Abstract

A multi-piece shaft for a lacrosse stick includes a first section connected to a second section at a joint. The joint may be located at various shaft regions to provide a desired kick point within the shaft. In one embodiment, an outer surface of the first shaft section is separated from an inner surface of the second shaft section via an elastomeric isolator. The elastomeric isolator may be an adhesive material that bonds or secures the outer surface of the first shaft section to the inner surface of the second shaft section. Two or more of these joints optionally may be included in the lacrosse shaft.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 53/02 - Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• A63B 59/00 - Bats, rackets or the like, not covered by groups
• A63B 59/52 - Substantially rod-shaped bats for hitting a ball in the air, e.g. for baseball made of wood or bamboo

Abstract

A skate boot includes a tongue configured to reduce or relieve pressure on the superficial tendons of the anterior region of a skater's foot. The tongue has an outer portion, an inner portion, and one or more channels, grooves, or openings formed in the inner portion or outer portion. The one or more channels, grooves, or openings are positioned to overlie one or more of the superficial tendons in the anterior region of a skater's foot.

IPC Classes  ?

• A43B 5/16 - Skating boots
• A43B 23/26 - Tongues for shoes

Abstract

A sports glove, such as a hockey or lacrosse glove, includes inverted finger pads connected such that exterior gaps are not present between some or all of the adjacent pads when a wearer grips a stick or otherwise closes his or her hand. The inverted pads optionally include stiffening elements attached to or integral with their outer surfaces to provide additional protection to the wearer's fingers. The finger pads covering the base regions of the fingers optionally are attached to the main body of the glove via an elastic material or similar material that allows the finger pads to move away from the main body during closure of a wearer's hand. These finger pads may further be attached to the main body via an inelastic strap or similar feature that prevents the finger pads from being pulled forward beyond the rear housing or cover that overlies these finger pads.

IPC Classes  ?

• A41D 19/00 - Gloves

Abstract

A skate assembly includes a shell structure and a removable tendon guard. The shell structure includes a heel portion, a lateral ankle portion, and a medial ankle portion. The heel portion is formed to cover a human heel. The lateral ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The medial ankle portion is formed to extend beyond the heel portion. The lateral ankle portion and the medial ankle portion are spaced apart to form a notch extending toward the heel portion. The removable tendon guard is removably attached between the lateral ankle portion and medial ankle portion to cover the notch.

IPC Classes  ?

• A43B 5/16 - Skating boots

Abstract

A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/00 - Bats, rackets or the like, not covered by groups

Abstract

A ball bat includes one or more low-durability regions fortified by one or more reinforcing elements. If the reinforcing element is altered or removed, the durability of the ball bat is significantly reduced. For example, if the ball bat is subjected to internal shaving or external rolling in an attempt to increase the bat's performance, the reinforcing element would de removed or damaged such that the durability of the bat is reduced to the point that the ball bat's performance remains below a specified limit.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/00 - Bats, rackets or the like, not covered by groups

Abstract

A composite sporting implement, such as a ball bat or bat barrel, is formed with layers of continuous structural fibers embedded in a binder material having a high melting point. Such a binder does not undergo a chemical conversion process during forming of the ball bat. The layers are shaped into a preform and placed in a mold. Heat and pressure are applied to bring the binder to its melting point and to cause the binder material to flow between adjacent layers. The mold is then cooled below the binder's melting point to solidify the composite structure. A composite sporting implement formed in this manner exhibits excellent shear strength, toughness, and damping qualities.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/06 - for baseball, rounders, or similar games

Abstract

A protective sports helmet includes features that promote efficient fit adjustment and donning and removal of the helmet. The helmet includes a front shell portion pivotably connected to a rear shell portion to promote easy donning and removal of the helmet. The upper region of the front shell optionally is longitudinally adjustable relative to the upper region of the rear shell. Cam mechanisms optionally are provided on the helmet shell for securing straps of a chin cup at desired lengths. The cam mechanisms optionally each include a self energizing grip member that increasingly engages the strap when the strap is pulled taut while the cam mechanism is in the locked position.

IPC Classes  ?

