
is shaped to
project or to deviate away from the general overall shape of first major
surface 305 into the
shape of the gripping aid 315.
[0033] Alternatively, the material used to form the gripping aid 315 is
joined to the first
major surface 305. So, for example, the gripping aid 315 and the hockey goalie
stick with its
paddle 304 start off as two separate pieces. The gripping aid 315 is joined to
the paddle 304.
Joining of these pieces can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example,
the gripping aid
315 and the paddle 304 can be joined using an adhesive, can be fused together,
or a combination
thereof. For example, suitable adhesives include reactive and non-reactive
adhesives. Reactive
adhesives can include adhesives such as one-part or two-part adhesives.
Examples include, but
are not limited to, acrylics, urethane, and epoxy adhesives. Non-reactive
adhesives include, but
are not limited to, pressure sensitive adhesives, solvent based adhesives,
polymer dispersion
adhesives, or hot adhesives. The adhesive can be part of a double sided tape
that can be used to
join the gripping aid 315 to the first major surface 305.
[0034] As mentioned, the gripping aid 315 can be joined to the first
major surface 305 of
the hockey goalie stick in its final shape or as a shape that will be changed
into the final shape of
8
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
the gripping aid 315 after it has be joined to the hockey goalie stick. For
example, such a change
in shape can be accomplished using tools such as a grinder, a file, a sander,
a milling machine
(e.g., CAD/CAM) among other machines known in the art. In such embodiments,
the material to
become the gripping aid 315 is joined to the first major surface 305 (e.g.,
joined using an
adhesive), after which one or more of tools discussed herein are used to
change the shape of the
material into the gripping aid 315.
[0035] Once the gripping aid 315 is joined to the first major
surface 305, the hockey
goalie stick can undergo one or more additional production steps. For example,
the surface of
the =gripping aid 315 can be changed relative to the surface of the rest of
thepaddle 304. So, in
one embodiment, the texture of the surface of the gripping aid 315 can be
changed relative to the
rest of the paddle 304 (e.g., made rougher or smoother relative to the rest of
the paddle 304, a
pattern could be applied or formed). Alternatively, a coating could be added
over at least a
portion of the gripping aid 315 to provide a degree of adhesion between the
gripping aid 315 and
the blocker glove of the goalie.
[0036] The gripping aid can be formed of the same material as
the paddle. Alternatively,
the gripping aid can be formed of a different material as the paddle. Examples
of such materials
used to form the gripping aid, and the other parts of the hockey goalie stick,
include wood (e.g.,
solid or plywood); a wood composite of layers of wood and a reinforcing
material, such as
= fiberglass or carbon fiber; aluminum; hockey tape (e.g., cloth hockey
tape); titanium; carbon
fiber; Kevlar; and a composite of carbon fiber and fiberglass. When wood or
wood composite is
used in forming the hockey goal stick, the surface of the blade, the paddle
and the gripping aid
can be coated with a reinforcing layer(s) of fiberglass, carbon fiber and/or
Kevlar that is held in
.= place (or bonded) with a resin (e.g., an epoxy resin).
[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the gripping aid can be
formed of a polymer. For
example, the gripping aid can be formed of a thermoset polymer or a
thermoplastic polymer.
Examples of thermoplastic polymers include, but are not limited to,
poly(methyl methacylate),
polyethylene, nylon(s), polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, among
others. Examples
of thermoset polymers include natural rubber, synthetic rubber and
polyurethane, among others.
Examples of synthetic rubbers include silicone rubber (e.g., polysiloxane),
polyisoprene,
polyehloroprene, isobutylene isoprene butyl, acrylonitrile butadiene, and
those derived from
butadiene and styrene, among others.
9
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
100381 Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a side view of an
embodiment of the
hockey goalie stick 400 according to the present disclosure. The hockey goalie
stick 400
includes the blade 406, the shaft 402 having the thickness 450, and the paddle
404 that extends
between the blade 406 and the shaft 402. The paddle 404 has the first major
surface 405 and the
second major surface 407 opposite the first major surface 405. The paddle 404
has the thickness
452 between the first major surface 405 and the second major surface 407, with
the maximum
thickness 454 of approximately the thickness 450 of the shaft 402. Fig. 4 also
shows the
gripping aid 415 that protrudes above the first major surface 405 only in the
handgrip area 409 of
the paddle 404.
[0039] As discussed, the griping aid 415 protrudes above the first major
surface 405 of
the paddle 404 to a maximum height of at least 10 percent the maximum
thickness 454 of the
paddle 404. The point of maximum height of the griping aid 415 can be taken
along a line that is
perpendicular to the first major surface 405 and the longitudinal axis of the
paddle 404. So, for
example, the griping aid 415 protrudes above the first major surface 405 of
the paddle 404 to a
maximum height of 10 percent to 150 percent the maximum thickness 454 of the
paddle 404. In
an additional example, the griping aid 415 protrudes above the first major
surface 405 of the
paddle 404 to a maximum height of 30 percent to 150 percent the maximum
thickness 454 of the
paddle 404. In a further example, the griping aid 415 protrudes above the
first major surface 405
of the paddle 404 to a maximum height of 40 percent to 75 percent the maximum
thickness 454
of the paddle 404. Other values are possible.
