They Invented What? (No. 129)

U.S. Pat. No.6,926,629:  Attachment for blade of hockey stick.

 

BACKGROUND:

A hockey stick is a structure that can hit an object, such as a hockey puck, with great force, with great control, and over a relatively great distance. For example, when hit by a hockey stick, a hockey puck can fly from one end to another end of a hockey rink at 100 mph or more precisely into a desired corner of the net.

Yard waste often includes undesirable refuse such as rotten hornet-infested crab apples and dog waste. Such refuse is undesirable for a number of reasons, including the consistency of the refuse such as its relative hardness or softness and the odor given off by the refuse. If the waste is being picked up by an apparatus, the apparatus may not have features permitting one to fling the waste to a desired spot such as a compost heap, and the apparatus may not have a sufficient length permitting a spacing of one from the waste. If the waste is being picked up by hand, one must bend down relatively close to the waste that may have an undesirable smell. If the waste is to be flung by hand to a desired location such as a compost heap, the waste may crumble upon the head of one who throws the waste.

CLAIMS:

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for a blade of a playing stick, wherein the playing stick includes a proximal end portion with a handle and a distal end portion with the blade, wherein the blade includes an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the attachment comprises:
          a) a base portion engaging the blade;
          b) a floor extending from the base portion and comprising a leading edge, with the floor extending generally from the lower edge of the blade;
          c) whereby the leading edge can be slipped under an object which then can be played by the blade having the base portion;
          d) and further comprising the playing stick, wherein the playing stick is a hockey stick.

2. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a channel for engaging at least one of the upper and lower edges.

3. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the base portion comprises a pair of channels, with each of the channels engaging one of the edges, and with one of the channels being greater in width than the other of said channels.

4. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the base portion and floor portion are integral and one-piece, wherein the base portion and floor portion can form an L-shape relative to each other, and wherein the base portion and floor portion can form a V-shape relative to each other.

5. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the base portion and floor portion are integral and one-piece, wherein the base portion and floor portion can form an L-shape relative to each other, wherein the base portion and floor portion can form a V-shape relative to each other, and wherein toe ends of the base portion and floor portion can form a general V-shape relative to each other at the same time that heel ends of the base portion and floor portion can form a general L-shape relative to each other.

6. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the blade and floor portion can form an L-shape relative to each other, and wherein the blade and floor portion can form a V-shape relative to each other.

7. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the floor includes an upper surface, a lower surface and a leading edge spaced from the base portion, with the upper and lower surfaces tapering toward each other in the direction of the leading edge.

8. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the floor includes a lower surface and a leading edge spaced from the base portion, with the lower surface being curved in a direction from the base portion to the leading edge.

9. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the floor includes an upper surface and a leading edge spaced from the base portion, with the upper surface being curved in a direction from the base portion to the leading edge.

10. An attachment for a blade of a playing stick, wherein the playing stick includes a proximal end portion with a handle and a distal end portion with the blade, wherein the blade includes an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the attachment comprises: a) a base portion engaging the blade; b) a floor extending from the base portion and comprising a leading edge, with the floor extending generally from the lower edge of the blade; c) whereby the leading edge can be slipped under an object which then can be played by the blade having the base portion; d) wherein the base portion includes a channel for engaging at least one of the upper and lower edges of the blade; e) wherein the floor portion includes a tapered portion running into the leading edge; f) wherein the base portion and floor portion are integral and one-piece with each other; g) and further comprising the playing stick, wherein the playing stick is a hockey stick.

11. A kit combination comprising: a) an attachment for a blade of a playing stick, wherein the playing stick includes a proximal end portion with a handle and a distal end portion with the blade, wherein the blade includes an upper edge and a lower edge, wherein the attachment comprises: i) a base portion engaging the blade; ii) a floor extending from the base portion and comprising a leading edge, with the floor extending generally from the lower edge of the blade; iii) whereby the leading edge can be slipped under an object which then can be played by the blade having the base portion; b) an object for being picked up and flung by the blade of the playing stick, wherein the object has a shape resembling dog waste; c) and further comprising the playing stick, wherein in stick is a hockey stick.