• A42B 3/32 - Collapsible helmetsHelmets made of separable parts

Abstract

A customizable hockey skate includes a removable runner-blade assembly such that a runner-blade assembly having a first stiffness may be readily replaced with a runner-blade assembly having a second stiffness. The runner-blade assembly may be removably attached to first and second cups that are optionally removably attached to the sole of a skate boot. The first and second cups optionally are removably attachable at multiple lateral locations on the sole. Mounting plates to which the first and second cups are mounted may be included to provide damping interfaces between the first and second cups and the boot sole. The first and second cups may be separately removable from the sole such that the first cup may be replaced with a third cup (for example, a cup having a different stiffness than the first cup) without removal of the second cup.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63C 1/00 - Skates

Abstract

A ball bat includes a transparent or translucent cap attached to a bat barrel. One or more security labels are bonded or otherwise attached to the cap and the barrel such that removal of the cap damages or destroys the one or more security labels, providing an indication that the cap has been removed and that tampering with the interior of the bat may have occurred.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/00 - Bats, rackets or the like, not covered by groups

Abstract

A hockey helmet includes earpieces that are readily removable from the helmet without the need for tools or other objects, and without the need to remove screws or other components. The earpieces may be slidably attached to rails on a retention mechanism embedded in the foam helmet liner or to rails on the helmet shell itself. The helmet optionally includes an internal region of EPP foam fused or bonded between two thin polycarbonate layers, with the retention mechanism embedded within the EPP foam.

IPC Classes  ?

• A42B 3/16 - Ear protection devices

Abstract

Unique composite structures are disclosed that include focused adjustably weighted end plugs, co-molded focused weighted and non-weighted logo/branding components and/or dimple arrays. A representative composite hockey stick having a tubular hollow shaft, a blade, and a weight-adjustable end-plug is disclosed. The blade includes one or more weighted regions in the form of a focused weight system co-molded to an external surface of the blade. The blade may also include one or more co-molded non-weighted logo/branding components and/or one or more dimple arrays on the front and/or back face of the blade. Methods and suitable materials for constructions of the various components and composite constructs are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/14 - for ice hockey

Abstract

A helmet for baseball pitchers and fielders includes features to protect a player's head and face from being struck by a batted ball. The helmet optionally includes side protection, which may include cheek, jaw, temple, or chin protection. The helmet also may optionally include a face mask.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 71/10 - Body-protectors for players or sportsmen for the head

Abstract

A chest protector includes rows of padding protruding inwardly from a base section. The pads are arranged to rest against the body of a wearer. Ventilation channels are located between neighboring rows of padding to provide multiple paths for heat dispersion. The rows of padding are able to flex relative to one another such that the chest protector may conform to the body of the wearer.

IPC Classes  ?

• A41D 13/00 - Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches

Abstract

A ball bat includes a segmented or decoupled barrel, which reduces the axial stiffness and BBCOR of the barrel, while providing little or no increase in the bat's moment of inertia. Segmenting the barrel, alone or in combination with other performance-reducing features, may be used to lower the BBCOR (or other specified performance characteristic) of the ball bat below the performance limits of a given regulatory association or other governing body.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/06 - for baseball, rounders, or similar games

Abstract

A composite ball bat includes multiple failure planes within a barrel wall. By including multiple failure planes in a barrel wall, the bat exhibits a drop in performance when subjected to rolling or other extreme deflection, with no temporary increase in barrel performance. Because the barrel performance does not increase, the ball bat is able to comply with performance limitations imposed by regulatory associations.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/00 - Bats, rackets or the like, not covered by groups

Abstract

A ball bat includes a barrel having one or more integral features for selectively stiffening regions of the barrel. The barrel may include an indented region forming a rib projecting inwardly into the barrel. Alternatively, one or more inwardly projecting lips may be formed on adjoining barrel sections that are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached to each other, such that an integral, internal rib is formed in the barrel. The internal rib stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR. One or more integral ribs may be provided at any desired barrel locations for selectively limiting the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the moment of inertia of the ball bat. In another embodiment, a joint, to which two barrel sections are bonded, welded, or otherwise attached, includes an inwardly projecting member that stiffens the barrel, thus reducing the barrel's BBCOR.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/06 - for baseball, rounders, or similar games