[0040] Referring now to Fig. 5, where is shown an additional embodiment of
the
gripping aid 515 according to the present disclosure. As illustrated, the
gripping aid 515
includes a sleeve 530 that fits over at least a portion of the handgrip area
of the hockey goalie
stick. This embodiment of the present disclosure can be used with the
"traditional goalie" stick
as discussed herein.
[0041] As illustrated, the sleeve 530 can have an inner surface 532 that
is shaped to fit
closely around at least a portion of the paddle in the area where it connects
to the shaft. The
inner surface 532 of the sleeve 530 also helps to define both a first opening
534 and a second
opening 536. The shaft can pass through both the first opening 534 and the
second opening 536.
At least a portion of the paddle then passes through the first opening 534.
Depending upon the
configuration of sleeve 530, the second opening 536 can be positioned in a
variety of locations
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
relative to the paddle and the shaft. For example, at least a portion of the
paddle can also pass
through the second opening 536 when the sleeve 530 is in position on the
hockey goalie stick.
Alternatively, the surfaces defining the second opening 536 can extend along
the first shoulder
and the second shoulder of the paddle when the sleeve 530 is in position on
the hockey goalie
stick. In another embodiment, the surfaces defining the second opening 536 fit
around the shaft,
but not the paddle, when the sleeve 530 is in position on the hockey goalie
stick.
[0042] For the various embodiments, the sleeve 530 of the gripping
aid 515 can have an
elasticity that allows it to be stretched over the paddle and/or the shaft to
allow the gripping aid
515 to be positioned on the paddle as discussed herein. For this embodiment,
the gripping aid
515 and the sleeve 530 can be formed of the same or different materials, as
discussed herein. For
example, both the gripping aid 515 and the sleeve 530 can be formed from the
thermoset
polymers, discussed herein. As the sleeve 530 of the gripping aid 515 is
elaStic, the sleeve 530
can be releasably attached to the handgrip area of the hockey goalie stick.
[0043] Referring now to Fig. 6 there is shown an embodiment of the
gripping aid 615
with-the sleeve 630 positioned on a hockey goalie stick 600. As illustrated,
the sleeve 630 fits
over at least a portion of the handgrip area 609 of the hockey goalie stick
600, where the hockey
goalie stick 600 is a "traditional goalie" stick as discussed herein. As
illustrated, the sleeve 630
fits closely around at least a portion of the paddle 604 in the area where it
connects to the shaft
= 602. The sleeve 630 of the gripping aid 615 has an elasticity that allows
it to be stretched over
the paddle and/or the shaft to allow the gripping aid 615 to be releasably
positioned on the
paddle 604.
[00441 Referring now to Fig. 7 there is shown another embodiment
of the gripping aid
715 according to the present disclosure, positioned on a hockey goalie stick
700. As illustrated,
the gripping aid 715 includes a first mounting post 760 and a second mounting
post 762, where
the first mounting post 760 and the second mounting post 762 extend from an
exterior surface
764 of the gripping aid 715. The handgrip area 709 includes a first socket 766
and a second
socket 768 to receive the first mounting post 760 and the second mounting post
762 of the
gripping aid 715. The first socket 766 and the second socket 768 releasably
receive the first
mounting post 760 and the second mounting post 762 of the gripping aid 715
thereby allowing
the gripping aid 715 in the handgrip area 709 to be replaced. The first
mounting post 760 and the
second mounting post 762 can be rigid to allow them to be inserted and removed
from the first
11
CA 02869002 2014-10-28
Patent
socket 766 and the second socket 768 as desired by the user. Alternatively,
the gripping aid 715
can be permanently positioned on the paddle 704 by using an adhesive, as
discussed herein, to
join the first mounting post 760 and the second mounting post 762 and the
gripping aid 715 to
the paddle 704.
[0045] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described
herein, those
of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that an arrangement calculated to
achieve the same
results can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure
is intended to
cover adaptations or variations of various embodiments of the present
disclosure. It is to be
understood that the above description has been made in an illustrative
fashion, and not a
restrictive one. Combination of the above embodiments, and other embodiments
not specifically
described herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing
the above
description. The scope of the various embodiments of the present disclosure
includes other
applicatioris in which the above structures and methods are used. Therefore,
the scope of various
embodiments of the present disclosure should be determined with reference to
the appended
claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which stich claims are
entitled.
[0046] In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are
grouped together in a
single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method
of disclosure is
not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the disclosed
embodiments of the present
disclosure have to use more features than are expressly recited in each claim.
Rather, as the
following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all
features of a single
disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into
the Detailed
Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
12