Abstract

A bicycle wheel includes a central hub and a rim including multiple openings positioned about the circumference of a radially inner surface of the rim. A rivet nut or similar attachment element is positioned in each opening and coupled to the rim. A first end of a nipple or similar coupling element is threaded into or otherwise attached to each rivet nut. A first end of a spoke is threaded into or otherwise attached to a second end of each nipple. A second end of the spoke is coupled to or engaged with the central hub. Each nipple optionally includes left-hand external threads and right-hand internal threads, or right-hand external threads and left-hand internal threads, such that rotation of the nipple simultaneously tightens or loosens the nipple with respect to both the rivet nut and the spoke.

IPC Classes  ?

• B60B 21/06 - Rims characterised by means for attaching spokes

Abstract

A ball bat includes a barrel in which one or more stiffening elements or damping elements, or both, are located. The stiffening or damping elements may be positioned at a variety of locations, and may have a variety of configurations, for selectively reducing the barrel's performance without appreciably increasing the bat's moment of inertia.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/06 - for baseball, rounders, or similar games

Abstract

A ball bat includes a barrel having a radially inner surface. Graphics, or an indicator layer including graphics, that provide a visual indication of whether tampering, such as shaving, has occurred to the radially inner surface of the barrel are affixed to, applied to, or integral with the radially inner surface of the barrel. A transparent or translucent cap, or a cap including a window, is optionally attached to an end of the barrel to provide visual inspection of the internal graphics. The cap itself may additionally or alternatively include internal observable features, or external engraved or etched features, that make the cap difficult to replicate or counterfeit.

IPC Classes  ?

• B65D 33/34 - End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices with special means for indicating unauthorised opening

Abstract

A composite hockey stick having a turbular hollow shaft and a blade is disclosed. The shaft includes a region of focused weight in the form of an overlay coating that is applied on top of the internal surfaces of the cured shaft using a coating plug. The blade includes a focused weight region that is inserted into a cavity within the cured composite blade. Methods and suitable materials for constructions of the various components of the blade and shaft are also disclosed.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/14 - for ice hockey

Abstract

A sporting goods item, such as a ball bat, includes a sensor located on or in a body of the item. The sensor detects vibrations produced by an object's impact against the item. The detected vibrations are used to determine the quality or location of the impact, or other information about the impact. An optical or audible feedback element located on or in the item visually or audibly provides information about the impact.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 69/34 - Boxing or football dummies

Abstract

A composite ball bat includes an exposed region of transparent or translucent material, which provides a visual indication of whether delamination has occurred in the ball bat. As a result, an observer can determine, via visual inspection, whether delamination has occurred, and, if it has, can remove the bat from regulated play.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/06 - for baseball, rounders, or similar games

Abstract

A single-wall ball bat is made up of a series of layers or plies of unidirectional, two-dimensional, structural fibers. The plies are optionally layered upon each other in a lamina structure in which the fibers in one ply are oriented at opposing angles to the fibers in one or more neighboring plies. Low tensile modulus, two-dimensional E-glass fibers, oriented to provide desired durability, may be used to construct a substantial portion of the barrel or other regions of the ball bat.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/06 - for baseball, rounders, or similar games

Abstract

A multi-piece ball bat includes a first section including a hitting portion, and a second section including a handle portion. A flexible joint connects the first section to the second section. The flexible joint may be a structural joint, such as a spring member, a mechanical locking joint, or a pneumatic or hydraulic joint, or it may be a non-uniform and/or non-continuous elastomeric joint.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/00 - Bats, rackets or the like, not covered by groups

Abstract

A hockey stick with a shaft having a rectangular cross-section, in which an additional layer (or layers) of impact resistant material is added to one or more corners at one or more locations on the shaft to provide protection from damaging blows and to provide 'proud' corners on the shaft to improve the handling and 'feel' of the shaft for the player.

IPC Classes  ?

• A63B 59/00 - Bats, rackets or the like, not covered by groups